I don't expect an answer to this until he's actually signed but now it looks like he's definitely headed to Everton...does anyone know if he'll be allowed to play for them against Wigan in their opener, or has Moyes made a verbal/contractual agreement not to?

if he actually signs for everton and its not just a loan deal the i would think he would play, from what i can see its not a loan deal.

Verbally could be (but no one is gonna know about it)

Contractually they legally can't (The only way to do it this way is by simply delaying the transfer till after the game kicks off)

I remember there was a similar case last season about Howard transfer from Man U to Everton which had "can't play him against us" term which was subject to investigations.

In loan deals it's legal, but in transfers it's not.

I think he might be injured for the 1st week of the season anyway so it's irrelevant if he can play against Wigan or not.

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28650

you've only gone and tricked shawpower into TFF territory.

I don`t think he`s injured. Wigan likely to avoid playing him in friendlies if they know a transfer is imminent. Easy just to say he`s picked up a knock and will be left out rather than tell the truth which is we are selling him.

Can't see him playing until after GW1. Can see a hatload of sheep buying him beforehand, and then fuming when he's nowhere to be seen, however.

u calling me a sheep?

Depends if you've rushed in where angels fear to tread

I suppose even he doesn't play in GW 1, at 4.5m, he's not a bad bench player to have on your team. A first choice defender in a possible top 6 team. He's last year's Wayne Bridge!

I certainly don't disagree, and the moment he's fit, I'll be on that 'wagon....but if he's not likely to play, why put him in for GW1 when you can just as easily put him in when he is available/fit/both?

I'd rather have a full, available 15. Everton play Saturday/Tuesday, his price is hardly going to skyrocket between the deadline times.

That's all well and good but you don't know what you are going to need your first transfer for (injury, strange lack of selection etc...) so why not make the move for Baines now knowing he will be a bargain regular after GW1, saving a transfer...

I'd have to agree with London Dom. If you hold back on bringing in Baines until GW 2, you're using your free transfer when whoever you had to replace Baines in GW 1, probably wouldn't have been in your starting 11 anyway.

Everyone will have the odd cheapie in their side and I'm thinking my first transfer will be used to nailing down someone of real value to sit on my bench. I've obviously made my choice now but if after the first week, someone announces themselves as being real value for money then I would hope I can go for them with my first transfer rather than using it to make some pre-conceived move that I could have done from the start.

That's the case all the way through the season. It still doesn't provide an overwhelming case to rush in and buy possibly injured/unavailable players at the first possible opportunity, week-on-week, just to ensure they're there to sit on your bench.

It ensures you get the player for the cheapest you can as his price will obviously rocket what with his eminent move to Everton.

An Everton defender for £4.5m will undoubtedly see 90% of managers picking him as soon as they need a cheap defender, so you could be looking at over £1m price rice in the space of a month or so...

You're telling me that this dude's price will go from £4.5-£5.5 in approx 4 weeks?

Right

Why not? Campo went up that much in the first few weeks last season, Andy Johnson jumped a similar amount early on too.

And neither played in week 1, right?

Wouldn't Everton's first choice back 4 stay at Lescott, Yobo, Jagielka, Neville ?

Who would Baines challenge for a regular starting spot ?

Maybe if midfield cover is needed Neville moves up to midfield leaving a spot at the back, but there is still Stubbs and company to challenge at the back.

1) Moyles is Scottish and he's just spent £5m
2) Baines has been given the no.3 shirt

Draw your own conclusions!

That means nothing The Ace... I was wore the No.2 in my Sunday League side but I was sub nearly every week. I think the No.2 stood for something else.

Surely Lescott would move to right back as he is right footed and Neville would move into midfield...

Everton rarely spend money so they won't be spending £5m on a sub.

Bandwagon he may be... but perhaps not just yet?!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6934188.stm

lescott is a centre back (he only played left back a lot last season cos of injuries and crapness of valente and naysmith)

jagielka is a defensive midfileder (can slot into defense)

baines is a quality left back

therefore when all are fit the first choice everton back line will no doubt be:

neville/hibbert yobo lescott baines

From the horses mouth:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 74,00.html

OK - Baines will start and is amazing value, but is unlikely to play GW1. So the only question for everyone seems to be when to buy him.



This is a good point, and I think shows the crux of the matter.

The way I am approaching it is as follows:

I am leaving him out for now, and picking Ca$hley, with a view to bringing in Baines as soon as his transfers in start to outweigh his transfers out. This might force me into using my free transfer for this in GW2, but I have 13 in my squad who should play GW2 anyway (v important for this tactic).

I am taking something of a risk that something could go horribly wrong (eg. Berby injured and Baines plays) possibly forcing me into a double transfer, but the chances of this are slight. Ca$hley is reasonably likely to get some points in GW1, and this, coupled with the chance that Baines might actually decrease in value if he doesn't play GW1 makes it worth the risk IMO.

In other words, it is worth holding off on Baines if you have a squad that can comfortably field 11 players in GW2, you keep an eye on Baines for price fluctuations, and whoever you plan to replace WILL be in your starting 11 in GW1.

The question is, is Baines worth picking over Neville, Jagielka or Yobo?

If money is not an issue.

Money's always an issue when it's the CRD* you're after.

For what it's worth Baines has now got his shiny new Everton kit on the FFL site and I now have three Everton players in my squad:

Howard
Baines
Arteta

Might have to ship one of them out methinks.



*Cheapest Regular Defender*

That's the point, many of us already have 3 everton players.

Arteta, Lescott, Howard, Jagielka, Yobo and Johnson are all popular picks this year.