posted Jul 29, 2008

They told us they were working on transfers weeks ago, and that has been shown to be true with the Moutinho bid. Moyes has said he wants around 5 players.

To be honest deals being all over the papers just bugs mme, and it's usually just a way to get more money, It's better when it's all hush, hush as you tend to get a better deal.

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posted Jul 30, 2008

I think we also need to face up to an unfortunate truth. Our tunrover is fairly small, about £50m, and much smaller than for example Spurs, whom we try(and even expect) to beat, and a little less than Villa's.
However on the last figures I saw, around 70-75% of our turnover is spent on players' wages, which means we can't be making profit and, very probably, make a loss.
Under that scenario, and given the credit crunch upon us, where will we find the money to grow? Bill is a lovely man, but he is not in the same league as for example Randy Lerner at Villa, let alone the Abramovich's of this world.
It seems to me that if we are to place bids for players we want, like Moutinho, we also have to sell to raise some, if not all the cash. Hence Johnson's sale since we need midfielders more urgently that strikers.
I think these are dangerous time for us. Midfield is especially threadbare, a guy like Carsley will cost decent money to replace, Cahill's health is a concern, and we have precious little cover. Let's not be reduced to playing Jags or Phil there again.
We need, more than ever, a benevelolent billionaire, like Lerner, to put some proper cash on the table. Here's hoping we find one.

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posted Jul 30, 2008

You'll be fine lads. Moyes has done a superb job and i expect he'll want to continue for as long as possible. Like Villa your squad needs beefing up but i doubt there will ever be a stage where either of us can compete with the plastic four in terms of depth.

You've just made a ridiculous amount of money on Andy Johnson so i'd expect Moyes to be given funds to strengthen and Everton to achieve a minimum of top 8 again this year.

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posted Jul 30, 2008

The fact that Everton are rumoured to be linked with everyone that might want a transfer should not be taken as a sign that things aren't happening.

Frankly, Everton strike me as a very well run club and keeping a close counsel is part of that.

The news that Moyes is committing himself to the club is another positive.

That said, I hope for the club's sake that they are in a position to progress from what has been a few good years of league positions because if things don't happen soon, there is a danger that the likes of Spurs, Villa, Man City and Portsmouth will get higher than them this season. This of course ignores the Blackburns and Newcastle's of the world who may also improve.

(Of course not everyone can improve but they will all have believe that this time of the year!)

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posted Jul 30, 2008

Whoops, the first paragraph should say 'the fact that you AREN'T rumoured'.

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posted Jul 30, 2008

we need to look at the unique strengths of everton and its brilliant manager. the latter's brilliance is in instilling a deep sense of confidence in players who had failed to reach their potential elsewhere. however, we have also seen one or two mature players not quite fitting in with the everton system. i personally think that the team is dependent on one or two players a little too much. tim cahill seems to be the lifeblood of the club. when he is fit and performing at the very best level everton is riding high. however, in each of the last few seasons, injuries to him have got in the way of fluidity and results. i do not wish to suggest that everton is the biggest underachiever in the land. however, i don't wish to suggest that they are an overachiever either. there is room for improvement. that improvement could come from either getting into the top four or perhaps consistently performing well in europe. the one top four finish in the last few years led to a disastrous underachieving season. we do not want to see that again. this is a club on firm financial footing. moyes is a good talent spotter for lesser players. i believe that the board should be prudent and build on sustaining the present platform. if the club can finish on the same spot again next season, qualify for europe and with it a good cup run, i believe that would be a good season indeed. going out to buy a big player is not always the answer. the debts need to be reconciled. if the club can achieve what it has done under the present debt ridden system, i am sure there would be wonders to come once it is back in the black. sustainability is the key to the game. however, we must also ensure that moyes stays. he is the conductor that orchestrates the team of cahill and neville. moyes must be signed up to a longer contract and it must be made very difficult for him to leave. when the old trafford job comes up, i am sure moyes would be linked with it. if mark hughes does well at man city, perhaps he might be seen as the natural successor, however, make no mistake, the old trafford gulls are eyeing up moyes, the natural successor to ferguson. so the only way for moyes to stay would be for him to have achieved quite a bit more. silverware would help. perhaps one of the lesser cups and a european semifinal ought to be the ambition this season with a fourth of fifth finish.

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posted Jul 30, 2008

If i had been 6 years in the same job and had absolutely nothing to show for it in terms of honours or progress,i would be sacked not be offered a renewed contract. Everton, in doing this,are simply admitting mediocrity is good enough for them.

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posted Jul 30, 2008

"If i had been 6 years in the same job and had absolutely nothing to show for it in terms of honours or progress,i would be sacked not be offered a renewed contract. Everton, in doing this,are simply admitting mediocrity is good enough for them."

I think you need to look at Everton's fortunes prior to Moyes' arrival. Im a Liverpool fan, but even i can see the progress they've made under Moyes has been outstanding (at times worrying from an LFC point of view), and hes done it all on a meagre budget compared to clubs like tottenham and Portsmouth and now villa, who all have bigger transfer budgets.

Pains me to admit it but he is a very shrewd manager nad Everton will do well in keeping hold of him.

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