Lads

Will Jenas(TH) and Jagielka(EV) be regular starters? If so do you think they are worth getting in?(im replacing Barton and Shorey, cos bartons injured and i want an everton defender if poss)

Jags is a big question mark as far as I've understood; suggestion is to watch the report on the final two Everton pre-seasons and see if it shows a fixed back four. Yobo will likely be a lock so for the same cost it could be good to keep Yobo in at the start then swap evenly for Jags if it seems he's locked in as a starter.

No idea about Jenas.

If you want an Everton Defender wait til Baines signs. Bargain and a must in every team (if it goes through that is)

The former, yes, the latter, probably not.

It is hard to draw much information from Everton's pre-season games - they seem to be the most pointless out of all the top teams! However, I just have a sneaky feeling that Jagielka could turn out a very valuable miss-classified player, with a role for him somewhere in midfield. Just a hunch.

His chances will go up if Cahill has busted his toe again, otherwise who's he going to displace from Cahill, Arteta, Carsley and managers favourite, Neville?

I dunno.

If Jags plays midfield and Geremi as well, that's two quality players who will be in the forward mix, who are misclassed as defenders on potentially good defensive teams, for only 5.5 each. Right? I'm gonna be all over that if it comes to pass.

just had a thought, instead of Jenas, what about either Benayoun or even Kewel? either of them worth a punt?

ps Who's Geremi?

Not Kewell - his days are numbered at Liverpool I reckon. Benayoun will do well there, but he won't get many 90 mins games I don't think. Geremi was at Chelsea (and somewhere else I can't remember - Boro?), an excellent player and will score good points. I don't think is much doubt about him nt playing games.

Everton have also brought that South African sounding bloke who's name is Penis or something like that.

You said Penis!

Because I'm a four year old, you see.

Jenas always seems to get injured, so I would avoid him.

yes that's right. it's 'balzen penis' actually.

no, it's pienaar, i think.
suggest ya give him a wide berth until proven.

Shouldn't that be a wide girth?

i wouldn't know, mate.

No, that's the Spurs manager, not one of their countless midfielders.

I'm not sure about Jagielka as a first choice starter for Everton despite a tiny squad, that said, because of the squad size I'd expect him to be a regular starter. In the 3 meaningful pre season he's come on for both Stubbs and Lescott at CB and has played 90 mins at RB instead of Tony Hibbert. Perhaps the most telling fact is that Carsley has played 90 mins in all 3 games suggesting that Jags is not destined for a CM berth (even in Cahills absense)

To sum up, he will start plenty of games, but at this time he isn't considered No1 pick in any position. If Baines doesn't come maybe even Valente at 4.5m might be good value (if he stays fit) he is still Portugals No1 LB

I agree though I think he will have a long-term Fernandes type impact eventually...just to sum up the Merseysiders popularity decline in my living room 2 weeks ago I wanted about 6 Everton players in my squad, currently I have 0...

The beeb have it that Baines is having a medical tomorrow, so this is likely a moot point. Surely for 1million less Baines is the best option? Unless possibly Jags starts in midfield which isn't looking likely on pre-season.

Baines possibly injured for first game. Keep an eye on it
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6934188.stm
Everton's opening Premier League game is against Wigan on Saturday but Baines could struggle to make that match as he is recovering from a hamstring injury