Not enough to strengthen yet

Jim – I usually agree with your posts but I think Craig is right – we are doing fine at this stage and I think there will be two significant players to come in and one to go. With the extra Sky money, I think it is clear from last season that the Board is intent on debt reduction whilst adding sensibly to the squad and with the long term in mind; I cannot argue with that – it is a prime opportunity to stabilise the finances and make us a more attractive proposition for the eventual sale.

Spurs and RS have both shown in the last two seasons that splashing a shed load of cash doesnÂ’t necessarily work and Roberto should have a properly balanced team in mind for next season with age reduction already kicked in and if he can shift dead wood like McGeady then so much the better.

It is a promising start for me but with more still to come and the most important bit being to get Ross playing well and decide on his best position – this lad is a match winner but, if he has another season like the last one, he could do a Rodwell and just fade away.

Jim, the back tracking is redundant. I’m with you on Cleverley, but stating that we haven’t strengthened the squad six days into the transfer window is pointless. You can’t use transfer speculation to argue that our squad is getting weaker either – the logic is so flawed. It suggests that press bullshit has a material basis, whilst ignoring the press talk going the other way (ie, players we are linked with).

ItÂ’s July 6th. A centre-back and a creative midfielder will come into the club, IÂ’m certain of that. Another winger or a back-up striker is also a strong possibility, although with Lukaku and Kone, and Naismith and Mirallas offering out of position options, there are more pressing areas (namely centre-back and that creative midfielder we all want).

Deulofeu is also a massive signing. Even after a Â’badÂ’ season with Seville, he still made 9 assists, a total bettered by no-one in the Seville side. He also managed 4 assists and 3 goals in little over 900 minutes in his first spell for us. He, imo, would have been worth 2-3 times the amount we paid, and is a big move by this club.

If we are in a bad position in a month, then criticism is justified. At this point itÂ’s not. Just wait and see. The talk coming out of Everton (and Martinez) is more positive than the 2-3 players garbage we had previously. IÂ’m confident that we will be in a better position at the start of this season than the end of last, with a longer pre-season behind us and the benefits of the absence of Europa League football. IÂ’m not confident in MartinezÂ’s ability, but IÂ’m excited by some of our players, and think that we will plug the gaps by the time the first ball is kicked in the Premier League.

I donÂ’t have any faith that RM can get in signings that will make us a better team than last year. He has constantly said that the objective is to improve your squad in every transfer window.

Now I know the window has only been open a couple of days, but surely you should be looking to get in new players so they can take part in pre-season games. We have let Distin and Alcaraz leave, which is fair enough, but to compound this, we hear that Browning and Galloway might be sent on loan. Also itÂ’s rumoured that Garbutt will go on a seasonÂ’s loan, so if BainesÂ’s ankle problem doesnÂ’t clear up, we are left with Oviedo who has been out for months.

Maybe the club have doubts about RM and are keeping hold of the purse strings till January, when a new manager might need some funds.

Brian (#4), IÂ’ve lost faith in Roberto but I wonÂ’t be judging his summer transfer performance 6 days into the window.

Very few deals go through early, players are only just getting back and for anyone half-decent, you can bet the selling clubs will be playing games for a couple of weeks yet.

"Now I know the window has only been open a couple of days, but surely you should be looking to get in new players so they can take part in pre-season games."

In an ideal world, maybe. How often does that actually happen though? At Everton, I can think of the summer we signed Andy Johnson, Lescott and Howard early doors and said "Okay, weÂ’re done", but thatÂ’s about it in recent times.

Next to the summer we signed Lescott, Howard and Johnson, this summer has been our most proactive... so far! I donÂ’t understand the posts on some of the threads that are saying Â’thatÂ’s itÂ’, the spendings being done. The leagueÂ’s awash with TV cash and even the idiots on our board will stump up the cash for a new CB and playmaker, irrespective of players (Coleman, McCarthy) being sold.

Ernie (#5) and John (#7).

Guys, youÂ’re right, of course; it is to early to judge someone when the window has only just opened. I am just totally frustrated with this charlatan, I hope he proves me wrong.

DoesnÂ’t seem the other lot are having any difficulty making signings so early in the window. I, like many, am glad that we have signed Deulofeu, not so excited about Cleverley.

Gavin,

I agree with the end of your post about the league being awash with cash and definitely more signings should be made but as for the first few lines?? Most productive summer so far since 2006??? What about 2007 when we signed Baines, Jagielka, Pienaar and Yakubu???

Jesus, some Everton fans are so easily pleased, itÂ’s no wonder the club think they can simply take our support for granted; why worry what the performances are like when they know the fans will be "anything will do" mugs?

We have brought in two players, forget Henen for next season: Cleverley is a decent player but heÂ’s not going to change our style; Deulofeu does excite providing the right Deulofeu turns up; and, much like Barkley, he needs to play the match on grass not just on the hype surrounding him, like Ross last term.

I think we can say "productive summer" when we sign a creative midfielder, a striker worth his salt, and a solid experienced central defender to step in should we get poor form or injuries to Stones or Jagielka.

Right-back, centre-half, left midfielder, creative No 10 and for me another striker. That then begins to look like a productive summer..

To be fair, Gavin actually said Â’proactiveÂ’, not Â’productiveÂ’. By which, I take it, he means in terms of players being brought in right at the start of the window. You might discount Henen as Â’one for the futureÂ’, but heÂ’s still a permanent acquisition. So, thatÂ’s three signings within the first week of the transfer window officially opening.

If, at the end of August, the numbers are still the same and people are talking about being satisfied with the business done, then you might have grounds to grumble about the Â’low expectationÂ’ of fans. Until then, itÂ’s just premature pissing and moaning because no-one has any real idea how the next couple of months are going to pan out.

Jim,

JohnÂ’s absolutely right in explaining the point I was making. It is that IÂ’m more than happy with the window... so far! ItÂ’s early doors and weÂ’ve already brought in two players who will have big parts to play for us next season. WeÂ’ve also brought in an exciting prospect. Not to mention tying Garbutt (a possible future England LB) to a long-term contract when he looked like he was out of the door.

Personally IÂ’m very pleased with the window so far and canÂ’t remember (barring 2005-06) when weÂ’ve been this assertive early on. At least weÂ’ve got some idea of what the plan is this summer. This being:- weÂ’ll buy a left sided centre-back and playmaker after doing our other business early on, which weÂ’ve done.

ItÂ’s a nice change to be linked with players that will fill the aforementioned positions, which is contrary to the norm because every man and his dog knows we wonÂ’t be getting anyone in until the last few days and hours of the window. IÂ’m not saying IÂ’ll be as positive as I am today when we kick off the season against Watford, but IÂ’m more than happy on how weÂ’ve conducted our business so far.

IÂ’m also going to stick my neck out and surmise that McGeady wanting to go is partly because Mirallas will sign a new contract. Mirallas will line up alongside Deulofeu and Lennon as our main wing players next season.

If we only sign one more player this window, please make it Johan Cabaye, one of the classiest playmakers in the EPL in recent years, canÂ’t get a game in France, certainly shouldnÂ’t be plying his trade with the likes of Palace imo.

IÂ’m 100% with Gavin. This is clearly our best Â’startÂ’ to a transfer window for some time.

All the indications seem to be there will be more business, specifically centre back where we need one decent player to replace Distin + Alcaraz (those who are positioning the departure of these players as if they are central first teamers need to look at the facts – Distin is getting to the very end of his career and Alcaraz was deemed by pretty much everyone to not be good enough) plus one creative midfielder to challenge/replace Barkley.

I personally believe weÂ’ll get that and probably one or two more, with Martinez also pulling his usual magic in the last minute loan market.

So far, though, so good. Cleverley – promising and stable midfielder. Deulofeu – very exciting option. Henen and Garbutt – both good signings/keeps for the future.

Onwards!

I love the glass half full mentality on this site. Garbutt was Â’definitelyÂ’ going to leave - he signed. We apparently never sign players early - we signed two on day one of the window. We got Henen sorted early, so that clearly Â’doesnÂ’t countÂ’, owing to him playing a few games less than Garbutt, who will, now that heÂ’s signed, go back to being a promising young kid rather than the reincarnation of Roberto Carlos.

IÂ’ll be happy when we get a decent playmaker, a good centre back, a decent keeper and another good striker.

Six days into the window, it looks to me like some people are setting their stall out for the season, rather than judging the transfer window when itÂ’s finished, rather than just after its started. Before anyone starts talking to me about Â’bogeymenÂ’, consider the stated view that the club are Â’witholding funds from MartinezÂ’, six days into a window where weÂ’ve signed three players. Interesting....

A reasonable start. If the big buys donÂ’t follow, IÂ’ll be criticising him. A bit early to be putting the boot in, methinks.

At the end of the day it wonÂ’t be the signings made in the transfer window that will decide whether the fans were right or wrong, the patience will wear thin if we have another shite start to the season and it will take no more than three or four games to see if any of them but mainly Martinez have learnt anything from last season.

Sign as many or as few as we want and sell whoever, the only thing that counts is results from August 8th.

John (D)
You make a fair point. It is too early to start grumbling about the apparent lack of activity in the window thus far, but is this faux excitement at our "best start to a transfer window" not a little OTT too ?

The signings so far, would barely have roused the proverbial glass eye from its slumber. I think its fair to say those who are excited by this "start" do have low expectations . .depressingly low

If as you rightly say, its too early to start grumbling, is it not too early to start happy clapping ?

Let's save the delirium for when he delivers on his promise and we sign that elusive Number 10 he has supposedly identified.

To early to be complaining (now thereÂ’s a surprise) about lack of activity in transfer market so far, weÂ’ve done well in my estimation in the very short time its been open.

IÂ’m not expecting any Â’starsÂ’ rushing to join us, what can we offer, prospects of top 4 finish, cup success, European football! No, more likely more of the same thatÂ’s been served up most years.

With the current ownership, it's going to be 6th to 10th again.

’Best start to the window’ in terms of quantity, Darren, but I’m not so sure about quality. One with genuine potential, two who should be ready to deliver straightaway – but will they? Either way, the excitement is as off the mark as the vitriol.

WouldnÂ’t it be good if we bought two or three players who could come in and cut it straightaway, with none of this bullshit about Â’potentialÂ’ or Â’settling inÂ’.

More to the point, will the squad be fit in August and will the manager pick a balanced team with the players in their best positions? I think thatÂ’s as important as who we buy.

Like others above, itÂ’s only worth losing a player if you replace him with one who is a better option. Given our traditionally small squad, I believe we need players who can play regularly, add assists or goals or make key tackles.

Too many of the squad are regularly injured (some players get injured all the time and some like jags can play every week). Some just donÂ’t seem fit. We need players who can contribute for 90 minutes 30+ games a season. Too many of the current squad are great occasionally or can only come off the bench, or on their way back to fitness. Kone, Gibson, McGeady, Gibbs, Osman, Naismith, Pienaar all seem to fall in that category.

Consistency, reliability and durability should be key metrics on all our player scorecards. Otherwise we become the team that on the day can beat anyone, but lose to Palace, West Brom and other teams that we should hope to beat to be top 7. I will judge where we are when season starts...

Not sure the quantity argument stands up either Paul, we have released one or two also.

I think we are screaming out for a playmaker, I just donÂ’t think Martinez would recognise one if he fell over him. Think of all that money he has spent (well over 㿞M) and he hasn't signed a player with a creative pass in his make up.

Those expecting Martinez to deliver on his promise of signing a "creative number 10" are in for a big disappointment. His possession obsession will always blur his vision when it comes to risk takers.

Leopards... Spots.

Absolutely Darren.

I would advise anyone getting overly excited by the business so far, to strap that semi down. If the transfer window was a tart, then weÂ’ve barely had time to glance beyond the ankles yet....and whilst two feet with five toes on each is always a good start, you really donÂ’t want to be flipping it over with a full stonk on at that stage, only to find that the sum of the parts adds up to Sue fucking Pollard. With so much time still to go, our overall transfer business could turn from Â’Weird ScienceÂ’ to Â’Bride of Re-AnimatorÂ’ in the blink of an eye. I wouldnÂ’t want to place bets either way.

Admittedly, I havenÂ’t had time to read every post on this thread, but I would be very surprised to see anyone actually proclaiming this our Â’best start to a transfer windowÂ’. I would just think that, for some, there might be an element of satisfaction at actually seeing a few players come in early for once, as (a) itÂ’s not exactly the norm for Everton in recent years and (b) it suggests there might actually have been some element of pre-planning involved.

Completely agree, Darren. WeÂ’ve needed a playmaker since Arteta left. Martinez appears obsessed with buying peripheral players who donÂ’t belong in any particular role. Like you, IÂ’ll believe he knows a playmaker when he actually buys one. Ditto goalkeeper, ditto striker.

Totally agree Jim. The squad depth is not strong enough. Since we finished 5th in 13/14 weÂ’ve only signed 2 Â’newÂ’ permanent players, Cleverley and Besic if you discount the permanent deals for Barry, Lukaku, Henen and Deulofeu.

We havenÂ’t improved or added depth to the squad since we finished 5th and now in terms of defensive depth we are even weaker with both Alcaraz and Distin leaving.

We canÂ’t just make 4 signings and thatÂ’s that, we need to sign 7 or 8. Obviously a playmaker, a striker and a CB are the most crucial areas to strengthen, but we need to add more depth to other areas too.

Signing young players to go into the Under-21s is pointless. ThatÂ’s why signing Henen is a waste of time. We need players who can make an impact now, rather than players who Â’couldÂ’ make it or Â’may beÂ’ good enough.

I hope we can add 2 or 3 more before Singapore. Although I fear that any future dealings could depend on outgoings.

I think we all know we need more players and the positions Jim highlights are correct. However, as long as keep talented players an buy quality (as we have so far in Tom & Geri and Luke I include) that will do me fine. I hope we donÂ’t buy players just to fill up in numbers.

From reading the tabloids and rumours, I donÂ’t get the impression we have further signings lined up but rather we are looking round for who is available. Hope this is not the case.

Indeed, Jim. Outside of Cleverley and Deulofeu (who a lot of us suspected both were GP bound anyway), it's all smoke and mirrors with tying down contracts young and old? We know itÂ’s early doors and they might surprise us but I get the feeling we have had our pressies.

Unless we sell. And, if we do get big money for someone, whoever we buy a new player from will demand top dollar knowing full well we just got a load of spondoolicks.

A new striker and central defender are a must now. We canÂ’t enter the season with Lukaku and Kone, the latter not fit to wear our shirt.

If we donÂ’t strengthen AND retain most of our key players then it could be another disappointing season. Hopefully itÂ’s a season to look forward to.

Jim, we definitely need a centre-half and another striker. Stones has already had a couple of injuries, and his lack of muscle will result in further time on the treatment table next term.

Lukaku has no competition for his starting berth. We would have to be desperate to play Kone, who I suggest will never be either good enough, or back to his Wigan best (which, for me, was average). Right-back is also a problem if Coleman gets crocked.

My prediction for the coming season is depressing. There may be marginal improvement, and I think Cleverley could turn out to be a coup, and Del-boy will surely give us some excitement. However, our defence will remain porous and therefore Martinez will need to continue with his defensive midfield obsession.
Barkley will just not fit-in, and without LennonÂ’s shift tracking back, I fear that Coleman will be under pressure. I hope I am wrong, but unless we get a strapping great stopper and a pacey striker who can head a ball, I fear it will be Groundhog Day again.

Jim. For me, Distin is a massive loss. His straight-line speed, heading ability and physical strength have not been replaced. Most people seem to be pleased with the Stones - Jags partnership but I see it as a weak link. Good players individually but a pairing which is never able to bully or dominate. Too easily pulled out of position and troubled by high penetrating balls.

As for your query with regard to strengthening the team, Henen and Garbutt are for the future, though itÂ’s easy to see the latter becoming increasingly unhappy with his situation.

Galloway I like. Good in the air and very hard and aggressive. A lefty who is too one-footed but will surely improve.

I must confess IÂ’m much in the dark with Cleverley. I donÂ’t even know where Martinez plans to use him but he scored a beauty against us at Villa where Sherwood saw him in a Naismith support type role and expected him to score more goals. His intelligent movement certainly opened things up for Benteke and he didnÂ’t give the ball away. I hope Martinez uses him in the same role because the continual loss of possession in the final third caused our midfielders to operate in a negative manner. Chasing back 40 yards is no fun.

With Mirallas and McGeady on the books and Lennon probably coming in, the Deulofeu signing was a slight shock. I wouldnÂ’t be surprised to find he had begged Martinez to bail him out of his Spanish dilemma.

The lad loved his time with Everton and we loved having him. No doubt about that. Where it leaves McGeady is anyoneÂ’s guess. The Irishman is very popular with his team-mates and Martinez will not want to lose such a useful late sub. Unfortunately, heÂ’ll only get regular starts elsewhere but he might have to take a wage cut. The same probably goes for Mirallas but this not very likable chap puts the ball in the net and 10 goals a season is hard to replace.

Are we stronger now? In terms of class, definitely. IÂ’m not counting Distin because he practically ruled himself out before the season started. The Martinez way was not his way and he made that quite clear in his pre-season interview on the club site.

Others will arrive. "Some early, some very late". Lennon being the most likely. Personally, IÂ’d splash the cash on Van Dijk and add a couple of loans. By the time the season starts, we should have a very useful outfit.

Can I add a goalie to that list?

It is early days yet, Jim. Only the 8th July. If, on the 8th August and we still havenÂ’t added to what we have currently got, then I would be worried.

I am sure targets in the background are being discussed. We havenÂ’t got that first loan deal over the line for the press to have a moan at us yet either.

Jim. I think there's a creative midfielder to look out for but maybe for next season. His name Jed Wallace (21) Wolverhampton. He knows were the net is also. He as really good eye for the ball, can see openings. Opens up defences. One to watch, I'd say.

And strike-wise: Chris Martin, Derby. Good goalscorer and I think he could give Lukaku something to think about.

I know they're lower leagues, but I'm a great believer in looking outside your own. As I think you know.

Jim.

Jed Wallace, (21) Wolverhampton. would be a good addition to our team. Maybe not this season, but next def, he is a creative midfielder with vision, a good passer and can a spot an opening. Also knows were the net is, scores quite a few goals. And will still be young enough to mold. I know lower division but I think he could make the grade in the top flight. Keep an eye on him Jim.