RuffRob

What on earth is going on. He has only picked 4 strikers - Rooney who in my opinion is not going to be able to kick a ball in the whole of the tournement and Owen, who is touch and go to be injury free and is definately not going to be match fit. If the first game was tommorow we would have Crouch and Walcott starting and no striker on the bench. So what does Sven do - bring in Hargreaves, Jenas and Lennon. Oh well at least he has Reo Coker, Defoe and Andy Johnson in reserve. Were is Phil Neville in place of Ledley King?, Hargreaves ahead of our Phil or even Scott Parker, he's having a laugh and were is Wright-Phillips not even in reserve? Given the current striker situation, you have a 5th in your first 23 - especially if you are taking a 17 year old Rookie in Walcott. I just hope Walcott is as good as everyone is making out. This squad is either going to be a stroke of genius, but in my opinion the odds on England winning have lengthened this afternoon.

Palace look all but out of the play-offs after losing 3-0 to Watford. Get in quick for AJ I say, I strongly bet he has a release clause in his contract if Palace did't come straight back up. Everton have shown interest in him before and if we look keen again, I would think that would go a long way with AJ.

Um Nolan is the talk of the town and will not be cheap - with all the other areas of the squad needing improvment - can you really see a huge slice of the transfer budget being parted on a midfeilder. I think not.

If Bolton are ready to let him go, he is past his sell buy date. Will still command decent wages - so don't think he is an option.

Chimbonda has been one of the finds of the season in my opinion, well done Wigan. Will find it hard to replace him. I heard Man U are after him.

http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vcontent/cont...ws-item,00.html Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Middlesbrough are all being linked with a summer move for Udinese goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis. De Sanctis has enjoyed another fine season at the Stadio Friuli, and has been monitored by several clubs this season. The 29-year-old has been considered one of the finest keepers of his generation and was outstanding in Udinese's wonderful 2004/5 campaign, which saw the unfashionable Italian outfit secure a Champions League place. Everton are reportedly keen to add a new goalkeeper to their ranks, with doubts surrounding the future of 39-year-old Nigel Martyn. Whilst Tottenham are believed to be on the lookout for back-up to Paul Robinson, although it remains to be seen if De Sanctis would be prepared to play as an understudy.

I agree the club have given more to DF than he has given us. But as I said that is another argument. to a lot of young Everton fans he is a big hero/cult figure/talisman, whatever you want to call him. Whatever, you think of DF you have to say he has been memorable! I think a final 15 miniutes appearence with the armband would do no harm. If only to give the fans who wish the chance to give him the send of they want to give him. More for some of the fans than DF. surely another 12 months contract is not in the offering?

http://www.sasoccer365.com/Breaking_News/story_11652.shtml rumour saying we may be after McCathy again - think we could do better to be honest, as i don't rate him that much. 3 goals in a portugease league last season doesn't fill me with confidence to be honest.

I think it would be fitting - due to Fergusons cult status with many of the fans, particulalry the young ones. (where this status is deserved or not is another topic). I would like Beattie to start though, with maybe an slim outside chance of going to the World Cup, he may pull off his performance of the season out of the bag and catch Svens eye with a home hatrick.

I think Neville has been one of our most consistent players of the season, without a doubt. Lots of United players have left Old Trafford and only ended up a shadow of the player they where. You can't say that of Phil Neville. From his first game to last game I would say that Neville has worn the Everton shirt with pride, and it has shown on the pitch. His comments on the red card situation is an interesting insite, never red carded as a united player, yet twice in his first season away from them. He is not a dirty player by any means. So it does go to show that teams like Everton are viewed differently by refs. Neville has done enough for me to this season to take the captains arm band. I hope Sven takes him to the World Cup as the lad deserves it. However, I have got a horrible feeling its not going to happen.

Very well regarded in the Championship. Had he not been injured two seasons ago and missed Wolves Premiership season, it is likley he would have moved from Wolves earlier. I think this rumour is pretty hot and expect Lescott to be our first signing of the summer, should he pass our medical. http://www.football.co.uk/wolverhampton/pl...ott_41484.shtml A number of articles on his past injuries!!!!

How did Kissock look? I surpose he is still on the young side

I think that has to be the case - you can't risk both Rooney and Owen. As stated Rooney will be in the squad until last minute has to be made. I am sure stand-bys will be in the training camp and ready to go with the squad. But I can't see how England can train or prepare for the finals properly with both first choice strikers already carrying injuries and not able to take part in training sessions. To train and prepare for a game with one sitting on the sidlines is difficults but with both strikers sitting in the sideline has to be impossible - doesn't it? But still think Beattie is well down Svens pecking order of strikers he would take to the World Cup. Beattie needed to go on a great goal scoring run to really get a chance to be in Sven's plans- alas in April it dried up for him. Right or wrong my view of Svens order of prefference is : Rooney Owen Crouch Defoe Bent Vassell Andy Johnson Heskey Beattie

I love the World Cup, and don't want to see any class players injured and missing the finals. I want to see all the best players in the world and doing their stuff. I am not one of those if 'Ronaldiniho was injured England would have a better chance' type of people. The first World Cup I really got into as a kid was Mexico '86 - With England being knocked out by the Hand of God. But it was Maradonna's skills and brillient goals that was one of the highlight of that tournement, and that world cup wouldn't have been the same without him playing in it, even though it may have cost England dearly in the end. I want to see as many moments of genuis and sublime skill as possible this summer, and Wayne Rooney has plenty of the above to offer in abundance, so I wish him a speedy recovery. Roll on the World Cup - becasue I love it!!!!

Agree totally, ideally you bring a young keeper on gradually and not throw them in at the deep end. Decent keepers can be ruined by using them to soon. A loan for Howard with first option to buy would be a good deal.

Lets start off with Birmingham - Upson for me would have to come cheap given that he is currenly injured. Next january would be more timely I feel. Pennent would be the first on my list from the relegated clubs, this player has a bit of class and can really cross the ball. Would like to see Jarosik on loan from Chelsea. Birmingham over the last couple of years have been the home of a number of chelsea players. We should be looking to taking Birminghams place for Chelsea players wanting first team Prem football. Moyes was after Forssell last season, but his historic injury messed that up. A renewed interest I wonder. I would guess Birmingham would be glad just to get most of there money back. Heskey for me is a decent player who just gets a bad rap (bit like the Phil Neville perception before we got to know him properly!!!) With our DF finishing, the big man may be a handy addition to the squad. Chris Sutton - Again would a potential DF replacement - and cheaper than Heskey. West Brom - Not a lot to choose from in this team Gera has to be the pick. Had a superb season last year but gone of the boil a little this season - has he been out injured much? only seen that he has playered 20 games or so. A lot will depend on how much money we are talking for his services. But his overall record looks very good for a midfeilder. 205 Appearences - 50 goals, international 18 appearences - 9 goals. Ellington - just doen't do it for me to be honest. Kirkland - his injury record is second to none. Greening - I like this hard working player and would not grumble if we bought him on our books. Sunderland - Like everybody else Arca is the only player that would possibley improve our squad. But just as interesting as who may be available from relagateed teams is who will be available from teams who failed to get promoted.

I hope the lad is able to make a quick recovery so he can go to the World Cup. I could be selfish and say a summer off football would do him good. But just can't think like that. Austrailia don't get to the finals that often, and I would love to see our Cahill playing against Brazil and the likes. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

What do you think the stratagy should be in the transfer market this summer? Personnally, I would like Moyes to go after the players he has identified as early as possible and before the World Cup starts. Often some players become to pricey after a big tournement - in which they shine. and it will also give us plenty to talk about before the World Cup start. I also think he should be bringing in as many talented youngsters as possible from the lower divisons. With maybe one or two more proven talents, i.e Andy Johnson.

PREMIERSHIP = Man Utd FA CUP = Chelsea LEAGUE CUP = Liverpool EUROPEAN CUP = Chelsea UEFA CUP = Who cares CHAMPIONSHIP = Crystal Palace

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/spor...r_everton_.html sounds promising. Noth bothered about him shifting any of our other young prospects down the pecking order. The best will rise to the top - Even if only one made it as a Prem striker that would be great, but if we had two come from the youth, then happy days.

Nice gesture

That is a valid point Goldfish, but not easily acheived. To build a decent squad and retain your decent player you have to pay them big buck. Its a catch 22 -you do resonabley well and some of your better player shine - by default attention is draw to them and richer clubs try and sign them. Heads are turned and well we know how the rest of the story goes.

none of the above. Cisse as well as a ordinary player at best, he is not a particulalry nice person from what I have heard and read.

I don't think we are going to get much higher in the Prem position wise. So bar the shouting our season is pretty much over. So with Wright a definate for the door this summer, I think Turner should be given a 'no pressure' chance in goal, one for the experience and second to see what he is actually made of. I am not one for throwing them in at the deepend when there is pressure on the team to get results. But now is a good time. If he raises to the challenge, then I may mean we only have to realistically look for one keeper this summer. Look at Paul Robinson - not all keepers have to be in their late 20's early 30's before they shine. Remember, Robinson kept our own Nig out of the Leeds goal at a tender age. Just think its a good time for Everton to experiment a little with some of our younger players.

Wright hasn't taken his chance with Martyn out injured. He has looked as dodgy as ever, he will definately be gone in the summer. You would have to assume that Martyn's injury means retirement - if not then thats a bonus. So Keepers have now come a priority. Don't think Howard is a bad call at the moment - made one or two mistakes at Man U, but what keeper doesn't make the odd mistake. Mistakes in Utds goal is usually well documented so seem worse than it may actually be. Think Fergy has a habit of sapping keepers confidence. Wright will be gone this summer, that I am sure of.