Why wouldn't you. For starters, fuck ManU. Them for a beginning.

COYB!

Andy he also said that the Arteta money wasn't going to the bank only to turn round months later and admit that was indeed the case. I've given up judging Moyes & Kenwright by what they say I will only judge them by what they do. So until the transfer window closes and the Rodwell money is spent I am of the view that the club had to sell him.

Andy, don't take this the wrong way, but a lot of your posts seem to be up and down like the proverbial train spotters foreskin. I used to think a lot of them were written provocatively (but less of a sledgehammer than, say, Tony Marsh) to get a response.

Like John above I'll wait until the transfer window has closed. I will give Moyes/Kenwright credit where it's due for their financial operation in what is an increasingly leaky Premier League cash operation. I'm now beginning to think the "mega wages" clubs may actually help recruit and retain players. Man City can pay a bench warmer £100k/week. We obviously can't get near that for our top earner. Therefore with clear daylight unless an offer is made to a player to elevate him to that bracket, as long as we can pay to compete with the Stoke's, Sunderland's, Villa's we should be okay. If a money club wants our players, then we can relax safe in the knowledge that we'll try to get top dollar out of them.

Safe to go forward aiming to be best of the rest... And waiting for this implosion of the big clubs so many soothsayers predict.

Matt, good point about bench warming at the top clubs. Felliani may double his wages going to a City or Chelsea but at his age now you would assume he is more ambitious than just sitting on a bench.

I saw a Niall Quinn article yesterday where he said that Sunderland wildly overspent when Roy Keane was manager. Stoke have apparently spent 70m approximately under Tony Pulis so they may soon be cutting their cloth. The point I'm making is that we are ahead of some of these teams in terms of managing what money we have so I think this may stand to us in the coming seasons. Even Liverpool have spent huge money, even for them in recent seasons so this may not last much longer.

Matt, I'll be the first to admit that my posts are up and down; I think it is the way of the supporter. If I analysed things coldly then my views would be, and generally are, anti-Moyes. However, I hope that they are not so entrenched that I can't summon up some optimism at what looks like good news.

I never deliberately try to be provocative but I do often write in the heat of the moment and many's the time I've thought,oh fuck. I wish I hadn't written that, Also I have been very grateful to Michael Kenrick for ensuring that some stuff has never seen the light of day. I'm optimistic now, Matt, but I expect it'll be back to normal by Monday night.

Andy #957 "I'm optimistic now, but I expect it'll be back to normal by Monday night"

Like a few I expect.

I'm not optimistic now about Monday, but more optimistic in general. Provided there is no last minute Fernandes-ing of the Miralles move, I would be optimistic that we have a better attacking threat than we have had for a while.

Back in the 80s one of the teams I admired was Forest, and their counter-attacking style. That wasn't the only way they played, but against a side that was "better on paper" they played to their strengths and we're a real mix of creativity and crudity.

I think most of us accept that Moyes' preferred style is 4-5-1 with the resources he has at his disposal. One of our weaknesses recently is not creating enough chances, and not being clinical enough with the ones we do.

Last season Jelavic was a breath of fresh air, with something like his first 6 or 7 goals being first time, one-touch finishes (I may be including his header at OT there).

This season we've lost Cahill, who although a personal idol of mine, was not renowned for his assists (I stand to be corrected, haven't looked that up), but with the addition of Naismith, and hopefully Miralles, we should have that, and players who can also share the burden of goal-scoring - something I think Pienaar has been lacking in throughout his career.

I'm too old to use the words "Everton" and "optimistic" in the same sentence but I see where you're coming from Andy.

The creative type of player Moyes seems to be going for, a bit of boldness sacrificing Rodwell, doing "something" with Barkley even if it is loaning him out.

He seems to be backing his judgement, dare I say "managing" the situation - fingers crossed eh!

It is wrong to feel anything until we know what will happen to the money we got for Rodwell. Moyes does his spin on things that is fine, but at the end the only thing that matters is results.

We need a top quality right winger, like the desert needs rain. Also we need a good back up striker. I bet Moyes fucks it up and only buys Mirallas. You can have as many strikers as you want but you MUST have the wingers and midfield to carry them forward.

Strikers need lots of chances to score and that is where the right winger comes in. The balance needs to be right:

1. A top quality right winger who can play with both legs.
2 A back up striker to make sure we are safe if injury hits Jelvic.

Could it be that as DM may be considering this his final season with us, then he may go out with a bang and attack attack attack? It may work and it may fail but at least he has decided 'Fuck it! I might as well go out and really entertain the fans!'

His possible swansong might mean we are in for a highly entertaining year!!

Almost similar feelings to those I had pre-season back in the 70's and 80's - i.e. I think we can do something this season.

The case for:
Compared to this time last year, we have proven goalscorers.
We have Piennar back.
We've kept our best players so far.
DM has been able to act early in the transfer market.
The Everton fighting spirit

The case against:
Those inexplicably poor starts to the season.
Lack of squad depth.

I certainly think top 6 is on at the expense of Newcastle, Spurs and the RS.
The again this is Everton and logic often goes down the pan with us.
Still, relatively optimistic.

Carol picked up a comment in a season preview seven or eight years ago warning the nearest and dearest of Evertonians to "watch out for mood swings", and she reminded me of it many, many times.

Last season after the postponed Spurs fixture we lost at home to a very ordinary QPR. Interestingly, that starting line-up included Rodwell, Barkley and Heitinga in midfield. The contrast between that day at Goodison and the Newcastle game at the end of the season could not have been greater. Talk about 'mood swings'!

So I approach Monday's game with hope, and the season not with optimism, but with confidence - confidence in the players, above all, who (barring injury) won't let us down.

Steve @ 994,

I think you may possibly be right - maybe Moyes has had a change of heart !

Being passed over for the Spurs job may have hurt his professional pride. He is known for his defensive outlook, and he may be thinking " Fuck this KITAHTKO, I am going out of Goodison with a bang, bollocks to those moaning twats on Toffeeweb, 4-3-3 here we come ! "

Seriously though, he may be thinking of changing his ways, and hope he is in the frame for the Man U job if he is seen as a more attacking coach.

Look where Spurs & Newcastle finished by playing more attacking football.

Kevin and Steve

Moyes having decided to get rid of Yakubu, Beckford and Saha plus whatever happened to Arteta, bought Jelavic and Gibson and borrowed Pienaar . We also had the excitement of the self-destructing Drenthe and a few uplifting battling performances from Count Stracqula.

Moyes, like every successful manager in history, builds from defence. But he's not Mancini in the sense of being able to buy Aguerro, Balotelli, Dzeko and Tevez and wonder about which one or two he might play next game. Our defence and most of our midfield (David Silva is the only one I covet) is as good as the champions'.

The only way for Moyes to be recruited is if he gets into, and succeeds in, Europe. And if he does that with us, does that mean he'll leave?

Tell you what...

I'd love to know exactly who the one percent is who think Everton are destined for a relegation struggle this season (Re: the ToffeeWeb poll).

Definitely optimistic about the new season.

Kevin, #111, I think they could be RS visitors to the site. I don't do it myself, but it seems some here troll theirs as well. (By the way, for those on twatter, I recommend @RAWKmeltdown)

Given the bunch of socialist lefties on here, I think the "1%" you refer to would invoke a different debate altogether.

Gotta be optimistic this season surely - we've kept the side together, added some more more attacking talent and (cough) haven't tired ourselves out pre-season! ;-)

Can't wait to get up and at' em on Monday (ideally with Mirallas at least on the sidelines). To be honest I'm not even bothered about the result (well I say that now), provided we have a proper go and start the season aggressively.

Matt - socialist lefties? Would these be fans of the Baines/Pienaar wing of the party? Your lot? Hibbert/Neville?

Kevin Hudson 111

Surely you gotta have an idea of a few names who might just be part of that 1%!!!

But really, would you like to know them, as opposed to their somewhat poor judgement?

Like most Blues I have mood swings. I fear losing Bianes (Man U) and Felllaini (Arsenal) but then I think no they will stay and if we add Miralles + 1 we actually have a very strong but smallish squad. I think Naismith could quite possibly be the signing of the season - I think (hope) he has those special EFC qualities. Peanuts was essential and he has been delivered now a right side and my dreams will become far more exciting. The youth are coming and we still have a core of top quality. August is always fantasy time but certainly I am more optimistic then pessimistic! COYB

Andy back at 957 -

That's exactly why this "more lurker than poster" enjoys reading what you have to say.

And on the flip side why I enjoy reading more measured responses. Makes the site tick.

There is reason for optimism right now. I concur. Nothing over the top but I'm excited about this season. I may be in a dark, dark place 3-4 games in if we trot out to our usual season beginning shit start. But at this moment, there's sunshine.

Andy like all Evertonians we have had our fair share of ups and downs.
I think you are right in feeling good about the team at the moment,even more so if we get Mirallas, he is a cracker!! I have not felt this good about an Everton side in years. In the meantime roll on fucking Monday!!

Andy, now would be the time to go for that outside shot at the CL because if we get it then next season we have the increased Sky money to strengthen the squad to make a better go of it than last time.

So cautiously optimistic but with the fear (expectation?) that things will fall apart as usual.

I think Eric sums up how most of us feel. There is always a fear that it isn't going to go as planned which is a rational fear based on the last 5 or 6 years. Everything looks right but there is something telling me not to be excited just yet. I'm happy with the positives signs but I know better than to speculate. Positive speculation leads to let-downs. Negative speculation leads to fear of relegation, etc. that proves to be useless fear when we finish in the top half every year.

Not sure bout Monday but general optimism pervades.

I was sort of hoping moyes might play fellaini behind jelavic which by my reckoning means we are short of a top CM to play alongside Gibson but perhaps moyes does not see it that way.

Get in mirallas and one of Phillips/Johnson/ niang and there is no doubt we have stronger attacking options than we have had in a considerable time. Fingers crossed the defense gets on their game quickly unlike last season and we might just get the decent start we all crave; though I reckon we will struggle to hold robin and Rooney tomorrow night.

According to the BBC website the signing of Mirallas is now confirmed (as at 1230 today). Bring on the new season !

For the first time in a long long time, I have a great feeling about this season. I reckon a top 6 is a definite possibility; if we can somehow sort out a decent right back then why not a top 4 position?

We have a solid central defence with the three boys fighting for the two positions and Bainesy on the left. In midfield we have found a top quality central midfielder in Gibbo, someone who I have watched for years who has brought out the best in Fellaini – something Rodwell couldn't do... hence the sale, which I am delighted about (i would have snatched their hand off for even £8 million!)

We have Pienaar rearing to go again and now we have a decent advanced right midfield in the Belgian Mirallas. Steven Naismith looked quality with rangers so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.

But the most shrewd business Moyesy has done in a couple of years is bringing in a much needed striker who can actually score goals! Jelavic's value has trebled since the Euros.

Last year I nearly disowned Everton some of the tripe they produced early on I wouldn't wish on any fans! But I'll tell you what: we really are in a great position – a position in which we can all agree on that we have no visible flaws such as not having striker etc.

Whoever says we can't finish top 6 needs reminding of the squad we now have and a manager who consistently rights his wrongs. NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM, my fellow Evertonians!

First of all Chris, you don't disown Everton it is not possible,.
But the reason I came on here ( and chose this thread) is that this optimism stuff must be infectious. i. looked at the pics of Fellaini and Mirallas together in training and thought ah so Fellaini being here may have been influential in him signing,.Then I thought ah maybe Fellaini STAYING here is influential. Hope so

This time last year I had given up on Premier League football. We had an ageing squad and no way of funding replacements. For the first half of the season my fears were fully justified.

And then Pienaar, Jelavic and Gibson arrived and all 3 settled immediately and things got a lot better.

And now we have sold young Jack and not so young Tim. Naismith and Kevin Mirallas have come in.

This is a huge turnaround. Selling Rodwell makes sense. The key issue is whether Mirallas and Naismith will settle into the first team. If they do then we will have added 5 first tem players in 8 months with a net spend of less than zero. And of these 5, 4 are attack minded and none of them are defenders. I feel like we will be watching a new team tonight!

I genuinely can't wait.

For the last couple of days I've been cursing the League and TV companies for denying me the opening day. Saturday was such a non event to start the new season.

But Goodison under the lights, a new signing to be paraded, and Utd the opponent... butterflies have kicked in and I feel like a kid again. We can do this - and it will feel so good!!!

COYB!

Andy,

You seem quite similar to me in that your optimism gets the better of you and then the (almost) inevitable crash hurts twice as much because you built yourself up.

That said I still find reasons to believe we can achieve something special every year and I have for this season too. Without the optimism you lose the other side of the game away from matchdays.

I'm as hopeful as I've ever been that this season could be our best yet under Moyes.

I believe if his signings are anything like as good as his reputation suggests they will be, we now have a very good player and specialist for every single position on the pitch bar RB.

I also think every year our manager will start to change his philosophy and be and 'let us off the leash'. This season I'm not bothered if he does or he doesn't. I don't mind playing to our strengths, which are primarily defensive, as long as we have a real cutting edge up top and we still go out with the intention of winning the game. I can see hat being the case this season.

"Our defence and most of our midfield (David Silva is the only one I covet) is as good as the champions'."
______________________________

Comedy gold.

Chris #438, I doubt that there's many goals scored against us due to a problem with the right back.

I'm with Eric...I don't see Hibbert as much of a problem. My main issue with Hibbert is his ability going forward (which improved last season), but defensively, how many right backs are better than him in the premiership? I wouldn't take Johnson above him that's for sure. The only person with availability i'd rather see in that position is Danny Simpson. Certainly he is a potential transfer, but with the little money we have left, we need to bring in more depth in attack. Our first eleven, as I see it, will be (4-2-3-1)
Howard, Hibbert, Jags, Heitinga, Baines, Gibson/Neville, Fellaini, Pienaar, Naismith/Osman, Mirallas and Jelavic.

The issue is a bench of Mucha, Distin, Neville, Junior, Osman, Anichebe and...?

I think only Osman will have a genuinely positive attacking effect on the team from the bench, and Anichebe can ruffle feathers. But it's not enough if we are going for top six, and certainly not enough for top four. (I don't think top four is achievable... would love to be proved wrong, but there is no way, imo, that we can finish about Chelski or Arsenal who have far better squads and generally better players.)

My dream would be to see Adam Johnson come in, with another top midfielder, possibly from Chelski who have too many. I know it's never going to happen, but I would love to see Essien... but more realistically, Yossi Benayoun would give us creative depth and experience.

Seen the news that United are signing a Dutch left-back for £4m - Pheewwww

I am optimistic for the season that we can finish in top 7 but still think it will be tough. Last time we entered a new season with as good a squad, we didn't quite do as well as hoped.

I also think we will lose tonight against UTD.

P.S I think the above line of thinking is called lowering expectations so I don't get too disappointed!

3 words:

The Belgian Ronaldo.

As you were.

Oh, that's 6 words.

You seem to do a lot of "I admit I was wrong" posts about Moyes. Don't you ever tire yourself out?