Lukaku: Decision has been made over my future

Friday, 24 March, 2017 258comments  |  Jump to most recent

Romelu Lukaku says a decision has been made regarding his Everton future but he stopped short of confirming the details in his latest comments.

The Belgian international made waves last week when he reportedly informed the club that he will not be extending his current deal and then spelled out his frustrations to the media at what he perceived to be a lack of ambition or urgency at Goodison Park when it came to new signings during the last two transfer windows.

While Lukaku did not express his desire to leave Everton on the record, it appeared, based on the reporting from journalists who were present, that he did indicate at some point that he had made a definitive decision.

And comments attributed to him today by Sky Sports would seem to back that up, although he wouldn't confirm it outright and it leaves plenty of room for interpretation either way.

"The decision has already been made so I can't talk about that," the striker said.

"There is nothing wrong with ambition. You have to embrace it and where you are as a footballer.

"I've [come] a long way until now but the road is still long and I know I have to improve and get better. I want to help Everton as much as I can, as well as the national team. I think a lot of stuff can be achieved.

"Sometimes people will mistake things that I say but it's just ambition that I have; I want to win titles and trophies and I don't think people should take that as arrogance - people should embrace it.

"This is what footballers need to achieve if they want to become the best, and I think young kids need to learn that too."

Article continues below video content


Lukaku, who is currently away on international duty with Belgium where he often talks freely about his career with local media, is believed to have been offered a new five-year contract by Everton that could be worth as much as £140,000 a week.

He apparently agreed to spend one more season at Goodison when he met with incoming manager Ronald Koeman last summer and, based on his recent rhetoric, does not seem to have been persuaded in the interim that Everton can deliver his ambition of playing in the Champions League in short enough order.

The Blues currently sit six points off the top four with nine games left but Manchester United in fifth and Arsenal in sixth have played two games fewer and Koeman still has to take his team to Anfield, Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium between now and the end of the season.

While Lukaku may elect not to extend his stay at Everton, the club could still insist that he honour his contract which still has two years to run.

 

Reader Comments (258)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Shane Corcoran
1 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:05:13
Nice to get back to reality with the stadium stuff getting us all excited.

Next thing... McCarthy will be playing for Ireland.

Michael Mcloughlin
2 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:07:39
Not sure what to make of that, but two interesting pieces of information are that he wants to help Everton as much as he can. If he is leaving, would he say that

"The decision has already been made so I can't say anything about that" again not too sure what to make of that. But what is apparent to me is that someone at Everton has had a word with him about talking to the press, otherwise he would be running off at the mouth as he has done in the past.

Could it mean he has backtracked and is too embarrassed to admit it on live TV. We wait with eager anticipation.

John Gall
3 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:11:14
He talks in riddles. Just bloody say it like it is! They're all replaceable.
Jimmy Hogg
4 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:16:09
Make the most of him while he is still here. Shake his hand, take the money and let him move on.

Rom will go, but EFC will always be here. Not many players have left our great club and set the world on fire, suspect this will apply to rom
Minik Hansen
5 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:19:25
Exciting times nonetheless. We stay behind the team, COYB.
Oscar Huglin
6 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:24:46
Gutted.
Fintan Spode
7 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:26:51
I wonder if he will get an extra big cheer from the wishful thinkers amongst us at the derby match, for not stating explicitly in this latest interview that he wants to leave. Perhaps if they all cheer loud enough he will stay or perhaps they will just look foolish... again!
Mike Berry
8 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:30:14
I am sure behind the scenes the Chairman, owner and manager know his decision and fee required to prize him away etc .

I only hope we have an agreement that he does not sign for another Premier League club, now that would rub up the faithful! Also, I am sure we have several transfer options being discussed for the summer as a replacement.

Relax; we take the money, he moves on... so do we.

Bob Hannigan
9 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:30:25
Should he go, we will miss him, obviously.
Should he stay, that would be great.
As stated earlier, everyone can be replaced.
Whatever!
Kieran Kinsella
10 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:34:53
If you recall last summer, he said he had made his decision too but would speak to Moshiri out of "respect."
Brian Williams
11 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:38:12
He apparently agreed to spend one more season at Goodison when he met with incoming manager Ronald Koeman last summer and does not seem to have been persuaded in the interim that Everton can deliver his ambition of playing in the Champions League in short enough order.

Hang on a minute!!! Hang on a fucking minute. He agreed to stay for one more season when at the time he had three seasons left on his contract?

Personally I think the time has come to politely tell him to shut the fuck up and honour the contract that he signed (as far as I know) without a gun being held to his head. At the end of this season he's got two more left on his contract.

The club is quite within it's rights to basically say, "You can go when your contract is finished unless we get an offer that we THE CLUB want to accept. WE'll tell YOU if we decide to allow you to leave before you're contract's finished."

He says the decision is already made so he can't talk about that? Well the only decisions HE, personally, can make is not to sign a new contract or to go ahead and sign the new one on offer.

He, personally, CAN'T make the decision to leave at the end of this season and if there was a gentlemen's agreement saying he could then the gentleman/men in question that made that agreement want throwing out on their ear/s.

Steven Telford
12 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:43:29
Well, 2 years left, we should keep things polite, be rational not emotional, keep backing him on the field, but dig our heels in over a sale price off it, and hold on to him for another season, and let go of him just before the final 12 months of his contract.

Leave the offer of the £140,000 a week on the table for if he wants to sign, but up the buy out to £100m.

Barring a shock injury or something, we are going to get the same price for him now as we would in 12 months, somake the most of the situation.

We should tailor things to try to keep him from going to a premier league rival, 10% discount for Munich, Madrid and Barca, build some financial interests in the performance and sell on clause…..etc.

Keep up the good work Rom, we hope you will be lining up for Barca or Madrid against us in the Champions League the season after the next.

Tony Waring
13 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:49:05
I'm with you, Brian (#110). According to his contract, he still owes us 2 seasons. Assuming he definitely wants "away", I'd make him stay next season and then sell him to the highest bidder outside of the Premier League. He's been well treated here and owes some loyalty.
Jimmy Hogg
15 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:53:45
Brian @ 11,

Although what you say is correct, in today's world the players and their agents have all the power. We can keep him for two more seasons, he can dick about and leave for nothing. Best to let him go and get the £50 million plus and invest in new players.

Beginning to think this is what James McCarthy is doing. Seems to be fit only when Ireland want him. If players don't want to be here, let them leave. Our priority must be keeping Barkley.

Harry Wallace
16 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:54:28
If his heart isn't in it, sell him. Our club hasnt been more ambitious for decades. He knows this but still isn't happy. Let's buy someone who is...
James Flynn
17 Posted 24/03/2017 at 17:59:36
Well, I'm still choosing to think that he'll wait to see who we bring in this summer before putting in a transfer request.

Which he hasn't done yet.

Steven Jones
18 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:01:29
Sounds as though he is staying – let's hope the helping Everton and a lot of stuff can be achieved is one and the same and a new contract is not too far away – as well as some marquee signings, Wayne plus a centre-back, striker, attacking midfielder, and a replacement for Barry.

New stadium and breakthrough in Europe would be the clincher with him.

Bob Skelton
19 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:05:14
There's always someone ready to piss on your parade as a Blues supporter. Let him go, get a good price so we can all cheer on someone who wants to play for us, let him go to a more ambitious club!!

Let's hope he practices his ball control!

Andrew Presly
20 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:13:33
Sort of past caring on this one. Keep him another year then sell for the reduced price (£50m).

We'll be equipped to lose him this time next year, not now.

Chris Gould
21 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:13:40
If the decision was to stay then he could talk about it. If he can't, then more than likely he believes he is leaving.
Lewis Barclay
23 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:18:01
Wouldn't be at all surprised to see him playing for Everton next season.
Mike Green
24 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:21:23
"The decision has already been made so I can't talk about that,"

Could mean he's been told he's here for the next two years and to make the most of it while he is.


Damian Wilde
25 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:23:19
Lukaku, the special one, mouthing off again. Sick of this saga tbh. Just say either way, ffs.
John Booth
26 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:25:37
And we'll build our stadium brick by brick on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey.

Keep the faith, with or without individual players our love for our club is unconditional. We will catch and overtake Lukaku before he is 30.
Peter Morris
27 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:26:50
Sell him to PSG for £100m in the summer. Tell Man Utd and Chelsea to do one, as we don't sell our best players to 'competitors'. The patronising bastards always use that angle so we should do the same.
Mark Morrissey
28 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:33:22
I am fairly confident after seeing him offer his shirt up last game to the youngster in the Gwladys Street and seeing him wink and grin today that he intends to leave.

Some on here have said his comments suggest he is staying? He said he will not sign his contract, he's offered his shirt up moments after saying that, and now he's grinning at the media. He's going, make no mistake.

Do I care? No. If he doesn't want to to stay that's fine and dandy. I'll cheer him until he leaves and I'll get excited at the prospect of who will replace him.

He wants what we all want but he wants to do it at another club where he will become an also ran because his ego won't wear being second fiddle and that is what will happen to Rom.

I too am tired of all this Lukaku chat and so I shan't bother commenting on him or Rooney again. That's me done on the 2 walking egos. I don't like players who tout themselves to other clubs or who actually leave and so if the big galoot wants off, let him go.

Stephen Williams
29 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:38:58
The gullibility of some fans is truly embarrassing.

One week he's 99.999% certain to sign an extended contract; the next, he's definitely not signing citing lack of ambition over buying players.

What happened in that week? Only one of three things:

1. He thought that the transfer window closed mid-March.

2. He knew it closed end of January but had spent the last 6 weeks opening every cupboard and looking under every table at Finch Farm searching for new signings, only to find nothing.

3. He was tapped up by another club and told not to sign a contract that had a release clause any greater than his current value with 2 years to run.

Only an idiot would conclude anything other than 3. Absolutely nothing to do with ambition, just that he doesn't want to be here any longer. He's taking fans for mugs – not me as I'm not gullible, but too many on here!

Best all round if we play hard ball, drum up a market for him and flog him to the highest bidder. Then we can move on without the constant distractions of him mouthing off every few months.

I'm sure that we can replace the 6 points that his goals have secured this season – only 6 points!!!

Stan Schofield
30 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:39:20
Brian@11: You're quoting a press quote there, with no direct quotes from Lukaku. Don't be mislead by the press, they are full of shite, and thrive on folks taking on board whatever drivel they serve up.
Colin Glassar
31 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:41:32
Stale news. I'm bored of all the drama surrounding him. If he wants to go, sell him!!

If no-one is prepared to pay the asking price, fuck him!! We hold all the cards here.

Lewis Barclay
33 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:47:50
Maybe the guy is sick of being asked what he's doing next season and is playing a game with the media?

Ultimately it's the media who are to blame for most of this, they're trying to create news to sell when there isn't any (at the moment). Lukaku is an Everton player right now and that won't change until the end of the season at the earliest. Why keep asking him? Because it pays!

I'm angry with myself for commenting twice on this no-news thread! p

Stan Schofield
34 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:50:20
He's got two years left on his contract, he goes within that time if and only if Everton decide he goes. If the board and Moshiri decide he stays at least until July 2019, then he stays. That's it.

It is possible that the board and Moshiri could consider that his value to Everton in keeping him until July 2019 is greater than the loss of any potential transfer fee (for example, of the order £70M). That may be why the board and Moshiri wish to price him over £90M or thereabouts, to either keep him or decide to sell him for at least that amount.

The ball is 100% in Everton's court, it is not the decision of Lukaku's agent, or of Lukaku, or anyone else. It is really that simple.

John G Davies
36 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:50:26
Gut feeling.
He's staying.
Ian Riley
37 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:53:06
Every international break, we have this. You can go at the right price. The owner has stressed that last season and will this.

You signed a contract. The decision is not yours alone. Our owner has come from a club that stuck their heels in with players and contracts. I expect the same.

If a Champions League club takes you, it will be because you have improved at Everton. Show my club some respect​.

Gio Mero
39 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:58:20
Nice and easy. He goes and 25% of the cost of the new ground is covered. How about that?
Dermot Byrne
40 Posted 24/03/2017 at 18:59:12
I think they will announce a new contract signed before the derby and he will say he wants to stay because of our plans.
Vinny Garstrokes
41 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:05:29
Remember where you heard it first!

Lukaku to PSG
Barkley to Spurs
Coleman to Man Utd

& Koeman to PSG

The new Everton manager, Jap Staam, offered a £150M transfer fund to source suitable replacements

Brent Stephens
42 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:05:48
About time we had a thread on Lukaku. All this fake news about a new stadium.
Brian Williams
43 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:11:35
Vinny (#41).

That's strong stuff you're on, mate.

Ian Jones
45 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:12:03
Ian @ 37. Whatever happens, your last sentence sums it up...
Colin Glassar
46 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:23:12
And Hibbo named as new owner, Vinny?
Brian Williams
47 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:33:03
Stan (#30).

Sorry, that's not the case. Watch the video and hear it from the horse's mouth.

Anthony Hawkins
48 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:34:10
If Rom wants out then we have no choice but to sell him this summer or lose £60m - £80m. Letting him go on a free is absolutely lunacy.
John Steadman
49 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:40:13
In the words of The Clash.
Should I stay or should I go now?

He has spouted his mouth off again. Just go! So that we can start building a team of real footballers, who can play for a whole 90 minutes, not just when they can be arsed!!!

John Malone
50 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:45:08
Boring now!!

Why can't he just keep his mouth shut and play football? It's like he's got Tourettes!

Brian Wilkinson
51 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:45:48
When we let Rooney go we brought in 6 players and finished 4th, if he wants to leave and £70 plus million is offered, I am pretty sure we will fill the void gap, it's not what we want, but Rom sees it different, doubt whatever cash we offer he would stay.

The only way Lukaku will stay next season is if other clubs do not pay the asking price.

Paul Hewitt
52 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:45:49
Getting bored with this, will he sign or not. Just tell us what you're doing, lad; if your leaving, thanks for the goals and goodbye.
Tom Brown
53 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:48:47
Help us beat RS, Man Utd & Arsenal and there is a good chance you'll be playing in the Chsmpions League next year. Either because we've qualified or because someone who has qualified will move mountains to get you.

Fail in those 3 games to show you can do it against strong sides & what perennial Champions League qualifier will be interested?

Make your dreams come true, lad. On the pitch.

Dave Williams
54 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:48:56
If he goes, perhaps we can replace him with someone who will help us to play a more attractive style of football.

As when Lineker was with us his goals were at the expense of others in the team not scoring as many and our style suffered. Lineker left, five or six players got into double figures and we were Champions again.

Shame if he goes but a big fat fee will help to reshape the team and hopefully provide goals. No-one is irreplaceable and the club is bigger than any player.

Chris Gould
55 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:51:53
In other news... McCarthy injured in warm up!!! Absolutely ridiculous. A disgrace. Both O'Neill and McCarthy are total fools.
Peter Roberts
56 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:52:41
Deary Deary me... Anyone seen Forrest Gump?

The way Lukaku treats our club is like "Jinnnnie" treats poor Forrest – one minute pleased to be with him and next thing running off on him the saddest thing is that many of our fans are as gullible as poor old Forrest.

Wake up!!! He has no intention of being here. Never has. He will stick around if no other better offers come in but, till then, just remember where his loyalty lies — nowhere.

Anthony Hughes
57 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:55:11
McCarthy broke down again. Fuck off, O'Neill – he should have rest and recuperating.
Tony McNulty
58 Posted 24/03/2017 at 19:57:01
There are some people in the world who seem to find it difficult to walk past an open microphone.

Didn't Clement Attlee have a phrase: "A period of silence from you now would be welcome"?

Paz Mistry
59 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:02:29
Really not bothered if we sell him, most of his goals tend to come when we are already winning and the other sides heads have dropped, but don't think he'll go for less than £85M.
Chris Williams
60 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:08:32
Ireland have treated our player criminally. But McCarthy was pushing to play seemingly. That's him gone then.
Laura Round
61 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:11:35
Yeah Chris, I just said to my husband, James should be telling them he's not fit. He's been part of Koeman's plans and been doing well. Fingers crossed Morgan's fit for April Fools...
Christy Ring
62 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:13:02
RTE said McCarthy pulled out because he felt a twinge. If he did more damage and gone for the derby, Koeman will be livid with him for not pulling out of the squad, and with O'Neill, with total justification.
Kunal Desai
63 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:21:51
See ya Rom. Byeeee. Just bang in a few goals on your way out in the remaining nine games – preferably at Anfield and Old Trafford.
Dave Abrahams
64 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:26:22
How serious is James McCarthy's injury?
Peter Anthony
65 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:26:41
He said, "I've [come] a long way until now but the road is still long and I know I have to improve and get better. I want to help Everton as much as I can, as well as the national team. I think a lot of stuff can be achieved."

As he has also recently said Koeman and the coaches are helping him improve, the statement seems to be saying he has decided to stay.

Kunal Desai
66 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:29:09
Vinny – You've started on ale right on cue for the weekend. The club wouldn't even think of that. They would be lynched by the supporters if anything like that were to happen.
Paul Taylor
67 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:30:09
Tom (#53) ... perfect analysis of the situation. No individual is bigger than the club. It is time for a demonstration of his talents against top teams...
Kim Vivian
68 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:33:34
I think he is 99% saying he will stay but not speaking out so the other 1% face saver remains an option if he does jump ship. If he was 100% staying – why not just say so?
Mike Green
69 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:34:42
Could be agreement with Man Utd at the end of the season with Rooney + cash coming the other way...
Paul Birmingham
70 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:36:05
More interested in getting these internationals done and seeing who comes back intact (McCarthy excepted whom will end up lame at this rate of injuries and fitness gambles).

Then for the derby, and hopefully there will be no ironies and EFC, can face the RS, and don't get stage fright... Rom's and Ross's contract sagas are full of twists and turns and who knows what's fact or fiction?

John Malone
71 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:45:46
Peter (#65) – what planet are you on, mate??

Lukaku wouldn't even stay if we got top four this season, he's got his eyes on the big big money teams!

All this "wanting to play in the Champions League" is a load of bollox! What he means is he wants to play for a team who are already winning trophies or are competing for them, year-in & year-out!!

Which is fine as long as it's all agreed between the player and the club, but just stop going on about it in the press! Like anyone gives a shit about what Lukaku wants for HIS career. We want Everton to win trophies so WE can cheer them on, not him on his own!!

His ego is that big he should've been a golfer or an F1 driver. I think he forgets football's a team game and it takes eleven men to win a football match!!

You can tell he has been told by the club to keep it to himself but he still can't help it! I can't ever remember a player with a bigger mouth playing for us than him!!

We need to focus on getting the best strikers we can possibly get to replace his goals and forget about him because, regardless of him having two years left, if he wants to go, he will go!!

Brian Williams
72 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:54:33
Ahhhhhhhhhhhjhhhhhhh.... not Rooney, AGAAAAAAIN!
Dan Egerton
73 Posted 24/03/2017 at 20:55:54
John Malone, calm down.

The fact is everyone blew up saying his previous statement meant he was leaving. And now he is saying "Sometimes people will mistake things that I say but it's just ambition that I have".

That would appear to back up what Peter (#65) said. Also, he has two years left on his contract. Also Moneybags Moshiri publicly stated that he is our player. Also a player saying "No" to a contract doesn't just mean he wants to leave. It could mean the contract isn't good enough. There's a lot of ifs to explore before you make concrete statements and insult those that disagree with you.

Winston Williamson
74 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:02:13
The lad has improved this season, no doubt about it.

However, I think he'd still talk shite to the press even if he played for Lukaku FC.

Like someone said, who actually gives a shite about his endless drivel about HIM being ambitious??

Now, an ambitious team is a different matter Rom.

David Hallwood
75 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:03:24
Oh FFS, gents – if he scores a hat-trick on Saturday, he can say what he likes, he can bad mouth me & my missus if he likes.

As someone has already pointed out, he's responding to a question that he gets asked 5 times a day and he either refuses to answer, and then we get 'his silence told us everything' or he tries to be as diplomatic as possible.

If it happens, it happens.

BTW, John (#26), I'd still rather hang the kopites one by one!!

Brian Williams
76 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:03:55
Actually his ambition might just work against him if the club decide to play hardball, which – despite his quiet demeanour and smiling face – I believe Farhad Moshiri is quite capable of.

If the club do decide he honours his contract – which, contrary to John Malone's statement of "if he wants to, go he'll go" – is a very real possibility, then his ambition will have to show through on the pitch, playing for Everton.

As I said on another thread, let the powers that be do what's best for Everton FC – not Romelu Lukaku.

Peter Anthony
77 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:07:49
John (#71). Planet Everton, so yes, he is probably a goner!

Planet earth dwellers though, not down-beaten by repeated failure and let downs for over 20 plus years, may reasonably take his statement to mean he is staying.

Surely his self-belief is strong enough that he must mean he is 'helping Everton as much as I can' by staying rather than leaving.

He may be foreign but his English is good and is an intelligent fella, so I read it as he is intending to stay.

Mark Daley
78 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:09:43
Sod off, you twat.
Dan Egerton
79 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:11:03
I think he is just seeing if we make Europe... the Champions League, hopefully even the Europa League. If we get Europe, he'll extend his contract; if not, he's off.

He also talked about signing top players to help him, which he feels we haven't. This probably explains why Moshiri was so angry that we didn't get the big signings last summer window.

Brian Williams
80 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:11:32
Everyone's wondering who that's aimed at, Mark... lol.
Dan Egerton
81 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:12:19
Peter (#77), I agree with you. Again.
Laura Round
82 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:12:51
Coleman. 😐
Brian Williams
83 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:13:01
Oh fuck... I think Seamus has broken his leg!
Peter Morris
84 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:14:24
it does really look like that... Fuck!

McCarthy and now Seamus. Cursed.

Eugene Ruane
85 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:14:50
Jesus, that was bad.
Paul Smith
86 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:14:57
Omg, Coleman – leg breaker.
Seamus McCrudden
87 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:15:39
Fuck me, he didn't deserve that. Feel sick here.
Anthony Hughes
88 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:16:23
So much for the luck of the Irish – doesn't happen for Everton players.
Ian McPherson
89 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:16:47
Disgusting fucking tackle on him.
Kevin Jones
90 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:17:07
Fucking hell.
Seamus McCrudden
91 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:18:04
Broke his leg... fuck me!
Lewis Barclay
92 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:22:02
Coleman is a proper human being, not a prima donna player. I really hope he's okay. Good luck, Seamus.
Eugene Ruane
93 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:25:30
Bet Preston supporters are cacking themselves.
Kevin Jones
94 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:30:15
I don't believe in luck as most people understand it, but do we ever get two good days together. One of, if not the best day in the club's history, then fuck-off... Bang bang, Maxwell's Silver Hammer...
Brian Williams
95 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:31:52
Can't believe our luck, two season-ending (and more) injuries in one season.

If Lukaku gets lockjaw, we're fucked!

Alan Humphreys
96 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:35:48
Strikes me he doesn't think much of Lookman or Schneiderlin – two players who have improved our team/squad considerably.
Lev Vellene
97 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:36:40
Well, what he said was:

"There is nothing wrong with ambition. You have to embrace it and where you are as a footballer.

"I've [come] a long way until now but the road is still long and I know I have to improve and get better. I want to help Everton as much as I can, as well as the national team. I think a lot of stuff can be achieved.

"Sometimes people will mistake things that I say but it's just ambition that I have; I want to win titles and trophies and I don't think people should take that as arrogance - people should embrace it.

"This is what footballers need to achieve if they want to become the best, and I think young kids need to learn that too."

So nothing new, except whatever decision must be taken has been taken by now. As Moshiri sees it, top dollar, or one more year. I doubt he'll keep him until his contract runs down. So, he goes at a premium rate this summer, or he stays for another year...

Ernie Baywood
98 Posted 24/03/2017 at 21:57:01
I won't bother reading anything into his comments. The situation doesn't seem to be affecting his form on the pitch and that's all that matters until the day he's gone. Then it will be someone else's turn.

I was just watching a clip showing all his Season 16-17 goals so far. Left foot, right foot, headers, solo efforts, 'poachers' finishes, free kicks... when did we last have a better, more consistent striker?

Tony Abrahams
99 Posted 24/03/2017 at 22:01:08
Remember Southall, playing in the same fixture, breaking his ankle, and still, to this day, I think it cost us the double.

I hope Seamus makes a full recovery but this is really sad news.

James Byrne
100 Posted 24/03/2017 at 22:03:21
Given what happened to Coleman tonight, a truly fantastic professional; I couldn't give a toss what Lukaku decides to do.

I'm sick and tired of reading about Lukaku. I appreciate the argument regarding the club's ambition but I think it's time to cash in and get rid of this prima donna.

David Pearl
101 Posted 24/03/2017 at 22:10:39
I'm sick of Lukaku too.

Shut your mouth – you have a contract.

The decision isn't even yours, you tool.
Mick Davies
102 Posted 24/03/2017 at 22:13:11
He can fuck off now for me: Seamus is much more important in my eyes, a true blue who will be sorely missed for a long time now.
Alastair Donaldson
103 Posted 24/03/2017 at 22:22:42
That prized Dick Martinez even managed to usurp the stadium news yesterday with more dick fluffing of Lukaku... greatest striker ever... BS.

Very upset for Seamus.

Kev Johnson
104 Posted 24/03/2017 at 22:43:11
Not remotely interested in Lukaku – I only hope Coleman is okay. A true professional, get well soon.
John Malone
105 Posted 24/03/2017 at 22:46:33
Peter (#77), Dan (#81), stop kidding yourselves and slapping each other on the back!

If you watch the interview not read it he get's asked about Everton and replies "I can't talk about that, that decision has already been made!".

Then the journos ask him about Martinez' statement about can he be the best striker in the world to which he replies "yes" then goes on to state he is not being arrogant he is ambitious and wants to win things! The people making mistakes about what he says was in reference to him being arrogant and not that he doesn't want to leave us!! The being ambitious reply was totally separate from the Everton question!

He's made his mind up he's going, so get used to the idea and except it as much as you and me don't like it it's happening!

I'm sorry I'm not trying to insult anyone I just can't believe how people can't see/hear what is going on in front of them!

Absolutely devastated for Seamus and us with derby and a lot of big games coming up! Just our luck!!

Peter Cummings
106 Posted 24/03/2017 at 22:50:45
Absolutely gutted for Seamus who has been a ultra reliable mainstay for us over the years.

Apparently the guy who broke his leg was red carded for the 'tackle', I just hope he gets a multi game ban and should be charged with criminal assault on one of the games true gentlemen. No doubt he will express 'real regret for crippling a fellow professional. Get well asap, Seamus, lad.

Douglas McClenaghan
107 Posted 24/03/2017 at 22:55:08
This bloke is a bigger tease than any girl I've ever known. Just tell us where we stand.
Paul Hughes
108 Posted 24/03/2017 at 23:13:09
I wish he'd just shut the fuck up, and stick to scoring goals. As has been pointed out above, he still has 2 years on his contract.

He's not stupid; the more goals he scores for us, the better his deal elsewhere will be.

Alan Humphreys
109 Posted 24/03/2017 at 23:29:41
"The decision is made" – surely that is for the employer to decid rather than the employee or else he will be in breach of his contract.

That said, this is football...

Steve Bingham
110 Posted 25/03/2017 at 00:17:03
There has been absolutely no decision made at all, Rom, unless Mr Moshiri says so! For another two whole years... so keep banging the goals in, son.
Don Alexander
111 Posted 25/03/2017 at 00:51:36
This wally is nowhere near good enough to permit him showing the utter contempt he does for the fans who make big sacrifices towards his wages.

The last total twat mercenary I can remember was Carlos Tevez. The big difference between him and Lukaku was that in this country Tevez delivered goals against top teams even when he was playing for relegation candidates WHU.

Lukaku's attitude stinks. If he for once rips a new one to the cost of one of his fabled top teams, two of which are imminent, he can serve me a large plate of humble pie which I'll consume in his presence.

Don Alexander
112 Posted 25/03/2017 at 01:23:25
And Lukaku may just want to consider the memory Tevez created. Revered by none, basically a football non-entity.
Anto Byrne
113 Posted 25/03/2017 at 01:55:54
FFS, the player wants out let him go.

We kept Bob Latchford and he put in several transfer requests (albeit for the transfer fee bonus) and he couldn't be arsed after that.

Lineker left and we won the title. Nobody is bigger than Everton – certainly not Lukaku.

Jim Hardin
114 Posted 25/03/2017 at 02:24:52
Give it a rest, Don, FFS. You don't like Lukaku, so what. He can say what he wants when asked a question. I see nothing disrespectful in his answers.

If you deliberately want to take offense at everything he says, fine... but can you tell me any other Everton player, now that Captain America is gone, that gets interviewed and the rest of the world actually cares about his answer?

Alan J Thompson
115 Posted 25/03/2017 at 03:03:56
With him saying this, I'm wondering if his Mum and Dad have run away from home.
Bob Parrington
117 Posted 25/03/2017 at 06:15:37
John (#36) – "Gut Feel"? Yep. Kind of agree for some reason. Small nuances. Know wha' Oy mean!?
Kevin Dyer
118 Posted 25/03/2017 at 09:30:10
Lewis @33 one of the few sensible comments. It's all media driven shite. Whenever he is in a good run of form the Lukaku transfer (to Chelski, United etc) stories start appearing, becomes a talking point on TV blah blah. They all want to ask the same bullshit questions, not reporting but trying to make a story where there is none.

Reason this shit appears whenever he's on international duty is they can ambush him. He gives an interview, this is all they want to talk about. Must get tiresome for the player, so – as he probably doesn't want to come off as an arse – he plays along to some extent.

That's basically it. I got sick last year reading about Chelsea putting bids in and am pretty sure no such bids actually happened.

It's nothing to get worked up about. He's under contract, 15 months away from a decision on his future being a problem. There's been no bids, no transfer request and he's playing well. Nothing to see here, move along...

Stan Schofield
119 Posted 25/03/2017 at 10:09:16
Kevin, exactly. Strikes me that the media are able to keep pumping out nonesense, on everything, not just football, because so many people are gullible and easily led up the garden path. Whether it be perceptions of Lukaku, stereotyping of scousers, or producing shite on Brexit, the media continue to churn out drivel, and too many people consume it ravenously.
Barry Jones
120 Posted 25/03/2017 at 12:09:25
Let's just sell him for the maximum amount this summer. I have faith in Koeman and Walsh to bring in better and more committed players.
Lee Whitehead
121 Posted 25/03/2017 at 13:20:58
Who the fuck does he think he is?

"Well, actually the burden is bigger at my club. They expect a lot from me. When I am with Belgium, I am surrounded by good players and I can benefit from that."

Sell the big fat lazy bastard and move on!!!

Damian Wilde
123 Posted 25/03/2017 at 17:16:09
Lukaku:

"Asked if he felt pressure, Lukaku said: Well, actually the burden is bigger at my club. They expect a lot from me. When I am with the national team, I am surrounded by good players and I can benefit for that."

Idiot.

Brian Williams
125 Posted 25/03/2017 at 17:27:22
Ffs, if we expect a lot from him, won't the "big club" he yearns for expect even more?
Jon Cox
130 Posted 25/03/2017 at 17:56:57
Surely the question now should be:

Can we finish in 7th place without this gobshite blert.

If the answer is No, then it looks like we have to carry on groveling to his ballcontrolness.

If the answer is Yes, then bench him for the rest of the season to show him and the fucking media our displeasure.

No-one player is bigger than our club. It's about time we invited him to STFU.

Rob Halligan
131 Posted 25/03/2017 at 18:00:52
Jason Bowen, I've seen every game Lukaku has played for Everton, live by the way, not on TV, from his first game away to West Ham when he scored the winner, to last Saturday when he scored two against Hull. I will be cheering every game he plays for us until the day he leaves.

You're probably one of those armchair fans who has never seen Lukaku play in the flesh. There were 39k plus fans at Goodison last Saturday who cheered Lukaku. There will be 3k fans at Anfield and Old Trafford cheering for Lukaku. Are they all thick as well?

The only gobshite is you.

James Hughes
132 Posted 25/03/2017 at 18:18:19
Damian (#123), I don't quite grasp how you formed that opinion, why is he an Idiot?

When he plays for Belgium, he has Courtois, Hazard, De Bruyne, Kompany, Dres Martens alongside him. (Just gone Premier League for ease.) He knows there is more quality around him when he takes the field. More players are there to take up the slack and they have strength in depth. So, apart from Kompany, who wouldn't you have at EFC in a Royal Blue shirt?

Yet Lukaku is the idiot... are you sure about that?

Stan Schofield
133 Posted 25/03/2017 at 18:21:07
Putting to one side all the tedious anti-Lukaku posts (Gobshite? Seriously? Grow up.), there's a good chance that Moshiri and the board have decided that Lukaku is staying until at least July 2019, because they consider his value to Everton to be greater (perhaps much greater) than any likely potential transfer fee that might be offered (perhaps circa £70M).

This would no doubt have been assessed very carefully by Moshiri and his advisors, and would likely have the added advantage of sending out a strong message (a real 'statement of intent') that Everton do not need to sell players.

Dermot Byrne
134 Posted 25/03/2017 at 18:28:45
Watch...

This is new Everton.

He is staying.
Oliver Molloy
135 Posted 25/03/2017 at 18:42:18
Stan,

You don't become a billionaire by being silly. There is no way Moshiri would let Lukaku run his contract down. Look at what Koeman is saying regards Barkley.

No, if he doesn't want to be here, for whatever reasons, he will be sold to the highest bidder.

Rob Halligan
136 Posted 25/03/2017 at 19:29:36
I'm with you, Stan. I reckon Lukaku will be with us for at least the next 12 months, even longer.
Mick Davies
138 Posted 25/03/2017 at 19:30:48
Lukaku was the only player to tweet about how he felt when Deulofeu left. Up to now I've seen Barkley, Phil Neville, Rooney, Arsenal FC, Kilbane, Reidy and players from lots of clubs, but nothing from the 'greatest player on earth' for a team mate who's contributed so many assists for him.
Laura Round
139 Posted 25/03/2017 at 19:55:58
I agree, Stan and Rob.
Terence Tyler
140 Posted 25/03/2017 at 20:03:10
I agree, Stan, Rob and Laura.
Paul Smith
141 Posted 25/03/2017 at 20:16:37
I agree, Mick.

Also, he will leave this summer.

Teddy Bertin
142 Posted 25/03/2017 at 20:22:17
John (#65), I agree with you except I think people do care about what Lukaku wants for his career. He's the top scorer in the Premier League and he's not at a team that is challenging for the league title.

Every time he says something, it gets printed everywhere, so journos are going to keep asking him, hoping for something else to print – like they got here.

Every time he says something, hundreds of thousands of Evertonians click on the story in multiple places. Why would you turn that down? Can't see them saying "We've heard a lot from Lukaku, let's ask Arouna Kone about his future and balance the coverage out a bit".

Can't blame Lukaku for the fact that he keeps getting asked.

Gerry Quinn
144 Posted 25/03/2017 at 20:56:33
I agree, Stan, Rob, Laura, Mick, Lyndon, Michael and all at ToffeeWeb
Gordon Crawford
146 Posted 25/03/2017 at 21:10:12
He has a big mouth and he needs to keep it shut. I for one can't wait until he is gone from our club. Tired of him running our club down every time he is away with his national team.
Clive Mitchell
147 Posted 25/03/2017 at 21:57:24
Right now, Romelu, no-one much cares what you do.
Guy Hastings
148 Posted 25/03/2017 at 22:03:17
If he was going anywhere other than Goodison for certain then it would have been leaked.
John G Davies
151 Posted 25/03/2017 at 22:09:46
Great goal Romelu scored for Belgium tonight.
Brian Williams
158 Posted 25/03/2017 at 22:47:29
Actually, theoretically, if the "decision has been made" as Lukaku said then that decision can only be that he won't be signing a new contract He's not in a position to decide he's leaving as, despite popular belief, he can't actually force the club to sell him while he's under contract.

The club may well decide that the better course of action is to sell him, like other clubs have done in similar situations, and that's probably Lukaku's thinking.

But, if Moshiri decides "you know what, I can afford to let him go on a free in two seasons time, after we've strengthened the team and broken into the top four" then Mr Lukaku might realize that, as much as he thinks he holds all the aces, the old adage that "money talks" might just ring true.

None of us really know what's going on behind the scenes. I wish we did because its us supporters that will suffer, and are suffering, from not knowing what the fuck is going on.

Once we know what's happening we can deal with it. Personally I wish he would shut the fuck up and sign a new contract and do what he does best which is put the ball in the net.

I'll never love Lukaku, but I love his goals.

Jason Bowen
164 Posted 25/03/2017 at 23:05:30
Yeah, it was a good goal, but he's surrounded by good players when he's with the Belgium team, apparently.
James Flynn
165 Posted 25/03/2017 at 23:06:54
Keep him.

Fintan Spode
167 Posted 25/03/2017 at 23:34:53
It seems that there are a lot of blues who are in denial about Lukaku's intentions; so be it, happy to hear your views, after all I don't doubt that you believe that his leaving will damage the club and don't want to admit to that until it is 100% certain.

All I would say is just don't over compensate by cheering him loudly when his name is called. Koeman is embarrassed by his comments, so are many other fans who have a less high opinion of his talent, as well as those of us who are totally pissed off with his arrogance. TBH, I think even he was a bit embarrassed by the reception last week.

I say all this whilst respecting your love of the club. I also realise because some of you have blue blood in your veins, that it is hard to believe anyone associated with Everton and loved by a majority of fans, could be so treacherous.

Just remember,however, 40,000 blues also cheered and cried when that other ephemeral hero, Moyes left. I have no doubt they now feel a tad foolish when they reflect. Polite applause should be the order of the day.

Nigel Johnson
168 Posted 26/03/2017 at 00:36:23
I am new to this site but, in my opinion, sell Lukaku for top price, and invest the money wisely. That would be a great statement of intent. No-one is bigger than the club and if you don't want to play for Everton, thanks for time and goals, but life goes on.

The club is moving forward so let's not spent the summer with the "Lukaku is going, Lukaku is leaving" story. Lots to do in the summer transfer window...
Don Alexander
169 Posted 26/03/2017 at 00:37:12
Tumultuous applause last week for the want-away was typical of the acceptance of less than total commitment that has engulfed us all for decades, from the boardroom downwards. Bilic, Pistone, Campbell (apart from the few months his contract was due for signing) are typical of the self-engrossed shites that Lukaku now is, and there's way more than those three.

People saying "what else is he supposed to say" in response to press questions need to get real. He could and should be saying "I have ambitions to play in the Champions League. I have a contract with my club and I am intent on Champions League qualification with Everton." End of.

Football would be dead without fans. So-called professionals like Lukaku, in stark contrast to the likes of Seamus, Leighton, Gaz and Jags, and many others in our squad, need to respect that and thank the fans and only the fans for sustaining them in the fabulous life-style the game currently provides them with.

Chris Leyland
170 Posted 26/03/2017 at 00:43:58
Don, well said.
Stan Schofield
171 Posted 26/03/2017 at 02:03:10
Lot of rhetoric above. Fact is, if the board and Moshiri decide that Lukaku is staying at least until July 2019, then he's staying, regardless of all the various bits of opinion from fans. Their decision will no doubt be a business decision, not an emotional decision.
Gordon Crawford
172 Posted 26/03/2017 at 02:16:50
Strong rumours that Ross won't sign until he assesses his options during the summer. If that's the case (and it's a big 'if'), then that would be devastating news.

I would find that hard to swallow as Ross is meant to be a passionate Evertonian. Sounds potentially like another Rooney situation.

Paul Ferry
173 Posted 26/03/2017 at 02:49:37
Gordon (#172) – Could you point me in the direction/s of those rumours, please, mate.
Eric Myles
174 Posted 26/03/2017 at 02:59:28
Stephen (#29), it's 8 points.
Nigel Johnson
175 Posted 26/03/2017 at 03:45:26
I don't understand why the board don't simply come out and say Lukaku has two years left on his contract, he's not for sale, full stop.

Anyone got ideas why not?

Phil Jeffries
176 Posted 26/03/2017 at 03:48:51
Moshiri and Koeman will try and get him to stay. If his agent, mum & dad and auntie decide his future lies elsewhere, then Moshiri will put a price on his head. Then we spend all summer being baited by the top 4 press stating that Everton are being 'unrealistic' in their valuation as Man Utd, Chelsea and Co refuse to pay more than £60m.

Stand off all summer and we either lose him with no time to replace him (losing other possible targets in the meantime) or we start the season with one very stroppy Belgian.

They are the options and my opinion is that no contract will be signed and we will have a summer of the press making our life a misery. Just sayin...

Brent Stephens
177 Posted 26/03/2017 at 07:04:00
What a bunch of spoilers that Greek side is. Just seen Lukaku's quite impressive late goal, with a man all over his back.
Sam Hoare
178 Posted 26/03/2017 at 10:04:37
Seems pretty clear to me that he's leaving. "The decision is made, I wanna win trophies blah blah blah..."

All I care about now is when? For how much? And who replaces him?

Given that Man Utd and Chelsea are two suitors might Batshuayi or Rooney appeal? Think I'd prefer the former. Plus £50m.

No way will we find such an effective goal scorer but as others have said we might yet become a stronger team overall. I'd like to really push the boat out for a top class name...Lacazette, Icardi, Mbappe, Bellotti etc as opposed to Bony, Shane Long, Defoe etc. Need to make a statement of ambition with the players we get in this Summer.

Rob Halligan
179 Posted 26/03/2017 at 10:55:43
Lukaku saying his decision has been made. However, what his decision is, and what the decision of Moshiri is, could be completely different... and it's the decision Moshiri makes which counts.

If Moshiri says Lukaku is staying, then I guess Lukaku is staying.

Fintan Spode
180 Posted 26/03/2017 at 12:06:44
Stephen 29 and Eric 174: Interesting stat, can you elaborate?
Brian Williams
181 Posted 26/03/2017 at 13:08:33
The papers have already got Lukaku and Barkley sold for a combined £100m. How the hell can the leading goalscorer, and possibly top goalscorer come the end of the season, in the Premier League be worth less than a "good" midfielder?

I'm talking about Pogba. What did he cost? £89m? And overall, what sort of effect has he had on Man Utd?

Looking at it logically, if the Premier League's top goalscorer comes from a team that finishes 7th in the league, how much more effective will he be in a top 3 team?

With that in mind Lukaku's price HAS to be at least equal to Pogba's. I hope, if he is to go, Moshiri makes these points and sets a fee of £90m. Talk of £65-70m is only because it's us, Everton, and we got him for £28m.

Moshiri needs to flex his financial muscle and tell potential buyers "If you can buy better for that price, go do it." He also needs to tell Lukaku "You'll go on my (the club's) terms or you'll honour your contract."

It's time to stop being friendly, accommodating Everton. If we want to be one of the big boys, then let's start behaving like one of them.

As for Ross, a £35m price tag is ridiculous. Media quote Sigurdsson's value as £35m. Well that's what they're saying we'd have to pay to get him, so if that's the case, then if you're not going to cough up £50m for Barkley, then off you pop!

We HAVE to stop being bullied into letting our players go on the cheap! It's an essential part of our progress to become hard-arsed, tough, businesslike and downright nasty when it's called for.

Jay Wood
182 Posted 26/03/2017 at 13:22:37
Fintan @ various.

Quite clearly you have a very odious view of Romelu Lukaku.

It also appears you consider you have superior judgement on the fellah than the overwhelming majority of match-going Blues who, as you continue to indignantly berate them for, enthusiastically cheered his name and contribution last week against Hull.

Before the game, here on TW there, was the usual furor about his interview speaking of his personal ambitions and what he wants the club to achieve (throughout, he spoke in the first plural 'we' – meaning the team and the club – rather than first person singular 'I').

Comments ranged from sticking him in the stiffs and never allowing him to wear the Blue shirt again, to booing him, to giving him the silent treatment.

Such views, thankfully, were made to look very crass (and dare I say, foolish, to borrow your own turn of phrase) by the overwhelmingly majority of match-going Blues. Yet you continue to castigate that majority view as being 'foolish', 'in denial' and further, trying to be prescriptive how others should react to him. That is, not cheering him, but rather, offering polite applause only.

The one in denial here is yourself. Yours is a very minority view, clearly. It also appears a petty, pinched and small-minded one.

I will repeat what I have constantly said about Romelu Lukaku (and Ross Barkley, and – yes! – John Stones):

He is exactly the type of player – age-wise, ability-wise, development-wise, ambition-wise – we should be looking to recruit and retain.

Brian Williams
183 Posted 26/03/2017 at 14:06:49
Jay. I fully agree with you with regard to Lukaku being exactly the type of player etc etc.

I'm pretty sure Fintan would agree with you too, but in his defence, and the defence of others with a similar take on things to Fintan, they're basically gutted, upset, angry and more with what looks to them like a players who just can't wait to get away. A player who, in their eyes, is being disrespectful to the club they all support and love.

People say, think, and feel differently when they're facing something which to them is devastating. If Lukaku goes, I'll be gutted for all the reasons many have said on here already.

I can "understand" people voicing their anger on here and sometimes what they say and suggest might not be the most sensible thing in the world BUT they're hurting, they're worried, and they're frightened.... but – much more importantly – they're Evertonians.

We should cut each other some slack maybe and try to understand that not everyone reacts in the same way to a particular thing.

Fintan Spode
184 Posted 26/03/2017 at 14:06:57
Jay: Small minded? No, it is my curse to be just a bit ahead of the curve...
Unfortunately the same applies to the rest of what you say... by all the Dodos yours are thoughts of weight, well rounded well argued, but out of date!
Kevin Dyer
185 Posted 26/03/2017 at 14:53:32
Brian @181 – I agree with a lot of your points but not sure where the precedent is for us being bullied into selling cheap? At least in the last 15 years or so? We've gotten very good fees generally, whilst never being in a strong enough financial position to ride our serious interest.

Players who've forced a move (Rooney, Lescott, Stones) – best fees we could have expected. Andy Johnson and Rodwell? Good deals. Even the likes of Arteta we still got £10m for a 29-year-old who forced our hand on deadline day. Just 'cause the papers and TV pundits are bandying about valuations doesn't mean jack, basically.

Jay Wood
186 Posted 26/03/2017 at 15:01:41
Brian @ 183, you were one of those before the Hull game who advocated neither cheering nor booing the player when you attended the match, but rather, giving him the silent treatment. How did that work out for you?

'Cut differing opinions some slack?' No problem! Me? I'm all in for total anarchy-democracy, whatever. All opinions welcome.

But does that mean differing opinions – and I mean some really barking, extreme opinions – should not be challenged at all? Ain't gonna happen, is it?

I acknowledge many – evidently, including the likes of Fintan – take personal offence at what they interpret as Lukaku 'disrespecting' the club. From that, they denigrate his ability as a footballer and him as a man.

I don't. I consider him the best playing asset at the club, for both his ability and – should we sell him – financially. I also regard him as a polite, studious, intelligent and eloquent young man (in several languages!), confident in his own ability who wants to be captain of his own destiny.

Power to his arm, I say. I personally saw nothing amiss in his interview of last week, talking as he did (as I mentioned previously) in the first person plural 'we' rather than in the singular, 'I'. He actually echoed many of the frustrations and opinions expressed by many a poster on these very pages over many a year.

He'll do for me and will ALWAYS get my support as long as he wears the Blue of Everton.

Fintan @ 184 "It is my curse to be just a bit ahead of the curve."

Cough! Once more displaying the arrogance of your bigoted minority view. Anyone with a contrary view is a happy-clapping 'Dodo' and only yours is a legitimate view.

However, you actually haven't expressed an opinion beyond a blanket condemnation of Blues less 'enlightened' than yourself. Stroke your own ego, Fintan. I won't.

Brian Williams
187 Posted 26/03/2017 at 17:03:54
Jay.

I, tongue-in-cheek as I recall, suggested I, and I alone would try to remain silent if he scored. How did that work out for me? I half-heartedly celebrated the first goal, and didn't really bother with the second. Doesn't make me right... just as your "rants" (for that's how I see them) don't make you right either.
You're coming across exactly as you accuse Fintan of being in your last paragraph, it's you (in my opinion) that considers yours the only legitimate view. You've picked out some of my post that you didn't like, rather than seeing the obvious parts where I fully agree with you and then dragged up a prior post I made.

Whether you agree with Fintan's view, or anyone else's for that matter, doesn't really mater because it's their own view and they're entitled to it, as is everyone else on here. By all means people can challenge each other's opinion. I was, in my post which has resulted in you opening your last post in what I would call an aggressive and antagonistic way towards me, trying to be conciliatory. It seems you chose to ignore me trying to be conciliatory and decided to bring up the Hull thing.

Kevin Dyer, in the post preceding yours (#185) totally disagrees with me on part of my post but does it in a reasonable non-offensive way and, after reading the counter-point he makes, I have to now agree with him on that.

The point I'm trying (badly) to make here is that he managed to put forward HIS point, to correct ME on some of mine, and make for interesting reading while he did so... and all this without coming across as a know-all arsehole.
:-)


Darren Hind
188 Posted 26/03/2017 at 17:11:46
Jay Wood

I wonder if you have ever seen a live game of football.

"The overwhelming majority" ... what are you talking about? Were you there? Did you count them?

I don't think I have ever been to a game where everyone sang, or chanted. The reason you hear Gwladys Street chant louder than everyone else is because a bigger percentage of them actually do chant. If say 5,000 people chanted Romelu Lukaku's name, it would make a tremendous noise... but it would still only represent 1/8th of the crowd that day.

I don't know if the majority chant at a football match, guess it depends on the match, but there is an awful lot of people who simply don't sing or chant. The majority would cheer a goal (hence the roar) just as they did Lukaku's two last week.

TW for me has always mirrored the way Evertonia as a whole feels about something. If we are all gutted (Coleman's injury), it will be reflected on these pages. If we are all delighted (Calvert-Lewin's goal) then agai,n that universal delight will be very evident on this site.

Lukaku divides opinion, in the ale houses, in homes, at the match, and yes, on TW.

I remember coming out of Wembley a little less than a year ago when seemingly every single person I passed was giving Lukaku down the banks, but inside the ground his name had been chanted to deafening levels. Maybe there was 12,000 people cheering him and the other 12,000 were fed up with him... who knows, I doubt anybody counted.

So give the "overwhelming majority of matchgoers" nonsense a miss. You have no clue what the overwhelming majority think... always assuming there is an overwhelming majority, of course.


Fintan Spode
189 Posted 26/03/2017 at 17:19:58
Blimey, Jay... who rattled your cage? You are right however. I do take offence at Lukaku disrespecting the club, which of course is why I don't think he deserved the reception he got at the last home game (not quite sure how you missed that opinion).

ps: I am also sure he is polite, studious etc, and am guessing he also bought his mum a nice big card this morning! I expect you did too, I mean of course for your own mum, not Lukaku's! Then again, your support for the guy, no matter what, is so intense that perhaps his mum did get an extra card.

Darryl Ritchie
190 Posted 26/03/2017 at 17:46:09
What decision? Who's decision? Who is included in the decision making process? As Lyndon states, "it's open to interpretation".

No kidding!

Scott Hamilton
191 Posted 26/03/2017 at 17:49:42
Maybe his decision is that he's not going to make a decision yet?
Chris Williams
192 Posted 26/03/2017 at 17:52:33
And Rom's indecision is final, Scott.
Paul Tran
193 Posted 26/03/2017 at 17:54:00
Most players, particularly from overseas, join and leave a club for business reasons. Lukaku is the Premier League's top scorer and I would be surprised if any top scorer anywhere is happy playing for a 7th-placed team.

So he's going to go, unless our management convince him of their plans. Given that many committed souls on here express severe doubt about these plans, it's a bit tricky to expect Lukaku to swallow them. Of course, the other reason is that no-one pays what we ask, until the possible stand off in 2018.

We're permanent; managers and players are transitory, so the only 'respect' I'm interested in is what he does on the pitch, which currently looks good to me.

He was bought for good business reasons. Now that we appear to be run business first, emotion second, I think he'll either be sold then replaced adequately, or we will buy quality players that persuade him to stay.

I remember crying as an 8-year-old when Bally was sold 'for business reasons'. That stuck with me ever since. Lukaku will want to stay or leave for business reasons and we'll keep or sell him for the same reasons. All the venom and spite on here won't change that.

John G Davies
194 Posted 26/03/2017 at 18:03:12
Paul Tran.

That's it in a nutshell. Enjoy and support him while he is here.

When he's gone he's gone.

Tom Bowers
195 Posted 26/03/2017 at 18:28:57
It's just business and, to Rom, just a job with an employer, currently Everton. He, like the rest of us, will know his worth and will move if another employer offers a better deal. He proved once again yesterday what a terrific striker he is and replacing such a commodity would not be easy if at all.

When England are turning to 35-year-old strikers to help them qualify, it shows what the poor state of English strikers is once you look past Harry Kane.

Obviously I hope he stays but, on a cautious note, sometimes once a player signs a huge contract, the performances start to drop... although I wish he had saved that excellent effort yesterday for a winner late on against the RedShite.

Nigel Johnson
196 Posted 26/03/2017 at 18:55:14
How to build Barkley's confidence... wait for him to be playing his best football so far for his club, include him in the England squad, and then don't play him at all.
Paul Ferry
197 Posted 26/03/2017 at 19:41:54
Clive Mitchell (#147) – Right now, Romelu, no-one much cares what you do.

'No one much cares'!?

The spokesperson of a generation; the voice of Everton! He speaks for us all in costly pearls of wisdom!

Just about everybody 'cares' including posters who go to great lengths to insult the best striker we have had since Graeme Sharp.

Oh, and, erm... punish him by benching him for the rest of the season! Evertonians are the people being punished there.

Anthony Dwyer
198 Posted 26/03/2017 at 22:49:33
I'm okay with Rom's recent comments.

Yes, we are left in the dark, but at least everyone inside the club are clear on what the situation is.

Whether Rom stays or goes, us as fans don't have any effect on his decision or the situation so Rom is better off saying fuck all else until the season is finished.

If, between now and then, Rom signs a deal, then it's a bonus. But, as it stands, he's a gonner and we have to start looking on quality replacements.

Billy Fisher
199 Posted 27/03/2017 at 00:47:32
Sad to look on when a man lets it all go to his head. He's good, but not that good. Imagine what he's undoing for team morale.,sell him for top whack and get 2 or 3 top notch team players in
Eric Myles
200 Posted 27/03/2017 at 00:53:30
Fintan (#180), it's simply taking off the goals Rom scored from our results to see what the result would have been without them.

So his goals alone secured 2 wins, Bournemouth and Sunderland, and 2 draws, which we may otherwise not have got.

Jay Wood
201 Posted 27/03/2017 at 01:09:23
Fintan @ 189.

Are you a bit of a 'twitcher', my little ray of sunshine? What with all the ornithology references? Dodos... cage rattling... Jay (geddit? geddit?)

No, Fintan, you haven't even ruffled my feathers, let alone rattled my cage.

I took issue with your self-promoting posts that elevated your opinion above many fellow Evertonians, dismissing them as you did as foolish Dodos.

A tad ironic, you do so because you take personal offence at your (perceived) disrespect by Lukaku towards the club. And where is your respect for fellow Blues who simply hold a contrary view on the player to your own, which they can justify?

By contrast, you have made no attempt to justify your own blanket condemnation of other Blues, other than to boldly claim you are right, you know better, so there!

Is that the level of intellectual debate you and your fellow intellectuals (copyright, Darren Hind 2017) in the Offside Forum are familiar with?

But then, I suppose we intellectual dwarfs here in the open forum should be grateful that you bless us with your presence from the Offside Forum where, I recall, you once wrote to your fellow clique:

"We should carry out a raid on the Open Forum and enlighten them."

Righttttttt!

No wonder you are bedazzled and disorientated by the bright lights of more critical thinking to your posts here in the open forum in contrast to the closed clique that exists in the subterranean Offside Forum.

ps: I lost me mam 6 years ago, which rather renders your own ps rather crass. And I never needed a contrived date in the calendar to send her a token card to make her feel loved, appreciated and remembered. But thanks for your further 'enlightenment.' Truly humbled and awed by your rationale and wit (cough!).

Jay Wood
202 Posted 27/03/2017 at 01:51:05
Darren @ 188

"I wonder if you have ever seen a live game of football."
(Rolls eyes, shakes head, sighs deeply).

I know you have a predilection to make twattish comments to demean and provoke the particular poster you take issue with, but that is a particular moronic one, even by your standards Darren. So infantile it doesn't even belong in the school yard, but the creche.

Moving on.

I'll accept your challenge to my statement "the overwhelming majority of match goers (cheered Lukaku)." You are absolutely right. Not everyone sings along, or all together at a football match.

So allow me to rephrase it. A very vocal and considerable number at the match against Hull clearly demonstrated their support for Lukaku, even before a ball was kicked.

This was in spite of a shifting news story leading up to the game that he has not yet signed a contract extension, followed by his frank interview in which he expressed his ambitions for the club and himself. An expected furor followed here on TW. There were pitch forks and flaming torches out that he should never play for the club again, etc, etc, and talk that he should be booed and/or given the silent treatment.

At the Hull game, unless my own and many other attendees, observers and listeners auditory powers are failing me (and them) badly, when the pre-ritual reading of the teams was made, Romelu got by far the loudest cheer of all.

The Romelu chant was loudly repeated throughout the game and very vociferously when he scored his two goals and again at the final whistle.

That rather made a nonsense of some of the more extreme calls before the game calling for a banning or coordinated booing of the player. If there were any booers or hecklers in the crowd, I certainly didn't hear them and I've not heard anyone, anyone at all, reporting their actions or presence at the Hull game.

Possibly, just possibly, those who went with the intent to do so were taken aback by the intensity and level of support for Lukaku, rather than the condemnation they had planned, and were subdued into silence. Who knows?

What is undeniable is that there was a greater showing of support for Lukaku that day than of condemnation.

Finally, you won't find me disputing your statement that Lukaku divides opinion. You will find me in his corner supporting him, as long as he wears the Blue of Everton.

Unlike some (including yourself), I don't strive to discount his goals because they are 'scuffed, lucky, based on the quality of the opposition.'

I will never tire of repeating: Romelu Lukaku – age-wise, ability-wise, development-wise, ambition-wise – is very much the sort of player Everton should be looking to recruit and retain.

Jay Wood
203 Posted 27/03/2017 at 02:41:02
Brian @ 187.

Where to begin..?

In the moving news story of Romelu Lukaku before the Hull game, I made no comment – none whatsoever – on the story. Nor did I post on the match day thread. You, by contrast, made many a contribution.

On this thread, I posted a SINGLE COMMENT, addressed specifically to Fintan – nobody else – which you chose to comment on.

Having addressed me directly, I availed myself of the right to reply. I referenced (and you confirmed) that you had indeed advocated giving Lukaku the silent treatment at the Hull game. You admitted you half-heartedly cheered the first of his 2 goals and didn't celebrate his second. Each to their own.

An irony I find in your attitude is that like a good number here on TW you suggest Lukaku only plays for himself, but not the team, added to such views as "I support the team, not an individual player."

I am of a like mind on that last sentence. The team is forever. Players and managers are transient.

It nevertheless bewilders me why you admit you were not over-enthused by one of Everton's goals against Hull and didn't celebrate the fourth at all, because of who scored them.

How do you – and others – square that with the claim that you support Everton, not individual players? The scoreline will show for all time Everton 4 Hull 0. How can an Evertonian not celebrate a goal scored in service for the club, regardless of who scores it?

In my reply to you, I acknowledged and accepted some hold a very prejudiced view against Romelu Lukaku. I also clearly stated I welcome all and any opinions. What I will not deny myself is the right to reply with my opinion. I have never – never, EVER! – made claims that I am the sole possessor of truth on all things Everton, as you try to imply.

Fintan, in his extremely dismissive posts of fellow Blues, clearly does regard his opinion on this subject as superior to those who hold a counter view to his own.

Clearly, if you regard how I replied to you as some how denigrating towards you personally, then I'm sorry Barry, but I can only conclude you are overly-sensitive and looking to be offended.

Calling what I wrote a 'rant' rather confirms it. I am first to admit, I am dogged and, if necessary, robust in expressing my views on here.

I know I am resented by some because I am capable of presenting and maintaining a convincing argument in support of any opinion I hold on differing topics. Quite frankly, that's their problem. Petty insults and labelling (as attempted by you, Fintan and Darren in this very thread) are like water off a duck's back to me. Sure, I give it back where necessary, but my main focus ALWAYS remains on the topic in hand.

Never, EVER (I repeat) have I tried to repress anybody's viewpoint. Never EVER have I reported another poster to the moderators for what they have posted. My preference is to engage directly with posters I disagree with, rather than running to teacher and trying to get them banned and suspended.

As I say, Brian, each to their own. If my posts offend you so and you regard them as nothing more than rants, you have an easy solution: when you see my name, bypass it. Don't read my posts and cause yourself unnecessary angst if I some how 'get to you' in some way.

Me? I would never place such an embargo on myself. TW is too rich a source of knowledge and humour to 'black out' posters and their posts, particularly those that hold contrary views to my own as they force me to think more deeply about my own position. And for that, I am grateful.

Darren Hind
204 Posted 27/03/2017 at 06:53:38
Jay

This website has a world wide following, there will be lots of people who haven't been to a live match, but still love the blues.

Given your inability to understand a crowd and your misguided idea of what represents the "overwhelming majority" – which you yourself now accept as conjecture at best – asking you had you been to a game was a perfectly legitimate question..

I'm happy to accept your answer, but a yes or a no would have saved you a lot of time and effort.

BTW you are still wrong. Lukaku did not get the loudest cheer, although he did receive a loud one like everyone else – unless of course you have knowledge of someone measuring the decibels

You still don't seem to get it. Lukaku has upset a lot of people. there will have been thousands inside Goodison who would have hammered him if he had missed a sitter, or he wasted a pass that cost us the points. Trust me when I tell you, the knives were out and there were many of them, just as there will be next time.
Thankfully Lukaku did the business and his supporters were the one who could cheer and shout his name... .think they would have done if he hadn't ?

Lukaku has a stupid habit of winning people over with his goals (even the scuffed ones) then alienating them with his gob... but then I'm guessing the overwhelming majority of Evertonians know that.

Oh and when you repeatedly try to shut people down by telling them they are "foolish" and in a "tiny minority" especially one that only exists in your own head, you forfeit the right to complain someone else is making a "twattish comment to demean".

John G Davies
205 Posted 27/03/2017 at 15:19:25
The vast majority of the fans sitting by me cheered Rom's name when it was announced, although one lad booed but he was shot down. Same majority sang Rom's name.

Difficult to say what the percentage of support was in other areas of the ground but, if my area was indicative, I would say it was a big majority supporting him.

Brian Williams
206 Posted 27/03/2017 at 15:59:46
Jay. Didn't even bother reading your post after seeing that Darren's was commenting on it as I've quickly learned that not only are you a pedant but you're boring with it.
Peter Roberts
207 Posted 27/03/2017 at 16:15:09
Oh no what on earth will some fans do when we don't have a marquee striker playing for us?

Good word marquee big, over priced, and despite looking robust a stiff wind can blow them over .

Sick and tired of this lad. Once in a while he makes you think he's finally learned. When in actual fact all he has learned is how to dress up being a disruptive prima dona in a different wrapper.

Very Good finisher. But his football ability is nowhere near the level he thinks he's at or needs to be at to play for the teams he wants to play for.

His big gob has bought nothing but unwanted media coverage.

John Hughes
208 Posted 27/03/2017 at 16:41:51
Jay, I'm with you on this.

I sit on the Lower Gwladys Street right behind the goal, Lukaku was cheered at the start and his name was chanted and cheered tremendously when he scored his two goals and cheered at the end.

If he did not get the loudest cheer, I would like Darren (#204) to tell me who did. And I cheered every Everton player.

Jay Wood
209 Posted 27/03/2017 at 16:51:07
Darren . "asking if you had ever been to a game was a perfectly legitimate question."

Yes, of course it was Darren. I'm sure you can convince yourself that was your intention in posting that at the head of your post (repeat: rolls eyes, shakes head, sighs deeply).

As for the rest of your post, do try and keep up Darren. It is not me repeatedly calling fellow Blues 'foolish.' Fintan Spode is the author of that label.

He first berated Blues in the Hull match day thread http://ToffeeWeb.com/season/16-17/news/34641.html

Fintan posted @ 198:

"Why on earth did fans cheer the treacherous Lukaku? Are these the same fans who cheered the treacherous Moyes? Lukaku is to football what Moyes is to management, so get off your knees and recognise the club is much bigger than these inflated egos."

And (given the flow of this particular thread) there is delicious irony in the very first response to that post @ 199:

"#198.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn!!!!"

The author of a clearly dismissive response to Fintan?

None other than a certain Brian Williams. Go figure.

Fintan Spode in this thread @ 7:

"I wonder if he will get an extra big cheer from the wishful thinkers amongst us at the derby match, for not stating explicitly in this latest interview that he wants to leave. Perhaps if they all cheer loud enough he will stay or perhaps they will just look foolish... again!"

@167, he again calls out Evertonians as 'foolish' and wishes to be prescriptive as to how Blues should react:

"Just remember, however, 40,000 blues also cheered and cried when that other ephemeral hero, Moyes left. I have no doubt they now feel a tad foolish when they reflect. Polite applause should be the order of the day."

@ 184, he elevates his opinion above all other Blues who hold a contrary view to his own, dismissing them as (extinct) Dodos:

"It is my curse to be just a bit ahead of the curve... Unfortunately the same applies to the rest of what you say... by all the Dodos yours are thoughts of weight, well rounded well argued, but out of date!"

And as for you Brian, of course you didn't read my post. No. Honestly! I believe you!

Care to explain your shift in reaction to Fintan's post in the match day thread to his posts in this one...?

Best not try, eh?

Big hugs to bruised egos!

Jay (Pedantic) Wood.

Peter Roberts
211 Posted 27/03/2017 at 17:06:26
He is a footballer - that's all he is.

Scores goals when he feels in the mood, can be pretty good when he is in the mood; quite often it's difficult to get him motivated to play for us. Fluffed his lines on the biggest stages in his career so far.

I've seen far better players at Everton, but not seen many better finishers – seen many many more loyal players leave who I was sad to see the back of.

I will not be sad to see the back of this lad. He has alerted me to the awful fact that some fans will allow some players to disrespect our club – if they score goals its okay? No, it's not. Never has been and never should be.

I enjoy supporting a team – not 10 players set up to provide for someone with their eyes elsewhere.

Shane Corcoran
212 Posted 27/03/2017 at 17:10:38
I've no passion for Lukaku but I don't dislike him either.

Peter, what is it that he's done that you consider disrespecting the club?

Graham Mockford
213 Posted 27/03/2017 at 17:34:11
Peter (#211),

It looks like you are warming to him then.

Peter Roberts
214 Posted 27/03/2017 at 18:00:40
Shane (#212)...

When he was here on loan, he was making sounds for bigger clubs; no-one came in with the £28m but us. He wanted to play and not compete at Chelsea. That's fair enough when on loan but, every single year after signing a 5-year deal, he has made comments about moving on – every single year without fail. Sometimes at numerous stages of each year.

Is that not disrespectful to you? It is to me. Constantly touting himself out whilst under contract is disrespectful – no matter which way you look at it.

Andrew Clare
215 Posted 27/03/2017 at 18:26:14
This Lukaku situation must unsettling for the team and no good for the club. His comments must be annoying people. I really think that we have no choice but to sell him.

Then we can get some players in who are focused on doing well for Everton and not just for themselves.

Darren Hind
216 Posted 27/03/2017 at 19:01:40
Jay,

My question (which you rather tellingly haven't answered ) was a legitimate one. There are lots of passionate Evertonians on here who freely admit to never managing to get to a game – not sure why you consider it an "insult".

The fact that you didn't seem to understand a crowd reaction was only one of the reasons I asked. I have never seen a post from you talking about a game you were at, not ever. I'm not saying you haven't, I'm just saying I haven't seen one. Therefore a legitimate question.

My initial point was about your "overwhelming majority" nonsense. In an attempt to try force minority status on other posters because they disagreed with you, you were exposing yourself to be challenged. You, who wasn't even at the game, were trying to tell people how the crowd reacted.

You have since realised the daftness of such claims and retracted the statement. Not sure we have any other issues on this subject.

Eugene Ruane
217 Posted 27/03/2017 at 19:22:14
Darren (#204) – 'Lukaku did not get the loudest cheer, although he did receive a loud one like everyone else – unless of course you have knowledge of someone measuring the decibels'

I don't know if Jay does have knowledge of someone measuring the decibels but I certainly don't.

However Lukaku absolutely definitely 100% fucking definitely did get the loudest cheer.

(Method used: my ears)

It was not louder because it was 'we love you more than the others', it was undoubtedly a cheer to make a 'point' (ie: point = despite what we've read, you have our support) and to say it was no different is simply untrue.

Jay Wood
218 Posted 27/03/2017 at 19:38:36
Darren, me ole mucker!

I know in the past you have claimed to not read my posts, when you evidently have. It's another of the various traits you employ in your slight of hand way to denigrate and demean a poster you disagree with.

So, on that basis you can be forgiven (I'm feeling quite benevolent and generous today) for claiming "I have never seen a post from you talking about a game you were at, not ever."

If you are talking in the present, that is true, because, like others you reference ("There are lots of passionate Evertonians on here who freely admit to never managing to get to a game"), I have also 'freely admitted' more than once on TW that it is (sadly...) many a long year I have not been able to attend a live Everton game.

Not hiding it. Not ashamed to admit it. And – trust me on this one Darren – I am not 'insulted' (you flatter yourself if you think otherwise) as you attribute to me by your (still moronic...) opening line of a couple of posts ago, namely:

"I wonder if you have ever seen a live game of football."

In my time on TW, I have also referenced historic games – Everton and otherwise, in the UK and overseas – that I attended as a spectator. Is that clear enough for you? (You knew this already. You were just trying to be a maverick and antagonist – and not a particularly smart one – in pretending otherwise.)

It matters not a toss to me whether a poster on here is a fully-fledged match-goer who never misses a game or, due to circumstances, is only able to watch Everton via grainy streaming on their PCs.

Without a doubt, as I have previously acknowledged, their perspectives may differ simply because of the all-round view and live match day experience a supporter watching in the stadium can enjoy.

But also without a doubt in my mind, the mere dint of the fact someone is a live match attendee doesn't make their insight, analysis and opinions superior to someone who possibly has never seen Everton play.

Indeed, you, Darren, are living proof of that.

Do I take it from the closing line of your last post – "Not sure we have any other issues on this subject" – that you are in agreement with me then about the main thrust of WHY I commented on this thread? That Fintan Spode is out of order to denigrate and blanket label fellow Blues as he does as 'foolish' (amongst other things) for their public demonstration of support for Lukaku?

John G Davies
219 Posted 27/03/2017 at 19:53:54
As Eugene correctly mentions, Lukaku undoubtedly got the biggest cheer as the team was called over the tannoy.

The lad two rows in front of me turned to his mate in the row behind him, "Fuckinell... I didn't expect that!"

Darren Hind
220 Posted 27/03/2017 at 20:23:46
Eugene,

I'm guessing you sit in Gwladys Street.

The reason I say that is because when Lukaku's name was chanted after his goals, that's where the chants were coming from. That, as you know is always where most of the cheering and chanting comes from.

I spent many years watching from that part of the ground and the noise when you are in Gwladys Street seems an awful lot louder than it does when you are listening from another stand.

I was in the top balcony with my Grandson and when Lukaku's name was called out, it barely caused a ripple, He was the only one near me who cheered. If the cheers for Lukaku were louder than anybody else's where you were sitting, they certainly weren't loud enough to create an impression where I was. The late arrivals caused more of a stir.

I was listening carefully for the reaction when the teams were read out using the same method as you (my ears) and all I noticed was apathy around most of the ground and a few not very loud cheers from Gwladys Street – for every player.

The cheer for Lukaku may have sounded louder to your ears but I'd be amazed if the Hull supporters were even aware of it.

When I hear this "majority" claim, I'm reminded of when Kenwright's was being slaughtered from all and Sundry. His face was put up on the big screen and a few thousand of his supporters made a very big point of applauding as loudly as they could . .it was widely reported that "Goodison" had given him a massive vote of confidence. Those reports could not have been wider of the mark.

Phil Bellis
221 Posted 27/03/2017 at 20:36:39
I was, for my sins, in a lap dancing bar watching the game (sorry ladies, not working while the match is on) and, while accepting the cameras are just above the away section, it was obvious Lukaku's name, as the team was announced, received the loudest cheer – at least to my audio receptors.
Phil Bellis
222 Posted 27/03/2017 at 20:45:54
Darren, you may well be right... those who wanted to cheer did so, others kept schtum. He did, on the telly, seem to acknowledge the support.
Ian Horan
223 Posted 27/03/2017 at 20:53:58
Think it's time to drop the Lukaku popularity swingometer debate, in reality it should be we all cheer loudest for E V E R T O N
Darren Hind
224 Posted 27/03/2017 at 20:58:06
Jay,

In post #203, you complained about petty insults "as attempted by You, Fintan and Darren", right?

Then, when I ask why you consider it an insult, you tell me you are "not insulted" and that I "flatter myself" if I "think otherwise".

So which is it? Are you insulted or aren't you?

If you are, why? And if you're not, why are you spending so much time banging out endless guff?

Jay Wood
225 Posted 27/03/2017 at 23:04:15
Er... Darren @ 224. Durrr!

What you quoted alone is enough to swat away your latest attempt to highlight my implied discrepancies, but let me spell it out more clearly, so there is no confusion in your flustered little head.

The full quote is the following:

"Petty insults and labelling (as attempted by you [ie Brian Williams], Fintan and Darren in this very thread) are like water off a duck's back to me."

That awl fellah is not the refrain of someone 'complaining' about the (note well) 'petty insults'.

That is the riposte of someone totally indifferent to the extremely feeble attempts to get a rise out of me.

Ergo: I'm not insulted. Right? Right!

Are we done yet Darren? Or have you finally exhausted your own endless 'guff' which keeps posing questions of me?

Dan Davies
226 Posted 28/03/2017 at 01:36:53
Jay @201, I fairly often wonder over to the Offside Forum. What an enlightening and amazing place that is for your average ToffeeWebber.

Seriously if you haven't been there yet have a look.

Pearls of wisdom. You won't believe some of the shite that's posted against fellow blues. Unbelievable.

Why Michael and Lyndon have a backdoor for unmoderated shite like that I really don't understand.

Eugene Ruane
227 Posted 28/03/2017 at 02:45:50
Darren (#220) – Eugene I'm guessing you sit in Gwladys Street. The reason I say that is because when Lukaku's name was chanted after his goals, that's where the chants were coming from. That, as you know is allwayswhere most of the cheering and chanting comes from.'

Spooky, I DO sit in the (upper) Gwladys,

Unfortunately for your Holmes-like theory (Sherlock not 'Big' John), for the last two home games, I spawnily tapped for Alex Young suite tickets, so watched the game from the main stand.

My eyes and teeth certainly aren't what they were but my hearing is fine and I know the difference between the obligatory half-arsed "aaaaaay!" and a we're-making-a-point 'AAAAAAAYY!!;

You continue – 'I was listening carefully for the reaction when the teams were read out using the same method as you (my ears) and all I noticed was apathy around most of the ground and a few not very loud cheers from Gwladys Street – for every player.'

Well in. 'I was listening carefully', there (for me) is probably the answer.

I have no agenda re Lukaku.

He's a great goal scorer, hope he stays, but if he leaves I hope we'll get good money for him, buy a decent striker (or strikers) and then... hope for the best.

I don't get worked up or angry about what players earn or their 'loyalty' etc, so I'm not blinded or deafened to what is actually happening.

Can you honestly say the same?

'Lukaku has a stupid habit of winning people over with his goals.'

Seems not – and it's comments like that that indicate your hearing is like Wenger's vision.

Given some of the anger and invective on TW aimed at the player in the lead up to the game, it seems obvious there was an unhinged minority who didn't get their way.

Their anger/bile demanded he be booed but instead the opposite happened.

Are they willing to admit this?

Obviously not.

Gary Russell
228 Posted 28/03/2017 at 03:52:45
Entertaining as always on here. Not having a dig at anyone, just commenting on the website and how much I enjoy it. Sang to the tune of I Do Like To Be Besides The Seaside

Oh, I do like like a bout of verbal jousting
Oh, I do like to read on ToffeeWeb
Oh, I do like to troll among the posts posts posts
Where the brass necks feud
Tiddley – "I'm right" – "You're wrong"...

Darren Hind
229 Posted 28/03/2017 at 06:32:36
Eugene,

My two lads and my other grandson were in the main stand, just Gwladys street side of half-way line. I sat there for years (oldest grand son inherited my seat) When this debate started, I asked how loud that cheer was, My eldest said he didn't notice any massive cheer. "Not a really loud one like when the lino slips on his arse or something" Like me, he doesn't require a hearing aid

Just shows you eh... You hear what you want hear.

You seem to have formed the opinion that I'm angry with Lukaku. I'm not, I've been hugely impressed with his improvement this year and have said so on these pages many times – even called his game against Bournemouth a 10/10. But I shared the indifference shown by thousands when his name was read out on Saturday. I support Everton, not one player. I didn't miss a massive cheer ringing around Goodison, because there wasn't one.

Not sure what you hoped to achieve by editing my sentence and left out the relevant bit: "then alienating himself with his gob". Perhaps you felt the entire sentence was incontestable. I know I do....


Darren Hind
230 Posted 28/03/2017 at 06:41:39
Jay

So all those lengthy responses where to make absolutely sure that everyone knew you were totally indifferent to perceived insults and that nobody was getting a rise out of you?

Okay, that clears that one up.

John G Davies
231 Posted 28/03/2017 at 06:59:19
I haven't read all the posts but as far as I can see nobody claimed there was a MASSIVE cheer for Lukaku. Just that Lukaku got the biggest cheer, which he definitely did.
Darren Hind
232 Posted 28/03/2017 at 07:52:11
"I haven't read all the posts"

Of course not, you've just come back to the thread three times to say exactly same thing. I think some people actually believe if you say something often enough it becomes true.

I think Jays "overwhelming majority" claim has been laid bare. Those trying to support it, must have cringed when he actually admitted as much.

If you heard a massive roar – the sort that's swirls around Goodison when we have scored and actually warrants the term "massive roar" – then you are in cuckoo land.


Eugene Ruane
234 Posted 28/03/2017 at 13:14:21
Fucking hilarious!

Darren # 220 - 'Eugene I'm guessing you sit in Gwladys Street. The reason I say that is because when Lukaku's name was chanted after his goals, that's where the chants were coming from. That, as you know is allwayswhere most of the cheering and chanting comes from.'

Me # 227 - 'I was in the main stand.'

Darren # 229 - 'My two lads and my other grandson were in the main stand, just Gwladys street side of half-way line. I sat there for years (oldest grand son inherited my seat) When this debate started, I asked how loud that cheer was, My eldest said he didn't notice any massive cheer.'

I'm tempted to say 'Sorry, I got mixed up, I meant the Park End' just to provoke..

'Funny you should mention the Park End, my uncle Ronnie, 2016 winner of the Britain's sharpest hearing trophy, was in the Park End and he said..'

Pictured, Darren's dog in the upper Bullens assessing Lukaku's cheer Link

Jay Wood
235 Posted 28/03/2017 at 15:15:41
Darren @ 230.

And there you go again, employing another of your slight of hand tricks. My card is rapidly filling (once more) in yet another round of Darren 'Hindsight' Bingo.

This is the one where you introduce an invented scenario in your head and convince yourself by tedious repetition that it it true: attributing to posters a stance or attitudes they have not taken or demonstrated in the thread.

It is a move to take the focus away from the primary point a poster raises. In this case, way back to my first contribution in this thread, I took issue with Fintan Spode who considers supporters who cheered Lukaku are foolish submissive Dodos, easily deceived.

In doing so you invest your energies in trying to undermine the poster, rather than genuinely engage in his opinion.

Having claimed for so long that you never read my posts (when evidently based on your own posts, you clearly did and do), suddenly you appear to be reading my posts with forensic intensity. Sadly, Dick Tracy you ain't!

Read my posts again, as you now appear to take such intense interest in them.

All my "lengthy responses" were made in reply to specific questions put to me by other posters, but primarily yourself. I availed myself of my right to reply.

Quite clearly, as already demonstrated to you Darren, your repeated claim that my avalanche of words only expresses my indignation at the insults I've received in this thread, is false.

It really is dumb of you to try and contrive that me continuing to respond to posts directly addressed to me is proof positive that I am 'insulted' and annoyed at people 'getting a rise' out of me. It isn't the case, at all.

Why? Because the primary focus in my posts has been on Fintan Spode's extreme views about the conduct of fellow Blues.

You've also tried to shift that focus on to the decibel level of support Lukaku received at the Hull game. I already acknowledged I overstated my original claim by stating "the overwhelming majority of match-going Blues" cheered the fellah and adjusted that to "A very vocal and considerable number at the match against Hull clearly demonstrated their support for Lukaku, even before a ball was kicked."

The adjusted opinion seems to have attracted support from other match day attendees other than yourself, who continues to deny this was the case.

To return to the issue that drew me to this thread in the first place, I'll put it to you again Darren (as I asked @ 218. Still awaiting an answer):

"Do I take it from the closing line of your last post – "Not sure we have any other issues on this subject" – that you are in agreement with me then about the main thrust of WHY I commented on this thread? That Fintan Spode is out of order to denigrate and blanket label fellow Blues as he does as 'foolish' (amongst other things) for their public demonstration of support for Lukaku?"

If you can't engage in the topic and offer a clear response to that, I'll leave you chasing your own tail.

Woof! Woof!

John G Davies
236 Posted 28/03/2017 at 15:33:41
Darren,
I your post to me #232.

"If you heard a massive roar then you are in cuckoo land"

I didn't say I heard a massive roar. As far as I can see ,the only one who used that phrase was you?

Jay Wood
237 Posted 28/03/2017 at 15:49:00
Dan @ 226.

Ahhh! The Offside Forum! Indeed I do know about it Dan . when it was created, how it was created, why it was created, and why it is tolerated by the editors (although I note previous links to in the menu tabs at the top of the page have long since been removed).

I visited the Offside Forum in its early formative days. Not being the misogynistic type, nor interested in trans fat midnight meals, fantasizing about celebs I would 'do', bragging about my alcohol consumption or posting whilst heavily inebriated, nor - of particular relevance to this site - inclined to post cowardly clandestine denigration in their unseen forum of TW posters here in the Open Forum, whilst rarely or never posting anywhere other than the Offside Forum, I quickly decided it wasn't for me.

That clique clearly has an extremely elevated opinion of themselves as superior Evertonians to we lesser Blues. I can't take seriously a group who describes the bulk of TW members (those who post in the Open Forum) as "Philistines, in need of enlightenment" and in the same breath state "Let's keep the Offside Forum our little secret, like a Gentlemen's Clubs, by invitation only."

I suggest that anyone they do denigrate should wear it as a badge of pride.

Andrew Ellams
239 Posted 28/03/2017 at 16:17:30
Some of you lot need to eat your Snickers.
James Hughes
240 Posted 28/03/2017 at 16:19:12
Dan (#226), it is not just on the OF that lots of shite gets posted mate, have you not been paying attention to this thread?

Tony Draper
241 Posted 28/03/2017 at 16:24:58
Darren @232.

The reception for Romelu Lukaku was overwhelmingly positive. Me and my three mates (we've all been to the match together for nearly 40 years) plus three of their kids remarked on it, with dignified pride.

The man does have a loose cannon for a mouth. He's not the only Premier League footballer these days that does. He finds the onion bag with a pig's bladder, though, does he not?

Simple equation: In the forthcoming derby match, would you want him in Royal Blue, or the other jersey?

Brian Furey
242 Posted 28/03/2017 at 16:40:33
As someone already said, we all think differently and some of us think more with our heart than with our head. Some question other's passion and loyalty when they make harsh but truthful points. I believe, when a player wants to leave, there is not much the club can do to persuade him not to.

Most clubs want to sign (or bring up through the academy) a young player on the cheap and then he progresses into a top quality player who either plays for you long term or we make a huge mark up on them.

We've done this quite a lot in the last 10 years or so with players like Rooney (£25.6M), Lescott (£22M) and last year Stones (£47.5M) even though we all sang Money Can't Buy You Stones.

Berahino is one of the few players who was made an example of by his club by deciding not to cash in on him despite his transfer requests. Newcastle offered £21M for him back in January 2016 with him eventually moving to Stoke for £12M.

West Ham and Bilic were very angry and adamant they wouldn't let Payet go and play him in the reserves but they soon changed their minds. There is no way.

It's easy for a lot of us passionate fans to throw our arms in the air and say "Fuck him, let him go, as he doesn't want to play for OUR club and he doesn't have any loyalty..." But thankfully it's our manager (and chairman) who have to use their managing skills to persuade the player to stay for as long as they can.

When they realise the player no longer can be persuaded you have to make a sensible business decision to sell him for as much as possible and use the money wisely.

When Koeman came in last summer he (and maybe Moshiri) managed to coax Rom to stay for another season at least which I think a lot of us were surprised at. No doubt they will try to persuade him to stay yet another year but it sounds to me that Rom believes that he has improved sufficiently now to make it at a really big club that is winning titles and doing well in Europe, not just scraping into Europe.

I'm not even sure if he would want to play for Man Utd or Arsenal now. I think he wants to move to either Chelsea or a club outside England. So he knows, if he signs a new contract, he will be limiting the options he will have as a lot of the Italian and German clubs won't want to be paying £80-£100M.

Linda Morrison
243 Posted 28/03/2017 at 17:14:11
I totally agree, Brian. It wouldn't make any difference to Lukaku if every Everton fan went down on their knees to ask him to stay. He wants out as he believes, rightly or wrongly, that he should be at a Big Club.

I don't see the point in holding on to him for one more season as Cottee suggests. His value will drop and it is only delaying the inevitable.

Unfortunately any replacement is going to take time to settle in so we will have to wait to win the title until 2019. I'm more bothered about getting Ross to sign and seeing Seamus back playing.

Stan Schofield
244 Posted 28/03/2017 at 17:35:53
Brian@242: When Koeman joined us, Lukaku had 3 years left on his existing contract, and as such Everton did not need to ask or persuade him to stay. All they needed do was either tell him he was staying, or simply do nothing. So far as I am aware, Lukaku has never put in a transfer request, or indeed has never said that he wishes to leave Everton. It's clear that many folks have interpreted the facts to mean that Lukaku wants to leave Everton, but that is simply their interpretation of the facts as opposed to the actual facts.

Lukaku's current contract expires in July 2019, and thus if Everton decide he's staying at least until that date, then he's staying. No persuasion or asking by Everton is needed at all, simply their decision (and it is THEIR decision) that he is staying.

With respect to the above, I for one was not at all surprised that Lukaku remained with us this season, and similarly I won't be surprised if he stays at least until July 2019. Further, I would not be surprised if he decided (with of course the agreement of Everton) to stay beyond 2019, depending on how we do between now and that date.

With regard to the likelihood of Everton deciding that Lukaku is staying for the duration of his current contract, of course none of us know what that is. That said, it is possible that the board and Moshiri assess that the value to Everton of Lukaku staying until July 2019 is greater than the loss of any potential transfer fee (perhaps of the order of £60-70M) resulting from a free transfer at the end of that period.

Brian Williams
245 Posted 28/03/2017 at 17:39:24
Unless of course Lukaku insists on leaving under the Webster ruling, which he's now able to do, having completed 3 years of his 5-year contract.
Ian Horan
246 Posted 28/03/2017 at 17:59:23
Brian, don't leave us hanging? At least explain the fundamentals of the Webster ruling!!
Stan Schofield
247 Posted 28/03/2017 at 18:03:35
Brian, yes, correct, but that assumes that (1) Lukaku actually wishes to leave, and (2) given that he wishes to leave, he would be prepared to invoke Webster. From available evidence, it doesn't look likely that prominent players with ambition are at all likely to invoke Webster, given the apparent consensus within the profession that it would amount to opening a 'Pandora's box'.
Brian Williams
249 Posted 28/03/2017 at 18:17:19
There's always a first, Stan. I just hope Lukaku isn't it. It seems to be the consensus.of opinion that he does want to leave.

I know he's never stated "I want to leave" but not signing a new contract is a bit of a hint.

Brian Williams
250 Posted 28/03/2017 at 18:31:58
Hope I'm totally wrong and he stays.
Stan Schofield
251 Posted 28/03/2017 at 18:38:36
Me too, Brian.
Darren Hind
252 Posted 28/03/2017 at 19:22:36
Eugene

When Martinez was manager people were talking about protest. I posted that the main stand needed to turn on Kenwright before he would sack him. I told a lot of people that I had seen first hand what happens when those closest to the Directors Box put pressure on him as I'd sat there for years.

Fast forward a to this season. I was asked did I have a derby ticket (on these pages) and I said no, because I had let my season ticket go (in protest ) and as a consequence had fallen down the pecking order, I said that I had renewed the same seat and my Grandson was going to be using it. A regular match goer on here kindly asked me (on these pages again) if I wanted him to try and get me a derby ticket.

Now I would have thought people in their sixties giving up season tickets and making way for a younger member of the family would be fairly commonplace... but you find it "fucking hilarious"

I took a stab at where you sit and you seemed astonished that I guessed right "Spooky" you called it, even though there was a 25% chance of me being right.

All I can gather from your posts is you are very easily amused and even more easily surprised. Those old Paul Daniels recordings must serve as a great comfort to you.

BTW : As you are partial to a bit of "spooky" and "hilarious" get on this...

A guy had been sitting in Gwladys street for Years. Nobody had ever asked him where he sat - not ever, but one day somebody finally asked him about where he sat because it may have a bearing on his opinion and - get this... It was at THAT precise moment, that he revealed that he wasn't in Gwladys street that day (although he did admit he normally does sit there). Turns out he had touched lucky for seats in another part of the ground. They were not just other better seats, they were Alex Young suite tickets.

What were the chances, eh?

Right up your street – Spooky and Hilarious

Dan Davies
253 Posted 29/03/2017 at 00:10:47
Eugene, you crack me up, mate... hahaha!
Eugene Ruane
254 Posted 29/03/2017 at 00:41:15
- whispers -

Christ is he beaked up?

I genuinely don't know what any of that babble means.

Can guess what he'd sound like if he was talking about the budget though Link

Dan Davies
255 Posted 29/03/2017 at 01:48:15
SHIT three minutes and no more! Haha! Please stop now. Lol.
Darren Hind
256 Posted 29/03/2017 at 06:42:56
"Beaked up"?

My youngest grand son wouldn't use that term for fear of being laughed out of school.

Still if it makes you see yourself as being "cool".

Eugene Ruane
257 Posted 29/03/2017 at 08:47:41
Darren # 256 - Wow, I'm impressed!

Knowing (as you obviously do) what is and isn't considered cool by school kids.

You're also very lucky to have so many relatives to come to your aid in TW threads.

So far, to help 'strengthen' your arguments, you've used two sons, a 'youngest grandson' and 'the other grandson.'

Something tells me that, whatever was being discussed, you'd have a relative or friend to come to your aid.

"I disagree because my son / grandchild / postman / proctologist reckons..."

Amit Vithlani
258 Posted 29/03/2017 at 14:31:11
Stanley Unwin – legend. Brilliant link @ 254
John G Davies
259 Posted 29/03/2017 at 14:40:45
Amit (#258),

Stanley was one of my favourites when I was a nipper.

Very clever how he controlled his mixed-up talking.

Tony Hill
260 Posted 29/03/2017 at 14:59:35
Yes, pure joy he was, the Professor.
Dave Abrahams
261 Posted 29/03/2017 at 15:22:27
Brian (#245), like Ian (#246) I'd love to know what The Webster ruling is; I've never heard of it.

Go 'ed – what is it?

James Hughes
262 Posted 29/03/2017 at 15:57:01
The Webster ruling:

Wikipedia

Michael Kenrick
263 Posted 29/03/2017 at 16:12:08
Oh dear... Stan Schofield is not going to be happy:

Specifically, it states that any player who signed a contract before the age of 28 can buy himself out of the contract three years after the deal was signed. If he is 28 or older the time limit is shortened to two years.

He has told us, in at least 14 separate posts, that Lukaku must stay with Everton until the end of his contract, unless Moshiri and the Board decide he can go. This would suggest otherwise...

Dave Abrahams
264 Posted 29/03/2017 at 16:14:31
James (#262) thanks for the link. I don't think Lukaku or his agent will consider that route, basically buying your own contract out, after giving 15 days notice before the end of the season, looks like too many complications and hassle to go that way.

The Webster Ruling is named after Andy Webster who bought his contract out from Hearts and joined Wigan Athletic. You have to join a club not from your own Country; it didn't work out for Andy, but he still enjoyed a decent career and is currently playing for St Mirren.

Michael Kenrick
265 Posted 29/03/2017 at 16:34:37
Dave,

If it's three years exactly, that would mean the Webster ruling could not kick in for Lukaku until 30 July 2017. But you mention 15 days? That had me Googling...

The Webster Ruling: Article 17 explained

So turns out this detail is crucially missing from the Wikipedia article:

Also in the detail is that the player must contact their existing club outlining their intentions within 15 days of the final match of the season.

If he wants to leave, he would have to inform the club by 6 May 2017. Unless Stan feels he is ours for the duration of his contract...

For reference, two years at £70k/wk is about £7.3M. Can't see Lukaku coming up with that money... but presumably his destination club would find a way to give him the money to get him on the cheap (tax rules notwithstanding).

Stan Schofield
266 Posted 29/03/2017 at 16:46:33
Michael, I'd already researched Webster, hence my post @247, which concerns the likelihood of a player of Lukaku's status and ambition actually invoking Webster.
James Hughes
267 Posted 29/03/2017 at 17:01:48
Michael, Stan – I just can't see it happening that way, when he leaves.

This would probably only be invoked if the player is not being used and not released by the club. Which is not the case here, Brian has led us down a blind alley, but provided a new contract angle.

Dermot Byrne
268 Posted 29/03/2017 at 17:10:32
Tony Draper: I know this is all about contributing to sensible debates but hell, mate, you made my day with "He finds the onion bag with a pig's bladder, though, does he not?"

That is what makes TW as much as the long drawn-out spats that added nothing from post number 5!

Brian Williams
269 Posted 29/03/2017 at 17:12:30
Brian being me? How have I led you down a blind alley?

And how can you say "player not being used etc... which is not the case here?

We don't know what the case is yet as all that's been said is that Lukaku has refused to sign a new contract. That's all we KNOW – anything else is conjecture and opinion.

Michael Kenrick
270 Posted 29/03/2017 at 17:16:00
Phew, that's a relief... this had me worried for a moment.

It does seem strange, however, that there don't appear to have been many other instances in the past 10 years... If it is such a favourable ruling for the players, as claimed, I'm not sure I buy this presumption that it hasn't been used by prominent players because it would open Pandora's Box.

I just can't see that stopping a snake like Mino Raiola!

Brian Williams
271 Posted 29/03/2017 at 17:21:45
Michael (#263).

When I mentioned, I think to Stan, about the Webster ruling he must have looked up what I myself initially looked up and he quoted verbatim about it being very unlikely any player would invoke the ruling due to it being likened to "opening Pandora's box."

That being said it doesn't mean that no player ever WILL invoke it. It would depend on a few factors. Would Lukaku have the money to do it, it could be a very costly undertaking even for a millionaire footballer. Would Everton go so far to keep a player that the player HAD to invoke the ruling?

I'd like to think it wouldn't come to it but simply believing it'll never happen is no guarantee that it won't. That's not aimed at you btw, Michael. Things'll only become clearer when the season finishes and the transfer window actually opens, I reckon.

James Hughes; player not being used, and the club not releasing him, that's the situation at the moment. Things could change in a big way once the transfer window opens and Lukaku's agent and Mr Moshiri lock horns. Interesting times ahead!

ps: Michael, I "think" there's more to factor in as well as salary, compensation to the club etc... could be wrong mind, it has been known. :-)

Stan Schofield
272 Posted 29/03/2017 at 17:37:39
Brian, yes, I looked it up when you mentioned it, and had never heard about it before. There are loads of articles and 'legal debates' about how practical it is to invoke. I'm no legal expert, but from looking at quite a number of articles, it looks like it could get messy (Dave@264 mentioned too many complications and hassle), and the overall view seems to be that players of high profile who want to develop their career would be highly unlikely to invoke Webster.

As you say Brian, there's no guarantee that Lukaku wouldn't invoke Webster, but it looks very unlikely. If Everton told him he had to see out his existing contract, then he has to see it out unless he takes the (on the face of it highly unlikely) route of using Webster. Even assuming Lukaku wanted to leave Everton, he might consider it easier to see out his contract than to go down a possibly messy legal route of getting out of it.


Brian Williams
273 Posted 29/03/2017 at 17:41:17
Stan, you're right mate. But I think "messy" is Raiola's middle name!!!
Kevin Tully
274 Posted 29/03/2017 at 17:52:22
Jesus...just stumbled across this thread. I can't decide if it's the best, or the worst of ToffeeWeb??

Going back to read it again, in its entirety. Comedy gold. Well done to all concerned...

Stan Schofield
275 Posted 29/03/2017 at 18:00:50
Kevin, you've got more stamina than me mate. Took enough effort to find out what the Webster Ruling was. Slightly amusing thread, but not on a par with Derek & Clive.
John G Davies
276 Posted 29/03/2017 at 18:41:30
Kevin (#274),

I hadn't read all the posts but did so today. Well worth taking the time mate, it's hilarious.

Keith Harrison
277 Posted 29/03/2017 at 19:08:05
Lads and gentlemen. It's open week next week on the Offside Forum. Feel free to visit the frat party and decide if it's the educational establishment for you.

If any lurkers/intrigued readers have any concerns about the tenor of posts on there, let me know please.

2-0 to us Saturday by the way.

Darren Hind
278 Posted 29/03/2017 at 19:15:59
"Your so lucky having so many relatives coming to you aid on TW threadS."

Is that what they are doing? Coming to my aid? I guess I must have been logged off when they were called to the ToffeeWeb witness box.

Nope, just checked back and there isn't a peep out of either of my grand sons... not even a throwaway quote... and although I won't repeat what one of my lads said, the other one hasn't said a word.

So what you really mean when you speak about all these relatives is... my lad? One person... and he`s probably unaware that this thread exists.

Maybe Maths isn't your strong point. That would explain why you were so astonished that I was able to guess which of the four sides you sit in. You didn't quite grasp how short the odds where so you thought it was "Spooky".

As our Denis (the proctologist who sits in Upper Bullens) was saying only yesterday: "Never question the credibility of a guy who can move around the ground to suit the questions."

"Yeah I know I always sit in the Gwladys Street... and yeah I know it might seem like I only said I moved to the Alex Young Suite when it was suggested my opinion was possibly influenced by sitting Gwladys Street... and yeah, I will be back in the Gwladys Street for all the other games... but honest, that's eggacckllee the way it happened... swear down, lad."

The good news is, Eugene; My cousin Sarah (a postie who sits in the Park End) has come to your aid... How spooky is that? She's almost certain she saw somebody who could have easily been you coming out of the Main Stand after the game.

Brent Stephens
279 Posted 29/03/2017 at 19:44:15
Stanley Unwin! Great stuff. And he posts on here!
John G Davies
280 Posted 29/03/2017 at 19:47:43
In fairness, Eugene, I knew you sat in the Upper Gwladys and there is nothing spooky about it.

You posted a couple of weeks ago about the poor quality of the tannoy "where I sit in the Upper Gwladys".

Graham Mockford
281 Posted 29/03/2017 at 19:50:21
Darren,

Fair play. Despite being behind on all the judges cards, your desire to have the final word is very impressive.

I've got it 118-110 on my card.

Eugene Ruane
282 Posted 29/03/2017 at 20:06:29
Darren (#278), just one question: Why don't you just copy and paste the bits of my posts you want to repeat?

I wrote You're also very lucky to have so many relatives to come to your aid in TW threads.

When you 'repeated' it, it read "Your so lucky having so many relatives coming to you aid on TW threadS"

'You're' was misspelt (natch) and there's a cap S on the end of threads.

Weird.

Nicholas Ryan
283 Posted 29/03/2017 at 20:33:14
'I'll stay for one more year then I'm off...'
'Let's talk about a new 5-year contract...'

(a) aren't these two sentences mutually exclusive?
(b) isn't the 1st made invalid, by the 2nd?

Darren Hind
284 Posted 29/03/2017 at 20:43:17
Simple answer, Eugene.

Didn't have the IT skills.

I wanted to leave the capital S in to let you know that your attempt to change it to plural hadn't gone unnoticed. I had three attempts, but every time I tried to Copy and Paste, it went back to a small s and it would not let me edit.

I thought it would be easier to just retype what you had written – clearly it wasn't.

Keith Harrison
285 Posted 29/03/2017 at 21:55:43
At last, just got to the end. Was this thread about the best place in the ground to sit, or a fatwah declared against the Offside Forum?

Aren't there more important things to think about, like if that lad who scores all the goals decided to leave? Now that would be a cause for concern.

John Daley
286 Posted 29/03/2017 at 22:40:02
Meanwhile, over on 'never-got-his-hole.net':

Link

Keith Harrison
287 Posted 29/03/2017 at 22:51:24
John, pop on the OF please mate for a minute.
Paul Mackie
288 Posted 29/03/2017 at 22:52:03
This thread is a perfect example of why international breaks are bad.
Keith Harrison
289 Posted 29/03/2017 at 22:57:37
Especially Seamus's, Paul.
Eddie Dunn
290 Posted 29/03/2017 at 23:14:01
My wife just went to bed... "Reading ToffeeWeb again?"

She has no idea what goes on on these hallowed threads.

Thanks, Eugene, Jay, Darren et al!

Dan Davies
291 Posted 30/03/2017 at 02:19:28
We all live in a yellow submarine... yellow submarine
Dan Egerton
292 Posted 31/03/2017 at 04:05:39
If Romelu Lukaku thinks he's a Champions League player, then how come he has only scored 3 goals this season against top 6 teams? 18 of his 21 have come against teams well below the top four!

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads