Everton suspend Jo

EVERTON manager David Moyes has suspended on-loan striker Jo for a breach of club discipline.

Moyes is furious that the player, who has been suffering from a knee injury, has returned home to Brazil without permission.

>>MEN.

Not something that directly influences us at the moment, and I'm not aware that there is a facility for the loan to be terminated at this stage (even if Everton were looking to do that).

It could impact though on a decision to take Jo on a longer term basis once his current loan deal expires, with David Moyes saying:

"At the moment, it might change in the future, but at the moment it is. Jo went back to Brazil without permission from the football club. He is now back but is suspended at the present time.

“I am disappointed. We like Jo, he has been a really good lad and we have enjoyed having him.

“But there has to be discipline at all football clubs. He left over a busy period when we were short of players. I found it very difficult so he is suspended from the club.”

I believe that Jo will be halfway through the deal he signed with us at the start of the 2008/09 season, and whilst he impressed at Everton during the second half of last season, he has struggled to recapture that form this time around. It would be surprising should Everton decide to take him on a full time basis unless we wrote off the majority of the initial fee we paid for him.

We could face the stark choice then of either taking him back with it inconceivable that he would get anywhere near the starting line-up, or writing off virtually the whole of the £18 million or so we shelled out for him - which would make the signing of Matias Vuoso appear a frugal piece of business by comparison.

Jo joins Everton for 2009/10

The Brazilian forward Jo has agreed to become Everton's first signing of the summer on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City.

Jo spent the second half of last season on loan at Goodison Park, scoring five goals in 12 appearances for David Moyes's side, and was keen to remain on Merseyside having endured a torrid time at City since his £18m move from CSKA Moscow.

>>guardian.co.uk

Whilst I'm sure Mark Hughes would willingly pack Jo's bags and take him to the airport himself if it meant being able to sell him, there realistically isn't a market for a player a year into a £19 million deal on what will not be inconsiderable wages.

Any thoughts that his half season at Everton may be designed to help him adapt to the Premier League, and him to come back and command a place in the side were clearly wide of the mark. Whilst he made an impact on his debut, I don't think he showed Hughes enough to force his way back into his thinking and a season long loan was clearly the best option for all concerned at this stage.

Jo interview

"I find it strange because I had quite a good start and then for some reason – something that has never been explained to me – I was suddenly no longer playing. I was training well, like I normally do, but I didn't have happiness."

>>Jo.

Quite a nice piece in The Guardian in which Jo lifts the lid on one or two of the differences in the approach between Everton and ourselves.

Worth a read.

Jo on his Everton debut

‘I had forgotten just how good it feels coming off the pitch after everything has gone right for you,’ he said.

‘It was great to have that buzz back, and it was down to being part of a settled side, rather than an all-star team of strangers. The lads here are all mates. At City the players are still trying to get to know each other.’

>>mail online.

Jo scores twice on debut

Would you believe it...

An impressive debut from Jo helped inspire Everton to a comfortable victory at home to Bolton.

Everton dominated from the outset and should have taken the lead after just two minutes, but Tim Cahill sliced wide from inside the six yard box.

Several missed chances followed but Mikel Arteta's coolly taken penalty put the home side in front.

Jo volleyed home a second and the Brazilian capped his debut with another from the penalty spot in injury time.

>>BBC Sport.

Transfer deadline day - 3 hours to go

Nothing on the official site as yet, but the Liverpool Daily Post are reporting that the Jo loan deal has been completed, and that he will train with Everton today.

I guess this is a win-win for us in that given Jo has fallen well down the pecking order as the season has progressed, he would be doing no more than warming the bench for us so. Given Everton's striking crisis, he should see some decent playing time so the hope is that he can discover some form and return a better player in the summer. And I suppose it does put him in the shop window if there are any clubs interested in signing him on a permanent basis.

The BBC's live tracker (at 13.05) are suggesting that the Santa Cruz deal is dead in the water, with Sky Sports News reporting we failed to match Rovers' valuation of £25 million. Interesting as I have maintained the deal would be completed. If Santa Cruz is not coming, are the club working other avenues?

Transfer deadline day - 6 hours to go

It seems as though Jo's move to Everton will go through, with Sky Sports News stating he is set to arrive at Goodison Park to complete a move.

Michael Johnson's name has cropped up again, with Sky Sports News suggesting that Newcastle have lodged a bid for the player, with Johnson apparantly keen on the move:

Skysports.com understands that Johnson is very much
open to the idea heading to the North East and Newcastle are hopeful they can
conclude a deal before the 5pm deadline.
City value Johnson highly, but
Newcastle are believed to be offering around £8million and they are confident
that will be enough for City to sell.

This would be a terrible move for me. Surely Johnson has shown enough already and promises far too much to cut ties with him so soon.

Nothing further regarding Roque Santa Cruz, but I still maintain this one will go through, most likely Blackburn currently working on a deal to land a replacement.

Sunday transfer round up - something new

A quiet weekend all round really with the postponement of yesterday's game at Portsmouth coupled with not much of note on the transfer front speculated - as you'd expect really over a weekend with most of the media attention focused on the action on the field.

A couple of new names linked with moves in and out of the club though, with us being touted as a possible destination for Andrei Arshavin. Since rising to prominence on the back of Zenit's UEFA Cup triumph last season and then a (mostly) successful European Championships he has been linked with moves to all and sundry.

A move to Arsenal was expected this January, but there appears to some haggling over the fee and/or personal terms so it is possible we could sneak in ahead of them to his signature. I would be surprised if we were interested though. It seems a classic case of another clubs name being thrown into the mix to elicit a higher bid from interested parties. Besides, as good a player as he may be - although given his age (27) you do wonder why he hasn't 'broke through' earlier - it is difficult to see quite where he would fit into our line up and surely our priorities lie elsewhere?

Jo has been touted as a player who has fallen foul of Mark Hughes, with a couple of destinations speculated, but it is the first time I have heard Newcastle linked with him.

The Mail suggests a loan until the end of the season being a possibility. The article also speculates Portsmouth may want to take Benjani on a similar deal, and that we would encourage a bid from Tottenham for Richard Dunne.

I'd suggest that all three possibilities are nonesense. No way do we counter the possibility of loaning Jo or Benjani to a fellow Premier League side whilst as bad as Dunne's form has been, if Dunne exits, who do play there?

As we hit the halfway mark of the transfer window, lets hope for a more prosperous week than the one we have just had as time is beginning to tick away.

One problem for another?

So suggests The Telegraph, reporting that a swap deal could be on the cards with Inter which would see Adriano join us in return for Jo heading to the San Siro.

This is largely conjecture I'd imagine, and is based upon this report which states Inter have held a long term interest in Jo - ever since he scored a wonder goal against them in the Champions League.

It's difficult to know what to make of this one, and in all likelihood should be discounted, but it is an intriguing possibility nonetheless.

Adriano is a wonderful talent, who excelled in spells on loan at Parma and Fiorentina before making his mark at Inter. The past couple of seasons have, however, seen a litany of off-field problems with question marks raised against his desire and attitude. He had seemed to have rediscovered some form and favour under Jose Mourinho before falling foul of him recently.

As for Jo, he has struggled mightily at times with us, and he himself is believed to have fallen foul of management - so much so according to reports, that Hughes is desperate to get rid of him at the earliest opportunity. Purchased prior to Hughes's arrival (or at least the main bulk of negotiations were), it is difficult to see much of a future for him so could Hughes be tempted?

To bring in a player of Adriano's talent should be a given, yet it would be difficult to ignore the 'baggage' that may accompany him and he does not seem to be the type of player Hughes is seeking to bring in.

He could however link well with compatriot Robinho, would be more suited to the Premier League than Jo is, and could, perhaps crucially, be the 'big name' addition that the board may wish to see arrive at the club amidst some of the lesser names Hughes could well add.

It does seem likely that it is mere speculation - and likely to stay that way - but it would be interesting to see whether if Hughes was offered this deal, would he bite?

Divided?

Stephen Ireland is the only individual to have responded to the Welshman's new, disciplinarian culture, with neither Richard Dunne nor Micah Richards worthy of a place in any Premier League starting line-up on current form. Darius Vassell is another inherited player who, according to some noises emerging from the club, is disenchanted.

>>independent.co.uk

A consistent theme across the press today, and in reality, is mainly a re-hash of The Independent piece that appeared on Saturday. Perhaps (and this is my guess only) the press corps have decided to return to the 'squad divided' angle with the lack of a big scoop in terms of a Hughes sacking - and his position does appear to be as safe as it could do at present.

Rightly or wrongly, Hughes is determined to change the make-up of the squad from that inherited from Eriksson and there are players who will fall by the wayside. I don't however subscribe to the view that the factions or splits are deep or widespread as reported. With Elano and Jo they clearly exist though, but exactly who else is in this faction?

Looking at the squad I don't see many candidates.

It is interesting that the piece linked above mentions Dunne, Vassell and Richards as players who are 'against' Hughes, yet I don't necessarily see that. All have been virtual ever presents under Hughes, with Dunne also retaining the captaincy handed to him by Eriksson whereas it is patently obvious as to who the players falling foul of Hughes are.

Perhaps Hamman, and as a senior player his voice may carry some weight within the dressing room yet you would say that he is fast becoming expendable as we move forward. But looking at the players who have featured most prominently this season is the problem really as bad as being portrayed?

The one thing that will quell the type of reports we have seen of late of course is wins, and the squad we do possess has enough quality within it, that, coupled with some strengthening (lets not forget that Hughes's signings have been succesful) can see the sort of consistency of performance achieved that could see a successful turn around to the season.

Jo to miss early season games

Barcelona's Ronaldinho and Real Madrid forward Robinho will lead Brazil's assault on a first Olympic football gold in Beijing in August.

Manchester United midfielder Anderson is one of three Premier League players selected in the 18-man squad.

Manchester City's new record signing Jo, Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva and Anderson will all miss the start of the new season.

>>bbc.co.uk

A blow for the club given that Brazil's Olympic challenge begins on August 8th, a week prior to the Premier League season, which could disrupt his ability to settle at the club and in the city.

The participation in the UEFA Cup first qualifying round will at least afford him the opportunity of a pair of 'comptetive' games with the side before he jets off but there is no doubt that it will stall his fledgling career at the club to a degree - even more so given the likelihood of Brazil getting through to the latter stages of the competition.

The selection of Jo could also have an effect on potential player movement within the striking department of Mark Hughes may want to keep cover at the club for those early weeks, meaning one or more of this trio may be around until Christmas at least.

Hughes makes Jo his first signing

Manchester City can confirm the Club record signing of Brazilian international striker Jô from CSKA Moscow on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old hitman becomes Mark Hughes' first signing as City Manager and comes with a record of 44 goals in 77 games for CSKA since joining from Corinthians in 2005.

>>mcfc.co.uk

Although the club state an undisclosed fee, most of the press report it to be in the region of £19 million - a fair chunk of change even with the deep pockets of our owner.

I don't think for one minute we have paid that amount up front, but much like our signings of last summer it will be spread over the term of the contract presumably giving us more scope to bring in further additions.

Hughes was complimentary about him during the press conference, and it would seem that despite some stories, the signing hasn't been foisted upon him by the owners:

"He's a big talent and a young man with a big future.

"A lot has been said about him and there was a big expectation on him coming out of Brazil. So with the success he's had I think it's a real coup that we've been able to bring him to the club.

"He's a big guy, in stature and in ability, so I think everybody will enjoy watching him play."

Despite offers from elsewhere, Jo appeared keen to join up with Hughes at the club:

"After I spoke to the manager I was very pleased. I was told Manchester City is a club going forward at the moment.

"We can go places, that is our objective. We thought about it and I decided to come to Manchester City for that reason."

The capture of Jo adds another striker into an already overcrowded attack, and despite the departure (or impending) of Dickov, Mpenza and Samaras there are still plenty of options available to Hughes as he begins to ponder the shape of his side, but it would be a surprise given what we know of his Blackburn sides if we didn't field a 4-4-2 line up.

Where the likes of Bojinov, Bianchi and Corradi fit into the situation is unknown, with all touted for moves back to Italy, but with Daniel Sturridge and Ched Evans largely untested, Hughes will not want to leave himself to thin up front going into what will likely be a long and tough season.

More on Jo:

• 10 things about Jo - The Mirror
• Wikpedia entry
• YouTube goals