Christian Atsu

chicoazul · March 19, 2015

RadioFriendlyUnitShifter said:
Bit like yer mar's baps then.

Flagging this.

Dithering Dougie · March 19, 2015

RadioFriendlyUnitShifter said:
That would be naive from us though I think. We're not very good at holding onto a lead and if they get just 1 goal first they can sit back and we'll have to break them down. We're only good at breaking down teams who are attacking us. So really I think we should go all out and try to get a goal, then we are firmly in the driving seat and can pick them off on the counter. Which is where Atsu would be quite useful, as the 3rd goal against Newcastle showed.

Well I think we'll probably go 4-3-3 and not rely so much on wingers.

Like I say I just can't see him throwing Atsu into such a big game when he's shown no signs of trusting him all season.

RFUS · March 19, 2015

Dithering Dougie said:
Well I think we'll probably go 4-3-3 and not rely so much on wingers.

Like I say I just can't see him throwing Atsu into such a big game when he's shown no signs of trusting him all season.

No I agree with you, mate. I'd be surprised to see Atsu start, but I just hope he does. Or McGeady at least, assuming he's fit enough.

hetion · March 19, 2015

GoCarShare said:
Created a bio specifically to jump on this topic; i'm ridiculously curious as to why a guy who shone so brightly at the World Cup is struggling with yourselves this season? Not an Everton fan so if anyone can enlighten me that'd be great!

Was nowhere near up to Prem standard to begin with (possibly just due to different requirements). Presumably the team waited til he'd gotten up to speed in training before giving him more minutes. He gets on the pitch vs Krasnodar at home, finally looks useful, and promptly gets clattered and injured in the first half. He recovers just in time for the AFCON, wins player and goal of the tournament there, gets back to England and promptly picks up a virus.

Hence why we're all hoping the glimmers of promise we've been shown the last match or so actually materialise for the rest of the season.

messymascot · March 19, 2015

I wouldn't sign either Atsu or Lennon as neither is quite good enough for me. They would both be useful squad players but any wingers we sign this summer I want tpobe first choice quality like Mirallas and Pienaar were when we signed them. Atsu missed the boat by taking to long to adjust he would be a good player in a mid table team but I hope next season with the right signings we'll be pushing top 4 again.

Prevenger17 · March 19, 2015

We won't be needing Atsu.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-back-in-everton-squad-for-kiev-31078782.html
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-back-in-everton-squad-for-kiev-31078782.html

LinekersLegs · March 19, 2015

messymascot said:
I wouldn't sign either Atsu or Lennon as neither is quite good enough for me. They would both be useful squad players but any wingers we sign this summer I want tpobe first choice quality like Mirallas and Pienaar were when we signed them. Atsu missed the boat by taking to long to adjust he would be a good player in a mid table team but I hope next season with the right signings we'll be pushing top 4 again.

Quite where do we get that money from?

Both Pienaar and Mirallas were relatively cheap purchases and even they were over 5m a few years ago, the equivalent would probably be at least 10m now with lots of other premier league clubs having money and scouting for the same thing.
Even before we look at the wings, we'll need a backup RB for Coleman, probably a new CB, a goalkeeper, an Osman/clever #10 and a 2nd/3rd choice striker.

A couple of those we might get by promoting from the youth team but that still looks like most of our budget accounted for.

messymascot · March 19, 2015

In my opinion we need a goalkeeper, centre back, 2 wingers and a striker in the summer. I would expect to sell Mirallas thats why we need 2 wingers not 1 that should bring in £10-15 million sell Howard to MLS for maybe £5 million and with all the tv money I would expect us to be able to afford all 5.

LinekersLegs · March 19, 2015

messymascot said:
In my opinion we need a goalkeeper, centre back, 2 wingers and a striker in the summer. I would expect to sell Mirallas thats why we need 2 wingers not 1 that should bring in £10-15 million sell Howard to MLS for maybe £5 million and with all the tv money I would expect us to be able to afford all 5.

So you think Pienaar and Hibbert will be able to play next season?

1966efc · March 19, 2015

LinekersLegs said:
So you think Pienaar and Hibbert will be able to play next season?

Chinese chequers perhaps. Or Check the Colostomy Bag.

messymascot · March 19, 2015

LinekersLegs said:
So you think Pienaar and Hibbert will be able to play next season?

If we buy 2 wingers Pienaar would be 4th choice after our 2 new players and McGeady so we would only need maybe a handful of games from him. Next season I would make Jonjoe Kenny back up to Coleman with Hibbert there if needed. I know Kenny will only be 18 but I think he could be ready for a part time role next season much in the same way Stones was last season.

LinekersLegs · March 19, 2015

messymascot said:
If we buy 2 wingers Pienaar would be 4th choice after our 2 new players and McGeady so we would only need maybe a handful of games from him. Next season I would make Jonjoe Kenny back up to Coleman with Hibbert there if needed. I know Kenny will only be 18 but I think he could be ready for a part time role next season much in the same way Stones was last season.

Fair shout on Kenny, am really impressed with him.

But believe Pienaar is one of our highest paid players and to have him as 4th choice, especially when he has an appalling fitness record for the past two seasons, doesn't seem the best use of resources. Would also guess he'd like to return to South Africa if he isn't playing much - he has commented a few times that he misses his Mum.

messymascot · March 19, 2015

LinekersLegs said:
Fair shout on Kenny, am really impressed with him.

But believe Pienaar is one of our highest paid players and to have him as 4th choice, especially when he has an appalling fitness record for the past two seasons, doesn't seem the best use of resources. Would also guess he'd like to return to South Africa if he isn't playing much - he has commented a few times that he misses his Mum.

Pienaar has a year left on his contract so will be gone at the end of next season. We wouldn't get much for him if we tried to sell him so we might as well keep him as a back up otherwise we'll need another winger. I think David Henen will be ready after another year in the reserves but I think next season might just be to soon.

LinekersLegs · March 19, 2015

messymascot said:
Pienaar has a year left on his contract so will be gone at the end of next season. We wouldn't get much for him if we tried to sell him so we might as well keep him as a back up otherwise we'll need another winger. I think David Henen will be ready after another year in the reserves but I think next season might just be to soon.

Agree we won't get anything for Pienaar, think we'd just mutually agree to terminate his contract one year early.

Be interesting to know what price Chelsea would want for Atsu though, would guess several continental clubs would be interested in him.

messymascot · March 19, 2015

LinekersLegs said:
Agree we won't get anything for Pienaar, think we'd just mutually agree to terminate his contract one year early.

Be interesting to know what price Chelsea would want for Atsu though, would guess several continental clubs would be interested in him.

I think £6 million was the fee agreed if we wanted to make it permanent. For me thats too much for someone who in my opinion is no better than McGeady.