It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

Walcott seals Blues move
Lyndon Lloyd Wednesday 17 January 2018 136 Comments [Jump to last]

Theo Walcott has completed his move from Arsenal to Everton in a reported £20m deal, becoming the Blues' second signing so far in the current transfer window.

The 28-year-old follows Turkish striker Cenk Tosun through the door as manager, Sam Allardyce, and director of football, Steve Walsh, look to strengthen a forward line that has struggled to put shots on target let alone score goals in recent matches.

Everton beat off competition from Walcott's former club Southampton to secure the England international's signature on a 3½-year contract and take their spending for January past the £40m mark. He will wear the No.11 jersey vacated by Kevin Mirallas who joined Olympiakos on loan earlier this month.

Despite scoring 19 goals in all competitions last season, Walcott had become a peripheral figure at the Emirates Stadium and hadn't started a Premier League game under Arsene Wenger since April last year.

He no doubt views his move to Goodison Park as a fresh start where he could put himself back into the mind of England manager Gareth Southgate ahead of the World Cup in Russia this summer.

He joined Arsenal in January 2006 for £5m and has since earned 47 England caps but wasn't selected for Euro2016 and has since been overlooked by Southgate.

In all, Walcott made 270 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, scoring 65 goals and providing 43 assists, having scored 4 times in 21 games for the Saints with whom he started his professional career in 2005.

“I've come to Everton because I'm very ambitious and I want the club to push to the next level," Walcott said upon signing. "I'm very excited to be starting a new chapter and felt this was the right place for me to be.

“The fact there's a new stadium going to be developing in the next few years, it's exciting times for Everton Football Club.

“I'm dead excited and I just want to do what I do best which is playing football and expressing myself because I'm excited again, I really am.

“I do really believe that I'm going to give it my all, which is what I always have done, and this place is going to get even more out of me.

“There's something about this move which I've just felt good about."

Reader Comments (136)
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Jason Saggers
3 Posted 17/01/2018 at 17:00:25 Positive signing, hope this helps to change perception of other players on our team and we can get a promising left back and centre back. Being greedy now.
Ian Burns
4 Posted 17/01/2018 at 17:03:57 Welcome Theo - you were not a choice of mine but you are a blue so here's a hearty welcome to you. Good luck in chasing down Sam's 40 to 50 yard hoofs up the pitch.
Tony Hill
5 Posted 17/01/2018 at 17:04:04 Welcome to a very good signing.
Geoff Evans
6 Posted 17/01/2018 at 17:05:05 Welcome TW, the newest Evertonian.
All the very best to you.
Gerry Quinn
7 Posted 17/01/2018 at 17:06:27 On the website now - I send a huge welcome to Theo and Cenk - please, please, please, make me want to watch Everton again!
Terence Tyler
8 Posted 17/01/2018 at 17:08:15 Think this will be the end for Lennon. Welcome Theo

VAR - pile of ****

How Willian did not get a penalty is beyond me

Because he dived , he was still on his feet after he hurdled his leg then decided to fall over. His second movement was unatural and not caused by the tackle imo and apparently that of the VAR.

Good job it wasn't about when Drogba was playing , he was like Bambi on ice in the penalty area.

Officials are not perfect, however I would rather have the game as it is with just goal line technology. VAR will just bring another land of confusion.

So

5 ex players on the BBC ALL think it was a penalty
The FA yesterday said they got it wrong - it was a penalty
The Norwich defender says it was a penalty

And yet the haters spout the usual ****

VAR out now - total waste of time/space

Those that mattered , the ref and VAR agreed with me.

I saw bits of the game in the pub I was in but with no sound on so didn't hear what your said experts said (Shearer disagreed and moaned about every decision that went against him through his whole career so obviously he's always right).

The fall was unatural , he didn't fall when he went over the players leg he fell after he hurdled him and when there was no need to do so.

Plenty of other so called experts agree it wasn't a penalty and although I am no great fan of Chelsea I can't say I hate them and there are plenty more teams I dislike more.

Unnatural fall ????

No need to hurdle ??? - he was caught - the pictures clearly show that. And if you take your Wenger view then if he didn't hurdle what would have happened ?

And the defenders view ????? - he's volunteered to say I fouled a player for what reason then? - when many are saying he hasn't - why would he do that?

Unbelievable

Unnatural fall?

Yep. Try moving it was on a few frames to after he has hurdled the Norwich player and has both feet on the ground. Then he dives.

Absolute nonsense - you can see where the defenders leg is already

Are you the guy that monitors the VAR then? 'cos you certainly call them wrong

Great result in Wales last night

Not for scousers.

He's just having a pop at me George.

I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree Joe. Had the video ref in rugby for years and many decisions have split opinions.

Of course, I should have added --- or Dil--- in my post

Lol

I've just seen the appointment of Phil Neville as England Womens coach , and he's been on twitter in the past saying things like , i thought women would be preparing the breakfast now , BBC , more fun to come i bet .

That's why hils hasn't commented she's too busy ironing

:-)

Whoops - never mind, Champions League it'll have to be

Nice result yesterday M , my mate was at the game supporting the losing side. Gave him some stick by text :-)

And we'll done to Newport , deserved the draw and a trip to Wembley for the replay. Their biggest home crowd since 1983 v Cardiff ... beat us 2-1 , bloody ref was atrocious.

Talking of which , Cardiff will have their biggest home crowd since our 5th round FA Cup tie v Everton in 1977. I was at that game too and we lost 2-1 after taking the lead. Replays showed the second goal shouldn't have been allowed.

Got a tenner on Cardiff to win this afternoon :-)

Yes but we need more of them in the league!