FOOTBALL: PISTONE FOR EVERTON

EVERTON boss Walter Smith is trying to sign Newcastle left back Alessandro Pistone for pounds 3million.

Smith wants the former Italian Under-21 captain to be his major capture of the summer and is negotiating with Bobby Robson's club.

Former Inter Milan man Pistone has had an in and out time on Tyneside. Although he returned to the side in the closing weeks of the season he could become available.

Everton have opted to move for Pistone after considering snapping up veteran Nigel Winterburn from Arsenal, but they will not pay over the top.

Pistone wants first-team football and if the terms are right on Merseyside he could take the transfer. The Pistone deal would put a huge question mark over the future of Michael Ball, who was told by Smith he would be replaced in a stormy end-of-season meeting.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Answers

And this from Soccernet.

Everton target Newcastle's Pistone

Everton have made a shock move for Newcastle United's Italian defender Alessandro Pistone in a hectic week of transfer activity at the Merseyside club.

Manager Walter Smith has made it a priority this summer to solve problems at full back and it is understood that the two clubs have agreed a #3million deal. The decision on whether to uproot from the north-east will now be left to the 24-year-old former Inter Milan player.

Pistone could well be joined by former England international Steve Stone, who is set to join the exodus from Aston Villa in a #3m move.

Smith is hopeful of signing Stone as a more viable option to #5m-rated Sheffield Wednesday star Niclas Alexandersson (who may very well be on the way to Coventry) in right midfield. With Gareth Southgate, Julian Joachim, Ugo Ehiogu and Benito Carbone all seemingly intent on quitting Villa, Stone's departure would further disrupt Gregory's build-up to the new season.

Paul Merson, however, has confirmed that he will be back at Villa Park next season, despite not being given an extension to his contract.

Please Bobby do it. We won't get that much for him again. And mayde we can through in Maric simply becuase they offered so much for some one we couldn't offload for half as much 18 months ago.

Plus it might persuade Domi to stay as he might very well have the spot to himself.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Oh and if we sign Meira all the better. Let's see. He's a left sided midfielder, who was asked to play in the centre of defense as his team was short on defenders, and he's a big young lad. So after some sound and not so sound reasoning with a bottle of scotch Meira = A Left Back candidate.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Now, let me see - we paid #4.5M for Sandro. I think we should stick out for nearer that than #3M. Remember Gary Speed!

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Anyone noticed that Bobby has a chance to get rid all the whinging french and diving, cheating italians from our squad and and possibly make about 14 million quid with the sale of Marcelino added in, and Maric given away for free.

And Bobby can build a team based on the flair and guile of a south american midfield and a defence and attack based on the technical and cunning of the portuguese, added to the fighting bulldog spirit of the engish and crazy zeal of the scots, with a greek adonis throughen in.

(That said, none of Goma, Domi and Charvet have ever whined and Pistone has never dived or cheated, he just fell over alot).

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

If this is remotely true, which is doubtful. Domi will be our No.1 LB, a good thing in my opinion. Blistering pace channeled in the right way and we'll be the envy of many teams. I'd still like to see Domi linking up with Goma, who I hope will prove himself next season.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Domi is excellent going forward(apart from crosses) but his tackling isn't what I'd expect from a LB. I think Bob got it right moving him forward into midfield. Pistone looked decent on his return from injury and I thought he just needed more time to get an understanding with the team. If he is going to Everton I would squeeze them for as much as possible, that's what they did with Speed & Ferguson.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Domi's tackling has always been suspect, (I saw his debut and he was awful) but he does have only one trick going forward too...running quickly to pick up laid off passes. He seems to prefer LB to left midfield, which is probably a more natural position for him. He could be great but could be average.

After Alice making such an impressive effort to regain fitness and his place in the 1st team squad I think it's unlikely he'd jump ship.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

This story is running in all the papers, and apparently Newcastle have confirmed they're prepared to listen to offers for Pistone.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

From the ronnie!!!Everton #3m Pistone bid is accepted NEWCASTLE United have accepted a #3 million bid from Everton for left back Alessandro Pistone.

And the Italian defender has asked for time to think over a move to Goodison Park - because he is on his honeymoon.

But if Pistone does decide to join Everton then United will feel under no pressure to sell Didier Domi.

And the move will not be welcomed across Stanley Park at Liverpool, who were more than keen on United's French defender.

Kenny Dalglish brought Pistone to St James's Park exactly three years ago in a #4.5 million deal with Inter Milan.

And the news United are prepared to sell him will come as a bit of a shock to the fans as the former Italian Under-21 defender is rated highly by Bobby Robson.

In an ideal world Robson would not contemplate selling Pistone, but United are desperate to unload some of the players bought by Dalglish and Ruud Gullit.

United thought they would sell three players last week. One was Pistone - and there could soon be more comings and goings at St James's Park. Looks like we'll be keeping domi then!!!!! Views anyone, I myself are quite happy at the deal as a year ago we wouldnt have got a threpeeny bit for him AM:-)

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Today's Ronnie reckons the #3mm offer from Everton has been accepted and that Sandro has asked for some time to consider the move - as he is presently on his honeymoon! Nice one Toon.
They add that The Toon expected to sell three players last week, including Pistone, and that more comings and goings are anticipated.
Selling Pistone is interesting, unexpected and a little curious. BR apparently rates Pistone as a LB but not Domi - as clearly evidenced by his team slections last season - and yet we appear to have turned down advances for Domi but accepted a relatively meagre offer for Pistone. Go figure!
Possible explanations? There have actually been no bids for Domi as yet. BR is expecting to bring in a new LB, and Domi could still be sold.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Swap Pistone for Michael Ball, the Everton and England U21 full back that is not the bushy haired croony singer. Ball has fallen out with Walter Smith and has been watched by Arsenal.

I'd still like to see Domi given a regular run though.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

I see the dark hand of board interference here. BR is old enough to understand that these things happen but it's VERY bad news for NUFC as the board is running the team again. I thought Pistone was one of our more composed defenders when he came back, real courage too. It's no surprise Everton are a growing side and Smith is no fool. Bad news indeed...

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Does anyone know what salary pistone is on?? I think that we havent seen the end of the transfer deals at united. Bobby is going to bring in his own players and I think only dyer, gavilan, dabizas and shearer are safe from being transferred if a reasonable offer comes in for a player. AM

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

He's been here for three seasons and we've had 2 good performances out of him and about 2 years on the sick. I won't pretend to be sorry to see him go, and I can't believe anyone is stupid enough to pay us 3mil for him.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

agreed his record is somewhat Shawaddywaddy, but I think it is short sighted to write him off.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

O.k, on a more reasonable level, he was showing signs of improvement, but Hughes played extremely well on the left, Griffin has played there and Barton can play there and someone is actually offering us 3mil for one of our most injury/confidence-starved players who is still at best promising: the others have already proven themselves and all have the flexibility to play on the right as well (as does Alessandro) and that's without even considering Domi who I still rate ahead of the others at left back. Some of us feel he couldn't tackle, I thought he was showing an appreciation of when to dive in and when to back off: didn't see him giving away free kicks on the edge of the area, but did see him ushering players away from the danger area and narrowing the angle on goal.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Hey, leave off the Teddy Boys, TM! Class act, the Shawaddywaddy lads.

Pistone was starting to come good in the middle of last season, I thought and I felt he was showing the signs of committment that we all thought he never had when he came back from the bust leg.

Still, business is business, although I would have wanted nearer #4m.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Unless of course Bobby was putting Pistone in the shop window as he had already made up his mind about wanting to keep Domi. That said Domi has made some noise this summer about not playing where he'd prefer and wanting a move back to France.

I think we'll know what is going to happen to our two rated French defenders, over the summer by seeing if one is sold or not. If either Domi or Goma is sold I believe the other will be on his bike as well.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 2000

Defender Alessandro Pistone will spend the weekend having talks with Premiership rivals Everton. The Italian is currently on his honeymoon but will meet Everton boss Walter Smith when he returns and is expected to sign for the Toffee's for #3m.

The 24-year-old is understood to be surprised by United's decision to let him leave but is determined to make the most of a new challenge. Pistone's agent, Paolo Fabdri has hinted that a move to Merseyside is the sort of move he was looking for and said: "Alessandro has been kept informed about what is happening and providing he passes a medical and agrees personal terms, he is likely to be an Everton player by the end of the weekend." Fabdri went on to say that Pistone is: "Obviously pleased with the situation."

Howeverb on nufc.com Nial and Biffa go on to say that Pistone is rather put out at NUFC and possibly moving to Merseyside. They also speculate that Robson is going to hand the LB spot to Domi and that it'll be his to lose.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

Sunday June 18.

Paul Powell looks as though he will leave the club this summer, with a trio of Premiership clubs keen to acquire his services. Bradford City, Newcastle and Charlton are all keen on the full-back and are prepared to pay up to one million pounds for his services.

Denis Smith wants to keep Powell, but he may find the temptation of one million pounds in the bank too great.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000