Philinsuffolk

I was there yesterday. We played well in parts, but lets be honest Arsenal are a nightmare to play against - the passing, pace of movement and fluidity is fantastic. Lescott had a distinctly average game, but the big fella is getting better all the time, though was worried that he was pushed so far up and we seemed to be using him as a Duncan and lumping it to him. Lets face it, we will probably lose to United and then its starts for us from there, against Bolton and Fulham to see if we can drag something from the season. In terms of off the pitch, what the hell was the fighting about yesterday? It wasn't 10 seconds of handbags, this went on for nearly 10 minutes and involved a fair few. Given how many empty seats were in those parts after the fisticuffs finished, I get the feeling all concerned took it outside too.

In the meantime, what a sad reflection of modern day footballers that Robinho signs for City...for footballing reasons obviously!

60 minutes...tick tock.

I understand there is 1 to come. Very sorry if wrong, but willing to stick my neck out.

Not sure at all, no. However, there is 1 poster on another site that has a good track record. If someone said to me 1 more comes tonight, I'd say it was this guy.

This remains a possible.

I can tell you 1 thing if comparing with City. City really did get a fantastic dea in regard to their ground (the former Commonwealth Games stadium) - trust me they paid about the same as the value of a bag of crisps. for the money men, the status of a club in terms of its ground is a big factor. We are also having to compete with the worldwide branding that LFC have - I don't like it either, but it IS a factor and we can't compete with it.

I think its fair to say that Inter and AC Milan retain a rivalry and they share. I am not saying I am all for it, but I just don't think the idea can be dismissed too easily. I know its about having a home, a place that is ours, etc but the money involved is serious amounts. If we are not going to have the Tesco money then where is the money going to come from? If we are scrambling around to spend £30m on transfer fees, then try the £300m plus it would need to go it alone in the city. I say do a feasibility study.

anyway did saha pass medical. ? Moyes is quoted on the OS, saying that the medical details will be known on Monday, which is nothing particularly unusual in terms of the rigour of medicals. Agree that Baines doesn't deserve being dropped. Team needs leadership more than anything right now.

This is a good thread, well thought out views all of which have merit and thankfully people aren't resorting to insulting each other's views (long may it continue!). My own personal view is that I see our situation as being largely reflected in the game in general - both in England and across Europe. Yep, frustrating summer for us - I agree. However, come Monday night at the end of the deadline, take our squad and ask yourself how many teams in the Prem you would swap it for in a whole squad swap. For me, the top 4 and maybe (?) Spurs. If people agree with that, we have something like the 5th or 6th best squad in England. Rank the manager..again top 4 or 5 in the Prem. Its the same in Europe - Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona, etc. UEFA and the big clubs have got the system stitched up to protect those clubs now and they have to seriously mess up for them to fall away from the top table, same for our top 4 too. To make the break through into the top 4 will need about £40m more investment (assuming no further investment for the likes of Liverpool or Arsenal). Like it or not, that money simply isn't there. Nor are people queing up to give that kind of money at this point. The progress over the last 5 years has been fantastic and I love the fact we are doing it the hard way. If Abromovich decided he wanted to sell Chelsea and buy Everton, I'd be gutted. I still think we are going forward and the point is this - as a professional (just like anyone who takes their job seriously), Moyes is very ambitious and the moment he decides we can't go further, he will go. He hasn't gone yet, which means he thinks we can go further - which is encouraging. Just my view.

Glad I asked, before I got too excited about the prospect. Back to the glimmer of hope, nothing more.

How reliable is Wikipedia? I have no idea. But a mate has just text saying that Wiki claims we've got Moutinho. I really hope I haven't caused a false dawn here..

I agree, that Yobo and Lescott played well at West Brom, likewise Baines did well and Howard was solid. So, when you're down on your luck a bit (and as a club as a whole, we are at present), you keep things tight and get some basis from which to stabliise. That is what the perforamnce was today. In tecurent circumstances, it would be a ready made excuse for the players if they lost. However, they have dug in and got a decent win. Well done boys.

Players are coming. They will be here by 1st September. It is deeply unfortunate that they are not with us already, missing the important early games of season and doubtless taking a few games to get settled - meaning August and September may well be a scrap for points. If we do struggle for points in these early games, then it seriously dents our hopes for another top 6 finish this season and that is a bad mistake by the club. But players are coming...

I m an optimist and believe we will still make several signings, including a couple that will justify a starting place. My reasoning being that there will be a lot of movement in the market (regardless of Everton) between now and 1st September. The fact that a club the size of United still ntend bringing in a striker shows that even they don't simply spend a day or two signing a player. The transfer market is a complicated process, simply because there are too many people involved all of whom stand to make personal fortunes. The principle remains that clubs don't often hold on to players that wish to move and they ultimately take the money. The 2 clubs involved in any deal play cat and mouse until someone blinks. This is the world of high finance we are talking about, not the game of footy we all love. I believe a minimum of 3 will arrive. Happy for you to shoot me down on 2nd September.

I'll be here too, wouldn't miss it, as sometimes you have to be able to say "I was there" as we have been on past occasions. Of course, may not be needed, as we'll have 6 new players in by then won't we!!

Kenwright has said several times over the past couple of years that he isn't rich enough to be able to take us on a level. Ultimately, buyers are hardly lining up to take over and nor will they be until someone else pays for either a new ground or a redeveloped one. Football can't be treated completely differently as other businesses around the world - and the money men of the world are not touching us at present.

When I saw the title of this thread I was worried, as throwing blame around is easy but not always helpful. However, delighted to see that this is a really good and sensible debate is coming out. For what's it worth (he says with splinters in his arse!) there are so many factors - Moyes, the Board, all concerned with the ground decision, agents, players, fans, the press. It has snowballed out of control a bit over the last week or so and will only increase as each day goes by between now and 31st August. However, in meantime I am sure that most fair minded Blues can see that its all so much better than the decade or so of pre-Moyes days. All the best fellow Blues, for a succesful 2008-09 season!

Your concern is understandable and shared. However, try to relax, it will all be alright.

It's a good post by Mike and a good strategy. The fact we are only behind a few (very strong) clubs in UEFA Cup is partly a reflection of the power/money of the Prem and the fact that English bookies offer shorter odds on our clubs as they know that people will back with heart (bookies are risk managers in essence) but it is undoubtedly encouraging and should encourage all to keep perspective. Players will arrive.

Things will happen tomorrow. Goodnight.

Can I just clarify one thing...I live down here, have done since 1990 with work. But am from Liverpool and just like to ensure people know that..it keeps me sane in these parts!

This has certainly been one of the most testing pre-seasons that we have all had for a long time. Ground decisions, CEO going in mysterious circumstances, lack of signings, injuries, no new Moyes contract. But here is the thing. Would you rather that the club is owned by just anyone with loads of money? Would you want to be a City fan? Do you want to 'do a Chelsea'? Lets face it, wahtever Chelsea win, they will only ever be accused of buying the titles (rightly or wrongly). And I won't even ask the question of whether you'd prefer to support the other mob. No, you see, as testing as it is, the fact of the matter is that this marvellous, terrific, institution called Everton Football Club has had to deal with much harder times. We have one of the best managers around, we have the bulk of players that were responsible for leading us to 5th last season, a semi of the Carling and a decent run in Europe. We have the likes of Rodwell, Kissock, Gosling and Jose Baxter coming through at minimal cost to us and the greater satisfaction and pride of seeing home grown talent come through (noted that we bought Gosling in) - and make no mistake that the likes of Rodwell and Baxter are good enough. On top of this we may well still see several, very necessary, signings between now and 31st August. Is it hard spending every day hitting refresh on too many websites waiting for news, rumours, anything? Yep, but you know that. But am I enjoying being a Blue? Every day of my bloody life. I'll back the players that play for our club, be frustrated at what is going on in terms of kicking on as a club. But debates about signing players are age old debates in the game. Managers, players, Board members will over varying periods of time come and go. The fans doesn't change. We don't change. We should be the ones who hold firm more than anyone. Now stand up, puff your chest out a bit and lets concentrate on ourselves representing our club. A club that we all love dearly. I don't in writing this pick a fight with you all, as any one of you would get a pint out of me if you wanted an hour to chat about past, present or future of the club. I'm just suggesting its time that we just ride this one out a bit more calmly. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum my friends. Now go and hum yourself a favourite Everton song.

That You Tube footage is very funny. I am torn - my head says, we can't afford to use up a big slice of limited tranfer budget on someone who will be suspended so much, let alone paying him£40k a week to have his suit on and sit in the stands. But then heart over head, says get him, it will be worth the laughs. Never mind Gerrard, Ronaldo, etc that he kicks up in the air, Nicky effin Barmby is back in the Prem this season...

Agree with the comments you're both making and its a sensible, considered conversation....exactly what I try and tease out. Too many people just go "feck that, the Board is tripe, sack em" etc. It must be an incredible hard business simply buying one player these days, with all those involved for their cut in the deal etc. Defo agree that we do need somequality signings to take us to the next level. Under the Moyes era, its been evolution not revolution, just as it should be. We just need to somehow find a way to evolve into a top 4 side!