Transfers and rumours

[Duncan Disorderly]

A lot of stories going around today that Yakubu will be joining West Ham for $7M.

Don't really like the signing at that price, especially considering his goalscoring record for the past couple of seasons.

Really?

That signing would be a coup for West Ham IMO, especially at a bargain price such as that.

If Everton are serious about challenging for Europe then they are making a big mistake by selling one of the best goal scorers in the division (when fit I stress) for that price.

I'm not sure why such an emphasis is being placed on his goalscoring record the last 2 seasons. He's missed 12 months with a nasty leg injury and then he had to come back underdone because there wasn't anybody else to play up front and lastly, he comes of the bench for 5, 10, 20 minutes at a time, so considering all that I don't think 9 goals in his last 35 matches is such a bad effort.

 

[DBAH0]

Really?

That signing would be a coup for West Ham IMO, especially at a bargain price such as that.

If Everton are serious about challenging for Europe then they are making a big mistake by selling one of the best goal scorers in the division (when fit I stress) for that price.

I'm not sure why such an emphasis is being placed on his goalscoring record the last 2 seasons. He's missed 12 months with a nasty leg injury and then he had to come back underdone because there wasn't anybody else to play up front and lastly, he comes of the bench for 5, 10, 20 minutes at a time, so considering all that I don't think 9 goals in his last 35 matches is such a bad effort.

The problem for mine is I don't think he's ever going to be as good as he was back in the Pompey / Boro days. Yes, he's come back from a bad injury like you've said, but I've never really seen him in peak fitness much, and I dunno I think there are probably better options around for that money,

Daily Mail's claiming that Everton want $10M for him though, and I certainly wouldn't touch him at that price.

 

[Duncan Disorderly]

The problem for mine is I don't think he's ever going to be as good as he was back in the Pompey / Boro days. Yes, he's come back from a bad injury like you've said, but I've never really seen him in peak fitness much, and I dunno I think there are probably better options around for that money,

Daily Mail's claiming that Everton want $10M for him though, and I certainly wouldn't touch him at that price.

IMO He's the type of player who can get by without the need to be in peak physical condition.

If anything it helps his all round game, just like it did with Mark Viduka, because centre-halves don't have to deal with the big and strong lads like they used to and they tend to struggle with Yakubu's physical presence. This is why I want to keep him.

He just needs to stop diving and be a bit more enthusiastic about closing down defenders.

He showed towards the end of the season that he still has the acceleration over 5 yards that he had when he was younger and we both know how good his goal instinct is.

For what it's worth he was overweight for us in 2007/08 and still scored 21 goals in 42 matches before he got hurt.

 

[Butts_JZZ30]

What other strike options to Everton have? I don't know a great deal about their squad? Is Saha still going alright? He would be getting on a bit in age? What about Vaughan?

 

[Sheeds]

IMO He's the type of player who can get by without the need to be in peak physical condition.

If anything it helps his all round game, just like it did with Mark Viduka, because centre-halves don't have to deal with the big and strong lads like they used to and they tend to struggle with Yakubu's physical presence. This is why I want to keep him.

He just needs to stop diving and be a bit more enthusiastic about closing down defenders.

He showed towards the end of the season that he still has the acceleration over 5 yards that he had when he was younger and we both know how good his goal instinct is.

For what it's worth he was overweight for us in 2007/08 and still scored 21 goals in 42 matches before he got hurt.

We have to keep Yak.
We have stood by him while he has recovered from injury. Some games at the WC and a full pre-season I am hopeful we will see the Yak of old return.

He could hardly train at all last season so last year was always just going to be about getting a taste for it again. As you said he made so many cameo appearances. Lets give him next season to see what he can do and then re-asses.

 

[Jolldo87]

What other strike options to Everton have? I don't know a great deal about their squad? Is Saha still going alright? He would be getting on a bit in age? What about Vaughan?

Saha, Anichebe and Vaughan are the others. Also got Baxter coming through but that's quite an injury prone bunch and you wouldn't want to rely on it.

You'd think Moyes would only be selling Yakubu if he had someone in line to replace him.

 

[Dagger5]

I think Maicon and Cashley are as good as gone to Madrid. The lure of starring for Madrid and playing for Mourinho again will be too hard to resist.

They would be nearly the perfect signings for Madrid who will be finally able to establish a good defence.

 

[RoJo Junior]

Well I was gonna say shit who;s going to replace him, then I remembered we signed Zhirkov last season

 

[belfast_bomber]

I think Maicon and Cashley are as good as gone to Madrid. The lure of starring for Madrid and playing for Mourinho again will be too hard to resist.

They would be nearly the perfect signings for Madrid who will be finally able to establish a good defence.

Mourinho's after telling As magazine (that means 'ace' rather than 'arse', unfortunately) that he likes to play with "offensive full-backs in the style of Ashley Cole". And what could be more offensive than Ashley Cole?

 

[DB10]

John Terry?

 

[belfast_bomber]

John Terry?

BB crosses, DB scores.

 

[cesc fabregas]

I would have thought Carvalho has more chance of moving to Real than Terry does

 

[Bourky23]

And what could be more offensive than Ashley Cole?

John Terry?

BB crosses, DB scores.

 

[belfast_bomber]

...and "cesc fabregas" does a nice Lukasz Fabianski impression...

 

[cesc fabregas]

...and "cesc fabregas" does a nice Lukasz Fabianski impression...

I really didn't read the posts ahead of me until now. Good call BB.

But yeah, surely Carvahlo would be on the books for Mourinho.

 

[Godzke]

Maicon and Cole to Madrid means Ramos -> CB. Has done reasonably well playing there before. Pair up with Albiol and Garay can kiss his game time goodbye.

Formidable backline, but both Cole and Maicon are used to playing with a lot more support than what they will get at R.Madrid. Not that I'm saying they're overrated, but you hardly expect Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema and Higuain to do that much backtracking.

 

[Godzke]

... and one for Belfast Bomber.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spai...nas-alberto-botia-to-make-sporting-gijon-stay

Botia -> Sporting Gijon for 2-3m euros (4 year deal).

 

[Jolldo87]

Saha, Anichebe and Vaughan are the others. Also got Baxter coming through but that's quite an injury prone bunch and you wouldn't want to rely on it.

You'd think Moyes would only be selling Yakubu if he had someone in line to replace him.

That'd be Beckford from Leeds.

 

[DBAH0]

$3M bid lodged with Lyon for Piqueonne.

Even though he's 31, for that price, I think it's decent enough value if it's accepted, better value than paying $10M for Yakubu.

Wolves have made a $7M bid for Steven Fletcher, trying to get a deal done quickly there before we make a bid, as he prefers a move to London apparently.

Liverpool, West Ham and Tottenham all being linked with a move for Curtis Davies also, MON wants $7M for him, which is a little rich I think (considering James Collins went there for $5M and is now ahead of him in the pecking order).

 

[Kaan]

Liverpool linked with Turan(Again)

 

[bighughie]

Liverpool, West Ham and Tottenham all being linked with a move for Curtis Davies also, MON wants $7M for him, which is a little rich I think (considering James Collins went there for $5M and is now ahead of him in the pecking order).

How is that relevant? 7 million for a not-hack premiership center back is about right, Collins came in as cover and has surpassed probably even his own expectations with his improvement. I dont really think what he was brought for has any baring on Davies price.

 

[belfast_bomber]

... and one for Belfast Bomber.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spai...nas-alberto-botia-to-make-sporting-gijon-stay

Botia -> Sporting Gijon for 2-3m euros (4 year deal).

Delighted. Did a terrific job with us this year and he and Gregory link up well.

Thanks.

 

[DBAH0]

How is that relevant? 7 million for a not-hack premiership center back is about right, Collins came in as cover and has surpassed probably even his own expectations with his improvement. I dont really think what he was brought for has any baring on Davies price.

That's what West Ham are arguing in terms of Davies valuation.

Collins was already a good CB at West Ham, it's not like he's stepped up his game dramatically at Aston Villa. So comparing the 2, when Davies hasn't played much at all over the past couple of seasons while Collins consistently has.

FWIW, I think selling Collins was the biggest mistake West Ham have made in the transfer market for a long time (not withstanding the Dyer and Ljungberg signings). Almost single handledly got us relegated.

 

[Fab4]

Maicon and Cole to Madrid means Ramos -> CB. Has done reasonably well playing there before. Pair up with Albiol and Garay can kiss his game time goodbye.

Even worse Pepe will be there
I think it may be the end of Garay at Madrid.

 

[Godzke]

I was going to mention Pepe but after his long lay off who knows how he'll fit back in.