spyinthesky

Some suggestion that Cardiff are interested in signing (30 yr old) David McGoldrick from Ipswich for £1m (Pretty sure I remember him and Leon Best playing together upfront for Saints at Everton about 12 years ago) Another bit of transfer speculation is Bialkowski ( another ex Saint) may be interesting Palace

I feel sorry for Martina He seems to be a nice chap but is getting crucified by the fans and the local rag on Merseyside. Even the Mayor of Liverpool, Genial Joe Anderson, who has spent several millions of Council money to buy Everton's Training Ground and is prepared to 'invest' a further £250m-£300m in helping fund a new stadium for the club, went on a local radio phone- in to slate Martina (and Ashley Williams) saying they were the worst defenders ever to play for Everton. Can you imagine a local politician acting that way down here!!

I suppose there was little choice Long was ill, Austin injured, Gallagher on loan, the other young lad only just back from loan at Yeovil and Gabbiadini probably knackered after ploughing a lone furrow upfront. The other possibility was putting Redmond up front in a 'Thierry Henry' role but this obviously was less of an option than trying a 17 year old debutant who had little or no experience in the U23's!!! Poor management for a team with the 18th highest revenue in European Football!!!!!!!!

Another disturbing fact is that we have played more home games than any other club

Not many one club players in the top Leagues Jimmy Armfield, Bpbby Charlton, Tommy Smith, Steven Gerrard, Matt Le Tizz readily come to mind. Going back in time there were many more. Money trumps loyalty in the modern game Jimmy Armfield - one of the games legends

Mark Wright was good in the air!!

Havent seen him at last few games but regularly saw him stewarding at the Chapel end until recently Remember him (playing the bagpipes?) at a supporters protest meeting at the old Polygon Hotel many years ago Also bumped into him later when he worked as a Groundsman at the Sports Centre

Very good points

Apparently simple tap in after a defensive error Would be interesting to see how he played generally

Interested to know if anyone has an informed input into average wages in the Championship. I am assuming that the current average wage paid out to our (below average performing) 25 man squad is around £50k per week ie £65m per year. Possibly this figure may be a bit lower as I guess there would be an element of win bonuses included within the estimated figure, so not much pay out there!!! Assume the average Championship wage is around half of the Prem, so assuming there is a relegation clause in players contracts(by bye to most/all well paid players then) the wage bill, if we go down, will reduce by around £32.5m. However read an article on Rodway at Sunderland who, apparently, remains on a £70k a week deal although he seems to be permanently sidelined through injury and the fact he is garbage Many years ago Bristol City plummeted down the Leagues after failing to write in a relegation clause to players contracts and had to suffer severe financial strain as a consequence. Lets hope our contract negotiators are much more aware. Lets hope!!!!!!!!!

Average at best, I am sad to say

Spot on comment

Presumably he is on a tasty weekly wedge!!!

Thanks for the correction. I must have lost count even though, as always, I suffer to the final minute!!!

Fool that I am, I bought 4 tickets today. Only one at the ticket office. Expect to sit and suffer whilst a relatively strong Watford team will wallop a below strength and physically inferior team walloped in front of about 10,000 fans, of which approaching half will noisily supporting Watford. Shades of last year's 6-0 defeat v Arsenal is already in my mind. We then move on to a further dose of disappointment at home to Brighton on the Weds

Having enjoyed a period of relative success since the Liebherr take over, I wonder if relegation will be harder for the fans to take this time round than last. My memory is not clear on the matter but I recollect our crowds weren't too bad back in Championship in the initial stages until it all started to unravel. I fear that this may not be the case next season and the club will have to think very carefully as to how they pitch season ticket prices whether we escape the drop, or not, as there is a real sense of disillusionment and apathy amongst a lot of fans at the moment

In some way I am pleased one of the Liebherr family seems to have an interest in Saints

I do hope you are right but feel this side would struggle in the Championship We had a stronger side against virtually a Wolves second string and were well beaten earlier in the season

Just watched the game on MOTD Just a snapshot view of course but for the last goal our defenders were poor in the air for the cross into the box and McCarthy should have wiped out the chap who scored the goal rather than give a very derisory attempt at a challenge

I was at Portman Rd when Mazza scored his wonder goal

Everton, owned by Moshiri, a very wealthy man However the proposed new Everton stadium (£500m) is now being underwritten by Liverpool Council who will take out a £280 - £300m loan repayable over 25 years to help finance the project

Latest twist, according to the Liverpool Echo, is that Genial Joe has asked for a Police investigation in case there has been a fraud committed I wonder if Mr Anderson had been Mayor when Everton escaped relegation on the last day of the season a few years ago on the back of a debateable goalkeeping display by the Wimbledon 'keeper, he would have involved the Police and the Premier League? .

Fair assessment of Liverpool As I have said in other posts, the city is one of real contrasts Some really interesting old buildings and history and a vibrant city centre. Some real solid and humorous people These good points contrast significantly with third world style areas you wouldn't want to visit even in daylight with really dodgy characters Gun crime is rife in Liverpool due to the influence of the drug gangs.

Also bear in mind that the Mayor (ie Genial Joe Anderson) arranged for Liverpool Council to provide support to Everton to enable them to buy their Finch Farm Training Ground plus underwrite the funds (a few hundred million ££) to finance the proposed new Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. On a different subject, Liverpool Council, who consistently complain about reduced funding from Central Govt to provide essential services, is also looking to spend £50m on a second Cruise Terminal (having spent £8m of council funds on the first one) I can imagine the adverse feedback from the majority of local rate payers down here if the same proposals had been made by our Labour controlled Council to assist these sorts of commercial activity

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Mayor of Liverpool is writing to the Premier League to complain about the way Everton have been shafted by Agents/The System/Other Nasty People regarding the transfer of Ross Barkley to Chelsea. Apparently he would feel the same way with other clubs badly treated in similar circumstances. Interesting that he kept his own counsel when Liverpool were treating us with contempt earlier this season