RuffRob

I was reading on another forum (BBC) that Kroldrup may be having major problems adjusting to both the english lifestyle and Premiership football. They even go as far as saying he is depressed. I am fu8king depressed!!! There must be some reason why he has not played up till now. And maybe his head not being right is it. Has anybody seen much of him for the reserves?

http://www.eatsleepsport.com/news_details....&l_id=1&t_id=31 Emm Stocking filler maybe, but hope this is not Everton's main target

Not for me thanks - I would much rather give Moyes the chance he DESERVES to mould the players he has now bought in to a solid team over the next 18 months Believe it or not I don't think we are a long way from having a decent consistent team, we have played some decent football this season, better than last season in many respect. (even when we have lost some of those games). We have collapsed in defence a couple of time and are a little to shy upfront. But I still think it is largely down to the significant influx of players we had in a single hit, which has been compounded by our injury list and hence the changes in starting line up we have had. Moyes has had this squad together for less than 5 month, that is nothing, timewise. I just think he need a FAIR crack at the whip. We talk about Allerdice, Curbishley and Jewell, but they have been at the clubs a fair while now and have been able to slowly build there teams in to well oiled machines, for want of a better term. I just think Everton would be foolish to allow a manager to spend almost £20M and give him less than 6 months to get a team with so many new faces firing on all cylinders. We will not go down this season - from what I have seen so far, we ARE a better team than our position indicates. Lets hope our luck does even itself out (we have had two perfectly good goals disallowed over the last two games - which have resulted in the difference between 4 point and 0 points in my opinion) A very dodgy 5 minutes against Bolton does not make Moyes a bad manager.

He must be fit, he has been on the bench for a good month now. I don't know how much is in comment made that he will find 'heading' the ball in the Premiership difficult. Surly he must be able to head a ball out of defence. It may just be a case of doing a bit more in the Prem I would say. So I think this is rubbish to be honest. Weir is OK if he only has to play once a week, but when games come every 3 or 4 days he isn't able to cope. Time for Kroldrup to be 'blooded' in to Premiership football, as the only way he is going to get up to speed of the Prem is to play.

I really think Nugent will be the player Moyes will bring in this January. We can forget Robbie Keane, he is now in the Spur starting 11 and Defoe picked up an injury yesterday. There is no way Spur will allow Keane to go unless offered stupid money. And based on Spurs current position, it is worth taking the gamble of him going for a free come the summer.

I agree, Kroldroup has to step into Weir's position now, and time for Neville to take the arm band. I think Weir has a 'Richard Wright' complex, I really don't think he is comfortable at all with Wright behind him.

If we were to sack Moyes, he would walk into a decent job tomorrow. He is a good manager, and our club has gone forward under him, (we got 4th place last year, on what was deemed the weakest squad in the Premiership). Voted Manager of the year if I recall. When Moyes arrived at the club we were perpetual relegation battlers (pretty much every year) OK those of you who talk about consistency or lack of it at the club or over the last few season - yes it is a bit yoyo. But getting Everton back to a consistent top 10 ten finisher is not an easy task. But in three full season, (after come to the club with the likes of gazza and Ginola as players), Moyes has given us our best and third best finishes in the Prem. And all that is without 'The Rooney Money'. OK within that was our a season with the lowest points total ever (but that is modern day football - gone are the days of 40points plus needed to stay up) but you average it all out and our club has done well under Moyes, when you consider he had probabley the oldest and poorest squads when he came to the club and only peanuts to bring player in. This season Moyes has HAD some decent money and is STARTING to build a squad. I think he deserves at least all this season and next season to see what he can do with our team. Yes, there will be a few dud buys along the way -but I think Moyes is doing well considering pretty much the whole of the squad has needed upgrading. Anybody, who is call for Moyes head - Please tell me who you execpt to come instead - Considering what others have managed at the helm since the mid eighties, Moyes has earnt a couple more seasons from me to try and get that consistency

Got a horrible feeling bolton will get one over on us. We 'nick' three point of them and I just think they are the type of team that can use that to there advantage. They are a strong bunch - and having had another three point taken of us at home in mid week, I think the lads will be a bit nervouse again. Hope I am wrong, 0-2 Bolton

I must admit, this season I would like to see Villareal go as far as possible, considering they knock us out (with a dodgy ref desission all that was between us in the end). And they have plumb draw getting Rangers so can see them in the quarter finals at least. Think Chelsea will go out, but both Liverpool and Arsenal will go through. Would be interesting if Liverpool could pull out Villareal in the Quarters.

To be honest if comes back for free on is on low wages, I have no problem with having Alan Stubbs in the squad. It's not like he is going to be a major signing on long term mega contract. I don't think we will have to sacrifice other signings to have him back. Weir has been great, but is definately coming to the end of his shelf life. Yobo will be off to the african cup. So we could be a injury or two away from a limited back line. I would guess it would only be a contract until the end of the year. Even if he never gets a game, he is nice to have as back up or on the bench. Stubbs is a decent defender to have in the squad in the short term.

Were have you just heard that?? The Sun said this morning he's signing for Celtic, But last week he was signing for us, this week it was Madriad. So unless you have heard definative news then my guess is we are still an as likley destination for Keane as anywhere. I agree with bringing in young blood. But if you have a chance to sign a player of Keane's calliber (i.e proper world class - still) for a free - you have to consider bringing them in. I for one would love to see him don the Everton shirt. He may not have the legs of a young man, but his midfeild brain, tackling and passing is still top draw. Man United would still be a better team with a 34 year old Roy Keane in it, than anything else they have got instead. Having his experience in our midfeild can only be a positive in both the short term when he plays and in the long term with the experince and guidence to younger players will get from one of the worlds best players over the last 10 years. (he beats the socks of Egder Davids anyday of the week!!!!) Yes, he is only a stop gap as you will not get more than 18 months out of him, possibley less. But as we know a lot can happen in 6 to 18 months.

Thinking about it - the later we see Kroldrup the better in my opinion. Moyes has Yobo and Weir together at the back, for one good reason at the moment - Our defence on the whole is now just a stingy as it was last year. In the last 7 games we have only lost one game, draw twice (against the two top clubs in the country), and won 4 keeping 4 clean sheets. Now if we continue this form for the next 7 games, then I would be happy. If good form means no Kroldrup - then it suits me at the moment. If he has to wait for his chance until injuries, suspensions or African Cup duty then so be it. It will come, at least this way he knows there is no easy rid at Goodison, and if you get into the first 11 you need to be on top of your game to stay in it.

In all honesty he has missed his chance to join Everton, if he did come he would NOT be a first choice player and would be in a similar position to what he is at a Spurs.

Real's interest in Keane suprises me to be honest, as he can't play CL games this January. But then again, if he is free then is definately worth having in the squad. Is Keane a 'squad' player though. Bit of up rooting to be a squad player at the end of your career. I imagine we will find out in good time.

These are the matches we HAVE to pick up 3 point in my view, a good result against West Ham would set us up nicely for the Xmas period. It now looks as if we have 'turned the corner' since the well earned draw against Chelsea. But becasue of the really poor start we had - we still have plenty to do. I would like us to be firmly in the top half of the table in the New Year, With home games against West Ham, Bolton, Liverpool and away trips to Sunderland and Villa, between now and the end of the month. I would hope taking our recent form in to these games we could expect 10 of the 15 point available. A very do able target (three wins and a draw) That would put us on 27 points after 19 premiership games (half way mark). Considering we only took 4 point from our first 9 games, this would be a very decent return going into the New Year. Counting my chickens a bit at the moment I know, but with Arteta and Cahill also waiting in the wings to 're-claim' there spots in the team - I can't help but be a little optimistic this Xmas.

I am not a Wright fan (as he hasn't given us Evertonians any encouragement to get behind him). He played well yesterday and will at least get another couple of games over the next week. If he can keep a couple of clean sheets and not do any howlers over the next two games, then if I was Moyes I would leave him in the team to further build his confidence and see how he goes until the middle of January. I think he will take a lot from yesterdays game (I wouldn't say he made a load of spectacular saves, but he deal well admirably with everything thrown at him, and that all you we can ask of him). What I would like to see is a 'normalised' Wright. What I mean by that is a player who's confidence is not low , a player who has intergrated in to our backline (trains with the first choice backline and played a number of competative games with them) i.e a player who feels comfortable and at home as first choice keeper. If I remember correct we have seen Wright play well in a Everton shirt (didn't he help us get to 7th place a few seasons ago). To begin with he lost his place to Martyn through injury and largely down to Martyns great form hasn't had much of a prolonged chance between the sticks since that time. As we have paid a fair few quid for him and paid his wages for a number of season, I think it would be a shame not to have a proper look at him again before we basically give him away. Lets just see how he goes over then next couple of games and beyond, to see if he can gain our confidence - one in the hand is worth two in the bush as they say.

Yeah, he has been very poor this season, and his attitue suprises me after the way he performed last season. Something tells me he has spat his dummy out to some extent after doing so well last season and slipping down the ranks this. Same it going this way, as he did a great job for us last term. Can't see him with us in January, if we can get a another pacy player for the frontline. Make me think of Nugent as neither Robbie Keane or Trudle have any real pace. Doesn't sound if AJ is going anywhere this January.

A draw was a good and fair result. I must admit when I first saw the team sheet and we were without four starters then I did think we may struggle a little, but all credit to the boys. They ALL played well yesterday and limited Uniteds chances. Davies is really starting to impress me. He is stating to look a tidy player in the middle, is strong and hard working, can tackle, pass and is good on the breakaway. Anybody, who offers more than £1M for Bent should have their hand snatched off.

To be honest I think the biggest thing with Wright is the facts that his confidence is low. He always seems to get his chance when the team arn't doing particulaly well, so he seem to always let a lot of goals in personally. Yesterday, we played a team that again on paper at home could have put three or four past us. I though Wright played his part and was not a weak link we all feared. Lets hope this game builds his confidence for the next few games, and allows him to kick start his Goodison career. I think bedding in as a keeper is the most difficult position to slot in to, because you need to have a good undertanding of the players around you and visa versa. It does take a 12 or so games. Jury is still out as only one game, but I am all for giving the lad a far crack at the whip. It would be nice if he got his confidence back and becomes the keeper that was challenging for an England spot three or four years ago. We will see, I would say he HASto play well enough to keep Martyn out of the side until well into the New Year to give Moyes enough confidence to not buy a new number 1 to replace Martyn. I hope he does it as I would like to see half a dozen clean sheet over the next month. Good Luck Wrighty

Emm - Can I now change my prediction for sundays game I would say VDM position is the one with the least cover. McFadden has shown he isn't suited, Kilbane well what can I say. three quaters of our midfeilders missing on Saturday then.

He has got a bit of time on his hands at the minute - (can't play until January). So to be honest if I was him I would also take my time to be honest, no real point in rushing anything.

As I mentioned, indeed we won't be favs on Sunday, but I just feel its to our advantage that they got dumped on there ar5e in mid-week. They will get a mouthful of AF, but to be honest I don't think the band of players he has got now will respond the way the team may have done 3 or 4 years ago. Frustrate Rooney on Saturday, and you could see him losing it. He will have 'stewed' nicely over the past couple of days, so playing Everton may just make his head go on Sunday. I really fancy him for a red card if enough 'abuse' is directed at him. I am sure the Everton defence will be well breifed on how to wind him up and frustrate him. Everton need to frustrate United and in particulary Rooney on Saturday - Step up Phil Nellive - a player the United fans I would imagine give a generouse reception. A good performance by Neville would also help wind up the United camp. I must admit as 12/1 underdogs, strange to think I am actually looking to us playing United this weekend. What odds on Rooney getting a red card I wonder - anybody know?

Well said Hafnia - this is what the forum is here for - to post rumours and churning up discussion - so shouldn't knock you for it, even if he doesn't sign in the end. I must admit I tend to put as much creedence if not more on these types of rumour as I do those lazy journalists write.

http://advfn.oddschecker.com/advfn/mode/o/...425x/sid/776806 At odds of 12/1 for an Everton win (by whatever score) I must say I fancy a couple of quid on a double Beattie, Ferguson or McFadden to get the first goal (1/14 to 20/1) I would say we are farily high in confidnece now as a team, while this United squad must be on a all time low after getting dumped out of Europe last night. High odds for a good reason, but 12/1 thats value to me in a two horse race especially after last night.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390...5550343,00.html I know its the Sun, but during my usual lunchtime browse over the sports pages came across this.