Declan Critchley, meet Matt Thomas....

I wanted to air my frustrations about the serious issue of signings; I'm quite literally shocked at the lack of activity from Everton FC. Any supporter that thinks our squad is capable of a campaign in Europe and a battle in the Premiership must have some serious high hopes.

The selling/release of Wright and Naysmith is in some eyes good business, but Davey best have somethin up his sleve, and if he doesn't I hate to say it but were in big trouble.

Say Valente gets injuried, which let's be honest he is quite prone, who is cover? Lescott you say, ok, he is some may say a natural left back, but I for one would love to make the centre back partnership of him and Yobo scare attackers. Midfield is down to the bare bones, even with the capture of Pienaar, and in due course Vogal, it hardly fills me with the greatest confidence. Say the unthinkable happens with Arteta and Cahill both out, Neville, Osman, Carsley, VDM, De Silva, Vidarsson & Pienaar are who we are left with. Can anyone seriously tell me with the exception of Carsley and the unknown Pienaar that these 5 players are all worthy of starting place?

Up front things aren't all doom and gloom. A fully fit Johnson will score 15+ goals this season, The two youngsters in Vaughn and Anichiebe will again develop this season, whilst always being a threat infront of goal, i'd guess most of the Premierships big boys would love to have a Victor and James come through there ranks. McFadden will always be a nearly player for me, lots of pottential, but I can't see any of it coming off whilst he warms the bench week in week out. Beattie is a player I would love to defend, his dedication off the field is 2nd to none, but in his performances on the field something really does have to change this season. If we can sell and get close to the reported 4m, I say get rid and give the number 9 to someone who will score goals, if not then lets see what your made of this season.

In conclusion to my concerns i'd love to see at least another two defenders. Leighton Bains being top of my list.

Midfield, I think we need at least another 2 quality players, sorry to bring up old news but Fernandes back on loan would make my Summer.

Up front, cover for Vaughn is needed. Smith is a name been mentioned more than once, although I believe this would be good, Beattie would have to go to fund such a move. I guess i'd rather have Smith over Beattie, but over that i'd rather see Anichibe and Vaughn get the games and develop into two cracking players worthy of 10+ goals each a season.

I just hope we can get some players in sooner rather than later.

I for one wished you’d bitten your tongue for a bit longer.

Who can play left back if Valente gets injured? Lescott, Boyle, Neville can all play there. Our midfield you ask? Arteta, Cahill, AVM, Osman, Carsley, Pienaar, Da Silva, Neville, Jagielka, Mcfadden can play wing, and Vidarsson. So that’s 11 midfielders. If Arteta and Cahill go out injured we would ofcourse be worse off, as any team would be if two of their very best players go down. What if Gerrard and Alonso go down, or Lampard and Essien?

It seems to me that people would rather bankrupt this club buying players who are over-valued rather than being cautious and buying value players.

Do we really need cover for Vaughan? From time to time we usually play one up front so we have AJ, Victor, Beattie and McFadden is that not enough for ya?

Just because Moyes wants to spend wisely instead of stupidly does not mean that he lacks ambition.

Bitch bitch moan moan. That’s just the way some people are, and they will not change. They are actually complaining about us getting rid of Wright and Pistone, two players that we have been paying for the past two years to contribute nothing. There are still people saying we’re doing the same as we did in 2005 and we will crash and burn the same. No one who knows anything about football could seriously compare that squad with our current one. We have much more quality today, it’s not even close.

Declan, good article, I think you have hit the nail on the head. Steve - I assume you are just being silly with your last comment. Firstly Declan did not propose to bankrupt the club by buying over-valued players and secondly, who values what a player is worth - you? me? Would you pay £6m for a player who will score say 2 goals in a season??? Thirdly, the lack of ambition was the club’s and not a single individuals.

I was at the majority of home matches and some away as well and loads of people complained every game about Wright, Pistone and Naysmith. Now we’ve got rid of them and it’s like the world has ended.

We may have a small squad but we have got young lads coming through as well this year who knows they could be the next Victor and Vaughan. They may get a chance if injuries happen and they may not put a foot wrong, whereas you could buy a 12 million pound player and he could be useless.

Rupert,

I meant exactly what I said, just because people are having a boring summer so far they do want to see this club being bankrupted.

By buying the likes of Fernandes for 12 mill, Nugent for 6 or 7 mill and Koumas for 5 mill that’s nearly 25 million for three players chuck into that the other players we were or are linked with Richardson, Smith, Baines etc all at about 5 or 6 mill a pop.

Do you really think that’s value for money. I don’t.

Wyness came out publicly and said there is much going on behind the scenes with regards to signing players so sit tight! Also to Rupert,Moyes didnt pay 6 mil for a player that scored 2 goals,he paid 6 mil for a player that scored 22 & 24 goals which would have been a great buy had the player emulated that here but he didnt! :)

I don’t think David or Steve read the same article as me... With reference to my points for cover at left back, yes Lescott and Neville can come in, but then what if Stubbs is out injured, who partners Yobo? And what happens when Yobo is off to the African nations? You really are clutching at straws to say all is fine in that department.
As for midfield, of the 11 you stated, my origional point was if the big two were out so of the 9 left Jags, Pienaar, VDM and possibly Carsley are what i’d class as worthy 1st team starters, the others are squad players, not what a team like Everton should be relying on coming up for a Europe and Premiership campaign.