Everton Banter Archive January 01 2014

01 Jan 2014 22:55:03
Looks like Mata might be off in this window wouldn't it be great if Martinez pulled this one out of the bag.

01 Jan 2014 23:43:48
he is world class, really really like mata and I think its such a shame he won't be in the premier league much longer as its a joy to watch him, whoever gets him will be getting one of the best players in the world in his position, personally I see him going to psg or monaco

Mike-Ox Long

Mata would be a superb addition to our squad, but I don't think we could afford him on a permanent deal and we wouldn't be allowed him on loan while we already have Lukaku on loan from Chelsea. I think RM will have to pull a different rabbit out of the hat :-) It's nice to dream though.

If people were suggesting I was mad to think we might have a chance of signing Isco on loan then what does that make anyone who believes we can actually buy Mata? I think he will end up at Atletico Madrid myself.

01 Jan 2014 20:43:46
Hopefully not the only sad git to be watching eastenders, but in the background of someone's garage was EFC 1878 written as a log book or something- props guy must be a blue! My missus says I must watch it all the time now- she can wobble her head!
COYB

{Ed025's Note - I seen that myself Danny, we evertonians get everywhere mate..

I don't watch that depressing rot, but I'll check it out on catchup. Love to see stuff like that.

Unfortunately I saw it too. phil mitchells a blues fan by the looks of it.

02 Jan 2014 10:28:08
I posted this months ago and some person complained about watching soaps.I think I forgot its a banter site but its a great third eye

01 Jan 2014 18:13:58
So. A little sore after the night before, I decide to put myself through the torture of a certain Saturday football show, hosted by Mr Stelling. Perhaps the clueless panel were effected by the strong scent of formaldehyde. After several hours brown nosing City, Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool & Spurs we finally get to Stoke v Everton. We were treated to 30 mins during which our entire team was dismantled and sold off. Nothing about our football, our league position, our run of form, our manager, potential signings or even the game itself. No. This was all about the car boot sale at Goodison. Listening to them speak, perhaps I should pitch up to the Tate gallery with pocket change and the whiff of a bargain. For if I had one quadzillionth of this lots cheek I would depart with an original Monet in mint condition and enough change to treat myself to a Pot Noodle for dinner.

Predictably, they start with Ross Barkley. According to McInally & Walsh, "he's going to end up at Man Utd, no doubt about it". The camera pans to Merson trying to nod his head. No questions. There wasn't even a counter argument. We would "have to accept an offer of between £25-30m because we are a selling club and Rooney was sold to Utd for £30m". It's as if it were yesterday. I guess they hadn't noticed the increased annual cost of their bronzing trips to the Costa Del Sol. Mind you, Inflation used to play up front for Brazil? Right Mers?

We move on to Shemus Coleman who is lauded by Stelling as "The best right back in the league". Oh, apart from Zabaleta ofcourse. Anyway, apparently he's off as well. And who needs a right back? You guessed it. Man Utd. "An offer of £15m would do the trick", Merson slurs, his tongue gently sliding out the side of his mouth due a sudden increase in brain activity. He speaks with such satisfaction as the rest of the panel purr over his every word. Please Mers, can I have some more?

And more I shall have. What would any football show be without a bit of Leighton Baines transfer gossip. Did you know Utd need a left back as well? I hadn't heard that one. So having already sold Barkley and Coleman for a sum not fit to pay the insurance of their left feet, we are going to sell them Baines too. Do they want some fries with that? Hell, il add the shirt off my back and drive 'em to Old Trafford myself. And when we are finished in the shower they can put a leash on me and walk me to the park. I'll even perform tricks and fetch the newspaper.

{Ed025's Note - good stuff max..

Ha ha great post max, I also seen that today I was fuming, shouting at the telly.Just where do these idiotss get off? While I am happy to be going about our business quietly and slipping in under the radar but hey! give credit where due, this shower are loath to give us any.

Excellent post Maximilliano. I don't think I've heard 1 pundit yet say that Barkley would be best served by staying at Everton, The ex-pro's you have mentioned, the persons that sit on MOTD, the fools on 606, G Neville, J Rednapp, they all can't wait to see him in a red shirt (Baines as well for that matter) Every time I see them open their mouths I get wound-up

Maxi, this is the best thing i've read on any fansite in a while! Have you ever considered taking up a career as a satirical columnist? Great read.

I watched it and can't say I got that irritated, to be honest. Surely we're used to having the media sell our players for us, aren't we? I was just happy to hear them speak so highly of them before they concluded that they're off. That said, It is annoying the way that's all they talked about; barely a word about our performances or position. Best written post I've read on here in a long time, though.

Great post max.it drives me mad to listen to anti everton drivel tp.

Agreed - the usual lazy, ill-informed, cliched opinions by the panellists, apart from Matt Le Tissier who did pipe up about RM's "guarantee" comments and also, while agreeing that "every player has a price", added that "only at the right time".
The panellists might have played the game and know what it's like to be professional footballers, but being pundits doesn't carry the same accountability as managers, etc., who depend on results. Imagine if the pundits only kept their jobs on the success rate of their predictions - not too many I guess!
Besides, I wonder how many of the panellists have the coaching qualifications that actual managers, coaches, etc., need to work in the Premier League or throughout Europe.

Thats why the're pundits! Not managers. Easy option!

Good read Maximilliano . 100% in agreement with you . the whole shower of guys on the show aren't in football management in any way . proving they are clueless in such matters when making such comments.

01 Jan 2014 22:26:57
great post, they have always been the same like when jamie redknapp and michael owen said, oh utd should of got barkley instead of fellaini for about the same price, redknapp I hate the most apart from big nose phil thompson, all redknapp does is slag us off, 'caulker will be one of englands world cup centre halves alongside cahill', yes because phil jagielka is as poor as they come, when gary neville said baines would be decent cover for patrice evra, oh yeah because patrice evra is so much better isn't he and the funniest of all is when glen hoddle said ross barkley will relish champions league football when he goes to utd in january, sorry must of missed the pre contract deal he signed just before you opened your mouth and starting using that deluded brain of yours

Mike-Ox Long

Loved reading all these posts. You watch these programmes just hopingto get a ggood creditable review and then when you do its just to further feed the egos of the sky 4.

Typical, and not really surprised.

Great post Max. I didn't see the programme but have heard about it from others.

01 Jan 2014 17:57:39
lets just say we beat Norwich on Saturday, then we have 8 days to rest up for the west brom match and hopefully have a couple of new faces in the squad.

Its the F.A Cup on Saturday Stef Norwich is week after

01 Jan 2014 17:32:51
Phew, that was too close! The match was on TV over here and Everton were doing enough not to loose but where is the killer instinct? WRT Stoke, Everton should have won. It's a mindset thing - the arrogance that RM talked about a month or so ago. My beloved EFC, learn this quick as all the PL leaders all have the ability and we must adopt to progress. Onwards and Fly! COYB

It's a work in progress by RM.
The defence seems - by and large - to have made good progress in adopting what the manager wants to do.
The midfield looks good - in particular Barry and McCarthy in their roles in front of the defence.
The three attacking midfielders - whoever is selected - work hard and are nicely creative and attack-minded.
I'd agree that we do need to be more ruthless with the chances we create, but better that than not to be creating them at all. And better that we're fairly sound defensively as a team than leaking goals at the back.
A good transfer window and we should be optimistic about how we'll finish the season.

KevinM - Points well received but RL does look isolated at times and the final 1/3rd approach play needs ruthlessness when the opptunity presents itself. RL and his work ethic help the link play but I so wish we had 2 of him to loosen his sole burden. It's great having the best scoring full backs in the league but I want a Centre Forward leading the goal scoring tally for the team. Is there another Dunc out there to be discovered?

Agree about needing backup for Lukaku to allow rotation/resting of the centre forward position.
Looking ahead:
Lukaku returns to Chelsea at the end of the season.
Jelavic might move on this transfer window to get regular game time in this World Cup year.
Vellios is out of contract, I believe, in June and doesn't appear to be cutting it anyway.
Kone is still to prove himself at Everton, but has turned 30 and isn't the long term solution.
So, even if we have some promising (but apparently not yet ready) U18 and U21 forwards coming through, I'd suggest that we need to transfer in 2 good centre forwards - at least 1, if not both, this transfer window.
If we can't afford anyone permanently, then I look forward to RM getting a diamond or two on loan from top European clubs.
Also, I reckon that however successful the loan model might be for a season or so (because we don't have the finances for lots of big-money transfers), it's surely not sustainable if we want a consistent team that competes season after season at the top level domestically and in Europe.
But what do I know - if RM makes it work, then I'll not complain :-)
Maybe qualification for the CL group stage will provide the "seed" finance to get us into a virtuous circle of success generating finance and vice versa.
Exciting times for Evertonians awaited with great anticipation and high expectations - does this feel good or what?

01 Jan 2014 17:00:48
To all the Ossie slaggers. he changed the game again today in his cameo role. Best player on the pitch when given the opportunity. May be getting older, but still worth a place in the squad.

Agree.
He's tailor-made to play cameo roles - coming off the bench or starting on occasion as part of a player rotation policy. Don't see him as part of the two-man midfield in front of the centre-backs, but he can play us one of the three behind the centre-forward in our usual formation.

01 Jan 2014 16:54:50
Well that was awful proves we need to strengthen pretty much everywhere and mirallas and pienaar were totally awful

Onwards and upwards I'll put that 1 down to the weather should be taking 3 points not 1.

Mirallas totally awful - are you having a giraffe?!?

Mirallas has been awful all season trickery gone got no final ball

Agree with you re Mirallas. Has been pretty awful for most of the season, and is all the more disappointing when you consider the undoubted ability he has. He's playing like he's already 'made it' and doesn't need to put much effort in. Still has that rare moment of genius but is fast becoming a luxury player for me. Problem we have at the minute is Deulofeu is out and he's more or less guaranteed a start as the alternative is Naismith.

01 Jan 2014 12:44:44
Happy new year Everyone, And thanks Edds for all the hard work you's have put in

31 Dec 2013 23:23:05
hI Ed happy new year all the pepers are still on about Baines like what we said so what do u think of Mr Jagielka he's got to be worth just as musch as baines Happy New Year Everton Fans Were going to have another good year thanks to unle Bill

01 Jan 2014 00:27:19
I know I should be watching gary barlow or out partying but couldn't resist checking the site, silly season has started, I hope you are well rested ed25, its going to be a long month! Its been a great end to the year and how nice is it to have a spring in my step on a Monday! We deserve this, remember the 90's? now let's add a little more quality to the squad! Happy new year all. COYB good luck in 2014
BlueBen