tzp7zy

Drenthe's goals - Last minute against Wigan in a 3-1 win, 2nd minute v Fulham in a 3-1 win, 1st minute v Blackpool in a 2-0 win, 30th minute v QPR in a 1-1 draw. None of those sound like he's dragged us back into games on his own. I admit that he's an exciting player but he's not a world beater, he's not the best midfielder at our club and he gives up possession way too easy for my liking.

Well look at our results since Pienaar came into the side compared with those earlier in the season. Same with Donovan.

He's had more time and opportunities at the club this season than Pienaar and not made anywhere near the impact. Drenthe has undoubtedly got talent but it isn't just disciplinarians like Moyes he has had problems with, he's had problems at each of his last 3 clubs. He's got to deal with his personal issues before his football improves again. A move back to Feyenoord would probably suit him best but he'll end up wherever's paying him the most money and soon become disillusioned!

Word on the street is that Drenthe may sign for Liverpool. They can add him to their list of disappointing wide players alongside Henderson, Downing and Maxi.

The FA disgust me with the 12.30 KO. Trying to make out they take the fans into consideration is plain lies. Dave Richards said that FIFA had stolen football from England but the FA have sold the FA cup down the river. The kick off times for both semis are shameful and deliberately timed to avoid clashes with other sports events that may impinge on the TV company viewing figures - nothing else. Why don't they just be honest and say we don't care about the fans , we're trying to make the most money we can.

I too was disappointed with the team selection on Tuesday and even more disappointed by the performance. But when we talk about the bigger picture we really have to look at just that. At the start of the season, given our transfer activity on deadline day, I would have taken 8th place in the league. Realistically, 8th place may have seen us still punching above our weight. Who foresaw Newcastle's continued good form? In December, after disappointing home performances all season not many of us thought 8th place was anywhere near achievable. Yet, look now at the bigger picture. We have a real chance of finishing inside the top 8 and a better than even chance of a Wembley trip in the Cup. Back on 1st September last year, many of us would have thought that a decent season?

I'm predicting same team as Saturday except Pienaar in for Drenthe.

I saw that too but its since been removed from the OS so either it's not true or it's not strictly above board and we don't want to publicise it! Imagine 'Arry doing something like that!?!? Either way, we'l find out tomorrow.

I think Blackpool will score, they've been bagging loads lately. We'll just have to score more than them. 4-2 us. Saha with 4 again

I think our youth setup is regarded as being one of the best and we have a better than average record of bringing youth team members through. The evidence is as someone has already pointed out, who has gone on onto better things after being released? Even tho Ruddy has done well he isn't doing better than Everton's first team. Same with Anthony Gerrard. I remember Steven Schumacher played for England at every youth level but didn't end up being good enough for the top level.

Jelavic to start? Who to make way?

Stracq put in the best performance by any of our strikers this season. Good timing with Jelavic joining as well

For me, a performance like that after a season like this, defines what it is to be an evertonian

First time in ages I've been encouraged by our forward play, Denis has done really well. Get someone around his layoffs and we can score. COYB

If he's from the BU then they have shit it big time

Maybe we can send one of our strikers up to Scotland on-loan (Vic, Tolis, Gueye, McAleny, Baxter???) to help out if we take Jelavic. Get some good game time for one of our younger players and sweeten the deal a bit?

I reckon 5m will include any add-ons. If we'd done well in terms of a fee, we'd be appeasing the fans.

Yes, that crossed my mind too

Imagine that! Caesar salad as a starter

Going round twitter that the Bily money is going to the Bank to fix the 5m budget gap that Elstone spoke of in his blog? Might or might not be true. If true, then we may as well kept hold of Bily? If false then we might still be in for Onuoha?

I'm reading that its a couple of mill up front (presumably in staged payments over 2-3 seasons) with add-ons potentially taking it to 7m Euros. Doesn't exactly sound like the deal of the year for us - depends if it frees up some cash for us to bring someone in??

Moyes says Duffy was man of the match and that 'its difficult for a young centre half playing against the quality of centre forwards in the PL'. It's doubly impressive when you think he has to spend all week training against our centre frowards and then comes up against some decent ones!

I don't get it - we've got a squad choc full of (supposed) strikers that can't score so why pay wages to Buddle and Eder and end up with 7 misfiring strikers at about 200k/week?? Especially when we only play 1 up front and play midfielders supporting the striker??

Its a conundrum isn't it. We let go Yakubu and Beckford who were both pretty much out and out goalscorers but don't add much to overall play. Had this convo with a Villa mate about Bent - it's like playing with 10 men for 88 minutes but for the other 2 he'll get you 2 goals. So we haven't replaced with a goalscorer but we have some mediocre tryers - Anichebe, Stracq, Vellios, McFadden, McAleny - hence severe lack of goal threat. I think we need to get a penalty box striker and work on getting service in. Don't ask me who's available for free that's better than we've got though - much like Davey, I don't know either. Wish I was getting 50k a week to not know!

He's got the same agent as Donovan and Howard plus Germany are on their winter break, so plenty of reasons why we'd take a look. If we don't fancy him nothing will come of it.