Re: More Football Chat : Fri Jan 14, 2011 2:19 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

It's on Sky Sports News now that Steven Pienaar has turned down a move to Chelsea and has signed a pre-contract agreement for a 'major European club'. That surely rules Spurs out of the running.

And Liverpool.

Re: More Football Chat : Fri Jan 14, 2011 2:55 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

He's a good player with a bit of everything, but he doesn't score enough IMO. He creates quite a lot, he can play across the midfield (probably at his best on the left, but he's looked good in the middle when I've seen him), he works hard but he lacks the goals IMO. He's better than Park at United, he would make a top squad player for any of the huge clubs, but, at his age, he should really be looking for first team football.

It's his work down the left with Leighton Baines that Everton will miss. That IMO is the best midfielder & fullback partnership in the Premier League. Everyone knows about it yet even the biggest teams can't do anything about it. He's a really clever player who can find Baines' runs almost every time and I reckon those two are involved in the vast majority of the goals Everton score, certainly a lot of Tim Cahill's this season.

His problem is he isn't a big ego or a big name. So if he does move to a 'major european team' they won't play him every week because there will be some more high profile players there. I can only think it's a financial decision and not a footballing one as he's said himself that his time at Everton has been the best of his career by far and that includes Ajax and Dortmund. Everton weren't prepared to break their wage structure to sign him they reckon, but he's rumoured to be 'only' after £70,000 a week which isn't that bad. I bet Arteta is on close to that now.

Sky are now saying Everton have accepted a bid for him to go now, so perhaps you are right on the pre-contract thing, I dunno.

Re: More Football Chat : Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:43 pm  

Pienaar's a funny one for me.....If its true we have accepted a £3m bid, then I believe we have got a good deal....A profit on a player we got almost 4 good years from is a good deal, especially has it has been obvious for a while that he has wanted to try pastures new elsewhere.

As for the player's talents?....Well, he's a good solid midfielder, but certainly not a match winning flair player, and definitely not irreplaceable....He's actually what we've got too much of at Everton - Nice, tidy player, but no end product, its decent enough, but no fireworks.

At the end of the day, whoever is signing him (and I hear Man Utd are interested) are getting nothing that will improve their side massively, especially if it is a supposed 'big' club.

Re: More Football Chat : Fri Jan 14, 2011 7:40 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

Pienaar's a funny one for me.....If its true we have accepted a £3m bid, then I believe we have got a good deal....A profit on a player we got almost 4 good years from is a good deal, especially has it has been obvious for a while that he has wanted to try pastures new elsewhere.

As for the player's talents?....Well, he's a good solid midfielder, but certainly not a match winning flair player, and definitely not irreplaceable....He's actually what we've got too much of at Everton - Nice, tidy player, but no end product, its decent enough, but no fireworks.

At the end of the day, whoever is signing him (and I hear Man Utd are interested) are getting nothing that will improve their side massively, especially if it is a supposed 'big' club.

What happens to Everton if his departure reduces Leighton Baines' effectiveness down the left? Do we just look for ways to win without scoring?

Re: More Football Chat : Fri Jan 14, 2011 7:56 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

What happens to Everton if his departure reduces Leighton Baines' effectiveness down the left? Do we just look for ways to win without scoring?

You think it will reduce Baines's effectiveness?......Yes, they have a good partnership, but I don't think Baines will become lost without him, just witness our win at Man City before Christmas.

Pienaar is a good player, but not irreplaceable....A half decent left sided player should be able to work up an understanding with Baines, which will be as effective as presently and, to be honest, being less reliant on Baines/Pienaar may turn out to be a good thing, similar to how having to cope without Cahill seems to have inspired Saha and Beckford into life.

Re: More Football Chat : Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:03 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

You think it will reduce Baines's effectiveness?......Yes, they have a good partnership, but I don't think Baines will become lost without him, just witness our win at Man City before Christmas.

Pienaar is a good player, but not irreplaceable....A half decent left sided player should be able to work up an understanding with Baines, which will be as effective as presently and, to be honest, being less reliant on Baines/Pienaar may turn out to be a good thing, similar to how having to cope without Cahill seems to have inspired Saha and Beckford into life.

And which of Everton's many players are going to play on the left?

Seems we might be signing Chris Eagles but I think he plays on the right.

Re: More Football Chat : Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:14 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

And which of Everton's many players are going to play on the left?

Seems we might be signing Chris Eagles but I think he plays on the right.

We have a Russian on the bench who is apparently worth £10m....

I fully understand your concerns with losing Pienaar, but my main point is that he is not some world class player who is irreplaceable.....I think when we lost Gravesen half way through the '04/05 season, I was more concerned than I am now and we still managed to keep our season on track after signing Arteta on loan....I expect a similar signing from Moyes to ride out the loss of Pienaar.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 15, 2011 12:41 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Is he all that? I have never been impressed with him that much tbh.

Not particularly mate no. He's worked a really good partnership with Baines, but I think that owes a lot of credit to Baines tbh. I'm not overly worried that Pienaar's leaving, the timing of it cou;d be awkward but the figures SKY are talking will suit me. If you watched Pienaar week in week out like I do I think you'd be more impressed than you are but he's not going to play a killer pass or hit a 30 yard screamer, he works hard in midfield and has skill about him, quick feet but his final ball/crossing and shooting leaves a lot to be desired. He's very much replacable. I've enjoyed watching him but if he does sign for Chelsea or Spurs he'll become an average squad player, much like he was in Germany.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 15, 2011 12:43 am  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

We have a Russian on the bench who is apparently worth £10m....

I fully understand your concerns with losing Pienaar, but my main point is that he is not some world class player who is irreplaceable.....I think when we lost Gravesen half way through the '04/05 season, I was more concerned than I am now and we still managed to keep our season on track after signing Arteta on loan....I expect a similar signing from Moyes to ride out the loss of Pienaar.

I'm with you all the way, agreed with all your posts about Pienaar. It's not a big concern and I trust Moyes has someone lined up to replace him. We're a striker light and hopefully that'll be recognised soon. Billy, with a run of games, can easily fill in for Pienaar.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:40 am  

Martin O'Neill new West Ham manager.