With or Without Roo

Last updated : 01 September 2004 By Austin Rathe

I would have liked to be back on Everton-Mad after my wee break talking about our win Against Crystal Palace,3-1,after being hammered by the unbeatable Champions Arsenal. As I was spending the day in Millport and Largs with the family, I recorded the match and watched it when I came back home at 11.30 without knowing the result! I did not have a good night's sleep after that viewing I can tell you! After that result it was always going to be difficult for Everton at the Palace but after going one nil down they fought back in style to come out 3-1 victors with two goals From Tommy Gravesen and one from new signing Marcus Bent, well done Marcus lets hope it is the first of many!

With all the carry on that has been going on around the club surrounding Mr Rooney It is worth remembering that there are other players have been linked with coming Or going from the club but nothing has happened ....yet! Bill Kenwright has kept his word and brought in some investment to the club (Ah, but has he? – Ed) so that hopefully David Moyes can bring in some players to the club before the close of the transfer window on Tuesday but will the money from the Rooney transfer be used also!

The words Rooney and transfer seemed to have gone hand in hand since the lads form In Euro 2004 and so it was maybe inevitable that he was going to leave, sad as it may be. I suppose that just as David Moyes had a feeling that Wayne would not sign this £50,000 per week contract, the best offer ever made to a player at Goodison, as the days and weeks drew on, then so did we all. Two things must come out of this whole situation and they are 1) When Wayne turned it on in Euro 2004 against the big names we all knew that he would attract bids from the bigger names in European Football and in the case of Manchester United then you could not get any bigger! So if he ends up at Old Trafford then we cannot complain - Everton have been under achieving for so many years that would make you cry! I know it would have been hard for Wayne to finally ask for a transfer but I think with All the outside influences in his life I am sure that Wayne has decided enough was enough And decided that he should quit Merseyside for the lure of European Football with United, Or will Chelsea come in at the last minute and steal the wonder kid from under their nose's? 2) David Moyes has had a big part to play in this kid's career so far, Wayne should not Forget that neither should the board at Everton Football Club! Any money that Everton get through the door should go straight to David Moyes for transfer funds.

This man has done everything possible for Wayne, treating him like a son and this is how the repays him! Wayne says that he hope that the fee will help get some new players in for the good of Everton Football Club, lets hope to God that The board see it that way also. The club were going to offer Rooney £50,000 per week-lets now see if the club offer top Dollar to get some quality players back through the door at Goodison, we cannot allow Rooney to go and then let Yobo go also-this is the latest player to be linked with Newcastle, If this happens then Moysie will walk, he might just feel that he has his hand tied firmly Behind his back if the club allow two if it's better players to leave-if this happens we better prepare ourselves for trips to Stoke, Watford and Reading as that is where I fear this once great club could be heading!

At least over the weekend the club had a double reason to be happy, the 2-1 win over West Brom With two goals from our new hero, Leon Osman-another headline writers dream, "Blues win thanks To the Osman-they call it PUPPY LOVE!" a new idol for the Goodison faithful to sing about. Added to this the brave performance at Old Trafford, drawing 0-0 without Joseph Yobo and Tommy Gravesen was at least something for the Blues to cheer. But now we will remember Tuesday 31stAugust for one reason, remember the name Wayne Rooney, remember the talent, remember the Next time you see him he will be in a red shirt! £25 MILLION, remember the fee! So far on transfer deadline day the club have not signed anyone but have been linked with Benni McCarthy from Porto, Milan Dudik and Michael Ball all coming to the club but nothing so Far !!!!! Outgoing rumours James McFadden-Rangers, Tommy Gravesen-Fulham/Villa, Joseph Yobo-Newcastle, again nothing as yet. I would be sick to see any of them go! Congrats to Tim Cahill On a good debut at Old Trafford and Leon Osman, the new king of Goodison, you were right about him Andy!!