Lack of Numbers

Phoenix Blue · July 20, 2008

As the transfer window continues along merrily, and we have no-one on the way in yet, we are in danger of having a severe lack of numbers / quality for the opening games.

With Carse, Manny and Grav (not such a loss) having left, and Faddy not replaced, we are even thinner on the ground than normal. Even a couple of transfers in, would still leave us short of numbers.

Add to that the likelihood that Hibbert, Baines, Cahill, Anichebe, Vaughan, and possibly Yobo will all miss the first few, then the cupboard really does look bare.

Howard, Pip, Jags, Joleen, Nuno, Pieman, Ossie, Tater, AJ and Yak are the 10 proper first teamers, with back up consisting of only Ruddy (Turner) VDM, Gosling, Rodwell and Jutkiewicz. A scruffy looking 15 to start an important campaign.

Is anyone else just starting to get a little worried??

HalewoodBlue · July 20, 2008

No, not in the least bit worried

ToxtethBlue · July 20, 2008

I think Moyes will get the players he needs. I'm expecting around 4/5 players in before the season starts.

I'm also expecting the likes of Van der Meyde and Rodwell to step up and be squad players. They'll be like new signings.

Phoenix Blue · July 20, 2008

HalewoodBlue said:
No, not in the least bit worried

Out of interest, why not? Personally, if we start the season with just that 15 (hopefully that won't be the case) then we may struggle to pick up many points.

Otherwise, we're relying on new transfers coming in in time, and settling quickly, which (Manny apart) is likely to be difficult.

Or, we'll be relying on promising inexperience like Rodwell (not quite ready, for me, yet) or VDM

.

It's just not quite what I was expecting after a good 5th from last season.

ToxtethBlue · July 20, 2008

Phoenix Blue said:
Out of interest, why not? Personally, if we start the season with just that 15 (hopefully that won't be the case) then we may struggle to pick up many points.

Otherwise, we're relying on new transfers coming in in time, and settling quickly, which (Manny apart) is likely to be difficult.

Or, we'll be relying on promising inexperience like Rodwell (not quite ready, for me, yet) or VDM .

It's just not quite what I was expecting after a good 5th from last season.

Could it not be possible that we'll get players in? We probably will. Moyes isn't stupid and he'll get the players he needs.

Rodwell and Van der Meyde will still give us options.

Even if we where down to the bare bonus we'd still be able to field a team consisting of Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Rodwell/Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Yakubu and Johnson/Vaughan.

Personally I'd back that team to beat Blackburn.

Sharpys top lip · July 20, 2008

Im a Evertonian, it's in my nature to worrie.

Phoenix Blue · July 20, 2008

ToxtethBlue said:
Could it not be possible that we'll get players in? We probably will. Moyes isn't stupid and he'll get the players he needs.

Rodwell and Van der Meyde will still give us options.

Even if we where down to the bare bonus we'd still be able to field a team consisting of Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Rodwell/Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Yakubu and Johnson/Vaughan.

Personally I'd back that team to beat Blackburn.

I like the optimism

I do hope we get the players in, but I'm not sure about finances, and we're leavinbg it late. New players take time to settle, and Blackburn are never a pushover. A midfield 4 of Tater Neville / Rodwell Ossie and Pieman does not look very strong to me, and away games early on against the newly promoted teams are always very tough.

You may be right, but the signs aren't great at the moment. But all it will take is one top (midfield) transfer, soon, to perk us all up a bit.

davek · July 20, 2008

Phoenix Blue said:
As the transfer window continues along merrily, and we have no-one on the way in yet, we are in danger of having a severe lack of numbers / quality for the opening games.

With Carse, Manny and Grav (not such a loss) having left, and Faddy not replaced, we are even thinner on the ground than normal. Even a couple of transfers in, would still leave us short of numbers.

Add to that the likelihood that Hibbert, Baines, Cahill, Anichebe, Vaughan, and possibly Yobo will all miss the first few, then the cupboard really does look bare.

Howard, Pip, Jags, Joleen, Nuno, Pieman, Ossie, Tater, AJ and Yak are the 10 proper first teamers, with back up consisting of only Ruddy (Turner) VDM, Gosling, Rodwell and Jutkiewicz. A scruffy looking 15 to start an important campaign.

Is anyone else just starting to get a little worried??

Apparently not, mate.

http://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7891

Arteta2391 · July 20, 2008

Sharpys top lip said:
Im a Evertonian, it's in my nature to worrie.

you couldn't have summed it up any better...

ToxtethBlue · July 20, 2008

Phoenix Blue said:
I like the optimism

I do hope we get the players in, but I'm not sure about finances, and we're leavinbg it late. New players take time to settle, and Blackburn are never a pushover. A midfield 4 of Tater Neville / Rodwell Ossie and Pieman does not look very strong to me, and away games early on against the newly promoted teams are always very tough.

You may be right, but the signs aren't great at the moment. But all it will take is one top (midfield) transfer, soon, to perk us all up a bit.

We'd only be missing Carsley really. Blackburn will be virtually the same team as last season bar Bentley and maybe plus Fowler so they won't be anything special. In Arteta, Yakubu, Pienaar and Osman we have enough creaitivty to cause them problems.

I think we'll have players in by then though. Moyes won't go into the season without a ball winner.

cht1978 · July 20, 2008

I was getting worried, but the teams around us havent strenghtend either, villa and spurs will be weaker if anything. The transfer market is slow, I think alot of business will be done late (I hope)

Cal · July 20, 2008

I'm off to Greece on Tuesday, so i'm gonna take a break from reading the forums for a couple of days at a time, so hopefully i will be suprised.

But it is very worrying.

[Poor language removed] that, i'm a sad **** and will check every day

.

ToxtethBlue · July 20, 2008

Cal said:
I'm off to Greece on Tuesday, so i'm gonna take a break from reading the forums for a couple of days at a time, so hopefully i will be suprised.

But it is very worrying.

[Poor language removed] that, i'm a sad **** and will check every day .

everton