No news is definitely not good news. It's a sad indictment of our current situation that the cover story on this site hasnt changed for almost 4 days. Piennar's injury is the only solid news that we have recieved from the club since the weekend.

My take on this situation is based on the complete lack of information forthcoming from the club itself. They know for sure that there are 50,000 Evertonians out there praying for good news or any constructive news either way, but the lack of any solid information has only perpetuated the current mood.

Saturday will come and go, as will our lenghtening patience/impatience.

With this season looming like a dark cloud, a season that we should be looking forward to, instead of dreading. Now try to think with a clear head, rise above the dark clouds of players we should have bought or players we've been linked with and say what you really think will happened this coming season?

4th?
5th? Top 10?
Worse?
Or a cup win?

Now that would be the sweetest of endings to a terrble close season. Lets just get behind this team and give them a big cheer! COYB

Agree with all you say Matt....
think its a bright future for Everton with good youth policy and fine manager....the rest will follow and we can win our games till new players come in so no problems...COME ON THE BLUES...

I have a feeling that we will announce a couple of signings late tonight or some time tomorrow, right before the first game of the season. It will give the fans a huge lift ahead of the first game of the season.

I fail to believe that we will not add to the squad at all in the closed season. Things cannot possibly be that bad. If this were to be the case, Moyes would have walked before now.

Not saying I would be duped into thinking everything is fine and dandy if it did happen but my understanding of the way the PR works at Everton is to try bury over the deep lying facts with some well-timed good news.

Since the final game against Newcastle I have watched Sky Sports News, teletext, been on every footy page and spent a fortune downloading garbage on holiday on me mobile phone for the slightest sniff of transfer activity and what have I got in return for this suffering? Bugger all!

I am so frustrated I cannot believe how incompetent this club is and have now given up all hope of any signings. Even as I write this I feel my blood boiling and I now have to delete my computer history so me boss doesn't see all the sites I've visited!! No point in the letter I just wanted to get it off me chest. I shall now go and do some invoicing, aaah that feels better.

What makes this summer even more frustrating is that we had/still have a really good chance of breaking into the top four and like 3 years ago when we qualified for C.L, we’ve again failed to strengthen the squad in key areas with quality which would enable us to compete at the next levell. I can’t understand why everton seem to take a step forward followed by two steps back the following year. It sums up being an evertonian - pure frustration!

I?M SO PISSED OFF!!!
WE ALL ARE!!!!

My emotions this pre-season have gone loopy over all the rumours, gossip, including BULLSHIT rumours spread by those people on this very site!
I?m sure most do it in good faith but the "so-and-so is arriving soon" or "my cousins dog said" crap only adds to the MISERY
.

Not one new signing (and, no, I don?t count Pienaar!) .... it is embarrassing to be an EFC supporter right now.

Here?s one example why: Villa make a bid for Cuellar of Rangers, within a mater of days, if that!!, he?s a Villa player.
Now, I?m not saying we needed him but FFS I wouldn?t say no to him...but my point is is that the whole deal (at least based on what we know admittedly) was so quick it was downright amazing!
So, why, do we have to put up with a whole pre-season of utter garbage in terms of lack of signings, promises, "the money is there", " the money isn?t there", "it?s not linked to DK", "will DM sign", "DM will sign soon".......it?s garbage and so effing frustrating.............I can?t wait for Saturday if only that signals the end of pre-season!!

The only saving grace is that The RS couldn?t beat Standard Liege last night...that was quite funny (Did anybody see Jamie Carraghers? quote? Laughable!)

Okay, I?ve calmed down now.............3 points in the bag on Saturday, live on the tele here, in Moyes we trust, COYB!!!

Final comment, even with all the youngsters (I actually find that exciting) I still think we have a cracking team if we can bring in some decent players SOON I will actually be dead excited for this season..........when Pienaar, Cahill, even Hibbert, Anichebe and AVM......FINALS HERE COME!!!!

I think at this time its worth thinking back to this time last year when a similar situation was developing.

Remember how it was the end of the world when we Divering Dave didn’t pursue David Nugent?

Then it was terrible when Keiran Richardson got away, followed by Jason Koumas and even Johan Voegel slipped through our fingers.

Everyone was predicting doom and gloom but Moyes quietly went about his business unearthing a couple of gems in Jagielka and Pienaar, signing one the countries top young defenders in Baines and then late on added a 20-goal a season goalscorer (Yakubu actually signed on August 29th).

Moyes decided to hold fire and not pursue Nugent, Richardson and Koumas, it caused many fans to panic but in hindsight would you swap Jagielka, Baines, Pienaar or Yakubu for any of them?

I’m not trying to underplay the seriousness of the situation. Its undeniable that Everton need quality players to add numbers to the squad. I’m just saying dont panic.

Moyes is on the case and panic buying is not something he does and frankly nor should he.

Let him take his take and hopefully deliver another group like Jagielka, Baines, Pienaar and Yakubu.

All that doom and gloom sparked by ’missing out’ on Nugent, Koumas and Richardson was soon forgotten when Jagielka, Baines, Pienaar and Yakubu helped Everton have a solid UEFA Cup run and finish 5th in the Premiership.

Its the lack of any news at all from the club..the brinkmanship and the tales of only buying quality b......t that drives me absolutely bonkers !! This quality crap is a load of hogswill...how can bringing back Gravesen, Stubbs, taking Gardner on loan without him being played (he got paid for nothing), buying a bench warmer at Southampton in Beattie..is this quality. Stubbs was a fine servant and probably a great motivator but he was brought back when obviously past his best, just as a stopgap..We finished 5th last season and to see all that promise frittered away by a bunch of dithering nincompoops is criminal. There is no team in the premiership who has not tried to improve their squad. Man Utd already have a top team and they are after Berbatov...thats the way top teams stay top..We used to be a buying club and all our great sides included world class players and top internationals. The seemingly utter lack of ambition at EFC fills me with bile and I really find myself becoming angry everytime I discuss the situation with friends...Money has come into our club with sales of players plus savings on salaries...BK promised that DK had nothing to do with the transfer budget and that we would see players arrive shortly..that was over a week ago and all has gone very quiet. Moutinho was our top target, Milito, M’Bia,Love etc etc all touted as players we were seriously chasing...now its suddenly reduced to Smith, Love on loan and Tiago on loan..The board are taking the p..s and DM will no doubt stay and take his salary (who wouldn’t) he cant fail..he has already broadcast to everyone that we need 5 or 6 quality players to sustain improvement and maintain a challenge...if the management dont back him then its not his fault...if by some miracle our kids become Busby babes then BK will be off the hook and DM will be the 2nd coming....Im afraid the only Biblical fable that comes to my mind involves bread and fishes...Hope Im totally wrong, but Im not holding my breath waiting for an influx of QUALITY players.

Just time we faced facts.

We have evry little money (I suspect we spent too much this time last year - Baines, Yak, Jags = 20 million)

This means we can only offer modest wages and low transfer fees. Players and clubs know they can get better deals elsewhere - and the greed of them means that they’s rather play for Newcastle reserves on 60 grand a week than play in Europe for us on 35 or 40... fair enough.

Our manager and chairmen are not so much ditherers as cautious. When you look at the money spent on Kroldrup, Beattie and Van der Meyde... fair enough too.

Despite this, we do need midfielders. We seemed to be well in the hunt for mid range fee (4 - 5 million) players like Kallstrom, Bradley, M Johnson and M’Bia a few weeks back. Two of these would do nicely... funded by the AJ money. So what happened?

Something is rotten at EFC ... either the debts are uncontrollable of someone is on the take.

NO CLUB has EVER been this awful in the pre-season Premiership transfer market... especially after shipping out so many players recently...McFadden, Wessels, Carsley, Johnson, even Fernandes, Gardner and Gravesen...7 out, none in! And then there’s the injuries ... Cahill, Pienaar, VdM, Hibbert and Vic in China... we are down TWELVE players.

Just not good enough.

Enough of the COYB rubbish... BSFP... buy some F*$@ING players!!

ok - bit of potentially good news on the horizon - from a previously reliable souce in South Wales - Everton and Celtic have had bids rejected for Joe ledley - believed to be £5.5m with Cardiff holding out for nearer £8m. Who knows - hopefully true this time.

Get on this, the new CEO is a lying gob shite as well........ as i said yesterday, Everton are a fucking joke.

Acting Chief Executive Robert Elstone told evertonfc.com: ?The first game at Goodison has historically proved to be popular amongst Evertonians and Saturday?s fixture is proving to be just the same.

?Everybody I have spoken to is looking forward to what will hopefully be another memorable campaign on the pitch and the increased media coverage following the official Premier League season launch over the past few days has only added to all the anticipation.

"We have spent a large part of the summer getting ready for the new campaign and now it is down to us all to make sure Goodison is full to the rafters every second week so we can give David and the players the support they deserve."

IT MAKES ME SICK TO THE STOMACH, LIE AFTER LIE AFTER LIE.

What have we done to be ready?? fuck all, shit pre season, shit results and no players. THANKS EVERTON YOU GANG OF TWATS!!!

Listen to this for a quote!

"As the season goes on, we are going to have to use these boys as we don?t really have big numbers," said Moyes.

No shit Davey, so does that mean as the season goes on you knew we would not be buying players to bulk up the squad??

WTF!

That?s it, we?re definitely fucked now. Lawro?s just predicted us to win against Blackburn.

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/football/article-1045092/Tiago-likes-Toffees-swayed-Chair.html?ITO=1490

very small story and sounds like somethin they have just made up?!

Man City lost tonight against a poor team and they couldn?t score! And they have spent millions and millions! So let?s get behind our lads and see how they get on? We could be singing their praises in a couple of weeks.

Impressed by the chairman......wants to conclude the deal quickly.......

Say’s it all for me....

Maybe the Dithering Dave tag is unwarranted and he is held up by the club....

swift chairman - my arse....

This story is laughable - impressed by the Chairman?? Whats to be impressed about? OK Finch Farm is a nice facility, but Kenwright?

The Mail are the only people carrying this story, though there are scant reports from Italy about Tiago fancying Everton - that and the odd mention of him & Nuno knowing each other......oh but then they go & spoil it by mentioning Moutinho!

If I was Keegan I’d say Smith was for sale for £8m knowing we are desperate, add to that we may as well buy back Biffa; at least that lard arse has scored in the last two years.

This club is a fucking joke.

Moyes must go. He is the one who can’t decide which player to sign. It’s no longer a case of Moyes keeping his powder dry. He is just inept when it comes to the business of signing players. It is a business. That’s why someone like Redknapp can do it. He could sell sand to the Arabs. But Moyes can’t even decide which players he wants. I assume he has a staff of people negotiating deals. They should be cleared out too. The club seems to have lost its commercial sense. Maybe Leahy can give Kenwright a lesson on how to run a business. Tesco is a brand name around the world. Everton has no brand image anywhere. The simple act of buying and selling is what businesses do all the time. Moyes and Kenwright are stripping the assets from the club. Everton cannot even attract overseas investment. So Moyes, on your bike. Oh and take Blue Bill with you.

In my view, Trevor Lynes has summed up the problems we Evertonians face perfectly. We have been subjected to a campaign of misinformation, silence, almost unbelievable rationalisations and the usual mantras from both Bill Kenwright (still seeking investment 24/7) and David Moyes (we need 5/6 quality signings). They are equally culpable in my view for the failure to take this club ahead in this transfer window, which has been an almost complete disaster for EFC and has seriously impacted on our credibility in the eyes of supporters and, I suspect, players (and potential future targets) across the UK and Europe.

In relation to David Moyes, I think it’s about time that Evertonians, whilst recognising his efforts in improving our position on the table, should at the same time also recognise his weaknesses and the problems he has created for himself and EFC in the recruitment of players to this Club with his posturing.

His continued inability to effectively manage recruitment activities is a prime example of his major weakness. For instance, year after year we go through the bulk of the transfer window with no apparent effort being made to sign players until the last moment, when, because of the shrinking numbers of players we have available (the size of our squad has shrunk every year for the past three years) we desperately need additions. This last minute frenzy makes us vulnerable to the twin problems of paying over the odds or picking up players who are not up to scratch (eg Bosnar) or clearly unsuitable (Kroldrup). Before the IMWT brigade rush to remind me of the quality players he has secured, what about the quality players he has wanted but are not interested or we have lost because of the ?Everton way? of negotiating or Mr Moyes? reputation for stubbornness? And, whilst he is not be solely responsible for this nonsensical situation, he is complicit and his continued catch-cry of ?we need more players in our squad? especially towards the end of every long, hard season, make his current inactivity and seeming ineptitude hard to swallow.

I also question the effectiveness of his man management skills, a prime example being despite his unacceptably poor performance in this transfer window, he had the audacity to recently publicly criticise Mikel Arteta and demand that he ?recover his goal scoring touch? because he let us down in that respect last year. This would have come as something of a slap in the face for Arteta and would, I think, also affect others in the team who may see Mr Moyes? comments, especially in view of his monumental failure in the transfer market, as hypocritical and certainly not helpful. Add to that his inflexibility in developing a playing system that capitalises on the strengths of the team, and you have the potential for this club to go backwards. I simply cannot see any quality player with any flair or creativity (a la Mouthino) wanting to play for Mr Moyes in his restrictive 4-5-1 system.

Some years ago at a management function, I attended a dinner where the keynote speaker was an FA accredited coach with a well earned reputation as a developer of quality footballers. He was asked what was the hallmark of a good coach/manager and he said ?someone who can recognise the strengths of his players and develop an effective system around those collective strengths while at the same time working on their weaknesses. He is also someone whom players feel they can approach with confidence when they have problems. Equally, a poor coach is one who ignores these principles and bullies players into fitting into his system which, in my experience, is usually restrictive and is also regarded with fear and trepidation by his players. These are the coaches and managers who will eventually have difficulty in recruiting and retaining quality players because of their reputation?.

This is the best explanation I?ve heard and it is the main reason that I have not shared the widely held view amongst Evertonians that David Moyes is some sort of messiah. Add to this, his ?over the top? stubbornness and growing reputation in British and European football for being difficult to deal with, and I have real concerns that, even if we had the money, that any quality players would risk their careers by joining a club where this limiting management style prevailed.

Thanks Laurie for that piece. I wholeheartedly agree with the statement made by said FA accredited coach. One may argue whether Ericsson was successful during his stint as England coach. He may have only took us to the quarters but he left a legacy (on the pitch that is) in improving our overall play. Then in comes McClaren... Anyway, I do remember he mentioned in his interviews once that the formation and tactics should be tailored towards the strengths of the players. This is so true, and further it allows the players to be happy to do their jobs and play FOR the coach and the team. Moyes is somewhere between Ericsson and say Howard Wilkinson, the midfield is tailored towards the players’ strengths (or weaknesses should I say). However he has totally ignored the attributes and requirements of the lone striker, which he places in a black box and is thrown in the far end, crossing his fingers that the poor lad would be at the end of all moves by scoring. Further, to compensate for the appauling midget ’gems’ in midfield and hoofers at the back, the lone striker acts at the first line of defense by running endlessly at opponents centerbacks, fullbacks, and our aimless punts.

Why would anyone want to wear our number 9 under Moyes?

Ben Chambers, are you a RS ? You do not talk/act like a true blue nose. It makes me sad when people talk about our beloved club like that.

Hey, why does everybody seem so downbeat, does nobody believe in the players that got us a top 5 finish, less AJ but what part did he play really last season! and LC who was getting 'past his sell by date'. Come on, support our players and I feel sure we will see a few new faces before the window closes.

I've tried to be objective all summer; I don't care about the stadium debate, Keith Wyness, Bill Kenwright or any other of the distractions that have gone on all summer, in fact some of the "bitching" for want of a better word has been really amusing!!!

But as I've just stated, it's all just gone to cover up the fact that our squad has been decimated.. and blame the board as much as you want, and I DO, there seems to be one person who seems to escaping his share of the blame and that's David "Moyesiah" Moyes.

Why? You may ask. Well I'll tell you... our squad has been paper thin since may and regardless of how much he did or didn't have cash wise ,why in the hell hasn't ..

A) Brought in any loan signings?
B) Brought in any bosmans?
C) Signed the £60k a week 5 year deal?

No one but no one else is going to offer him that type of dough. Blame Billyboy all you want but he can only move in the transfer market when Moyes tells him who he wants.Where's this magical/mythical list that he's meant to have given BK in May? I personally don't think he's got any intention of signing the new contract. Why? because Man Utd are looking for a new No. 2 and whoever gets that job will replace Ferguson and that's what I really think he wants.

He's prick-teased us with so-called bids for Moutinho and Love but surprise surprise neither club remember receiving any bids from Everton. Now, all of a sudden, he's trying to hijack the Tiago transfer ? who the fuck are you trying to kid, Moyesey lad? Not me, that's for sure! And as for Smith, FFS he can't even hold a regular place down at the barcodes!!

Kenwright has taken a lot of flack, rightly so for the most part, but we the fans have played our part to cover up Moyes's shocking ineptitude in the transfer market. Now there's nowhere to hide son, you cut the squad to the bone and YOU have failed us and yes lied to us all summer about your contract and transfers. So Davey lad... WHO'S KIDDING WHO ? We the people are waiting....

I as no doubt any sane thinking Evertonian, have been thinking that if we have needed to bring in money to the club to finance the moves we so desperately need, then why have we not splashed out on... ANYONE?

There is someone or some people leading us up a horrible path which beggars belief. For folk that in both the board and Moyes's words, "Care so much about this club", I can't but help get the feeling at this late stage that we are being led by not only a board, but also by an apparent honest manager, into a dark, untrusting future of disastrous consequences.

I always had hoped that someone (Moyes) would deliver the fans some form of truth, and be looking out for our best interests of sorts. Now on a Friday morning, I somehow have my doubts.

Could be worse...you could be a Man City fan!

See you on Saturday....

Could it possibly be, that the reason we haven?t heard anything at all for bill or Davey for over a week is because we are on the verge of something great? Believe me, I am just as fed up as every one of you regarding the dealings or blatant lack of dealings going on this summer. It just seems to me that it s beyond comprehension that there has been no attempt to explain why things have got so bad, especially in the last week ? ten days. Are we close to sealing an investor, or are we close to revealing three signings? It seems to me that every time we open our mouths about something: fortress sports, any number or Russian tycoons, Vagner love... the list goes on indefinitely ? that we mange to balls it up. Could it be the calm before the storm? Have we finally done something professionally and privately?

After all the smokescreens... coulda woulda & shoulda's... and Billy Bullshits with a pinch of Liverpool Echo shite to. Everything has all of a sudden gone very quiet on the transfer front with NOTHING coming out from Everton.

We are at least 5 men short from last years squad with injuries to add on top of that. No signed contract from the Manager that has been promised to be signed. WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON?

?someone who can recognise the strengths of his players and develop an effective system around those collective strengths while at the same time working on their weaknesses. He is also someone whom players feel they can approach with confidence when they have problems. Equally, a poor coach is one who ignores these principles and bullies players into fitting into his system which, in my experience, is usually restrictive and is also regarded with fear and trepidation by his players. These are the coaches and managers who will eventually have difficulty in recruiting and retaining quality players because of their reputation?.

Sorry, that quote doesn’t describe Moyes in a positive light...how exactly?

Players like Carsley, Osman, Marcus Bent, Kevin Kilbane...these are very limited players, and Moyes found a system that allows them to use their strengths while hiding their weaknesses. That’s PRECISELY what a 4-5-1 did in Everton’s squad..

Further, to say that Moyes’ tactics haven’t changed isn’t true either. Only if you were completely lazy and basing your analysis entirely on the numbers would you say that the 4-5-1 being played in 04/05 is the same as the 4-5-1 (really 4-1-3-1-1) being played last season. The latter allowed for a midfield of Cahill, Osman and Arteta and Pienaar to play attacking football - I don’t know if you saw the West Ham away game in the cup, but it was the most complete controlling Everton performance I’ve seen in years.


But then, Moyes really wants to play 4-5-1, doesn’t he? It’s HIS system. Except when he first arrived, and played 4-4-2. Oh, and except in his first full season, when he started with 3 up front. And at the start of 04/05, when he played 4-4-2 until it became clear it didn’t work. And three seasons ago, when McFadden was being played as a deep second striker (as well as Cahill) alongside Beattie. And two season’s ago, when he first tried Beattie and Johnson until it didn’t work. And last season, when he played Johnson and Yakubu until it stopped working.

Apart from those times, Moyes never changed from 4-5-1, right? Which is presumably why Moyes has problems "retaining quality players because of their reputation". Players are queueing up to leave Everton....right?



Everton’s transfers - you are using Eddie ****ing Bosnar as an anti Moyes example? He came on a free. It was a speculative transfer, that didn’t come off. Wenger makes LOADS of those every year - you just don’t hear about them.

Kroldrup was "obviously" not suited? Did anybody think that at the time? He’s obviously got quality, having led two smaller Italian clubs into the Champions League. But then, we obviously rushed the transfer in at the last minute because of the impending deadline...on June 22.

Don’t let the facts bother you like.

"I simply cannot see any quality player with any flair or creativity (a la Mouthino) wanting to play for Mr Moyes in his restrictive 4-5-1 system."

A restrictive 4-5-1 sytem, I’m sorry Laurie but that’s bollocks. The 4-5-1 system is interchangable, players can swap positions and there are many ways to accomadate certain types of players. We retain possession better as we have the extra man in midfield and when we attack all four midfielders are able to support Yakubu.

4-5-1 is the way forward for me, I’m glad Moyes had adopted the formation.

Connor , sorry got to disagree with you about 451. I hate the formation , Yak up on his own chasing hopeful punts then not having a player anywhere near him when he does get it. I accept that at the moment its our only choice but for me its still shite.

442 for me every time with a partner for Yak and we’ll be in business. The problem I’m having though is that I’m amazed that we thought we could get Love on loan ?? Would we let Yak go out on loan ?? Why don’t we just pay the 12mill and sign him?? He’s miles better than AJ so just go like for like and then try and bring in M’Bia and Manny on loan.

Still a shambles thanks to Blue Bill !!!

Barry

Why would we be playing less long balls with a 4-4-2? With less midfielders you win the ball less often, and have to defend slightly deeper to account for the man less. Hence - more long balls.

The key in either formation is to have central midfielders who are comfortable and quick on the ball. If we have Carsley and Nevile (or this season’s equivalent) in midfield, having a partner for Yak won’t make a jot of difference - you are still going to see the long ball whenever we get put under a bit of pressure.

Very interesting comments from Moyes in this article. To me it is putting the blame firmly at fat fucking Wyness. What things MUST remain private thoigh?
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/football/article-1045785/Ive-let-players-strengthening-squad-admits-Everton-boss-Moyes.html?ITO=1490