Everton finally agree fee for Schneiderlin

Please get this one over the line and sign a commanding goalkeeper, Sigurdsson and someone to offer some real support for Rom. It's time for Walsh to prove himself.

A full 10 days the window has been open...

Too much media coverage on transfers these days. That why they all seem protracted.

Like Ceefax used to be in the 90s with the words "Signing Imminent"...

Let's hope Depay will follow

As I've been reminded quite a few times on here, Mourinho didn't rate and got rid of De Bruyne; how foolish does that look now?

Hopefully Martin Schneiderlin will make him look a fool like De Bruyne has.

Now go and get Sigurdsson, Ron!

Top class signing by Koeman.

I hope more will follow. We finally got this one over the line!!!

Ah, Kevin, just noticed that you've already used the De Bruyne analogy. Great minds and all that.

Hopefully this signing will have a knock-on effect for others and we start to see more bodies coming into the club.

Firstly, this signing was mooted about 3 months ago. Why wasn't he signed on January 1st and could have played against Leicester in the cup (as one of their new signings did against us)? Who knows – we could still be in the cup now and not having our end of season party in January.

Secondly, if reports are true, we haggled with Man Utd over £2m yet paid what could end up as £27m for Bolasie? I know who I rate as better value.

Barry will see more of the bench now.

Hopefully he will soon be match ready, may be Man City is too soon. Here's for a striker and centre-back or 2, asap.

Any team with Gana and Schneiderlin in the middle is going to be harder work to play through. Would like to see them with Davies as a midfield 3 all able to cover the ground, get tackles in and distribute effectively.

Come on mate cheer up, look on the bright side, it's GOOD news.

Having a moan in that way is like winning the lottery and moaning that you didn't win it a few weeks ago and save a few weeks worth of buying tickets.

I hope you'll be happier when we get Rooney in should he break Charlton's record before the end of January. ;-)

Be interesting to see how Ross will be used now that he should have more of a free role with MS joining our midfield.

Keep the faith.

I've heard when he scores to break the record he's gonna roll up the front of his Man Utd shirt to reveal "Once a Blue always a Blue" ..

I see their point in trying to negotiate a better price, shows other teams that we won't go in and pay the asking price first go – like the RS did when they were buying half the Southampton team. But it was obvious that Man Utd weren't going to budge so might as well just give them the money they wanted.

But looks like it's finally a done deal which is great news. He's after making our midfield very strong. Happy days.

...and there's me thinking I'd be the only one to think that!!

YEAH, BABY!!!!!!!!

SHAGADELIC BABY!!!!

Now let's get rid of some of the so-called squad players, who can't get anywhere near the match day squad, plus the odd one or two who unfortunately do.

Sigurdsson plus a centre-half needed though...

Gana and Schneiderlin in the middle of the park would be on a completely different level to the crap we've had there the last couple of years. (Yes Barry has done a decent job for his age but he shouldn't have been starting regularly the last couple of seasons!)

Slowly a decent first XI is taking shape.

I'd like to see Depay also – I know Mourhino said no loans, but I think that will be a loan so probably not till the end of the window...

Despite my generally sunny disposition, all things Everton ALWAYS have an angle. I wish I could shrug it off, but too many past events!

I posted if this a sticking point through sheer stinginess or FFP, I'd cancel both McGeady's & Kone's contracts and offer Cleverley on a free. Radical but quick and decisive, I think that would ease the burden.

From what I understand the fees aren't as much the issue as the wages players occupy.

Hey ho we will see.

We will indeed mate. Fingers crossed here!

I suspect Kone and McGeady may not agree!

Strengthens the squad. Pushes Gibson down the pecking order!!

We won't get anything for them. Not sure there's a down side? Should we suffer some sort of outbreak in the first team.

Ron would play himself and his bro before those two.

Both must be in the last 18 months of their contract, wouldn't even cost hat much I'd have thought?

We are desperate for someone to play off Lukaku though. We could do worse than Berahino. Wouldn't cost the earth as his contract is running down. He's young and talented, although he has gone off the boil. Could always be moved on if it doesn't work out...

I shouldn't think we'll be paying more than the initial £22m on Bolasie after his injury. I'd like to think that the level of signings we make in the next 12 months mean he's nothing more than a squad player on his return.

Glad this deal looks like it's going to get over the line. It's a bit more than I expected. I thought they'd settle for £20m + 2m in add-ons.

I also hope we sign Depay but there's no way we can pay more than around £15m + add-ons. The guy is quality but he's a massive gamble. He's the epitome of everything that's wrong with the game. From the bits I've seen he seems to be more focussed on wanting to emulate Floyd Mayweather's lifestyle than get serious on the field.

Please sign a striker and centre-back too.

A top goalkeeper, Holgate (and galloway next year) more involved and a Striker in the Dunc mold please...

A man can dream.

If we could work a loan deal, I'd be all for it... that kind of talent would be worth taking the chance that Koeman could straighten out his head. But with his well-known attitude issues, I say an outright buy at the quoted price of €17m would be too big a risk. Way too big.

I would actually be just as pleased if we could get rid of some dead wood. Cleverley, Lennon, McGeady, Kone please just go. I will drive each of you to which ever clubs are stupid enough to buy you.

I can book a day off work, hire a minibus and drop you off with a farewell that won't involve any swear words. I promise. Ahhh I can dream...

Sorry mate didn't see that, bloody eyesight!! Seriously would improve our team. Probably he wont score tonight though, he will score two on the weekend!!! haha :-)

Then perhaps a loan spell at Wigan enabling him to get match fit and knock out Man United in the next round of the FA Cup, then recall him to finish the season playing left wing-back with a view to starting him next year as a false number 9.

I jest before anyone has a go.

The reports I am seeing are quoting £12 million.

I think it's right we draw a line in the sand on what the value of a player is. Niasse should be a good example that we need to be professional in our negotiations and due diligence.

A good play maker who will enhance our chances of winning and a good centre half would be a good window in my opinion.

Not too sure about Depay. I'm not basing that on ability, more on his attitude within the squad and the dressing room. Chemistry plays a huge part in success. More a gut feeling I have than a fact about his attitude.

What does 'amicable severance' mean?

Because, unless you pay up the residual value of their contract that is 18 months wages, they will be going nowhere.

Just please please don't sign Fonte, he's too old and not good enough,having him and Williams brought to the club in the same 6 months would put our club back light years.

Need to move a few out too before the window closes.

He copped an attitude because he felt the West Brom Chairman screwed him around. He would be a good strike partner for my favourite player and would definitely come in with a point to prove.

It's a Yes from me.

Graham #75, I once had to pay "amicable severance". At least that's what I called it.

The divorce attorney kept insisting on calling it something else.

Our midfield players are all very similar types that rarely score and Morgan Schneiderlin is another of the same variety: 14 in 238 for Southampton, 1 in 36 for Ma Utd isn't great.

I'd love us to resign Fellaini as he gives so many different options and is good defending set pieces, our Achilles heel for the last three seasons.

Greizman is oils be a great choice!! Hopefully we get 2 more absolute quality players in their mid 20s that can provide and score goals and then kick on with the defence / keeper in the summer

Also, no way is McCarthy anywhere near good enough to play in the midfield of a top (our aim) Premier League team – the evidence of the last two & a half seasons shows him to be a very mediocre player; a decent hour vs Arsenal and 45 mins against the RS do not prove otherwise.

We urgently need a strong, creative midfield player who scores a few goals – problem is I can't name one we can get. Over to you Steve Walsh!!!

If we are to have ambition of being a top 6 club, McCarthy needs to be replaced with someone with more quality, with James only as cover for the two above.

Celtic want McCarthy and know Dembele will be gone soon. Could be worth a shot.

"Everton reportedly bid £8.5 million for Ishak Belfodil"

Dont know much about him but apparently he has started knocking them in and has been watched by the top clubs.

Watch this space.

Also, no way is McCarthy anywhere near good enough to play in the midfield of a top (our aim) Premier League team

I put McCarthy's and Schneiderlins stats on another thread, and James is a year younger, and superior to MS in almost every dept. So if McCarthy, at £13m isn't good enough, then it looks like £24m to the Man Utd benevolent fund.

I'm not overwhelmed like some at this signing because we desperately need a schemer in the – dare I say it – Coutinho mould. (Big ask obviously) And a striker.

The one I would steer clear of is Depay. Looks like he's more interested in the rapper lifestyle than football and he'd view us as a massive step down The last thing we need is someone with a bad attitude. We've got enough wingers like that at the club already.

I just hope he doesn't throw silly money at ordinary players...

I thought Davies was well on the way to replacing Barry, but seems certain to lose his place now?

Creativity going forward seems to be the most obvious position we desperately need players for. Let's hope Koeman also has this covered

I disagree. Gibson was worth a punt at $500k. He did a good job for a while but injuries killed him. The new contract though was a mistake.

Lennon likewise came in and did a decent job. Sadly he's lost some pace which was a big part of his game in his earlier days. He puts in a shift he's just not that effective without his blistering pace.

Kone is a smart player. Never prolific but a useful front man like Graeme Sharp, Boksic or Bent in 2004. Injuries wiped him out too.

None of these guys were obvious duds beforehand. McGeady, yes he was a big mistake and Niasse too.

We must sign better players than we have already, no more taking chances on guys like McGeady, Lennon, Gibson, Niasse, Kone, and the likes...

I would hardly call Davies a defensive midfielder!

If we could only manage one more I would love to see someone in the Sigurdsson attacking midfielder/playmaker mould as that is the one area we are really lacking.

Just a point to those talking about cancelling players contracts. Unless we can convince them to voluntarily agree to a mutual termination (highly unlikely), we would have to pay off the remainder of the money owed to them meaning you gain nothing other than an extra spare locker and space in the car park!

I completely agree with cutting our losses and giving some of the deadwood free transfers, but the players are not obliged to leave even if clubs come in for them. They are only likely to agree to a move if they are offered similar wages, unless they are one of the rare breed of modern footballers who will choose playing time over wages.

How many teams are going to be willing to pay full whack for McGeady or pay Gibson's wage to keep their physios busy? We may well be stuck with some of these players until their contracts expire, I'm afraid.

A swap deal with Celtic McCarthy + cash for Dembele would be some solid business and might just tempt the Scots. As you say, his days north of the border must be numbered now and they have apparently been looking at McCarthy.

Even better would be their old boy McGeady, Gibson, Kone and Niasse plus a big wadge of cash to sweeten the deal, but I doubt the Jocks are that daft!

Some players quite honestly have been no-shows just basically collecting their wages. Some fingers rightly so can be pointed at Koeman who hasn't yet shown any glimpses of motivating the squad into a force to be reckoned with.

Now they have two new signings which we hope sooner than later will make a difference but being an Evertonian these days makes it easy to be cynical so we will just wait and not expect too much.

Best sign about this deal: Almost every comment I have read from Man Utd fans on Twitter over the past few months has been about how sorry they are Morgan didn't work out there as they all seem to think he's a great player.

I can't recall one Tweet saying "good riddance", and Twitter isn't a forum where people hold back on their negativity!

I'd like a bit more guile but we can't continue playing Barry. A great product and a tremendous footballing brain but lacks the athleticism required now.

We are not going to see Morgan, Gana and Davies/McCarthy any time soon die to injury and Africa Cup. But perhaps Koeman can stop blaming the players and concentrate more on his own performance.

I'd love to see Rooney or similar in now to play with Ross and Rom. Not sure we need a winger if we play with high full backs.

Anyway, onwards and upwards. He hasn't played much so we have to patient, again.

Do I think he was a priority, no not really, its Silva, Mata type that we need more, its been obvious for at least 2 seasons.

Now I know they don't grow on trees but if we are to claw our way out of mediocrity we need to find one willing to come.

However, for all of the people above predicting Barry on the bench... think again! Once Gueye gets back or Macca is ready, Tommy lad will resume bench-warming duties. Barry is the daddy as far as Big Ronnie is concerned.

It is a cracking bit of business, the player is very good, and will improve the squad.

Who's next?

An established, commanding keeper?

A young, dominant centre half?

A clever, creative midfielder?

A proven goal scorer to play alongside Lukaku?

Or do I need to wake up and remember who I support?

Some £33m spent so far, which is wonderful, but I venture to suggest that the four above remain greater priorities?

And this being Everton, how is this being financed?

Are we dipping into reserves that we should have used in Summer - instead of just spending what we earned on Stones?

Or are we going to sell the only player we have who is capable of commanding a significant fee, Lukaku (whose last goal "celebrations" have been worryingly curious to say the least)?

I fervently hope Moshiri is at last baring his teeth, because getting Niasse off the payroll and lending out the likes of Cleverley will not be sufficient.

Snap out of it we are doing good business. Get used to it.

Some decent ideas already on this thread, if we can get some money in for our unused players we may really stand a chance.

McGeady (£0.5m), Lennon (£3.5), Cleverley (£7m), McCarthy who I like, and would keep, but doesn't seem to be first choice (£13m), Kone (£1m), Niasse (£5m), Oviedo (£2m), would fetch in around £30m and I'm not sure Ronald would even notice them missing. Add to the transfer fees we would be freeing up something in the region of £250,000 a week (£1m a month).

Gibson, Jagielka, Barry and Stekelenburg could also be moved on, and although they wouldn't command fees they would free up wages in the region of £180,000 - £200,000 a week too.

In my humble opinion we could replace half of them players with the U23 players.

Galloway, Pennington and Holgate are easily good enough to replace Jags and Oviedo.

Deulofeu, Mirallas and Lookman should be enough to allow Lennon and McGeady to move on, we still need to buy a player to replace Bolasie though. (€17m seems to be the price utd have set for Depay who Koeman seems to like - £15m)

Cleverley and McCarthy don't seem to be part of Ronald's plans, Davies, Gana and Schniederlin do, plus Besic isn't far off a return.

Kone and Niasse could be replaced in the current squad by Valencia as none of them have made any impact at all this season.

Stekelenburg should be replaced with Joe Hart or someone like that, probably looking at around £15m to replace him with a top notch keeper.

Up to now we could pretty much free up 11 players with only needing to buy 2 (Depay and a keeper), this would make the team a stronger 11 as the 2 mentioned players would play every week unlike the 11 mentioned players who don't play.

With the above we would have only spent around £30m and we will have hugely reduced the wage bill.

I'd them love the club to show ambition and sign another attacking player, either a busy forward who can work the channels and chip in with 15-20 goals, or buy a top notch link up man like a Juan Mata, Sigurdsson or someone of similar stature.

If we didn't sign a striker and went for an attacking mid, we would need at least one of our young strikers to burst onto the scene, or we would have to buy a talented youngster.

The above isn't something that can be tied up in this transfer window, but it would be nice to see it start to take shape in time for a massive shake up in the summer.

The biggest issues may be the contracts we have bog standard players on. We may have to take a hit somewhere, but that's part and parcel in the world of football.

2017-18 starting 11.

Hart;
Coleman, Holgate, Funes Mori, Baines
Schneiderlin, Gana
Depay, Barkley, Sigurdsson
Lukaku

Subs; Joel, Galloway, Bolasie (fingers crossed), Davies, Lookman, Deulofeu, Calvert-Lewin,

The bench would have talented youngsters on it who are ready to push for a starting place along with Bolasie who looked our best weapon before he got injured.

Great news however, hopefully he'll do as well for us as he did at Southampton.

Keep 'em coming (and the deadwood going) ! ;)

Not sure about the striker, but if we had Sigurdsson that should enable Ross to score more goals a bit like Eriksen does with Alli at Spurs.

Also, you would spend half of that on agents to tout them around, agents to buy them, and all the other leeches involved in football these days.

You guys really fail to grasp the mechanics of football transfers, you never get in half of what you read. Kenwright's smoke and mirrors, and the pressure of showing "Where' the Arteta money" was has led to the financial mess Moshiri had to clear up. We had loans on loans on loans.

I hope Moshiri's financial sense will prevent us going down this route again in the future. But stop thinking we got £50m for Stones, just sitting in the bank. We won't have received even 25% of that yet, and a good 25% will be spent on agents, lawyer fees, finance arrangers, and a good load of other shadowy figures.

Gibson was very frequently injured at Man Utd just like he's been with us – Mancs fans laughing their heads off when Moyes signed him.

Lennon never achieved anything with Spurs or England.

Kone was aging but looked half-decent at Wigan – perhaps we were unlucky with his knee injury?

I hope history's not repeating itself with Bolasie?

Just look at the others we had who did their ACL. Arteta, Jags, and another, maybe Yakubu? Anyway, forget Jags who is a defender and doesn't need to twist and turn like an attacker, but Arteta was never the same player again. Yes he was still a very good player for Arsenal, but he was never that matador he used to be for us. Gone was the tricks, the dribbling, the speed.

Now if Bolasie loses all of that, what has he got left? He is too old to change into something else. He's too old to slowly recover. Can't see anyway back for him. Not on an 18 month recovery from an ACL, it's not that long since they wrecked careers.

A huge interest free loan that was used to now make our club debt free didn't do that for you?

And also our once great fullbacks (their days must be numbered). Our keepers (not exactly world beaters).

We all know this, that this squad is just not good enough. Question marks also over Funes Mori, Williams and our big centre-forward.Not great reading when you break this squad down to the bare bones. Hard work ahead for all concerned.Hopefully we build a team around our youngsters... Plus Gueye and Lukaku (even with his faults)...Welcome to Everton, Mr Schneiderlin. Good luck.

We all know that agents etc milk money out of the fees, were also all aware that clubs pay other clubs in instalments.

Don't you grasp that we too are a club? Therefore don't we pay other clubs in the same instalments? Or is there some special rule that applies only to Everton were as we pay full hit at once?

Also as for the £30m, I was setting ball part figures,can I ask what price you think we will receive for the players mentioned as I think McCarthy, Cleverly and Lennon took up a good chunk of that figure with 8 players left to add the rest.

Anyways I'm sure you understand the working ways of a football club as you have probably won the league on champ manager hundreds of times. I'm more than aware our club was in debt, I'm also well aware Moshiri is putting out fires left right and centre to fix the issues at hand.

But in my opinion Moshiri must want to run something that at least resembles a decent team or why would he be paying bug money out to make us debt free.< Anyways how do you see it, o wise one?

Can you enlighten us on your interpretation of fees for players etc.

I put something together that I feel clubs like Liverpool and Spurs have done in getting shut of the old players and the dead wood and bringing through younger players, while adding some quality players at the right age group.

If were to build on what we have then we need a few players, presuming Schneiderlin is already as good as done I only added a goalkeeper and a wide man, I didn't put Messi, Bale, Neymar and Ronaldo on a list!

IMO, it's time that we started looking beyond Barkley... sorry folks.

Agree that Sigurdsson is or maybe was happy at Swansea, but he must be starting to see the cracks appearing as they look like relegation fodder to me.

Also Sigurdsson was just an example, as was Mata, there must be others out there that Steve Walsh can find as its his job !!

Barry not getting younger. McCarthy injured. Besic injured. Gana gone to play in Africa. So let's retype that quote – "A solid player in an area we need more players. We only have Barry and Davies."

Don't mind getting Tommy G back, just to stand at the sideline staring at the opposition players. His stare was quite scary TBH...

I just don't think it'll happen. We've been trying to sign him since Moyse and keep failing. With Swansea near the bottom though it might. I hope it does, but just don't see it.

This can never end
'Cause I want more
More, give me more
Give me more

This will never end
'Cause I want more
More, give me more
Give me More

If I had a heart I could love you
If I had a voice I would sing
After the night when I wake up
I'll see what tomorrow brings

If I had a voice, I would sing

Crushed and filled with all I found
Underneath and inside
Just to come around
More, give me more, give me more

If I had a voice, I would sing

Link

Arteta may have been slowed, but ACL tears certainly didn't slow down Van Nistelrooy, Shearer, Pires and Del Piero... they all came back full speed. So have US women's star Alex Morgan and an absolutely shitload of NBA stars, who work their knees even harder than footy folk do.

So don't write off Bolasie yet.

BTW... Yakubu did an Achilles, not an ACL.

Still, on a thread where Sharpie is described as a "useful front man" and is bracketed with the likes of Kone and Marcus Bent, I guess the excitement is giving way to reason.

I'm satisfied with both of our signing so far, but the game is about creating chances and scoring goals and we cant do enough of either.

If this window is to be a turning point, we either need to change direction and sell the Lump/Beast, getting as much as we can for him and bringing in a different "sort" OR we need to get a player in who can play alongside him. Somebody who knows how to occupy defenders.

My wish for the rest of the season, is to see opposition defenders forced to think when they face Everton . .or at least be made to put the cigars out

We seem to always sign these players and never attacking midfielders.

He's possibly better than Besic, Barry and McCarthy but doubt he's going to change our lethargic style of play much.

Darren, I posted something similar, on a thread last night, but it never went through for some reason. I would go with the former quite simply because every time the beast, does a couple of good runs, he then becomes a lump, for the next couple of minutes whilst he regains his breath?

I also like the look of Dembelle, but am basing it on maybe not having watched him enough just yet. Big, strong, quick, athletic, scores goals, looks like he's got a decent first touch under pressure. I would'nt mind pairing these two up, but if we can't we deffo need more ENERGY, at the top end of the pitch?

Now we need some quality further up the pitch, playmaker and goalscorer, please. That's what we need to progress. And be entertained.

I just think we may have missed the boat. He'll aim higher than us now. Unless Koeman uses the 'you'll definitely get a game here' argument. We'll have to pay at least what we've done for Schneiderlin. Word up here is that he won't be going till the summer.

I hate playing Football Manager but there are rumours today that Allardyce wants rid of Benteke. Is he not worth pursuing? Berahino might be a cheaper alternative but I don't like his attitude.

Then for cheapness there's young Cummings at Hibs.

It's hard as fans and spectators to find good shouts. Everyone is talking about Dembele but he is maybe looking better than he really is. If it was up to ToffeeWeb recruitment services we'd have McManaman and Eagles playing for us. We got Walsh in to do a job, let's hope he does it.

Watch their space...

Perhaps Koeman can stop being stroppy and get his players doing their job now. A couple of more signings on the cards and he can stop sulking.

The club has done well so far and there is plenty of time to bring other players in. Any sign of words being eaten? Thought not.

Redcafe don't seem to bothered to have lost him.

Lets hope he finds his Southampton form.

If this is the case ... oh happy days, we call all knock ourselves out and play fantasy football.

I would love to see the following:

In: Bergovic, Manolas, Kessie and Teodorczyk (assuming Lukaku stays). Harry Charsley and Liam Walsh as options to play the '10' role, Kenny and Robinson as wing backs to replace Coleman and Baines ..

Sell (where possible) in the next 2 windows: Robles, Coleman, Jagielka, Baines, Geri, Lennon, Barry, McGeady, McCarthy, Kone, Gibson and anyone else who doesn't play regularly

Hopefully we'll see him in Royal Blue colours sometime tomorrow.

Months and months we have been linked with him,should have signed him on the 1st and he could have played in 2 games to get match fit.

We are still cheap arses even with money, haggling over £2m for a player who wants to cone to us and we wanted.

God I hate myself for typing that...only £2m, football as we know it is dead.

Should piss the medical, as he has been getting his own personal trainer after Man U training so will be fitter than about 99% of our players already.

Hopefully we don't see a Leroy Fer type medical where we are informed that his knee is about to explode how many years now and counting? 3+?

No player in the Premier League that season made more tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes than Schneiderlin. Even in 2015-16, he ranked third for tackles at Manchester United despite ranking seventh for minutes played. In his final three years at Southampton, no Premier League player made more tackles.

This season, Everton are the joint-highest tacklers in the Premier League following Koeman's arrival, but the Dutchman has struggled to mirror his Southampton system with Everton's personnel. Idrissa Gueye is enjoying Koeman's 4-2-3-1, but the the workload is finally proving too much for an ageing Gareth Barry. In 2014-15, Schneiderlin tackled every 22.76 minutes and intercepted every 34.68. Barry's averages this season are 29.34 and 59.96 minutes respectively, but he is slowing down. Schneiderlin's arrival would give added protection for the defence, and allow Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines to attack without leaving their side vulnerable to the counter-attack.

Schneiderlin is not just a firefighter. Of all the central midfielders to complete 1,000 or more passes in 2014-15, only three had a higher pass success than his 89.3%. That statistic indicates both an eye for the artistic and a willingness to play the water carrier role, taking the ball from a central defender or full-back and passing it simply into the feet of an attacking midfielder. Ross Barkley may be an indirect beneficiary of Schneiderlin's arrival.

Basically, is Morgan Schneiderlin going to make the difference between us winning games we might previously draw, or drawing games we might previously lose? No, I don't think so.

However, he is a very good player, so I can't moan too much! Onwards and upwards!!

And, please, please, please - NO to Memphis Depay! How exactly is he an upgrade on Deulofeu or Mirallas? That's right, he isn't.

Sell Baines and Coleman and replace them with two kids who we have no idea will make it at Premier League level.

One of the most ridiculous suggestions I have ever heard on here and there's a lot of competition.

Thanks, Kevin, very interesting stats. Should make a big improvement to our team.

To answer your question:

Yes, he is much better than McCarthy, Besic and Davies.

Depay is another one of those players like Balotelli and Adebayor, who is just there for the cash, cars and instagram. He'd be shite for us.

Sure we can expect new arrivals to make a difference but so far it hasn't happened so will it now? Koeman is the man we look at for all this and pretty soon he has to face the music.

For instance, your conclusion that... "Of all the central midfielders to complete 1,000 or more passes in 2014-15, only three had a higher pass success than his 89.3%. That statistic indicates both an eye for the artistic and a willingness to play the water-carrier role, taking the ball from a central defender or full-back and passing it simply into the feet of an attacking midfielder," Is a good example.

We see only a number of passes and like us under Martinez, there can have been an awful lot of 3 yard passes between him and any teammate . Much like Ross Barkley has done with Barry or Coleman. To you, to me, to you, to me etc.

Carrick is a player who can pick a pass. It is the occasional brilliant pass that is most important, and if it is not a direct assist, it gets lost by the statistic.

As you say, wouldn't it be great if Schneiderlin brings more out of Barkley?

Firstly, alongside Gana, that means we will be playing at least six defenders in our first eleven. Seven if McCarthy also comes back into favour - although I hope he's being moved out before the window ends, especially if part of a swap deal.

Secondly, we seem to have a fetish for this type of player right now. Injuries and African Cup notwithstanding, we already have Barry, Besic, Davies, Gibson, McCarthy and Cleverley.

We're also looking similarly oversubscribed on the wide player front too with Deulofeu, Lennon, Lookman, Mirallas and Bolasie. So I wonder about the validity of pursuing another, allegedly, in Depay?

Unless there are going to be wholesale departures and arrivals - and this is Everton, remember - we seem to overloading in non-priority areas and neglecting those where we are desperate for new recruits, namely: goalkeeper, centre half, creative midfield and second striker?

Hopefully two tough tackling defensive midfielders will give Ross more of a licence to play his natural game going forward. Now there's a lad who couldn't tackle a full breakfast.

Tony, I think if you get that message, then so do other clubs. Which should mean they can't assume they can screw us just because they think we'll pay whatever anybody asks.

Job done - Schneiderlin signed and the message reinforced that we're no pushovers on transfer fees (except in the past where we've paid over the odds!).

Very nice information. Many thanks.

Soren @181.
I bloody well hope not !
He'll be asking for a move to a "bigger club" during his medical !

Replacing Baines & Coleman with 2 lads from the ressies may seem a bit dramatic but I'm in the camp that believes that the first team squad needs a major overhaul inc. the clear out of some of the established 'names' and IMO we've seen the best of Baines and Coleman therefore why not sell whilst their stock has some value and use the money to improve the squad.

Between Kenny, Robinson, Jones, Connolly, Browning, Galloway, Lees I believe that we have sufficient talent at the club to cover the FB/WB positions IF we sort of the spine if the team right, particularly a top goalie (hence Bergovic) ... and a top CB e.g. Manolas.

Dismissing Kenny & Co as youngsters implies that they're not physically ready for the fray. Not true, most of those named above are impressive physical specimens, furthermore they play with great pace, put crunching tackles in... they're proper defenders.

Of the defensive minded midfielders you list, Barry is seemingly on his last legs, Besic, Gibson and McCarthy have been beset by injury, Davies is raw and inexperienced and Cleverley (whilst a trier) doesn't seem to contribute much. Personally, I don't see the need for two defensive midfielders every game, but Koeman seems set on sticking with it and, as such, you can see why it would make sense to him to bring in a player he knows well and who he believes he can count on to play in tandem with Gueye going forward.

It's a similar story with the wide players. Koeman doesn't seem to trust Deulofeu. Lennon's form plummeted once his loan deal was made permanent and he hasn't really looked effective since. Mirallas is as inconsistent as they come. Bolasie's misfortune has seen him removed from the equation for the time being. Lookman is likely considered one for the future, rather than one to be thrown straight in.

So, whilst not the positions I would be prioritising, I can see why Koeman might consider he needs other options there.

Got to say in both games he was as good as any player on the pitch and looks a terrific prospect. While I personally think it's too soon to get shut of Baines, I wouldn't t mind seeing Robinson given a few outings from the bench.

I have in fact seen the one appearance that Kenny made and I thought the lad looked to have a bit about him.

You cannot possibly know how a youngster will fare until they are actually tested at the highest level.

So whilst I agree with your assessment that the squad needs overhauling I disagree that either Baines or Coleman need to be part of that currently.

And even if I felt they did to suggest they be replaced in the first team by two kids with a combined 45 mins of Premier League experience is lunacy.

If ever Barkley is going to improve it'll be playing along side this guy and Gana.

Are we witnessing the long-awaited dawn of a new Everton here, or will Lukaku be on his way on 31 January?

It wouldn't surprise me to see Jagielka go to Sunderland and Fonte come to Everton; I feel it's possibly the only way people would accept another ageing defender coming into the club.

Everton will play much higher up the field as a result and both better offensive players than people credit them with.

Interested to see if they are part of a 3/4/5 man midfield.

I think they can hold down the middle of the park as a two. Long time since Everton could play with 4 in midfield and nit get over run.

You can't rely on any one of our current players, aside from Gana to be consistently worth his place.

Point being, we need a new (and settled) first 11. It's not rocket science – we/you all moan week in, week out about it, then we sign players and people question the validity of the signings because we already have players in those positions – it doesn't make any sense to complain about it!

As for the window in general, I would applaud the rumoured signing of a decent striker, but only if the books were not to be balanced by the departure of someone better.

I feel sad to be worried about the latter, but this is Everton after all,

I wouldn't call him a creative midfielder (that we crave) but think he would be a massive improvement over McCarthy, Gibson, Cleverley, Barry, and possibly Gana Gueye. He also has skills and reads the game quickly, decent signing apart from the price.

At least someone at this club is prepared to bag the manager's judgement.

USM Finch Farm, please.

Add to that very right footed indeed and a decent exponent of the long pass.

I'm not sure he will benefit Ross Barkley necessarily but he may benefit Rom and our wingers.

If the medical and contract are sorted today, player registration submitted soon thereafter, can he be in the squad for the weekend?

Don't know if there is a lead time or anything between registration and being eligible. He'll help to fill the massive gap left by Gana and ensure Barry doesn't need to start.

Brian, I wonder if he's had enough game time for the weekend? Maybe as a sub appearance when we're 3 up?

We're being linked with some unknown Argentinian seemingly. Missi, Massi, something like that.

Excellent start in my book!

Welcome to Everton, Morgan.

Can't think of anything better a player can say on joining a new club. Welcome and thank fook!

Gana and Schneiderlin in the middle – that is some serious quality, energy and bite in there now. FINALLY!

Barry, Besic, Cleverley, Gibson – thanks for the memories. Goodbye.