Ronnie Whelan

I went to the Everton Cup Winners Cup Final in 85' and loads of Blues used to travel when we were playing in Europe. It's an age thing and I guess it represented a different era in the city. Us and them was Scousers against the world. They were happy when we won and we were happy when they won. It was the friendly derby and when rival firms came to town, it was Merseyside vs Chelsea, United, Newcastle etc..not saying I agree with it but that's the way it was. To be fair back then, Everton were a very big club. They certainly wouldn't be bringing out DVDs for beating us or for coming 5th in the league. Older blues view the younger ones as total nitwits from my experience and I really don't blame them. I used to have a big soft spot for City (not so much now with all their money) and clubs like Sunderland and Southampton. United are really in a league of their own though. They reckoned they were the biggest club in the world when they were in the old Division Two. They have such a massive level of entitlement. I remember being on holidays a few years ago when they were playing AC in the Champions League and one of them telling me that Kaka needs to leave because AC are small-time compared to United. I looked for a hint of a joke, but all I got back was a deadpan, gormless expression.

For me, the owners' decision on Luis reflects on whether they want us to be Arsenal mark two, or they want us to be a financially run club, that can attract great players and go toe to toe with the City's and Chelsea's of this world. A culture of 3rd/4th place has taken over at the Emirates. Yes, it's all very well for a year or two, but ultimately clubs are judged on winning trophies, not on them turning over a 40 million euro profit in a calendar year. Their decisions this summer will indicate for me if they are here for the long haul, or if they are here for a few seasons to get us very successful off the pitch and reasonably successful on it, so that they can sell us to the Russians or Arabs for a massive profit.

I think my concern is more with the owners rather than Luis and his wife wanting to live and play in Spain. They are pure businessmen. Last year, they knew that if we sold luis we hadn't a prayer of making the Champions League. This year, they may weigh it up as a good business deal. I hope not.

Just had a great conversation with a blue who can't understand how Woy took Glen Johnson to the world cup and not Seamus Coleman and questioned whether the FA has a conspiracy against Everton. I was getting so much mileage out of it, I didn't want to tell him he's not even fucking English. This beaut considers himself a proper football fan like "all us blooos" - "da people's club of Merseyside don't you know".

The key thing that I'm hearing from Brendan is that he wants guys that he views as starters, rather than squad fillers. I'd be very happy if we had two big signings, a Mascherano or Remy etc for modest money and a free transfer or two like Cole. It's possible that we will get a few guys on loan as well. It's also possible that Brendan will keep some money in the pot for January if he needs to freshen things up. While I want new players, my concern is that we rip things up too much too quickly - for example the Coutinho, sterling, Suarez and Sturridge axis needs to be left alone.

Mascherano is exactly what we need in there. He has the experience and he's won the trophies. If we are in the mix in the final few weeks of next season, he is exactly the type of pro you would want in the dressing room. I'm guessing he isn't the Mascherano of 3/4 years ago, but if he's even half the player, he'd make us a much better team. I'm being won over to Ashley Cole the more I think about it. Obviously, I'd love us to go for Shaw and I wouldn't be opposed at all to that Argentinian fella at Sporting, but with McLaughlin showing so much promise, it mightn't be a bad thing if Cole came in for a year or two, provided he is still hungry. McLaughlin could get his chance in the cups to show if he can make an impact in the league games. Like Mascherano, Cole has the experience.

Tim for United? Is he too good for them?

Lallana would be an icing on a pretty amazing cake signing for me. If he's the main signing then I'm worried. We clearly need a few very good defenders, a strong holding midfielder and a very good 3rd choice striker (I rate Fabio but unsure about him as a 3rd choice) before we sign Lallana. To be fair, we could have already done alot behind the seasons and we don't want to announce deals before players' seasons are actually over, unlike Chelsea being wankers to Athletico over Costa.

Wouldn't mind playing the two Manc teams and Chelsea in the first 5 or 6 games, along with a few easy enough games.

Can't wait for the World Cup but I just wanted our lads back here chomping at the bit for next season. Would like England to go far and all the players to be either fucked or injured come August, while our lads chill on the beach ready for the real important stuff.

Would piss myself if he went somewhere pretty shit and took 4-6 points off them next season.

Irwin, Ashley Cole, Kennedy and Neal were massive parts of their respective teams, as was Maldini, Cafu etc. While a goalkeeper like Schmeicheal, or a centre midfielder like Souey or Keane, or a Kenny or Rushy gets alot of attention and rightly so, the full back can be worth so many points, whether it's cutting out crosses, or delivering them etc. Neville wasn't in their league, but he was a very good defender. Credit where credit is due. I'm sure there's better value out there than Shaw. I know we have been linked with the Argentinian fella at Sporting and others, so a cheaper and better option might be out there. However, I can see the reason why the Mancs or us would be willing to sign Shaw.

How much would we get for Glen? 8-10 million?

I like Fabio, but we need a guy like Remy to come in. With Remy, you can guarantee that he has goals in him and hit the ground running. Fabio to be 4th choice and start the cup games.

Mascherano would be a terrific signing. Exactly the kind of wily old pro that we could have used this season, especially in the final few weeks.

While I can't wait for the Champions League, i really hope that we go all out for the league first and foremost. The likes of Man City can try and win both, but we certainly are not in a position to. It would be terrible to get to the quarter finals of the Champions League and then be in a fight to get in the top 4. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be arsed with it, but if the choice was having a fully fit team for Hull away or Besitkas at home, I know which I'd rather us to prioritise. We have shown this season that we CAN win the title, as hard as it will always be. People say City will be stronger, but realistically their starting line up can't get much better. Okay, they could get Messi or Ronaldo etc but that probably won't happen. They can only slightly improve their starting lineup, because most of it is world class anyway. Hart can be easilly bettered but they will be trying to add more English players rather than replacing them. Their squad will be bettered with more Negredos etc but you can only have so many really top players on your bench before they start to get pissed off. Chelsea will make real improvements to their attack, but Hazard is likely to leave. John Terry might be a mong and Fat Frank might be at least 3 years past it, but their influence will be missed around their squad if they depart. To me, Ashley Cole is another absolute knobhead (unless he comes here when he's a top fella who's misunderstood by the media) but he's another who has got big match experience as he showed a few weeks back. They will miss him. I don't doubt that Maureen will have Chelsea in the hunt, but they have a huge summer ahead. Arsenal are Arsenal. While I rate Wenger for his past achievements, he is the modern day Bill Nicholson. A great manager loved by the Arsenal fans but he has stayed too long and is holding them back because he is too stubborn to realise that they need a Mascherano or Gattuso type in midfield and a strong cynical centre half to give them a tough core. That's been a problem for donkey's years and they haven't acted on it. They will continue to be chasing 4th spot next season. United will massively improve next season if they get Van Gaal. He's a great manager and if they bring in guys like Shaw etc they will be a big threat. They will benefit from a long rest between games as well. However, alot depends on what goes on behind the scenes. Van Gaal has a massive ego and if he isn't afforded total control, he will start acting the bollox. I remain unconvinced that Fergie, Charlton and the class of 92 can step aside like they should. They still face an uncertain future, because if the next appointment goes wrong, they are turning into a modern day Liverpool of the 90s. Spurs have a squad of very good players, but Timmy is a clown. I've no doubt that despite that they are good enough to challenge for 4th, but I think they'll finish 6th or 7th unless they get a new manager. Everton will get better next season, once they don't sell their best players. I do believe that Everton are always likely to sell and while their academy is very good and they have a top manager in Martinez, they will never move forward if they have to sell a Barkley or a Coleman. I still expect them to have a good season and if they keep everyone I think they could make the Champions League. For me, if we came 3rd and were within about 5 points of winning the league, I'd be quite happy. Obviously, I would love us to win the league, but if there was a steady improvement next season, I'd be happy and would look forward to a proper go at the title in 2015/16. What we can't do is fall to 5th or worse.

City will be without Yaya for a few weeks next year with the African nations cup on in January and February. I know they have a huge squad of top players but regardless, I reckon he's irreplaceable. Hopefully, it's crucial. We go again.

Would love Barkley but reckon they wouldn't sell for under 40 million especially not to us. Not sure, he'd even come here, even it was a goer. Don't agree that it's "make believe world" - Everton would sell to anyone, but they would only sell for crazy money to us. It really would depend on how badly we want him and if we feel that he and Shaw are worth such massive investment. In my opinion, they are.

Shaw is supposed to be a mad Chelsea fan, so if the Mancs have a chance of getting him, then we certainly should be in there. Even if it's 30 million, it's well worth it. With coleman, the blues are always ready to talk money, but they'll be talking crazy money. The thing is they are so skint, he's obtainable. I'd be very happy to offer them 2-3 players and 10-15 million. That's two top quality young fullbacks that know the premier league and would be perfect for the way Brendan has us playing. That's a massive part of our budget blown on those two, but I'd be over the moon getting them in. Guys like mascherano or Xabi might be obtainable for next to nothing to replace Lucas. Not only are they still miles better, but even if they are past it, they are the kind of old pros that we need. Mascherano has played centre half for Barca as well. If we could have money to get a top winger, I'd be over the moon.

Was talking to a Saints fan yesterday and he said Lallana is a boss player, but that he often doesn't finish games and is taken off after 60-70 minutes. I checked today and he came off after 70 minutes. My immediate thought would be concern about this when he's at a club like Southampton. Does he have a history of injury? Btw I really like him so I'm not being critical. My dream summer; Shaw - lb, coleman - rb, a top notch no nonsense centre half, another winger that ideally can play both sides to give us options, another striker - remy or benzema would be my shouts and a top centre midfielder. Obviously, massively expensive but if we can sell on a few players, a lot of it could be achievable. Lucas and Johnno would raise a few quid I'd hope among others. The defence would be my main concern. For me, both Sakho and Mig are similar. They will either become real liverpool legends or we will be selling them to Marseille in a year or two for a few million.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hfj0CO4CBAQ Cat woman is mark noble, batman is Andy Carroll. "You don't owe these people anything. You've given them enough"!!

Genuine question, if your son in-law was playing with United how far would you be willing to go to deal with the problem? What would Jack Bauer do?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/premier-league-title-race-coleen-3525295 Fair play Colleen, though most of her family are reds. How her dad hasn't taken affirmative action I'll never know.

I'd be bricking it personally. The thing is City as good as they are have only been in this position once before. They aren't serial winners like we were in the 70s/80s or the Mancs over the last 20 years. They are overwhelming favourites but it isn't a done deal.

Cue the longest 10 minutes of my life..