Moyes reiterates: 'No New Signings'

, 28 December, 37comments  |  Jump to most recent
As the New Year approaches and transfer speculation intensifies, David Moyes insists he is not planning to make any major signings to bolster the Champions League push during the January transfer window.

CEO Robert Elstone has confirmed that there will be a modest budget available to the manager for squad strengthening left over from last summer but it is unlikely to be enough to fund a significant acquisition.

The Toffees manager is adamant that he does not like to do business in January, and expects to hold on to his best players this time around.

Talking of last January, Moyes said: "We spent the money we got in — that is the way we have tended to work. My intention is not to sell anyone this January.

"Because of that what I'll be hoping to do is pick up a couple of loan players or maybe a 'Bosman' if there is anything out there, although at this time of year you rarely get anything of the right quality.

"Normally buying at this time doesn't work, albeit it did for us last year."

Quotes or other material sourced from Sky Sports



Reader Comments (37)

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Joe Hurst
1 Posted 28/12/2012 at 22:26:16
And I'm sure no-one will be surprised if something does happen, whether on loan or otherwise. We all know the history of attempts at clever misdirection that end up being all too transparent - in hindsight.

But then we all know the many disappointments too. Transparent attempts at subterfuge? Or for once are we being levelled with?

Answers on a match programme by Jan 31st....

Anthony Jaras
2 Posted 28/12/2012 at 22:46:09
I don't think Moyes is saying no signings, I think he is saying no signings costing a few million.

The likes of Gibson came in on a shoestring and the likes of Pienaar came in on loan. I'd be happy if a couple of signings of this calibre appeared.

Dave Willoughby
3 Posted 28/12/2012 at 23:22:47
The story of Lescott has gone quiet? I hope we could secure him on loan. We need to move Jonny on; it's looking like he could end up a bad influence within the squad.

I would also look to move Victor on sooner rather than later... a total waste of time and it could raise some funds for a new face.

Derek Williams
4 Posted 28/12/2012 at 23:47:37
Johnny out for say £3-4m, Lescott in on loan with a view to signing long term, Citeehh paying some of his wages, that seems simple enough.

And here's one from left field. Fat Frank as another loanee.

Then come with the usual wet sail post Xmas and we're sorted.

Chris Leyland
5 Posted 28/12/2012 at 23:57:47
On the BBC website, in reference to the same interview, he is asked about David Villa on loan. Moyes says; "If he wanted to join Everton, we'd be more than happy to have him."
Barry Rathbone
6 Posted 29/12/2012 at 00:08:23
"Normally buying at this time doesn't work, albeit it did for us last year."

Need to have a thread for "Moyesisms" — he does come out with some corkers.

Not entirely sure why January is worse than summer for signings anyway, must be something to do with hibernation.

Surely if a decent lad becomes available, it doesn't matter what season it is!

Bemused.

Dan Brierley
7 Posted 29/12/2012 at 01:46:57
Surely not so complicated to understand Barry that teams don't want to let their good players go mid season? It's not the end of the world in summer, as you have more chance of replacing someone with a player you actually want.
Gareth Fieldstead
8 Posted 28/12/2012 at 23:09:47
But in previous interviews Moyes has stated that he will not be discussing his own contract until the end of January to establish the clubs ambition and direction they want to take Everton. Now I took that to mean if the club do not provide Moyes with money to strengthen in the transfer market, despite the great start and the potential for CL football next season, then no new contract will be signed.

If ever there was a case for speculate to accumulate then this is it.
Dan Brierley
9 Posted 29/12/2012 at 02:21:22
I don't agree, Gareth. Even if the club did miraculously manage to borrow £30-50 million, but we didn't make the CL outright, we would be another Leeds. Is that a gamble Moyes would want on his head?
Patrick Murphy
11 Posted 29/12/2012 at 06:18:34
Nobody wants us to do a Leeds United, however, our small squad is already being stretched to the limit, so surely it would make some sense to bolster it with additional bodies, which is what may happen via loans or freebies, but will that be enough? to maintain our challenge for Europe.

But the most worrying aspect is that we have to soldier on whilst our direct rivals will inevitably boost their sqauds with quality and numbers. Obviously DM thinks it is better to keep Baines or Fellaini et al rather then sell them in order to acquire new players to challenge for Europe this season.

Then of course there is the 'contract' problem of the manager, will he sign or won't he? As usual the Owner and the board are giving nothing away to the fans and this is leading to conjecture and speculation which will only grow as the season goes on.

If Moyes leaves Everton, the new manager will be in the unenviable position of having to sell our star players, hardly a great way to start your career in a new job is it?

If we fail to make Europe this season then it will serve to highlight the shortcomings of the Owners and the Board of Directors as it seems more likely that David Moyes will be motivating a new team next season somewhere other than Goodison Park.

Unlike Leeds United and Portsmouth we appear to be sliding down the same road – at a slower speed – without any of the glory and memories that their fans enjoyed.

Of course BK and DM may be bluffing and a grand war chest will be found and new players signed without losing any, but Christmas has been and gone so it's back to reality with a bump.

Big Sam anyone?

Eric Myles
12 Posted 29/12/2012 at 07:05:36
I don't believe it's this windows signings, or lack of them, that will be decisive. Moyes must know already what the accounts say and where we stand financially.

I reckon the determining factor is going to be when we get a CL place and the commitment the board show in the summer to strengthening the squad with quality players to support a CL campaign.
Shane Corcoran
13 Posted 29/12/2012 at 07:22:53
Pinch of salt. He talks bullshit like the rest of them when it comes to transfers.
Peter Barry
14 Posted 29/12/2012 at 07:26:45
Barry Rathbone (#567) — I think Moyes's reticence with regards to January signings is partly because, apart from never having the money for decent ones, he also gets them mid season and does not have time for his and his superb training staff to mold them in to shape. I mean just look at the vast improvement in Jelavic this season over last... NOT!!!!!!!!!
Shane Corcoran
15 Posted 29/12/2012 at 07:35:19
I see that Moyes has said that we got £5.5m for Bily. Anyone remember the reported amount at the time? However, he conveniently mentioned that we spent that exact amount on Jelavic and Gibson so again it's pinch of salt time.
Ray Roche
16 Posted 29/12/2012 at 07:38:07
Patrick Murphy @587

"Big Sam anyone?" Are you simple? Yeah, and let's get Hughes in as his number 2. Dear me...

Mark Tanton
17 Posted 29/12/2012 at 08:17:22
Eric, does anyone have any faith whatsoever that the club will seek to move forward if we finish 4th? I know that I have no faith. Even if we finish in the top four, I doubt we'll strengthen much and then we'll suffer from playing too many games and our league position will suffer.
John Ford
18 Posted 29/12/2012 at 08:16:59
I'm pretty sure the big Sam reference was a joke.

Why would any new manager have to sell his players? Surely the only crumb of comfort in managing our poorly funded team would be the high quality of the existing players.

Anyway l have my head deep in the sand and am expecting David Moyes to have found us the next Iniesta this time next year.

Ian Bennett
19 Posted 29/12/2012 at 08:47:18
This isn't a story of us not signing anyone, it's a story of us not wanting to sell, or certainly giving that impression we are happy with our lot. Everyone knows we have to sell to buy, so making the comment of no business at least keeps us from being offered fire sale fees to generate cash that could unnecessarily unsettle players we want to keep.

I'd be amazed if Heitinga remains. He will generate some funds, and also importantly free up some wages for someone else – he's reportedly on £60k a week which for someone who doesn't start is too much. He's clearly not going to sign a new contract so we need to get what we can and move on. Time will tell if it's the cheap Norwegian or Lescott. I suspect it will be a younger player as the core of the side is hitting 30 (again).

Ray Roche
20 Posted 29/12/2012 at 09:27:59
John, I hope the big Sam reference WAS a joke; however, he, along with other no-marks, was being touted as a possible replacement should Moyes not sign his contract.
Patrick Murphy
21 Posted 29/12/2012 at 09:39:54
I can say in all honesty that the reference to Big Sam was indeed a rhetorical question... but, as he too is out of contract this summer, no compo to pay, working on a relatively small budget and experience of the PL would be attractive to our Owner and board of directors.

Ray Roche
22 Posted 29/12/2012 at 09:57:04
Patrick, he may be all those things, but I've never been a fan of the way his teams play. I can't see much difference between his sides and Stoke. Not for me.
James Morgan
23 Posted 29/12/2012 at 10:14:14
This January will really show the ambition of the board. If we are to finish top 4 then we need about another 3 players at least in order to push on. I do think we will get some bodies in, probably loans though.

Spurs suffered last January by not buying a striker and it cost them what looked like a top 3 shout, and then we all know Chelsea gazumped them by winning the CL. Let's see what happens; hopefully there will be early additions rather than last minute though.

Mark Wilson
24 Posted 29/12/2012 at 10:22:41
Experience suggests that this reporting of DM "no signings in January" is slow news day stuff. We have seen it all before. It's depressing for a bit but then reality returns and it's just run-of-the-mill chatter.

Moyes code is easy to decipher. He's saying "No big money signings as essentially we remain paupers and in a financial mess but... if we can find daft folk prepared to give us £5m for Johnny and £4m for the frustrating potential that is Victor, we will then use that money to bring in four players". That's it other than loans or free transfers which in fact could still be significant.

I think Johnny will go and despite this usual gloomy interview there will be four new players, possibly five, at the club on 1 Feb. Is that great? Nope, it's rubbish really as, given the chance at a CL spot, the club needs to / should be spending £20m to boost that chance. But we can't and more mortgages are not the answer.

As I said, frustrating but so very EFC.
Steven Telford
25 Posted 29/12/2012 at 10:17:21
Maybe, if we could get big Sam in, and put in a contractual arrangement to skim 20% of his transfer bungs, we could use that money make a decent bid for Ronaldo and Messi.
Edward Simpson
26 Posted 29/12/2012 at 10:38:51
I'm sure something will happen, I don't see any of our important players at a crucial time either. Moyes wouldn't allow that to happen and most importantly none of our 'big' players have said they want out.

I would if possible move Heitinga on, but only him, I don't think his head is in the right place and on performances alone the only player I would be willing to sell if we can get a good price for him.
Maybe Forren would be a good signing as he's cheap?

So one cheap signing and a couple of loans would be our business but it does ultimately depend on who goes.

Sam Hoare
27 Posted 29/12/2012 at 10:49:31
Meanwhile the RS will spend £20m on Sturridge and Tom Ince while Rodgers says that the 'real spending' is reserved for the Summer. Spurs and Arsenal will probably both spend upwards of £15m in January and no doubt Chelsea twice as much.

Hardly an even playing field! How we could use just £10m...

Chris James
28 Posted 29/12/2012 at 10:48:25
We need a striker and defensive midfield option to cover for Gibson, plus a central defender if Heitinga goes, which I think he probably should.

How about:
i) Vadis-etc-etc - loan with view to summer deal (as we effectively tried in the summer)
ii) David Villa loan as striker
iii) Lescott loan at centre back to cover

If we get £4M from Heitinga and have £2-3M left over after loan fees, then maybe we also try and bring in a young winger (although with Pienaar Oviedo, Mirallas and Coleman we do have options).

I know he appears to be off the table, but I wouldn't object to landing Landon for another go either as he can play up front and on the flanks.

Ian Bennett
29 Posted 29/12/2012 at 11:11:55
My transfer window prediction:

Heitinga out

Hoarau on loan, Lescott on loan, possibly a cheapo midfielder like Holden or Mark Davies from Bolton, or someone from the Championship, although with another striker we can drop Fellaini into midfield (two players for the price of one).

Patrick Murphy
30 Posted 29/12/2012 at 11:29:59
Ray, I'm not advocating him in any way shape or form, he would be one of my last choices as manager of Everton FC, but as the board would probably say, needs must.
Ray Roche
31 Posted 29/12/2012 at 11:33:30
Patrick, so, we are on the same wavelength afterall.
Jim Knightley
32 Posted 29/12/2012 at 11:39:36
I would love you see Hoarau and Lescott come in on loan... I would also like to see Vadis and Donovan come in. Fingers crossed we can manage to sort out deals for a couple of them, or similar quality players.

It would be such a waste if we fall short of Champions League football because of a lack of squad depth.

Lee Courtliff
33 Posted 29/12/2012 at 12:53:41
David Villa????????????
Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
34 Posted 29/12/2012 at 15:29:16
Shane (#591), we reported that Bily completed a switch to Spartak Moscow in late January for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £5M.
Bobby Mallon
35 Posted 29/12/2012 at 15:27:05
Well, to be honest, he should be saying he wants money for strengthening as we need to to push for that 2nd, 3rd or 4th place. They are up for grabs and we bloody need Europe or our squad will evaporate and we will be back to the early 90s shite.
Pete Clarke
37 Posted 30/12/2012 at 16:51:42
I am with you totally, Bobby. If we do not strengthen this squad, then we have zero chance of making the Champions League. Our best players are just about good enough to be competing in Europe so what chance do we have of success with Naismith, Neville etc in the team.

Strange thing though that, with a patched up team, we have just given Chelsea a very tough time so Moyes is challenging my belief that he always shows some form of negativity.
Patrick Murphy
38 Posted 31/12/2012 at 13:56:37
With DM saying that Gibson is likely to be missing for a month, it seems unthinkable that we won't get someone in, at least on loan.
Anto Byrne
39 Posted 02/01/2013 at 06:37:57
A few more poor results and we will be so far off the pace that the prospect of another 6th place is the best we can hope for. The rabble across the park are improving and bolstering their squad and will be eyeing 5th and Europe. Of course they will go all out for the FA Cup.

This is Everton and there seems to be a lack of ambition. Moyes does not instill me with confidence with comments like "no signings this window". Surely a month ago he would have been planning something. No, the dithering dour Scot hasn't completely gone away... as ever, the true colours emerge.

Time Kenwright sold out and we got some investment to compete; the team that Moyes has built is the best squad in eleven seasons. After the first eleven, it's pretty paltry but then again half of the bench warmers get little or no time to prove themselves.

What exactly does Duffy and Vellios have to do to get an extended run in the side? These kids are the future and giving Barkely 10-minute cameos is downright pathetic. Are you telling me that Naismith is better than Barkley?

Maybe when Moyes fucks off to the Bundy League we can get the Wigan boss in as they do play a decent brand of football.

So lets see what we do with the Barcodes? 1-0 will suffice.


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