By Tim Hiltz
February 17 2003

The rumours surrounding Everton and Scooby's mate have been around for eons now, and don’t look like they’re going to go away anytime soon.

They’ve been reinforced by sources such as the official site getting involved by reporting that he’s met Bill Kenwright for a "talk". ("Macca's Blue Rumour"). Is this to finally put the rumour to sleep, or a pre-emptive sneak preview of what is to come next season?

I think he'll do a job on the left. The Nace has looked too casual for my liking too many times this season. But, as always, there are questions which need to be asked!

Would Moyes have him in our first team? Moysey has always said he wants to make Everton into a team that plays entertaining football with young players, and I think its fair to say that Macca is not quite the sprightly young winger that he used to be during Euro 96. At 31 years of age, he's approaching the end of his career. Could he be too old? (think about Zola though!), and could he be too expensive with the 60 grand a week he's currently on? He might just be out of reach for Kenwright’s purse (although I think his demands will be less, for no English team will pay that anymore).

I hate to say it but if Moyes did want him, then maybe its time to axe big Dunc and use his wages to pay for Macca. And maybe MacManaman enjoys spending his time training with Figo, Ronaldo, Raul, Carlos and of course Houllier’s cousin/god-son/brother/nephew, Zidane! The names Gemmill, Pembridge, Graveson etc don’t quite have the same ring and appeal to a man whose won the best European competition and repeatedly forced his way into a team of transfer breakers.

Signing players like McManaman is what the club needs to do if we are to progress. If Europe is a serious target for the club next season we need players of a higher calibre, with experience of playing in the European competitions to complement the squad that we've got, otherwise we won’t last long.

I don’t know whether or not he will come to play for Everton. I would welcome him into our team, and it would be great for him to get a last minute winner in the kop for us next season!

Tim Hiltz