Jaco-lar

So we say farewell to Lars Jacobsen, or Jaco-lar as he was known to a fellow Top Balcony fan. He's signed for Blackburn Rovers for next year having picked them ahead of Burnley.

Not sure what to make of it really. For me, once Lars finally did get on, he didn't look too bad and certainly gave us cover at right-back. The five appearances won't live long in the memory though and I think he'll be best remembered as getting on in the Cup Final at half-time saving Tony Hibbert from further embarrassment at Wembley.

More importantly, it is another squad player exiting the club along with Castillo and Valente, and we are yet to make any additions (I'm not going to include the German 12-year old we've poached from Bremen or wherever). Giving the club management the benefit of the doubt, let's assume we're about to sign Naughton from Sheffield United. Then again, let's not. We've been here before, in fact last summer, as we saw Gravesen and AJ depart with no incoming players until it was too late.

If we're exposed at right-back, then the same goes for the left as Baines is now our only left-back at the club. Lescott can cover, but I'm not sure how much time he has left in Everton's blue.

Too Smooth

One of the worst kept 'secrets' in the nutty world of off-season football transfers is Mark Hughes' desire to add Joleon Lescott to his squad at Eastlands.

I love Too Smooth. Alright so he messed up in the Cup Final for Drogba's goal, but who didn't that afternoon? Even Moyes gave up on that left-back nonsense and admitted he'd have to take the tough decision to pick two from three at centre-back. Aside from United, I think he'd improve any top Premier League side in his position. Take Arsenal for example. How could they not be better with Lescott in the centre of that defence? Would anyone swap Toure or Gallas for him?

Now, saying all that, I find it hard to believe we're going to keep him. The cash-rich Manchester club's opening offer is £15m. They just paid that for Santa Cruz and similar for Barry - both with shorter contracts and Lescott is Hughes' number one choice. Everton have to say no to the £15m for two reasons. First, it's just what you do, a sort of pride thing. Like selling your house - you never take the first bid. Second, we need more. Lescott's replacement is likely to cost at least £8m for someone either half-way decent or experienced. And, whatever nonsense coming out of Elstone et al, we need this money to fund our other moves.

I don't want Joleon to leave, he's one of our pivotal players in the same group as Howard, Arteta, Pienaar and The Yak. However, if he is to be sold, we need to claw back every penny of that oil money. Ask for £20m and take no less than £17m. Get a sturdy replacement in quick and put the remaining £10m towards improving our midfield (and by that I don't mean Stephen Hunt, David).

Whatever the final sale price, Everton will have made a handsome profit. Too Smooth will be set for life. He's given us great service, played for England and in a Cup Final. So we bank a bit, find the next Lescott and all move on. That's football.

Lords

Had a great night on Friday attending the opening match of the Twenty20 World Cup at Lords. England were hosting cricketing minnows the Netherlands, threw in a bucket of complacency, sent out a strange looking side (given the England squad) and came a brilliant orange cropper in the final over. As well as being there, we were sat amongst the bulk of the Dutch supporters who made a decent racket throughout the match, all 500 of them, adding to the atmosphere.

It was refreshing to see the reaction of the winning Dutch side and supporters, who deserved their win, and rightly celebrated at the so-called 'home of cricket'.

It's started already

As part of Sky's attempts to convince everyone that there is no such thing as life without Premiership and Champions' League football, Ancelotti dropping his load at Stamford Bridge for the next 3 seasons on Monday must be a dream come true. Tuesday follows with the news that Gareth Barry has signed for Manchester City for £18m - presumably because City qualified for some alternative universe Champion's League tournament next season and nothing, I repeat nothing, to do with money.

There is also an scramble to be the next Wigan manager as Steve Bruce heads off to 'sleeping giant' Sunderland, and no shortage of people trying to poach 12-year old managerial rookie superstar Darren Ferguson from 'sleeping giant' Peterboro to be their next manager. Well Reading anyway.

Saving the best til last is news that will delight all fans of Rangers as Tony Adams is looking to be Celtic's next manager. Shooty-in as they say north of the Border. Better still, it could be one of those uncomfortable 'step-uncle' arrangements involving former Celt manager and wild-haired Wim Jansen as a Director of Football. Tony is Wim's choice as manager in the event that the Celtic board are mad enough to pursue the idea. John Barnes anyone?

Back at Goodison Towers all is quiet as we collectively try to work out what happens next after Saturday's day in the sun. I'm assuming Bill is out there again with his begging bowl trying to whip up some funds to enable Robert Elstone to deliver on his promise to do our transfer business earlier than a day before the transfer window shuts on us in September. Whatever David Moyes ends up with needs directing at the right-side of our team, full-back and midfield. My personal choice is Glen Johnson and Joe Ledley. I think one of them is practical and the other is a pipe dream. I leave you to work out which.

Oh, and the new kit? Without V-bib, a great looking top. Sadly somebody voted with V-bib. It looks at best odd, at worst, downright stupid.