blueblood

A wage structure which is based in the dark ages by current standards and the reason why we are unable to sign any big name players whatsoever.

Well, we failed to sign Naughton, look to be failing to bring in Banega, the Heitinga deal looks to be going the wrong way... so the 3 bids we know of all seems to have gone t1ts up. Add to that the very fact that we have not been making bids for more players and I find that in itself very worrying. Not looking to argue, just reassuring to know that even after a week away from toffeetalk and transfer speculation we are no further on. Moyes talks of "doing it different this year" but never does. Whether that is linked to finances or otherwise it's still a load of nonsense. In fact, if the only money we had was the Lescott money, and Moyes didn't want to sell that meant we had no transfer kitty at all so how did we bid for Naughton and why did Moyes come out and say he'd make signings early on if we had no money? I just cannot understand the club at all. Don't understand why Moyes signed a new contract if we wasn't given assurances over having a decent amount to spend as all he did last summer was complain about having no cash. Anyway, back to topic, if we don't open the wallet and offer this fella more money than he is currently on as a minimim then we won't get him and will have wasted 4 days on a player for nothing. Window slams shut and we are one unproven (in the Prem) Russian player who has just finished a full Russian season to the good and 4 squad players lighter... for me that is a step backwards whilst those around us have move forwards quite a lot in some regards

Krancjar linked with Spurs (who else?!!) today so a possible move back to Arry. Banega deal was never ever going to happen. The link was purely for the fans to make us all think that we have ambition as a club to sign quality of this type. Seems to be another case of the club not bothering to actually ask the player if they want to join the club... I'd have thought that was quite an important aspect of a transfer but EFC regularly fail to do this. Disappointing that this pantomime continues year after year

I've been aeway for a week but it's good to see that nothing changes with the Everton transfer saga. When I went away we had got the permit for Banega but now say we no longer want him as he's cup tied in Europe... hmmm, cup tied or did the club not think they'd get the permit and sh1t themself when they did so made an alternative reason up??? Also, we seem to have spent the last 4 days or so of the window agreeing a feee with a club for a player that does not want to leave... would this not be the first question you ask a player/ agent even before bothering to negotiate a fee with the club? Ask to speak to a player yes, spend time agreeing a fee with the club and not bother to see if the player wants to leave?!?!?!? Add to that we are offering less money and a higher tax system why the fork would he want to leave??? Same old Blues, stumbling their way through the window failing to sign any of the "big" targets and overspending (in my opinion) on the players they have brought in.

It looks like Lescott won't be playing so we'll have a patchwork quilt of a defence with Neville playing CB again. I'd have hoped that Moyres would have rushed a CB signing through before this game as Burnley will be a lot harder to beat than Sigma. They'll still be buzzing from the Man Utd win plus just playing in the Prem. Could be a tricky tie, expecially at their place. If we get an early goal to settle the nerves I think we should take the points. We looked shaky in the first 20 minutes against Sigma so if Blake gets at us we could fold. I'll go 2-1 to us, King Louis to carry on finding the onion bag

Wheater today in the papers quoted as saying that he "cannot see himself playing for any other club than Boro"... so he is clearely at the crack pipe. For that reason alone we should steer well clear

Can we close this thread now then and get on with tempting Zidane out of retirement?!?!?

Any confirmation come from the club? Ooh, a new player isn't this exciting?!!?!?!?

Beeb wesite reports that Fulham are looking to sign both Taylor and Senderos... seems a bit greedy. Tighten your seat belts lads, this one could go t1ts up along with the others. Maybe the club should act as an agent for players, we'll get linked with them, offer them minimum wage to get in the papers and then another club comes in and offers them footballers wages, cha ching. Let's hope beyond hope that Newcastle are prepared to accept what will undoubtedly be a lower offer than Fulham and Taylor isn't interested in London or London wages and wants to come and fight the fight for the Blues?!?!?

The beeb are linking us with a move for Distin. Also says Villa have agreed £5m fee for Collins from West Ham so maybe we stand a decent run at this fella. Think he'll want big wages though so could be an issue. If we got Taylor, Distin, Banega and Bystrov I'd be really rather pleased. My only grumble then would be why we never did this 4 weeks ago

I think the "personal terms could be a stumbling block" will be a big issue. Everton will offer him less money than he's on at Newcastle, he'll want more, there'll be a stand off and then another club will meet the valuation, meet his personal terms and that will be the end of that. Hope I'm wrong but that just seems to be the Everton way, live in the dark ages, assume that all players think it is a privelige to play for the club and then get gazumped by other teams. Would really like to see this lad here, hopefully my reverse psychology will work

From the BBC website today: Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is ready to make a £10m offer for Real Madrid's Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. They must have decided that Aquilani won't play much after all!!!!

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is lining up a move for Borussia Moenchengladbach's Ivory Coast centre-back Steve Gohouri, 28, as he fears losing Chris Samba to Tottenham or Everton. (Daily Mail) I'd rather not if it's all tha same

Where does Banega play? Can he do a job on the flanks or is he CM and going to be another young lad brought in on loan to sit on the bench for the season? That is assumong that we get a work permit for thr lad which is unlikely if last years Obinna attempt was anything to go by?! Quite why it takes until the start of the season to get these deals sorted is beyond me

Stinks of a panic buy. This lad is a big time Charlie who loves the bright lights of London. Doesn't exactly fit into the work ethic of the team. Got attracted to Spurs for the cash and was the latest in a long line to rot on their bench. I'd hope we would move for better then this... although then again we're not moving for anyone so it's likely paper talk. At least this would be one player Spurs wouldn't come in and pinch from us at the last minute

The feelings on this site are against City purely because of their pursuit of Lescott. City have spent £100m so far. No-one has mentioned that Madrid have spent £80m on one player, plus Kaka et al. Is this just because they haven't come in for Arteta??? Read the other threads around the board and their are fans everywhere pulling their hair out at the lack of transfer activity, empty promises coming from the club and complete failings so far this summer. We have gone from 5th in the league and FA Cup Final to treading water on the first XI and weakening what was already a paper thin squad. The 'strong bond' which epitomises Everton looks to have eroded in a similar uncertainty to what was displayed this time last year when Moyes was still to sign his new contract. It is clear that Lescott wants to go, him remaining at the club will be having a detrimental effect on those around him. Maybe not to the extent of causing the debacle that was Saturday but an effect nonetheless. So the best thing for Moyes to do is swallow his pride, think about the club and how he needs to take it forward without Lescott. Get the money in, negotiate a CB cover from City if we can't get one in from another club. Whether or not Moyes or Everton would do the same as City given the chance is uncertain and will continue to be the case as long as we fail to attract investors. However, there are many voices on here that are crying out for Moyes to be given money to go up against the big guns as this is what is needed to break the glass ceiling referred to earlier. That is the only way City will do it and that is probably the same for every other club, Everton included. The City fans are excited and to be fair to them they've not won anything for over 30 years so it's not unexpected. Yes, a few of the jibes on here may have hit a raw nerve and Hughes' actions in the saga have been poor but with Lescott refusing to come out and declare his intention to stay- which would have killed of City's interest- plus whatever has been said behind closed doors by agents etc then they clearly see their pursuit as fair game. Whether the fans or Moyes do doesn't matter as today's game is all about player power. If a player wants to go, he goes. We cannot afford to let him rot in the reserves so the best thing to do is sell him, strengthen the squad wherever we can with the money and move on. I don't blame the City fans, it's an exciting time for them. Hughes is a mug, but he won't last long there. Let's just get on and worry about Everton Football Club becauase based on Saturday there could be quite a lot to concern ourselves with.

No-one! What an embarrassment, a complete horror show to start the season. That was the team most likely to finish 4th at best, I think that shows that unless severe changes are made and fast then today was a reflection of how far behind 4th we really are. Get Lescott out of the club for the best price possible, regardless of Moyes' stance Lescott doesn;t want to play for the club so get him out. We cannot afford to keep him when we so obviously need players that wants to play for the club, and several of them. £20m+ will help us with that. The team display was a complete shambles and I think everyone around the club is affected by this ridiculous saga continuing. Moyes should sell and move on. However, I have very little faith in the club managing to bring any decent signings in within 2 weeks so we could end up completely fwecked until January. Awful display

Not if he's been told that we aren't signing anyone

I've gone for an optimistic 8th ahead of West Ham and Sunderland based on squad strength. If we could have a season where we only use 16 players like in the 80's then I'd go higher as our fully fit starying XI is higher than 8th. I do think that Sunderland will be the 'surprise package' this season. Good front line with Bent, Campbell and Jones, goals a plenty in there.

Fair comment, and I think our best XI is a good match and capable of giving anyone a game. But... (here comes the negative part!!!) it's a squad game, we have let 4 squad members go and not replaced any of them. That is my main cause of disgruntlement. Jags is out til November at least, the Yak may take a while to get back and I'm certain Lescott will leave this window. We need to progress and the only way we can do that is by improving the squad, which is by acquiring newer, better players. I think the other main cause for concern is that we are in this situation EVERY year. Sign no-one until after the season kicks off despite saying we'll "do it different this year" Massively frustrating, which is what comes out on the boards here. Had we signed players to replace the cover (as it was squad players no-one from the starting XI) that we've lost I for one would be a lot more content. However, we have weakened what was already a paper thin squad and that is concerning leading into the season after our most successful campaign in a generation. This season should have been closing the gap between 5th and 4th, I'm not sure many would see us as a certainty for top 6 and Europe next season at this moment in time, which is disappointing in my opinion.

Wasn't the reason given for us not making a bid that Moyes wasn't sure if he was a big enough player and we had better targets in mind... can't wait to see who they are. Roll on September 1st when Davey reveals all

they want a fee + he needs a work permit + other clubs are linked with him = won't happen

Which Taylor from Newcastle? Steven is daft enough to stay at Newcastle for this season at least to try and bring them back uo and didn't Ryan turn us down to go to Newcastle??? Saying that I still probably wouldn't grumble... I would be happy to see any new faces capable of making the squad before the window shuts. Unfortunately this season smacks of the last few seasons. I just cannot understand why Moyes took so long to sign his contract last year if he didn't have assurances over future transfer budgets cos every f'ing season he comes out with the same complaints a week before kick off

It would completely undermine his stance on not letting any of the players go. Selling to Arsenal is just the same as selling to City as the end result is Lescott goes. More likely is that we've offered Senderos 5p per hour above minimum wage and he's told us to jog on. Or we've decided that we can make our way through the season 4 squad players lighter than last year. As long as we don't suffer any injuries and our first XI plays all 38 league games plus cup games we'll be fine

I've just seen Riquelme doing keepie ups at Finch Farm