The Regulator

Being a Cardiffian and an Evertonian I see both sides of the argument. The trick is with a striker like Cornelius, dependent on him having a good season, his goals will justify his price very quickly. If he scores less than a dozen this season, he'd probably be regarded a a failure. Net 10-15 and he'd been seen as a good investment. But 15+ and suddenly he's a bargain. Wanyama, I'll be honest, same as Tom Ince, is doubtful. I personally feel Malky wanted a marquee signing, or at least something close, an expensive, talented player who would boost morale and fan support as wlel as offer something we don't have. With Bellamy, Maynard and Campbell, we've got 3 dwarfs up front. A 6ft 4in striker is something we only had once in the last few seasons (That being Jon Parkin, who despite scoring a tinger on his debut, was essentially that fat dude from the hangover). Now that he's brought in a coveted player I think his interest in players with a sizeable price tag will drop off. I fully expect him to go out and get some defensive cover ( a right back and left back are essential) and most likely grab himself a winger and defense mid. he wanted to make 5 signings, and those are where I think we most need it. However, if Cardiff were to get Wanyama for £10-12m I'd still see that as good business. A strong defensive midfielder, young, talented and more atheletic than most Cardiff players, he'd offer a dynamism that Cardiff simply don't have. In a midfield with Kim Bo Kyung, Whittingham, Gunnarson/Mutch and Noone/Bellamy, I think he'd bring a degree of balance to our mostly attacking players. Plus like Cornelius his age is a massive plus, a few decent seasons with us and his price will naturally inflate, but a few great seasons and cardiff are looking at a nice profit for their big spending. If Everton sold Fellaini and bought Wanyama and cornelius, I wouldn't be disappointed, but I would expect us to get people we know can make a bigger impact. Honda would make more sense for our money and suitability, but he's older and more experienced. Cardiff are in a different situation and so what will benefit them and work for them may niot necessarily be the same for Everton. £19m for two players isn't much when you consider the players your getting, after all, you could spend all that on a Stewart Downing or a Jordan Henderson.

Could make this interesting by making people guess what film your quote is from? One of my favourites "Glad to meet you kid, you're a real horses' ass" and sticking with Anchorman "They called it San Diego, which of course in Latin means, a Whales' Vagina."

Sorry I meant dead kid not sad kid, can't edit for some reason :/

Past few weeks (and months) guess I'll riff a list makes it easier: Breaking Bad - hadn't seen it at all and watched every episode up to the latest one within about 3 weeks. An abnormally good tv show. The everyday fear in society caked in from the aftermath of post 9/11 america is captured perfectly. Cranston has exceeded all expectations and literally turned the character from a rebellious hero to a monster. I doubt anyone else could have pulled it off to be fair. Can't wait for the final episodes. The Prestige - One of two Noaln films, the other being insomina, that I still hadn't seen. Really liked it, but was a bit disappointed by the ending. Not so much with the revelation about Borden but the resolution with Angier. I kind of felt like the last reveal could have been done different, after all it ends with the line from Cutter "But you're not looking for the secret, youw ant to be fooled..." when I understood literally everything that happened. Either way, it was a very good film, but particularly if you like Nolan's style. Bowling for Columbine/Fahrenheit 9/11 - Seen both before. Columbine still holds up but Fahrenheit loses some of it's impact. The whole "mother losing her son" finale was a micrcosm of the effects of war and a not so sly move by Moore to generate sympathy for his argument. The same thing I hated at the end of Columbine with the whole "leaving the picture of the sad kid". Brasseye - Great tv series from the 90's spoofing panorama style doc's. Literally one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Saw it back in the day, still hysterical now. If you haven't seen it, check out the episode on Drugs.

"Mix that with his possible partnership with Ivan Ramis and we could have had a brilliant defensive line up. The two of them would be a defensive partnership that we have been crying out for in recent years" This. Ivan Ramis was their big money defender and he didn't play that much, neither did Alcaraz. Had those two started every game, I imagine Wigan might have staved off the drop, considering how close Stoke/Sunderland/Newcastle/Aston Villa all came to going down as well. He is cover. This much is obvious. If Heitinga goes he might see a few more games, but Jags and Distin will probably still be our centre backs for next season. I think this is a smart transfer, not a great one, but a smart one. Everybody keeps acting like 4 CB's is enough, but our defense at the moment consists of: Hibbert, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Distin, Heitinga, Duffy, Baines, Oveido Now remove Hibbert from the equation as I think now he's too old and won't feature, Stones will take time to bed in and will probably end up a CB but not this year. Duffy is almost there but not quite, so another season of loans/sporadic first team appearances beckons. In reality, signing Alcaraz on a two year deal could well see him covering for 3-4 players as things change here. Distin is probably in his last season, and Heitinga might well move on. If both were to happen, this time next year we'd only have 2 CB's. I imagine it's a lot easier getting players you need when you don't need them as opposed to when everyone knows you're desperate for them. Either way, if he signs, he signs. I don't see it as a bad move at all.

Zing.

the evidence in the past has been there for all to see. I think it was the season before last, in the preseason, he was used against Weder Bremen and a continental side we played at home, I wanna say Villareal? Barkley in both games was contstantly causing trouble when he played. These games typified why he is important. Yes in the everyday slog of the premier league his age and inexperience might show with clumsiness and nervousness, but if you play around what he can provide he has immeasurable worth. At different points in those games (the reaon these friendlies stick out incidentally is because whilst there was nothing riding on these games it was against strong opposition) Barkley took on players with consumate ease, dancing through 4 bremen players and making it look like he'd done it a thousand times. He has vision, something the squad recognises (and we all should) that doesn't come naturally to most players. Most players at the top end of the spectrum have great reactions, and great reflexes, meaning they can change their mind quickly, from one move to another, one pass to the next. Players with vision, like Barkley, predict where a player will be based on where he is at that moment. Look at the likes of Scholes, at times in a match he would literally have the ball for a second, make a snap decision, and ping the ball 70 yards diagonally to the winger int he far corner of the pitch. He wasn't without his faults, but that was one of his greatest strengths. Even if teams new it was in his locker, they couldn't prevent it. We have the same case with Barkley. teams are aware of how good he is, but right now he's not at a level of confidence and experience that put him in the same class as a Scholes, until he is, he will be read by players, he will be tackled and he will have to get use to that. I think since the injury he's been more tentative, I'm hoping martinez can draw him out of his shell and let him grow into the player we all know he could be. It's not just noise when different people in the footballing world, from the players he's played with, to the pundits who have seen him play, all say he has the potential to be a world beater. He still does, and building a team around him isn't the worst idea. However at this moment, we just need to see him have a good pre-season and see what RM thinks. He was willing to take his time with McCarthy and make him into a good player, I'm happy to wait to see what he can do with Ross.

Get us relegated? I agree, I think matinez finally has a set up he can flourish with. Everton stagnated at different points under Moyes, but never lost our grip. There is enough of that squad here still (Howard, Jagielka, Baines, Pienaar, Osman etc) who know what that mentality is. Everton aren't a club that play in the Championship, or stay in the bottom half for too long. That's what's caked in to the older players in the squad, so Roberto's policy of strengthening youth I think will work wonders as young players will be learning off older, wiser heads; but for all the style and tactics Martinez will bring, the same knuckle down and hang in there attittude will reverb around the club. Also, I think his attitude towards tactics will be a breath of fresh air. I'm excited to see how he uses certain players in the squad, Coleman/Baines as wing backs has been touted and is a real possibility. I'm looking forward most to how he'll use Barkley and Duffy, I think this season they could be like two new signings if they can regularly push for a first team berth. I also feel slightly better regarding transfers, he says he was looking at De Gea before Man U. don't get me wrong, De Gea needed a lot of work at Man U to be the keeper he is now, but martinez still has an eye for great players and I hope he can find a few deals in this window and get us some good squad players. Great interview by the way, also hoping toffeetalk get this style of interview with him, although I agree with the opinion that you can get away with this a lot more at lower clubs out of the limelight.

I highly doubt we will play 3-5-2, in fact I'd love to see us play 3-4-3: Howard Jagielka Heitinga Distin Coleman Gibson Fellaini Baines Mirallas Jelavic Pienaar Bench: (Keeper????), Duffy, Stones, Oviedo, Anichebe, Barkley, Osman The reason I doubt 3-5-2 is unless we sign 2 strikers we don't have any cover if both Anichebe and Jelavic play, and no one to change the game off the bench. At least with eitther of them in wait we can have an impact sub (as Vic proved he is best at).

I'll send you a link to the coffeeshop in the dam I'm posting from then Nah but seriously you don't think? Jelavic maintaining his best form is 20 goals imo, defence does as well as it was doing towards the end of last season and we've got one fo the top three defenses in the league. Draw a few of the games we shouldn't lose (newly promoted sides) and win the ones we should have killed off that turned out to be draws....seriously, we were only about 8 points off 4th, and I don't see any team runnign away with it like Man U did last season, quite the opposite, I think it'll be the tightest and most involved title race next season that's it's ever been....

Didn't The Yak get 21 in his first full season? I agree with you though, Moyes had a habit ruining goalscorers. Also, The Yak seems to me the last player we had that scored a hat trick? Is that true? If so, could we please sign someone who could score one? I miss hat tricks

The penny drops, should have got that really, it is Friday though, I'm half thinking about about sitting in a beer garden right now

Cheers Matt, honestly I'm not on here enough to make short, one point posts, most often now it'll be me on a lunch hour, weighing up the story of the day hehe Sturridge hatred is just jealously poorly masked to be fair, I think he's a great player and the type I'd like to see us get in the summer Completely agree with Sinclair, why he left Swansea i'll never know, City have just spent £60mil without a manager, where is Sinclair in their plans? Probably right around the bottom, whilst where are Swansea without him? Oh yeah europe lol Lescott I can forgive pretty easily in hindsight, he moved to a team where he won two trophies, and we got £24mil and 3 players, granted BIly never really shone but I always thought he would have had he had the freedom of the CAM role, Heits and Distin both proved their worth and had bad spells, but as a whole all did better than lescott would have done for us, and now we could be in a position to get him too....especially if City buy a defender given Kolo Toure's departure to the small club across the park...but with Sinclair Swansea didn't really get all that much money for him, and he could have made them a top 7 team if he'd stayed, given Michu's ridiculous first season... That being said, still a quality player and still young, definitely what we need.... As far as the vacant DM role, I can only go over players I've bought on Fifa who have done well lol in which case, Lars Bender, Etienne Capoue and Yann M'Villa are all good DM's.....but if I'm honest and not to rattle the cages here but....would we get away with a cheeky bid for Alonso? still only 31, could get 2-3 seasons out of him, his passing range is immense and so is his accuracy, and out of all the liverpool players I've actually watched play football, he is one of the very few that I would gladly have in our side...although extremely unlikely that it would ever happen

Safe rubes, I've had computer trouble for a while but I can pop on at lunch times in work and make a contribution, plus I always show up around transfer time To be fair at one point there was nothing but bad blood on here so I just bounced, seems to have levelled out now, which is good, I always thought this was the best forum for Everton, everyone (normally) tried to quantify their points and at least try to debate properly, instead of some sites where it's just post after post of swearing and self righteousness.....or maybe there's no difference after all Not sure what LTNS means tho? Figueroa would give us a good option as well, didn't realise he was a free? If so, I think he'd be better back up as LB, and let Oveido have a crack at going forward.

We won't get Honda. But he's exactly the type of player I think we need. 3 players of Honda ability, the other two being a winger and a striker, and I think we could win the league.....no I am being serious. Whoever said Jelavic is a squad striker as well, is frankly, nuts lol Jelavic scored 11 in 16 in his first half season, and he'd scored 36 in 55 before that, one reason martinez has got me excited is because I think Jelavic can get back to that form. If he does, he's well above being a squad striker. Granted he didn't have a good season last year, but he I remember hitting the post more than a few times, and havign opportunities that he would normally bury go wide. All those sorts of opportunites get put away when he's in form. I have faith in the guy.

Fellaini is the one player that I'd be happy if he stayed or went. If he stays, I can see martinez using him in the DM role he wants, if he goes, Martinez (according to Bill) will have all of the money which is at least £24mil if not £26m. As has already been stated, that would free us up in the transfer market to bulk up the squad. I'd like to see Fer here, he came off the bench against Germay U-21's and scored the late winner recently incedently, as he is the same sort of mold as Fellaini but obviously would be a lot cheaper. We could also afford a decent winger, as I've said I think Scott Sinclair would be a bargain for what he could give to us, and then the money left could get us a half decent striker for around £10-12m, which was enough for a player like Sturridge. Even though he's a red shite now I've always rated him, weird that now he plays for liverpool though I'm starting to dislike him more and more hehe Saying that, I still think we need another midfielder, ideally a creative/playmaker type player. Diaby isn't a bad shout but he gets injured far too often, if we had the option, I'd prefer an attacking mid a la Cahill, someone comfortable playing off the striker. Has anyone kept an eye on Odjidja-Ofoe? He seemed like another powerful belgian midfielder? If he's still not too expensive he'd be a good addition. In reality though, I'd much prefer Roberto to make 6-7 signings, a bit like countdown, two big ones, and 4-5 smaller ones for a few mil each. He's already said that he intends to use the youth here so I assume that at least Barkely Stones and Duffy will get games, here's hoping he can get the best out of Vellios as well. As I've always felt, we're really not that far away from being a top side. Fellaini going would certainly give us the the finance to go out and get players that would make us into a top side, and I think fans of other teams and pundits oversell Felli's contribution. Don't get me wrong, when he plays well, he's outstanding. But for £26m, I think we can get more bang for our buck. Fellaini could go to an Arsenal or Chelsea and give them that vital push towards a big trophy, but for us, we have a team full of players who work there socks off and can put in a tackle. I'd much ratehr see some pace and goals added in place of Fellaini, but he cans til score. Like I said, easy come easy go on this one, still really intersting though. No doubt it will be a massive summer for us if he goes.

In truth, Al Habsi was an after thought, Julio Cesar if he's leaving would be better. Truth be told, I think Fulham have got ahead of the pack with a £3m deal for Stekelenburg, I rate him and £3m is pretty cheap for a keeper of his ability. Begovic would be amazing but I doubt we'll go a for a player like him, the price tag alone will put us off. I grant you he is not at Fellaini's level but let's be frank here, Fellaini was an elbowing, 15 yellow cards a season player until Moyes calmed him down and he got his head on straight. Every player has their downfall, and Mccarthy, although an overpriced youth, is arguably the best player at Wigan and I'd hate to see an Arsenal or Spurs get him and end up having a very good player, only for us to buy 3 or 4 to do the same job over the next 5 years and none of them stick. That being said, there are probably continental players who would be a lot cheaper and are at the same level. Thinking of QPR again, Granero and M'Bia would both probably want a move. It's not that Kone is that much better really, just having Vic score half a dozen goals again for a season, all against teams below us, isn't enough. Kone may not be a 20 goal a season but I'd warrant at least 10, and that's what I think we need, stability. A new manager should give us renewed drive and enthusiasm, but players like Vic have had too many second chances and I just can't see him becoming an important player for us. Mirallas, Jelavic, Baines and Fellaini are our main goal threats, behind that Ossie/Pienaar/Gibson can probably get 10 between them, so we need someone to come in and give us those extra goals that make the difference. Looking at the games we drew last season, if you add a few goals suddenly we would have had champions league. I don't want to make the same assessment next season, because we're not the same now. A new manager means a new direction, a different style of football, but most of all ambition. We have to believe that we're only 1 or 2 good players from having a Chamions League level squad. In which case, I would take a Kone for the right money, but you're right, players, strikers especially, can get hyped up far too quickly when it's usually the case that they were playing beyond their ability in the first place.

Position wise I've had a look at it, I think a new keeper should actually be high on the list, does anyone know how old Al Habsi is? I know he's made some howlers in the past but from what I've seen overall he's a solid keeper, and he certainly wasn't helped out any in defense!!! Looking at our squad, the vunerable points highlight themselves: GK: Howard, Mucha, Springthorpe RB: Coleman, Hibbert, Stones CB: Jagielka, Heitinga, Distin, Duffy LB: Baines, Oveido RM: Mirallas, Naismith CM: Fellaini, Gibson, Osman, Barkley, Hitzlsperger LM: Pienaar, Gueye ST: Jelavic, Anichebe, Vellios Players that could leave - Johnny has a year to run on his contract, and said if Everton want to make money off him he is happy with that as much as he is happy with staying. However if we could recoup £2.5-3m for him he will go. Fellaini is a possibility but I think after everything that has happened in his career at Everton and the way he's grown, I can see him staying one more season. If he doesn't, his release clause is in the mid 20's (£26mil??) so we'll definitely get a wedge for him, plus probable bonuses based on appearances and trophies/titles won. Baines is the one I'm most worried about. Without him at left back, we will not only need someone good as a replacement, we will probably need a first team player from someone else, anyone else would be filler compared to what he has done. I also think if Baines were to leave Pienaar would probably end up abroad as well. But if it was just Baines, I don't imagine we'd sell for less than £15m. So in total, from players that could leave, we'd hopefully have somewhere in the region of £40m from transfers, giving us probably £25-30m to spend on new players to address the players in red. However, if we keep all our players, we still have the problem of what's behind our first 11, and as we've known for some time, it's not a lot... Positions to re-inforce: Goalkeeper Centre Back Right Back Right Midfield Left Midfield Central (playmaker) Midfield Striker Goalkeeper - As stated, Howard isn't going to get better, he'll just gradually slip down the mountain, heels dug in trying to stop his fall. With a new manager usually come new players and I would hope that we would get a new 1st choice keeper in and get shot of Mucha and loan out Springthorpe. Howard may have been good for a number of years but just like Neville, (one game he could have Bale in his pocket, another he could spray a terrible back pass that leads to a goal) he should be moving to the bench and providing cover and pressure for a new, younger keeper. Begovic is touted, and since Stoke have signed Jack Butland I think we could get a better deal than £15m. Like I said though Al Habsi might not be a bad shout, but I could be alone in this. Defense - Hibbert won't be good enough anymore, he's too slow and too old, and I'm not sure if Stones can provide cover for Coleman who after this season has established himself as our de facto right back. Saying that though, I don't really want another right back, so I'd prefer a defender who can cover at that position but mainly play centre back. Since Azpillicueta has done okay at Chelsea, and I can see Mourinho buying a defender, it would be pragmatic to make a bid for Ivanovic, the type of player that could help get us into that top eschelon of football. However that is incredibly unlikely, but exactly the player I think we need. The jury's out on Duffy, whether the new manager would take a risk on him I'm not sure. Again, regardless of who goes I think we should be looking at another centre back. Alcaraz is on a free, and would be a good squad player. Left back I feel Oveido has more to offer than we've seen and I'd be happy to give him some games at left back so I'm not overconcerened, however if we did sell baines, the ever touted Luke Shaw would be ideal, but will be very overpriced. Midfield - Our starting midfield is good enough for me for next season, however if players lose form there's so little behind them it's terrifying. Behind Mirallas-Fellaini-Gibson-Pienaar is Naismith-Barkley-Hitzlsperger-Gueye. Perosnally, I want to see Barkley in the first team as much as possible next season. We'll never see him fly if we keep him in a cage, and going on loan won't motivate him like playing for Everton will. He needs to be allowed to make mistakes, and if he doesn't get games now he's development could stagnate, after what seems like many years ago since Tim Cahill said he was the "best footballer he's ever played with", it would be a crying shame for him, a financial loss for us, and a sign that we aren't developing the youth like we should. Back to the squad though, we obviously need a winger. Naismith, although I tried to give him a chance, is a bog standard scottish player, with little invention and a very one track mind. Mirallas is his polar opposite, and we need another player like Mirallas to add speed and tenacity to our wings. Atsu has been mentioned, but it always irks me when players try to angle for moves, it always feels like it's for money and not for the challenge, but if he's cheap he'd be a solid little buy. On the left, well, did anyonew atch Gueye out on loan? is he the new Pienaar? Or should we be looking for a left midfielder as well? Man City look to be tying up a deal for Navas, which is a very good buy for them, so even though he's a jack, I think Scott Sinclair would be a good addtion on loan for a season. As far as the central playmaking role is concerned, I'd love to see McCarthy here, but not for the wrong price. £12m to me plus add ons up to around £15m would be fair, but anything higher and we should look elsewhere. McCarthy would add another young fresh approach to our mdifield, and the thought of he and Barkley tearing through teams is exciting to say the least. Attack - Jelavic on form means we don't need anyone. However, givent hat he wasn't in form for most of last season means we are tragically short up front. Anichebe's contsant promise to be a top striker simply never materialises, and although Vellios made a good impact when we first saw him, that'll be 2 seasons ago come September, and I've heard nothing on his development since. So another striker is a must if we are serious about pushing, but if we don't sell it will be a tall order to get a nailed on 20 goal a season striker. Kone however could provide a middle ground, another Wigan raid and admittedly would probably cost us a fair few mil, he did well in his first season of British football and I imagine would jump at the chance toget back in the top flight. Striekrs I'll admit though, are my weakest subject, in terms of who we could afford and would be value for money....not that it isn't hard enought to think fo that in the first place So my picks as things stand would be: GK - Begovic (Sell Mucha, loan Springthorpe) CB - Alcaraz (Free) LB - Luke Shaw (If we sell Baines) RM - Atsu (Sell Naismith?? Pretty please??) LM - Scott Sinclair (loan) CM - McCarthy (if we sell fellaini, otherwise I don't think we have the money ST - Kone but the picks we make, as is every year, are always subject to rapid and unpredictable change (Charles Nzogbia was the only player we needed at one point!!) so for now I'm hoping we simply keep everyone and maybe sign one or two. I'm really interested to see how much the tv money is though, surely we should have a morsel to spend this summer without selling. here's hoping...

Like the new kits. The new badge thing though, I'm just gonna throw two pennies (coated in petrol) in by saying I really, truly couldn't care in the slightest. is it just me, or do I see Everton as a football club, and not a badge? I mean take a brief look at our badge history, I don't think NSNO made an appearance until the 70's...being from Cardiff I saw the effect the red kit had on the fans, first it was "No way" then it was "I'm still not happy" and now it's "Well we got promoted"....same as i can see for us this season, no one wants to buy the gear with the new badge on, but trust me, it won't matter in the slightest if we get champs league or win a cup....I'm trying to care about it, but I just can't :/ besides, there'll redo it to your hearts content next season, and it'll be exactly what you want it to be, and I'll still support the club regardless....even if they didn't have a badge at all back to the kits though, I like the design on the away. The home is pretty plain but I prefer plain blue to the white added in, my favourite kit of the last decade or so was the semi-final all blue from when we beat Man U on penalties, we always seem to do well in all blue, or maybe that's just me as well I like the black and blue design as well, might spring for the away kit this year...no idea on dates then?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22761798 What you reckon?

I think Naismith could wind up being a good striker for us, but he is not a wide player in the slightest. most players when they've been here under moyes have had to fill in because other players have nailed down positions. Both Mirallas and Naismith are strikers, and I think Naismith has proved on a few occasions he can be in the right place at the right time to put the ball away. But he needs to play in the right position. I think we'd see him be more comfortable and a bit more consistent either playing alongside, or in behind Jelaivc. When Kevin is back he will start on the right for us whenever he is available, and that suits me. Naismith definitely lacks a few yards on the premier league boys though, and he will need to up his fitness. He has had two major injuries as well, and like Essien showed before he went to real Madrid, you can be a world class player, and in my opinion, at one point Essien was one of the best midfielders around, but if you're out for too long or the injury is that bad, you may never get that level back again. Real Madrid can afford to carry a player like Essien because they have so much quality, they can play him when they want. We don't have the option, so Moyes will need to strengthen that right hand side at some point. Naismith is not the answer on the right but neither do I think it's his fault when being played there. He's "doing a job" as the Moyes catchphrase goes, which at the moment isn't having too bad an effect overall. Hopefully, in the cup perhaps, he'll get the chance up front. If he does like i said, I can see him being a 10 goal a season kind of player, someone who doesn't play every game but does have an impact. If however the switch never comes, he's not going to be good enough for us on the right and we should look to make some money out of him rather than keep him when there are other options.

This. I like Heitinga, always have, one of my favourite moments was him ghosting ashley cole on the way up to take his penalty in the cup, which cole then missed. Typical of his attitude, which doesn't always fit the enviroment granted. Distin though has been in good form lately, so has jagielka, so unless we play 3 at the back and use seamus and baines as wing backs (which I personally think would see us score more goals), he's gonna have to work hard to earn a starting place anyway...But, Moyes does have favourites, and sometimes he'll choose people even when they're injured or not match fit when there are other options. He played rodwell last season in right midfield when he'd literally just come back from injury, and had to take him off because he re-injured himself. Those sorts of decisions would wind any player up if it meant losing your place, but I think he recognises we've got 3 quality center halves at the club, and he's one of them. If we had 4 it might be easier to partner and rotate, and I'm really hopeful Duffy develops into a player that could give us that option without having to buy. If Heitinga goes, hopefully it will be in the same vein as bily and we'll use the cash to strengthen. We lost Rodwell, but we got Mirallas and Pienaar back. If we lost Heitinga but got Lescott on loan and bought 1 or 2 others I'd see it as good business. Same if we didn't and kept him because I think he's a good player. Win-win for me. Plus we've had this before plenty of times with news stories of disgruntled players when really all they ever say is "I love everton, but I'd love to play in (insert country/specific team/specific league) one day". Nothing wrong with that, it just gets rehashed and turn into gossip to get attention.

I kind of have the same feeling, Spurs are by no means an average side. People have mentioned that Bale is out, but I don't see how that improves our chances. Defoe, dempsey, dembele, lennon - all attacking players with pace and guile, something we seriously lack. However good fellaini, pienaar, osman etc are, there's no real worry about us hitting teams on the counter, save for one man. If we get Mirallas back fit for the game, I can see us winning 3-1. Without him, another draw, or worse a loss. I underestimated how important Mirallas could be, but to me he eclipses what Donovan brought us. He's young, talented and best of as fast as they come. The combination between him fellaini and jelavic in one of our earlier games (Sunderland, Swansea? Can't remember) was industrious and showed what we can acheive with a few more direct players in our team. i also think Jelavic's form is one of the biggest factors in our finishing fourth. If he picks up and goes on to score us 10-15 goals between now and may, I think we have a good chance. But carrying another misfiring striker will be like handcuffing us, as it has been season after season since yakubu's arrival. Since the Yak's first season and 21 goals, we haven't had anyone that looks like scoring anywhere near that total for us. Fellaini may be scoring goals, but asking him to drive us to 4th by himself is too much. in reality, we aren't punching above our weight anymore. Our squad is full of talented and capable players, albeit we're lacking in some positions. Even Oveido and Hitzlsperger have surpassed expectation so far, and I'm really hoping Barkley starts making some appearances. We don't have excuses for not performing, Spurs on sunday to me is this squads biggest test so far on staying on sight for europe, lose and a few results dont go our way, and we sink down the table. Win and a few results go away, and we could be sitting in third. We need to go from being hard to beat, to being dominant, from battling defensively to attacking relentlessly. We haven't killed teams off in the last 7 or 8 games, if we had we could have been up with united. The season is kicking into gear now, winter is a test for all sides, but for us this season, its a challenge to see what were made of. If were still 3/4/5/6th come january, then I think we can turn hope into belief. If we slide down to 10/11/12th, then I think not only we will lose Fellaini/baines etc we will also lose Moyes, who must be as desperate as any evertonian to see us lift a trophy or qualify for europe.

Sure I've read on BBC it's for £1.2mil not the 5 reported. I think for £1.2 this is a great bit of business. Baines is brilliant, but be fair to the lad, he plays every single game he can. Giving him a rest every now and then will be a new experience and one he deserves. The ability to play in wide midfield will also be a bonus, as I don't think Gueye is anywhere near the finished article, and I see him more as striker anyway. I'd be happyw ith our business but honestly I wouldn't mind one more player, N'Zonzi would be great to add depth.

My view on this is that we wanted as much cash as possible up front for Rodwell. In the midst of trying to do that (look how long it took to get the Lescott deal finished) if you add in "Oh yeah, by the way, that player Johnson, any chance of throwing him in to sweeten the pot?" we ould have probably looked at a lower cash payment up front (maybe 6 or 7 mil) lower further payments, the deal may have totalled 12m isntead of starting on it, and all for a player who hasn't really been important to City. Doing it seperately gives us a modicum of power to play with, the first refusal i agree is bullshit nowadays, along with gentlemans agreements. They just don't exist anymore (see Saha playing against us for Tottenham). However, Johnson on the right would be a very good signing on loan, hence why so many teams have been rumoured with it. Man City lack wingers though. When you think about it, Johnson is there ONLY winger. Silva, Nasri, Barry have all played wide but all are central players. In fact I'm surprised at Man City's lack of wingers, when you compare them to the teams around them, all the other top teams have 3/4. If we sign Mirallas, we'll have Pienaar, Naismith, Gueye, Coleman and Mirallas and possibly Niang. Osman can also play out wide, though it's a bit of a waste of time for him. But still, I can see why Johnson would have created an unneccasary stumbling block in the rodwell transfer.