Baines: Transfer rumours are nothing to worry about

, 4 December, 69comments  |  Jump to most recent

Leighton Baines has again played down media speculation linking him with a move away from Goodison saying that he and the other players are all focused on the push for Europe with Everton.

"There have been a few windows and a few rumours and there's nothing to worry about," Baines said after he was asked about Twitter rumours suggesting he was bound for Manchester United.

"There are a lot of lads here who have been at the club for a long time now and we want to bring [Champions League football to Goodison] not just for ourselves and our own ambitions but for the other people at the club, the manager, the chairman, the fans.

"It would be a massive achievement for us if we could get those European nights back at Goodison.

"Although there's a lot of hard work and a lot of other clubs scrapping for that fourth spot, we'd like to think that if we can get our form back on track we could be one of them."

Quotes or other material sourced from Sky Sports



Reader Comments (69)

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


Paul Ferry
1 Posted 05/12/2012 at 00:35:38
Don't you wish that all footie players were like this down-to-earth gent who wears modesty on his sleeve and, unlike some we won't mention, has sound taste in music and saunters into the stadium before the match decked out in headphones bigger than roundabouts wit da gangsta ganga stuff pounding out. LB, if he is not already, will go down on record as a Goodison great. He ain't going anywhere.
Jack Okell
2 Posted 05/12/2012 at 00:59:58
That's what I like to hear. Good lad, Bainesy!!
Bjørn-Ivar Pedersen
3 Posted 05/12/2012 at 01:33:42
And now X-mas can come peacefully.
Eric Myles
4 Posted 05/12/2012 at 02:30:33
At Everton it's not up to the players whether they're sold or not though, it's up to how much Bill needs to give the banks so they don't kill us.

And maybe that's why Moyes is stalling on his contract negotiations until after the window closes, a bit of blackmail perhaps to ensure he gets to keep his best players even if he gets no new ones in?

Steve Moore
5 Posted 05/12/2012 at 05:14:51
There are still a few decent people left in football and Bainesey is one. He is happy; why leave?
Pat Waine
6 Posted 05/12/2012 at 07:58:53
Call me a cynic but I've heard it all before. Once a blue etc. We will see in January.

I hope he stays but they all have their price – they are not Alan Ball, more's the pity.
Phil Sammon
7 Posted 05/12/2012 at 09:36:17
That's a bit unfair, Eric. It has happened in the past, you're right, but in recent years the club has only sold when players pressed for it or when offers were of benefit to the development of the team (Rodwell).
Peter Barry
8 Posted 05/12/2012 at 09:46:14
Like last minute Arteta, do you mean, Phil (#657). I seem to remember him pledging undying loyalty to Everton too, just like Rooney did.

Wake up — they are almost all mercenaries looking to make as much as they can in their all-too-short careers.
Eric Myles
9 Posted 05/12/2012 at 09:53:53
Phil, I'll see your Rodwell and raise you an Arteta. From only last January, all the money went to the bank remember? I don't see anything has changed in the Club to put us on a more sound financial footing in the meantime.
Roberto Birquet
10 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:03:37
Eric

The change I suggest is the new PL TV rights. Everton was reportedly losing £5 million a year. The sales agreed in 2011 shoulda brought our debt down over the next three years.

The new deal will either be lost to more player wages (Clubs are reportedly discussing how to avoid this), or allow Everton to pay down debt without sales.
Steven Telford
11 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:03:07
If the money goes to the bank, maybe it’s because it has to go to the bank.
Steven Telford
12 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:08:32
Think Leeds and Greece.
Roberto Birquet
13 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:06:47
And Arteta was sold at the end of the August window, on his own demand. The sales have since brought money for rebuilding the squad: out Bily and Rodwell; in Jelavic, Gibson, Mirallas, Oviedo, Pienaar and a new bumper deal for Fellaini. That's about £17 million recouped, and nearly £20 m spent.
Roberto Birquet
14 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:11:28
Okay, add in Yobo, and our spending has equalled our selling.
Roberto Birquet
15 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:12:07
Steve Telford. a note on Greece. The bailouts are actually of the banks (Greece owes banks billions); were Greece to default, banks would collapse as their debts are worse than anyone's, which makes them kinda desperate.
Eric Myles
16 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:10:16
Roberto, I hope you're right and it doesn't go to our increased 'Other Operating Costs". But in any case the first payment of the new TV rights fees won't come in until September next year.

Steven, exactly why my point was that players won't be determining whether they stay or go, the banks will.

Eric Myles
17 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:19:30
Roberto, regardless of whether Arteta jumped or was pushed at the last minute of the transfer window, it doesn't alter the fact of where the money went.
Trevor Lynes
18 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:23:33
Hey, you're missing Yakubu, Beckford, Vaughan and Cahill plus all the wages saved on the top earners like Cahill and Arteta. We have also unloaded Ruddy, McFadden and Hahnemann, all of whom were on the payroll. By my reckoning, we have made far more money than has been spent and that's why DM is looking for money for the next window.

This is the best footballing side we have had for years and survival is not good enough. We need to live up to the club motto and back the manager by strengthening our really sparse squad.

Our bench is ridiculously weak and we do not seem to have youngsters pushing for places. Virtually all of our first eleven can play if they want to as they have no competition. This is not a good thing from either a business situation or a playing one.

The strength of every side lies with the ability to be able to bring on a players who can provide different options on the field if things are not going well. We do not have that luxury. We have defenders who can come on to attempt to hang on to slim leads but no-one good enough up front to change things and win games.

Peter Cummings
19 Posted 05/12/2012 at 10:57:48
You have to love Bainesy, the guy is 100% genuine but what I'd like to hear is that he would, like Tim Cahill, give a definite 'no chance' of playing for any other PL club.

The Fellaini situation is precarious to say the least as his agent (his dad) wants him to go for the big bucks. As for DM, unless and until he re-signs, his future is also uncertain.

Obviously our hope of EU qualification is also far from certain given recent results unless we tighten up all round.
Steven Telford
20 Posted 05/12/2012 at 11:24:00
Roberto, I know....... thank you.

The point of my reference is that if you live outside your means, reality catches up with you. Which is why I am sympathising with the people who support that idea that not splashing out cash at every opportunity, Bill is not necessarily failing to act in the best interest of the club.
Steven Telford
21 Posted 05/12/2012 at 11:29:54
Albeit less dramatic and less enjoyable as seeing new players, reducing the debt is an investment in the club.
Steven Telford
22 Posted 05/12/2012 at 11:33:24
Eric if you want to permanently remove (or reduce) the banks' role in the decision-making process, we need to get out of debt, which, unfortunately for the meantime means not using all new money on new players.
Eric Myles
23 Posted 05/12/2012 at 12:25:59
True Steven, but there's a big difference between new money coming in being used to pay off debt, and current assets being sold off to pay off debt and not being replaced.

And given that our only current assets are essential and we have so few of them (i.e. players) we can't afford to lose a Baines or Fellaini to pay off debt at the moment.

Pablo Connelly
24 Posted 05/12/2012 at 12:31:28
I think we need to repel this idea that a bank manager picks up the phone to Bill every time we sell a player. Let's be clear: providing Everton make their agreed installment payments to Barclays (that may be annual or monthly, I don't know), Barclays will be more than happy to sit back and rake in the interest.

This idea that anyone from Barclays has any right of demand on any of Everton's other incomings is fictitious and without any substance. They have absolutely no legal right to demand any extra or larger repayments than what will have already been agreed before borrowing any funds.

There will only be an issue with the bank if Everton start to default on any of those installments and fall into arrears. Even if that happened the bank would send litigators to negotiate a reduced repayment program to ensure they get their money. The only way the bank would have any say whatsoever on what Everton do with their own incomings would be if Everton continued to default to the point where legal action was taken.

Maybe I am being pedantic but it just seems ridiculous that some people have taken the view that any funds not reinvested in more transfers have automatically gone back to the bank. I am pretty sure there are other outgoings for every football club, from training equipment to wages, stadium maintenance etc, so to suggest we don't control our own budget is infantile.

Now I am by no means ITK; I am a normal Evertonian. Can I ask that if anyone else wants to post a 'fact' about any of our extra income going straight to the banks can you please provide evidence of when Everton defaulted on their agreed repayments to the bank and how far in arrears we have become and when the banks are taking us to court? Alternatively if you're like me and haven't got a clue, why don't you try and refrain from posting mind-numbing speculation? Just a suggestion.

Brent Stephens
25 Posted 05/12/2012 at 13:14:25
Pablo, a fair piece. It might be that some of those talking about income from player-sales going to the bank are simply saying that that is from choice rather than being strong-armed by the bank.
Pablo Connelly
26 Posted 05/12/2012 at 13:39:38
Brent,

I am not saying that we aren't skint or that none of our income helps pay off creditors but simply that I don't know! And unless some of the posters do know how our income is being distributed, they are speculating and presenting it as facts.

All I am saying is that any repayments to creditors will be set out before borrowing the funds and there seems to be an assumption a percentage of player sales has to subsidise this without proof. It presents the image that we can't maintain our repayments but there is no proof we have fallen into arrears.

I just prefer not to speculate without facts. That's just me.
Eric Myles
27 Posted 05/12/2012 at 13:50:14
So Pablo, you're calling Bill a liar when he said he had to plead with the banks not to kill us?

And calling Moyes a liar when he said the Arteta money went to the banks?

Eric Myles
28 Posted 05/12/2012 at 13:54:36
And Pablo, Barclays are not the only financial institution we're in debt to. Either last financial year or this we have £20 million in short term loans to pay back.
Christine Foster
29 Posted 05/12/2012 at 13:53:28
Pablo, when a company, which EFC are, make continual losses, they limit on a day-to-day basis, the amount of their facility – their overdraft for want of a better word. This has been the status for the past few years whereby operating costs have exceeded income and player sales have topped up the coffers to keep the ship afloat.

That does not mean the banks are happy with this and as a result pressure is brought to bear through limiting cash flow, credit facilities and overall debt levels. They will instruct the club to reduce its debt levels in line with its ability to pay to reduce their risk should EFC default. It's not a mortgage, it's a facility that can be called in or reduced as the bank sees fit, as it defines the risk.

There have been confirmations at various times over the past few years were the CEO has declared that funds from player sales have been paid directly to reduce debt to keep the bank happy.

They have one hand in our pocket and the other around our neck...

Philip Quilliam
30 Posted 05/12/2012 at 14:04:20
Eric, whilst I don't doubt that you are correct can you tell me where you are getting this information?

I accept that I am a bit of a technophobe but I have tried to find details of Everton's accounts on line without much success so I wonder how it comes to be in the hands of so many contributors, like yourself, to the various web sites who appear to quote snippets of it, seemingly at will.

I have to admit that I didn't even know that our account was with Barclays – I thought we were with the CoOp bank.
Pablo Connelly
31 Posted 05/12/2012 at 14:13:54
Christine, as I challenged in my post, please provide specific examples proving what you claim??
Steven Telford
32 Posted 05/12/2012 at 14:10:45
Indeed, I do agree we can’t afford to lose some key assets, MF and LB. It’s really about balance, gradually eroding our debt and ensuring we have the sorts of assets that can give success on the field. And it is in recognition of difficulty of that balance as to why I feel Moyes is arguably our most valuable asset. For sure I want to see both MF and LB sticking with us.
Eric Myles
33 Posted 05/12/2012 at 14:14:06
Philip, it's recollection from the discussions from when the last accounts came out and there were several reviews of them by persons more knowledgeable than me in accounts and business (Jim Began and Richard Larner if I got their names right?). I'll try a search but the TW search function is one of the few weak points of the site.

It's also quite possible that we have accounts at both Barclay's and CoOp.

Eric Myles
34 Posted 05/12/2012 at 14:24:54
My apologies to Joe Bearwood who it is that makes the annual analysis of the accounts. And to TW as info was surprisingly easy to find.

http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/11-12/news/19875.html
http://www.toffeeweb.com/club/business/finances_11.pdf

Bobby Thomas
35 Posted 05/12/2012 at 14:24:16
Pablo.

Kenwright says "the Pienaar money went to the bank" in the Blue Union interview.

Elstone is on record saying our debt levels are static.

Not reduced, static. We reinvested little or none of the Yobo, Beckford, Yakubu, Vaughan or Arteta money in players and were loaning out players.

Seems the Bily deal freed up cash for Jelavic. Rodwell freed up cash for Pienaar and Mirallas.

We continue to lose money. So where's it gone? Show me where the cash I refer to has been "reinvested".

People draw the conclusion money is going to the bank when the chairman utters the words himself!! Leaked emails referred to the need to sell at least one player before Arteta left, things were "tighter than ever".

Your challenge to Christine is a Masonesque position of inherent weakness.

Eric Myles
36 Posted 05/12/2012 at 15:00:57
Philip, I found several figures ranging from £14.9 mill to £52 mill repayment in the year but the following from Richard Lardner is the one I recollect and would most trust.

"Bottom line for me is that at 31 May 2011 we had £24m of loans falling due within 12 months. £9.1m of overdraft (repayable on demand) and £14m of bank loans. The banks have clearly indicated that these loans (or a portion thereof) are not going to be rolled, as would have been the case pre-Lehman."

Eric Myles
37 Posted 05/12/2012 at 15:06:58
And this Philip

http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/11-12/comment/fan/18804.html

Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
38 Posted 05/12/2012 at 15:36:36
Pablo, please drop the challenge. Christine (as well as others) have provided the correct explanation that tries to broaden your rather narrow definition of how borrowing, lending and repayment works.
Kevin Tully
39 Posted 05/12/2012 at 16:02:51
This club is operating on it's income from TV, player trading, gate receipts & merchandising.

All the above does not cover the club's current operating costs.

The board have flogged all saleable assets – including players – to keep the debt at manageable levels.

There has been no investment in the club from the board, since their original purchase cost.

Luckily, there is an even bigger percentage of TV money payable next season, so we may be able to pay some of £45-50m worth of debt down.

The banks can withdraw their borrowing facilities as they see fit, so of course they can insist we pay down the debt.

Now seeing as the board refuse to invest a penny, how can they raise capital?

Mmmmm..... let me think about that one.

Christine Foster
40 Posted 05/12/2012 at 16:57:23
Eric, Michael, thank you for picking this up, I have just got back to my computer in the middle of the night here.. sorry for my tardy response.
Philip Quilliam
41 Posted 05/12/2012 at 16:46:39
Thanks, Eric. Looking at them I am sorry I asked.
Patrick Murphy
42 Posted 05/12/2012 at 17:00:16
Maybe to lighten the mood you should
visit ['www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WB2TFF0__rc]

I like the music....perhaps at that pace some budding lyricist may be able to adopt something suitable.

Steven Telford
43 Posted 05/12/2012 at 16:54:40
I know it will strike some people as a bit of an unorthodox suggestion, and that some people will mock the idea, but I think Bill should consider to offer a stake in the company (club) to David Moyes (gifted from his own shareholding) — as part of new contract negotiation, of course.

The financial fragility of our situation only serves to underline the need for a very resourceful and capable manager.

Dan Brierley
44 Posted 05/12/2012 at 17:53:03
I think I was having the same discussion with Eric on a different thread. And I find the same thing being said every season, about how we are in a terrible financial state, the banks want their money back etc.

Yet each season, our squad gets stronger! Nobody knows the status regarding the banks, as there has not been a financial report for a long time. So all this suggestion that MF or LB has to be sold to appease the banks is just idle speculation, that we see off the same people, season-in, season-out. When I look at our figures of debt and wage ratio in comparison to the rest of the Premier League, I don't think we are managed that badly and recklessly.

Dan Brierley
45 Posted 05/12/2012 at 18:43:24
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/23/premier-league-accounts-profit-debt
Nick Entwistle
46 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:11:35
You'd think, looking at that, Dan, that Man Utd's finances are in good condition. They're horrifically in debt, but of course they have the turnover to service that debt... whereas Everton do not.

If we end up with a stronger squad — which was weaker and weaker until last January — then it's down to Moyes in the transfer market, being allowed the luxury of a zero net spend the last two transfer windows, when, in the previous four, he was unable to make a cash signing and found £18m go out in one year without a penny to be seen in his direction (except Gueye and Vellios).

Lyndon Lloyd
47 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:02:08
Yet each season, our squad gets stronger!

Dan, the starting XI gets stronger, yes, because of Moyes's shrewd buying... but the squad is still pitifully weak from its lack of depth. In January, Moyes shipped out one fringe player (Bilyaletdinov — admittedly one of his few failures — and replaced him with three first-choice starters in the form of Jelavic, Gibson and Pienaar (on loan) with the proceeds.

He sold another fringe player (Rodwell) and reinvested the proceeds in more first-choice talent in the form of Mirallas, Pienaar (permanent acquisition) and Oviedo. This team strengthening owes everything to a manager managing his resources impressively well.

We are no longer managed badly or recklessly (the global credit crisis enforced some austerity measures on the Board) but, while our financial state is stable, it remains concerning — the club's short-term lending/overdraft facility may be under control from the bank's perspective but comms director Paul Tyrell recently admitted that overall debt (presumably rolling loans and long-term secured) will show as unchanged in the next accounts — and still precludes any further squad building without having to sell one of our big-ticket players.

Brent Stephens
48 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:23:54
Lyndon, I think you could argue that although the squad is not large, overall it is stronger i.e. we have more good quality players than we had - you list them in your second para. Less can be more.
Steven Telford
49 Posted 05/12/2012 at 18:52:18
Thats a very interesting link; thanks for posting, Dan.
Dan Brierley
50 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:16:57
You are right, Nick, it's all relative to turnover. We live right on the breadline, no doubt, but just about within our means.

This is why I am surprised when people have a dig at Moyes's salary. Not only does he have to get the team to compete and win, he is also our financial strategy, by bringing in young players and developing them into valuable talents that can manage the debt where necessary.

Of course, the ideal scenario is to be self-funding and have future vision in the same way that Arsenal are going. But the reason that they were able to get the finance to have a big new stadium, was because they could demonstrate that they could fill the ground due to waiting lists etc. Even at the Emirates, they STILL have a waiting list of 40,000! We cannot even fill our current season ticket capacity (even with the 95 quid junior programme) so it's a hard business case to justify.

Ian Bennett
51 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:36:14
Lyndon – Moyes alchemy should cheer the mob up. Other than that, what else did the Romans do...
Dan Brierley
52 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:38:21
Lyndon, I think you managed to prove my point somehow. 2 fringe players out, 6 first team players in! I would argue that our squad is much stronger than at this time last season.

But yes, I agree it is a woefully thin squad in comparison to other teams. But this is more out of necessity, than choice.

Nick Entwistle
53 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:36:11
Brent, that's the management of resources that Lyndon mentions.

Less can be more if you can keep playing your starting XI each and every game but we're way behind our competitors for squad strength and this decline is the Number One threat to failing in CL qualification this season.
Ian Bennett
54 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:51:32
It will be interesting to see the accounts after last years slash and burn of wages. They don't need to be filed with Companies House until the end of February next year, but if I recall they usually come out around now. They aren't overdue as someone did comment, unless the Premier League have a tighter filing date?
Nick Entwistle
55 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:50:10
Since summer 2011:

Out: Cahill, Bily, Saha, Rodwell, Yak, Yobo, Beckford, Arteta.

In: Mirallas, Jelavic, Gibson, Oviedo, Pienaar, Naismith.

Numbers down; efficacy up.

Ian Bennett
56 Posted 05/12/2012 at 19:59:06
Nick - 8 vs 6.

I bet the wages are half as well. At £2 to £3m average that's fair money.

Ian Bennett
57 Posted 05/12/2012 at 20:12:42
Some great posts on this page reading through.

What is key for me is that Moyes has to trade. As strong as the squad is, he has to continue to trade, upping the quality and dropping the average age. Being complacent with the squad leaves us where we were 12-24 months ago.

Steven Telford
58 Posted 05/12/2012 at 21:11:46
Look at the discrepancies of interest payments relative to the amount of debt. Why for example do Fulham pay £600k on their debt of £190M, while we pay £4M on our debt of £45M.
Steven Telford
59 Posted 05/12/2012 at 21:22:50
Villa seem in a pretty bad state.
Ian Bennett
60 Posted 05/12/2012 at 21:24:44
Because ours loans are with wonga, whilst Fulham's is with Harrods.
Barry Rathbone
61 Posted 05/12/2012 at 21:17:01
Ian, couldn't agree more; it's a pity it's taken Moyes virtually 10 years to tune in. The name of the game is buy cheap, fatten them up, then sell on under this regime.

Pointless whinging about it because, as the Blue Union proved, most fans aren't arsed. Nobody is listening and the days of having years to build teams has long gone – football success is measured in months now.

Dan Brierley
62 Posted 05/12/2012 at 21:26:57
Steve, its due to the fact it is a 'soft loan' given to the club by Al Fayed, so does not accrue interest.
Steven Telford
63 Posted 05/12/2012 at 21:35:26
Ah, Thanks Dan
Brent Stephens
64 Posted 05/12/2012 at 22:13:57
Nick, my point was that one take on this could be that in fact the squad – not just the 1st XI – is stronger... because of weaker players out the door and and stronger ones in. That's why I say maybe less is more –overall, squad-wise. And we haven't been able to play our first XI all games but are still in a good position vis-à-vis the last year or two??
Nick Entwistle
65 Posted 05/12/2012 at 22:43:15
Brent, hmm, improving the quality of the starting XI doesn't improve the squad per se. It's the backup players, the second XI that's letting us down and will screw us over, if anything, in the pursuit for 4th.

Barry... Johnson, McFadden, Neill, Lescott etc etc etc...

Nick Entwistle
66 Posted 05/12/2012 at 22:45:55
Sorry, Barry, I completely misunderstood the point you were making. Then again, I'm rereading what you've posted and I'm not entirely sure you have one to begin with. What are you banging on about?
Tom Bowers
67 Posted 05/12/2012 at 22:49:14
Anyone who really is affected by transfer rumours need only look and see what time of year it is.

Yes it's close to the transfer window opening and the media is speculating willy-nilly about almost every marketable commodity in the Prem as per usual.

It's all a load of crap as most of us know but rumours once started spread like wildfire.

Fellaini, Baines, Heitinga etc etc are all mentioned here and there and I am sure really big tempting fees would have to be offered for Fellaini and Baines before Everton would bat an eyelid in January.

Heitinga... not so much, as he may want a move being basically a second choice player at Goodison.

Everton are not well off in the defensive category; if Heitinga is to go, then Lescott may be the ideal replacement despite all the angst when he left.
Barry Rathbone
68 Posted 06/12/2012 at 11:16:43
Nick, sorry mate I've just read my post again and you're right it is bollocks - just ignore it.

The boy Rathbone needs to up his game friggin' tyre-kicker.

Nick Entwistle
69 Posted 06/12/2012 at 12:16:56
Moyes be with you.

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