comeonblueboys

And to think that the alternative last summer looked like it might well be Jason Koumas ... for £5m

Funny thing is that he said the same things about Fernandes last season when he came on loan - that he thought he could do more, could offer more to the team etc. etc.

“I would say that maybe we don’t need more players, just more players with quality,” Moyes said.

“We sold James McFadden and then picked up some serious injuries to Cahill and Vaughan. That takes it’s toll.

“But I am happy with the numbers here, just that one or two have not worked or offered enough to the squad, that has effected things. We have always been looking to add to the numbers, but mainly to the quality.

Who do you think he's referring to? Seems inconceivable that it would be VDM, since it's been obvious for a long time that he's not going to offer anything. Who else? Gravesen?

Yeah, I suppose that's why Alex Ferguson went round personally to Ryan Giggs' house when he was 14 to get him to sign a YTS contract with them instead of Man City ...

Yeah but I've also heard the twat saying that he's both a blue and a red, because (I'm paraphrasing but this was the gist) "My dad was an Everton fan so I like them, but Everton aren't very good so I support Liverpool too".

When Jags was going to sign weren't there a load of Sheff Utd fans on here saying that he's not a midfielder and that his best position in centre back? I know he can play in different positions but he's supposedly a top class player and potential international, so Moyes should look at him more than just being able to do a job. Problem is he's not going to get a place at centre back. From what I've seen I don't know how good a full back he'd be.

EDITED for potentialy rascist content

Hilarious. I suppose you think making baboon noises at black players is funny too, right? FFS

I think the reason it was left so late to try and get a deal for Fernandes is that he wasn't Moyes' first choice. At the end of the season after he'd played his handful of games I remember Moyes coming out with comments that they expected more from him etc. Then we heard nothing and it seemed there'd be no chance for a move. It's speculation of course but I don't get the impression that they were after him at the end of the season - I think Moyes tried to find other players and then went back to Fernandes when all else failed. Hardly the board's fault. And to be honest if I was Fernandes I don't think I'd feel that much need for loyalty to the club or to Moyes seeing as they delayed trying to sign him for so long.

But why is he playing with the ressies? He didn't go to America with the senior squad. Anyone know why?

I completely agree. I can't believe that with the trouble we had getting goals before AJ arrived that people are suggesting we should think about selling. He has given us goals and options upfront that we never had, and he stretches teams like no other player we've got or are likely to be able to get.

Tore Andre Flo before his Chelsea days, and subsequent 9 million pound transfer to Rangers was offered to us for 200k.

If I remember rightly Flo not signing was the whole background of Joe Royle leaving as manager. It was supposed to be Flo and another Norwegian (centreback I think, can't remember the name) signing - I think it was supposed to be for about £2 or £3 mil in total, so I don't think the 200k figure is right. But Johnson refused to sanction the transfers and Royle was gone within days.

I agree that the Barton is good and that Man City would be doing worse without him. But I just don't see him as a top player, and I also don't agree that he's really a defensive midfielder. He does get back and tackle but then so does Arteta, and that doesn't make him a defensive midfielder. If you think he's got those goals and assists as a holding player then I disagree - I'd say he's more of an attacking midfielder and I think we could do better.

I'm sorry but if Barton is such a top performer then why are Man City 13th in the table? I agree he is a good player and is certainly City's best player but we are currently a top six team looking to improve on that, and I don't think Barton could take us beyond that. He has six goals and four assists this season - it's hardly sensational is it? Add to that he's a gobshite and a trouble maker.

I think that Lescott seems to be getting better and better in the left back role. OK he's also a great cb but does anyone think that longterm he could become an equally excellent fullback? He's got pace and is reasonably comfortable on the ball, and can get some good balls in. I think Gary Neville started off as a centre back but because of his height moved to rb. OK he's never been the best going forward but you can't deny that he's had a great career in that position.

I remember when he first came to us, he played out wide but was completely ineffective as he kept drifting in field, wouldn't take on defenders etc. So then Moyes started to play him in central roles more often. Can't figure it out either.

In the full article it says his wife and family have moved back to Italy cos they couldn't settle in England. So he'll definitely be off. I do feel a bit sorry for him cos I've lived abroad and when something goes wrong (e.g. you get burgled twice) it's ten times as hard as when you're in your own country. But he hasn't helped himself either.

I don't like Benitez and don't particularly want to stick up for him but to be fair he actually said "smaller teams" rather than calling Everton a small club. It's not exactly the same thing. We are a smaller team considering the size of our squad and the money we've got to spend.

I think it's obvious that Moyes never felt that Hughes would be good enough for the first team. He's got to be allowed to make that decision. If he actually rated him he would have let him go out on loan - he's put plenty of other players out on loan. Just cos he's saying nice things about him now he's left doesn't mean he actually rates him. He's hardly gonna say he's a load of shite and never would have made it at Everton - what would be the point?

I do not want to see Vaughn playing in the Champ, getting the crap kicked out of his knee by a load of journeyman centrebacks... I think Moyes already said they didn't want him going out on loan, exactly for that reason.

ir Alex Ferguson says Tim Howard could still have a future at Old Trafford.

The American goalkeeper, 27, is on a season-long loan at Everton but his improved form has prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to consider bringing him back.

"Tim has been doing really well at Everton, which is what we hoped for," said Ferguson, who signed Howard on a contract until 2009.

"David Moyes is delighted with Tim. But it is certainly a possibility he could come back to us, no question."

A series of high-profile mistakes, the most costly of which led to a Champions League exit at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Porto in 2004, saw Howard fall out of favour with Ferguson.

He spent most of last season on the bench as cover for Edwin van der Sar, but this term that role has been filled by new signing Tomasz Kuszczak.

Howard has, however, flourished at Goodison Park, where he has started every Premiership match this season.

"The potential has always been there because he has great elasticity, he is brave, has a good spring and is an excellent distributor of the ball," said Ferguson.

"All he needed was the experience, and now he is getting it."

Despite Howard's progress, Everton boss Moyes has revealed he has not yet discussed the prospect of making the American's move permanent.

I haven't come out with any statistics. I didn't even say we played well ffs. But I don't think we did that bad, Charlton never looked like winning or even scoring, so I don't think we were outplayed.

I thought we were the better team. How many shots did they have on target? How much possession did they have? They didn't look like scoring at all, even when they had a bit of possession round our box. The game was quite open so of course they had a bit of the ball but we weren't outplayed.

I thought we did ok. No way were we outplayed, we were clearly the better team. But no cutting edge - poor final balls, just not making the right runs. After the own goal we should have really gone for them but it didn't happen and I wasn't surprised cos that's just not the way we play. If it wasn't for Valente's mistake they never would've scored, but having said that as well good as our approach play we probably wouldn't have scored either without the OG.

Try the link again: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/t...ton/6036561.stm

But then change the 'E' in Everton to a lower case 'e'. For some reason it keeps making it upper case when you put it on here.

I think he's a cheeky get. He played plenty of games last seaon, rarely played well, and is on the bench for a team that's fifth in the table. And then he says "Everton are using two or three holding players in midfield, but I'm not going to question the manager". Well by just saying that he IS questioning the manager.

There are loads of good stoppers out there. But a top keeper needs A LOT more than that. They have to be reliable, and be able to organise and have the confidence of the defenders. Wright can't do that and I don't see that he ever will. He got attention and a good reputation because he was young and could pull of good saves, but now he is older you expect more and his limitations stand out.