Leighton Baines

[throughthewindandthedrain]

I'm not bitter and twisted, I've been going the match 25 years plus. I remember us winning the league.

But if a player leaves us..... I want Everton to do well. I don't care about Man Utd and Moyes; I hope they all win nothing and Everton win something.

Everton are the greatest team in the world in my eyes, and there is no finer club to play for, and I will never understand someone not wanting to play for us.

In the same way that Neville Southall has memorably pointed out how a generation of fans have been brainwashed into thinking finishing 6th is boss and 'success', so to have the 'he deserves the chance to better himself' crowd, you know, because Everton are obviously 'so inferior'.

No-one deserves anything. He's well paid to do a job for us, a job he does very well and is handsomely paid for, and is under contract for 2 more years. He's adored by Evertonians, and and if he signed a new 5 year deal, would cement him as one of the Everton greats of the modern era. Up to him what he wants his legacy to be.

Yeah, he could go to them and be in with a better chance of winning something. Or he could stay with us, possibly win something with us, and become an Everton legend. Up to him. But I'm not going to fawn all over him possibly going to Utd and be so honoured Utd are taking yet another key Everton employee.

exactly, any player has got to understand why fans think a multi millionaire playing for his country and a team he loves should be happy to stay in that job. of course its a business, but its a business built on emotions and passion. if he goes then I wll just accept that he didn't feel the same way I did about the club and get on with it but that doesn't lead to bowing down whenever the media demand to rich soulless clubs and fans

 

[davek]

Anyone see James Pearce in the Echo today? A big headline reading "Dear Luis Suarez, please stop doing this to the fans who love you so much."



Proper sad lot. I want none of that if we lose Baines or any other key player. It's not nice obviously but that's life when you're not in the Champions League unfortunately, get on with it and do what you can to soldier on. No cringe worthy crap about loyalty.

I disagree.

If Baines leaves after turning an improved contract down (and that's a big if regarding a new big contract being placed before him, btw, but just dealing with this hypothetically...) he wont go with my blessing. I wouldn't understand how an Everton supporter would go just for CL football. He's already an England international so he plays at a very high level right now and doesn't need top prove himself in some euro-corporate circus. He shouldn't be criticised or attacked for moving if he chooses, but why on earth would any Evertonian be 'understanding' of a player/supporter switching away to United under those circumstances?

We've got to get away from that mentality understanding about losing our players to other teams. I dont understand it at all. It's unacceptable.

 

[davek]

I'm not bitter and twisted, I've been going the match 25 years plus. I remember us winning the league.

But if a player leaves us..... I want Everton to do well. I don't care about Man Utd and Moyes; I hope they all win nothing and Everton win something.

Everton are the greatest team in the world in my eyes, and there is no finer club to play for, and I will never understand someone not wanting to play for us.

In the same way that Neville Southall has memorably pointed out how a generation of fans have been brainwashed into thinking finishing 6th is boss and 'success', so to have the 'he deserves the chance to better himself' crowd, you know, because Everton are obviously 'so inferior'.

No-one deserves anything. He's well paid to do a job for us, a job he does very well and is handsomely paid for, and is under contract for 2 more years. He's adored by Evertonians, and and if he signed a new 5 year deal, would cement him as one of the Everton greats of the modern era. Up to him what he wants his legacy to be.

Yeah, he could go to them and be in with a better chance of winning something. Or he could stay with us, possibly win something with us, and become an Everton legend. Up to him. But I'm not going to fawn all over him possibly going to Utd and be so honoured Utd are taking yet another key Everton employee.

Spot on mate.

 

[Penno]

I thought Baines was a Red as a boy

 

[Brennan]

I disagree.

If Baines leaves after turning an improved contract down (and that's a big if regarding a new big contract being placed before him, btw, but just dealing with this hypothetically...) he wont go with my blessing. I wouldn't understand how an Everton supporter would go just for CL football. He's already an England international so he plays at a very high level right now and doesn't need top prove himself in some euro-corporate circus. He shouldn't be criticised or attacked for moving if he chooses, but why on earth would any Evertonian be 'understanding' of a player/supporter switching away to United under those circumstances?

We've got to get away from that mentality understanding about losing our players to other teams. I dont understand it at all. It's unacceptable.

Champions League, winning the Premier League, etc.

Dismissing the CL as a 'corporate circus' doesn't change the fact that it is the pinnacle of footballing competition and is what every player wants to compete in, against the best teams in Europe.

 

[Neiler]

If hes ever going to go it will be this summer, 29 in Dec. TBH im looking at this situation to tell us a lot about Everton, intent, business plan etc,

 

[davek]

Champions League, winning the Premier League, etc.

Dismissing the CL as a 'corporate circus' doesn't change the fact that it is the pinnacle of footballing competition and is what every player wants to compete in, against the best teams in Europe.

As others have said, you have to balance that with legacy. What would be more important to a local lad who has a devoted following after 7 quality years at the club building up cult status (and earning considerable wonga to boot along the way), and international recognition (and who's nearing the back end of his career let's not forget): the sealing of his place in the history of a great club or throwing his hand in and looking to accumulate a few medals at a club that's expected to win trophies anyway regardless of his input?

To me it's a no-brainer.

(all the above premised on the basis that he's actually being offered a new contract by the cretins who run Everton).

 

[D410]

5YR contract for Baines...GIVE IT TO HIM EVERTON.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Champions League, winning the Premier League, etc.

Dismissing the CL as a 'corporate circus' doesn't change the fact that it is the pinnacle of footballing competition and is what every player wants to compete in, against the best teams in Europe.

I agree. Plus footballers want medals in their cabinets, Baines will be no exception.

We're deluding ourselves if we can't see why joining the current League Champions, to join up with the manager who bought him & then developed him at Goodison, playing CL every season, the almost certainty of winning silverware & the reported offer of £120k per week, wouldn't be tempting to Baines. That's not to say he's certain to want to take it, but it'll have certainly been very tempting to him, of that I'm certain.

I've said from the off, that the very fact that Moyes made a 'public' offer, given his longstanding relationship with Baines, says to me that he's been given encouragement that the player would fancy the move.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

 

[allezlesbleus]

I agree. Plus footballers want medals in their cabinets, Baines will be no exception.

We're deluding ourselves if we can't see why joining the current League Champions, to join up with the manager who bought him & then developed him at Goodison, playing CL every season, the almost certainty of winning silverware & the reported offer of £120k per week, wouldn't be tempting to Baines. That's not to say he's certain to want to take it, but it'll have certainly been very tempting to him, of that I'm certain.

I've said from the off, that the very fact that Moyes made a 'public' offer, given his longstanding relationship with Baines, says to me that he's been given encouragement that the player would fancy the move.

Of course it is tempting but he may just hesitate over possibility that DM era may not be trophy laden. However a good offer from current champions is bound to be tempting.
I was reasonably hopeful he would stay until ppl suggested would Moyes make such a public play for his first signing there if he thought the player would turn it down. That makes me nervous. Moyes knows full well at what point BK will fold unfortunatley.

 

[sapper]

The so called Champions League is what is wrong with football today most teams in it are'nt champions, they then get put in different pots so certain teams don't play each other, it's not one league ( they don't play all teams home & away ) so certain teams have a good chance to get to the final stages.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Of course it is tempting but he may just hesitate over possibility that DM era may not be trophy laden. However a good offer from current champions is bound to be tempting.
I was reasonably hopeful he would stay until ppl suggested would Moyes make such a public play for his first signing there if he thought the player would turn it down. That makes me nervous. Moyes knows full well at what point BK will fold unfortunatley.

That's the only saving grace imo. As the level at which we would find it 'too good to refuse' is maybe beyond what United would be prepared to pay for a left back who turns 29 this season. If that impasse is reached then the player will only move if he handed in a transfer request imo.

 

[allezlesbleus]

That's the only saving grace imo. As the level at which we would find it 'too good to refuse' is maybe beyond what United would be prepared to pay for a left back who turns 29 this season. If that impasse is reached then the player will only move if he handed in a transfer request imo.

Flipping heck!!!, you just made me hopeful again!!!

 

[thebluefox]

David The Toffee ‏@lcabbabeh 3m
@StDomingos1878 @THT1878 @FourthOfficial_ It won't matter if He signs a 20 yr deal , Lid Just means he gets paid more till Utd rtn with £20m

oh thats it then hes gone ,