Andre Ayew to join Forest instead of Everton

02/02/2023 231comments  |  Jump to last

Ghana international forward Andre Ayew appears to have snubbed the chance to join Everton and will sign for Nottingham Forest under his former Swansea boss, Steve Cooper, after reportedly holding talks with both clubs.

The 33-year-old is a free agent after terminating his contract with Al Sadd in Qatar where he has spent the past two seasons and was linked with a free transfer to Goodison Park in the waning hours of the transfer window yesterday.

The club denied that anything was imminent late on Tuesday night but Everton's failure to bring in any players last month left new manager Sean Dyche with a weaker squad than the one left by Frank Lampard and supporters incandescent at what they see as catastrophic failure by the recruitment department and hierarchy.

That has lead Everton to scour the free-agency market where the likes of Ayew, Isco, Artem Dzyuba and German forward Max Kruse (the latter two are both 34, although the Russian striker's public Instagram spat with Vitalii Mykolenko over the war in Ukraine last year should give pause to any thoughts of signing him) offer potential options.

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Ayew is said to have spoken with both Everton and Forest but it's not clear whether the two clubs were offering similar terms.

Ayew spent six years in the Premier League with West Ham and Swansea, working with Cooper, making 176 league appearances for the two clubs combined, scoring 52 goals.

He remains a regular for Ghana, featuring in the 2022 World Cup where he scored against Portugal but missed a crucial penalty in the group decider against Uruguay.

 

 

Reader Comments (231)

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Brian Williams
1 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:27:22
FFS!
Neil Thomas
2 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:27:29
He will probably end up at Southampton
Jay Harris
3 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:35:36
I can see it now as Moshiri claims he told us we were going to bring a striker in in this window. OMG.
Chris Donnelly
4 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:36:36
Rondon Mk2………. OMFG!!!!
I’d rather take a chance on a non league player.
I heard they tried to sign the 55 year old Japanese player, but he chose a Portuguese 2nd division side instead
Gavin Johnson
5 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:36:42
This is kinda pointless. He wasn't even that good at his peak.
Neil Thomas
6 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:37:06
I think we would be better off without him. Just adding to the wage bill again. It’s like we never learn.
Neil Thomas
7 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:38:29
Gavin
Did he even have a peak
Tony Everan
8 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:40:51
We know what Rondon turned up like after two years in China, unable to run with the mobility of the Exxon Valdez.

Some wag said Ayew looks like he’s eaten Rondon.

Neil Lawson
9 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:42:07
Sure fire penalty taker or is that his brother? Either way, waste of dosh. Give the tea lady and the toffee girl a raise.
Tom Bowers
10 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:43:50
All so very sad that washed up players are all we can look at.

Desperate times indeed.

Are the reserve strikers that bad ?

Joe McMahon
11 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:46:18
Can't we just play Simms and Gray upfront. Iwobi central no 10 role. I'd rather we kept Rondon! do we evere learn?

I've just answering my own question - NO. That's why we most probrably being relegated and Administration a possibility.

Peter Neilson
12 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:48:45
What’s the point? Yet more room meat. Stats I’ve seen say 21 goals in 89 PL games. Maybe partner him with Maupay. The toothless twosome.
Alan McGuffog
13 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:55:29
You can't play Simms. He's untried.
Dale Rose
14 Posted 01/02/2023 at 16:56:02
Forest are interested in him
Matthew Johnson
15 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:02:14
Alan[13] You can't play Simms. He's untried.

untried in what football?

He must be half decent to of been an England U21 and to have scored goals in more than one League One club

Alan McGuffog
16 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:08:53
Matthew...my comment was tongue in cheek. He was doing well at Hearts and Sunderland. Given that we're up shit brook what does he have to do to get game time ? He's not exactly a kid anymore
Duncan McDine
17 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:09:06
Rondon mkII, but let’s not jump the gun… he hasn’t even decided which club will be graced with his presence. We are well and truly scraping the barrel, seemingly accepting relegation. As someone else mentioned yesterday - it looks like we’re actively trying to get relegated.
Derek Cowell
18 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:15:33
He is not even the best Ayew! He looks about 50 in that photo. Is he an African 33 like Yakubu and Roger Milla?

Give him a big swerve. Are we really that desperate? May aswell have kept Rondon.

Geoff Lambert
19 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:17:40
Can we get some of our south east supporters to chase his car from the airport please...
Christy Ring
20 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:17:42
I'm clutching at straws here, he played in the World Cup, so probably an option off the bench, if he even picks us.
Garry Martin
21 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:24:12
Were's the sense in this if true ?
Anthony Murphy
22 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:24:50
I hope we get him - end of the day we can’t rely on DCL can we. If he chips in with 3 or 4 goals, that could be crucial.
James O'Connell
23 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:24:55
Yet another pre retirement signing to feast at the hapless cash cows rotten udders. Don't waste more money or more of our time on another pointless gesture. There is an episode of The Simpsons called 'Cape Feare' and a particular scene involving garden rakes and Sideshow Bob. That's Kevin Thelwell's recruitment strategy that is.
Jonathan Tasker
24 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:39:16
Everton are behaving like a non league club
Andrew Grey
25 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:43:45
Not sure what you are worried about, if he's talking to one other prem club then he won't be coming here!
Phil Smith
26 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:46:12
No but I'd bring in Isco if we can. At least until the end of the season.
Mark Ryan
27 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:51:33
Derek and others, yes we are desperate. DCL is more fragile than a Ming vase on a skateboard and Maupay couldnt score in a brothel

Ffs if he's scores one and we survive it is worth it

Derek Taylor
28 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:57:02
Shuffling around the rubbish dump now. Dyche better get used to it - that's what we are reduced too !
Will Mabon
29 Posted 01/02/2023 at 17:58:00
It's almost always the "do a job" types that end up not doing the job.
Dan Doran
30 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:08:54
Would rather we just kept Tom Cannon. Also, can we please recall Dobbin?! I know he’s not the answer to all our problems but we’re out of forward options and he was at least a handful the few appearances he made.
Ray Roche
31 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:11:24
Yep! We’re turning into Skiprats. Going through the metaphorical bins.
Kieran Kinsella
32 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:12:19
I'd rather roll the dice on his Dad, Abedi Pele. At least he was good at a point in time albeit 30 years ago.
Dennis Stevens
33 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:23:28
Surely there's less worse out there looking for a contract
Gary Mortimer
34 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:30:44
No No No No

and then NO!!!!

Fran Mitchell
35 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:35:12
sad thing is, we actually need him.

an injury to any of our current forwards and we're in an even worse situation.

he wasn't ever that good, he looked particularly poor at the World Cup, and yet.

I just can't be arsed

Nick Page
36 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:36:36
Oh My God. I thought this was a joke 😞
Raymond Fox
37 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:47:40
I don't know what all the moaning is for, some just come on here to moan I suppose. We try to sign somebody so its moan again

Get him here, see if he's any use in practice and put him on the bench if he is, no skin off our nose. Sounds like he can still score a goal or two.

Barry Rathbone
38 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:54:16
Makes Niasse look like Pele
Joe McMahon
39 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:58:24
Will he accept a 4 month contract?
Mike Kehoe
40 Posted 01/02/2023 at 18:59:13
Just like to say a big thank you to ‘Good Times Bill’ and the board for all their diligence and integrity.
We have been completely ruined by your combined efforts.
Jim Lloyd
41 Posted 01/02/2023 at 19:00:06
Are we that desperate...yes we are. Whoever the club can get in, thenit's one more than we have now.

That is the state this club is in. As Ray says, if he's any good, welcome to the squad, if he isn't then get him a comfy chair. We aren't exactly belle of the ball. They may have their eyes on someone else anyway, but beggars can't be choosers.

Rob Sachro
42 Posted 01/02/2023 at 19:04:48
Ray @ 37... I want whatever you've been smoking! A goal or two is all he's ever scored... May as well re-sign Niasse!!! And I believe he's available... Cos no one else wants him..,.
Raymond Fox
43 Posted 01/02/2023 at 19:08:26
He's better than Mr Nobody Rob as Jim above says, thats the way I'm thinking.
Kieran Kinsella
44 Posted 01/02/2023 at 19:14:41
Rob

To your point Niasse is actually a year younger than Ayew and a free agent. As is, Lacina Traore the fellow with a 100 percent scoring record for Everton. He is also aged 32.

Andy Walker
45 Posted 01/02/2023 at 19:26:51
Better than Maushit.
Bill Gienapp
47 Posted 01/02/2023 at 20:21:44
Being forced to consider Ayew, only to have him snub us for another club, would definitely be the proverbial cherry on top of this January window.
Rob Halligan
48 Posted 01/02/2023 at 20:24:30
Isco, anyone…………………….?

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/real-madrid-dyche-free-agents-26135024

Paul Hewitt
49 Posted 01/02/2023 at 20:28:06
I'd take him rob. Still a very good player and adds that bit of class.
Paul Birmingham
50 Posted 01/02/2023 at 20:53:59
Isco, definitely Rob, still a class player.

His transfer to Union Berlin fell through last night, but I’m not sure of the reasons.

But a good attacking midfielder would be a help, in Evertons situation.

Paul Hewitt
51 Posted 01/02/2023 at 21:11:31
Isco will probably sign for forest.
Tony Everan
52 Posted 01/02/2023 at 21:18:25
Isco of these names mentioned is a class above. If he was motivated and serious about helping us he could definitely give us some quality. Worth a punt on a short term deal.
Joe McMahon
53 Posted 01/02/2023 at 21:28:50
Isco, would be what we need. But yes Paul other premier league teams in the bottom will be interested, so we know what happens next. I'm thinking Leeds or West Ham.
Stuart Sharp
54 Posted 01/02/2023 at 21:33:21
Disagree with most of the above. Given our situation, I'd definitely take Ayew. We need reinforcements up front, and his scoring record is not as bad as people are suggesting. He scored in the World Cup too. How can people say they'd rather have noone? Beggars can't be choosers - so if his contract is sensible (e.g. end of the season), definitely better than noone.
Fran Mitchell
55 Posted 01/02/2023 at 21:36:51
Isco has done very very little in a long time. He was signed by Seville on a 2 year deal and released after 6 months.

Probably be another Dele Alli type.

he'd command a big wage. and he won't be fit. And how would he fit into a 'Dyche' type team?

we need runners, hard workers, and have to hope that it's enough.

But big wage slackers ain't gonna save us.

Hope rests on Dyche getting the most out of what we have.

If they're available on a free, there's usually a reason

Kieran Kinsella
56 Posted 01/02/2023 at 21:54:59
Fran

Yeah Sevilla cancelled his contract as he "didn't meet expectations," and Union Berlin said their deal fell through as they'd agreed terms but at the last minute he suddenly made new demands for much higher wages. On both accounts I'd steer clear.

Ashley Roberts
57 Posted 01/02/2023 at 21:59:47
Why would you sign Ayew when we hopefully have a very hungry Simms? Ayew is long past his best which was always pretty average anyhow. Simms will only get better if we play him. Isco could be worth a punt but we would need to make sure he is fit and could manage the rigours of the premiership. Can we take him a trial period?
Robert Tressell
58 Posted 01/02/2023 at 22:15:43
Ashley # 57. I don't know about Simms but Rondon was certainly very hungry. That's how he got so fat.

Iain Johnston
59 Posted 01/02/2023 at 22:17:18
Christ, may as well offer Connor Wickham a contract... strangely release by Forest Green a couple of weeks before Dunc took over.

There's a definite link there!

Colin Glassar
60 Posted 01/02/2023 at 22:26:52
Get yakubu back.
Kunal Desai
61 Posted 01/02/2023 at 22:35:15
Colin, a 70 year Yakubu would be an improvement on our current forward line.
Steve Barnes
62 Posted 01/02/2023 at 23:05:23
Gary (34). Correct.

Why bother spending stupid wages on a second rate journeyman? All he will end up doing is peeing off the existing squad because he’s on much better wages. Well done Mr Kenwright and Mr Moshiri. Another successful transfer window closes.

Colin Glassar
63 Posted 01/02/2023 at 23:08:20
Well kunal, he did well for us as a 60 year old.
Ed Prytherch
64 Posted 01/02/2023 at 23:32:30
Please baby Jesus NO.
Will Mabon
65 Posted 01/02/2023 at 23:38:12
Seems I may have to get my "It's deliberate" flag out again.
Soren Moyer
66 Posted 01/02/2023 at 23:39:05
Bloody hell!!
Alan Johnson
67 Posted 01/02/2023 at 23:42:22
Ayew pathetic... I keep thinking this can't be happening. But it is, the same old, same old. Blatant attempts by Kenwright

to disgrace the fans, in order to hide his inability to run E.F.C. He's a lying cretin. Just hope the media can show him as he really

is. Hoping he doesn't find himself in a headlock situation. That's how serious this is folks. Please don't let it get out of hand.

Chris James
68 Posted 01/02/2023 at 23:53:52
Half of this thread is saying ‘what a shit deal’ but I suspect this isn’t that different to the 50% plus clamouring for any activity no matter how shit before the deadline. Please, to all of you, just grow the fuck up
Will Mabon
69 Posted 01/02/2023 at 23:59:11
Steady on, Chris.
Mike Connolly
70 Posted 01/02/2023 at 00:02:08
Just wondering if any of our players are embarrass that players wont sign because the team is shite
Chris James
71 Posted 01/02/2023 at 00:04:08
I’mI so fed up of the relentless whingeing on this channel. I’ve witnessed it when we were challenging for Europe under Moyes when KITAP1 was decryed as somehow beaneath us, to Martinez reckless attacking and Allardyce anti football.

We are in a crap position I 100% agree, but the increasingly toxic fanbase has done literally zero to address it or support the team. You are 100% part of the problem now. Telling everyone they are shit and whistling every misplaced pass is really not support, frankly the club would be better off without this ‘support’.

So if you’ve had enough and just want to slag everything off, maybe just do yourself and everyone else a favour and piss off to support the shite, or chelsea, or united.

Right now the team needs real guts in the dugout, on the terraces and across forums like these. If you can’t offer that, then maybe it’s time to move on?

Ernie Baywood
72 Posted 01/02/2023 at 00:07:52
Chris, this isn't about deadline day. It's about a club that currently has an injury prone striker and Neil Maupay as its first team forward options.

Ayew would likely improve us. That in itself should be a stark reminder of the level to which the club is failing in it's transfer policy.

Out of everyone, and not limiting ourselves to just discussing deadline day or even just the recent transfer window, was there really no-one we could have got? Was there no planning for, say,a young forward? We represent an amazing opportunity for a young striker - where else could they get regular Premier League football?

We don't want anyone. We want someone who improves the squad. Ideally they'd fit some kind of style of play. More importantly we want the kind of planning and foresight that goes into signing those players.

A lot of people at this football club have been paid a lot of money recently. And when we needed signings they drew a complete blank. When we needed a manager they came up with the two man shortlist the media had lazily put together.

I've zero confidence in the competence at this club. I also don't trust them. I don't think either of those complaints fall into the 'clamoring for shit activity' basket.

Chris James
73 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:10:07
Okay Ernie, tell me which of the players available in the window would genuinely improve us. I don’t want to hear about the sick note who went to the saints or totally unproven championship prospects…
Will Mabon
74 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:14:51
I understand, Chris, but people are pissed off and venting, understandably. Not everyone here goes to the game or does what you said when they do.

Another time on another day, the pessimists will be the optimists and vice versa. Just thought the last line was a little much, not your usual style.

Nigel Munford
75 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:22:55
Not buying could be the kick up the arse our players need!
Chris James
76 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:25:46
Hey Will, just to be clear I'm not denying anyone their right to vent. I seriously couldn't be more underwhelmed than anyone as to the situation.

I'm a London-based fan these days (about a spit from Brentford and not too far from Fulham), so I am in no way short of options to support, my son is a Chelsea fan!!! But you can't just change allegiance like that, so I'm stuck with the Blues and I'll stick behind them as an away fan and hope Dyche can make the difference.

I may well have to leave this forum though, because the relentless (and pointless) negativity and toxicity here has escalated beyond reasonable levels.

I'm soooooo bored of the tedious rants against BK and Moshiri from people that probably don't even go to the matches. Yes we're badly managed, but that goes for 90% of football clubs and to be honest none of the people ranting here have put even a fraction of the investment that these guys have done into the club. Does that mean they can't bitch and moan? Nope. Does it mean I need to pay literally feck all respect to their ranty opinions? Maybe.

For me it's all about getting behind Dyche and give him at least 5-6 games to try and get a decent tune out of a half-decent squad. If we're bottom with 5-6 games to go, then fair enough I guess, but right now we need some half-full glasses and not the relentless pity party that seems to be derigeur for ToffeeWeb these days,

Si Cooper
77 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:26:54
This sort of signing should be 100% the decision of the manager because it’s not for the future, it’s for right now and only the manager can know whether there are players in the out of contract ranks that he can work with. Any doubts give them a swerve.
I’m not expecting anyone else to come in so I am desperately hoping the likes of Patterson, Garner, Godfrey and DCL are near to shrugging off their injury problems, and Sean Dyche has the wherewithal to get the very best out of the defensive unit as a whole and the key to improving McNeill and the rest.
Will Mabon
78 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:35:57
Well after all said and done, Chris, I'm pretty sure everyone will step up when and where it matters - Goodison, Saturday.

After the surprising but incredible win, ToffeeWeb will be a right party. See you there!

Will Mabon
79 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:41:42
Si,

I have no idea of the plan/arrangement in place with the DoF but equally I hope Dyche is left alone to football matters for what's left of the season. No place for tinkering with so much at stake.

Will Mabon
80 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:42:21
Ray Smith
81 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:48:17
Whatever we do or say will have no bearing on the outcome.
One thing is for sure, in the numbers game as a striker/forward we need backup to our current threadbare attack.
I’m not saying he is the answer, but (god forbid) DCL is injured (again), who do we turn too?
Bring him in if we can, as it’s a numbers game for us, and the numbers are reduced, albeit by the departure of Gordon, but a departure none the less.
I’m sceptical in that he is reported to be flying to London.
Why?
1) is he going to be interviewed by Kenwright et al?
2) His brother lives in London and plays for Palace?
So unless Palace don’t want him, we may end up with him.
Squad player who can’t be any worse than numerous players who have lately flattered to deceive.
Dupont Koo
82 Posted 02/02/2023 at 00:55:40
Not a strong Target Man, Ayew is now 33 and relies solely on his experiences and intelligence on the field.

He is an older and slower version of Neal Maupay, albeit more skillful and clinical. Ghana has a number of pacey wingers and creative playmakers feeding him, but do we?

If Dyche can bring Ayew off the bench and turn him into the Samuel Etoo during that half season as an impact sub, then Ayew would be a good addition.

Don Alexander
83 Posted 02/02/2023 at 01:35:18
I'm presenting gentle genteel sarcasm folks as sleep descends upon me, so indulge me please.

Are you-you-you-you joking Kenwright?

Of course you are - at OUR expense, as ever.

JUST FUCK OFF!

Ernie Baywood
84 Posted 02/02/2023 at 02:02:10
Chris 73 You don't believe there was one player that could have been identified over the last few months that we could have signed to improve us?

I'm not going to lazily drop a name into the conversation based on whoever has turned up on the back pages a couple of times - that's the club's current scouting process and it doesn't work.

If I had a paid position, a significant group of employees, a budget, relationships with a network of scouts and agents, and the time to visit and watch football from other leagues and countries... I'd like to think I'd find a player who might work for us.

And consider that it's not my area of expertise. It's Thelwell's. He's been employed to do exactly that.

How are we ever going to sign a player if the approach was "who was available"? They're supposed to go and find them.

And I'm not sure what is up with unproven championship players. Are they necessarily worse than proven relegation fodder?

Brian Cleveland
85 Posted 02/02/2023 at 03:40:32
Oh come on, Ayew serious?
Garry Martin
86 Posted 02/02/2023 at 04:12:04
Another cheap failure to sit on the bench.

Where did the DOF dig this one from ?

Alan J Thompson
87 Posted 02/02/2023 at 05:00:04
The BBC are reporting that Everton made 14 attempts to sign players on the last day of the transfer window but being the model of consistency that they are failed in everyone. This might seem pretty obvious to the uninformed but did the Board consider starting earlier? Don't even do smoke and mirrors very well anymore which, I suppose, just reflects life at the next to bottom.
Eric Myles
88 Posted 02/02/2023 at 05:10:14
Brain #85, Ayew having a laugh at the predicament we find ourselves in?
Eric Myles
89 Posted 02/02/2023 at 05:25:23
Chris #76, at the risk of boring you, are you sure that Kenwright has put money into the Club??

He borrowed the money to buy his shares and made a large profit when he sold them but has never spent any of that on the Club.

Matchgoing fans have put more money into the coffers than Kenwright, he doesn't even pay for his ticket and I bet also his half time pie and a pint.

And yes, I'm not a matchgoing supporter as I live 10,000 miles away and have done for night on 40 years. But when the team are over here I go to watch them, and when I am back in Liverpool I go to Goodison.

But just because there's plenty of supporters like me, it doesn't mean that we can't see the problems within our Club so if you choose to ignore those problems don't blame the supporters for highlighting them.

Eric Myles
90 Posted 02/02/2023 at 05:32:47
Rob #42, if we're interested in Niasse he'll have to bring his own locker this time.
Bob Parrington
91 Posted 02/02/2023 at 05:56:40
Ayew will likely choose Forest. So no need to worry about adding to the wages bill.

Ernie@34 - You're right IMO. With proper planning and forward thinking there would have been a good number of strikers from which we could select. But . whether or not our guys have the nowse to take any of them over the line is another thing.

Personally, I reckon we are a basket case just now and can only hope that Sean Dyche can bring in some magical changes with the current squad to save us from relegation. It is not impossible and so let's keep our fingers crossed.

Darryl Ritchie
92 Posted 02/02/2023 at 07:11:42
Our only hope is the “ New manager bounce.” If we can just manage 3 wins, we might stay up.
Chris Donnelly
93 Posted 02/02/2023 at 07:30:00
Window opened 1st Jan and closed 31st Jan. we had 6 weeks off due to the World Cup, there is not an ounce of excuse for the negligence shown by the whole system. We had lost the chance to a possible 9 points in that time. Disgraceful neglect of a famous football club with a long and proud history.
We got told there was money before Gordon went, so why wasn’t the problem addressed prior to Jan 1st.
There is no transparency or honesty at board level. The whole thing stinks.
Only thing to do is support the lads every match day, Sean Dyche is our only hope, so let bygones be bygones for the next 18 games, and then after the last game we set up stocks in the centre circle, and lock Moshiri, Kenwright and DBB in and then throw rotten tomatoes at them. Charge £10 a throw, take the profits and then buy this clown out, and have the club owned by the fans.
Ran by the true Evertonians.
COYB we can do this!!! Let’s be that 12th man that Goodison is so famous for!!!
Jason Li
94 Posted 02/02/2023 at 07:57:33
As this is a transfers thread...

Some positives... In the last year brought in Mykolenko, Patterson, Garner, Onana, promoted Simms very recently, and Price looks close; so looks like young hungry players are the theme of the transfer and player policy. This is promising and has changed.

Older ones seem like very low cost like Tarkowski and Ayew.

Next step is to do a Brighton and bring in more earlier stagers like Branthwaite.

Eric Myles
95 Posted 02/02/2023 at 07:58:22
"So if you’ve had enough and just want to slag everything off, maybe just do yourself and everyone else a favour and piss off to support the shite, or chelsea, or united." Chris #71.

"I may well have to leave this forum though" Chris #76.

Well all I can say to that is "don't let the door smack you on the arse on your way out" 'cos I don't need to be reading posts that blame the supporters for the shit we are in. We get enough of that from our three stooges.

Mark Ryan
96 Posted 02/02/2023 at 08:03:23
Here's being looked at because we are brassic. It's better than nothing. We have Simms but not yet tried. He, rather than DCL, might be able to bring Simms on in experience
Yes from me but a reluctant and somewhat bewildered yes
Robert Tressell
97 Posted 02/02/2023 at 08:09:40
Ernie # 84. Thelwell has to operate within the limits of the clubs financial position. That appears to mean he cannot actively target players he wants / thinks we need. We only seem to be able to buy a player where the up front cash commitment is nil or nominal. That severely limits the pool of available players. A few will be decent but will also be hawked around to find the highest bidder (not us). Beyond that, it will be very questionable whether the player is better than what we've got (eg Sulemana).

I am sure Thelwell would have been delighted to seal some deals on 1 January but our financial terms for agents, selling clubs and players are such that everyone waits for a better offer.

Does that mean there is literally no-one in world football we could have targeted and got for a low fee. In a practical sense, possibly. The January window will be such a busy time for agents that our business is low priority. Equally, it will be extremely hard to find a very cheap player capable of improving the squad now.

Obviously we should have been succession planning for years by developing a stable of low cost high quality youth but we are now where we are.

Terry Downes
98 Posted 02/02/2023 at 08:18:32
Maybe we should give Rafa a ring to see if he knows of any more bargain buys he did well in finding Gray, Patterson and Mykolenko ??
Iain Johnston
99 Posted 02/02/2023 at 08:32:49
Bob@91, I agree, there's no forward planning.

High profile players such as Adama Traoré, Onana's Lille team mate, Johnathon Bamba & Lyon's Dembélé are out of contract in the summer.

Two rapid wide men and a forward. All 3 achievable during January if the club had the motivation to pay off their remaining contracts which aren't excessive and would probably have amounted to the same value as the loan down payment for Danjuma rumoured to have been €5m.

At worst offer them pre contract agreements for the summer.

For me they don't appear to do any research until the window actually opens which is why they're always 2 steps behind.

Midfielders too especially as Davies and Doucouré will walk for free in the summer unless they invoke Doucouré's 1 year extension but even then ultimately that's another £22m down the plughole as no one will buy him with 6 months or a year left.

Jim Bennings
100 Posted 02/02/2023 at 08:34:06
Terry

I reckon the jury is out on Patterson at the moment, I need to see he's not just another injury prone crock, been here a year and we've hardly seen him.

Mykolenko is one of the most limited left backs I've seen in 30 years at Everton, semi competent defender but that's about it.

Gray and Townsend were Benitez' best purchases, at least they had some sort of impact for limited budgets.

Eddie Dunn
101 Posted 02/02/2023 at 08:35:57
Chris @92- yes there was money mate, but a lot of it was spent paying-off that fake Lampard and his entourage.
Gordon got a lot of stick but I wonder what he really was earning (and whether he asked for more) and I wonder what Lampard, Cole, Clement, and Edwards and Jones all took off the club in wages and severance pay?
John Bourne
102 Posted 02/02/2023 at 08:37:52
Jesus, it's worse than I thought.
Frank Knight
103 Posted 02/02/2023 at 08:42:09
If you said to me I know a guy in the championship with 7 goals and two assists in 17 matches, big lad too, I would say take the risk.

Stick them up top with Calvert Lewin, Maupay when Calvert snaps and we’ll be alright.

Simms is our January gamble and if Dyche gets the team organised, we might just get out of this shit.

Robert Tressell
104 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:09:40
Iain @ 99. We and Saints tried to sign Moussa Dembele but he obviously declined. Presumably wouldn't want the risk of commiting to playing Championship football next season (possibly with reduced wages as a consequence). He'll have plenty of decent offers in summer as a free agent. Same for Bamba and Traore. So they bide their time - and may end up in places like Frankfurt or Seville or Leicester.

As I said in the post at 97, our finances (a legacy of astonishing past incompetence) are what is really killing us.

Iain Johnston
105 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:12:07
Yeah Rob I know, wishful thinking on my part.
Roman Sidey
106 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:16:45
So many people calling for Simms to be put into the team.

I don't want to give the coaching staff much credit because they've proven to be a massive part of the problem, but at 22 years old if he was any good he would be getting plenty of time in this team.

The fact that he has scored goals for Blackpool, Hearts and Sunderland fills me with bugger-all confidence. It just tells me those clubs probably have better wingers than we do, which isn't hard to believe.

Danny O’Neill
107 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:18:35
Interesting comments about Patterson and Mykolenko, both in their early twenties.

I remember a lot of scepticism about a young Seamus Coleman, who some though couldn't defend. In fact didn't we play him as the forward wide player to start with because we didn't fancy him as right back?

I guess I'm saying, give these lads a chance.

I still think Mykolenko is better suited to being on the left of a back 3.

Ray Smith
108 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:22:40
Ayew having a medical at Forest.
Not sure whether we’ve dogged a bullet or not.
Still, just waiting for Isco to slap us in the face for a full set.
I think Dyche will get a tune out of what he’s got. Not sure of the % of games we lose in the final 15 minutes or added time, but it seems we switch off and give it away during that period!!!
Hopefully Dyche has seen this and will be working on this.
Although I’m repeating myself, we will survive this nightmare 🤞🤞🤞
Stu Darlington
109 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:30:41
Just heard Ayew set for medical at Forest.
Looking at Isco now!
Only seen clips of Ellis Simms,but he doesn’t look upto the necessary level to me.
Makes Victor Anachobie look like Di Stafano to me!
Ray Roche
110 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:35:38
Forest are after Ayew to prevent us from signing him. Isco will be next.
Tony Abrahams
111 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:42:17
We just haven’t got the players for that formation Danny. Mykolenko has suffered more than anyone not having a player out wide and ahead of him, imo. My memories of Russian and Ukraine footballers, is that they rarely try and beat a man. They let the ball do the work, and do loads of their running off the ball.

One-Two’s, remember them? Lampard never really got any type of system going, so it will be interesting to see how Everton’s players now do, once Dyche simplifies their game.

Joe McMahon
112 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:43:49
Yup, first Southampton and now Forrest. Not that bothered about the player but it's the negative message it sends to the footballing world.

To stand a chance of landing Isco Frank would still have to be manager. He won't have heard of Sean, and tales of Ball, Z Cars and Dixie won't sway it! Thanks Kenwright you complete tosser!

Stan Grace
113 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:50:27
Like Dele Alli, it appears that Isco's best days were a few years ago. Although perhaps a manager like Dyche could get either/both of them to work harder again.
Tony Abrahams
114 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:54:36
Chris J@68, read what Joe, has just written, mate. He’s not bothered about the players who have turned Everton down, but it’s the negative message it’s sending out to both the football world (so they can continue to laugh at us) and also our own supporters.

I don’t care about the football world laughing at us, I’m thick skinned when it comes to football, and know what it’s like, because I woke up to this many, many years ago, but to tell people to grow the fuck up for voicing 100% genuine concerns, just doesn’t make sense to me Chris.

I’m starting to see a change in people the closer it gets to Saturday, and I’m hoping this means that we are going to see Goodison, at it’s patriotic best.

John Pickles
115 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:55:07
Apparently, it's us or Oldham and he prefers Oldham.
Michael Stewart
116 Posted 02/02/2023 at 09:55:11
Putting aside the gross incompetence of those running our club, we spend millions on an academy structure - coaches,facilities etc but would rather look to sign 30+ year olds looking for 1 last pay cheque when we should be looking to give youth an opportunity?
Steve Brown
117 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:03:53
Swerved a bullet there.
Peter Carpenter
118 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:12:30
I've heard that the Toffee Lady has gone to Bournemouth, Forest have signed the Dixie Dean statue and Tottenham are trying to hijack Speedo Mick.
Michael Lynch
119 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:18:04
Ray @110, that was my first thought. Forest do have a couple of injuries to be fair, but even so you have to say it is a win-win for them in theory - get a proven goalscorer to bring on for ten minutes if you're chasing the game, while ensuring that a relegation rival is still short of a back-up striker, and at the same time demoralise us by saying "Everton miss out again!".

The narrative in the media is clear now, whether it's true not. Everton attempted to sign 10, 14, 15 (take your pick) forwards and every single one turned them down, often in favour of their relegation rivals. It's a great story, and our board are never going to tell us what really happened, so it's the story that will stick.

At the end of the day though, most of our signings over the past few years have been utter dogshit, so we've probably dodged 10, 14, 15 bullets (take your pick again).

Ciarán McGlone
120 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:31:11
Be still my beating heart..
Kim Vivian
121 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:36:12
Thank you, Peter - at last a laugh this Thursday morning. Feel better now.
Christy Ring
122 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:37:01
Mykolenko is totally lost as a wing back, and the same in a back 3, last season he was most effective as a left back in a back 4. He’s been very poor this season, maybe try McNeill there or Godfrey.
Eddie Dunn
123 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:39:26
Tony- I have been disappointed in Mykolenko for the last few months. When he arrived he took a while to adjust but he did seem to have more confidence and scored a couple of nice goals.
I think he can still improve.
Patterson went from a promising attacking weapon to a guy who couldn't defend or attack.
The pair of them were not fitting into Lampard's system.
It will be interesting on saturday to see how Dyche sets us up, but it might be a one-off due to the quality of the visitors. Then the trip to Anfield will also most likely see us park the proverbial, so it might be a while before we see what Dyche can really do.
Jerome Shields
124 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:44:03
Everton will be scrumaging around the bargain basement of out of contract players or free agents that they are now called.

I do not subscribe to the deadline scramble by Everton for new players, since there was no real preparation before hand regarding suitable transfers and even less thought put into the January Transfer Window, employing a New Manager on the last weekend before transfer deadline day,with the additional factor of having rubbished the Club's reputation with proven Fake News.

As for the names mentioned, nothing more than click bait, or PR leaks to give the impression Everton has money to spend, which it does not have.Probably setting Thewell up as a future scapegoat knowing who he is working with.

Terry Downes
125 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:45:32
Seems like southampton and Forest have joined forces to try make sure we’re going down ?
Robert Tressell
126 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:47:53
Personally I think Mykolenko might well come good in a well organised back 4 with maybe McNeil or Iwobi operating as a wide midfielder in front of him. Similarly Patterson on the right. I think both have suffered from the poor and inconsistent structures used by Lampard. Dyche should be better.
Roman Sidey
127 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:51:44
Eddie, not to be pedantic, but Mykolenko has scored one goal for the club.
Danny O’Neill
128 Posted 02/02/2023 at 10:57:59
Let the ball do the work. The basics of coaching at the earliest age. Great quote Tony. Pass and move. You will know better than me.

I think Mykolenko and Patterson can come good. Still young. Likewise, maybe McNeil with Dyche motivating him and giving him belief.

These are young players. For those who advocate playing the kids, we have to be patient with them.

Stu Darlington
129 Posted 02/02/2023 at 11:00:50
Dyche and Isco in the same sentence?It’s a funny old world!
Jerome Shields
130 Posted 02/02/2023 at 11:01:58
Actually rather than a free agent and a new contract, I would have thought a loanee is more likely.Is it right that they are allowed 2 English loans and 2 Foreign loans ?Is there some type of type extention for Foreign loan uptake ? I use to know about this, but can',t accurately recall.

John Daley
131 Posted 02/02/2023 at 11:18:31
I honestly beleive we will be OK with the new manager putting a structure troughout the team and get up the pitch instead of the slow laboursome
tosh we have witnessed - the team get a nosebleed when 40 yards frrom the poppositons goal. OK we have lost our quicker players in Richie and Gordon, but with the current players having the belief to express themselves and get the themselves and ball into the box, I do honestly think we can get out of this mess.
Jim Bennings
132 Posted 02/02/2023 at 11:19:03
The problem with Mykolenko is he's not good enough for a modern fullback.

Most fullbacks either right or left sided these days aren't great defensively, think back to a Tony Hibbert for example, old school.

But they need the be mobile and incisive, that's why Lucas Digne was such a creative source, and on another level again Leighton Baines.

I don't think Mykolenko will be good enough long term going forward, he won't get any better than he is.

Patterson for me, looks like he can do well going forward, my question mark is over his fitness, for a young lad he's missing too much football, is there a longer term problem that needs attention?

He should be taking over Coleman in 2023, but to do that he needs to stay fit, we can't sit around waiting until the 12th of never.

Tony Abrahams
133 Posted 02/02/2023 at 11:22:56
Fair points Jim, but look at the way Mykolenko, tries to pass it into the centre forwards feet, at times. I wish more players did this, I’m certain DCL, will be getting a lot more of the football played into him now, and it will be interesting to see how Mykolenko does, now the players are going to start getting some genuine partners, out on the pitch?
David West
134 Posted 02/02/2023 at 11:41:52
I think Mykolenko hasn't shown his best going forward. He's a bit rabbit in tge headlights when he gets the chance to put in a cross or gets tge chance to get to the byline. Patterson is a lot better but I think he is noticing the step up from Scotland is massive.
Hopefully Dyche will drill into them to put it in to the danger area no hesitation, Then if there are 2 forwards there to attack it at least its some threat.
Dcl & maupay make the runs but ball doesn't come. Gray guilty of it too.
If you watch the 23 pass goal Burnley scored at goodison it was no kick and rush.
Pass the ball, move into space it's not rocket science
Mike Oates
135 Posted 02/02/2023 at 11:42:01
Dyche demands all his players to adher to a strict formation, normally 4:4:2. If you look at the YouTube Dyche tactics videos he insists his players take up certain positions on the field when we have the ball and when the opposition have it. His 2 forwards have to drop back and stop the ball to midfield from their defenders - its a must. His midfielders have to work in tandem across the pitch and his defenders have to keep a straight line. It’s a very very organised team with little room for “spare” players, No 10’s.
We get the ball and it’s front two with width primarily from the two wide midfielders, less so from the full backs.
Key is don’t lose shape, particularly at the back.
Will be interesting to see if the players will perform to it
Allen Rodgers
136 Posted 02/02/2023 at 11:48:13
Ayew ? It just gets worse. Even if he agrees a deal he might not get a work permit. No cchance Isco will come.
I'm past caring tbh. I'm not a defeatist but I've accepted we're going down and my blood pressure has done likewise. But I'll still be there Saturday thinking well you never know
Robert Tressell
137 Posted 02/02/2023 at 12:09:54
Tony - more balls into the forwards + develop partnerships on the pitch. Absolutely.

David - put it in the danger area no hesitation + 2 forwards to attack the ball. Absolutely.

Mike - all those good structural points. Absolutely.

I'm both fascinated and cautiously optimistic about Dyche.

I'd have liked to see Gyokeres and Ndiaye and maybe one or two others signed to help out. But Dyche's work with existing players is much more important than signing Isco or Ayew or whoever.

Julian Exshaw
138 Posted 02/02/2023 at 12:13:02
This is like when I forget to buy roses for my wife on Valentine's Day but two days later I give her a withering bunch bought on special offer at the petrol station. It doesn't go down well.
Ray Jacques
139 Posted 02/02/2023 at 12:24:09
Wanted this guy for years. FFS what have we become??
Ray Jacques
140 Posted 02/02/2023 at 12:26:00
Its akin to shopping in the Oops isle at ASDA before it shuts for the day
Peter Neilson
141 Posted 02/02/2023 at 12:28:56
Wonder if we enquired about Kazuyoshi Miura, Japanese international striker. Too late now as he’s now gone to a club in Portugal. Would’ve been worth a punt, been a pro for 38 years, aged 55, maybe we couldn’t afford him.
Eddie Dunn
142 Posted 02/02/2023 at 12:29:36
Roman- oops! Wishfull thinking on my part.
Alan J Thompson
143 Posted 02/02/2023 at 12:34:19
I disagree that Mykolenko is poor going forward or a rabbit in headlights. Quite often he gets in a position to cross looks for his target in the box then pauses when he realizes that there is nobody there, and he isn't the first.It would be a lot more fruitful if ever we manage to get bodies into the box when we attack, that is the main problem, you have only Calvert-Lewin or Maupay to aim for depending on which one is playing. Occasionally we look better when Onana gets forward.
Tony Graham
144 Posted 02/02/2023 at 12:46:24
Sources saying he,s going to Forest, hope it,s true...
Mark Murphy
145 Posted 02/02/2023 at 13:12:55
you wont when he scores against us Tony
you just know it...
Bill Gall
146 Posted 02/02/2023 at 13:25:12
Lets not worry about not signing him,if he thinks he will get a game for Forest with the amount of players they have signed good luck to him, on the bench at best.

It is becoming pretty obvious that other teams in the relegation battle want Everton to go down instead of them by the players they are buying.
It looks like even if a lot of supporters don't like his style, getting S.Dyche in at this time may work out ok,as being in a battle I don't think he will back down from it, just hope he can get the players up for it, I am sure the younger players given a chance will definitely be willing to fight for a place.

Jim Bennings
147 Posted 02/02/2023 at 13:33:05
It's not Ayew that I feel gutted at missing out on.

Its the fact these muppets allowed Richarlison to leave and never replaced him, they've now sold Gordon and pocketed the cash.

They had six fuckin' weeks when that World Cup was being played to work on a proper well constructed plan involving transfers, they already knew that they needed on August deadline day.

What did we do in that break?
Piss fart about in the Aussie sunshine while mugs were at home freezing their ass off.

The January transfer window is not like Halloween when everyone starts knocking trick or treating on the day it arrives, a proper well organized business would have had deals set in place ready to go on January 1st.

We scramble around with our heads under our arms on January 31st.

The club is a joke.

Sam Hoare
148 Posted 02/02/2023 at 13:37:33
Think Ayew would have been a better bet than Isco. At least Ayew is a hard worker and scored a good amount of goals in the Championship recently.

Not a massive loss but he may have had his uses. Good luck to him getting game time at Forest (who must surely have one of the biggest squads in the division now?)

Eric Myles
149 Posted 02/02/2023 at 13:38:27
I'm sure Moshiri's mate Kia Joorabchian has got a few out of contract players or loanees on his books that he could recommend.
Chris James
150 Posted 02/02/2023 at 13:39:21
Hi Tony, you are totally entitled to your opinion and to express it, and you have some fair points.

I do think there's a bit of a difference between 'expressing concerns' and the relentless parade of negativity about pretty much every single part of the club that has become the dominant narrative on this channel though, (although fair play it's absolutely not from everyone here).

Maybe my language was incendiary, so I apologise for that certainly. I'm not typically so direct, but after the last few weeks/months I think something just snapped. We are definitely in trouble as a club, we're probably the most at risk we've been of relegation in recent memory, and the leadership has not been anywhere near good enough I won't disagree. But not everything or every body associated is shit.

After a sewer of negativity over the fact we hadn't signed anyone (the underlying frustration I understand, but some is just way overboard), to then have further vitriol immediately thrown at the prospect of maybe getting one of the players previously linked as an out of contract option just pushed a button I guess.

I actually think we do have a good enough squad to stay up if the manager can actually get the players heads right. I also didn't really see any names that moved in the window that I'm convinced would've vastly improved our specific fortunes, maybe Sarr was the one name that was an exception to that (but was he actually really available?)
From what I saw it seemed to be unproven championship strikers and wingers with questionable injury records and poor stats in inferior leagues. I don't feel the guy that's gone to Saints is going to pull up trees (if he ever actually gets off the treatment table) and I'm not that blown away by the one that Spurs hijacked us for who didn't really do much at Bournemouth.
Also interested to see how would you feel if we'd spent £40M+ on a young player with some potential but an actually pretty 'meh' goal/assist record and apparently questionable temperament?

Sam Mellor
151 Posted 02/02/2023 at 13:42:40
Tin hat on... I agree with Chris.
Chris James
152 Posted 02/02/2023 at 13:48:32
Ernie(84) - to be clear I'm not saying that there are not players out there who could improve us, I think there are plenty.

I'm saying I'm not convinced that the players who were actually ever available to us (and specifically the ones that did move) which I'd say would've been a marked upgrade. I'm sure Jorginho, Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez could've done a job for us of course, but I'm not sure we were seriously in the running. I would've not been entirely unhappy with Elanga on loan (from what I'd seen of him in glimpses at United), but that wasn't on the cards either.

I will no doubt be proved wrong as some of these signings elsewhere will come off, but which of the players we had a chance of getting would you have brought in?

Andrew Bentley
153 Posted 02/02/2023 at 14:28:50
@Chris James, and @Sam Mellor - I applaud your positivity and optimism. We do need more like you, especially on match day's where the goodison crowd do turn when things aren't looking great (yes, I do actually go to home matches and I live down South)

ToffeeWeb is a diverse set of perspectives and is a place for people to shout, rant, cheer for joy, banter each other - it's essentially therapy for us all. For that I only see it is a positive space where we all ultimately want the same thing which is a successful team on the pitch that gives us something to cheer and enjoy.

No-one knows if signing nobody during this window will impact us negatively or positively, likewise whether the folks we were linked with were actually people we were really after or whether them coming in would improve us. If we all knew this with certainty (as many posters, including myself trot out) then we should be millionaires and have won the lottery by now.

We aren't as no-one really knows.

What is the point of this comment - basically don't get worked up when people don't agree with you. Don't jump down each other's throats for having a different opinion. I'm on the side of negativity right now as think the leadership at this club have completely failed in their duty of custodians of this club - they are to blame for a lot of the crap we are in and so think people should protest.

The real issue was when the Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine and sanctions hit the Oligarchs. It's clear now to everyone that it's not Moshiri's money that's been going into this club, its Usmanov's - that's why we haven't got the funding for the stadium growing costs, its why FFP is really biting us right now.

I'll support the team each week, hoping for a win and some glimmers of hope, but history tells me that I'll keep being disappointed. I am more than happy to be proved wrong believe me as relegation will be an unmitigated disaster for this club.

Keep the faith, keep being negative/positive - it all contributes to the healthiness of the debate and the intent is always positive ultimately, to make this great club we all love better.

Onwards blues!

Robert Tressell
154 Posted 02/02/2023 at 14:35:03
Chris # 152 I agree with you.

The scouts etc know all the players / targets inside out. It's nothing to do with that. The problem is how the markets work and, by a mile, our finances.

Michael Barrett
155 Posted 02/02/2023 at 14:36:50
First presser was interesting he said he was surprised by how fit they were and the quality of the squad...oh shit.
Kieran Kinsella
156 Posted 02/02/2023 at 14:56:30
Michael

He looks like he's aged 20 years. A totally broken man already.

Matthew Williams
157 Posted 02/02/2023 at 14:57:18
Recall Dobbin from his loan first,then keep scouting the globe for any half decent players.

I've emailed the club now twice about Josh Williams at Connah's Quay Nomads,only 50 Grand!!!...if this lad doesn't make it at the top level then I'll give footy a rest and follow Ice Hockey instead!

Stuart Sharp
158 Posted 02/02/2023 at 14:58:42
I am amazed that so many feel Ayew would add nothing. I'd have been underwhelmed if we'd have signed him a month ago, but we now desperately need proven goal scores even if only as cover. As it stands, we've got to play half a season with DCL (rarely fit), Maupay (1 goal, zero confidence) and Simms (totally unproven and far riskier than Ayew).
Stuart Sharp
159 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:00:23
PS
If Forest sign Ayew, his previous relationship with Cooper has a lot to do with it.
Ed Prytherch
160 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:02:59
We have dodged a bullet with Ayew going to Forest. One of the few positive bits of news this week.
Andrew Keatley
161 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:09:55
Chris (152) and Robert (154): We were pretty heavily linked with Mudryk in the summer and didn't manage to convince him/Shakhtar to come to us, arguably because we weren't prepared to pay the £35+ million that they were asking. Who knows if Mudryk was ever sufficiently interested to come here, but we had similar problems trying to get deals done for Moises Caicedo, Matheus Nunes and Luis Diaz - and numerous others. You never know who is going to hit the ground running, crash and burn on impact, or be a slow-burning success, but in amongst the dross that we have often ended up signing we are identifying decent targets... we just seem to struggle to get them through the doors.
Pete Clarke
162 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:15:43
The recent pay outs to managers, wasted money on players and the cost of building the stadium are all showing now because Moshiri will not be giving any more money for signings. He’s balancing the books and has more or less accepted that we’re going down so deeper dept cannot be carried with us. I’m sure that he would even sack Kenwright if it were not for inside knowledge that he has on him and also the threat of a massive payout fo some strange contract signed when he bought us out.
If Dyche saved us here it will be a miracle and he can become our new chairman too once we are sold.
Just had a quick chat with a neighbour who supports Arsenal. He doesn’t care about our position and just wants his team to hammer us so they win the league. I told him that I want them to win the league also but more than anything I want us to win against Arsenal to give us all a lift and get some nice threads posted on ToffeeWeb come Saturday night.
COYB
Tony Abrahams
163 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:21:12
Chris j, thanks mate. I was delighted with the fee we got for Gordon, because I believed it was going to be the only way we were going to sign any players. It’s interesting that you mention Sarr, because I would have also liked to get him, but I read into how Everton wanted to factor the deal, and this really caught my attention.

Watford are the only club that have confirmed that Everton, tried to sign a player, and quite a few clubs, have said that Everton, were a hindrance, during the last transfer window, because it was believed they never had the money to actually sign players.

We made a bid for Giroud? If this is even believable, then why, after he turned the club down two years ago? Just another thing that doesn’t make any sense.

To be fair to the club, they stayed very quiet, and it was possibly all just television talk. We bid for Gallagher, not according to Chelsea, is one example of this.

Bringing in a new manager for a dog-fight, and not giving him a penny, should surely bring a statement from someone inside our club, because the silence is deafening once more.

Hopefully soon Moshiri will sell up, because it’s obvious that he’s been kidded by Kenwright, and his nepotistic poison? Hopefully soon, Everton will have a new beginning.

Tony Abrahams
164 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:43:13
Go onto the Everton page, scroll down and look for the six and a half minute interview, which shows how 90% of the fan base must surely feel now. That fella Ped, speaks from the heart, and although some people will argue that it’s not our club, very few will be able to disagree with anything else he says, imo.

Dyche saying how fit the players actually are is a massive positive imo. Fill a players head with too much stuff, and he will lose track of what he’s supposed to be doing, imo. Simplify it, give them some confidence, and get them to believe in themselves. This has got to be the way forward right now?

Robert Tressell
165 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:46:57
Yes, Andrew, I don't doubt our scouts etc are painfully aware of great prospects. As you say we're often linked with many of them.

So what's the issue?

Presumably money or lack of it. Which maybe leads to Tony's suggestion that we're difficult to deal with. With Diaz for example we couldn't do it unless they took Rodriguez as part of the deal. With Mudryk, maybe we offered something like the £35m we pay on the drip for Onana.

Saints, Bournemouth and Forest have all bought some good up and coming players. So our status as a relegation threatened club is not the barrier. So presumably we just cannot offer a financial package agents, target players and selling clubs will go for.

Are we targeting the wrong sorts of players? Possibly a bit of that. But we were linked with Gibbs-White, Ouattara, Onuachu etc who all joined lesser clubs. We could go for the tier below, but we then stray into more speculative signings who wouldn't improve us right now anyway.

So maybe the ones we actually can afford aren't the ones we need right now?

Very difficult.

James Newcombe
166 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:50:59
Oh no! ...Anyway
Christy Ring
167 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:52:29
Is Mason Greenwood a free agent?
Iain Johnston
168 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:55:21
Good! so glad he won't be stealing a living with us.
John Keating
169 Posted 02/02/2023 at 15:59:49
Was there any doubt?
Iain Johnston
170 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:07:33
Not really that worried about what Forest, Bournemouth and Soton have done.

Seems to me it's been quantity over quality and their owners have fallen into the same trap as Moshiri did.

Andrew McLawrence
171 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:12:24
Manager blowing smoke up the Board's ass already
Kieran Kinsella
172 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:16:29
Iain

I was just looking at Forest's squad. Didn't realize they have FIVE first team goalies including Dean Henderson, Keylor Navas and Wayne Hennessey. Seems like overkill to me?

Kevin Molloy
173 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:18:50
very pleased with that press conference. He's got that essential confidence, let's hope we don't grind it out of him.
John Flood
174 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:20:15
Of course our problems in getting anybody in are all to do with finance and the inept mismanagement of the club, but I think it’s now more down to the PL profit & sustainability rules than actually having the money to sign anybody. As we’re at the limit of those rules it means that even if we had the money to sign anybody we can’t as we’d break the limits and get a 10 point reduction, resulting in certain relegation. The little wriggle room we had went when we had find money to pay off Lampard and his coaching team. That is why the terms we have been offering were structured that way and why they were so unattractive to clubs, agents and prospective players.
Terry McLavey
175 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:21:51
My God, we really are a pariah of a club, Ped was right in the interview with Sky, the club blaming the fans, just like the government we have blaming everyone but themselves!
Robert Williams
176 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:26:04
See that Ayew's away! Thank god for that.According to the Gospel of St Dyche we have enough high quality players - we don't need worse ones - we will see.
Paul Cherrington
177 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:28:07
How many players do Forest need for god's sake? They must have signed about 30 or 40 since coming up last summer. I think they're doing it just to stop people signing for us and stockpiling players they don't need. Not sure it should be allowed but there you go.

looks like finances and players just not wanting to come here have done for us in the main though this time.

John Charles
178 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:36:59
Haha
And thank god. Sick and tired of signing rubbish.
Enjoy forest with the other 37 signings
Mark Taylor
179 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:37:08
Chris 152

I appreciate you are more of a bucket half full person and there are plenty on here who are bucket half empty, myself included. But the last transfer debacle is not the cause it is a symptom of what has been inexorable decline since Moshiri too over.

He has spent money, for sure, but I personally don't think it's his, rather it's mostly if not wholly the Uzbeki's. You might even argue that without Putin, we may not be in these dire straits. But we are and they are dire. And it's been a 7 year journey there.

The people who run the club are unlikely to make a short term impact, players and managers can do that. But they are vital to the long term health of the club and successful clubs pretty much always have good, experienced people running them. Now on our 7th manager in as many years and nearly rooted to the bottom of the table, with the football world openly laughing at us, surely the conclusion is unavoidable.

Changing the board and ideally the owner won't keep us up but we have no long term prospects as a top EPL club until they are removed. So we are Janus faced, one side behind the team and manager, the other set implacably against these clowns and liars.

Darren Hind
180 Posted 02/02/2023 at 16:46:15
somebody suggested sticking big Yerry up front on here a couple of weeks ago, Gave me a good laugh.

I'm not laughing now

Brent Stephens
181 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:11:20
Not good enough, best years have gone - said Ayew about Everton.
David West
182 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:13:59
I suspect many other fan forums and sites are pretty similar to ToffeeWeb. If you went on a city, utd, rs, Spurs site. Fans alway have a axe to grind, always have their own opinions about the team, tactics, signings etc. We are no different.
The unrest over the way the club Is run is more than just opinion or conjecture it's fact now for all to see. With years of evidence to back fans worst fears.
So it's not the usual negative comments about certain players or certain tactics, that will always be around on fan sites. It's genuine concern about the state and future of the club. It's not negative for negative sake.
If you want to be given the rose tinted version of how well Everton is doing, see the official EFC site .

I Hope we can come together for these important few months to once again show the board that we are the most important part of the club.
Then hope someone is willing to take a chance on moshiris stake and get them all out !

Terry Farrell
183 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:21:10
Didn't want him or Isco anyway
Rob Halligan
184 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:23:21
Let’s be honest, out of all the thousands of players Forest have signed, how many would we have here? All of them are pretty much over the hill, looking for their final pay day, which seems to be a popular quote on here, and when Forest are relegated, they will be stuck with them. Whilst we may not have the best squad we’d all like, it’s better than Forest’s. It’s all been because of the manager that I really think we are where we are, so hopefully Sean Dyche can whip some arse and get us moving up the table.
Ian Riley
185 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:26:55
We need pace up front. At 33 years old, a muscle strain and season over. Thank you, Andre, for not choosing us.

Why do we have a Director of Football? It shows signs of desperation rather than what we need.

Stay with what we have. Hopefully Sean brings a different mentality and methods to keep us up.

Bjoern Haall
186 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:29:05
Does anyone know how much money is needed to buy out Moshiri and the rest of the clan?
Bill Gall
187 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:31:12
Brent# 181

I think Ayew was talking about himself

Brent Stephens
188 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:34:52
Bill #187 - ah, you could be right!
Barry Rathbone
189 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:39:56
Dodged a massive bullet there.

A showreel starting with 30 seconds of celebrating with team mates and no action tells all. The idea this guy was being considered as an Everton player shows this club has truly collapsed.

Sean needs to take the team to Lourdes and pray for a miracle. Lazarus in the tomb was in better shape lets hope we get a similar result

Eddie Dunn
190 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:52:38
Rob,

I am also hoping that Dyche can get more out of our lads and, with a couple of decent results, the team will push on.

I suppose we will soon see.

Chris James
191 Posted 02/02/2023 at 17:55:38
It's not all about Ayew of course, Niasse and Jo are apparently also still available...
;-)

Free Agents

Peter Carpenter
192 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:02:02
Can we sell some lockers to Forest?
Mark Ryan
193 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:11:11
A lot of people missing the point here. Thelwell tried to sign him!! Presumably with Dyche's backing.

What is his fucking role if this is his best effort this transfer window??? He has failed to land any of his targets. He has failed to sign an out-of-contract 33-year-old has-been who has said "Thanks but no thanks".

As a club, do we need Thelwell? Even I could have got that one home!!

Anthony Dove
194 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:11:32
Thank heavens. I couldn’t take anymore bad news.
Mal van Schaick
195 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:15:41
No great loss. Save the money for a summer rebuild. Which league that will be in is beyond us all.
Bobby Mallon
196 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:15:55
I'm so glad… so, so glad.
Kieran Kinsella
197 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:16:05
Is there any actual evidence we tried to sign him?

I've seen lots of speculating from papers but nothing from the club or player saying we offered him a deal. I noticed Dyche in his presser said "There's a reason players don't have clubs."

Eddie Dunn
198 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:16:50
Mark @193,

Walsh, Brands and now Thelwell.

All of these men were highly regarded but it seems that they are not trusted to do their jobs.

It wouldn't matter who was Director of Football if you can't offer enough money up front or wages high enough for players, agents and clubs will go elsewhere.

Financial mismanagement impacts everything.

Ray Robinson
199 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:18:38
On the one hand, I'm embarrassed. On the other, I'm relieved.

Seriously, Forest need investigating. We may be in deep shit financially but they are going to go tits up even bigger style.

Jerome Shields
200 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:19:15
I doubt Ayew was contacted by Everton.

Oumar Naisse had a shot in him. He is the only player who will ever be penalised after the match for 'successful deception of a match official'. He was going well until then.

It is a pity the VAR wasn't around then, he would have gotten away with it. He also showed Koeman up as an idiot after he took his locker away.

What Everton would give for a player like Oumar Naisse now.

Ray Robinson
201 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:21:05
Eddie,

You've answered your own question. These guys weren't allowed to do their own job!

Bobby Mallon
202 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:21:35
Mark Ryan @193.

He went to Forest because they have given a 33-year-old journeyman £100,000 a week. We have fucking been there and seen it.

Peter Carpenter
203 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:21:57
What lunatics are running the Forest asylum?
Matt Henderson
204 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:26:57
We've saved on huge wages and also, by the looks of him, we will save the canteen a fair wedge by not having to feed him. No loss.

If we'd have acted this financially responsible and selective when buying players for the last 7 years, we'd be in a much better place now.

Kunal Desai
205 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:32:34
Shock horror. Everton seasons get played out like Bill's own pantomime.

Don't sack a manager early on.
Don't bring in players first week of January.
Sack the manager a couple of days before window closes.
Appoint one with a day or two left of the window.
Scramble for players and make phantom bids.

If I'm looking at this from the outside and oblivious to it being a football club, you would laugh.

It's a comedy show led by the Chuckle Brothers.

Bobby Mallon
206 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:37:14
And I just want to say WE ARE NOT GOING DOWN. We have 54 points to go for.

Sean Dyche should be telling this squad "Forget the last 20 games, this is the beginning of our season and we need 22 points out of 54 to survive. We don't need to panic."

Rob Halligan
207 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:41:48
Don't get too upbeat about him not joining us just yet……it could still happen…

Nottingham Forest will sign Andre Ayew on one condition

Danny O’Neill
208 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:43:26
I'm not going down Bobby.

I've had big fights in life and not just with Everton.

We fight and stay up.

But then it has to change at the top.

Colin Glassar
209 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:46:44
Who else wants to step forward and humiliate us?
John Raftery
210 Posted 02/02/2023 at 18:57:56
I am not convinced recruiting ageing strikers looking for one last payday would improve the squad. There is usually a reason they are out of contract; they are past it or worse, they are a nuisance to manage.

We do not need a huge squad. Mostly we have only one game a week until the end of May. There is no need for massive rotation. Dyche is used to working with a small group of players. A small tight-knit squad of committed players will outperform a large unwieldy group comprising players new to the league and/or the country.

John McFarlane Snr
211 Posted 02/02/2023 at 19:14:14
Hi Bobby [206],

I too believe that Everton will dodge relegation, but in the case of the worst outcome, I can say, "If God spares me, I will be in my Park End seat next season, irrespective of the league Everton are competing in."

Hi Danny [208],

I have said on quite a few posts that "On match days, my world is 120 yards x 70 yards. Any problems I may have to deal with, are forgotten for the best part of two hours. I have learned over the years to approach games with an open mind, and to put football in its true position. There are far worse things happening in the world than a football club losing a game.

Billy Roberts
212 Posted 02/02/2023 at 19:28:53
Colin @209

I know where you are coming from but I genuinely believe any (real) transfer targets that fucked us off will look back and regret it.

Deluded possibly, but we have to just hope – yes, fuckin hope again – we get our shit together and sail into Bramley-Moore Dock safe and kick on.

Imagine being one of those that fucked us off looking back? Fuckin' Southampton.

Andy Walker
213 Posted 02/02/2023 at 19:32:26
Why would a player want to come to us when there’s open civil war between the fans and the Board?
Julie Naybour
214 Posted 02/02/2023 at 19:56:25
Furthermore, Andy, they've seen players surrounded by fans aggressively screaming at them.

As soon as I saw that, I thought "No-one is going to want to come here now!!"

Yes, the board have done their bit but so too have a handful of fans. Players must think they'd be coming to a cauldron of toxicity!

Bill Gall
215 Posted 02/02/2023 at 20:13:47
Do people honestly believe that Everton players are the only ones that rowdy fans have yelled and screamed at them??? I mean, it was that bad that Mina got out and talked to them.

Ayew had played for the Forest manager before that is all, and how many people would have been screaming and yelling if Lampard had signed this 33-year-old has-been, who cemented a move by becoming a free agent?

The way people are making it sound, it was the Storming of The Bastille.

Rob Halligan
216 Posted 02/02/2023 at 20:27:38
Bill,

I'm getting a bit sick of all this shit about players won't want to sign for us because:

A) The fans being “at war with the board”; and
B) A couple of players confronted whilst in their cars (although Yerry got out).

How many years have Man Utd fans been “at war with their board”? And don't forget, Slippy Gerrard and Wayne Rooney were actually given death threats and threats to their family, for having the temerity to want a transfer.

They weren't shouted at with “You're not fit to wear the shirt”, really terrifying that by the way… No, they were actually given death threats!!

So just let that sink in for a while… Death Threats issued by your own fans – not someone shouting “You're not fit to wear the shirt”.

Anthony Murphy
217 Posted 02/02/2023 at 20:42:03
Deals didn't get done because the structure and terms we offered were laughable.

Players will want to play in the Premier League and we pay decent wages, but we've tried to take the piss and clubs have laughed us out the door – Sarr from Watford being a perfect example.

Kieran Kinsella
218 Posted 02/02/2023 at 20:55:52
Anthony

Precisely. I highly doubt any player saw 3 children saying "what the f?" anthony a few times and thought "Oh my God! I am in fear of my life!"

Darren Hind
219 Posted 02/02/2023 at 20:59:14
I think most people on here would jump at the chance to sign for Everton,

But it has to be cause for concern that every player given a choice between us and some other club has chosen some other club.

John Graham
220 Posted 02/02/2023 at 21:00:59
Good.
I'd sooner go down and the same for Isco.
I don't want us to become a team for geriatrics looking for a last big payoff once we realise the are not up the the pace of the premiership or the championship.
We're better of bringing young players into our U21 or even U18 setups.
Lots of young players on other premier clubs books such as Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd etc who are looking for an opportunity to get into a first team and we are a better option.
Let's build for the future whether it's here or the championship.
Steve Shave
221 Posted 02/02/2023 at 21:11:18
Glad this didn't happen, over the hill and never good enough anyway.

I would rather Dyche get a tune out of this squad, I'd like to see Mills and Simms given more game time this season.

I really like Dyche and am praying for a reaction from the team.

Danny O’Neill
222 Posted 02/02/2023 at 21:30:42
Don't forget they hiked effigies of Stevie Lar hung to the gates outside the Devils kop ready to burn him Rob.

And then it was all nice and airbrushed from history.

Not unusual for them. Two faced shithouses. And they call us bitter? At least we're honest.

I'm having a bad day but I despise that club.

Live with our history rather than theirs.

Bill Gall
223 Posted 02/02/2023 at 21:38:44
The problem with Everton signings is " money talks " players want the money Everton have got none
Paul Birmingham
224 Posted 02/02/2023 at 21:50:17
John Mc Snr, spot on.
Anthony Dwyer
225 Posted 02/02/2023 at 21:52:43
Ffs who on earth want to sign this clown anyway. Well and truly past his average best, would expect a few year deal, basically back with another Rondon style deal.
We simply have no money, neither did Arsenal or Spurs when building a new ground and they had never wasted money like we have, no other club on the planet at any stage in time have, so let's not sponk the few quid we have spare on Ayew.
If we are to stay up then it won't be with the help of Ayew, we have better forwards than him already at the club, plus Simms who must be chomping at the bit.
I genuinely have no issue with a lack of funds, its the bull shit we get told that pisses me off, just wish the club came out with brutal honesty and told us exactly how it was.
My opinion is we have no money cos we need it for the ground and incase we go down as we don't want to be another Portsmouth.
Siege mentality needed now by our squad, 18 games to keep us up.
Steve Daniells
226 Posted 02/02/2023 at 22:28:31
Felt like Rondon Mk 2 and glad we aren't getting him. I also don't understand why Forest signed him, because they don't need him and must be pushing Chelsea for the most bloated squad in premier league history.

Don't waste money on these journeymen. Just work bloody hard on the training ground and even harder on match days. There is quality in this squad. Let's see if Sean D has what it takes to make it shine and get us out of this mess.

Ben King
227 Posted 03/02/2023 at 01:07:26
Working on the basis that the transfer opportunity would have gone through Dyche and he approved - and we STILL couldn’t get it over that line…

….makes you wonder: how much are we going to let him down and set him up to fall?

What ARE we good for? What are we good at?

Complete utter shambles that we can’t even attract a 3:yr old free transfer journey man that our new manager wants to our ailing club

Just disappear from our club chaps. You’re absolutely useless at your shite job

John Davies
228 Posted 03/02/2023 at 10:00:43
FFS! A crap player when at his very best. NO THANKS. Give Ellis Sims a run. We've nothing to lose. Criminal that Lampard never had a proper look at Lewis Dobbin too.
Tom Bowers
229 Posted 03/02/2023 at 13:15:16
I am happy that Everton have not brought in any more ''bums'' in desperation. We have a few players who are struggling and maybe Dyche can get something going with them and one or two youngsters to boot.

The Gordon affair has left a bad taste and the fee could have and should have been used but maybe there just wasn't anything out there right now who could make a difference to what we already have except Mbappe who was injured. L.O.L.

Seriously though Dyche has a tremendous task ahead and one hopes he can do something with the team as a whole to pick up some precious points over the next 2 weeks or more, certainly the Leeds game.

Alec Gaston
230 Posted 03/02/2023 at 18:19:24
This guy had his contract in Saudi Arabia cancelled and signed for a manger who he knows and has played for - he is useless and everyone would have been moaning if he had signed for us
Brian Williams
231 Posted 03/02/2023 at 18:40:03
Mason Greenwood could soon be a free agent, depending on Man Utd's internal investigation. I bet there'll be clubs clamouring for his services. He'd make a difference here!
Jay Evans
232 Posted 03/02/2023 at 19:28:54
How will we cope?

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