barryj

I took the wages of Lukaku and Barry into account because they are in effect the transfer fees of loanees.

If you're going to include Barry/Lukaku wages in the numbers you surely also need to deduct Fellaini & Vic's? Must be more than £4m.

Guys remember we are still in debt and that is just as important than buying new players to our future.
 
If BK is the weak fool a lot of you make him out to be, then he will go along with you and let RM have all that remains of the kitty for January.
If he is whoever a half decent chairman then surely he will use some of that cash to pay off an amount of our debt.
As you all know you dont lend money from banks for free and even getting the owed money down by a small amount would have a big deal on interest.
 
I am not saying that all of the money should go just that by banding around figures we are going to create a few more board haters when come January we may not have what we thought in the pot.
 
BK stayed strong last night and got a good price for Felli, paid less than the asking price for McCarthy and dug his feet in over Baines and kept the best left back in the premier league. Overall i think we probably slept well last night.

Howard
Coleman Jags Distin Baines
 
Barry/Gibson McCarthy
 
Pienaar/Jerry Barkley Mirallas
 
Lukaku
 
Have to say i am verry happy with the potential of our squad after last night.
At one moment i was going to be upset and angry thinking we had left it to late and were getting no-one.
 
30 minutes later rumours were back and it looked back on. 15 minutes later we had lost Lukaku to WBA, 15 minutes later it was a done deal!
WoW gotta say my head was spinnning last night and even when i eventually laid down i couldnt sleep for hours.
 
Then woke up this morning, turned SSN on and recapped on last night.
 
WHY DO WE DO THIS?

So, basically, being paupers has been an advantage this time .

Hey guys,

Chelsea fan here in peace. Looking forward to playing you guys after the international break.

Just wanted to clear a few things up regarding Lukaku. I've seen quite a few on here thinking that Lukaku is disillusioned with the loan and I can tell you that that is far away from the truth.

Today in an interview he sought to clear things up a bit. Lukaku is a very intelligent guy who knows this deal will help him improve as a player. Here's what he said:


Further from that, someone on a Chelsea forum who's very close to the Lukaku camp has also said that this is exactly what happened:
He did get a phone call from his manager yesterday night to inform him what Chelsea were planning to do (problems with loaning out Ba -> Lukaku was plan B?) He then called his parents (who weren't against this loan). Until this far his first choice was still WBA IF he had to go out on loan.
He called Mourinho (who explained the case and said Everton would be the best choice to practice his running lines and movement. Furthermore Everton plays a lot more on ball possession than WBA + also the pressure on Rom's will also be a lot higher here. All in all good reasons to go out on loan IF you are told it will be difficult to get a lot of game time at Chelsea).
He then called Martinez who told him he was eager to get Rom's on a loan deal. He also convinced Romelu that this deal could be the best option for him.  
He was more than ready to compete with Torres, Ba & Eto'o for that first spot. He's very ambitious and eager to improve every aspect of his game. Mourinho gave him a lot of trust and it seemed to work out well. So yes, Romelu really thought he was going to play for us (Chelsea) this season and Mourinho would make him better every game but the fact that Eto'o came and it didn't worked out to loan out Ba changed all of this. Mourinho told him a loan would probably be a better option since he could play every single game... even as a starter. Something he cannot promise Romelu because of the competition.
 
Mourinho and Romelu are working on a very specific game plan for Lukaku. It's all part of a bigger plan to make Romelu a real top striker. They both agreed yesterday that with close coaching from Jose and assistants himself that it'd be better for Romelu to go out on loan. He could develop this plan at Everton a bit faster than with us.
 
Romelu has big ambitions to play for Chelsea and sees Everton as an ideal step towards that. He'll benefit from developing with you guys, and you'll benefit from having a great striker on your books for a season! Your team is looking very impressive this season, definitely top 6 material, maybe top 4? Martinez has really bought well, and you look stronger than without Fellaini. McCarthy is a great buy, better for Martinez's philosophy than Fellaini ever will be.
 
In my opinion this is your best starting XI at the moment:
 
Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Barry McCarthy
Mirallas Barkley Pienaar
Lukaku
 
What a team that is. Obviously you can interchange with the likes of Deulofeu, Kone, Jelavic, Gibson etc. but that looks brilliant. Well done to your club for still continuing to create an even better team!
 
Again looking forward to playing you lot in a few weeks! I'll be popping in here now and then to see how he's progressing according to you guys. Cheers!

A rich Arab!!

Hey guys. Chelsea fan here in peace.
 
I think the biggest thing Everton need to challenge for a top four place consistently is the ability to spend big amounts of money.
 
I really like the Everton team this year, but unfortunately, financially I don't think you'd be able to compete with the likes of us, City, United, Arsenal, and even Liverpool who spent quite a lot.
 
Until Everton has the platform to make £20m/£30m signings on a regular basis, I feel that you won't compete for top four regularly, simply because everyone else around you outspends you, but because of your manager (really rate Martinez) and the way the club is run excellently, always coming up with these shrewd buys, you will always be around.
 
Regards

Kenwright puts on the production of his life with Donny Osmond and Jason Donovan.

no

I would like this, but I couldn't reach an agreement with MikeO for likes before the 11pm deadline.

Unbelievable Jeff.

Not only have Everton destroyed me tonight but I have no likes, but lots of posts I like!

So is that a no from you then Pete? Nothing like sitting on the fence.

He should either be given a chance, or sold/loaned out. He's too old to be a reserve team player. Either give him a shot since Kone and Jelavic have been woeful, or let him advance his career elsewhere.

WBA came for a point, took a point, job done for them.
 
But for us, that was so disappointing. Tbh, it wasn't much different from a lot of what we had to endure under Moyes last season - slow build up, no penetration, samey same play all the time (knock it about, get it out wide and hope something happens with a delivery in), poor quality into the box, and then when something decent was put in there was no one there to put it away, nothing through the middle really, lack of creativity, play breaking down in the final third. The only difference being that we took more passes to get to the breaking down of an attack. If we can just speed up our play and add incisiveness then I think our creativity will improve no end, and we'll start getting the results we deserve. But, right now, it's no wonder we're struggling for creativity when we play so slowly and allow the opposition to get organised in front of us.
 
Even though we didn't play very well we were still the better side, got a clean sheet finally and should have won. That makes this result even more frustrating.
 
Cardiff away next, and then Chelsea at home... if we don't get our shit together quickly we could find ourselves in a sticky situation early in the season. That's not what we need when we've got a new manager trying to implement his ideas.
 
 
Howard - Was barely called upon but on the occasions we needed him he was fully up to the job and made a couple of great saves.
 
 
Coleman - Our brightest spark in an otherwise uninspiring attacking display, and even he wasn't all that good. Gave it a good go going forward and had a couple of attempts at goal, but could have done better in creating opportunities for others. My MOTM, just.
 
Jagielka - Shoddy. He misjudged high balls and bouncing balls. Just all over the place.
 
Distin - I dread to think what would have happened if he hadn't been playing today because he was covering for the shambolic Jagielka whenever WBA did actually threaten us. His pace was invaluable in recovering what looked like lost situations.
 
Baines - Barely noticed him in the first half but got right into the game in the second half and became a good attacking outlet. But, as has been the case for quite a while now, his delivery into the box was mostly poor. His corners looked to have improved though.
 
 
Mirallas - Incredibly poor up until about 5 or 10 minutes before he was substituted. Until that point you'd have struggled to even know he was playing, and when you did finally realise he was playing it was because he was fucking up another attack! It's been a slow start to the season for Kevin and I really hope it changes, and fast.
 
Osman - He didn't really do anything wrong in this game, but that's probably because he didn't really do anything full stop! He just coasted through the game and I really believe that him being in the centre of our team is why we're not varying our attack and are just relying on going out wide. How he has managed to play so many minutes in these first two games is crazy!
 
Fellaini - Since the end of this game I've heard plenty of people saying he clearly couldn't be bothered today and he wants out... And I'm wondering whether I was watching a different game or whether they're just seeing what they want to see. Because I thought he had a pretty good game for us and really put a shift in. He tired quite badly toward the end of the game, admittedly, but until then he put himself about, made himself available to the defenders so he could start off attacks, he passed well, he snuffed out WBA attacks.
 
Pienaar - He was very bright and involved all game long today. In the first half when Baines wasn't at the races he drifted centrally to great effect and caused problems, and then in the second half he linked up brilliantly with Baines and Barkley as well at times. It's just a shame his decision making was absolutely woeful otherwise he'd have been my MOTM quite comfortably.
 
 
Barkley - Didn't hit the heights of his Norwich performance but it was another encouraging display from him. He was energetic, composed, always available for the ball no matter what sort of pressure he was under, and he showed a willingness to track back and challenge which is something that has been a bit lacking from him. My one gripe with him today was trying to do too much himself. On three occasions he shifted the ball, and shifted the ball to try and work an opening for himself and then ballsed up the attack when all he had to do was lay it off sideways to a team mate who was completely open. I can accept it once or twice but by the third time you really need to have learnt and then do the right thing.
 
 
Jelavic - I thought he worked hard and did look up for the game, but things didn't really drop for him. I can't remember too many opportunities being created for him? Was it his header just before half time that looked like it was going to go in? If it was that's the only time I can really think he had a chance. And for the love of God, STOP GETTING PULLED UP FOR FUCKING OFFSIDE!!!!
 
Kone - Don't normally mention the subs but he deserves one. He looked quite dangerous when he came on and caused a few problems for WBA that we hadn't really managed to do during the game until then, i.e. stretch them down the middle. I just wish he'd come on and played with Jelavic, not as his replacement.

I am quite concerned that Martinez wil never be aloud to properly display his vision of how he wants us to play. If we play a back pass the crowd erupt..... Our crowd really need to have more patience.

We'd have to ask permission to play 12 men first.

Letter spelt as "Leter" Obviously fake...
 
 
Then again... this is Everton

example please. i only ask because we never have money to continually bid for players, at least not in my life time. Kone had a release clause - we matched it, regardless of it being slightly inflated (in my opinion), without fuss.
 
for sure you can bid, by all means. if a club says not for sale, that means the players are not for sale. if the club gives a price, you negotiate. Everton have said neither player is for sale. End of discussion.
 
Why is it so insulting?
 
12m was rejected for Europes most creative player and one of the best leftbacks in the world weeks ago. 12m. Try getting Marcelo for that, or Alba. Or Walker (i know hes a RB) if you want an English comparison - though he is 4 years younger. Think about Ashley Cole in his prime, around the same ages as Baines is now - he was a 25-30m rated player. Baines shouldnt be valued less.
 
Felli - offer less than we paid for after we spent years developing him to be one of the best CDMs around?
 
Looking back 2-3 years at some of the other ludicrous deals done (mostly by Liverpool) - Downing, 20m. Henderson, 20m. Lescott, 23m. Torres, 50m. Ronaldo, 80m. Bale, supposed 100m?! The market is inflated, so match the going rates.
 
the worst part of it is, Moyes must be having some say in this and that hurts. thats like taking the knife out of our back (which he put in when stalling on a new contract, to then leave us with no compensation) only to add barbs and lemon juice before ramming somewhere sensitive.
 
I imagine we didnt report Utd, despite having a good case in my opinion, as a sign of respect and thanks to our ex-manager, because he deserves his chance at the big time. maybe someone should tell him he has money to spend at Utd and that publicly chasing players is disrespectful and shows a distinct lack of class. I dont remember ever being done at Everton, hell our transfer fees usually arent even disclosed most of the time!
 
by the way, your initial comment was quite fair I thought...
 
 
 

Well there's a shock!

Well there's a shock!

15th August 2013; Norwich City vs. Everton.
 
This week I have joined the forum www.not606.com and asked the Norwich fans what their thoughts are for this weeks game. I've received a few replies and all of them are worth reading, they can be found below along with the questions that I answered.
 
ZOO:
 
Hi,

I'm Zoo from ToffeeTalk.com an football site ran by Evertonians for Evertonians. I'm the author of the Norwich City match-day thread and therefore have decided to sign up to your website to get a feeling of the thoughts over at your end. With it being the opening day of the season, both teams will obviously want to win and tensions will be running high. Hopefully some of you will be able to answer the following questions to see who thinks which team will do what.

1 - How do you rate Roberto Martinez? Is he a good enough manager for Everton?

2 - Where do you think Everton will finish this season?

3 - Where do you think Norwich will finish this season?

4 - In which areas do Everton need to strengthen in your opinion?

5 - In which areas do you need to strengthen?

6 - If you could take 3 players from Everton who would they be?

7 - What are you thoughts on Chris Hughton?

8 - What are your thoughts on Norwich City's signings so far?

9 - Finally, what score will it be on Saturday?

Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer all of the questions. Away fans are always welcome over at our site so if you fancy having a discussion with us Evertonians you will be more than welcome. (http://www.toffeetalk.com)

Good luck for the season.
 
DH CANARY;
 
1 - Probably the best available at the time in the PL, but perhaps better options were available overseas. Good at getting the most from a limited budget, which I guess makes him a good successor to Moyes.
2 - Top half, but probably not by much

3 - 10th-15th without getting too involved in a relegation battle would be nice, but there's players in the side now who I think could maybe push us into the top 10 if things click.

4 - Perhaps a better striker, and a CB

5 - I think we really need an attacking midfielder who can double as a striker, like Toivonen who we've been linked with. Failing that probably a 4th striker, or a CB.

6 - Baines, Fellaini, Pienaar

7 - Solid if not necessarily spectacular. His style of play was questioned last season, but without a proper target man up front I'm hopeful that will be addressed. Whilst Lambert was always after the quickest route to the top of management (and after what he achieved, I can't hold that against him!), whilst I feel Hughton is more suited to building a club up over a longer period, like Moyes did with yourselves. As there's no quick way for us to become a top 6/7 side, I'm happy with someone prepared to play the long game.

8 - Very impressed, we've spent more money than ever before this summer and smashed our transfer record, but none of our signings look like rash buys, and I think each are value for money.

9 - We'll win 2-1.
 
SUPERMAN WEARS GRANT HOLT PYJAMAS IN BED;
 
1. i'm a big fan of martinez - not because of his work with wigan but because of his work with swansea, transforming them from a run-of-the-mill league one side to an attractive and combative side which kept the momentum he helped build, even after he'd long gone. i think he was the obvious choice for everton in the summer. moyes will be a tough act to follow but martinez has a decent platform to build on and should be able to sprinkle some of his flair into the club.
2. i think everton will finish top 7 - the question is, where in the top 7? probably 7th to be honest!! i can't see them getting into the top four although i expect them to challenge. the main battle will again be against your rivals from anfield for 6th spot but i think a coutinho-inspired liverpool may just pip you.

3. i think norwich will again be mid table. we've finished 12th and then 11th in the last two seasons, so the optimistic amongst us are hoping we go one further and sneak into the top half. we'll probably be anywhere between 15th and 8th but i'll go for 10th.

4. everton throughout the moyes years always seemed to lack a large goal threat. every other part of the side was moulded brilliantly and is very effective. whether kone can provide the 15-20 goals required to take the toffees to the fringe of the top four or even into it is up for debate. i like him but i feel a better calibre of centre forward is required.

5. we aren't desperate for new signings after adding 7 so far this summer, but the general consensus is a creative midfielder link man would be essential if we want to move the club forwards. we haven't been able to fill that role yet but do have players who can cope there. another striker would be nice to give us the four most premier league clubs have and a ball-playing centre half would be a big bonus.

6. i'd certainly take baines - he's a fabulous player, one of my favourites and although he gets high praise for his attacking nous, he's a much better defender than people give him credit for. i'd take jelavic too - didn't have a great year last time out but always gives his all, puts himself about and perhaps a change of scenery would do him good. the third option would be a toss up between john stones and ross barkley - i'll plump for barkley. he could give us the creative spark we need and he's bound to be an england regular within the next 24 months.

7. hughton has divided opinion. some seem miffed that he's taken what was in essence an attack-minded team and turned them into a more pragmatic, cautious side, but there's no denying he's done an excellent job in the transfer market. as far as i'm concerned he was appointed as the long-term manager of the football club with a long-term plan. we were a mishmash of quality across the pitch when lambert left (due to the speed in which we arrived in the premier league from league one) and a lot of work needed to go on behind the scenes to make us more solid. i think hughton has done that and the next year or two will see us begin to morph into a more stable premier league club. that's the plan, anyway!

8. very impressed! ricky van wolfswinkel and gary hooper have claimed the headlines but the capture of leroy fer from fc twente is a particular coup (and you evertonians will know all about him!). elsewhere, martin olsson and javier garrido will compete for the left back slot and nathan redmond is an exciting, enthusiastic winger who could provide a spark after signing for a frankly ludicrously cheap £2m.

9. we've got a surprisingly good record against everton since rejoining the premier league with one win and three draws from our four meetings so far, and i think the smart money would be on a score draw here. i'll go for a cagey 1-1 but as any norwich fan will tell you, opening day sometimes throws up the most baffling score lines imaginable (we lost 5-0 at fulham last year and famously lost 7-1 at home to the mighty colchester united in 2009)!
 
COLK OF THE BARCLAY;
 
1. I've been an admirer of Martinez for a while as he played a lovely style of football at both Swansea and Wigan. He's used to limited resources so Everton will probably be a good fit, though he'll obviously have far more to play with. Only time will tell if he's good enough, I think he will be.
2. I can't remember where I predicted you guys were gunna finish but I think it was around 6th or 7th.

3. Norwich to finish in 9th.

4. I think Everton have a fairly balanced squad. Though perhaps a really high quality player on the right hand side to counter for Baines and Pienaar.

5. Norwich could probably do with a good ball playing CM, someone who can dictate the tempo while we're in possesion.

6. Baines, Fellaini, Pienaar.

7. I didn't enjoy the way we played for much of last season but Hughton got us another year of PL football and it was a hard situation to come into, following Paul Lambert. I'm ready to get behind him for this season, I just hope the football is a bit nicer to watch.

8. Our signings have been outstanding. 2 highly rated strikers in Ricky and Hooper, an equally highly rated midfielder in Fer and one of the brightest England prospects in Redmond. We have also retained the services of Garrido who had a solid season last year and bought Ollsson in who can cover the entire left side. Fibnally, Nash is a decent, experienced GK to provide cover for Bunn and Ruddy. All in all, been very happy. One more signing in the AM area would be nice but I'm happy with what we have got.

9. I've gone for 2-2

Good luck to Everton (Other than on Saturday), Hope you boys have a good season.
 
CARRABUH;
 
1 - How do you rate Roberto Martinez? Is he a good enough manager for Everton?

I'd rather have him than David Moyes or Chris Hughton, at least the football will be watchable

2 - Where do you think Everton will finish this season?

10th

3 - Where do you think Norwich will finish this season?

11th

4 - In which areas do Everton need to strengthen in your opinion?

I'd imagine your midfield.

5 - In which areas do you need to strengthen?

Midfield, very little in terms of passing ability

6 - If you could take 3 players from Everton who would they be?

Delofeu, Mirallas, Fellaini

7 - What are you thoughts on Chris Hughton?

Dreary believer in power, pace and an unimaginative approach to the game, strong focus on the easy things. Very much like David Moyes.

8 - What are your thoughts on Norwich City's signings so far?

Good players at what they do, not at what I personally want them to do, no recognised ball player in any of the midfield signings, strong focus on physical attributes.

9 - Finally, what score will it be on Saturday?

1-2 Everton
 
BILLY NCFC;
 
 
1 Great long term appointment think he'll do well, bring a lot out of the players coming through the academy as well as securing some good low cost deals. Read a bit about the foundations he's put in place for training facilities at wigan and he sounds like he really gets involved with the club which can only be a good thing as you seem to produce some good youngsters. Saw Mcaleny play for brentford the other day and he looked promising.

2 I think he'll take a bit of time to settle in so might not be as high a finish as under moyes of recent years so going to say 11th.

3 13th

4 Don't rate heitinga and distin ageing so a top centre back to partner jagielka is where i'd go, assuming you keep rest of your players.

5 Someone to play in the hole just behind the striker to add a few goals and creativity. I'm a massive hoolahan fan easily my favourite player from the last 4 years really gets me out of my seat, but he is lacking goals and we need him to chip in more ideally.

6 Barkley, Mirallas, Baines

7 I like him, just wish he had more faith sometimes. Seemed hesitant to trust players last season despite them finishing 12th the year before. Sometimes a bit restrictive to natural attacking movement and the team looks to break shackles that he implemented. Think in the long term he is making us a more solid and secure football club as the lambert style was unsustainable, it was havoc at times. I think his real test is coming though, keeping us progressing whilst hopefully beginning to bring through some of our talented under 18 squad and getting them cup/ loan football.

8 Sure you'll agree; leroy fer looks more than handy. Hopefully isn't used in the number 10 role, although he has just been given that squad number and plays deeper as a box to box midfielder with a bit of freedom, but time will tell. Some very promising signs from redmond as well, not seen much of RVW though but exciting from what people say. Overall happy I think he knows talent when he sees it and knows what he wants, so shouldn't have wasted too much.

9

2-1 everton, we've got too lucky against you in recent years so I think you'll get the win you've deserved previously finally. *********************************** So, that is week one's edition of Talking to the Enemy. I hope you've all enjoyed it. I'd like to give a big shout-out to the forum that responded to me - WWW.NOT606.COM who all seem like a decent bunch. If anyone wants a chat with some Norwich fans I'd head over there. Seeing as there are no takers at all for next week (or any others) I'll do the WBA game too.

I reckon Rodwell would have done better for us than Osman did today.

I'm guessing Mirallas!