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Baines, Fellaini or Rodwell ? Who Leaves?

By Mike Oates :  21/02/2011 :  Comments (97) :
To balance the books once again we are about to become a selling club this summer. There is no debate ? we all know that to clear due debts, to get Moyes money to spend we have to sell one of our stars, that?s life. There are only 2-3 players on the books who can be sold at a price which will keep the banks away and allow us to speculate on a couple of £5-8M players. We all know that the players are Baines, Fellaini and Rodwell.

Where we stand today, I believe if we can keep them, Baines and Fellaini are more likely to give Everton some chance of success next year ? success means getting into the Europa Cup for the 2012-13 season. Baines in my eyes has become the best left back in the league, I can't understand how Capello doesn?t rate him, and on today's market he must be in the £15-20M range. Fellaini is becoming one of the league's best midfield players. When he?s on song he totally dominates the opposition and his partnership with Arteta is going to develop big time. On today?s market he must be in the £25-30M bracket .

Rodwell to me is the potential star of the future but for a number of reasons he won't be our match winner next year. I?m still unsure whether the game's leading lights see him as a centre-half or a defensive midfielder or an attacking midfielder... Until his best position is defined, I still see him as a back-up player, particularly at Everton where he won't get in the team in any of those positions just yet. If the press is to be believed, I see the figure of £15M being talked about, and I suppose at his age that?s about the best we?ll get ? though, if and when he really develops, I believe he will become a £30M player.

If I was the manager and was told by Kenwright to find £5M for the banks and whatever is left you can spend, I?d have to let Rodwell go in the summer. I?d be left with possibly £10-12M to spend. We probably need that alone for a potential Premier League striker, which we desperately need if we are to become competitive again.

The £64k question though is ? Will Fellaini stay? Or will he want to fly to get Champions League football next season ? as Pienaar & Torres have just done? I think Moyes might find he hasn?t got the final say on who goes or stays; Fellaini (& his dad) will come knocking at the end of this season and tell him to sell now for £25M ? or he?ll do a Pienaar and we?ll end up with peanuts ? if you know what I mean.

Reader Comments (97)

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Morgan Rhys
1 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:28:45
it's really hard to decide with one to leave. Fellaini our most expensive player. Rodwell the youngster who has a long future, and Leighton Baines, the best left footer I have ever seen. If anyone decagrees with me, just see his goals against Portsmouth, Tottenham and Chelsea. If I had a choice out of those three, I whould choose Fellaini.
Paul Gladwell
2 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:30:13
Sad to say Fellaini will have to be the one, as he would generate the most, we can then push Rodwell, whose value should then rise for when we have to sell him a year later unless our prayers are answered for a buyer.
Kevin Chung
3 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:35:31
Unless of course Bill Kenwright does something miraculous and gets us an investor at the end of the season.

I still cannot understand how smaller teams can get investors but Everton with all it's history cannot.

Bill wants Everton all to himself, and with it comes it's demise, I am afraid.
Charlie Dixon
4 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:36:34
Doom and gloom!
Steve Leary
5 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:47:49
I've been a long-time reader on ToffeeWeb this is my first submission. I think we all know that we need a striker... it seems that Moyes has been poor at recruiting in that department: Beattie, Johnson, Yakubu, McFadden etc. If, by some luck, we had money to spend this pre-season, I was wondering what type of striker fellow blues would like to see?

In my opinion, a Saha type that stays fit would do the job. Anichebe and Beckford aren't ever going to be prolific enough we also know they would need to hold the line on their own upfront with Moyes persisting with 4-5-1 I would like a Lakuka or a Daniel Sturridge type ? young forwards with great potential and they do score goals and would be capable of toeing the line on their own as they're big strong and quick.

So come on fellow blues ? who would you like to see be our new striking sensation, a Gwladys Street hero for years to come. COYB!!

Andy Macrae
6 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:49:14
Surely if one of them goes, Moyes will only get £2-3 million to spend as the hole we're in is quite a big one...
Mark Murphy
7 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:47:13
Bang! That's me coming back down to earth after a fantastic weekend! Couldn't you have given me another day on a high, Mike?

Fellaini will go but not for as much as we think I fear! I don't think other teams rate him as highly as we do.

Sadly, Rodwell will also depart, and this for me will be the greater blow and perhaps even the final straw for me!

Sigh! I hate Mondays again!

Liu Weixian
8 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:57:41
I don't think we will get tens of millions for any of them. Knowing our precarious financial situation and league position, vultures know they won't need to pay for them at the current market value.
Chris Matheson
9 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:58:05
I live in hope (but more hope than belief) that instead of any of the three named players leaving, it might be our beloved, true-blue, tear-gushing chairman for whom the taxi is called.

"But he's one of us!!!!"

To answer the question, I would let Jack Rodwell go but suspect Maestro Fellaini will be off as well.
Phil Bellis
10 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:09:03
Bill Kenwright... saddle up and git!
Alan McGuffog
11 Posted 21/02/2011 at 14:57:58
It's pointless to debate whether or not we are a selling club as, sadly, we are. Nothing to be bashful about ? it's just a fact. We are broke and we will need to capitalise on the assets that we have.

The key this summer will be to identify replacements promptly, and to ensure that we get top dollar for those we sell. The club must never forget that Carroll went for £30M, Torres for £50M. So if Man U come sniffing for Jack we play hardball for once and demand £25M up front. If Chelsea are casting glances at Fellaini put a reserve price of £30M. Throw in our World Cup finalist at £10M and we should be able to clear our debts and have a small sum left over. Or is this too simple?

Moyes then has to address the need to bring in some workmanlike replacements from the Championship in time for the close season. This isn't going to get us into the top four or indeed the top eight but may just be the beginning of the recovery, especially if we are more tempting to an investor being debt free.

Dick Anderson
12 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:03:50
Rodwell is wanted by Man Utd and it's hard to imagine him not wanting to leave. I think Rodwell is growing increasingly frustrated watching the likes of Wilshire and Smalling make the step up to England International. My guess is Rodwell probably believes a big move to Utd and Champions League football will catch Fabio's eye.

Fellaini is a good player but I doubt we can expect much loyalty from him. He is not that sort of player and I would imagine his dad and agent are already planning a move away. Fellaini doesn't strike me as a player with much love for Everton and he will go where the money and success is.

Baines is probably the only one of the three we can hope to keep. Baines is a quiet family man and is unlikely to be interested in a move to a higher profile club. My guess is Baines won't be motivated by success or money. Rather he will look to stay where his family feels secure and he personally feels loved by his manager and fans.

I think the Rodwell move is more or less done, Fellaini's people are probably working on something now and Moyes will probably persuade Baines to stay.
James Martin
13 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:12:34
Sell Fellaini, keep hold of Jack and give him a starting role ? what can Fellaini do that he couldn't be taught to? Plus he's got more weapons in his armament: better passing range, powerful long shot, pace. Baines is a great player but I would love to see him at left midfield. I can't help but think that a lot of our defensive problems this year have come from our over reliance on him producing everything for us.
David Holroyd
14 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:20:20
If we sell Rodwell, who's to say Fellaini won't go also, maybe Arteta should be the one to go. £8 mill plus £70 grand a week which we cannot afford.
Trevor Lynes
15 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:25:29
We do not have adequate replacements for Baines and Saha so selling Baines is out of the question.

Do away with the long haul pre-season jaunts to Oz and the States... make sure our contracts people do not drop bollocks like the Gosling fiasco and part with the guys currently out on loan. Perhaps then we can hang on to Felli and Rodwell if they are prepared to stay with us!!

I would unload Yak, Vaughan, Bily and definitely Dutch Schultz and Yobo before I contemplated selling the first team players; this would lessen our wage bill too.

Paul Harrison
16 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:30:23
If we believe Fellani's dad/agent then he is looking for a move. Jack may not be looking but for me is over rated, so depending on the offer I would likely cash in. Baines must and would stay in my opinion.

Here is the team I would play right now for a few games:
GK: Howard RB: Coleman CB: Jagielka CB: Distin LB: Neville RM: Arteta CM: Rodwell CM: Fellani LM: Baines CF: Saha/Cahill or Saha/Beckford.

Roberto Birquet
17 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:31:51
This will be decided for us. Felli has just two years left on his deal, and will likely be offered CL football or amazing wages (Chelsea may not make the CL). We can only get top price by selling this summer, and although I'm sure the Club want to keep him, that will be a hard sell.

Disaster would be selling two or more of our jewels.

The money would pay for a very good replacement and very good winger too. I'd use the sales from others (Yobo, Yak, Vaughan, Pienaar) to pay for a quality striker. Surely the reduced wage bill for the second half of this season (£100k a week saved from three first-team players out on loan) and Bellefield sale will be enough to satisfy creditors in the short term.

Bloody hope so!
Roberto Birquet
18 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:37:12
Mark: "Fellaini will go but not for as much as we think I fear! I dont think other teams rate him as highly as we do."
-----------------
If that is true, he won't leave. I can't see him going to Stoke just for better wages, can you? If Chelsea, Man U, Man C etc want him, it will be big money. Simples.
David Thomas
19 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:38:48
If it was a question of who has the least impact on the team when he plays, then, in my opinion, if they had to get rid of one of those three players, then it would be Rodwell without a doubt.

If the question is who is the most likely to want to leave, then, from listening to Fellaini's dad, it would have to be him.
Colin Potter
20 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:48:04
Let's hope it's Kenwright and Moyes.
Liam Reilly
21 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:45:26
It will be difficult to hold onto Fellaini, especially as his father (agent) obviously sees Everton as a stepping stone.

I for one, wouldn't blame the lad if he wanted CL Football, as he deserves to play at that level and if he left, I would hope that he would receive a positive reception at Goodison on his return.

One thing that must not happen though, is to let his contract remain unsigned going into next season. That would be testament to throwing away a bumper payout.

Rodwell must stay IMO, as he is the ideal replacement in the holding role.
Phil Bellis
22 Posted 21/02/2011 at 15:47:14
Alan,
"We play hardball for once" ? Fat chance!

"Right Bill, £15 million - take it or leave it"
"20"
"Nah... 16"
"18"
"Nah... 16.5"
"17"
"Nah..."
"14"
"Done, providing you take 4 now and the rest when Rodders lands on Mars."
"That'll do nicely."
Mark Murphy
24 Posted 21/02/2011 at 16:13:56
Roberto,
I don't think he will go to Stoke or the likes, I think he'll go to Spurs, or maybe Chelsea. I just don't think we'll get the mega bucks everyone on here seems to think we will.

I'll make a virtual wager here and now we don't get more than £18m for him! (less if we hold on to him for another year before negotiating another contract.)
Ray Said
25 Posted 21/02/2011 at 16:22:36
All clubs sell players they want to keep at some time 1 Man Utd were bullied by Madrid regarding C Ronaldo ? the question is the price we will take.

Any fee for Fellaini would be offset by the amount still outstanding to his previous club. Once we pay that then what is left? £5-6mil?

Any fee for Rodwell would be seen by the board as all profit.

I would get rid of the fringe players ? Heitinga, Bily, Anichibe (if we can find someone stupid enough to have him) ? first.
Tom Owen
26 Posted 21/02/2011 at 16:30:58
I think we might see Rodwell leave this summer to Man Utd. £15million has been touted around but I think more around the £20million + add-ons is a more lucrative deal. He hasn't found his preferred position and I think he would benefit and develop more at United.

It seems the Yak, Vaughan, Heitinga, Yobo and Mucha will all leave in the summer. Along with a few youth players as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Bily was sold back to Russia as well. We can only wait and see what happens.
Alex Higgins
27 Posted 21/02/2011 at 16:43:33
We don't have to sell.
Mick Gallagher
28 Posted 21/02/2011 at 16:57:05
One good thing: Evra has signed a new contract at the Mancs so hopefully they're not looking for another left back.
Michael Kenrick
29 Posted 21/02/2011 at 16:59:11
Alex, you'd better explain, coz the word is that we probably do...
Aidy Dews
30 Posted 21/02/2011 at 16:31:53
Why do people think that Felli wants to leave just cos his dad said he is capable of playing for a top team? Did his dad actually say his son as said he wants to go to better himself at any point? No, he hasn't!

And that shite to do with his dad is old news, didn't he say the same things on the eve of the 2009 FA Cup final? It's just old news brought back to the service again cos Felli was having a good spell of form.

And Dick #10, what gives you the impression that Fellaini isn't loyal to Everton and isn't that type of player? Cos to me he does look loyal to us, he gets involved with every goal celebration, he gives his all for us and at the end of the Chelsea game he was one of the first over to celebrate and going around grabbing hold of players and giving hugs, he genuinely looks like he loves life at Everton to me.

And there's talk were going to offer him renewed terms this summer and by all accounts he's happy to extend his stay at the club.

Out of the 3 mentioned in the original thread, I'd sell Rodwell for silly money as Felli and Baines are two of the first names on the team sheet and 2 of our best players, Rodwell as potential and will come good eventually but how good i don't know but I do know that, even with the current crop of players, he's only a back up player.

If we could get anything like £25m or more for him (remember, Carroll went for £10m more so why shouldn't we hold out for as much as possible?!) then I think we should sell definitely, I mean IF we were to get £25m for Rodders then that would be a cracking deal for someone who is literally a bench warmer more often than not!

And remember, if Yobo and Yak's deals are made permanent in the summer as well, I think combined we will get around about £8m for the pair, that would give us £33m and we'd lose 3 players who haven't really made a significant contribution to the team this season anyway so in my eyes wouldn't be such a loss, we'd only be losing a potentially good player in Rodwell but who's to say he'll turn out better than Felli, cos I don't so we might as well keep Felli and offload Rodders for silly money and add ons and a percentage of any future fee his club might sell him for.

And after those sales, Yak, Yobo and Rodwell, I'd sell Heitinga as well for around about £7m and then that would make the coffers a swell £40m. If I was Moyes, I'd demand all that so he could use it to buy players and pay their wages and IMO, that's the least the board could do for him after what he's had to put up with the last few transfer windows!

But then again it's alright us lot coming out with these theories but in reality would such things happen? I'm not so sure... But I do think if Man Utd do come calling for Rodders with a £15m bid in the summer, they will get laughed at and told to up there price... but then they'd try fobbing us off with their fringe players as well like Obertan, Bebe, Gibson or whoever else?
Ray Said
31 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:00:35
Alex (25)
The consensus is that we have to sell just to keep the ship afloat.

It would surprise most fans if we didn't have to sell but let's take your position as the true one and we don't have to sell, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't sell.

A decision was made last year to do without a transfer budget and to invest those funds in new contracts for the current squad. Looking at the performances of some senior players and the league position we are in, it would be hard to judge that move a success.

This squad have had their chance and have blown it so move some seniors on and start to rebuild. We need to freshen the squad and I would start by shipping out Arteta, Heitinga, Bily, Anichebe, Osman and Yobo.

Matthew Tait
32 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:13:45
Regardless of the state of our finances, Fellaini has to be sold this summer for one simple reason ? his contract expires in two years. We cannot allow another Pienaar situation, and Fella would be mad to re-sign for us given that he would start for almost any club in Europe right now. Unfortunately, that means he has to go in the summer.

I suppose we could hold on to him for another year, but his value will drop in that year and, given we need the money now, we might as well sell him if we get the right offer.

It's not all bad though ? we already have a player tailor-made to fill the same role (Rodwell, who will get additional chances to develop with Fellaini gone), and we should pull a very tidy sum for Fellaini. £25m or so sounds about right to me.

Phil Bellis
33 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:23:04
Tom: "...and I think he would benefit and develop more at United"

Oh that's good ? plucky little Everton, keeping up the supply line to the big clubs, eh? I hope we're good enough to let Utd defer half the payment for a year to help them a bit more.

Roberto Birquet
34 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:18:57
Ray:
"All clubs sell players they want to keep at some time 1 Man Utd were bullied by Madrid regarding C Ronaldo ? the question is the price we will take.

Any fee for Fellaini would be offset by the amount still outstanding to his previous club. Once we pay that then what is left? £5-6M?"
------------------
That's nonsense. It is like satying we have paid £12 milion for him, but we haven't really. All clubs pay fees over a period of time. Man U bought Ronney over three years for the initial fee, and a couple more years for the add-ons. It is normal.

If we owe clubs for buying players, let's say we owe £5m Fellaini; that is countered by other clubs owing us for players, say Fulham still owe us for Johnson. Unless you can show (not just hearsay) that Everton owe money for players AND AT THE SAME TIME show that no-one owes us for our sales, then it's a non-issue for me.

We owe clubs; clubs owe us. Your comment sounds like double-counting.
Ray Said
35 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:27:50
Tom (24) you say 'I think he would benefit and develop more at United' ? I say once he leaves Goodison I don't care if he gives up football and becomes a monk. If he is not one of us, he doesn't exist to me.
Ray Said
36 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:31:26
Roberto (32)
It's not nonsense ? it's my opinion. You have yours and I have mine.

I will comment that your financial logic would sound familiar to the board.
Tom Owen
37 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:34:55
Phil (#31) Ray (#33) - You look at the players that have progressed and developed under Ferguson at United. Rodwell would be playing in a better team, under a better manager and playing better football suited to Jack.

He's said in interviews that he sees himself as a similar player to Rio Ferdinand. Playing at the same club as Rio will obviously make him a better player so he can learn from him. Rio may not be the player he was ? but there is no doubt he was a top class defender in his peak.

Here at Everton he's used all over the team, normally substitute appearances and hasn't really been given a chance to find his feet in the first team. He's also playing under a negative manager in Moyes.

You've seen how Rooney has progressed at United ? he's arguably one of the best strikers in European football. Don't get me wrong, I do hope Jack stays here at Everton. He's a class act.

Roberto Birquet
38 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:50:21
Roberto (32)
"It's not nonsense ? it's my opinion. You have yours and I have mine."

---------
There are two types of opinion and both can be wrong, can be right. There are those based on some evidence and those not. I don't take the second seriously.

And until someone demonstrates that Everton owe clubs money AND others do not owe Everton, then your opinion does not seem to be based on any evidence.
Ray Said
39 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:50:13
Tom (35)

I agree with you that it is likely that he would improve working under Ferguson ? it just that I don't care about him once or if he leaves Goodison.
Ray Said
40 Posted 21/02/2011 at 17:54:35
Roberto (36) ? There are many more than two types of opinion. Opinion doesn't have to be based on evidence; the classic definition is 'a view or judgement'.

My opinion is mine to hold. It makes sense to me and that's enough for me.

It's your loss if you don't take it seriously.

Phil Bellis
41 Posted 21/02/2011 at 18:06:13
Tom, you seem like a very nice person so I'll just say that to unrealistic, biased, old-school, pre-Sky Blues like me (and Ray, I presume) leaving Everton will always be a step down.
Dick Anderson
42 Posted 21/02/2011 at 18:08:50
I think the real issue is do we care who leaves the club? I support Everton not the individual player.

Barmby, Jeffers, Rooney, Pienaar, Lescott. They have all departed and at the time it was depressing.

But the club goes on. And do we miss any of them now?

In fact, apart from Rooney, have any of them gone onto better things? And you could argue Rooney isn't as good as people thought he was gonna be when he left Everton.

Let Rodwell, Fellaini and Baines go. New players will replace them and I'll still support Everton.
Simon Jenkins
43 Posted 21/02/2011 at 18:15:03
I'm beginning to think that some people on here are seriously addicted to pessimism.

Cracking win on Saturday, after almost relentless doom & gloom for weeks.

Yet somebody responds with this. Nothing wrong with it, and nothing wrong with Toffeeweb allowing it to be posted. People are entitled to their opinion and are entitled debate hypotheticals. It's far easier to write one of these articles than it is 'What if we win the FA Cup in front of a global audience and attract an investor/buyer that way?' article.

The only person leaving Everton that I would be very disappointed about would be Moyes, and even then, like Dick #40, I'd still carry on supporting the club.
Christopher McCullough
44 Posted 21/02/2011 at 18:38:00
Here, What if we win the FA Cup in front of a global audience and attract an investor/buyer that way?!!
Gerry Quinn
45 Posted 21/02/2011 at 18:49:06
Wouldn't it be nice if Rodwell were to repeat his recent statement regarding his commitment to Everton again. THAT would send a message out yet again to all those frikkin hacks who seem to think he can improve under SAF etc? Just like Rooney/Lescott/Pienaar found they would improve!
Andy Crooks
46 Posted 21/02/2011 at 18:51:25
Keep all three and sell Victor Anichebe, that should balance the books.
Dean Adams
47 Posted 21/02/2011 at 18:44:31
Does anyone know what the terms of the Yaks loan are? If he is out getting match fitness and confidence then he might come back as a top 6 striker and some of our woes will be allieviated.

Only sell what does not improve our first team, ie Vic, Ossie and Hibbo.

Dick Anderson
49 Posted 21/02/2011 at 19:54:06
We need a striker desperately. So the question is why doesn't Moyes bring back Vaughan or Yakubu?

Is it true that Vaughan and Yakubu have gone to get them off the wage bill? That both loans will lead to permanent deals and Moyes has to let them go.

If we are that broke then Rodwell is history.
Jamie Barlow
50 Posted 21/02/2011 at 18:32:29
Airy Dews @ 28.................. and breathe. Dick Anderson @ 40. You could argue that L£scott, Peanut and Rooney have gone on to better things.
Eugene Ruane
51 Posted 21/02/2011 at 20:24:04
Dick, we are and he is.
Dick Anderson
52 Posted 21/02/2011 at 20:18:28
Jamie Barlow

Lescott was a regular England starter at Everton, one of the best centre backs in the Premiership and he scored 10 goals a season. His Man City career has been stop/start. He's lost his England place. And he'll probably be shipped out as soon as City find a better player.

At Everton, Rooney was the best player at Euro 2004. He was the brightest young talent in World Football. He was tipped to be the best player in the world.

At Man Utd Rooney has won loads of stuff. He's continued playing for England. But TWO world Cups, no GOALS. And recently his England place has been debated. He's never been the best player in the world and he never will be. So you could argue he's disappointed compared to what people expected when he left Everton.

And Pienaar... too early to judge. But I doubt he'll be as good at Spurs as he was at Everton.
Phil Bellis
53 Posted 21/02/2011 at 20:31:11
I was really down when we lost Rooney as I honestly thought he'd become a Zidane, Cruyff or Maradonna ? the best player in the world
Now, I don't think he's even the best player in Manchester.
Dick Anderson
54 Posted 21/02/2011 at 20:36:45
I personally think Rooney will leave Man Utd soon. He's not the player he was.

He has never been the player everyone expected.

At 16, 17, 18 he was tipped to be the player of his generation. The best in the world.

But he's never been close to being as good as Messi or Zidane.

TWO WORLD CUPS NO GOALS.

Says it all.
Peter Laing
55 Posted 21/02/2011 at 20:46:36
How about who leaves starting with Kenwright, Woods, Carter, Earl / Green, that would do for starters ? could we really do any worse ?
Peter Laing
56 Posted 21/02/2011 at 20:47:54
To see Kenwright sat in the directors box and punching the air on Saturday made we want to be sick. Ok the guy supports Everton but the continued lies and deceite that the man has peddled over the years to the effect that we as supporters should be discussing the lesser of evils in terms of who we should be selling to keep the wolf from the door is an indicement of his stewardship and dereliction of duty.

Where is the afformentioned Robert Earl 25% stakeholder in Everton, we've had Sly Stallone at Everton 4 years ago - what else has he contributed. Let's stop making Kenwright's job easy suggesting a way out, keep the pressure up and get the twat out!

Peter Laing
58 Posted 21/02/2011 at 20:55:08
Plus, every man and his dog knows that we are once again walking the financial tight-rope, or in Kenwright speak been 'pushing the envelope' a little too much for a little too long. Therefore yes we see this crude little game once again being played out, the circus that surrounded Rooney circa 2004 spins full circle and we are debating the next big homegrown prospect Jack Rodwell.

Rooney was castigated for engineering his move, Kenwright conveniently coming out smelling of roses with a deal based on installments + player acquistion - Neville, Howard. Rooney was an asset who appeased the bank manager, he brought in more to Everton than Kenwright ever has and people sit there making Kenwright's job easy suggesting that Rodwell, or Fellaini or Baines ? who should be sold?

Ray Said
59 Posted 21/02/2011 at 21:28:03
Phil (39)
You are right ? leaving Everton and going to Madrid is a step down for me.
Gavin Ramejkis
60 Posted 21/02/2011 at 22:10:31
The real problem with selling players in the state the club is now is that they are sold to pay debts not for rebuilding. When a business has to take a loan to pay a loan you know they are in the shit and no fucking spin doctor in the world can convince me that we are selling to rebuild.

Say you manage to screw a decent figure for Baines or Fellaini then who replaces them? How much of the funds would Moyes be given and would we more likely see some unknown kid from a European third division signed, never played then disappear into thin air again? Or maybe a secret signing so secret even the manager has forgotten about them?

Craig Harrison
61 Posted 21/02/2011 at 22:02:48
Everyone needs to calm down. We dont need to sell ? Kenwright said so and it's on the official site........
Peter Warren
62 Posted 21/02/2011 at 22:33:38
Dick - have we missed those players - erm Yes
Dick Anderson
63 Posted 21/02/2011 at 22:30:40
There are always good players in the lower divisions. And Moyes has a great eye for a gem. Cahill is the perfect example.

Moyes also wanted Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton before Harry decided his best transfer policy was just to see who Moyes wanted and outbid him. Both Walker and Naughton would have been great additions to Everton.

If Everton raised £35 million for Fellaini and Rodwell and gave Moyes £10 million for new players then I'm sure he could find a gem or two.

Leicester's Andy King is building a big reputation for himself and deserves a shot at the Premier League.

Chris Eagles also deserves a shot at the Premier League. And Moyes could even steal some youngsters from the likes of Man Utd and Liverpool. Dani Pacheco for example has a big reputation but now has no chance at winning a place in the Liverpool team, thanks to Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez. Federico Macheda at Man Utd is another idea.

My point is there are plenty of options and it's not the end of the world if players move on from Everton.
Peter Warren
64 Posted 21/02/2011 at 22:57:13
I tend to agree with you, Dick, although when it's a youth player who is world class, potentially one of best players in world, it's a hard pill to swallow.

Frankly, I'm still absolutely gutted about losing Rooney. However, no offence to him, but he was an uneducated scally and agents dictated to him and just way it goes, I guess.

Rodwell is different... as not world class as Rooney clearly was... but I truly believe he has as much potential and I would be absolutely gutted to see him leave. He is a future Ferdinand but better, potential to be an absolute legend of the game and I mean legend. Totally agree only potential but that potential he undoubtedly has, in my view.
Ste Traverse
65 Posted 21/02/2011 at 23:49:56
It could be any of those 3. I wouldn't blame any of our best players for moving on from our unambitious club.

Billy Bullshit will be rubbing his hands at how much he can get for them.
Roman Sidey
66 Posted 21/02/2011 at 23:35:32
IF one of the three had to leave, I guess the best way for us as fans to decide who we would choose is by who we like the best.

I think everyone is fairly together on Baines staying put. He's scouse and loves it at Goodison. Neither Jack nor Fellaini will be at the club in 5 years, but I think offloading Fellaini now would be the move.

Most players that come from the continent to Everton ARE using the club as a stepping stone, so why delay the inevitable? If we do renew Fellaini's contract, it will be for huge money, and we will be in a worse situation immediately, for the chance of making an extra few million in the long run.

Rodwell, on the other hand, is still relatively cheap on a weekly basis, so we really could hang onto him until he's about 21-22 (2013-ish), by which point we may be in a better position to keep him, or we can get really good money for him.

I don't understand why people lump Heintinga and Bily in the 'old wood' category. They are 26 and 25 respectively (Bily's 26 next week), so they have about 10 years left in their careers. Both have shown lately that they are decent players, and if they want to stay at Everton, I'd be honoured to have them stay as long as they want.

Jon Cox
67 Posted 22/02/2011 at 00:25:09
Aidey (28) great post mate totaly agree. One thing though, I'd have Gibson from Utd tomorrow. The guy's shooting is lethal.
Jon Cox
68 Posted 22/02/2011 at 00:40:46
Gerry Quinn, I just think you're a flat cushionist!! (Long live Crosby!)
Peter Laing
69 Posted 22/02/2011 at 03:08:29
This article is symptomatic of the inertia that exists within the Everton fanbase and serves to justify the culture of laissez faire that seems to masquerade as the current policy of Kenwright and Co that is eating away like a cancer at the future prospect and aspiration of Everton Football Club.

Various reports have suggested that the Everton business model is unsustainable, elequently summarised by the recent pieces by Joe Beardwood and Colin Fitzpatrick. The recent fans Trust highlighted on these pages being a beacon of light in an otherwise bleak and miserable winter, or third transfer window of discontent. It would appear now that the only strategy left following the sell-off of all tangible assets that the next logical step is to start selling off any major assets that exist within the playing staff.

The Wayne Rooney sale has been played out to death ad infinitum since 2004; however, it remains a cautionary tale for anybody questioning the motives of Kenwright and Co concerning Marouane Fellaini or Jack Rodwell. Wayne Rooney has been castigated by many for his perceived disloyalty to Everton in 2004, a sale not for £50 million pounds in Bill Kenwright's words that amounted to not even half that amount but ultimately kept the bailiffs from the door to the Chairman's office on Goodison Road.

Kenwright has a history of selling the family silverware, so expect a Marouane Fellaini or Jack Rodwell to be the next player out of the door. I for one though will not believe the hyperbole trotted out by the Club blaming the player or his father, agent or representatives when Kenwright cashes the cheque to retain his grubby paws on power and appease the paymasters.

Everton is a selling club, fact; how do we as fans begin to change the status quo?

John Daley
70 Posted 22/02/2011 at 03:13:48
"We dont need to sell ? Kenwright said so."

Craig, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and presume you're taking the piss with that statement!

"I don't understand why people lump Heintinga and Bily in the 'old wood' category..... if they want to stay at Everton, I'd be honoured to have them stay as long as they want."

Old wood? More like MDF. Could it be because they've contributed next to nothing between them all season? They'll both be gone in the summer and neither will be missed.

Kase Chow
71 Posted 22/02/2011 at 03:55:17
But we already have some money...

Yobo is out on loan and doing reasonably well. He hasn't contributed this season... conservative estimated value (cev) approx £4 or 5M.

The Yak is out on loan and (regardless of whether we think he was coming back to form) has not been a significant contributor this season... cev £4 or £5M.

James Vaughan has again not contributed much... cev £1M.

Bily, ok has played a reasonable amount BUT isn't a first team regular... cev £4 or 5M.

Big Vic hasn't done a load this season... cev £2M.

Johnny Hettinga HAS played this season but we could probably sell for £4 or 5M and he isn't a first team regular.

So... if we sell that lot, we get approx £19-23M and we haven't lost one first-team regular.

Now this is where Moyes's transfer market skill comes in, he'll have to get a least 1 centre back, 1 midfielder and say 2 strikers for around £14M (let's assume our Bill Kenwright takes £5M towards the debt).

If Moyesie can pick a few gems from either lower leagues, Scandanavia, Africa or South America... maybe even the US, it's possible we don't have to sell Baines, Fella or Rodders...

It's possible...

Jimmy Hacking
73 Posted 22/02/2011 at 10:59:30
Eh??? Have you lot who are actually acquiescing to us flogging one or more of our best players completely insane?

Have you forgotten how tiny our squad has been for the last 9 years or so? Injury crisis after injury crisis, no fit strikers, Steve Watson up front?

Can someone please explain to me how on earth we can afford to lose either our best defender or our only decent midfielder (accept it) or our one shining beacon of hope for anything other than a Championship future?

If we DO sell one of our core players and do not adequately replace him, I will give up on Everton. Enough is enough.
Gavin Ramejkis
74 Posted 22/02/2011 at 11:29:38
Kase, if we sold a player for £20m and BK kept £5m for the bank then DM wouldn't be able to buy a £15m player as that money would have to factor wages. Given we are absolutely potless and wages for even average players are in excess of £20k a year that would make a £5m or £6m player a target, unless you unearth an absolute gem that's going to be a lesser player than the one you have lost.
Eric Myles
75 Posted 22/02/2011 at 12:19:19
On current form, if someone offered £5m for Fellaini, I'd snatch their arm off and laugh all the way to the bank.
James Cadwaladr
76 Posted 22/02/2011 at 12:56:03
Dick Anderson, if Evra leaves, you can bet your life United come in for Baines. Whatever his ambitions are, United's training ground is 25 miles away from Everton's... doesn't have to move his family far does he!

Wouldn't be so sure he won't be off and I think he probably realises Everton the most money based in this season.

Eric Myles @ 70 ? you're watching a different sport.
Ben Jones
77 Posted 22/02/2011 at 13:35:20
Dick Anderson, mate, the only thing I agree with you is Lescott,. He left for big money and hasn't really done much for City.

Pienaar has only left us for month, and at the moment, he's playing Champions League football and actually getting more games than I thought. That could change obviously but at the moment, the move's been good for him, as I'd much rather Tottenham's position than Everton's at the moment. Everyone would.

Rooney has one bad season. But has the move been bad for him? Of course it hasnt. Last season he was considered one of the best strikers in the world and rightly so, he had a phenomenal season.

I think the more sensible thing would be to sell Rodwell as well as Heitinga, Vaughan and maybe the Yak. Rodwell is gona move eventually unless we suddenly start playing Champions League football, so why not now when he's not playing regularly for us and we desperately need the money?

Heitinga is only our third centre back. We can sell him for a lot and get a cheaper alternative quite easily. Vaughan speaks for himself, and the Yak... I wouldn't be too hasty... he looked good for Leicester and he has full fitness now. See how he looks in pre-season and we might have the old Yak back.
Eric Myles
78 Posted 22/02/2011 at 13:33:51
Kevin #3 ? ?I still cannot understand how smaller teams can get investors but Everton with all it's history cannot.? Other teams are not getting investors, they?re getting BUYERS, Everton are not for sale and nobody in their right mind would invest with Kenwright's track record.

Roberto #16 ? ?and Bellefield sale will be enough to satisfy creditors in the short term.? Haven?t you read the accounts lad? Bellefield has been sold last year and the money already gone and we?re still in debt.

Dick #46 ? ?We need a striker desperately. So the question is why doesn't Moyes bring back Vaughan or Yakubu?? Wages mate, we can?t afford them.

James #71 ? you're watching synchronised swimming I guess.
John Daley
79 Posted 22/02/2011 at 14:13:06
"We need a striker desperately. So the question is why doesn't Moyes bring back Vaughan or Yakubu?"

I was under the impression that players cannot be recalled if a loan fee has been paid to their parent club?

"On current form if someone offered £5m for Fellaini I'd snatch their arm off and laugh all the way to the bank."

Seeing as though he has been one of our best performers for the past few months, I would hate to see how much you think the rest of the squad is worth.
James Cadwaladr
80 Posted 22/02/2011 at 14:58:18
No Eric, football. Never been much of a synchronised swimming fan, perhaps you can tell me about it.
Mike Oates
81 Posted 22/02/2011 at 15:03:23
For goodness sake I'm sick and tired of hearing about our history... blah blah ... it alone should make us worth buying . As a certain Mr Ford (Car) said many many years ago, "History is Bunk".

Forget what's gone, it is what the future looks like that will interest buyes or investors ? they couldn't give a damn about Dean and Ball, Harvey & Kendall etc etc . Can Everton become a major brand, a major player in European football? and How much money is that going to take???
David Thomas
82 Posted 22/02/2011 at 15:47:41
Eric,

"On current form if someone offered £5m for Fellaini I'd snatch their arm off and laugh all the way to the bank."

That comment has to be a wind-up or someone obviously does not watch Everton.
Ray Roche
84 Posted 22/02/2011 at 17:00:22
Eric Myles

Pay more attention, mate, Fellaini's the one with the big hair.

You're thinking of Hibbert.
James Stewart
87 Posted 22/02/2011 at 18:42:38
Simple Baines will stay.

Rodwell and Fellaini will both go to the tune of about £40M.

This will provide Moyes with a summer kitty of about £15-20M.

The rest will get swallowed up in paying the debts and keeping Billy Bullshit and his board of cronies in power just a little while longer... until next year, when we do it all again.
Garry Martin
88 Posted 22/02/2011 at 19:18:52
Simple, Felli has already decided he's going or rather his dad has, therefore, we sell for £25 million. We give the bank £5 million to keep them quite for 12 months , Moysey spends £20 million, all winners. We do however loose a great player, there again we will survive without him.

Rodders will still have 4 years left on his contract. He will be next seasons bail out !!!!

Jon Cox
89 Posted 22/02/2011 at 19:34:37
Ray and Roberto, enjoyed your little duel in the sun but don't forget, in terms of us Evertonians, arguing about who knows what, when and where.......

"[T]here are known knowns; there are things we know we know.
We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns ? the ones we don't know we don't know."

So, don't you think that Gerry Quinn should get done by the cops for abuse against a defencless cushion whilst being emotionally rollercoasted by Everton on Saturday against Chelsea? You may know that you don't know but you don't know that you may not know.

See, guys, when you think about it, it's so easy.

That was a party political broadcast on behalf of the Magic Mushroom Party.
Bertie Alloff
90 Posted 22/02/2011 at 21:05:23
If it was up to me, it would be Rodwell, but it's far more likely to be Fellaini, especially after the Pienaar contract fiasco, which set a dangerous precedent.
Roman Sidey
91 Posted 22/02/2011 at 23:02:10
John Daley, both have contributed "nothing this season" as niether of them was given half a chance until January, and even then, only because of injury to other players. If we sold Heintinga for less than £10mil, I'd see it as a massive waste. Albeit, I don't want us to sell him at all ? he is the sort that the club needs to hold on to.
James Hollister
92 Posted 23/02/2011 at 09:01:49
I am not convinced by Rodwell's progress, and not sure of his future. If United want him for 12/15m id let him go, but would he really fetch that amount?
I just don't think the lad is progressing as well as some people think he is. He has done virtually nothing this season.
As for Fella going, if he brings the right price in great, if not he can't go.
Baines going , I just cannot see that, we'd be committing suicide letting him go, besides why would he want to go if he said recently he wants to stay, and signed a new contract, the lad is a true blue not a merc in my eyes
James Hollister
93 Posted 23/02/2011 at 09:04:47
Kase Chow - You put an estimate of only 4-5m on Bily. I'll grant you he isn't thought much of in the UK, but in Europe where he is rated we'd get a lot more than 4 or 5M for the lad.
James Hollister
94 Posted 23/02/2011 at 09:11:39
Dick Anderson ? "Barmby, Jeffers leaving was depressing."

I was elated when they left... wasn't impressed in the slightest with either of them.

Martin Mason
95 Posted 23/02/2011 at 10:13:41
Whilst I see the need to sell to buy we also have to accept that it's a quality reduction as whatever we buy isn't as good. I accept that we're destined to lose Fellaini but the biggest disappointment would be Rodwell, he isn't the finished article yet as he hasn't had chance to become it but believe me he is a class act and we should draw a line in the sand with him.

Sell to buy is an alternative but few are in the buying market and who sells decent players?

Manic depression
Les Martin
97 Posted 23/02/2011 at 17:14:47
Rodwell and Fellaini are the future of Everton's midfield, Moyes knows that and will be livid if they are sold, as surely he is wasting his time teambuilding, only for his work to be undermined.

I am of the opinion that Kenwright has 3/4 months to sell the club, before the summer's transfer period, the prospect of new owners and investment then may sway any player who has doubts about the club's ambition to win trophies ? and that's what it's all about if you are a player.

Dickie Langley
98 Posted 23/02/2011 at 17:36:02
I can't believe a World Cup Finalist is complete rubbish, so I'd put Heitinga in a back three. It would mean Coleman and Baines can play a bit further forward (which would suit them), we wouldn't need to buy wingers, and we could have 3 central midfielders (Rodwell, Fellaini, Arteta). You could even play 2 up front!
Paul Dewhurst
99 Posted 23/02/2011 at 20:57:21
Baines won't go unless to another northwest team and I could only see that being City as Evra just signed an extension for United. Felli will start to engineer a move so most likely to go get Rodwell to play his position for 12-24 months depending on the books raise profile and value. That would make most business sense, and for Morgan Post 1 ? Better Left Foot... KEVIN SHEEDY!!
Roman Sidey
100 Posted 23/02/2011 at 23:20:53
Dickie Langley, everything you said are the reasons why the designers of this website need to install a 'like' function, a la Facebook!!!!
Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
101 Posted 24/02/2011 at 05:29:12
Oh, Roman, I do so hope the WebMeister never stoops to that level.
Dave Southon
102 Posted 24/02/2011 at 12:26:28
While I agree we have to sell to stay afloat, I have to disagree with some of the figures being banded about here.

Remember, we are Everton Football Club, the likelihood is we will take £15mill for Rodwell and £15mill for Fellaini. These £20mill+ offers are just pipedreams.

Please don't think I believe they are not worth it, as I think we should be demanding a king's ransom for our gold. Unfortunately, we can't negotiate for toffee and seem happy to grab any cash offer we can.

Eric Myles
103 Posted 24/02/2011 at 15:18:58
Sorry James (#75) can't. but I've been watching Fellaini and bet he could have a better career at it than at football.
Roman Sidey
104 Posted 24/02/2011 at 22:10:23
Thought I'd get your attention there Michael. haha.
Eric Myles
105 Posted 25/02/2011 at 08:37:09
David & Ray #77 & #78.

I have been watching Fellaini, see some of my previous posts of statistics on his 'performance'.

And have you noticed how bad our defence has been since Hibbert has not been in it?

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