TopToffee

can't see us being relegated, (*touches wood and grabs loads of rabbits feet*) partly because iirc, a lot of the teams below us have to play each other, and that means they'll be taking points off each other. Looking at our fixtures, if we play like we did against Newcastle (without the dreadful defending) i could see us in the top half come the end of the season.

hopefully the 15 or so players who are out of contract at the end of the season, should free up at least a little cash - even if each of those players is only on £10k p/w (and some of them are almost certainly on substantially more) that's £7.8m a year in wages :eek:

clarke is an interesting one... i've seen him make some pretty poor performances, but when he was playing for the U21s at Goodison against Portugal, he was the best player on the park - was just like watching Yobo last season - calm, assured and totally solid.

Saturday was a bit of an abbheration - Yobo made several atrocious errors, which he doesn't normally do, and they cost us dear.

As for over the summer, i agree we need a new centreback - Yobo always looks better with Stubbs in the side, but Stubbs himself makes me almost as nervous as if we had David James in goal :p Dawson would be a good call, but probably couldn't afford him. If Leeds do go down, we should be able to pinch someone or other from them. Obviously we're not going to get Robinson, Smith or Viduka - but there are other decent players there who will almost certainly be moving on, and some for very little money, just to get em off the wage bill.

Also, a new central midfielder and a powerful forward to replace Dunc/Kev (who we really need to explore ways of getting rid of - they're actually on a combined total of close to £70k p/w :eek. So... new central defender, midfielder and striker - oh, only a whole new spine for the team then - no worries

silver_blue

In terms of Dunc/Kev, just bite the bullet. We're stuck with them until contract expiry (end of next season).

This season I think Dunc has, just about, justified his place in the squad. Been injured less, and been generally good when he's played. This was one season too far for Kev though.

Should still be able to get one good season more out of Dunc, but obviously desperately need another striker of his ilk as well.

TopToffee

yes, i agree that Ferguson has been good when he's played. but his display against Leicester proved that he is, and will almost certainly remain, a liability.

silver_blue

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Roonaldo:
yes, i agree that Ferguson has been good when he's played. but his display against Leicester proved that he is, and will almost certainly remain, a liability. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well no, one idiotic moment a season does not make him a liability. And actually been out of character this term, as he's been relatively well behaved. Got to let him beat at least one person up.

Lathund

What's the opinion of Linderoth among Everton fans?

silver_blue

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Lathund:
What's the opinion of Linderoth among Everton fans?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've never been a great fan, but he's won me round over the last couple of months. My dad is a lot more positive about him, thinks he's a good player who's easily Gravesen's best partner.

TopToffee

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by silver_blue:
Well no, one idiotic moment a season does not make him a liability. And actually been out of character this term, as he's been relatively well behaved. Got to let him beat at least one person up.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
well yeah, ok - but couldn't he save it for the next idiot who tries to break into his house??

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by silver_blue:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Lathund:
What's the opinion of Linderoth among Everton fans?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've never been a great fan, but he's won me round over the last couple of months. My dad is a lot more positive about him, thinks he's a good player who's easily Gravesen's best partner.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>what he/they said.

Craig[EVE]

It's been a pretty standard Duncan Ferguson season imo, He's scored a few goals, been kicked to death by defenders, played a lot more games than usual and got the obligatory suspension. I think it's time to move on really (or make him a coach )

As for Linderoth, he seems like a quite average player. Needs to put his foot in more, the last game i saw him play at was Portsmouth (which has to go down as the worst ever game i've seen ) and all game he stood off when he should have put a foot in each time.
If he plays in the Euro champs and has a good run in the team he may improve enough to save us bringing someone else in

TopToffee

one of the main things that concerns me about Linderoth is his size. He's supposed to be a defensive midfielder, whose presence will allow Gravesen a more free role to get forward and join in attacks.

now, compare Linderoth to other defensive mids in the Premiership - the likes of Keane and Vieira (yes, i know that's the top end of the scale) and they both have the best part of half a foot in height and at least a couple of stone weight on Toby. This might not be such a problem if Linderoth was a really tigerish player, in the Wise sort of mold, snapping at the heels of anything that moved, but unfortunately he isn't, and his lack of size means he is easily outmuscled in the middle of the park.

that said, he has been much better of late than earlier in his everton career.

Zaitsev

I like Linderoth myself....I'd prefer it that Gravesen wasn't playing at all but if he has to play, Linderoth's the one to partner him. Hopefully when Li Tie's fit again in the summer he can be back to his form of last season and up the ante for places a little.