And Liverpool.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Martin O'Neill new West Ham manager.

Very good capture for them. Superb in fact. But what on earth is he doing accepting that job?

Surely O'Neil and the owners of West Ham are a marraige made in hell.

Yes i would agree with you there



I can only think he has taken it on the promise he doesn't get any meddling in team affairs from Gold & Sullivan, and the proposed move to the new Olympic Stadium in 2013?

Best available at the minute.

Have there been worse [idayboos[/i than Wayne Bridge's current calamitous attempts to resemble a professional footballer? If there have I'm struggling to recall them at the moment, it's making for car-crash TV.

Madrid after van Nistelrooy again.

inter 4-0 up, labouring to their 4th straight since a managerial change.

It was the owner's fault - not Rafa's.

he inherited a bit of a cr&p squad tbf

He had the impossible job of following up Mourinho's impeccable achievements.

but the new manager and the same players don't?

No, Leonardo is following Rafa's less than impeccable achievements



Rafa had a touch of misfortune at Inter, lost a lot of the experienced players that contributed massively to Mourinho's success, such as Milito.

Howay Shola, my favourite Geordie-Nigerian...



...same again please.

Inter have won the league for the past 5 years, before Mourinho they were 3 titles. It's like managing Rangers or Celtic. It would be pretty hard to fck Inter up, but the Rafa did a great job.

Have no idea why but had my biggest wager of the season on spurs turning Utd over today. The 3 local derbies all to close to call.