Jo Loves Everton. Truelove!

ToxtethBlue · April 4, 2009

Dominic King reckons we'll be going for bit part players this year and players from the lower Leagues. Tom Huddlestone and Joe Ledley where both mentioned.

Nebbiolo · April 4, 2009

ToxtethBlue said:
Dominic King reckons we'll be going for bit part players this year and players from the lower Leagues. Tom Huddlestone and Joe Ledley where both mentioned.

Hopefully we'll bring in one decent signing as well as a few like the above. It's really about improving what is actually a very good squad. I don't mind Huddlestone but I wasn't at all impressed with Ledley when I saw him play last season (think it was against Pompey in the FA cup). He seemed very much a championship player to me. Maybe others have seen more of him and can put my fears at rest?

ToxtethBlue · April 4, 2009

Nebbiolo said:
Hopefully we'll bring in one decent signing as well as a few like the above. It's really about improving what is actually a very good squad. I don't mind Huddlestone but I wasn't at all impressed with Ledley when I saw him play last season (think it was against Pompey in the FA cup). He seemed very much a championship player to me. Maybe others have seen more of him and can put my fears at rest?

I'd take Huddlestone, he has class despite being inconsistent. There's something for Moyes to work with there, without a doubt. He's a good footballer and someone who could fill in for Arteta when he is out, we look lost without a creative midfielder centrally.

Only problem with him is how do you fit him and Fellaini in the same midfield with there lack of mobility. That could be a tough one but at the end of the day it is a squad game, the more options the better.

I agree with you on Joe Ledley, he looked like a tryer more than anything to me. I'd rather have Stephen Hunt to be honest. This pretty much sums him up:

Scouting Report: Joe Ledley | Football | The Guardian

Nebbiolo · April 4, 2009

ToxtethBlue said:
I'd take Huddlestone, he has class despite being inconsistent. There's something for Moyes to work with there, without a doubt. He's a good footballer and someone who could fill in for Arteta when he is out, we look lost without a creative midfielder centrally.

Only problem with him is how do you fit him and Fellaini in the same midfield with there lack of mobility. That could be a tough one but at the end of the day it is a squad game, the more options the better.

I agree with you on Joe Ledley, he looked like a tryer more than anything to me. I'd rather have Stephen Hunt to be honest. This pretty much sums him up:

Scouting Report: Joe Ledley | Football | The Guardian

I got a similar feeling about Ledley. Since he was being touted as one of those about to make the step up to the prem last season I was quite keen to see how he did. From what I saw, he didn't do anything particularly well other than try. If he is to step up a league, I think it would be with a newly promoted team.

Huddlestone certainly has class and that's something we're missing. As far as being inconsistent goes, he never really gets into a rhythm so perhaps it's something to do with that? It boils down to whether he could be happy in a Moyes set up. If he could, we'd have a decent, young centre-midfielder on our books.

It depends what ugly lad Redknapp would take for him. He's contracted to Spurs until 2013.

chriswho · April 5, 2009

I could go either way with Jo. He doesn't represent value yet at 11m. I love that he is saying positive things. Even if ManCity calls him back, his comments in this article will continue to help us draw young players and loans in the future. The PR and goodwill from articles like this could make the difference as we try to land the "next" aaron ramsey or Jack Rodwell, etc...

bluebloodinmyveins · April 5, 2009

I personally hope we dont sign him. I dont think hes cut out for the premier league. He will cost far more than he's worth.

Gazdalf · April 5, 2009

3 goals in 6 games. He sucks the fat one.

Neiler · April 5, 2009

From the N.O.T.W.

EVERTON loan-signing Jo has eight games to save himself from another year of hell at Manchester City.

Toffees boss David Moyes is unconvinced by the £18million Brazilian striker, even though he has scored three goals in six games.

And Jo, 22, needs to turn in a run of stunning shows before the end of the season or rot in City's reserve team next term.

Moyes said: "I am assessing the situation. I will have a look at it at the end of the season.

"His goals have been welcome but we're always looking for all- rounders who can help the team as well.''

Nebbiolo · April 5, 2009

I think Moyes has got it spot on. To play for Everton you need more than talent, you need to be able to go the extra mile. A few times I've seen Jo just idling when he could have moved 10 yards and put pressure on an opposing player. I think it is stuff like this that Moyes is referring to.

In saying that, £11m is actually cheap for a striker these days. But then do we need another striker when Yak, Vaughan, Saha and Victor are all back next season? That £11m could well be put to better use.

ToxtethBlue · April 5, 2009

Nebbiolo said:
I think Moyes has got it spot on. To play for Everton you need more than talent, you need to be able to go the extra mile. A few times I've seen Jo just idling when he could have moved 10 yards and put pressure on an opposing player. I think it is stuff like this that Moyes is referring to.

In saying that, £11m is actually cheap for a striker these days. But then do we need another striker when Yak, Vaughan, Saha and Victor are all back next season? That £11m could well be put to better use.

It depends really, if we strengthen the midfield in terms of numbers then we may not need one. Cahill could become a full time striker/second striker and Fellaini can always play there.

We'd have to sign quite a few midfielders though. If we don't then a striker is a must, especially when you have Saha and Vaughan in your squad.

I see what your saying about Jo but then Yakubu and Fellaini do the same thing, they very rarely close down and certainly not quickly. Moyes paid big money for both.

I think a loan would be best for everyone, there is potential there but he’s not worth eleven million. If Hughes doesn’t like him and he wants to stay at Everton then it might just happen.

Dutch Toffee · April 5, 2009

Nebbiolo said:
I think Moyes has got it spot on. To play for Everton you need more than talent, you need to be able to go the extra mile. A few times I've seen Jo just idling when he could have moved 10 yards and put pressure on an opposing player. I think it is stuff like this that Moyes is referring to.

In saying that, £11m is actually cheap for a striker these days. But then do we need another striker when Yak, Vaughan, Saha and Victor are all back next season? That £11m could well be put to better use.

If Vaughan an Saha stay fit and Yakubu fully revovers, we don't need a new striker. The injury record of both Vaughan an Saha tells us differently though. As for Victor, well I personally don't rate him. Don't think he'll ever be good enough for Everton. Maybe striker isn't a top priority, but I wouldn't mind an extra body in the forward line.

Nebbiolo · April 5, 2009

ToxtethBlue said:
It depends really, if we strengthen the midfield in terms of numbers then we may not need one. Cahill could become a full time striker/second striker and Fellaini can always play there.

We'd have to sign quite a few midfielders though. If we don't then a striker is a must, especially when you have Saha and Vaughan in your squad.

I see what your saying about Jo but then Yakubu and Fellaini do the same thing, they very rarely close down and certainly not quickly. Moyes paid big money for both.

I think a loan would be best for everyone, there is potential there but he’s not worth eleven million. If Hughes doesn’t like him and he wants to stay at Everton then it might just happen.

I'd prefer to sort the midfield out. It's through midfield that a striker gets service anyway, and like you say, Cahill can easily fill in for the striker role, and very effectively so. Sort the midfield out, and let Yakubu and Saha take care of the rest (and Vaughan, Vic or Cahill when need be).

I think the difference between Yak and Jo is that Yak really is an out-and-out striker whereas Jo seems to work best just behind that role. So surely there should be a bit more to his game than is expected from Yak? At least that's what I think. After all, he's often got a different position to Yak, one more suited to breaking up play.

I do like Jo, I just think there are other areas that we need to look at now that most of our forward players are returning to the squad.