thehelmet

He would be class, but seems out of our league..

Panic! Seriously though, I'd rather we didn't sign anyone than a bunch of shit players, whether squad or attitude wise. I'm hoping they've got something up their sleeves though..

Heh I said besides every other competing team running short on luck, long injury list or whatever.. If we could up the standard on 2-3 positions and have adequate cover for every other position, say at least two players for each position that could both put in a shift without weakening the team I'd be seriously happy. My point is that it shouldn't have to take that much (City) money for Moyes to turn this into a team that can continually push for 4th place, regardless of how other teams do. I'd say with a healthy Yak we have the cover needed in Saha, Jo and Vaughan/Anichebe. We've seen that Cahill can step up too if necessary. We'd need decent cover for Pie-man on the left, a squad player. Arteta needs to be healthy, but we need another creative midfielder. Osman works as cover for the central parts. Cahill and Fellaini would pretty much fill the same role, Fella needs some grooming. We need a class right winger who can cross the ball. And maybe a versatile winger who can play both sides as a squad player. Neville needs cover for the defensive mid, I don't think Rodwell looks the part just yet, even if he will be world class in a couple of years. Baines is perfect for left back, needs a little work on his positioning/toughness though. If we keep Lescott he can act as cover here. Our current CBs are definetely top premiership class, at least around 4th in the league. Might need a young player who can step in when needed here. Senderos would fill this void. Rightback needs to be improved, I love Hibbert and have done so for as long as I've seen him play but we need someone who can do the defensive work and go forward with a decent cross. If the RB is class we wouldn't need a world class RW as it would ease the strain. So my shopping list would be something like: LW cover - I'd like to see someone like Joe Ledley who could fill in central if needed. A bit expensive though. (5-8 mil) Creative midfield - I honestly felt this could be Rasmus Elm's role if he could grow into it. Reports now say they want more than 6 mil though so I don't know any more.. (5-10 mil) RW 1st team/Key - My dream move would be someone like Sessegnon, but doesn't seem very likely does it? If we get a class international fullback for the right side we wouldn't need anyone near his quality though. (5-20 mil, depending on RB) DM Cover - I honestly don't know about this one. Christian Poulsen always seemed a bit unhinged and is not a favourite of mine. I guess Blaise Matuidi but I've never seen him play. (5-8 mil) CB - Senderos is a good pick while Jags is out. (At most 5 mil) RB/Full back - Someone like Miguel at the prices mentioned would be a steal. If we went all out here though, we wouldn't need an expensive RW. (5-20 mil) Shopping total: Minimum prizes listed 30 mil, maximum prizes listed 71 mil. So somewhere in between is my guess. Over 2-3 seasons that don't sound like much, though with City, Real and others drumming up the prizes we'd probably end up at something like 80 mil to get the players we want and that would be good for the team. So worst case scenario (well in my own calculations where everything flows as it should ) we'd need something like 27 mil per season for 3 years before my plans were complete) Might have a problem if Neville decides to end his career before 2012 though.. <_<

Your time has come.

I think that might've been the last competetive game for Bergkamp as well.. I think it's safe to say we handed them the game so he wouldn't feel bad.. Maybe not by choice, but still..

With nothing but boring office work to do I've instead been thinking about what would be needed for Everton to break into the top 4, regardless of which teams comprise this 4. Apart from, as we are entirely dependant on at this time and have been in the near past, either of the teams above us and some key competitors having bad seasons whether due to repeated injuries or poor form what do we need to do to push on for a top 4 placing? Transfer budget: For one, the transfer budget (which we at this time hardly seem to have any) will probably have to be increased. We are not talking massive sums if we are meant to do this long term. The speculation about what would happen if Moyes for each season ending was given 15-20 mil to shop for (even if we throw in a wage budget here) I think in 2-3 years we would have a team comprised of 1 or 2 star quality players and 3-4 additional squad players that could continually push for a top 4 placing. The main thing here is to keep on having the same sense of togetherness that at this time is our main tool of success. If it means not signing big poster names in order to keep our team spirit I'm all for letting Moyes sign nothing but Championship players. As long as they're able to produce and perform like most of the ones brought in have we're made. Squad: The squad is, and have been for some time now, to small. This of course ties in with the lack of funds and to me it's something that again and again amazes me how Moyes and the players have season after season chased and gotten good results against sides that have thrown around bucketfuls of money. Even last year with injuries to several key players we managed fifth. I don't think most of us realizes how much of an accomplishment that was. Throw in an unbelievable cup run and I still can't quite understand how they made it happen. Formation: I still ask myself if the formation we use is an effective one if we are to grow and push on. With the players and the team we've had it's been the perfect way of playing. The togetherness of the squad means we've been tight in defense and rarely give away space on our own half and played a fast passing game on the counter attack. I think this is definetely the best football I've ever seen an Everton side play. If we are to compete with the bigger teams though, I still think we need to have more options in attack..

That was the year we had already placed 4 and Richard Wright got his final outing, no?

Heh, Bidwell - Rodwell.. I thought someone was having a go at Utd's rumoured bids on Rodwell a while back. From what I've heard he looks like he'll be class with the right management..

Nothing more to expect or ask for, manager of the year. Every year.

Either that , or gods forbid they're holding out for Artie if Fabregas leaves..

I think most people are spot on there.. Laden with injury trouble he looks to feel the pressure of having to prove himself from the go, poor decisions due to what I suppose is stress and a desire to prove himself. He looks like he's overworking every ball, chasing down every defender even when it looks like we're not supposed to be closing down. He's got great pace and work rate but with his injure proneness it looks like he'll never get a chance to settle into the pace of the game and team..

I watched one of Nigeria's olympic games, last summer I think it was, and Vic looked great. Strong on the ball and great hold up play and even some dribbles but he couldn't get the ball into the net even with an open goal. In the leauge he's often looked a bit lazy, something that I've never seen from Vaughan. I'd just like to see him injury-free for a season before passing any judgement on whether to let him go..

Anichebe? Otherwise I guess it's mostly tabloid talk.. I'm a great fan of Moyes even if he's a bit scary looking at times!

Quotes from Aftonbladet (I know, meh..) actually say that Lagerback told Elm not to rush his decision even with the experiences he's had from u21 and the national team but hopefully he is ready to move on. Lagerback bashing aside, I still think he'd prefer it if Elm could prove himself in a more high-profile league as well..

I think Moyes wants to ease him back in really gently this time, I can't see him giving up control and risk another club rushing him back from injury or playing him half-injured if we want to keep him longterm. If there's a buy-clause tagged on I guess it'd be more likely, if we got some money up front.

To comment on Charlie Davies, I think only a couple of months since he left Allsvenskan and I doubt he's improved that much. He's got fantastic pace but little strength or "eye for goal" and weak ball skills.. I wouldn't take him for more than 1-1,5 mil. Adu looked outstanding when 14-15 for the u18 squad but since have failed to really improve in my opinion, granted you don't see him much these days.

Wasn't he the one who had a spat with Totti a while back as well.. hee hee.

If wages could be kept at around or below 30,000/w I'd be happy to snap up all three of Seitaridis, Babic and M'Bami.. Not much chance of that though.. I guess you could take a chance on Amaury Bischoff as well, if you could get him for decent wages and maybe a shorter contract to see if his injury problems can be straightened out..

Manny - 10 mil Rasmus Elm - 6 mil Miguel - 4 mil You'd probably need to work your way around some wage issues though, crunch some numbers to be able to add to the wage budget I guess..

Yeah, it's a bit of a shame though that the only other real team of note was Chelsea.. I'm still immensely proud though, and loved to see Ljungbergs cheeky chip end up in Howard's lap..

People on this forum have varied a lot in their estimated value of Lescott but I think the 30 mil price tag was quoted from Moyes in regards to the Glen Johnson affair. I wouldn't value Lescott at more than 15-18 but as it stands, with our current situation it's far to little with what we would have to replace and improve. With the whole 'think of it as business' analogy, consider that by selling your asset bought for 6 mil and then selling it for 20 mil would put at risk everything that you had tried to build during those 3 years. Without a decent defensive line you would have no stability, which has been our foremost asset and means of competing with the bigger clubs. (Together with the fact that we have the most close-knit group of players and never say die attitude in the premiership) It's all about the geling.

And it's a great way to stick it to City and Hughes as well. Imagine if they can't sign Lescott and have to go for someone like Upson for upwards of 15-20 mil in the last panicky days of the window..

With no transfer funds, looking at getting only a little bit of it to spend and with no fit cover for CB.. If there's not a real bargain lined up with experience and proven ability we'd still be mad to sell.

Anichebe started a couple of games wide on the right last season as well.. not really an alternative but with injuries and what not. I guess Baxter is still to small but Wallace might be good for a few subs..?

Oh, I'll give the go ahead then..!