Gosling: First Own Goal of the Season?

I'm not Gosling's greatest fan, which is the view held by a lot of us blues, but he would of been a good back-up to the first team and we lost out on £4m because the player and his agent realised that the lack of an actual contract allowed him to move for nothing.

On Newcastles official webpage he says "I?ve played at St James? Park before and know all about the amazing atmosphere. Playing there in a black and white shirt is something I?ve thought about already and it will be a great day when I finally get to walk out in front of 50,000 people."

Amazing atmosphere? I wish these players would just be honest and say "I went for more money". Not a big loss, but let's hope he's the only player to leave Everton this summer.

DM cannot get any money out of our present board because of lack of funds... now we allow a player who would have commanded a fee go because of a contract error. We as fans deserve better and we are constantly ignored when questions are asked; we must be a fucking laughing stock.

1) I thought there was going to be an appeal/tribunal on this. I take it that hasn't happened?

2) Where the hell does everyone get this £4M valuation from? Dan Gosling was a fringe player who scored a couple of goals in big matches, but he'd hardly proved he was capable of cutting it as a regular starter. Outside of Man City and the Fantasy Football games I can't see anyone offering £4M, even at £1-2M I couldn't see too many clubs knocking down the door for a player who's yet to prove to be anything more than utility cover ? and that's before the bad injury.

Don't get me wrong, it is annoying that we've lost him and he was still a prospect, but I'm personally not that bothered at the end of the day.

The majority players and agents look out for themselves and gentleman's agreements stand for nothing. Could you imagine Tim Cahill pulling such a stunt? Gosling is no loss and typically once again Nowcastle have paid over the odds for an average player. £25k a week, Danny Boy must be laughing his cock off!

I think that the tribunal happened, we made some money from it (compensation of wages, injury costs) but lost out on a fee. Keith Wyness went without a word, so did Gosling. Whoever works in the department that caused this error best not cross Moyes.

Even though Gosling was crap, he didn't really ever play his best position, I thought he was right back, then he played on the wings, did he ever play in the middle?

I think what it is (his dad is a cock), but Rodwell scored some important goals and got a great contract, Gosling dumped out Liverpool and scored against Utd so probably thought he deserved parity. I completely agree with the club though that Rodwell will soon be in the top 5 players in the world, Gosling will not.

Gosling cost £2M, the goal v Liverpool was worth that.

Gosling is a greedy employee who wants more money as there are about 6 other 'employees' that do a better job than him.

Anyone who leaves the spirit and togetherness of Everton is only going for money (unless to a Champions League club).

Other than that, whoever is responsible for this fuck-up should be named and then sacked... but, typical Everton: no comment when the shit hits the fan.

Until this season, when the Blues suddenly have a top class squad able to compete with anyone, Gosling didn't think he was going to make it, or only play the same bit part role again. Gosling would not get anywhere near a place in a top class club (like Everton at this time) and I think he felt trapped in the reserve position for some years.

His agent goes for a long shot way out by delaying the contract talks and sweet talking until the last minute when he would be free. They got lucky and EFC missed the trick.

We all want players to love the club like we do, but that's not possible. I read the story of Dixie Dean being offered a blank cheque to join Arsenal and he turned it down without a thought. We don't just love Dixie because he scored a bunch of goals, but because he loved EFC the same way we do, and even more.

I can sympathize with Gosling feeling stuck, but it hurts nonetheless. Playing for the Barcodes is probably the best he is going to get now he has left a real good club. A club ready to win the League.

Now he usually only uses this pen for "Ring-Fencing" money (came in useful over King's Dock!) or writing statements like "The money will be in the bank in the morning"!

Well... according to my source, Gwladys the cleaning lady mistakenly put it in Moyes's pen pot & it was inadvertently used for Dan's contract offer.

By all accounts, Bill is gutted as "Tesco Tel" told him "Every little helps" & £4 Million goes a long way when you're potless! I guess we'll just have to sell some of our best players instead, to keep the Goodison lights on!

I'm not saying that Gosling's injury will end his career, but put yourself in the club's position ? offer a fat pay rise for someone who may never play again, or potentially lose him for nothing?

Newcastle are taking a bit of a gamble by signing a player who is in rehabilitation from a serious knee injury. How likely was it that a club would come in for a crocked player? Perhaps Everton thought they were on fairly safe ground playing out the time until they could see if Gosling would regain full fitness? Of course, this may well have been taken as a slight by Gosling. Frankly, I don't think the issue is black and white.

Let's get things straight here ? the young man has treated Everton and Evertonians with contempt. He has shown no loyalty to the Club or the Manager that gave him his chance in the Premier League.

He was unhappy it would seem that Rodwell was on more money ? even with a new contract, he would still be on much less than Rodwell. Well, when it was known that Jack Rodwell was in contract negotiations with Everton, it was widely reported that Chelsea and Man United were monitoring the situation. Who has been watching the situation re Gosling? Man United or Chelsea or Arsenal? Nope ? Newcastle United, Sunderland and West Ham ? doesn't that tell you something?

I think that he has an over-inflated opinion of his ability. Let's just see who has the more successful football career, Jack Rodwell or Dan Gosling? Let's see who wins more International caps. I think Dan Gosling would do well to look at the career of a certain Imre Varadi. I remember him scoring in the 2-1 win v LIverpool in the FA Cup in 1981. It didn't give him legendary status scoring against Liverpool did it?

I am just waiting for the stories to come from the Dan Gosling camp ? you know, something along the lines of Alan Shearer being a childhood hero, also Kevin Keegan, and being a boyhood Newcastle fan.

So to all of you who have been blaming Everton here, there are two sides to every story and as far as I am concerned the young man from Devon should take some of the blame ? indeed, most of it. He could have accepted the offer from Everton. Presumably he wanted the contract offer in writing, served on a silver salver and personally hand delivered by David Moyes, Bill Kenwright and Phil Neville. Two words to say to young Danny boy ? the second of which is OFF.

I can understand that the player's agent wants to get a good deal for his client. However, the most money is not always the best deal. I would guess that Scott Parker and Steve Sidwell thought that Christmas had come early when they signed for Chelsea. But they were soon on their way when they realised that being a bit-part player ? albeit a highly paid one ? wasn't doing their careers any good.

As regards whether we made a mistake or not ? Gosling still had the freedom of choice to accept Everton's offer. Man City released Reserve Team goalkeeper Stuart Taylor, then a week or so later offered him a new contract. He could of course have reacted in the Dan Gosling way ? "You didn't offer me a contract before" ? 'dummy flies out of pram' attitude... so I won't sign. However, he did sign and there appears to have been very little mention of this "U-turn" by Man City.

This whole eposode has given another excuse to have a go at The Board/Kenwright/Elstone etc. Had we offered him a new contract on anything close to Rodwell's deal, no doubt there would have been criticism of the Board etc for offering such a deal to a player with a serious injury. I think the real blame in this situation is with Dan Gosling.

The club can't be defended over the Gosling fiasco as they haven't bothered their arse to make a stance or even comment on the matter. Chairman Bill even went as far as to break from his 24/7 last week to talk shite live on air with Dale Winton on Radio 2 so not like he doesn't have time on his hands surely?

Yes, the club made a mistake but to hear some of the "Slag off the Club" brigade, one would think that Dan Gosling is without fault in all this and that he is whiter than white. I was trying merely to redress the balance; on the other hand you seem to think that Dan Gosling is totally without blame in all of this.

By the way, Eugene, I don't believe everything that Kenwright says/does or has said/done on behalf of Everton has been correct/good. But I also don't think that everything he does or the club does is wrong either. I think it's called having a balanced view.

I used the example of Stuart Taylor at Man City, a player that they released but then offered a new contract in the space of approx 10 days, to show that it's not just Everton that get it wrong. Perhaps you might like to consider that fact. I also seem to recall a certain Brian Clough parading his new signing Ian Moore at the Baseball Ground back in 1972 to much media attention, only for him to change his mind and sign for Man United. Needless to say, that wasn't in either the feature film or the recent documentary.

Sorry if that seems like a history lesson but to hear some of the remarks, you would think that Everton always get it wrong whilst every other club always gets it right.

I said in an earlier response I believe Gosling was led by his agent so blame certainly in the Gosling and his scumbag identified there. You appear to standfast at ignoring the lack of commentary besides Trinity Newspapers (a well known mouthpiece for the club) or other sites yet nothing from the player's former employer and source of payment during his incapacity and his medical bills.

Oh and the Damn United film focuses on Brian Clough's dislike of Don Revie and the publicised dirty Leeds side of the time based upon David Peace's book. The subsequent documentary highlighted Clough's personality and clashes rather than the minutiae of failed signings.

1) I believe that YES Everton were at fault in this, but then so was Gosling ? that's a point that you both seem to think is a minor consideration.

2)The film "The Damned United" does indeed focus on Brian Clough's time at Leeds United. However, there is more than enough time spent showing Cloughies success at Derby County, so it is not as you suggest Gavin 100% devoted to the 44 days he was in charge at Elland Road.

I used that to show that even the best make mistakes ? and believe you me, the gaff with Ian Moore got national TV coverage and a great deal of coverage at that.

I have always thought that the issue is that there is always more than one side to most arguments. The criticism I have made of Dan Gosling is quite strong, I will readily admit that. I think he has potential but at best he has a long way to go before he is at the same level as Jack Rodwell.

Also as a public sector worker who has just been informed by Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg that, for the next 2 years, I can look forward to a pay freeze, I am less than pleased to see Dan Gosling be so dismissive of the offer that Everton were prepared to make him. Fair enough if he had just had an outstanding season... but I don't think he did ? or did I miss something?

Christine ? your opinion is that the club are to blame; mine is that the blame is equally Everton's and Gosling's. As to the PR, as the above comment from Richard states, what is special about Dan Gosling? Is he one of our more prominent players? Has the website given loads of info as to Lukas J or John Ruddy? Probably about the same which is what you would expect for squad players/players not yet "key" first team players.

Agree to disagree, Christine, but try and be a bit less patronising please.

Dan got quite a bit of stick from the presenters Mickey Quinn and Jason Cundy on Thursday for apparent greed being the main factor in leaving Everton.

Then, on Friday, it was suggested that this weekend a story would come out that Everton had in fact made Gosling available as a free transfer to the PFA. The show were trying to get in touch with Dan to clarify these reports.

It was also suggested that Dan's injury was not as bad as first thought by Everton's medical team and he could be back 7-8 games into the season. Jason Cundy also argued that no club would make the mistake of falling to put a contract offer in writing.

So... could Everton's medical team have made a cock-up and thought Dan could be finished and decided not to offer a new contract, only for them to realise their error when it was too late and Newcastle had stepped in?

I believe under the companies act there is a potential shareholder lawsuit. Any proceeds could be given back to the academy but it would be a huge wake-up call for Kenwright.

Anyone have any comment on this idea?

Similarly, in #41 you reworded my "most footballers are thick as mince" to all footballers are, a tiny but poignant mistake again. I didn't deny Gosling had no blame but apportioned it to his agent being the more likely culprit and instigator as is the recognised modus operandi of such vermin. Again, I'd point you to missing again the blatant lack of PR from the club or can't you see the wood for the trees?

Indeed today according to teletext Man City are going to have to trim their 1st Team squad down from it's current 37 to 25. Included in the players that may be leaving was a certain Joleon Lescott and also Sean Wright-Phillips. I seem to recall the latter was re-signed from Chelsea about 18 months ago. The "great homecoming" was how City gave out the news of his return. I wonder how their PR "machine" is going to handle his and other departures if it is the case that they leave.

As you have stated the silence from Everton is deafening. Could it be that the issue is not over and their may be legal matters raised? If so, any comments officially made would have to be guarded. That by the way is just an observation. But I seem to recall that there were certain legal issues with Peter Johnson that didn't reach the "public domain" and possibly had to remain outside of wider public knowledge.

This was an elementary piece of business. I understand every year the club secretary does this diligently but I understand Kenwright got involved this year and it went wrong. £4m is a huge amount for us... I just think a point should be made.

Glad you are happy to see the Board just carry on stumbling from one mistake to another. I also have it on very good authority that there have only been 3 board meetings in the last 2 years, hardly an advert for great corporate governance??