Everton Banter Archive March 14 2017

14 Mar 2017 21:09:37
It seems the problem is he won't sign a contract with a buy out that will price him out of a move to a big champions league club which is his right
Is anyone really surprised at this, he has not tried to hide the fact that he thinks he should be playing in the champions league every year and to be honest He now at last looks like he should, as long as he fires us back into Europe this season he can go with my blessing, I don't want players who don't want to be here no mater how good they are
Selling him for the right price in the summer won't be the problem cause Everton don't sell cheap!
The real test of moving back to the top where I beleave we belong is who we replace him with.

14 Mar 2017 23:54:01
I would take £60 million and Misti Batsayishi, doubt Chelsea would though.

14 Mar 2017 23:58:26
Michy Bats even.

15 Mar 2017 01:51:07
We can take him to the champions league I am sure.

14 Mar 2017 19:25:29
let him go to Chelsea reserves take the money and run.

14 Mar 2017 23:57:26
Take the money and Batsiyashi, bring in Siggerson and Keane,

14 Mar 2017 18:37:57
So Lukaku has turned down the contract because he wants a clause to allow him to leave between a reported 60-70 mil.

That means he has decided to go in the summer anyway and basically wants a concrete contract to allow him to do it on his terms.

We are now better not agreeing to this but allow him to leave in the summer and under our terms.

I for one will be happy to see him go. Great goal scorer this year and much improved player but for him he has never been a player that really wanted to be with us and was simply looking at a stepping stone. Good on him.

For me I'd rather get players in the want to be with us and show a bit of commitment and respect for the club. He's been banging on for 4 years over this.

Hopefully he breaks all kinds of records between now and the end of the season and we get between 70 -80 mil for him. We'll have the money to go out there and get players to replace him and Europe to offer as well.

As for Rom all the best to him and thanks for the goals. Hope he wins the CL he craves and has a great career.

For us we will move on. Players have been coming and going since 1878 and we're still here and with a situation we have never been in before in terms of spending power.

The king is dead, long live the king.

14 Mar 2017 19:33:15
Totally agree BJU. Play him every minute to get his golden boot. I want to see him crawling off the pitch every week and earning his wages whilst he's with us.
I wouldn't worry too much about replacing him either. We have one of the best talent spotters in the game in Steve Walsh. Remember he's the one who brought Drogba to these shores. He didn't do too badly did he.
No point in being bitter either, he's paid to do a job and he's doing it very well, and at the end of it we will likely treble our investment. Win win I say.
And the last time we lost a striker this prolific? Well I was besides myself with grief when Lineker went to Barcelona and we followed that up with the title. So my pints half full on this one.

{Ed025's Note - mine too ace mate..

14 Mar 2017 19:54:01
Well said Toffee. It'll be difficult for the younger supporters as they've never seen this situation before. For people like you, me and ED we've been through this before.

I can't wait for next season with or without Lukaku.

{Ed025's Note - we can still do a bit of damage this season john, its a great time to be a blue mate i really believe that..

14 Mar 2017 20:00:41
Well said Ed.

14 Mar 2017 17:55:15
Just seems Lukaku's turned down the contract. Hoping that means the terms he was offered rather than he won't sign one full stop.

14 Mar 2017 19:15:25
I think it"s the latter Windsorblue, that"s his perogative. if he goes he goes, would rather him stay like but that's football for you. Hopefully we get top dollar for him and then hope Walsh unearths a gem from somewhere.

14 Mar 2017 17:54:27
Latest is that Lukaku has now said he has rejected a new contract offer. One that is the best Everton have ever offered. I think we all know what happens next. just a matter of how soon.

{Ed002's Note - I explained the issue the other day - he won't sign a contract that will price him out of the move to a high-end Champions League club that he desires - and that is not unreasonable.}

14 Mar 2017 23:00:50
The last I had heard was that he was 99.999% sure he was signing a contract. This is news to me. I obviously never saw your post Ed002. And no, it is not a surprise which is why I said I think we all knowwhat happens next. As in Everton will keep himfor now until a suitable offer is recieved. Then we will let him go. It will probably be in the Summer.

{Ed004's Note - What do Everton fans make of his recent non-commitment? Is the general consensus that wait until the summer get a decent fee for him, probably around 60 mill if I was to guess, and just replace him? From watching very few of his games I'm not sure he has the touch to play for teams in the top 6 and in Europe who come up against parked buses each week but play him for a counter attacking side and he is lethal}

14 Mar 2017 23:47:02
ed004, you have pretty much summed the lad up. I'm not too sure which champions league team would come in for him, I suppose it depends on the price. He has been lethal in games over the last few years and is certainly progressing as a player, bit of work on his touch and his aerial ability is where he could improve. I want to keep him as long as possible as forwards who score 20+ goals per season are hard to come by and quite expensive. But if he wants to go then we need to get the best possible deal that suits us, we have shown in the past that we don't sell too cheaply. As for your question, I'm not too bothered about the way this is dragging out, it was always going to be a complicated and protracted deal. We only hear snippets from media outlets such as sky sports news and other unreliable net based sites, so it is hard to comment. If it's true that the club want some sort of 90m buy out clause but his people want it nearer 70m then I would expect some negotiation and him to sign. Even if he did sign a new contract, I would still expect him to go in the next 12 months. If that happens then I hope we get in a decent replacement first.

{Ed004's Note - Thanks for the reply. He has certainly been improving but he still lacks the hold up play that I think teams require now at the top stage. The likes of Lewandowski, Benzema and Suarez etc are all excellent on the ball and Lukaku has only really shown that in glimpses and his record vs the top teams is concerning.
I agree wth you that I think a compromise will be found but anything near or over 70 million and that is some business by Everton}

15 Mar 2017 00:07:10
Never been a big fan of Lukaku, yes he can score goals but until the last few games, his work rate has not been up with the best, not often he celebrates when a team mate score instead of him, not a month go bye without the guy sprouting Champions league football, he's ambitious but cannot be helping in the dressing room, me myself, I would sell the guy if a big offer came in.
If he stays and we get a poor start it will be the same again, bring in a replacement and take the money.

{Ed004's Note - He has his flaws but it'll be a struggle to replace him. I hear Hull have some new forward that's been banging them in tho... even got himself one against Liverpool}

15 Mar 2017 00:41:56
No worries ed004. You're right, he isn't at the level of the players that you mention but, in comparison to them, he does have time on his side. Easy to forget that the lad is only 23 but I would expect him to hit similar heights when he reaches the same age as the likes of Lewandowski or Benzema. As fans of EFC, we still have to be realistic and admit that this improvement may not be with us but we will get a hefty fee if he does leave.
I honestly think they will compromise the clause, if that is what is really holding up the deal, and it will be around 70/ 75m. Either way, it's still a pretty profit on what we paid out for him. Let's just hope the fans don't start jumping all over him if he does go, he's been as good for us as we've been for him. Everton will still go on and so will Rom.

{Ed004's Note - I think best case scenario for Everton is that they can agree to keep him for one more season and build a team around him next year that can compete with the top 6. I don't think you are currently far of it either. You've a very strong midfield but your defence and lack of a top winger is letting you down slightly and you will also of had koeman for a year so players will be used to him.}