Told you so

So Louis Saha is officially gone for (another) five weeks. The hamstring he tweaked at White Hart Lane appears more serious than the medics first thought. Or maybe it's just a case that Saha's injury history that has blighted his entire career, is making itself known to the backroom staff, medical people and management at Goodison Park. Let's hope he's still on a pay-as-you-play basis eh? It's probably too early to say, but all things point to Saha's Everton career being a short and frustrating one.

Five weeks is a nice prognosis tho, because it falls nicely in calendar terms ending around the first week of February, just days after the now legendary transfer window is closed shut by Mrs F.A down in London. With Yak and James Vaughan gone for the season and Saha out til February at the earliest, we've got Victor Anichebe plus a collection of youngsters from the reserves and Cahill / Fellaini to spearhead Everton's front line. Not something likely to reap dividends in our push for a Top 6 finish. Cahill and Fellaini are doing great, but they cannot be expected to play with such commitment and effort until May. The kids don't look to be much in favour with Moyes and Victor isn't exactly prolific. All of which means we need a striker with experience, preferably at the top level in January.

It's alright to say we've managed in the last month, and Moyes' beloved 4-5-1 got us to the Champions League qualifiers in 2004 with Marcus Bent leading the line, but football moves on quickly and defences at the top table find this strategy out.

Hang on, Marcus Bent...