Unfortunately the priorty is cash!!!

Very good point, Patty, it does help!... Even on our budget though, I think these are the key areas to look at. As you say, they haven't got much cash, so we need to prioritise...

I would say the right winger is the priority over the right back ? for Tony Hibbert's deficiencies, he is still a decent defensive right back who is often left exposed by our lack of an out and out right sided midfielder or the ability for those players to come across and cover if he ever does decide to go forward and try his luck.

Can?t argue with your analysis, Rich.

The Mouthino rumours are still very strong and Wikipedia variously describes him as a box-to-box midfielder then playing just behind the strikers or as a right-sided midfielder. This could indicate Wiki?s inaccuracy or his versatility.

Either way, we still need to strengthen the right side and defensive midfield IMO. At a push, a good defensive midfielder with Pip reverting to RB would be an option.

The big bucks (if there are any, of course) are going to have to go on a right winger...

Neville, Hibbert and maybe Jacobson, if we keep him on, can cover RB.

Rodwell, Arteta, or even Fellaini, could start playing as the holding MF

A starting X1 of: Howard, Nev, Jags, Lescott, Baines; Pienaar, Cahill, Arteta, Fellaini, NEW RW; Yakubu, would certainly be competitive (as long as they’re fit!).

Assuming we have a bit of cash knocking around, I’d like to see us plump it all on one quality player/match winner and sure up the squad with 2/3/4 free transfers/loans.

Howard ? yeah do like the look of Moutinho myself, he isn't the out-and-out winger we could do with though, mate, as he will want to come inside every chance he gets... good player but where would he fit in?

Richard ? good point about having cover at right back and also DM if needed. Just think a solid holding midfielder who can put a foot in and win the ball is a must... from what I have seen, Fellaini could not play DM... he can't tackle for starters and I don't know whether you would want he starting all the moves in that position...

I agree with you on a right winger though big time... imagine an outlet on the right, with pace to beat a player. I was going mention Osman then he's been slagged off that much, we can leave that for another day! :)

I don?t believe that we have to get a pacy winger, though I do agree we need someone better on the right. If you look at how Pienaar and Baines work together, neither of them have got bags of pace, yet it still works great!

If we could create that same partnership on the right that we have on the left we could potentially destroy teams. Add to that two or three really strong midfielders, ie. Arteta, Cahill, Fellaini or Arteta, Fellaini and a holding mid?

Personally, I think that pacy wingers are overrated, especially regarding price. I reckon Pienaar is much better than Lennon but we all know who would cost more!

The priority is keeping all of our best players. Only then is it worth thinking about who to add.

Jose Baxter? (I hear this kid can play anywghere and has everything, apart from immense stength).

Even Anichebe did some good jobs on the right with his pace.

The right wing is the major issue. Anichebe, Osman, Neville can all cover there and Bacter is not ready yet to be our first choice right winger.

We don’t need a right back if we sign a holding midfield player as we have two right backs at the club, one who is very good at getting forward in Neville and the other who is very good at defending, but not so good going forward in Hibbo. Depending on the opposition we can play one or the other.

To my mind we desparately need more fire power. There is a big question mark over Anichebe’s head, Vaughan and Saha are injur prone and Yakubu goes to AFCON in January. We need at least one more up top and a right winger as a priority. After that we can look at a holding midfielder. After that we might want to look at cover for RB.

I would try and get Owen for nothing and spend what money we have on a really good winger and a solid holding midfiled player. Age is not as much of an issue for this position as it is in others as we have Jack Rodwell coming through to take that role for his own in a couple of years.

For the right I would have looked at Kightly or Eagles had they not just won promotion. I am not sure about Nicky Hunt, but I have a feeling we may get him. Moyes is obviously a fan. What about Joaquim of Valencia? We were linked not so long ago and Los Che really need the money. The there is James Morrison of West Brom who impressed me on a few occassions last season or that Turkish lad that everyone was raving about after the Euros last year.

A world-class right winger ? somebody who can whip the crosses in for Cahill, Fellaini, Rodwell and take on the full back. Also somebody good with dead ball situations as an alternative to Arteta.

I say, we have other positions covered - a world beating right winger please !

Charlie Percival ? good shout about Baxter & Anichebe. Don?t forget Danny boy! He will surely develop further next year.

I like the look of Moutinho, but the first clip I watched on Youtube of him was set to Aerosmith - ’I don’t wanna miss a thing’. Is he a gay icon?

If the answer is Stephen bloody Hunt I’d love to know what the question was!

I'd love to see Moutinho, Lucho Gonzales, Cavalho, oh yea and Riquelme...

Rob Elliot - Exactly! Not the kind of news you want to wake up to in the morning is it! Thank God it's just a rumour.

What about Dan Gosling doing a job down the right-hand side?

Dan Gosling can also play RB but I do think if the price was right, to get a new right back. For example, Hutton and Fanni would be good.

Most attention needs to be on the right side of midfield. I think we should look at O?Neill from Boro. There's also Pennant, Joaquin and Morrison.

We also need to bolster the midfield. Sean Davis on a free transfer would be good. I know M?Bami is available and Appiah on a free. I would welcome M?Bia as well. I think 3 midfield signings will do us well.

If Valente leaves, we would need a back-up left back, Michael Ball from City would be decent. Or Ledley who we have been linked with who can play left back, left mid and as a striker.

We’re crying out for pace. I’d like to see a top central box to box midfielder who can play and a right sided player who can actually go past a man. We don’t have anyone who can go past people.

Aaron Lennon is one who i would want see to he has bags of potential and if he could improve his final ball would be a top class.

Other than that, O?Neil from Boro has always looked good to me.

Tom Owen ? Agreed about Ledley, but Michael Ball is now barely a shadow of the player he was when he came through our youth ranks. Not worth the risk I would say. Pity as he WAS a great player.

Hutton would probably be an option for RB, seeing as Spurs would probably be looking to replace their entire squad again! :)

/>Once again though, I fear we will dithering around transfers wise and probably get no one in till close to deadline day. If only we could get some suitable investors... SIGH!

I would like to see us get Nani on loan with a view to a permanent signing from Man Utd. He hasn?t gotten many starts for them last season but he is very talented and can play on either wing and Utd have an abundance of wingers. There could be some mileage in that.

Go to the Officlal site and read Sir Philip Carter, like the 1st cuckoo of spring, chirrup ?Once we get our injured players back they?ll be like new signings?. Honestly, you couldn?t make it up. These people have no respect for the intelligence of fans whatsoever!

Signing Pienaar on a long-term deal that must be a priority!

O?Neil has no pace, no skill and doesn?t score enough. I would rather have Hunt for the right hand side.

The semi-realistic scenario would be Joaquin from Valencia for £5million, Moutinho for £10million, Owen on a free, sign Jacobsen and Valente for one more year and get Javier Saviola on a season long loan with a view to a permanent deal.

That would give us Pienaar on the left, Joaquin on the right and Ossie, Neville, Felli, Moutinho, Cahill, Arteta and Rodwell to battle it out for CM positions with Ossie as first choice back up for either wing.

Up front we would have Yak, Owen, Saha, Vaughan and Saviola. Anichebe may yet prove to be world class or championship class and he?d have this season to make his mind up!

Gary - totally agree about Pienaar. He has two years on his contract and this is what he said about it -

?But you never know in football what tomorrow will bring. Who knows in one or two years? time where I will be? I am a proud Everton player at present and would welcome it if the club moved to secure my long-term future, but that kind of thing is out of my hands.?

He is, in my estimation, a very honest and definitely realistic young man. If Moyes wants to keep him - which I’m sure he does - the new contract will be settled early next year.

Kaka, Benzema and Ribery are MUST BUYS this summer. Moyes is a ditherer if he doesn’t sign them and not with £85 per week never £85k. Also if Blue Bill doesn’t remortgage the entire west end of London to fund these deals he’s a waste of space and should give way to an investment group from Abu Dhabi who might just give a shit about our club

All the rumours will persist and most of them are totally unfounded. Sure Everton need to strengthen and no doubt they will but forget the huge fees. DM and BK will still go for the players who have not yet made a big name for themselves. Any player who has is way overpriced.

Unless a billionaire or a big money consortium come in before next season, then look to seeing maybe Joe Ledley or some more loan deals happening. Reality bites and even Redshite will be restricted unless they offload. There will be crazy rumours which will only make your head spin so it?s best to take everything with a pinch of salt.

We need to strengthen the right side, there is no question about it. All of Chelski?s attacks in the first half of the Cup Final where aimed down our right.

Hibbert may be a good squad player, but he isn't good enough for us to move on to the next level. Joaquin on the right would be sensational, add to that the free transfers of the likes of Owen, Sean Davis (who we where on the verge of spending £5 million on not so long ago) and Lucas Neill (Neill on a free is good business, he is better than Hibbert) then go for Joe Ledley, maybe using Anichebe as a make weight to cushion the transfer cost, and possibly Fabian Delph for around £4 to 5 million.

We could sign all these players within the £20 odd million that Moyes has available. Davis (defensive midfielder)/Owen (striker)/Neill (right back) on frees (with around £4 million in signing on fees), Ledley (all round midfielder) for £1 million plus Anichebe, Delph (defensive central midfielder) for £4 to 5 million, and Joaquin (european class right winger) for £5 to 6 million. Plus sign up Pienaar on a long-term deal.

Ledley and Delph would go in line with our other top youngsters, and would send a signal to other top young British players that at Everton they would get a game, unlike at Liverpool or Chelsea, where foreigners rule.

Rodwell scored for the U21 :D

Christ! and it?s only the 2nd week in june. Well here?s my FM contribution.

Owen? not now, not ever, NEVER! (hands up who remembers what show that came from and who or what said it).

We don?t want no defensive midfielder, we want an attacking one.

As for Hunt, 4 yrs ago when Sidwell was flavour of the month, before he sold out for cash and went to CFC and on to even more obscurity of the Villa bench, we were sniffing. I spoke to some Reading connections and thay all said that Hunt was the one that made him look better than he was, a bit like Gravesen and Carsley (I still think that Real bought the wrong one by mistake... Si, Si el baldito!) so you pays your money and you takes your chance.

Rob Gallagher - Sean Davis over my dead body! Not after he said "I’m looking for a step up so why would I leave Fulham for Everton????" Tosser. Plus he’s not even that good.

As far as signings are concerned we obviously need more personell but also have to be careful of diluting the team spirit that has worked wonders with such a tight knit group.

As far as I can see we’ve got plenty of quality and enough cover down the spine of the team (Howard/Lescott/Jags/Yobo/Rodwell/Arteta/Fellaini/Cahill/Yak/Saha). It’s definetely the right hand side that needs work.

Just read an article by Howard Kendall and one of the players he has mentioned that caught his eye is Jonas Gutierrez.

He’s an Argentinian international, plays on the right wing and was easily Newcastle’s best player last season. Seems to be a hard-working player with talent, but didn’t get a chance under Shearer.

They only signed him for around 5 mil pounds so we could probably get him for a steal!

Regarding Michael Owen; if I needed to bring a striker on during a game and I had an injury prone James Vaughan and an injury prone Michael Owen on the bench, I’d turn to Owen before Vaughan if I needed a goal...

We can probably afford one decent signing and a few loans unless we sell.

I would love to sign G Johnson but that doesn?t look likely, Moutino is constantly linked so he could be our major one, F Delph from leeds is worth a punt as is the young winger - Obina I think. Doubtless we will get someone out of the blue, heard a rumour City are buying Santa Cruz and Tevez this week, that might leave the door open for another Jo loan. Nani and the other Neville are possibilities for loans, but whatever we do please not Barton or Owen they would be the bad apples that could turn the barrell.

What about David Bentley on the right and Darren Bent up front as Vijay said Spurs will replace the whole squad?

Re: Vijay Nair.

Mate I’m currently stuck in Newcastle and had the displeasure (pleasure!!) in watching newcastle because the girlfriend is a Toon fan. Went to their friendly with Valencia U21’s in pre-season just after they signed Jonas Gutierrez, everyone was saying ’he’s like Ginola all over again like!’ HE IS NOT! Had a bet with the missus that he wouldn’t score all season- and I won. See the definitions of headless chicken and no end-product.

As for who I want: Nani on loan, Fanni and a quality striker.

RB is covered for now between Hibbo & Pip. We should keep Jacobsen, he’s not great, but good enough as cover.

I don’t think that Rodwell will make the step up this year, but he should play more than last season.

We gotta sign up Pienaar this summer.

I’m not gonna do the FM player thing, it’s up to Moyes. But I truly believe that with a top right mid, a pacy, 15-a-season striker to compliment/rotate with the Yak and a defensive minded CM to free up Pienaar, Cahill, Arteta and Fellaini, we’re in with a shout of a top-4 spot.

However, I would not be surprised if Moyes doesn’t buy a striker. He might feel that despite Yak & Vic disappearing, that Saha, Vaughan and Cahill are adequate cover.

I think all our buys will be in midfield, with an outside chance of a striker coming in. I think defense is sorted, barring any departures.

Would perhaps like to see a better keeper than Nash brought in on the cheap.

Anyway, now it’s up to Moyes to decide where he wants to strengthen and I’m hoping for a bare minimum of one midfielder who improves the starting 11 and one midfielder who improves options off the bench.

I would like to see a left footed left winger to team up with Bains and move Pienaar to the right.
Right back is well covered.(I watched the final again,calm and sober,Hibbert as always, was ok.The problem was he was exposed and left facing Cole and Malouda alone. A task too great for anyone. Osmanin error playing hide and seek).

A new striker to keep Yak on his toes and a play maker to team up with Arteta.
Do not sell ANYONE.
iT WILL BE ALL HANDS TO THE PUMPS AGAIN NEXT SEASON.

Most important things as Brian says at the moment is keeping hold of all our best players.

I can understand some who have the view that a huge offer for Lescott may be worth considering given that we have Jags, Joey and potentially Rodwell to cover at CB, but if we lose Lescott we’ll probably need to sign two players to replace him, considering he is a very dependable LB as well and we’re probably going to lose Valente over the summer which would leave Baines and not much else.

Like to see Jacobsen retained because he looks like a dependable if unspectacular player and should be good support for Hibbo, although I’d rather see Neville at RB more often than not. That will probably only happen if we sign another defensive minded midfielder though.

As for who might be coming in- it obviously depends on how much money BK is able to provide. Seen suggestions that it may be in the region of £10-15M. Personally I think we’ll be doing well to get that much, being as in real terms we didn’t spend anything in last year’s summer transfer window, the Fellaini money coming purely from the sales of McFadden and Johnson. Not sure too much has changed financially for us in the 12 months since.

Don’t think its worth paying too much attention to transfer rumours in the dailys, but I must admit when I just turned on Sky sports news and saw "Stephen Hunt wants to leave Reading" flashing in yellow at the bottom of the screen my blood ran cold!

We really need to invest this summer. With so many clubs spending around is it is make or break time. We either push on into the top 4 or we flop because we don’t have the quality to compete.

Rumours are that Moyes has £15 million to spend so I have decided what we need, and who we should bring in to cover that postion.

RB - Poor old Tony was shown up for what he is at Wembley. A true scouse with his heart in the club, but like in the Derby or other big games loses his confidence and is made to look average. Now I would love Glen Johnson at the club but we don’t have the budget. A good cover for Neville whould be Neil on a free. Solid RB, added squad depth, friends with Timmy and on a free not eating into the budget. Otherise signing Jacobsen is our best bet.

RW- We don’t really have a proper right winger and as much as I love Osman, he doesn’t cut out out wide. Aaron Lennon would be superb, but at £20 mil way out of budget. Joaquin is a quality European winger but unproven in the PL. I would go for Bentley. If Moyes can get him back on track he good be a great adition and his crossing sperb for the likes of Tiny Tim. Redknapp doesn’t want him and a loan to try him out could be best for both clubs. If things work out we can bring him in full time next year.

CM- Jack isn’t ready to step into the fold yet and Mikel needs a partner in crime if Neville falls to RB. My one and only option is Joao Moutinho. Imagine him and Arteta running the show in midfield. Iniesa and Xaxi eat your heart out. To bring him to Everton Moyes will have to part with a signigicnt sum, rumours are £14 million, but he is what Everton need. A top quaity, worldclass player who can bring us the succes we all want. An instant fan favourite for his ability and determination.

ST- With Yak back things are looking good, but if he is off on his jollies again in January we need a proven goal scorer. Owen fits the bill perfectly and with the world cup coming up may have somthing to prove. If we were shelling out serious £££ on him then I can understand the injury issues but on a free it is a deal. If he flops it doesn’t mean much, if he scores 65 goals and breaks Dixe’s record, we’ll all be screaming about him. Though he has been good for us I don’t think Vic really has the products we need to improve. £3 mill to Hull or whoever leaves us with £4 mill for Moyes to finish up on.

Midfield- With all the areas needed atention covered the final £4 Mill can go to add depth to our midfield. With holding mdfielder M’Bia, left footed Joe Ledley and Reading’s Stephen Hunt all linked we could bring in a couple, I would like to see Ledley and M’Bia at the club.

So to sum things up:
In:
Joao Moutinho £14 Million,
David Bentley Loan,
Michael Owen Free!,
Luke Neil - Free!,
Joe Ledley Whatever is left £2 Million?,
Steven M’Bia -£4 Million,
Lars Jacobsen - resign,

Total - £20 Million

Out:
Victor Anichebe - £3/4 Million

Total £4 Million (At best, daylight robbery - McFadden)

20 - 4 = 16. Close enough in budget for me and some great signings there.

FM over now.

James - you have me convinced, now please sort DK and the awful new kit and you can be Chairman.

A top drawer winger, doesn’t matter which side as Pienaar can play either just whoevers available at the best price. A back up left winger, a back up centre back and a back up left back. That will give us 2 players in every position in a 4-4-2 and a 4-4-1-1. If there is any money after that a centre midfield and a striker. The players who I would get rid of, would be Jacobsen, Valente, Turner or Ruddy, Castillo, Van Der Meyde and Anichebe.

That would leave us with

Goalkeeper:- Howard, Nash, Turner or Ruddy.

Right Back:- Neville, Hibbert.

Centre Back:- Lescott, Jagielka, Yobo, New Signing.

Left Back:- Baines, New Signing.

Right Wing:- New Signing or Pienaar, Gosling.

Centre Midfield:- Arteta,Cahill, Osman, Rodwell.

Left Wing:- Pienaar or New Signing, New Signing.

Second Striker:- Fellaini, Saha

Striker:- Yakubu, Vaughan

James - not far away from where I sit. I don’t think Neill is realistic purely because of wages. He went to West Ham for the money and is rumoured to be on ~£60k a week. Moutinho has had a release clause of 22mill euros inserted into the new contract he signed earlier this season. So again not realistic. M’Bia - sorry but I still remember this guy’s attitude last year and I don’t think it would help in our tight knit dressing room. Another Nyarko me thinks.

I would go along with your other 4 ’in’s, and your ’out’ in addition to Castillo and VdM. And have room left for one big name and one CM on a free a la Scholes/Maniche

Forgot to say as well don’t forget about the next batch of youngsters coming through. We all know Moyes is building a young squad exactly because of the lack of money, and this season alone, we have acquired Seamus Coleman (RB - 21), Femi Orenuga (CM - 16) and Shaj Mustafi (CB - 17), all very highly rated. Whilst none of them will figure prominently in the first team, I’m sure they will figure more than some of us will expect, a la Rodwell and Gosling this season just gone?