Everton Banter Archive March 27 2016

27 Mar 2016 23:35:38
I think Lukaku leaving could act in a similar way when Lineker left.

Maybe we are too focused on the same game plan every game with Lukaku being the focal point and with him gone and the ego Martinez has built we can get back to team play.

We need options up front and the ability to use them but because we have Lukaku and he cost so much we have to play him every week. He may score goals but Lineker scored 40 and won nowt with us.

As long as we get good money and go out there and bring in a couple of good strikers we could see our options increase and finally see a plan B being used now and again.

{Ed025's Note - its a point that john, whether its a valid one only time will tell mate..

28 Mar 2016 08:07:06
It's really hard to say Ed and losing someone who scores goals is always a scary situation but one thing is for sure is that Martinez if he stays is going to have to think of another way to play.

I still think if we get a top quality manager in we can keep our players even Lukaku. I'm not his biggest fan and can't stand players like him and Kev washing their laundry in the papers every time they go away but goals cost money.

Personally for me a manager is the biggest challenge we have this summer and with the money we can now spend we are an attractive proposition. There won't be many managers in Europe that can go out and throw 100-150mil in the transfer market. Add the players we have already got and I think many will be applying.

{Ed025's Note - that amount seems very far fetched to me john but i agree that finding a new manager is our biggest challenge, my fear is that everton have always been a bit backward in coming forward where changing managers is concerned and im not convinced that he will go before next season mate..

28 Mar 2016 10:54:16
It's a good point you make about Lineka Blue' . Not only did he win nothing in 86 (except the golden boot in Mexico) but the following season we won the league, without really replacing the 40 goals from one player.

We don't know anything about Niasse yet but he was wanted by JM before he got sacked.

If we could get a quick creative left winger and a number 10 with a bit of craft we might be ok.

The most important one for me is a CDM with a voice, someone to proper snarl at anyone acting soft. We'd be a lot tougher in the final 20 of the match which has been our obvious downfall this season.

27 Mar 2016 20:09:45
Come boys and girls give us some predictions.

27 Mar 2016 20:23:12
Sorry skylark. I can't ever consider us getting beat. I always think optimistically, even though I am often left disappointed. I think we are capable of beating anyone on our day. especially with current squad.

27 Mar 2016 19:17:32
Just read a story in relation to Everton rumours on another website, headline stated 'James McCarthy in trouble for eye gauge. ' I decided to read the article as I hadn't heard or seen McCarthy do any eye gauging, ever. The story was in relation to a Dublin GAA player and how or what it was doing on an Everton page I have no idea. Just shows how far from the truth some stories can be.
And for anyone that doesn't know what GAA is, its Gaelic football in Ireland.

27 Mar 2016 19:30:42
Hahaha that's so funny Dublin Gaelic player with exact same name. Someone got their wires crossed badly. Don't think much that goes on a Gaelic field would be tolerated in professional football.

27 Mar 2016 18:36:37
Chelsea Liverpool Nottingham forest have all won the champions league these clubs are no bigger or better than ours I red on here that players want to leave so they can better themselves and play in front of 80000 every week and win the champions league is it not possible to win and play in the champions league at everton other clubs have done it so why not us if your best players keep leaving you will never win anything ever again makes you wonder what's the point of it all.

{Ed002's Note - I have no idea how you quantify clubs being "bigger or better". Liverpool, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest won in Europe when they were top of the league and top of their game. Everton are simply not part of that at present - they are not at the top of the league and not in the Champions League. Getting bacyond the Europa League and to the Champions League is not going to be easy for Everton nor likely in the coming years I am afraid. Players are transient and some want to move on where there are better opportunities available to them. Clubs have to recognize that and have to act accordingly. Lukaku wants out, I am sure that there will be significant offers for Stones and others will no doubt move on as well. Everton will adapt and will themselves move on.}

27 Mar 2016 19:09:52
Liverpool where not top of the league when they won it the last time you only have to finish in the top 4 which we have done not to long ago Ed and Liverpool team in my opinion was not that great at that time and just look wo is top of the league at the moment so anything is possible but if our best players keep leaving we will never win anything.

{Ed002's Note - And the previous times they won it - all of these clubs were achieving good results, well placed or at the top of the league, and doing well and repeatedly qualifying for Europe.

That is not in any way or form a description of Everton - you need to look at the reality of this.}

27 Mar 2016 19:36:30
So how do we finish in the top 4 on a regular basis and win trophies Ed if we can't keep our players.

{Ed002's Note - It is going to be tough given that there are five or six team capable of doing taht on a regular basis.}

27 Mar 2016 19:36:55
Ed, u are correct, it's hard to accept sometimes but the reality is clear, Everton have been (not same as Madrid, or Milan etc) a club with reasonable success and a big history (as the song goes) . I honestly believe success happens in cycles and it will happen again for Everton. fact is though that players want success immediately. and so far in lukaku's Everton career it's not happened. we are still in with a shout for silverware this year and I believe on our day we can beat anyone. however, the lure of a GLOBAL club such as Madrid would be difficult to ignore. If he goes it's a loss, but as Leicester have shown this year you don't need a team of superstars. all will not be lost.

27 Mar 2016 19:43:59
Yes all you say is true Ed002. The point skylark is trying to make I think is that as an Everton fan we want what is best for the club.

In Skylarks opinion, as far as I can make out, the only way Everton will ever return to winning trophies is if we hold onto our best players.

I have to agree with Skylark that it would be in the best interests for Everton. We currently have a good young squad with huge potential. Sadly I don't think it will stay together after the season we've had.

I guess Ed002 is being more realistic and with the times more when he says the general football fans don't see Everton as a so called 'big' club. Personally I hate labelling clubs big, small, bigger or better.

With a different manager and our new owner I'm in no doubt the future is bright. With a better manager making key decisions and the teams position improving on the back of this sometime in the future who knows maybe a group of players with potential will decide to stick it out at Everton and bring success.

I as an Everton supporter am hoping and praying it will happen in the not too distant future. What's the point in supporting the team otherwise? Every fan wants their team to be a success. I'm no different in this respect.

{Ed002's Note - I have never said anything remotely like "general football fans don't see Everton as a so called 'big' club" - and I have never labelled clubs as "big" or "small" or anything like that.}

27 Mar 2016 19:46:26
Well said Jcl1878, as I said in above post I think its just a bit early for players to stick it out at Everton. As you say they want success now. Hopefully we get there eventually.

27 Mar 2016 19:57:08
It's just a question of time NB. we'll get there. I honestly believe it's coming.

27 Mar 2016 20:00:24
I know you haven't Ed002. I'm not saying you have or didn't say you have. Sadly though I think it is true. That is the general population's opinion. Not mine but I think it is what people think. Especially when they talk about our best players leaving for greater teams or that players view Everton as a stepping stone to champions league football.

{Ed002's Note - Read your fourth paragraph.}

27 Mar 2016 20:52:43
Yes I seen that afterwards Ed002. I apologise my use of words were a bit loose. Just to explain what I was referring to. It was what you said in your first reply to Skylark's first comment.

Everton not being in European competition currently and players wanting to leave because of that. I know your comments was about players and mine brought fans into it which wasn't used by yourself.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. Basically, currently we are not attractable for top players to either stay or come to Everton as we cannot offer European football which is true.

Imo the general fans have a similar view and that was my own opinion. Hopefully both will change in seasons to come.

27 Mar 2016 22:58:06
Don't apologise Ed 002 is like a bear with a sore head, although a wealth of knowledge he could never RE role as a diplomat.

27 Mar 2016 23:09:34
A, we're all different soldier blue. I'm far from perfect myself!

27 Mar 2016 23:29:19
That's where your going wrong! I'm perfect in every way. I must be having to put up with Martinez.

{Ed025's Note - "oh lord its hard to be humble".. :)

27 Mar 2016 23:47:34
Anyway Eds back to footie we seem to do well with stalwarts from the PL if this Carrick rumour has any legs we could do worse. He has always been a solid player thoughts pls.

{Ed025's Note - i have always rated him SB, good player but probably past his best now mate..

27 Mar 2016 17:35:38
Ed just a couple of issues about, 'Lukaku wants away'story.
Where's this 60m coming from? Surely we will demand far more for one of Europe's top strikers. Gareth Bale went for much more.
Just wondering if this sudden announcement is a warning shot, 'I want Champs League and under RM I'm not going to get it.
Change the manager, cash for new signings that show real intent for challenging the best and I believe he'd give us another year.

{Ed002's Note - You would do best to avoid the finances as it generally causes confusion and folks really don't grasp quite what is involved. Also, you also cannot draw comparison with other players like Gareth Bale, it really serves no purposes and is certainly of no relevance.

Everton are not going to be changing the manager because of Lukaku and these messages of "intent" simply don't exist. Cash is not the be-all answer to everything either.

There is no shock in any of this, it has been known for a long time that this would very probably be bthe last year for certain players at Everton, Lukaku being one. He wants out and to move on with his career. Everton need to get the best deal that they can and move on.}

27 Mar 2016 17:54:07
Thanks for the detailed response, you raise some good points but the present cash cow situation in the Prem League with 'silly money' being touted for untried or unproved strikers in Europe, 60 million (in my opinion) is nowhere near enough.

{Ed002's Note - The cash cow of money is in the premier league and not elsewhere. It is best to try and avoid everything financial as it will do not good for your blood pressure. Clubs look to get the best deals that they can for players that they sell - as they need to use that money to buy replacements and move on. Clubs certainly do not want to get stuck with players who are looking to leave - that discontent can cause grief in the dressing room and can cause less effort on the pitch. If a player wants out clubs need to look for an acceptable deal - if not it starts to fall to pieces very quickly.}

27 Mar 2016 12:16:00
Ok so we are looking at carrick on a free. good player but why we after him I hope it's lazy reporting let's say 12 months ago yes good signing now though (a) we have young players in that position (b) we have money now we could get a great young player if we need it (I don't think we do) . To me it's another link to a fading Manchester United player that as a so called smaller team we should be happy to be linked with.

27 Mar 2016 13:11:15
Barry was supposedly fading when he came. For me he was a fabulous signing. Played as good a football as I ever seen him play and is probably our most consistent player this season along with Lukaku. Never gets injured and is a wealth of experience needed in the team.

For me Carrick would be very similar and would be a decent acquisition who could do a similar job to Barry.

For the record I personally think Carrick was underrated and Sir Alex was a fan that's good enough for me.

27 Mar 2016 13:31:59
Another of those high scoring creative midfielders he likes signing. And at 34 not a risk with injuries and high salaries?

27 Mar 2016 13:36:03
Only issue for me NB is his injury record. that's the thing that would put me off.

27 Mar 2016 14:01:50
Yea injured at times but used sparingly next season between him and Barry I think would be good squad player at least. Add some experience. Can play centre back also.

Interesting I was on a website that ran a poll asking Utd fans how many want to see Carrick at Old Trafford next season. Over 70% want him to stay at Utd. Speaks volumes to me.

I'd get it hard to refuse a player with 5 premiership league medals, 1 league cup medal, 1 champions league medal and 1 world club medal even at 35.

Be a very valuable addition to our squad even if it is just for one season. We need at least 20 good players to make a proper stab at success next season. Carrick gets my vote to be one of the 20.

27 Mar 2016 22:47:34
34 really. For Christ sake we should be aiming for better than this. Need creative young players with energy, not bloody pensioners. Oh and Barry looks good because the rest are bloody awful.

27 Mar 2016 23:17:33
We have plenty creative young players with energy. We need experience for good balance.

27 Mar 2016 09:26:14
The timing of this latest statement from Rom about wanting to play champions league next season could of been handled better. Why not wait till the end of the season with the possibility of signing off on a high and being a hero with a FA cup winners medal in his arse pocket. Imo now he, s left himself open for the critics if this cup campaign goes belly up and there's nothing to play for, you know what some people are like in the crowd. One miss placed pass, an easy chance goes begging etc, the atmosphere and the crowds relationship with Rom could turn very sour, which would be a shame. I think deep down we knew he would probably want to leave next season, but with the new investment coming in I would like to think he could give us another year then see where we go from there. who knows?

27 Mar 2016 11:44:13
Average players come to us to get first team place, but sadly then they think that they are to good (eg Fellaini) for me if the money right let him go, none are bigger than Everton.

27 Mar 2016 03:08:17
There seems to be a general acceptance on here that Lukaku will be leaving, but, the fact remains, that he is still under contract, to everton, for another 3 years.
Givern that, it must surly be in everton's hands, weather he goes or not.
If anyone comes in with silly money say 75m + then I can see a case for allowing him to move, but baring that sort of offer, in the present climate 50 odd mill seems a give away, in that there are not that many 30 goals per year players around. PS. If Leavy was doing this deal, the bidding would start at 100m + .