Hitzlsperger gets contract extension

Thomas Hitzlsperger signed till the end of the season.

Seems like a new signing.

Don't ya just love Everton?

Also according to Noel Gallagher he lives on the same street as Blue Bill, Weller and Lulu in London........

I struggle with that claim. Any half-decent player is already going to be signed up by someone; I would go so far as to state that anyone available as a free agent is no longer a "really good player".

Yes, they might have been once (this is the Cahill arguement all over again) but it has to be all about what they can do for us now — not their past careers. No doubt there will be some examples put forward of players for other clubs that might have come good, but, as far as Everton are concerned (and that's all I care about), our experience with bringing free agents has been at best poor, and at worst shockingly poor, as far as I can recall.

There's a good reason why these players are free agents: they're not good enough!

A free agent is not necessarily "not good enough" as Michael suggests, but at the very least any talent is usually outweighed by some other issue. At best they're a low-risk punt.

Players become free agents for a variety of reasons and not just because they are past it.

I would agree with you about some of our recent free agents. But, for every McFadden Mk II, there is a Hitzlsperger or Lucas Neill. While not exactly world class, I think that Hitzlsperger could play twenty to thirty games and be more than just competent. I also thought that Neill did alright for us.

I also agree with you about standards for Everton. If I had my way, we would be signing Messi and Van Persie every other week. When we have the cash to sign a Mirallas or a Baines then please let us do that first and foremost. I am happy to sign one quality player of that ilk for cash when we can and then use a decent free agent to bring up the overall level of the squad.

Thanks for clarifying that, Robin. Spot on.

This idea, when you look at it in terms of Hitzleberger, is also a sound one. Why not extend his contract to the end of the season. If we don't have an automatic replacement at present through injury or lack of numbers, then it could well mean us spending money to replace him anyway.

Cheap and reasonable enough for a back-up player, but if Hitzlsperger and Neville end up being in for the majority of our remaining games then Ossie, Pienaar and Mirallas are going to have to really put some shifts in to keep our attacking threat at its peak.

Can I please ask that people drop the "3 points from third" reference until next Wednesday at least. Chelsea are above us with a game in hand (at home against Southampton) and a much better goal difference.

Barkley will return a changed man. He will learn to kick the stuffing out of people before wrestling them to the ground whilst picking up the words to a few dodgy chants.

Not sure how many we need on the pitch at any one time. More than one may not be a big problem, but I wouldn't think it would be the optimum either.

I am hoping this is just another cheap option to bolster the squad and an younger midfield with real dynamism and bite will be coming in as well.

Hitz' was injured for most of the last two years. When he has been on he's been moderate at least. He already hit the upright with der hammer so there might be something more to come...

Having said that, just for the sake of it, I agree that we don't really want them both in the team at the same time.

The Everton Fans should put a Musical together based
on that wonderful Diana Ross record

"I'm Still Waiting"

WOW

Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Normally I am quite peaceful. It must be a ToffeeWeb virus. Only five minutes ago I gave Mr Moyes a real good pasting on another thread.