Koeman and Walsh open to signing Rooney

If we was voting here I'd say sign him up.

The main thing, however, is that Koeman clearly wants him and that's good enough for me.

Looks like it's going to happen, doesn't it.

He's 32, can't be compared to Barry because he never had the same dedication to looking after himself. There's plenty of time for drinking and smoking when he retires.

If he's no longer good enough for Man Utd, then he's not good enough for their peers and if the club has any real ambition then it needs to look elsewhere.

He's going to be on a massive wedge and will want assurances of starting; so who's place is he going to take; Barkley's?

Very passionate there. Take a breath.

He is directly comparable to Barry, who I'm sure you were just as skeptical of when we first signed him, as we all were. He definitely is dedicated to looking after himself.

I don't know what Rooney you've been watching for the last few years, but he's become the model professional. To the point where the media, which loves to bring him down, had to desperately hype it up when he drank at a wedding - what a terrible shame to the nation.

I imagine he'd take a hefty wage cut to return to Everton, too. And I think he'd put his all in for his boyhood club, and the club his kids support.

I don't think he'll have any illusions of taking anyone's place. I'd love to see this team line up next season in a 3-5-2 with wingbacks:

Robles (or new goalkeeper – Butland? Pickford?)
Coleman Keane Holgate Williams Baines
Schneiderlin Gueye
Barkley
Rooney in behind Lukaku

Subs: Stekelenburg, Funes Mori (or another new CB), Davies, McCarthy (or Walsh), Lookman, Bolasie, Mirallas (or Dowell)

Doesn't look bad, huh.

Sentiment aside, at the right price, I would bring him back. Football is a job at the end of the day. Work with David Moyes in a relegation challenging team or Sir Alex Ferguson in a Champions League challenging team. The objective human answer would be...?

I don't think he's over the hill. De Bruyne, Lukaku, Schneiderlin, Mata, Cech, etc. Mourinho has a history of discarding players to soon. Rooney has a couple of years left in him at the top.

Rooney hasn't played as much this season due to the form of Ibrahimovic. That doesn't make him a bad player.

The guy was and still is world class. A captain for his club and country he is a winner, a leader and a top player who scores goals every year at the highest level.

He is essentially as good as Lukaku, at his best possibly better.

Negatives... My only gripe is we'll buy him and sell Lukaku in the summer. Any team with ambition would have both.

Rooney is not the same player that he was 2-3 years ago and Everton is not the same desperate club; so I just don't see why we are interested in him.

I just think it makes so much sense for all parties.

He makes and scores goals. Simple as that really.

He wouldn't take anyone's place, as he'd have to earn his place like everyone else.

He's a step up on all our current attacking players, except Barkley and Lukaku.

He'd be a marketing dream too.

How much of a pay cut would he have to make to join Everton?

If wage weren't a deciding factor there might be a chance (but I think the chance is basically zero because of his current wage cost).

What if the club promised him a number of shares or similar, to make up for his lost earnings in the short-term, despite what many people think, the lad is as much a blue as Kenwright and I'm sure he would jump at the chance to end his proper footballing career at Everton.

I'm really torn as to whether it is a good move for Everton FC or a disaster in the making – if it was used to placate the loss of Rom or Ross – I'd have to say thanks but no thanks... but, if it is a move that supplements those two and the team I'd have to seriously consider it. Don't forget if Rooney wants to be on the plane to Russia next year he has to be playing football at the highest level.

Maybe Walsh and Co see a way of rejuvenating him.

I would have thought we'd have wanted to be moving forward rather than being perceived as a rest home for "slightly used" former Man Utd stars.

He is not at all comparable to Barry.

It is a well known fact that Rooney was in decline when Ferguson was there and had a few run ins with him over his "lifestyle".

He is known to smoke and drink and although he conducts himself better in public these days he is certainly not in peak condition.

A top class Rooney would be in anyones team so why is Mourhino sidelining him.

He would not be a good role model for the youngsters and has spent his best years winning things for the Mancs.

Now they don't want him it is being suggested we become his retirement home.

No thanks.

The balance to be struck is between on the field, adding brains to a team sadly lacking in them, and the off field commercials which add to the profile of a club determined to raise its global appeal.

I think it would right to certainly look at it. You'd hope sentiment on both sides will bring him in on an equitable deal.

His experience would be needed should we make the Europa League and in games like last Saturday were we still look short of ideas against teams like Sunderland. Plus influence in the dressing room.

Would there be a Rooney bounce!? A return to a club he started at and with 2018 to aim for. I think its worth 12 months, certainly with the 'wheels' we have in the team which might protect Rooney's ailing physicality.

I still think in a blue shirt he'd still have it in him to ruin Bigstand FC single-handed.

I'm in.

What do we get in return?

Instant cred. Wayne is still a world class striker and midfielder his signing would symbolize to the whole world our ambitions as a club. As Steve Walsh said just yesterday he would sell jerseys. Think FFP here he puts us back on the map.

Makes us instantly a potent attacking force. Playing with Ross behind Lukaku he creates a lot of space and diverts a lot of attention away from the big man. Rooney might never score as many goals as he once did but the team will score more goals with him in it.

His age and experience would really help bring on our younger players for the next critical couple of years. A perfect signing if we can make it happen.

He'd also have to accept a massive wage cut as he won't be getting more than £100k p/w with us. If he passes his tests and takes the pay cut then yes, I'd have him back.

Okay, Rooney is not setting the world alight at the moment. He is still an outstanding footballer. Plenty of players move from one team to another and find a new lease of life, regaining form. Not to mention the value of having a player with his experience in the squad. Imagine what Barkley and Davies could learn from an England Captain.

Then there is the obvious marketing potential. Many young football fans won't even know Rooney started his career at Everton. His return would be a huge boost to our media exposure and like it or not that is one of the keys to success in modern football.

To me it boils down to this. Rooney would be a luxury, albeit a luxury with several benefits. If you can afford the luxury to get the benefits, without crippling yourself, it seems like a no-brainer to me.

Despite what Mourinho thinks, Rooney is far from finished. I think playing for his boyhood team, the one despite all the shit he (perhaps deservedly) got from fans that he's raised his kids to support, that might give him an extra performance boost that he wouldn't get at Man Utd.

I'm willing to bet he'd trade all his accomplishments with Man Utd for lifting a trophy with Everton.

Your first para. You obviously know nothing about the man who is Rooney or Psychology. The man is a multimill dude... So your question is "does money matter?"

Last 2 or 3 years of his footy life? the amount in his bank account, Work it out for your self. "Hunger to play at the highest level." The guy played football, as a kid, in the street, as a fictitious Everton player.

Do you think as an Everton supporter that no matter what you did, in your footballing life at the end of the day, you still love Everton.

We are dealing with love here. So, emotion aside, if I was Rooney, my question would be: "how much more as a percent would I put in because I'm nearly finished, but I'd die for Everton."

Rooney has to come home; it's that simple... and that poetic!

Rooney sign for a couple of seasons in a deal that will suit all parties, he'll then finish his career in China or America. He'll only be 33 in two seasons time. Plenty of time still for a big pay day in China.

I'm looking forward to seeing this happen. It makes sense in so many ways.

Forget his age, he is no Zlatan, he will not add value to this team.

So long as we have the financial muscle to bring him in AND strengthen in the other key areas then why not?

It would be a massive statement of intent and make sports headlines all around the globe!

Those of you who are (justifiably) sceptical... just take one moment to visualise him scoring the winner at Anfield .

If that is some fans' way of thinking then we should forget about Man Utd cast-offs Keane and Heaton at Burnley.

I hope we go for Rooney, one hell of a football brain and still a few years left in him yet. He's still quite a few years younger than Man Utd's Ibrahimovic.

If Rooney signs, we'll make money from shirt sales that will help subsidise the £100,000+ a week he'll be on. But it won't make sense if we have to pay a huge fee as well. That's the only sticking point for me. Rooney is still a top player and could make a big contribution, both off and on the pitch.

Too many on this thread sound like scorned lovers. He'll be a great signing if the terms are right.

We will need more players if we are in the Europa League next season but I wouldn't want stupid money throwing away on Rooney. He hasn't played that much for Man Utd in the last couple of seasons and he has been mostly poor... ask Man Utd fans!

Would you pay him more than Lukaku? Because he will expect it...

I should imagine Rooney would get parity with the new deal Rom is meant to be signing, should he sign. I would have absolutely no problem with that on a 2 year deal. The commercial exposure and revenue from shirt sales alone will cover that outlay.

IMO he'd also make a big contribution on the pitch. There's no need for sentimentality. Rooney will be a good signing for Everton, both off and on the pitch, if we sign him on the right terms. I wouldn't pay a huge fee for him and don't see how United would expect that, because they aren't going to get it from a European club.

I'll trust Koeman and Steve Walsh on this one. They've done a good job up to now.

Too old for Man Utd, why would we want him? He's nowhere near the player he used to be. Let him go to China and get a few more million in his bank account.

He's not better than Lukaku and he is not and never will be a top midfielder. Really would be a backward step, IMO, to sign him.

I'm not convinced one iota that it will be some kind of marketing coup either. Let's face it not all of us are moved to get all teary eyed and poetic, some people are incandescent with rage. I just think its a bit of a lazy move to be honest.

From a footballing sense bringing him back makes no sense at all. He's hardly going to fit into a fast-paced pressing game!

Like most things, it comes down to money.

Seriously, if this is going to happen, then I'd be happy as long as we sign equally inspirational players (outside of Rooney) and don't lose players because we sign Rooney!

Rooney has to be a luxury purchase, commercially lucrative and financially viable for a team that wants to compete in the top four regularly.

I actually believe that a long-term blue (like Rooney) would have the "nouse" to realise that moving back to the fold (for a reduced salary) might return commercial value, along a dockside stadium, a long-term contract for Lukaku, Davies, Gueye and Holgate to return his boyhood club to the place it could have been if he'd stayed all those years ago.

Retribution could sound harsh, but he gave his talent to another club. Bring it back, only to a club that has a chance to become better.

COYB

He must know that he'll have to take a sharp cut to his wages. Frankly, if he was after a cosy retirement still earning lots of dosh (as if £ 100 k a week or thereabouts was just change...) he would take the China option.

Of course Man. Utd. will try to get a reasonable amount of money for him, but we can always try some add-ons, like they did when they signed him from us. Say, another couple of million pounds once he scores his first hat-trick, or if he scores the winner at Old Trafford and across the park.

As for my views on his possible return, I hesitate. If only he was a couple of years younger... I try not to be sentimental on stuff like this, but it's not easy, especially when one's mourning the departure of the great Alex Young.

We will break the bank to pay you 10 times what top scorer Lukaku gets, and you can even be captain of this small club, because you are bigger than Dixie, Bally, the Golden Vision etc.

Please come back, and bring Stretford with you, as I'm sure he could help some of our players to make shady, covert exits from the club, leaving you to be the great blue-and-white hope – once a blue... "

With Calvert-Lewin / Lookman / McCarthy / Barry / Besic / Funes Mori / Holgate in reserve.

Seems like a quality team to me.

Even if some on here think he can still cut it, nobody can deny he is on a downward path at the end of his career – he would be joining a team on an upward path and in my opinion wrong player at the wrong time = a disaster waiting to happen.

I am sure you didn't mean it but it's disrespectful to conflate Evertonians sentiment and sense of loss over the passing over a true Everton legend Alex Young with the potential return of Rooney.

Is Rooney a Man Utd legend? Well he should be in statistical terms but do their supporters view him as such? – not really as many of them view him as a bit of a mercenary who negotiated his £300k a week salary by threatening to go to Man City.

You only need to read the excellent article on this site about Alex's Young wife to realise the affection and genuine warmth the Golden Vision had for the fans.

Compare that to Rooney's conduct after he left, slating us in the press and carrying on like Steven Gerrard when he scored at Goodison.

Otherwise... no thanks.

I assume if Ronald wants him then there must be a possibility, however if he is not going to uproot his family,lose his England chances then he will not be going to China, so its a possibility.

With this in mind he will have to lower his salary if staying in Europe no matter where he goes, therefore he is fair game.

I think its a great option for the player, and a great PR option for us. Additionally some players click in different team set ups and he could be a revitalized and a brilliant acquisition

Yes I understand the "never go back" but those are just words!! if he acts as a catalyst to a trophy or a spring board to greater things then yes I can see it happening.

Also the naysayers will be astounded when the roof comes off at Goodison when he makes his renewed debut, and walks onto the pitch. More chance of getting a ticket to see a re incarnated Elvis, than that I am sure.

With his agent having already been very publically in China a move is definitely on in the summer. We would have enough time between now and the summer to enter into negotiations to try and hammer out a deal that suits all parties.

If he wants to come back fine, I can't argue his ability. Reflect on this though it would take a pensioner 12 years to earn what he earns in week. The game is full of greedy bastards.

Be concerned for the fans who pay their hard earned money every week so we can talk on here about a wage cut to £100k per week.

No thanks.

We're looking forward and not backwards.

He made his decision in 2004, and I don't blame him so much for that. Just look at his medal cabinet. I find it harder to forgive the badge kissing though – that just stinks.

There are some examples of senior players changing their style of play and going on to enjoy an Indian summer-just look at Pirlo, and others. Dave Mackay at Derby, Bobby Moore at Fulham(showing my age!)

But major questions would remain for me.

Who would he displace? Would he prepared to be a squad player at Everton, yet not a Man Utd? What does it say to the likes of Tom Davies if space is made for the 'return of the prodigal'?

Would he REALLY want to join Everton if we were 200 miles from his home rather than 25 miles?

For me, if he offered to sign and donate ALL of his salary to EitC (the last thing he needs is a last pay day), then I might be sold on the idea that he wanted to return to Everton because he felt he owed us something.

The silence is deafening. Still it shows Steve Walsh is earning his corn !?! he's done well to unearth this fucking gem. This would be a backward step of epic proportions. Can't we go in for Juan Mata? Oh no, I forgot, he's still good enough for Man Utd.

Anyway, wanting Rooney back at this stage of his career best tuck themselves up in bed with a good Mills & Boon novel. He is simply not good enough for Man Utd nor Everton. Two seasons ago "yes" but then he wasn't offered to us 2 seasons ago. Why? cos he was still doing it then. He's washed up and staring down the other side of the hill and who's going to hold his hand whilst he walks down it when once he could run up it? Everton!! Wake up and smell the coffee, Mr Walsh. Say "No thanks".

The Rooney debate could go on forever, but I don't believe one of the reason's he would come back to Everton is for the money.

If that was the case, he could go and play in the 'softies' league' in the USA for probably double what he would earn at Everton.

Posters are saying he is playing poorly this season but he isn't playing in his correct position as Zlatan has taken that space.

It's like when old whisky nose put him on the wing.

It would seem to be that Maureen isn't interested in him and I'm not one whose convinced with his judgement. He binned Lukaku and also Mata, look how that ended up?

If he comes it will be interesting to see how it goes and he will still have time to get his ridiculous wages from China in a year or two.

As for not fitting in to Koeman's style of play well some of you lot clearly watch him through bitter tinted glasses. At Man United he is often accused of trying too hard and how many times do you see him tackling someone at left back or right back. Who would you rather coming off the bench when we need a goal to win the game, Valencia, Kone, Lookman or a hungry Wayne Rooney. I know who my last tenner would be on to score us the next goal out of that list.

If he was coming back for a final pay day then I might be more reticent but I don't believe he would be given the huge pay cut he would have to take. That is predominantly why I can't see this happening unless Stretford is planning on retiring as I believe Rooney is his only client now and therefore he would be steering him towards the biggest pay day possible hence his trip to China, I imagine he has probably gone to the states also.

If Rooney ends up back with us then it will be because he feels he owes us something and wants to give something back to the club other than his transfer fee which kept us going for a few years.

The thought of him lifting a trophy with Everton will hopefully be driving his next move and having someone in the dressing room that hungry for success who is used to working in the exacting environments under Fergie and Mourinho where anything less than your best is unacceptable is surely a good thing.

The days are gone of this club being a last step before retirement. Koeman will make that crystal clear and if he has any doubts I don't believe we will sign him.

I don't see many 32-year-old strikers banging in goals in the league. Defoe is the only one I can think of and he is a different player to Rooney and still has pace at 34.

Other than marketing (non shirt) money, I don't really see what benefit Rooney would bring on the pitch to the club at the age of 31 (almost 32 in the summer). He doesn't bring much to united at present.

His reason for a move would no doubt be the World Cup in 2018 but can he really give us anything on the pitch that improves us? He's not going to be running round pressing the opposition, playing Koeman's preferred high tempo game.

Also I'm not sure having such a big distracting personality at the club would be positive for overall team moral. He'll come with a media circus and a relatively massive wage.

But I haven't seen him change up a gear since 2011 when the only Man Utd player to come out of the Champions League Wembley thrashing by Barca with credit was him.

For all that, I'd still like to give the lad a go. The idea of him holding the FA Cup beaming to camera "This means more to me than anything I've ever won" appeals on so many levels.

But the cold hard evidence of what I see on the pitch... then again I remember Paul Power and being equally incredulous; but what a contribution that lad made.

What I meant is, during a period of loss such as this, it is easy to let oneself be carried away by sentiment, however different Young's and Rooney's outlooks may have been.

Ibrahimovic is a 35-year-old who proves the point that age is not always the main problem. In my opinion, Rooney would be a great signing for the next two years to help bring on the youngsters. The same people on here complained about selling Naismith and that player struggles to get in a Championship Norwich team!

As a striker, I think we all agree his best days are gone but his guile and experience behind the strikers could still be invaluable for a season or two.

Whilst sentiment is factored in to a degree with our comments and maybe with a decision to end his career back at Everton it mustn't be overlooked that the Blues now have some good youngsters maturing quickly which could make it difficult for him to play regularly as a starter but it could well be he isn't too worried about that.

The fact you chose to stop after two words doesn't mean there is only two that need be said when the subject of Man Utd cast-offs securing a top flight career extension at Everton crops up.

Why, there's at least twelve more I can think of that you opted to remain tight lipped over: Tom Cleverley, Darron Gibson, Phil Neville, Tim Howard, Louis Saha, Jasper Blomqvist.

Stopping dead after saying "Morgan Schneiderlin", paints about as complete a picture as a shifty looking street seller shouting "FREE FANNY!!" at the top of his lungs, before lightly muttering under his (Fray Bentos fragranced) breath: "..Brice Album! The Original Funny Girl Squawks The Songs She Made Famous."

How you can say he doesn't improve our squad is beyond me. And I've never heard anyone criticise his work rate in any game he has played so why people are saying he can't play the pressing game is beyond me. Enner Valencia or Rooney? Have a word with your self.

He went to Man Utd. Get over it. He has loads to give not just on the pitch. I can't see it happening but would be happy if it did.

Are you seriously comparing Zlatan as an athlete with Rooney? The only similarity is that both are arrogant twats

"Get over it" is right, but whether it should be aimed at those who are no longer arsed about him/aren't salivating at the prospect of him possibly coming back is questionable in the extreme. Especially, when there's Evertonians still swearing blind he's more blue than those winged monkey's out of The Wizard Of Oz and will fly just as high despite being way heftier.

Bottom line is whether he will make us better. The "he went to Man Utd" vs "he's one of us" debate is OK to bang on about when having a crap day or drunk but it's about the future. I think he would add naff all and Sky (who too many people seem to think run our club), would drop the story within a week of him signing.

To me it would be like when we signed Gazza and that French guy who was at end of his career.

Gone are the days when Rooney is photographed looking over weight. Every time he plays he works hard for the team so no one can say he isn't fit enough.

Is he still better than some in our squad? Yes. That is what this is about, not the messiah returns or anything like that. Koeman says it all, signings have to have ambition and to fit in to the way he wants to play,

Koeman will take any emotion out of decision, if we sign him he will have to take a huge pay cut on what he could earn by staying at united or going to China and that will tell you everything about how ambitious he is for Everton.

I think Stretford will point him to the money and therefore this thread is a waste of time. There are still a lot of bitter people on here who aren't looking at things objectively.

(shoves 2 litre Hai Karate bottle back under kitchen sink)

We are not a team lacking direction or motivation (at the moment) and appear to have more than Plan A & B. So why would we want him?

He has experience, skills and has won loads of medals, yet struggles to get into poor England and Man Utd teams. So why would we want him?

The media would view it a both a return for the prodigal son but also a step down for Rooney. So why would we want Him?

I love the idealism of the blue boy coming back home yet fail to see what he can or would add to the team. Seems to me a bit like signing Gazza and Ginola, we needed them at the time, those days have gone. So why would we want him?

Wayne is/has been a great player and is a Toffee like the rest of us. He left for a reason and, even with kissing a Manc badge (after getting so much abuse), I cannot hold ill-feeling to him anymore.

He is a bluenose and is welcome in the ground and around the pitch... please not on the pitch.

Come home Wayne, just not as a player.

Your argument regarding age is nonsense. Of course there are players older than him still scoring and still playing regularly because they are fitter and better than him, eg, Zlatan and Defoe to name two currently playing Premier League football. Rooney has spent much of the last two years on the bench or injured.

Do you think he actually wants to leave Man Utd? Does he fuck, he is being shown the door and would prefer to be here than chance his arm in China.

Surely with him having made so much money in his career, he'd play for his beloved Blues for next to nothing. He bleeds blue and all that.

You dismiss the arguments against bringing Rooney back by saying they boil down to people 'just saying stuff that isn't true', before following up with this whopper: 

"Gone are the days when Rooney is photographed looking over weight. Every time he plays he works hard for the team so no one can say he isn't fit enough."

Well, they can and they have. Fairly recently too.

Here's a few instances in which Rooney's 'weight' and general fitness have been publicly questioned this season:

"If someone had only heard of Wayne Rooney but seen him now they'd think ‘Who is this fella? He's overweight and slow. It looks like he can't move or shift his body quick enough."

Paul Parker, August 2016

"I actually thought he looked overweight to be honest. That sharpness had gone out of his game. Everything he did, as you'd expect, it was safe. It was a lot of passing sideways."

Jason McAteer, October 2016

"He is 31-years-old but he has got the mileage of a 36-year-old with what he has done in his career and the velocity that he played at, the scrutiny and the pressure. In fact, he is probably in a 40-year-old athlete's body."

Rio Ferdinand, January 2017

Now, admittedly, the triumvirate above have all been terribly tainted by the twig of twattery (whether they touched it willingly, had it wanged at them in the street or just woke up one morning with mysterious splinters in their arse, matters not). So, in the sake of fairness, here's a few words from the man himself, talking about the toll the game has taken on his body:

"Physically I've taken a bit of a battering over the years; being lumped by Transformer-sized centre-backs or having my muscles smashed by falls, shoulder barges and last-ditch tackles, day-in, day-out, has left me a bit bruised. When I get up in the morning after a game, I struggle to walk for the first half-an-hour. I ache a bit. It wasn't like that when I was a lad. I remember sometimes when I finished training or playing with Everton and United, I'd want to play some more. But football has had a massive impact on my body because my game is based on speed, power and intensity."

Unfortunately, that wasn't as recent as this season. Nope. That was from five years ago, in 2012.

Five years ago, when he was in his prime, he was struggling to potter about the house after waking up the day after a match, yet there are people claiming he's still fit as a fiddle and could carry on at the top for a good few years yet?

Unlike Barry, he was our best midfielder for a couple of years. We need to develop Barkley and sign younger players than Rooney, who will shape your team for the next few years.

Koeman wants him.

He still works hard in my opinion, he wouldn't be allowed to do anything else and if he turns up with us, then to take a huge wage cut and commit to Koeman he will put the hard yards in he will get my respect. If he doesn't earn it then I'll agree with the rest and say he is done.

It doesn't take much for a professional athlete to get themselves in top condition if they are hungry enough. I hope he does do; I'm confident he wouldn't want to let his boys down who are old enough now to understand whether he is playing well or not. As I said though, I am more confident he will follow the money, we aren't going to match his £300k per week that is for sure.

Assuming any new contracts for Rom and Ross will see them benefit from a hike in wages, would they be happy to earn less than the former blue?

I wouldn't. I'd want to sign someone younger with years ahead of them, not someone on a downward trajectory with nothing to prove and without the hunger to achieve.

If we see him more like Gareth Barry, and not expected to play every game, then I'm all for it now! Either as a great starter, or as a sub to seriously impact stalemates by his presence and experience. In the end, it's all about the wages, I'd think, as Koeman is not the kind of manager to let a 'Name' get a prolonged run just for him having a past.

I think we're so used to thinking about any able player as a natural choice for our starting XI these last decades, that we've failed to take in that the top teams have 2x XI (or even more, compared to yesteryear's EFC!)...

Whether Koeman will still feel Everton need it before next season is another matter. We have some youngsters coming along nicely and if the present form continues then Rooney would be superfluous.

He would have nothing to prove at Goodison and has won enough with Manure which may in itself be reason enough to doubt his real commitment if he did come back to finish his career.

Our youngsters? Forget them. If this happens, the club are more of a laughing stock than most people in the country already think they are.

As I said before, we'll need more than just one fully capable XI if we want to compete at the top of the Premier League, as well as playing games in Europe!

Could you provide evidence of all those who see Everton FC as a laughing stock?

There may be one or two thousand or perhaps even 50,000 bigoted Liverpool supporters who think that Everton FC are a laughing stock, but most people in the the country?

That would mean something akin to 30m people. I'm not even sure if that many people in the country are interested in football.

That's enough for me.

I don't understand any of the reasoning against this.

COYB

Short term playing contract with a view to keeping him on in coaching.

Only caveat, Stretford isn't welcome. If only.

This is as sure as Moyes was going to Man Utd.

I agree very much, and I see that I forgot to mention it in my posts: Rooney may have made himself hated by leaving EFC due to his agent's manipulations at a very early age. We got lots of cash from that, and the following lawsuit (about his 'biography') at least left no stain on EFC!

But I also don't hold his badge-kissing against him. I'd've done the same against anyone expressing bad feelings towards me at that age. Well, I'd actually still dig my own grave that way today, and I'm almost 50... ;D

As someone posted above, if it happens, we'll just have to accept it, I guess.

I still think his return would be the elevation of emotion over reason. I hope I am proved wrong.

If he wants to play for us, then I'm sure he will still have the hunger, but he's going to have to become really dedicated now that his body is no longer what it was.

Whether this will be possible will depend on Rooney, of course, but being back amongst old friends, doesn't always work, but he seems to be a family man now, and he also has a massive inner desire that made him such a competitive little bastard, so it's pro's and cons, all round.

I always remember what Alex Ferguson, said about Giggs and Scholes, when they started getting on. He said they won't play every week because of their age, but because they were such great players, they would both play around 20/25 games a season, and they would be games of massive quality. Not sure this would be easy for Rooney though because he might just have too much to prove to too many people. Even if I do think he's coming back.

You have the chance to spend your savings on either a 20-year-old Bentley Continental GT with full service history which will give you the thrill of your life for a couple of years or a 2-year-old Ford Ka been driven by a delusional Spaniard or a cheapskate redneck judy which will probably give you 4 or 5 years mundane driving, I know which I would have.

Rooney scrapbook?

Why, you'll be accusing me of having secret, stalker style, video footage next (possibly forwarded to me by one Jim White and purporting to be from the 'top secret' fitness test Wayne narrowly failed at Finch Farm back in January):

Link

I was close to old when he joined us, plus resigned (ouch!...) when he was sold to Man Utd. For me there is no doubt that he is still an EFC fan, and yes, I'd like for us to 'hire' him if only to show Man Utd that they only have the money to attract attention, not to keep it forever!

Between the Club and Kitbag, couldn't something be worked out where Wayne gets a cut of every shirt sale? Got to believe he'd sell a bunch of Everton shirts.

Plus, leave aside his hair-plugging, granny-shagging "infamy", where has anyone read Wayne is disruptive in the locker room? Anyone? No one. Again, got to believe he'd fit right in there.

As far as what he has left? His box-to-box pace is history, yes. Nothing unusual there. He's in his 30s. His skills remain, though.

Finally, I watched Ferguson's testimonial. If, the Goodison responses to Rooney's initial walk out of the tunnel and subsequent intro onto the pitch can't be described as electric, that word has no meaning.

He CAN still play. He WILL have an electric effect back in Royal Blue. What's not to like?

Hope it happens.

I'd welcome him back as part of the team, but never as a player guaranteed a start in every game!

At least the Anfield Derby next year would have someone busting a gut and not go in hiding, should we sign him.

The goal he scored from a free-kick recently, in injury time. Imagine he scores that goal at 0-0 in the Anfield Derby, 5 minutes into extra time!

Anyway, what I think doesn't matter; what We think doesn't matter; what matters is what Koeman and Walsh think... and they seem to be all for it.

Enjoy the commercial gains. If it works out, great – if it doesn't then he might fancy going to China at that point for a still quite significant transfer fee. As long as his expectations are not to be playing 90 minutes every weekend then it could be mutually beneficial.

It certainly makes more sense commercially than it does in pure footballing terms. Based on his current condition/form then he's not getting into our team/squad on merit anymore. But, as we try to build on the Moshiri - Koeman - Walsh axis, then acquiring Rooney might be a useful tactic.

Furthermore, while he's playing at Everton, he may bring us to Cup glory, but that is a maybe. So, it's a good choice if Koeman wants to bring in Rooney.

We would be competing with mid table sides for his services and that is not showing ambition IMO.He looks a shadow of the player he has been and I am heartedly sick of taking surplus players from UTD.

If we were to be looking to buy from UTD then we should be bidding for far younger players with promising futures not crocks and has been's.

No I think he would be a waste of valuable funds that should be aimed at buying a second striker who scores goals, a schemer to make the team tick and a dominant centre back.

He has virtually dried up as a scorer and does not have pace anymore.

I would like to ask the fans who think he is a good buy a question or two.Where would he play for us ?Whose place would he take ?

What's the difference between one red lot and another?

I have posted on this before – he is part of the past and I have been looking forward to a new era for Everton.

I am no football manager but I am convinced that the prospect of Rooney coming back would unsettle the dressing room.

This is a big No for me – I think he is the last thing we need.

He could have taken the money in China; he turned it down... so why turn down huge money? For me, it's three reasons: he wants to prove himself in the Premier League that he still has something to offer; he wants to break Peter Shilton's record of caps; and finally, he wants to try and get Everton Silverware.

Now to beat Shilton's record, he needs to keep producing the goods – that can only be a big plus should we sign him.

Many might say he could've won Silverware with Everton previously; I disagree – we were on our arses, didn't have a pot to piss in and, at the time, Man Utd were by far the best in the Premier League.

The difference now is, he can see the class players at the club, there is no need to sell, the club is in its best shape with the chance to bring in further additions in the summer.

I will be surprised if we do not land Rooney in the summer.

Money is not what Rooney wants from Everton (he has enough already, IMHO, he would take a pay cut to help the team financially. It does happen in sports). But help get the title.

Think people, his first title with Everton would be the second crowning moment in his career. The first, lifting the European Champions Trophy, to help make up for the 80s Champions who were excluded from Europe through no fault of their own.

I haven't felt this passionate about making the top 4 this season like no other. Previous teams, we knew our flaws. This team just gets better and better and so young. Deulofeu is missed, but not in our squad. We're beginning to have depth in our team. Rooney brings all that winning experience with him to feed our youngsters. Plus a new stadium. I'm getting dizzy.

I feel we'll qualify for the Champions League this season – this is what Koeman wants, it's what we all want, and this qualification will just solidify Rooney's return. Across the pond has spoken.

"When I first went out with you as a young lad I loved you but when that beautiful Judy came on the scene and started making eyes at me, I realised you were a slapper – but now that I have grown older (and she's got an new fella) can we start anew because you know – I never stopped loving you."

"Oh Wayne – I never stopped loving you either – give us a kiss!"

If he comes back to us, it will because, as one of my Man Utd friends has commented, when it comes to contracts, he and not his agent, is a shrewd operator.

No, for me it would be more a question of him landing us.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39130708

He was an 18-year-old... I doubt any 18-year-old turning down the chance to win silverware and a huge pay rise.

The difference now is Everton are finally not shopping at Poundland and fighting off other clubs from taking our best players. The team is going from strength to strength, money behind the club and a new stadium.

That will be enough to land Rooney, same as the eighties: we had a great set of youngsters then but no leaders; all that changed when Reid and Gray came in, suddenly we went to having the best team in Europe.

Rooney can make the same impact, the thing you can guarantee with Rooney, he will not go in hiding and will give his all. Let's face it, we do not have any true leader on the pitch.

Manchester United 'apparently willing to pay up the final two years of his £250,000-a-week contract in order “to get him out of the door” on a free transfer, with Everton his presumed destination.'

On a free at £100k a week (he probably can't afford to pay us any more than that, ha ha), I'd take it. A tough pre-season and he'd be well up for it, I suspect.

I would have him back tomorrow, as long as he knows, he ain't going to get the captain's armband and he has got to work hard to get in the team. I have every confidence in Ronald Koeman if he did come back.

Personally, my initial thought like others on here is that it is a backward step at this moment in time.

However, while I wasn't 100 percent sure about Koeman's appointment, I have been impressed with how he is going about things so far and trust that, if he and Steve Walsh can do a job for us, then we should trust in their judgement.

They didn't say, "We want to sign him". They said that if he became available they might be interested. Presumably after an assessment of how he might fit into the team, what other incoming players they want to pursue, finances and budget, etc. All of which would be perfectly sensible.

I just don't want him back for the reasons stated above. I was hoping that we are now thinking bigger than bringing Rooney back after 13 years.

Your point about Gray and Reid is compelling and relevant to our current situation. That being the case let's start a rumour off now and put in a bid for Sergio Aguero and Cesc Fabregas in the summer.

Now that would be making a statement and one which I am sure our current crop of players would welcome wholeheartedly.

Still got to ask the question though – who looses their place if we sign either one of those two?

Football used to be a romantic game with the likes of Stanley Matthews, George Best, and of course our own Dean, Young and Hickson; I'd probably add Pele, Puskas and Cruyff to that grouping. Players who clearly weren't in it for the money but for the sheer joy of playing brilliantly and winning through skill and effort.

Since the Premier League and "Champions" League came on the scene, most clubs have become dull results factories playing for the television payments, not the supporters and for the sales of shirts in Indonesia where the only reason for "supporting" a team is that it is winning.

Personally, I wouldn't cross the street to watch a European match which did not involve Everton, and couldn't care less (and invariably don't know) who wins any of these competitions.

Similarly, the last time I took any interest in national teams was when Wales were doing outrageously well (I rather enjoyed Iceland beating England too).

The countercase these days is in international rugby where there is passion and excitement and results often only decided in the last few minutes and the players, while now pretty well paid, look as though it really means something to them.

We should consider the case of Romelu Lukaku. Poor Rom, who is still a young man, has allowed himself to be seduced by the "stuff the club and supporters, I'm in this for myself" narrative and this has been pretty much the entire reason why the crown has not taken him to its collective heart. He's a better footballer (in his specific role of goalscorer) than Peter Reid, Duncan Ferguson, Tim Cahill and some of his goals are wonderful, but all of them are revered as "legends" and could get a great reception at any place where there are Evertonians.

If Rom had just appeared to take the club into his heart, the supporters would unquestionably have done the same. It's sad when the objective of the most pointless human activity – sport – has become primarily for money rather than honour and glory. (Of course, there is plenty of opportunity for Lukaku to reverse this negative aspect entirely).

I remain of the view that Rooney would have been an even better player if he had stayed at a successful Everton and that he did not wish to leave, but the triple lures of saving Everton from bankruptcy and setting himself up for life and playing at a club where he could actually win stuff meant he sacrificed what he would really have liked to do for what was "sensible".

If Rooney's legs can carry him about the place without embarrassing him or the club, and his arrival does not disrupt what appears to be an increasingly settled organisation, I would unquestionably support the Return of the Prodigal Son, and the fatted calf had better start dishing out leaflets advocating vegetarianism.

But, if... yeah, I'd take him in a heartbeat.

Regardless of any slight recent improved performances, he continues to convince me that, for all of his unquestionable skills, he has no quicksilver football brain and is highly unlikely to ever develop one.

Why people, including the manager, persevere with him is beyond me. He is a hindrance to the development of real young talent, such as Davies and Lookman. These two players, along with Lukaku, himself still so young, would benefit enormously from the true world class talent and experience of Wayne Rooney.

Whatever Rooney may lack with advancing years in pace, would surely be made up for with skill, vision, tenacity and guile. I am convinced that Rooney would rise to such a challenge to complete his magnificent career. I would make him my Captain instantly.

If it happened, it would be interesting to see if he is given the captaincy, as you know come the derby he will be the one getting into the ref's ear and urging everyone else on.

It would be like Cahill had returned... God how we miss his bastardness in midfield!

And btw, nostalgia needs to kept to the Players Lounge before and after the game – not reported out at match time for us all to be bitterly disappointed.

Complete scrote sack contents. In what way is he "a hindrance to the development" of the two players you name? 

He doesn't play in the same position as either so it's not like he's blocking their path to the first-team. 

It's not like Koeman, Unsworth or the rest of the coaching staff can't concentrate on any younger players because they're all huddled around Barkley, stroking their chins furiously and trying to fathom "What the fuck are we going to do with him? He's shit and he's cock-blocking the kids!"

It can't be that any young player at Everton is going to look at him and feel discouraged that they will ever be given a shot at the first-team if good enough, or that they will think there's more chance of Lucy the Australopithecus's arl minge still getting moist than there is of them maybe making the England squad someday.

It can't be that playing in the same team as him is utterly soul-destroying and dispiriting for Davies or Lookman, or that they feel he's constantly 'letting the side down', leading them to lament "why do we even bother?", because he's quite simply a better player than both and, on the balance of probability, is likely to remain so until he hangs up his boots. 

"Real young talent"? 

http://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/79/13/1304668984-Scent-of-a-Woman-quotes-2.gif

Phil has taken it to a whole new level though. Keep taking the medication, pal!

Phil's post reads more like a hallucination than a side effect.

Anyway, anyone looked at YouTube for the coverage of the Haye vs Bellew after-fight joshing in the dressing room – Tony Bellew on cloud nine messing around with Rooney and Carragher. Rooney was made up for Bellew – it was a bit of an Everton love in.

Personally, I think its got to be a hard-nosed footballing decision, not one based on sentiment. Difficult to say whether he's finished or not. If he doesn't play many more games for Man Utd then he will be off... could be the States, not China.

I have willed Ross Barkley to live up to his hype and expectations for far too long, the lad has had plenty of opportunity to consistently fulfill his potential. I don't like to have a downer on any player and nothing would make me happier than for Ross to make me eat my words.

I simply believe that I have seen enough of him to be convinced that it will never happen. I'm tired of seeing him receiving the ball, turning into trouble and losing possession, when he has players in space looking for the quick simple pass. He has the physique and trickery to be another Zidane, but unfortunately possesses none of the speed of thought or vision required to achieve such greatness.

As for my comments about him being a hindrance to the development of the young players that I mentioned, what I meant was that he is not and never will be the midfield general that we need, to fire up and inspire others. Furthermore his scoring rate has dramatically dipped.

Oh for an Alan Ball! I'd even take an ageing Peter Beardsley any day of the week! Wayne Rooney would fit the bill for me, 30 odd years old or not! If we only got a couple of seasons out of him, what a wealth of experience and inspiration he could pass on, where it matters most, on the park, on match day.