Philinsuffolk

I presume most people realise that, pound for pound, we are over-achieiving. I don't like saying it, but it is the reality. We can look at the fact that City have spent £19m on a striker but then there are several points to this - firstly, lets face it City fans have had years of little money to spend and good luck to them, secondly they have a VERY rich owner (but I wouldn't want us to be owned by a man with his track record, principles have to be more important at some stage). As for Spurs, they have a lot of investment potential, always have had, always will have. They have a lot of ties to the City of London financial markets for a start. None of us are pleased with the lack of results in the transfer market to date this summer, but the players will come. There have been some poor signings (all clubs have them, look at how many duffers Benitez has signed that barely got a game) but think about Tim, Lescott, Pienaar, Jags, Howard and Yak. We have delivered on signings in recent seasons and that is a credit to the club as well as the manager.

I know where Louis took the cut/paste from and I can assure you that the source is, unfortunately given the write-up, a respected source. Sorry, I am usually a "glass more than half full" person, but am concerned at some of the shenanigans.

Hope you're right Romey.

Doesn't anyone find it odd that he hasn't signed for Fulham yet? This is 48 hours old now and as far as I can tel, he is still with us. Failed medical??

This remains a rumour for now and should be treated as such.

With or without a ground move, any offer in excess of £10m for AJ is decent money. There isn't a football club in the world that doesn't have to sell in order to attempt to progress. Lets face it, if Moyes really saw him as central to his plans, the player wouldn't be going.

Blue250 is spot-on..it comes down to the player pretty much every time now. Lets face it, if United get to keep Ronaldo this season, its only going to be putting that off until 2009. Arteta seems to have flirted with Athletic Madrid for a long time now. His wife no doubt has a very high profile in Spain, so a move to the city of Madrid would suit, Mikel wants to play for the national side and he has a tough task to achieve that so playing in Spain will help and on top of all that, they can now offer him CL footy. I'd love to think he will stay, but I for one am certain that he's off.

EFCforlife makes a really important point...regardless of how much of a threat Milan prove to be (they will be in the last 4 as a minimum in my view as they are head ans shoulders above the majority), the fact is we should delight in the prospect of Goodison seeing Milan there. Assuming we leave Goodison within 2 or 3 years, we won't have many more chances of big nights there..wouldn't it be great if we can add Milan to the list of clubs that we have played at the old place. Everton - Milan semi will do for me!

I am quite surpised how much goodwill there still is for him to be honest. Granted, his child is ill and as a parent I echo what Mike says, that comes first with anything else a distant second. And to be honest, when you have the money, this country is probably better than most for accessing healthcare. However, there still has to be some effort made. And frankly, what we have had so far surely makes his signing one of the worst pieces of business we have ever done. I of course hope we get to see something of him, no doubt the talent is there. But in the unlikely event that you are reading this Andy...time to step up the plate for your employer.

Glad to see so many people get this. We have shown for a long time that we are best with a 4-5-1 and that yes, in that formation Cahill is the key. Also agree entirely that in a 4-4-2 Cahill doesn't give us enough and we get over-run. However why can't we stick with 4-5-1? It can be attacking enough. Chelsea play 4-5-1..or they play 4-3-3 - depending on who has the ball. Many top club sides are no playing 4-2-3-1. No question that he is huge for us. Living down south, I get a lot of comments from people who say that Cahill has been the only player of ours that they would want for their team (Spurs, West Ham, etc). Increasingly, they are saying it about Lescott..and rightly so. Many non-Blues don't see it with Arteta (luckily for us!).

Some good comments here. Agree in particular with SteveO and Everton Lad. For the fee we paid and the fact he probably hasn't been on particularly high wages, he has been worth his wieght in gold to us. The role he played in the season we got 4th place was huge and its worth noting that when we struggled the follwoing season, he was injured (and we didn't have anyone to do the role in his absence). I am absolutely certain that we will get a top quality holding midfielder this summer, indeed it would not surprise me if this was our big summer signing, splashing the cash. Cars - you have been superb for us. As Steve says, if you give your all for the club, you will always be appreciated. You have ticked this box without question. And as for the moment you gave us when you scored in the Derby...thank you! All the best to him, I am sure he will take great enjoyment playing all 08/09 to get Birmingham back to the Prem.

For the season jsut finished, we achieved exactly what I wanted at the outset - a good run in Europe and to qualify for Europe again for the 08/09 season. The points you are all making are spot on. However, in my mind, if we are to keep the best asset the club has had in many many years - David Moyes - we probably need to win a cup..which of course in turn would also give us European qualification. Nil Satis - welcome to the site. Just one thing though my friend..if you are going to keep the strapline thing you have, then Toffees is with 2 f's! If it wasn't a word important to us I wouldn't raise it but am sure you'd want to change it.

For those of you that may chosse to go to some but not others. If we reach latter satages and draw Seville..go. One of the most fantstic cities to visit..under-rated gem.

2-2. We will get our equlaiser with less than 10 to go. Get behind them on Sunday folks..they need carrying over the line.

We are certainly going to have a problem keeping Baines before much longer. I suspect Baines will go if not getting a game soon. Its a hard one, as who do you drop? However, I would be inclined to play Baines at LB from August, with Yobo & Lescott back together at CB, Jags having to settle for a place on the bench, however harsh this may be. However, would have no real argument with keeping the current arrangement either. Do need a top quality RB though.

Thanks Blu-Tac, I did indeed get hold of a ticket last night. Its some stadium, but can't help thinking it lacks intimacy and when the action is at the far end, you feel a long way away. Arsenal were in 2nd or 3rd gear but at times we competed fairly well considering there was no Arteta or Tim. If it had finished 0-0, I don't think many Arsenal fans would have complained. Fingers crossed that we get that 1 more point!

Hi, if anyone has a apsare ticket for the Everton end for the game at Arsenal will they let me know please. Can arrange to meet near the ground or whatever tomorrow. Thanks, Phil

if you really get stuck it will doubtless be available on cd via club shop or indeed there are Everton cd albums about...sports section etc of big HMV stores. The track is actually caled Johnny Todd if that helps. RIP Blue.

What a huge game for us (and for Villa too). At the start of the season the one thing I wanted us to achieve was to qualify for Europe again as a sign of consistent progress. With the money that the likes of Spurs, Newcastle and City are likely to splash (and the more considered great work being done at the likes of Villa, Blackburn and Portsmouth) we simply have to get this UEFA Cup spot. After being worried all week, I reckon we might pinch this 3-2. Yak, Osman and a winner from Fernandes. Come on Blues...

Superb news, a bargain. It may be we see a bit of 2nd season syndrome next season but at this price we should keep that in mind if he dips a bit at times. His link up play with Arteta is superb - even though they are both down to play wide most of the time, they seem to both meet up inside to link up for some nice, neat stuff.

If I remember rightly we bought Cars for £250,000, he won't be on particularly high salary and at least you know he gives his all. He would be the first to admit he's not Ronaldinho but the onus is on the club to move the squad along. The club have been prioritising new signings each summer and I imagine his replacement will come this summer. Saaby is probably right that Cars has probably now had his Prem days (other than maybe for a team that comes up and can afford him as way of experience as they seek to survive) but I am sure we are all grateful for what he has given us. He may even pop up with 1 more crucial goal for us before he bids us farewell.

4 more points should be enough, maybe even 3, as long as either 1 or 3 of the points come against the Villa. Mike is absolutely right. Yes, we're doing it the hard way, but this is a fantastic season for the club. We reached the semi's of CC Cup, had a good run in the UEFA Cup and showed we are on a par with Fiorentina (who are now in the semi's) and are in pole position to have back-to-back seasons in Europe. The yearly development does still continue..

Really do need to defend well today andthen sneak a goal. Its a bit of a must win..just to stave off Pompey if nothing else. Ican see us getting a sneaky 1-0 win..Yak

Ask Rangers fans what they made of Arteta when he was younger. Fernandes is a player good enough to play CL football. So, if we want to move on to the next level this is the kind of player we will need to work with...those with the talent but not quite the temperament yet to play for the regular CL clubs. We won't be able to aford Central Midfielders who have it all, so we have to take a chance. Or go for someone with slightly less talent but a better ethic naturally. Before shooting me down, I would have been disgusted if we had bought Barton so don't think I'm someone easy on the difficult players. Just my thoughts.

Thought I would wake up with my usual Derby Day feeling of feeling sick but so far, so good. Some distraction tactics until 3 by going out and then watching in the pub with a Hammers mate. There will be a spattering of Blues and no doubt that lot too, with supporters of London teams pulling for us. Just don't lose Blues, we play Derby next week and they go to the Arsenal..