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The U18s can clinch the league title on Saturday at Goodison against Man City. Kick-off 5.30 and admission is free for Season Ticket holders, with tickets available on the turnstiles priced at £3 for adults and £1 for concessions. Good luck to the lads! http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2014/05/16/williams-targets-final-glory?

It will be a cheap one year deal and hopefully will be with a view to taking up a coaching role after this year is up. I haven't seen it mentioned, but he played a few games for the U21s last season and helped the young lads along, especially when quite a lot of the older ones were out on loan. I think that league changes to a U23 league from next season so more experienced players will be featuring in the opposition sides, so he could well continue that role next season from time to time when an older head is needed to guide the younger lads through. I think he will be ideal for that role and he's someone the kids will respect as a good pro. One of the best tacklers I've seen, too.

The Indy reports that Chelsea want to offer Lukaku a new contrast - with a loan option included. Apparently, they feel if they loan him back to us for another good season it would inflate his value further and a loan would suit us and allow us to spread our transfer spend around the team, including a move for Loic Remy. Also says that Gareth Barry is considering a move to the MLS and Arsenal are interested, and suggests that RM has definite interest in bringing Rodwell back from Man City. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-offer-romelu-lukaku-a-new-deal--with-loan-option-attached-9373109.html

Pleasing news, if true. His pace when dribbling is astonishing, and his delivery can be deadly too - just not often enough. He clearly needs to improve his decision making and needs to stop trying to do it all himself, but I think a full pre-season with us will see him much better prepared for this season, and if he's going to make it as a top class player then I'd expect him to be making serious waves in the Premier League by the second half of next season,

I've been pondering that one too. If Lukaku is priced out of our (reasonable) reach, then I do like the thought of adding a striker in his prime and one who looks highly promising. Adding them to Kone and potentially Traore would give us a range of options up front and make sure we're strong and fresh on all fronts next season.

Likewise, thanks Steve for a great job!

I'm sure there must be a thread for this lad but I can't find it. Anyway, seems that Sporting Lisbon have been complaining about "harassment" of Eric Dier from English clubs and apparently we were specifically mentioned. He's already spent two seasons with our youth set-up and he seems like the sort of ball-playing defender that Martinez would love, but with a buy out clause of 20m Euros that Sporting are looking to increase, it looks as though he's way out of our reach. http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/everton-harassment-over-england-u21-leads-club-to-worry-about-fut

This is my major problem with this proposal. How would it help the England team by producing more high quality English players? I haven't seen one satisfactory explanation yet. IMO the problem is far more fundamental and traces back to the lack of qualified youth coaches and the lack of funding and facilities for youth teams in the communities. I also think that the forthcoming plans to change the current Premier League U21 teams to U23 teams and make that competition more high profile and competitive will provide much the same sort of challenge as some sort of mutant Division 3.

I see Roberto and his missus were in the directors' box at Wigan last night watching their play-off match against QPR (0-0). He sure knows how to show her a good time!

Great interivew and some nice little nuggets there, including him saying he would love to have been a player like Ross Barkley but thinks he was more like Gareth Barry Well worth a watch/listen if you haven't already.

I'd like him to sign but I feel his form tailed off towards the end of the season and he became less influential. Of course, that could be down to fatigue after playing almost every game of the season and he's not the only one who looked tired towards the end. If we can sign him for a couple of seasons as well as a younger DCM to share the workload then I think the squad would be better able to maintain their standards.

Yes, I think a lot depends on the manager too. He's been linked with the Spurs job, some reports claim that a deal for Shaw to Man Utd is already in place, and none of them will be drawn on their future in recent interviews. I'd hate to see Lallana join that lot as I love him as a player and could easily see him slotting into our side, especially as a Pienaar replacement, and the fact that he's a boyhood blue would make it harder to take. But with the value Southampton are likely to put on him these days it looks as though he'd be out of our reach.

Martinez said in his press conference this morning that Pienaar and Traore are both fit and will be involved at Hull. Gibson is back in training but the match is too soon for him.

At the awards dinner Lukaku described this season as "the best experience I've had in my career".

Ledson won't be involved as he's on international duty with England Under-17s: http://www.toffeetalk.com/index.php?/topic/26217-everton-players-at-the-uefa-u17-championship/ Shame, as it would have been good for him to make his Everton debut this season but he has time on his side.

As just read (and enjoyed) on Twitter: A support line has been set up for Liverpool fans. 0800 3-0 3-1 3-2 3-3

Valencia to reject offers for Gil: http://talksport.com/football/everton-told-forget-about-move-valencia-youngster-14050589918?

Quite pleased with that as a prediction

Great to see two of our youngsters involved, although it makes it unlikely that Ryan Ledson will be on the bench again at Hull. It would have been good to see him get 5-10 minutes,

Hull 1-3 Everton Naismith

I see our young defender Pennington scored for them today.

Barkley by a mile.

Apparently we're lining up McManaman this summer.... http://www.footballdirectnews.com/premier-league-news/48251-everton-boss-will-return-to-wigan-for-winger.php

He was in a box at Stamford Bridge watching their match last night. Wonder if Jose had a word encouraging him to make sure we beat City on Saturday?

I hate predicting a defeat, but with all the injuries I think they'll have too much for us. Everton 1-2 Lukaku