Juan Mata

[JoeQuince]

 

25m (around £21m?) sounds like a solid deal! I hope this is true. He's the exact type of player we've desperately needed.

[Matt]

So basically no one has a clue

[Lowensda]

JQ we've desperately need it since Arteta left IMO. We never replaced him.

 

This is another level/calibre of player.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Lowensda

[Paddock]

He's exactly the type of player we need which is exactly the reason we wont get him. Whenever we're linked with players like this everyone starts frothing at the mouth.

 

This has Yarmalenko mark II written all over it.

[Lowensda]

Pad, I'm hoping that Moshiri is as determined and professional as I think he is and feel that we have a far better chance with him in charge than we ever have.

 

Things have changed slightly and I am hoping there is more substance to these rumours.

 

They're (players we're being linked to) the players we should have been looking at a few years ago, before Tottenham had their mini resurgence.

[Newty82]

I'd be delighted with this. But as always, I'll wait until there's some actual movement on it before getting excited.

[Paddock]

Pad, I'm hoping that Moshiri is as determined and professional as I think he is and feel that we have a far better chance with him in charge than we ever have.

 

Things have changed slightly and I am hoping there is more substance to these rumours.

 

They're (players we're being linked to) the players we should have been looking at a few years ago, before Tottenham had their mini resurgence.

I think there is substance to it mate I just don't think he'll come here. I really hope I'm wrong but I think he'll see us as a step down and at 25 million there will be bigger than us sniffing round him.

 

Time will tell but I'm not allowing myself to get my hopes up on this one.

[StevO]

If he comes in as Koemans first major signing it will look like a real coup and hopefully attract more players of that quality.

[Keith B]

How will Mata and Barkley work together? Honest question.

[MikeO]

I'd be delighted with this. But as always, I'll wait until there's some actual movement on it before getting excited.

 

Funny; that's exactly what I said to my wife the other night .

[Finn balor]

Absolute quality player. £21 mill? That's a bargain compared to the money being bandied about for average players

[MC11]

Wouldn't say this was a marquee signing myself. He's gone down hill at United.

[Paddock]

Wouldn't say this was a marquee signing myself. He's gone down hill at United.

He's way better than anything we have and defo a player of high calibre. Also in the ball park of what we should be aspiring to get.

 

He's probably as good a marquee signing as we can hope for.

[Cornish Steve]

Why does it have to be youngsters? Why not buy players at the top of their game? Especially when they have that kind of ability!

The reason behind bringing in young players is for resale value, we don't need that to be our mission anymore. How about when City got Yaya Toure? He wasn't young, he was at his peak and he made a big difference.

 

Recent strategy has clearly been to build a lasting legacy by bringing in a wealth of young talent. Some will make it, and some will not, but it's a good, solid, long-term strategy that allows Everton to compete according to its own rules. If we succumb to the approach taken by others - overspend on prima donnas with a "big name" - we'll end up mid-table. It would be such a shame if we throw that out in the hope of buying instant success - which very rarely happens.

[Matt]

Recent strategy has clearly been to build a lasting legacy by bringing in a wealth of young talent. Some will make it, and some will not, but it's a good, solid, long-term strategy that allows Everton to compete according to its own rules. If we succumb to the approach taken by others - overspend on prima donnas with a "big name" - we'll end up mid-table. It would be such a shame if we throw that out in the hope of buying instant success - which very rarely happens.

i know what you mean but Mata would be complementing the youth with proven experience and could easily play for another 7 years.

 

He has gone downhill a bit at United, but that's almost certainly down to mismanagement and is soooo much better than what we currently have (sorry Ross) in his position

[Cornish Steve]

i know what you mean but Mata would be complementing the youth with proven experience and could easily play for another 7 years.

 

He has gone downhill a bit at United, but that's almost certainly down to mismanagement and is soooo much better than what we currently have (sorry Ross) in his position

 

For sure, if we can supplement a young team with proven experience, and not pay over the odds for it, that's excellent. To my mind, though, we must never lose sight of strategy, and all decisions must be weighed against it.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Cornish Steve

[c1982]

Wouldn't say this was a marquee signing myself. He's gone down hill at United.

I disagree... I'd say this is the most 'marquee' and potentially most exciting signing since Andrei Kanchelskis.

 

I'd say Mata has been very good in a transitional United team.

[Peter H]

This wont happen. We are Everton supporters. Why would anything good happen to us?

[Hafnia]

Great purchase if we get him. Sell Rom and get Lacazette - mata is an intricate passer of the ball and needs a striker with a bit of guile

[StevO]

Steve, I see where you're coming from. But we have no idea whatsoever what the strategy is. We know that Roberto and Bills strategy was, try told us about it. We've not got a clue what Moshiri and Koeman want to do in terms of strategy. If his strategy is to buy players of a better quality than we currently have then that's a strategy that I'm fine with.

[Matt]

 

For sure, if we can supplement a young team with proven experience, and not pay over the odds for it, that's excellent. To my mind, though, we must never lose sight of strategy, and all decisions must be weighed against it.

think we're all in agreement then and at £25m he's a relative bargain for a player of his quality

[Btay]

When you look at the market and what 25mil gets you I don't think you could do much better than Mata.

I agree with what Steves saying but we still have that approach for young players. We've brought in 2 teenagers already. over the next few seasons we will phase out the last of the older lot, Barry, Jags, Baines so we need to buy some experience.

 

Mata is going to really change Barkleys game I think. Let Mata sit in behind the striker, let defences worry about him, Rom, Kev and Gerry with Ross coming from deep. My only doubt is if McCarthy can be the one midfielder to screen the back four.

[MC11]

When you look at the market and what 25mil gets you I don't think you could do much better than Mata.

I agree with what Steves saying but we still have that approach for young players. We've brought in 2 teenagers already. over the next few seasons we will phase out the last of the older lot, Barry, Jags, Baines so we need to buy some experience.

 

Mata is going to really change Barkleys game I think. Let Mata sit in behind the striker, let defences worry about him, Rom, Kev and Gerry with Ross coming from deep. My only doubt is if McCarthy can be the one midfielder to screen the back four.

Hopefully Witsel will come in an we won't be seeing much of McCarthy.

[MikeO]

1/4 with Skybet now.

[Matt]

I'd not waste money on Witsel and hope RK can get the first season McCarthy firing again.

[Bill]

think we're all in agreement then and at £25m he's a relative bargain for a player of his quality

Telegraph saying it's £20m and Everton are trying to convince him into joining Koemans and EFCs revolution.

[Matt]

Telegraph saying it's £20m and Everton are trying to convince him into joining Koemans and EFCs revolution.

seriosuly hoping this comes true

[Hafnia]

Fookin great player. He got moyeserised, like arteta with less needle but far more guile.

[Btay]

I'd not waste money on Witsel and hope RK can get the first season McCarthy firing again.

Witsel is an upgrade on McCarthy for me. Greater passing range. I'm worried McCarthy isn't the same player since his injuries and another season like the last 2 and other clubs will realise and his value will go completely. I know it's not a great way to look at it, but if we got 15m McCarthy, pay 30 for witsel than look at it like 15m for McCarthy..

[Johnsy]

 

Recent strategy has clearly been to build a lasting legacy by bringing in a wealth of young talent. Some will make it, and some will not, but it's a good, solid, long-term strategy that allows Everton to compete according to its own rules. If we succumb to the approach taken by others - overspend on prima donnas with a "big name" - we'll end up mid-table. It would be such a shame if we throw that out in the hope of buying instant success - which very rarely happens.

 

I don't think Mata can really be classed as a prima donna to be fair - seems very quiet and hard working, and is apparently a very nice chap (missus has met him a couple of times)!

 

Also if it's £21 million as is being mentioned, that's not really overspending either to my mind - he's absolute class and in his prime. Fellaini was £27 million!