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[ForeverEverton]

We would have finished 4th if we done better against the top four sides:-

Liverpool, Home-Stitched up, Away-could have got something with an extra bit of quality or luck or our own Clattenburg.

Man Ure, One goal in it at Goodison with Vidic scoring and being marked by Hibbert (Mis Match),Stupid flick by Pienaar caused us to lose and old trafford when we should have picked up a point.

Chelsea, Got a result against the top four at last, credible 1-1 draw at stamford bridge and another close defeat at Goodison. In the cup we lost to a SWP header at stamford bridge and lost 1-0 at Goodison.

Arsenal, Lost 1-0 away in a close game, The only time a top four team won by more than a one goal margin against us this season was at Goodison when arsenal beat us 4-1 playing hoof ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are not that far off but we still need to add some quality this year!!!

 

[linglong]

I know pre-season dont mean much, but Spurs are a worry this season. Anyone see them turn over Roma? I've never liked Tottenham and now I hate them even more.

Spurs are looking good in my eyes in "our" part of the table,as for finishing 7th i would agree its possible but only if a few new faces are brought in got a lot of games coming up and they'll need bodies in to cover them

 

[toffeestillidie]

He'll hardly play though, he'll sit his arse on the bench until Villa have an injury crisis. From now on all he'll be is a squad player, O'Neill said he only wanted players who actually wanted to play for the club.

Quality midfield? I wouldn't go that far. At the moment it will probably be Young, Reo-coker, Sidwell and Petrov. That's not quality to me, lacks creativity in the middle of the park and they don't have a right winger. Young is good but last season he had someone like Barry getting him into good positions where he could run at teams, Sidwell and Coker aren't capable of that.

it'd be nice if more managers thought like that, i'd like to see ronaldo and gerrard sitting on the bench

 

[jacobite]

the RS to villa "carson, 10 mill"
villa to the RS "no [Poor language removed] way"
the RS to villa "we want barry"
villa to the RS "barry, 18 mill"

its not often karma acts so swiftly, but when it does, its probably the best karma in the world.

is just me or does anyone else think Benitez has been a naughty with his unsettling of players? Keane, Barry.From what MON has said thr RS have only tabled one bid, that Villa knocked back.They gave Spurs a sweetener to stop them taking legal action over Keane.And where are they going to play Alonso,Gerrard,Babel,the lad from WHU,Mascharano,Pennant,Kuyt,Barry etc.If i was Barry i`d stay where i was instead of sitting on my arse for most of the season.
Then you`ve got the Carson deal, its basically a loan deal very dodgy for me.

 

[Makis]

is just me or does anyone else think Benitez has been a naughty with his unsettling of players? Keane, Barry.From what MON has said thr RS have only tabled one bid, that Villa knocked back.

Exactly what we did with Moutinho..

But who ever said there wasn't much between us and the RS. The difference was just as big as between them and ManU and I don't think they were close to winning the League. And of course they have since added Keane and a few others while we have lost AJ and Carsley.

Fact is, Everton has weakened considerably. Villa has improved, not by much, but they have bought a few good players and added squad depth. Portsmouth are more or less the same unless the unknowns Harry bought are good. Spurs have improved immensely and have a much better manager than at the beginning of last season. Modric, dos Santos and Bentley easily offset their losses.

 

[Bluestu77]

Exactly what we did with Moutinho..

But who ever said there wasn't much between us and the RS. The difference was just as big as between them and ManU and I don't think they were close to winning the League. And of course they have since added Keane and a few others while we have lost AJ and Carsley.

Fact is, Everton has weakened considerably. Villa has improved, not by much, but they have bought a few good players and added squad depth. Portsmouth are more or less the same unless the unknowns Harry bought are good. Spurs have improved immensely and have a much better manager than at the beginning of last season. Modric, dos Santos and Bentley easily offset their losses.

I think we need to be a bit realistic here;

Much as I'd love for us to be anywhere near the RS their core of players;

Reina
Carragher
Agger
Skrtel
Mascherano
Alonso
Gerrard
Babel
Torres
Keane

Is far better than what we have got, in fact I'd say the only one of our players who would get into their team is Arteta. We have punched above our weight due in no small part to DM's management.

Without support in the transfer market I don't think we can expect to finish above them. Really cannot, would love to see us do it, the players rumoured to be coming in all seem great but I'd still have to say we dont have enough quality.

 

[Makis]

Lescott and Yobo would also get into that team, IMO. But the rest? No chance. And of course they actually have a _squad_, which is kinda important with this amount of matches.

 

[teppic]

i'd take cahill over alonso

yakubu over keane

arteta over babel

yobo over skrtel

lescott over carragher

howard over reina

 

[Makis]

Keane has a much better scoring record and is more creative than Yakubu.

Howard vs. Reina is difficult, but I bet if you asked impartial punters, majority would pick Reina. Howard isn't, after all, even USA's first choice.

 

[OneTrueLegend]

forget the [Poor language removed]

the RS are not the issue here;

we need to focus on the teams directly below us in the table last year, Villa, Portsmouth, Man City, Tottenham, have all strengthened on last year, we have weakened our side, we will finnish below three out of four of these at least,

(one of them is bound to self distruct, at the moment my money is on city, but that may change) add in to the fact that there is always a surprise in the top half, for arguments sake lets say Newcastle, and Sunderland.

and we will be lucky to finish 8th or 9th at the end of the season

 

[teppic]

Keane has a much better scoring record and is more creative than Yakubu.

Howard vs. Reina is difficult, but I bet if you asked impartial punters, majority would pick Reina. Howard isn't, after all, even USA's first choice.

keane career apps. 349 career goals. 129

yakubu career apps. 269 career goals. 125

he does not have a 'much better scoring record'.

reina over howard? no competition. howard every time.


i understand you are thinking we will go down (!), but to compound your misery with claims that liverpools players are better do you an injustice.

 

[uknightbreed]

keane career apps. 349 career goals. 129

yakubu career apps. 269 career goals. 125

he does not have a 'much better scoring record'.

reina over howard? no competition. howard every time.


i understand you are thinking we will go down (!), but to compound your misery with claims that liverpools players are better do you an injustice.

2 questions...

1. how many goals do you think yak will get between now and the transfer window shutting with hardly a team behind him ?

2.how long do you think it will be before a player thinks the clubs turning into a joke and puts in a transfer request ?

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Lescott, Arteta and Yakubu definatly would get in. Cahill probably wouldnt to be honest, he wouldn't get in ahead of Gerrard and he's not the same type of player as Masherano.

Pienaar would have a chance, Liverpool aren't exactly blessed on the wings, Kuyt is average and Babel has potential but is very raw.

Yobo would definatly has a chance as would Howard. Reina and Howard is a hard one to be honest.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

2 questions...

1. how many goals do you think yak will get between now and the transfer window shutting with hardly a team behind him ?

2.how long do you think it will be before a player thinks the clubs turning into a joke and puts in a transfer request ?

How do you know he won't have a team behind him? There's still time to get players in.

 

[teppic]

2 questions...

1. how many goals do you think yak will get between now and the transfer window shutting with hardly a team behind him ?

2.how long do you think it will be before a player thinks the clubs turning into a joke and puts in a transfer request ?

1. hardly a team?

howard
yobo
jags
lescott
valente
osman
neville
arteta
baines
yakubu
baxter


just about every one of those players would get in to the blackburn and west brom teams. the first two matches of the season.

what are you on about 'hardly a team?'

how many goals will yak get in the first 3 games? erm... a bit subjective that one. i'll go for 3.


2. a player puts in a transfer request?

why would he do that? we are in europe.