Martinez rules out big departures in January

Big question is who has Roberto got lined up for a loan spell. Lennon proved a good acquisition last year as he injected some fight, that influenced the others.

What do we need this year to make a difference and push on?

McGeady if healthy

McAleny - Why is he still around?

Naismith because of what we've been told already.

Mirallas, God knows. What we DO know is that his age makes it a "now or never" for Roberto. There's plenty of interest AND money around for Roberto to entertain offers. I sure wish it could be worked out the guy stays.

Folks in here call for Pienaar, Hibbert, Osman, and Gibson to be gone. Where to? Gibson, if healthy will draw interest. The others will leave come the Summer.

With Mirallas and Gibson, I'll guess that results over the holiday season will determine Roberto's decision-making once the window opens. Maybe Naismith, too.

Of course, if an "out-of-the-blue offer for Barkley appears . . . . . . . .

In the Summer, though, MLS CAN afford him.

Over here, the opportunities to make money beyond a salary are many for Howard. Even Landon made more from endorsements than salary. The same is available for Tim. He's popular here.

What I hope is at the end of the season, Roberto takes his keepers aside for a minute and tells them that their position goes to the one earns it in the pre-season.

Now though I think we need to move both players on, along with McGeady, to try and bring in a talented left-sided player to give us balance and hopefully push us up the league while it’s still all so tight.

We do need a backup striker too but a left-sided player is needed now for the first team and money brought in from the sale of the three players mentioned would provide ample funds to take a real talented player who could be a major player for us.

My estimates for the players is: Mirallas 㾶M; Naismith ٦M and McGeady ١M. Totalling 㿁M... possibly Pienaar for ٠M too.

That figure plus their wages would attract a diamond. Our club have scouts in place etc so I won’t push too many names but Draxler or Januzi from Man Utd would be an option and would fit into what we are doing with young players.

I do agree that a keeper is a priority but unfortunately Martinez doesn’t, so end of discussion as far as that goes.

A striker on loan would ease worries of what we would do if big Rom was injured.

He needs to get several loan players in, a keeper, defender, attacking midfielder and a striker.

If Martinez does not add quality to what little we have, this will be another missed opportunity.

Just look at the alternatives if Deulofeu or Kone get injured. Lennon or a recall for McGeady, even RM isn't that stupid. Mind he did sign Lennon in the first place, God knows why... he has always flattered to deceive all his career.

So let's look at what alternatives do we have if key players get injured. Also, Lukaku is going to need a break as he has played virtually every minute of every game so far.

The big question for me though is not so much the outgoings but what type of players we need to really push on.

Regardless of Martinez's stubborn belief that this team is going places, we still don't really look any closer to being a team good enough to challenge the top four places. The same mistakes that plagued us last season are still in clear evidence, the inability to see out a 1-0 lead, inability to keep clean sheets, inability to defend crossed balls, set-pieces and a blatant lack of leadership has held back some very good attacking play.

For all the good attacking football we've witnessed this season, by the same time as last season we have won just the same amount of games, only slightly better off points-wise due to a few more draws.

Knowing us, we will lose one or two in January but be happy to do our usual "go with what we have got".

For me, this season has been arguably as frustrating if not more than last because that top 4 really is up for grabs this time around, hell even the Premier League title is, nobody seems to want to win it! But again due to the usual failings we will ebb towards another "what could have been" season.

It could all change if for once we actually tried to speculate to accumulate in January, but we know we'll do nothing.

Mirallas seems already to have mentally 'left the building'. A great player on his day – but that 'day' tends to be twice a season.

Naismith – a real trier... just a tad limited.

McGeady – I'd pay someone to take him off our wages bill.

Gibson – will never sadly be fit enough. He let us and himself down with his drink-driving incident. Sell at the end of the season.

Summer – my Number One keeper choice would be Butland. Young, English and very talented.

I would love to see us keep Geri, Rom, Ross and Stonesy for years to come, but realistically this won't happen.

Do not sell Stones – his value will only sky rocket after the Euros. Regardless of money – keep him for as long as we can. At least one more season. Galloway and Browning are two of many promising youngsters who can help replace him when the inevitable occurs.

If Lukaku wants a move by the summer (NB he has that irritating agent) – make the buyer pay through the teeth 㿞 mil+.

With the 㿼 mil (?) TV dosh coming in on top of any sales then, if we purchase wisely, who knows...

I think Lukaku getting injured or tired is a risk and using Mirallas to offset this is a better option than bringing in a striker on loan.

The squad is fairly strong and if there is anywhere we have looked a bit suspect this month, then it's at the back. I can't see us splashing on a new centre-back after buying Funes Mori, who is beginning to convince me less after a strong start, so I reckon it will be 'as you were...'

The only way we are going to keep and attract the very top players is if we are a regular top 4 club and the only way that's going to happen is we have a change of ownership. Without super rich owners, it ain't going to happen, chaps, is it?

Slagging players off that are not good enough and blaming managers for our lack of success is criticising the wrong people.

As we are now, we are not a top 4 club; yes it's possible we could sneak in one season, but there's little chance we could consistently do it.

I think we are, at this moment, a top 4 club this season.

The team is a young one but full of talent. The league at the top is weak. Patience is the key word and realizing there are going to be a plethora of points seemingly dropped.

However...

If this squad plays to their potential, I see no reason they should not finish top 4.

Time will tell...

Yes Sam, a big test for Funes Mori coming up. A tough lad with two good feet and a tremendous attitude, both he and Baines will be faced with the task of stopping Mahrez, who loves to cut inside left-footed defenders. Barry will cover them and he is also left-footed. Happy days.

Right now, Leicester are the strongest team in the country with the two top players and the best overall fighting attitude. We are also quite hot at the moment and I'm hoping for a win. Our front lads should score goals and the opposition approach play should suit Howard.

The foundations are there, and if &150; IF &150; this squad remains intact at its core, it is only a matter of time, maturity, and experience, until we crack that proverbial glass ceiling.

I firmly believe this, and frankly don't care what the prevailing, majority opinion is.

This squad is either gold, or gold in the making.

Not trying to be a doom merchant, but another factor is the amount of money these clubs can offer the likes of Stones and Lukaku.

If we don't "achieve" something this season, the team will invariably break up and we will be left thinking "what could've been".

Come on Roberto, pull your finger out, get rid of the crap, buy in a decent keeper, a decent left mid/winger and another striker and let's go for it

Not sure if he is cut out to be a central defender. Seems too nice.

Breaking news, the special one's been sacked!!!

Obvious Guardiola will get the Chelsea job.

I do expect a backlash from the supporters against the players though which could put Chelsea in real shit unless they make a quick appointment.

I doubt it. The tabloids will continue to parrot every rumour no matter how vague. They have nothing better to do and column inches to fill.

It's also possible that Manchester United themselves may quickly act now to fire Van Gaal and actually beat Chelsea to the appointment of Guardiola.

You would believe maybe this time last year the likes of United would have been queuing up for Mourinho's signature but perhaps now a lot of top clubs may deem the Mourinho bandwagon and all the baggage he carries around as more trouble than it's worth.

Mourinho does himself no favours but the Chelsea players should take a long hard look at themselves, I believe much like Manchester United, they are struggling themselves to replace many big characters, not that this is any concern of ours of course.

You normally see when one rival makes a high profile sacking it usually sparks a spate of sackings, each club trying to gain more publicity than the other.

Let's face it, Van Gaal is on rocky ground anyway so a surprise it wouldn't be.

I believe the Mourinho departure, leaving the Chelsea job vacant for a potential big name like Guardiola, will force United's hand in moving Van Gaal on so you'd imagine it will be a two way fight for Guardiola between the Mancs and Chelsea .

I said in a thread after the Norwich game that I feel so frustrated this season because not just the top four but the title is up for grabs, nobody seems to want to win it and it's there for anyone who gets their act together.

The only thing that will stop Leicester winning it is a lack of squad depth.

It's so frustrating knowing what could have been.

Let's hope The Rom And Gerry Show is on fire.

It will be probably be a caretaker manager at Chelsea, I don't know if James is serious, but any half decent manager will get them winning.

With the players they have they will likely go on winning run.

Gutted the game will not be on TV. Stinking NBC is starting to piss me off.

Makes you wonder who's out there for these mega rich clubs... most of the the big names have been sacked and had their reputations tarnished.

I wonder if any of them will have the balls to take a chance on an up-and-comer like Eddie Howe ?

Whatever happens, the cash will be splashed this January and it's good to hear the boss make it clear that it won't be on any of our big players.

Top 4 ? ... still game on

Trouble is, Mourinho couldn't treat with triumph in anything less than a triumphalist way.

Roberto out, Jose in! Well, maybe not.

Funes Mori is top notch – what do you really want?

If it's not him, then it would be Stones, he is a good defender and, for his first season in the Premier League, he has been top class.

I think LVG will be sacked soon, Jose will go to Man Utd, Hiddink to Chelsea (until end of season) and Guardiola (prima donna if there ever was one) will take over at Man City in the summer.

Roberto will stay at Everton.

Rather puts into perspective how Martinez is doing at the club.

By the way, if Crystal Palace are worth just under 300 mill, what should our value be???

Thing is we have only won 5 league games all year and they are all against the bottom 9 clubs including 3 out of the current bottom 5. Oh, we have also managed 2 draws against the clubs lying in 18th and the one in 13th over the past few weeks too mind you.

Against the current 9 clubs above us it is played 8, won 0, drawn 5 lost 3.

Still, sin meido or no se puede defender las esquinas.

Alternatively Chelsea can give us £35 to 40 million plus Cahill and Begovic. Cahill only signed a new contract last week, anyone else think this was to bump up his wages as a sweetener before he does a part exchange to us on the same terms?

Besic is Roberto's own boy. He scouted him. He signed him. He'll make sure he is a success. Personally, I expect really good things from this tough skilful lad. Though disappointed not to play, he understood the situation and what the manager had in mind for him.

Very studious and intelligent, he was ready for his left-midfield breakthrough when his hamstring went as he burst into the box. Hence his beating of the turf. Let's hope he has better luck next time.

If Stonesy goes anywhere it will be to man u, minus LVG. Despite the wages the chavs can pay they are a basket case and I can see the likes of Hazard, Fabregas, Costa and Willian etc.... leaving in the summer to go to bigger and better clubs. Hopefully, the chavs will be relegated and return to their normal yoyo team status of a few years ago. And, they can take the fucking great white hope Shawcross with them.

There is not many January windows were Everton have brought in the type of player that can take the team to a higher position.

It was a terrible sight seeing Besic pull up the way he did against Chelsea. However, his reaction is etched in my memory and makes me love the guy. He was gutted. Absolutely furious that his time had come and his body had let him down.

He really wants it and when his chance comes again, we can rest assured that he will give everything he has.

If we had stopped the stupid goals in the last 3 games we are top 4, and would Jerome have bullied Shawcross the way he bullied Stones in the lead up to the Norwich goal? ...thought not.

Have to disagree mate – yes Shawcross is limited but he could cure an issue we suffer with: dominating the box with headers. He clears the ball better than any of our centre backs and would probably reduce the number of goals conceded from set-pieces.

I love my defenders to attack but I love them to defend more. And Shawcross is nastier than any defender on our books currently and would give a few players a necessary kick up the backside.

Currently, there's few wearing blue that HATE conceding a goal. That actually despite it. We desperately need that mentality 'thou shall not pass' and to get the buggers to stop conceding goals.

Contrary to what you believe, I do not "Hate" Martinez. I was about to post, for the 3rd time since summer that I was proud of him – on the Alder Hey story.

This for me is the most interesting Premier League since its inception. Teams like Leicester, Palace, West Ham and even Bournemouth have really stood up to the big boys and we have seen the big boys blink first. Chelsea are in disarray, free scoring Man Utd can't buy a goal and Man City without Kompany look very ordinary.

I applauded when Martinez told Chelsea to shove their money, it looked like a good move for Everton, but by denying Chelsea that fresh new face all sides need (even Champions), he was doing them untold damage.

This season's race for the top four prizes is beginning to look like a Grand National, we've even got the runaway outsider. We may have twatted the last three fences, but Horse and Jockey remain as one. Sometimes it's about hanging in there and seeing what you have left on the run in.

You don't sack the Jockey half way through the race, but it doesn't mean you can't rant and rave at him from the stand if he is not paying attention to detail.

Whilst I agree Butland is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, I cannot see how you think he would come to Everton any time soon.

For one, he's recently signed a contract keeping him at the Britannia until 2019 so any transfer would involve buying out that contract. Do you see Everton doing that?

Second, when he does eventually move on to better things, I'm sure his agent is not going to let him go to any club that cannot guarantee him Champions League football.

I agree with you on Shawcross. I followed Stoke because of Begovich and Cameron.

To those not rating Shawcross, it is a little odd that both Begovic,when there and now Butland are considered to be so very good. What is the common denominator? Shawcross and a few other hard-nosed defenders in front of them and disciplined defending on the corners.

Yes, maybe under Sparky, there are fewer heads needing bandaged but the goals are not being leaked. Solid defenders in front can do wonders for a team's goals conceded stats.

You'd have to think they've tried it in training though surely, although, I'd have expected the same to be the case for defending corners too!!