Aidan

Jack Rodwell has been linked away to United for £22m today. After a cheap switch for Gibson from Old Trafford to Goodison Park it makes me think that there's something going on behind the scenes that were not being told about - but we shall see what happens in the future. I wanted to take this opportunity to play a little game. Say we sell Rodwell for £22 million in the summer. Barkley also leaves Goodsion hypothetically speaking for £25m along with Cahill for £5m and Bily for £6m. You're DM, weve got a total of £58m for outgoing transfers but Kenwright needs a new Bently so takes £18m from our transfer pot. Youve got £40m. Who would you bring to Goodison. Keep in mind that you cant bring in 3 or 4 players that will want 50k+ a week, be realistic.

I sit here on this lazy Sunday, sipping my coffee in my slippers, reflecting on the previous game at Villa Park yesterday. It wasn't a bad game to watch because Everton were trying to keep possession in midfield, passing it about and working the ball forward slowly. It excited me and made me enjoy watching Everton play - I haven't felt excited when watching them play in months. It has made a great difference as usually we would be trying to loft the ball forward to a lone striker and expect him to hold it up until our midfield comes into play but this just resulted in sloppy long balls up field and most of the time we would give possession away. Introducing Donovan into the squad has made a real impact. We not seem to have a player that wants to make a difference, who's looking for that final pass, who's darting into the box trying to look for that through ball to latch onto, who's crossing the ball and not messing about, just doing what is expected of him (take note Drenthe - I'll get to you later). He really does belong in this league. Gibson yesterday had a half decent game. We didn't expect him to do amazing, after all, his match fitness isn't great and he hasn't had a consistent run of games yet to gel into the squad. He looks to have a good pass on him and can tackle well too (I love midfield players who can throw in a good tackle here and there!). Today I read that United fans had made a Facebook page when they heard Gibbo had been linked to Everton stating that they want him to leave. No player should be treated that way by fans. Gibson should be really fired up though - he's come to Goodison with a lot of people pessimistic about the move, he will want to prove them people wrong and show us exactly what he can do. Lets just hope that he can prove us wrong. I shall move of to Big Vic! Anichebe yesterday showed a very good finish for a striker that averages around a goal every 10 games. It was a clean, calm finish from the Nigerian. Vics now got 3 goals this season (in 6 games). I'm not getting my hopes up about it, but Moyes has always seen something in him and I hope that Vic shows us exactly what he can do. I think he would suit the sort of role Yakubu had at Everton, always in the box, waiting for the cross, getting it to his feet, turning and having a pop or even just waiting for the ball to spill and follow up. Like I said, its early days yet, but lets see what he can do this season, I'll certainly be watching him very closely. Finally I just want to give my throughts on Drenthe. On his day he shows everyone why it's called the "beautiful game". He can be nothing short of fantastic as he is a very technically gifted player. But, that's the problem, "on his day". He's inconsistent, he dosnt seem to have an average game. Yesterday he was awful and I've seen him play crap a few times this season. For a player with such technicality he can be so sloppy and mistake prone. He's a free spirit, give him a free role on the left of right flank and let him play, but Moyes needs to keep his feet on the ground and tell him that sometimes less is more. I really hope Moyes can sign him, but be weary.

Scraggy goal and were on our way to another defeat. Stick another striker on now moyes.

Oh yeah it is quiet! I wasnt aware I must have missed the first 27 times hes said it!

Whats everyone thought of Gibs so far? I think hes been quite quiet but not bad at all, I can't really determain what type of a player he is right now.

We never dominate in the first half everyone knows that!

i feel like cahills going to break his drought today...

Not bad so far, were passing the ball around well. Ive not seen Everton keep much possession this season but were doing it well and an away win is very possible here.

Its just as good as won then!

I think he just needs to work on his fitness. The lads got determination and wants to prove what he can do in England. I think once he gets a couple more games under his belt he will show us exsactly what he can do. Remember, hes a strong bloke, hes tall so hes a target man and someone to hold up the ball for our midfield, plus he's proved he can score at Tigre.

Nev is terrible in CM haha. And I like the look of Denis I think hes going to be a half decent striker (providing that we sign him).

Moyes needs to get him signed. He's been our best player this season and about half of the goals weve scored hes been bloody involved in. On top of that hes bearly had any starts. We need to sign him, even if we dont keep him we could flog him for quite a bit if hes on a 4 or 5 year contact.

I cant see it happening mate, look how weak our right side is in defence, its way too risky. Also, I dont think Cahill is effective at all in CM, although he dosnt seem to be effective at all lately. If your going with 3 playing behind the striker then I'd put Anichebe or Denis up top, someone with real strength to hold up the ball.

Howard Neville - Duffy - Hietinga - Baines Donovan - Felliani - Gibson - Drenthe/Bily (Royston will start if fit enough) Saha - Denis ------------------------------ Saha needs a run out of a few games to find his feet. However, at the end of the season chances are he will be leaving because his ability has certainly declined in the past year or so, I mean, the bloke cant get a blooming shot on target! I'm excited for this game because I want to see how Duffy does in CB. There has been a lot of hype about him in the past and Moyes is very very good teaching defenders how to do their job properly, he can make an average CB into a class one (distin is playing better than ever and look at his age!).

Howard still has 4 or 5 seasons in him yet.

Upsetting, a couple of years ago he was made out to have the potential to be a good Prem striker. I hope he picks up his ability and storms the next season (it won't happen... but i hope it does).

http://www.bluekippe...n_for_jose.html Just wondered what everyone thought of this. We have a few injured players and Baxter being a FC could help out in both midfield and up front. Baxter, from time to time, has been made out to be the next big thing from many pundits of the game. However, at the age of 19 he still hasn't been given a chance this season with the first team with the likes of Vellios, Barkley and Gueye all ahead of him in the pecking order. Instead, he was loaned out. I'm starting to slowly forget about him. I know the lads only 19 but why has he had so little opportunity? For what his potential is made out to be he has seen very little game time for Everton. It confuses me because like I say - The lads made out to have heaps of potential and even won the reserves Player of The Year Trophy just last season. Can anyone help answer this? I'm dying to know because I really want to see the lad in action.

1) Nowhere in life do you shout out your questions to someone, unannounced and uninvited and expect a positive response - I dont think the lads were expecting a positive response do you? And they were protesting, it wasnt Parkinson. 2) They weren't legitimate questions, they were taunts in the guise of questions "who next bill?" "what's the price bill?". I understand - Again, they were protesting their questions, and they're right, who is next? Rodwell? Barkley? Who do you want to see leave? Nobody, just like me. 3) It's not the fans club. You THINK it is. All fans like to believe it, but it's a myth. YOU are a captive punter (I don't mean Everton fans alone, I mean ALL fans of all clubs). You're caught up in a delusion that your passion and love for the club is reciprocated. It's not. They want your money, and they'll charge as much as they think you can sustain. - At the end of the day Goodison's average attendance these past few months has dropped dramatically, do you think thats helping the finances? 4) It IS BK's business. He's paid for his shares. - Your just putting words in my mouth now, I never said it wasnt his business, I was trying to say that without us Everton would no longer exsist. It IS our club. The word support dosnt just mean follow. We are the backbone. 5) I agree entirely that the fans are incredibly important to a club, but y'ain't calling the shots. The only way the fans COULD change something is en masse, and typically only by hurting the club in the process (boycotting matches / merchandise etc). That's not going to happen is it? Which is why the board have the upper hand. - Its true, the board do have the upper hand, im not here to squabble and disagree. I know you love this club just as much as I do and at the end of the day all I dream of is 15 maybe 20 million every season IF we need it. I want stability and were never going to get that with BK. Theres more that happens behind the scenes than we know and I can feel that BK is full of bull. We have to move on because its getting embaressing.

IMO I can't see much wrong with what the BU did today. It was another peaceful protest. They went about it the right way. I mean - someone needs to let Kenwright know that its in fact our club and not his, Everton would be nothing without the supporters spending millions a year in tickets and merchandise. You pay for Everton, not BK, nice car though, wonder how much that cost, probably more than Seamus Coleman.

B.K. the man himself.

We need goals and if he scores them we will have a better chance of winning games regardless of whos on the wing.

Do you think Drenthe would do a good job up front? He can finish from long range and he's not too bad from close range, I think. I know he's not really an aerial threat threat what-so-ever but keep in mind he is very agile, has the first touch of a God and the pace of a cheater! I think he would work well with straq or vellios from long ball headed flick ons, i think he can read the game well like that and he chases down everyone, he'd certainly be something to trouble defenders and force errors.

I've been trying to keep my cool but patience is wearing thin! Through thick and thin blue noses, we shall soldier on!

Hello guys, this is my first post to Toffee Talk, although I've been reading articles I've never really commented on much until recently so just wanted to say hello before i begin my article! Our annual "mess up the first half of the season" hasn't been good this year. Fans, players and Moyes's moral is rock bottom and as always we're all trying to find someone to blame. Lady luck is certainly not on our side as we lose in a horrific game to Bolton, our keeper is the only one that can score, our (arguably) best centre half has been ruled out for up to 6 weeks, there are other vital players injured and to top it all off we dont have a bloody pot to.... nevermind. However, I ask you all to just calm down and realise that things could be worse. We're Everton, we will turn it around in the next few weeks and then Goodison Park will be a singing fortress again. Signings, new contracts and Donovan coming back isn't going to give the squad a boost, they need to do it themselves. Personally, whether you think I'm talking a load of bull or not, I believe that the influential side of the squad hasn't been as good as it has been in recent years. Neville is getting on and his ability looks like its starting to deteriorate, Arteta has left for better things and also Cahill isn't scoring and doesn't seem to even be involved when he's on the pitch. All 3 of these lads are massively influential to the squad, and when their moral is rock bottom, everyone else's is going to be too (aside from Arteta who's done one!). Lets all get behind the boys. They need us know more than ever, now to all you pessimists stop moaning and get Goodison singing again!

Its upsetting that this is all we can get excited about. I wish we just had money, or a poacher.