thehelmet

Miguel from Valencia again?

I don't know if it's been mentioned and I couldn't find the thread but apparently Zenit signed Bystrov from Spartak a few days back..

My old boss was obsessed with Phil Lynott. He has everything to do with everything!

I'd go with 2. No idea who though..

I think he meant more than Van the Man though..

I think from pictures Davies on Anichebe looked just as bad, only lucky that he hit as far up on Victor as he did. I had a friend break his leg similar to this, only he was tackled slightly from the side and then another player straight on, snapped both of the larger bones in his leg. Hopefully it's a clean break and he can have a speedy recovery and continue to play.

I think it's been stated again and again that he deserves a legendary status for his passion on and off the pitch, not in particular for his footballing ability. Which in my opinion still was better than decent. Posting his scoring record in that context doesn't prove much of anything as some of those games happened through what was to me personally the worst years supporting Everton. I tried to go through the Latchford and King eras but apart from seeing that Everton ended: 4th 74/75, 11th 75/76, 9th 76/77, 3rd 77/78 and 4th 78/79 from Wikipedia I won't go into any further detail. Bear in mind though that this was also before the Premier League makeover.

I was being intentionally vague as I feel that Distin is about as far from what I believe we should be looking at as is possible. Especially with all the other names at CB we've been connected with. If we get a decent battling midfielder Neville can cover LB and RB if needed. A CB needs to be added with potential and ability in mind, which is why Steven Taylor fits the bill perfectly even if I think people's opinion of him has skyrocketed after his name was mentioned. While Distin and Huth would be good temporary solutions I still believe with the funds that we have that we need to look at more longterm solutions.

I suggest getting a younger alternative without the experience but with more than 2 years ahead of him of top flight football. It all boils down to the fee though doesn't it? If he's dirt cheap then sure, as cover for 1 or 2 seasons he'd be decent. But there's bound to be a reason for him going dirt cheap too. But with the sums suggested it's like throwing away money we don't have. With the availability of funds we have to plan more than one year ahead.

It does seem that the bid from Stuttgart was made earlier though, doesn't it? Or am I assuming to much with the reading order of the article?

That Telegraph link scares me. Huth and Distin, that's not a defensive pairing for the future and surely paying 8-9 million for the pair of them will be like throwing the money away. If Huth has more injury troubles we're still one short, and the both of them will be useful for 2 seasons at the very most, after that I wouldn't see either of them playing for a top half premier league club. If Taylor's asking price is up to 6 mil then we should pay it. He will be useful for us for several years ahead, a potential future england CB and at the same time he is already ready for first team football. I think we might be hyping him a bit, but if he can gel then I think there's great potential here. Ideally we could get someone relatively unproven that could act as cover on the flanks..

Even if he would be top class, another attacking midfielder playing off a lone striker? Not where we should be focusing is it?

Fulham and the undisclosed other EPL club (likely Everton?) were left out as they couldn't/wouldn't guarantee him regular first team football, something that he apparently will be at Alkmaar according to Aftonbladet..

How relevant is that link if it's a few days old though.. or the quote at least? If we've got Banega coming I don't know how much I'd want Defour. I'd much rather want class to put on the right side of the pitch.

He is class on CM-Online but I'm not entirely convinced this is what we need right now.. Would much rather see a hard working winger who puts in a massive workload and good crosses. I really wanted Behrami before West Ham got him..

Yeah, a few days has me worried as well. Not because I think someone else will snap him up but because I think Valencian might pull out because they want to keep him. Might be because it's a weekend though, next few days hopefully means monday morning. Sharp.

So now everyone possibly involved have denied the move. Should make obvious the fact that this was only just paper talk, as much of everything else seems to be.

The link doesn't seem to be around any more though.. I could see how it could be a fee that might be a fee that could rise to 24 mil though. If the going price is somewhere around 20.

They aren't completely reliable and seem a bit too impressed with themselves, and likening themselves to the Gazzeta, but they are the paper with the best overall view of Swedish football and transfer news. That doesn't really say much but still.. The article said he's only told them that they are his first choice at the moment and the paper then speculates that he will be ready to sign at the start of the coming week after playing a last game for Kalmar..

I'm a bit disappointed as I think with a season under his belt he'd be a regular in our side. And I still believe he is a great future prospect.. AZ Alkmaar does have CL football to tout, and from what I've read there were no confirmed bids from Everton. And definetely not close to Kalmars valuation of him.

Aftonbladet, Swedish press reveals that Rasmus Elm has chosen AZ Alkmaar and that the deal will be done in the beginning of next week. The going price will be around 4,5-5 mil euros and is still subject to negotiation. This after Bayer Leverkusen will retain Tranquilo Barnetta and stating that they don't want Elm until January or as late as next season. No mention of Everton..

I don't really fancy Bentley coming here but our reality is we are swamped with center field players. Out of our 7 senior midfield players (and that's counting Rodwell) we have only one player who can do a quality job on the wing. Peanuts, granted Arteta has done a great job when playing on the right but he really shines when playing at the center of the park so that's where we need him. Osman, Cahill, Fellaini all compete for the same place in my mind, Arteta is our only playmaker and Rodwell and Neville are our def mids. We need capable wingers, preferably proven ones but with these numbers mostly anyone who's a natural winger should be considered. With a natural winger with good crossing Hibbert could be left to what he does best, tackling. Granted I'd love to see a forward pushing rightback similar to Baines but with our limited funds I'd say a natural winger should be the 'must get' of this transfer window.

As has been mentioned earlier, his older brother have spoken against a move to a dutch club as he feels Rasmus has outgrown that league as well. I could see him going to a bundesliga side for one or two seasons. I'd much prefer it if he went here though, if only for the sake of our squad size..

If Lescott really wanted to move on all he would have to do was turn in a transfer request. Since he hasn't done that all we have is media speculation about whether or not he wants to go, whether or not he even had a word with Moyes about wanting to go. People's problems with City handing out insane amounts of money have less to do with causing inflation on the market and over-priced players and more to do with the way this affair has been handled. Hughes have had two bids turned down for Lescott, both without any negotiation or follow-up other than being told that the player is not for sale. Add to that that Moyes have set a price of more than 30 mil for Lescott. He won't be sold for less than 30 mil according to paper reports, Moyes has repeatedly said Lescott is not for sale. The respectful thing to do would be to put the money on the table to get a discussion or simply move on. It's not about letting you shower us with money over Lescott, it's about the fact that without him we have one fit CB and less than a week until the league starts. And it's the manager's going price, we all live with it.

No contest.. Tim's made short work of every flag he's been up against!