Avinalaff

He's great that Martinez fella.

Do you want me to make you one Haf ?

4pm this afternnon

Speculation matey. There could still be a surprise knowing Everton. Pen runs out type thing.

Didn't Blackburn shell out 8m for Rhodes in the summer? They're not going to let him go unless they get a big profit.

I wouldn't believe too much of anything you read in the Daisy cutter mate. Isn't it supposed to be a fun site?

I'm fairly sure Martinez would only bring somebody in if he was sure they were quality. We need more defenders, so it's not just a case of the first eleven, but about the squad, and a possible rotation. I'll worry more if he gets the job.

Is this from the club Louis or just the SSN rumour?

Would somebody be brave enough to put their money on Pereira ? He is leaving Porto.

Why wouldn't he be in their first team thoughts? It's not as though their strikers last year were banging them in.

Just saw this regarding Austin, so he would need to be clean: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-22759753

I was impressed a few years ago with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. He is still only 27, and still a terrific striker in my opinion. Charlie Austin is the one for me though. Weren't we linked heavily with him last year? Rhodes would cost us too much. Blackburn paid a few quid for him.

So, Everton should become gay?

Ah, gotcha.

* Must keep daughter off pc

Is that an official ruling regarding contract length?

I think with strikers, you need to be instinctive, but also lucky. Little moments can turn your whole season, and put you in the zone, or in the doldrums. Professional sportsmen who become the best are often super strong psychologically, and it's often how you deal with your bad spells, not your good spells, that keeps you at the top. Many clubs dive in for players who have had one good season, and spend a fortune for players who turn out to be indifferent once taken out of their comfort zone. Very few go on to other clubs and remain prolific. Those that do are generally the cream of the crop, and are helped by the fact their move was to a bigger club, but fewer go to lesser clubs with success. I think we should always seek to recruit lower league talent when possible, as their move upwards is often the trigger that awakens their potential. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/top_scorers/default.stm

That's a fair explanation of your point Haf (I'm far too nice to you lately - it will have to stop). Still, almost 50m of debt is almost 50m of debt, and should sell our best players and pay it back, or how can we ever close down without our chairman having to work far beyond retirement age. It's simply not on.

I like Lambert too, but too old mate. He 'should' at least have gotten a call up simply for recognition. The 'one' wasn't meant as a number, but more as 'name a striker' so you have my forgiveness. Can you believe this guy is only 20?

Can we afford this guy?

Striker only thread. * Affordable goal scorer of good age wanted for ambitious Merseyside football club. * Apply within.

Maybe we need to take this discussion out of the New Manager thread, so I'll find somewhere to cause trouble and await the sirens.

2 points Haf: Everton are 46m in debt. Wigan are 12m in debt. In my book, we are therefore poorer than Wigan by 34m. Not sure how we can look at it any other way. Midfield wise, how are we stronger? We lost Arteta, Bilyaletdinov, Gosling, Rodwell, Drenthe, Wallace, Gueye, and Cahill, all with the exception of Wallace were getting first team football, and we already had Fellaini, Osman, Barkley, Pienaar (spurs noted) etc etc. We've since brought in Gibson, Kennedy, Hitz, and Junior. Mirallas is much more of a striker. We are short of bodies for midfield, and could do with investment. It may be we have to sell a big name in order to do this.

Regarding Di Santo, how quick some are to say he is not that good, yet don't offer him the same excuses as you offer Martinez. How good might he be at a team like United, or perhaps a team like Chelsea, or dare I say it ...... a team like Everton? Free is free, and he would bite his toes off to come here.

If Moyes was defensive minded, would he not have played 4-4-2 ? I can't help thinking people have forgotten that Moyes had no money either. It's as though we've pulled the Everton covers off him and left him to the cold whilst we keep Mr Martinez snuggled up and warm regarding making excuses. Under Moyes, we have a strong defence, built upon bargains and good coaching, not to mention finding the right players with the right intelligence. Our defence will need it's own level of attention now, given that we have lost Neville, possibly about to lose Heitinga, and Hibbert and Distin are getting older. You can argue that we have Oviedo, Duffy, and Stones, but it wouldn't be a strong counter, as they are all back up players until proven otherwise. If Baines leaves, that escalates the situation. We now have a potential problem, in that the manager who is possibly the worst at building a defence in the history of football, now has to restructure Everton's defence. We then have our midfield, which is not as strong as it was, and really does need another big presence, especially in the defensive aspect. Barkley is not the player we need in the middle, unless we are prepared to drop Osman. Perhaps Mcarthy could be a good acquisition, but we would have to find a few quid. Striker wise, there is no point in getting Kone. He is 30 this year, and is an African Nations player as well, so long term, not a great investment. Di Santo on the other hand is only 24, and is out of contract, so could be an astute transfer.