2005 Summer Transfers Thread

I think a central defender or two would be good, with Stubbsy and Weir getting up there in age. I dunno who though.

 

I saw this on Toffeeweb:

Leon to get shafted and shifted
20 Feb - [No External Link] One of our readers has it as fact that Leon Osman will be off to Portsmouth for £12k a week. Everton have only offered him £5k a week — making him the lowest paid senior player in the Premiership... but In Moyes We Trust.

That just will NOT do.

 

I highly doubt that will happen. Moyes has obviously seen how good a Osman and Cahill have work together. I would agree that central defender would be the main concern this summer.

 

Read this article on Osman. I don't think he's going anywhere.

Leon Osman surveys the interior of the hangar-sized gymnasium at Everton's Bellefield training ground. For a moment, his mind goes to the "playback" function of the videotape of his life; to the scenes where he is a 10-year-old again, a schoolboy born in Billinge, near Wigan.

"You know, my dad used to be stood in the corner, over there, freezing with all the other parents. He was here two hours, four times a week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - watching me and my brother [Carl] train. You've got to take your hat off to that, haven't you? It was unbelievable devotion to your kids. But he never pushed us or said, 'You should be a footballer,' or anything. He just let us follow our dreams."

What would have made those more uncomfortable for Osman Snr, Derek, is that this represented, until then at least, the dark side of the city. He was a committed Red, and, naturally, so was his son. "Up until that time my dad used to sit me on a barrier in the Kop. But once I came here, I never went back. Now I'm playing for the Blues and my heart's completely with Everton. I think dad's changed his allegiance, too!"

During those years Derek Osman has surveyed his son's elevation from peripheral performer, during a period in which he suffered a serious knee injury and twice went out on loan, to Goodison's local hero this season. The midfielder's seven goals from 27 appearances, including his brace against Aston Villa in the 3-1 victory last Saturday, have been appreciated all the more because it has been achieved by "one of their own".

Wayne Rooney and Francis Jeffers, among the products of the same youth set-up, run by Ray Hall, the academy manager, and Neil Dewsnip, the technical manager, may have moved on, but Osman appears to be a fixture. Although he is a free agent when his contract expires this summer, Osman says: "We're in talks at the moment. Hopefully things will get sorted out. I've been here all my life. This is where I want to stay."

He was discovered as an eight-year-old playing for Skelmersdale Boys, and went to Oldham Athletic originally, for a year. "Then a man named Arthur Stephens, who was a scout at Everton, saw me. I came here when I was about 10, and I've been here ever since.

"I have always thought there's a closer link with the fans when they see a local lad on the pitch. It's all about pride in where you come from. It's like, 'He only lives up the street from me, and there he is playing in front of 40,000 people'. It's great for the team and great for the kids, knowing what a reputation the youth set-up's got. If they come here, they know they can look forward to developing as a player."

While Rooney and, to an extent, Jeffers exploded into Evertonian consciousness, Osman's emergence has been at the end of a slow-burning fuse, principally as a result of a potentially career-threatening cruciate ligament injury three years ago.

"That was my lowest moment; when I realised how long I was going to be out [it turned out to be a year]," Osman explains. "A lot of people have had to retire after an injury like that. But I was determined to get over it. Thankfully, I had the right people around me: the physios here were tremendous, and my family and friends supported me and kept me positive."

Osman desperately needed first-team football, but was realistic enough to appreciate that it wouldn't immediately be with Everton. He went on loan to Carlisle, and the following season, having still failed to establish himself among the Everton élite, joined Derby County, under George Burley. "I had a great time, and settled in really well. I took to the fans and they took to me."

Derby wanted to make the association permanent. "I said that if I wasn't in David Moyes' plans, then I would sign. But David told them that he wanted me back. I returned for the last three games of the season. I started the first, and scored [after five minutes at Wolverhampton Wanderers]. I managed to play all three and that was that."

Goals certainly keep a player at the forefront of a manager's mind, you suggest. "It's a great trick," says the 23-year-old with a smile, adding: "I've always tried to score goals, and have been confident that I've been capable of doing it. That debut goal against Wolves settled the nerves tremendously."

Moyes reveals that initially, he harboured doubts about Osman's physique. "I think we did, in as much as he was very small, quite lightweight, and didn't have a great deal of pace. But we always believed his football ability was exceptional," the manager says. "I think there's more to come from him, and that we'll see more maturity in time in his play. But he works hard for the team, and couples that with his own natural ability to make things happen. He's been an important part of the team this season."

Moyes adds: "The important thing is he can play in several positions. Leon's happy to play up front, or wide, or in midfield. Actually, you couldn't really say what his best role is, because he can do them all to a good level."

Osman had just emerged from the jacuzzi when we speak. "You need that after a hard week's training," he says. No easing up now by Moyes, even with fourth position seemingly secure and with a place in next season's Champions' League beckoning, although to mention that in this environment is akin to mentioning the war in the presence of German visitors. You simply don't do it, not with the Anfield leg of the Merseyside derby in a fortnight's time, when defeat for Everton would produce an anxious Premiership run-in.

Two years ago, Everton were denied by today's visitors, Blackburn, from claiming a place in Europe. This time, however, there appears to be a real stability about this side.

"After we lost Tommy [Thomas Gravesen, to Real Madrid], I think we were looking for a new balance and blend, and that has been the case," Moyes says. "It was an excellent performance against Villa, but I sensed against Chelsea and Manchester United we were coming close to it. Mikel [Arteta], Tim [Cahill] and Leon have all done well for us in midfield."

Post-Rooney and Gravesen, sceptics have waited in vain for fissures to appear. "Obviously, nobody wanted to see Wayne go, because he is a tremendous talent, and we've also lost Tommy," says Osman. "Other people have been brought in, James [Beattie] and Mikel. We all know James's strengths, and Mikel has already shown what great skill he's got. You just have to adapt, and we have managed to do that."

The loss of Rooney and Gravesen may even have made the squad more resilient? "Possibly, yes. But we're such a strong squad, anyway, that we made sure it didn't affect us. We're just carrying on the way we were before Wayne and Tommy went. We've gone from strength to strength."

The same could be said of a young man who has demonstrated that not all successful products of the Everton youth policy are teenage phenomenons. And this one plans to stick around.

 

Yeah, alongside both Ronaldos, Ronaldinho, Ruud, Robben and Henry. Oh and Wayne back on a free so we can make him play for the reserves.

 

It looks like El-Hadji Diouf will be available for £4m. Assuming he's got his head on straight, Diouf could come in handy if we qualify for the Champion's League.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4351973.stm

 

I think they get like 4M initially for getting in. Possibly 10M+ for tv revenue probably and another couple mil for gate receipts. BTW, if Everton get into the Champions League, I'm flying out to the UK for one of the fixtures. It just feels like I must.

 

linked with rene aufhauser from grazer ak. he claims everton are interested in him and it is said everton are on the verge of signing him. anyone see him play in ucup?

 

I just heard on a Mexican TV show that Pablo Mastroeni is either close to signing or has already signed. Don't know if y'all have heard about this. hope it is true

They are doing segments on the US National team all of this week leading to the game on Sunday. Anyways today they focused on Pablo Mastroeni and claimed he was joining Everton in the summer.

 

Hmm, I'd like to see where he'd fit in. Regretably I don't know much about Pablo, so I have to ask, is he a midfielder or defender? If he's a defender, we're gonna need him if the guys out of contract don't get new contracts!

I won't put any money on this possible move...but it'll be interesting to see if he's training with the Blues when they're in LA.

 

Mastroeni plays CB.

In other rumor/transfer news. Everton are linked to Deportivo La Coruna`s Argentinian defender Cesar and midfielder Stephen Appiah of Juventus.

LLink

BTW, I love this site, best laughs.

 

I don't know whether to announce this as official news or wild rumor, but Keith Wyness says that Moyes will be given a 12 mil transfer budget for the summer.

From evertonfc.com:
Link

 

Who other than me is hoping that Moyes picks up Arteta this summer? Its rumored that the price tag would be around 2.2M so its a bargain buy for a good young player like him.

 

I think it would be a smart move, even though I haven't quite made up my mind about him yet. He seems to have good vision and some nice moves, though. And I could definitely see him eventually filling the hole that Tommy left.

 

http://www.goal.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=56261&progr=7

Tommy denies coming back to Everton. Dammit! There goes my summer hopes!

 

Rumours of the 'Admiral', Ryan Nelson been looked at from a defensive point of view. From the way he has been playing, and adapted so quickly to Premier football, would be a nice score.

I guess it would be even nicer for me, being a New Zealander who has followed Everton for nigh on 20 odd years.



Moi.

 

Nelson would be good - he is the reason that Blackburn are not sitting deep in the relegation zone. I am very impressed with him. Go you little ANZAC!

 

So how does champions league money work? Is it given in the summer to be used for transfers?

So that 12 mil. rumored for Moyes' dispense would be combined with initial CL moneyto make 16 million? That's a sizable chunk...