mooks

Educated Evertonians? Don't think I could handle it - eloquence and literacy are about the only things separating us for now.

Rash ... what part of my original post did you not understand??

Well, he's a good young English player. Perhaps they could buy him and loan him out for half a season ...

Exactly. He's not fully fit, but that doesn't explain the lack of passion.

Not much Rafa can do about it. He can take the armband off Stevie, as many of us would like, but there are a hundred factors that have to go into a decision like that, most of which we haven't a clue about. Dropping him would be madness. Selling him now? Also madness, unless we have a replacement(s) lined up. VV - what are you doing on Toffeeweb? Winding them up I suppose? :tease:

Everton have the above mentioned players (and, hence, the above mentioned team selections) yet great team spirit! 'Tis the latter I am worried about

Brian who? How about a bio? :yes:

Dave, Feel free not to answer this (you will anway!) if it is breaking any confidences. But I know you have contacts with more than one player so you may be able to tell us without revealing your source. Question: How is the Stevie G situation affecting the morale of the team. If it is at all. I need to ask because I am extremely worried (about the team, not Steven Gerrard) after watching our last three games. Cheers! mooks

I appear to not be the only one who doesn't know how to edit on this forum ...

It's encouraging you believe everything Rafa says to the press. Like when he heaped praise on Danny Murphy and Michael Owen just before they were transferred. Rafa IS the Masta of the press.

You'll have to twist into a lot more contortions in trying to defend Hermes on this one :smile:

The way giving the armband to Stevie was an "attack" on Hyypia? It is not an attack - wasn't then and ain't now. I believe team spirit will improve if a committed player is our captain. "Tis that simple.

But the original poster is suggesting Rafa is to blame for the lack of motivation. I'm not ready to assume that, but I admit I am concerned about it. I think the Stevie G fiasco is having a huge effect on team morale. What a difference from last season where he carried us down the stretch and for most of the season! If you'd told me we would be in this position with Stevie this time last year I'd never have believed you. I hope Rafa is considering taking the armband of Stevie and giving it to Carra. It would end the facade (or any slight hopes) we have of keeping him but I believe it would restore team spirit and probably even raise Gerrard's game a bit. It's worth the gamble, because something is wrong with team spirit, that's for sure.

I think what the original poster meant is that the value of Moores' shares has increased many times over what he paid for them 14 years ago. With respect to the second point, I really do not buy it. The ban from Europe only lasted a year longer than the rest of the teams in England. The Hillsborough disaster was probably responsible for Kenny resigning and throwing us into turmoil for a few years under Souness but no more than that (from a footballing perpsective).

Never wanted him to leave. I remember watching a pre-season friendly in 2000 against Freiburg. Thommo was in the squad but didn't play. You could tell by the look on his face that he was leaving, which he did a few days later.

Finished 4th how many points behind the top 3 teams? And how do you call last season a 'terrible injury list'? What are you comparing it to?

Amen, bro. Unlike your opinions on Josemi, both Biscan and Nunez can leave and slam the door firmly shut on their way out. I will NEVER support players who don't give 100% to our club.

Yer havin' a laugh? Tell me yer havin' a laugh, mate ...

Apparently he is to start against Burnley. Any chance he could replace JD this season? [from people who have seen the lad play] Cheers

Agree 100%. Great analysis overall.

£9 million? What's that, the interest he earns in half an hour?

I thought our defence played well today, with the exception of Pellegrino and he did not make any terrible mistakes ...

Maybe he means being out of the team and still picking up his wages? BOOM BOOM!

Great minds and all that .... Glad to hear it. Although I find it amusing that some say you can't read anything into body language then proceed to say that it shows passion and that he cares! How many posts have there been on here interpreting Stevie G's and Harry Kewell's body language alone? I don't know what a player's body language means and neither does Benitez but it is a certainty that each player's body language is being interpreted. If what was in Neil's mind really was "I'm disappointed with my performance and I know I may not get many chances once the new lads arrive" rather than "We just scored and took the lead in a vital game" then that is something Rafa may not appreciate. Of course the first response is human and may be welcomed by some managers. I am just saying I don't think Rafa is one of those managers. [i agree sulking the way Cisse and others did by wasting our time is a blatant example of poor attitude and I suspect it has been addressed with the team.]

There seems to be a line of thought on here that the boy Mellor is always the first to be substituted regardless of how poorly other players are performing. Well, that's all by the by, but if Neil himself believes this he's in big trouble. Just going by body language he didn't appear at all happy to be taken off at Norwich. Again, going by body language, he doesn't seem to get on well with Pongolle. One has to wonder if there is a rivalry between them. Rafa WILL NOT put up with players who put themselves ahead of the team. His signings may have had a mixed bag of success on the pitch at this point, but one thing they have in common is their attitude has been spot on. No moaning or pouting when they're not in the starting line-up or are taken off for another player. NM would do well to take note.