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Apparently he was having a break in Paris between last weekend's match and yesterday's meeting, and had allowed the Spanish players to return to Spain for a few days, which seems odd ahead of their massive "six pointer" derby game, but - as noted above - apparently he often missed training sessions and rarely addressed the team before or after games. I've kept half an eye on him since he was linked with us last summer and I'm glad he's not our manager. From the outside looking in, it's seemed that things haven't been right there since the summer.

Apparently he was having a break in Paris between last weekend's match and yesterday's meeting, and had allowed the Spanish players to return to Spain for a few days, which seems odd ahead of their massive "six pointer" derby game, but - as noted above - apparently he often missed training sessions and rarely addressed the team before or after games. I've kept half an eye on him since he was linked with us last summer and I'm glad he's not our manager. From the outside looking in, it's seemed that things haven't been right there since the summer.

This would be the fourth time Swansea has asked Jones to become their manager. Hope he sticks with Roberto as they're clearly a good partnership: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/swansea-city/10618109/Swansea-City-part-ways-with-manager-Michael-Laudrup.html

Can we have it written into both their contracts that they are obligated NOT to be injured at the same time?

think he could with another 7 or 8 myself

We really lacked creativity tonight, and at present Ross isn't providing that. McGeady looks as though he'll be decent from the wings once he's fully fit but we're lacking thrust through the middle and I think we need a creative attacking midfielder type who could cover the central attacking positions to rotate/replace with Pienaar and Barkley and provide some unpredictability. Ideally he'd provide a different threat from set pieces too, as we really aren't doing well from those. Ross is still young to be carrying that creative 'playmaking' responsibility and I can see him growing into a deeper box-to-box midfielder in the next couple of seasons, anyway.
 
Surely there's a tricky Spaniard or South American that Roberto can add to our loan stable for the rest of the season?

I'd be more comfortable paying something like £15m for Lukaku with anything up to another £7m in add-ons, but if Chelsea do decide to sell him then they'll be able to name their price and we won't be the only club interested in him.
 
I think some of the problem with Lukaku's recent form is that we're not supplying him with through balls to run onto - although he's not the first striker we've starved of that sort of supply - which is why I feel that we need to bring in a 'playmaker' type of midfielder who can spot and execute a through ball.

I'd be more comfortable paying something like £15m for Lukaku with anything up to another £7m in add-ons, but if Chelsea do decide to sell him then they'll be able to name their price and we won't be the only club interested in him.
 
I think some of the problem with Lukaku's recent form is that we're not supplying him with through balls to run onto - although he's not the first striker we've starved of that sort of supply - which is why I feel that we need to bring in a 'playmaker' type of midfielder who can spot and execute a through ball.

Schneiderlin for me. Undervalued and wouldn't cost a 'glossy' fee like the English lads or Ramirez.

Once again, they do exactly what I'm so pissed off about every game...... No killer through ball....crab side to side shit then back again..... There's one thing barca doing it and it can be called waiting for an opening and another if we do it...it's called being clueless on the ball.... Never mind RM how on earth has no manager in the past ten years recognised this about Everton..... The closest we got to a p last like this was arteta and the kings of this trend snapped him up..... We really lack creativity!!!!! Get to Spain and find a quality playmaker...... It's so fucking obvious it's getting stupid.

A link in the Daily Mail today. Newcastle tried to sign him last year but the deal dragged on amid accusations that the goalposts kept being moved, but with six months left on his contract he's supposedly available on the cheap:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2548103/TRANSFER-COLUMN-PART-II-Everton-target-Gomis-Lukaku-injury-West-Brom-Sunderland-join-race-McCormack.html

"Liked" the post Mark because you put the time in to write it.....but I didn't like it .
 
Minor upside for me though is that Josh's new home shirt (with Oviedo on the back) arrived this morning and he wore it to college despite knowing he'd get a lot of stick.....I like that .

This is obviously rash, but is it time to abandon the Lukaku ship? He hasn't put in a convincing 90 minutes for a couple months now for my money and this injury may well see him getting back to training at the end of the year. Hasn't looked a 22-23m striker to me.
 
We've got a giant coming in and by all reports he linked up well with Eto in the big man little man combo for Anzhi. Who can we bring in to play off him? How far off is McAleny? Is Batsuyahi (sp?) available for ~10m? I think if we're to have any realistic chance at Europe from the league or cup we need to look at making a statement now and setting out a real course for at least the rest of the season. Going to be a very big next 3 days and Villa will be very interesting.

You sort of answered your own question.
 
You have to be versatile and adapt to play against the opposition and exploit their weaknesses, football isnt a "one style fits all" scenario. When we played them at home, we had pretty much our strongest team out and the added bonus of being at home, so we could dictate how the game was going to be played.
 
We had to adjust today because we had players out of position (stones) and players coming back from injury (barkely,pienaar,alcaraz) but we didnt do that and played right into Liverpools hands. Everyone is slating Stones but he was told to press that high up the pitch and everyone knows he didnt/doesnt have the pace to get back if we did get caught out...its painfully obvious stuff like this thats cost us. I agree, Liverpool did get it spot on tactically, and its blatantly obvious how and why, which is why its so embarrassing.

just fuck off you wumming cunt..seriously..now is not the fucking time

In a strange way I'm quite encouraged to a degree, this has been character building, Liverpool have been completely devastating on the break when we messed up... But not once have we changed our principles, we haven't dropped our heads and in all honesty we have had some near misses...
 
I dunno I'm shedding some light.

This will teach me to be optimistic ever again.

Our 4-3 win tonight will go down in history.

what number jersey has liverpool given atkinson?

I think you will find its Steven Gerrard

The OS has an interview with Bryan:
http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2014/01/28/oviedo-staying-positive

Irritating that the rich clubs are receiving £10m more than us so far for televised games when we've been one of the most attractive and entertaining teams to watch

An interesting view from the Independent about the derby, with some insight into finances:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ian-herbert-why-the-neutral-football-fan-should-be-cheering-for-everton-to-finish-ahead-of-liverpool-and-earn-a-champions-league-place-9089274.html

An interesting (and reassuring, for those worried about his final ball) comment by McGeady about his assist for the first goal at Stevenage:
 
McGeady said he has already bought into the team ethic at Everton, and his new manager's desire for composure in the final third. “I could have shot for our first goal, but when I looked up I saw Naisy and another blue shirt in a good position and I thought if I cut this back it's going to be a goal,” he said. “The manager is always on about us not rushing things in the final third, picking out the right pass. Hopefully he's happy with what I did there because that's what he wants from me.” Full article: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mcgeady-cant-wait-make-derby-6595670?

An interesting (and reassuring, for those worried about his final ball) comment by McGeady about his assist for the first goal at Stevenage:
 
McGeady said he has already bought into the team ethic at Everton, and his new manager's desire for composure in the final third. “I could have shot for our first goal, but when I looked up I saw Naisy and another blue shirt in a good position and I thought if I cut this back it's going to be a goal,” he said. “The manager is always on about us not rushing things in the final third, picking out the right pass. Hopefully he's happy with what I did there because that's what he wants from me.” Full article: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mcgeady-cant-wait-make-derby-6595670?