Martinez: We need a number nine

It’s about time the new Everton management team learnt to be absolutely certain re transfers before they open their mouths.

This statement from him was inevitable, he would have realised he shouldn't have said what he said, as soon as the words came out of his mouth.

I doubt they would have come out of his mouth if it wasn't what he believed though. Welcome back Rom.

COYB!

Will we get Lukaku? Who knows. Is this backtracking and face-saving or has Martinez been ticked off by Chelsea for getting ahead of himself?

So this number nine... Who is out there?

No doubt that we are currently short of numbers and hopefully there are more players to come in especially in the attacking departments.

If we could buy Lukaku and loan atsu and Traore that would be a decent position.

My worry is that '6-7 players needed' has become 3-4 and that we are once again going to struggle for depth.

But it isn't just about signings because while everyone has been distracted following the will-he-won't-he saga of Lukaku, neither Stones nor Barkley have signed new deals. Meaning both of them will edge even closer to leaving next summer in my opinion. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if the only long term plan that the board has is that one of them will be sacrificed next summer to fund any investment in the squad then.

Did Roberto have a list of targets because the board don't seem to be paying the slightest bit of attention to it. Meanwhile Rodgers, for better or worse, has a list of players he wants and his board – keen to back him – go out and get practically every one of them.

The money is there, we all watched it pile up as Fellaini, Anichebe and then Jelavic were all sold. And we all bought that line in January that we'd wait to invest it in the summer.

Unlike Moyes, whose loyalty could be secured with increasing his salary to the point where he became one of the highest paid coaches in the Premier League, I doubt Roberto's motivation goes beyond just money and we will find it harder, much harder, to keep him if we can't come close to matching his ambition. Which, by the evidence of this summer, is precisely what the board are unwilling to do.

IF....???? sounds a bit uncertain.

I think that the media have jumped upon a small comment in jest by Martinez like it was gospel. I hope that there is a Plan B in place in case Lukaku does not sign. It would be Bony for me at 㾿M.

We should still be looking to bring in another 3-4 quality players able to play in the first team. The money must be there, for fuck's sake; after such a good season, we should be looking to build on it.

One day he needs 6-7 new players, the next 2-3 and now we seem to be down to just a No 9!

OK, so he's got the mighty Besic (when his masters can find the dough to pay his agent!) but all hopes of putting in a serious challenge for honours have disappeared.

But this is Everton, and whoever is at the helm, I guess they have to dance to their master's tune. And it sure ain't one likely to top the charts.

Having watched both pre-season friendlies, and I know they are exercises to improve fitness essentially, but also a glimpse at what reserve players can add, plus any signings will improve us as a team (new signings??), I may be jumping the gun here, but apart from Luke Garbutt, the others, seem eager, but not ready to step up to the rigors of not only the Prem but Europa League too this year; throw in two cups as well and we have a demanding schedule .

Having said that, a couple of the senior players who were playing well last year have looked to be 'wanting' and, then again, I hope this is just down to having not played competitively for a few weeks!

Really???????

Only at Everton. Same shit, different year.

The big if.......... This is all starting to feel a bit last minute and when you think that Roberto discusses his hit list with BK etc its not hard to work out who is to blame for the lack of action.

If the player doesnt want to come or the club wont sell then thats out of our hands BUT surely to goodness we should have a bigger squad than this??

We do not have a fit striker at the club!!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully the Besic deal goes through but the lack of forwards is incredible for a club aiming for the top 4 and winning the Europa Cup. If we don't get at least 2 forwards in by the start of the season then points will get dropped again and it cost us last year.

BK and team need to pull a number of fingers out...............

Unfortunately to afford a good one Bill needs all 7 numbers to come up on his Euromillions.

Is it to attest that we are once again scraping around until the Sky money gets paid in a week or so? Did Martinez being in Brazil so long disadvantage us? Are we waiting for Lukaku to decide and then see what's left of the kitty?

Or are we just doing things the Everton way again? We should have had a few players now integrated into the team and learning how Bobby wants them to play ready for the start of the season.

Denver, it could be one new player, because the other is quite likely to be Lacina Traore.

It’s a bit like Groundhog Day on ToffeeWeb at the moment. Do you guys not read the other threads? Only I’m sure I’ve seen you posting there. Part of Martinez’s philosophy for Everton is developing young players, the 6-7 new players in the squad will include young players who were out on loan getting first team football last season. Garbutt, Browning and possibly McAleny seem to be at the front of the queue, although Duffy, Hope, Long and Lundstram have also been involved.

If Everton weren’t developing youngsters and constantly went out and bought squad players we’d be moaning like buggery, so why are we moaning when we are showing signs of making use of our youth system? This, as I and others have discussed before, is about the only way Everton can get ahead of the market, as we can be outspent by other clubs, and players who’ve come through our system are more likely to feel a loyalty and connection to the club. We’re also sending a message out to all young players around the country and even Europe, that if you want to go to a top club, Everton is the one where you’re actually likely to be given a fair crack of the whip, as most other places they’ll be going out buying ready made players, not showing the patience in your development. I believe that even from last season we’re reaping the benefits of this already.

Therefore we’re doing the right thing by not spending loads of money on filling up the squad. We need two or three special players, not six or seven average ones.

PS> A Liverpool supporter friend of mine was moaning that "why is it only us (Liverpool) who make such long drawn out sagas out of most of our transfer situations..." I had to chuckle, he should read ToffeeWeb, he’d feel much better.

Apart from Garbutt the kids looked average players only. We also need a better backup keeper too. The numbers keep going down that we need, and why hasn't any of these players signed yet, Besic, Galloway and Henen... something very fishy about all this.

Considering the amount of TV money plus the fees for Jelavic and Fellaini still not used up you wonder where Blue Bill has stashed the cash. We need two strikers and a winger big time or forget Europe or even a top 10 finish.

However, I – like a lot of commenters here – believe we will get Lukaku, but not till after we have played Chelsea. The striker remains out of the country on garden leave. If that's the case, we'll get done over by both Cockney wannabes in our first two home games. And 3 games in be on 1 point, 7 behind Man Utd. Crank up the pressure Roberto!

Compared to last preseason, this is very.... Moyes !

This is business and nothing to do with friendship. It is time to step up, actions are far louder words.

Stop talking bullshit, Bill and act.

No-one will blame Kenwright and Co.............to the outside world, he is a true blue with a heart of gold.

RM said he expected 3 signings by last weekend, we haven't got 1 yet

Very, very worrying

"if we can't sign Lukaku on loan then we still have the Traore loan deal to fall back on"

Its a joke really with Everton.

The lowest spenders of the summer so far despite the money in the Premier League.

We all know that Everton's board won't stump up that money for Lukaku, Bony or whoever.

Kenwright is privately hoping we can get Lukaku on loan again and if it falls through then we will sign Traits on loan, big him up and then hear the usual bullshit on the transfer window closes of

"we tried very hard to sign Romelu but it became obvious he was out of our price range and he wanted Champions League football blah blah blah"

Its oh so predictable isn't it?

It's a bit of a stalemate, to be honest with you.

On a more serious note, the striker situation we have is dire to say the least. I think the Lukaku deal ain’t gonna happen so Bobby is going to have to really pull something out the hat now.

Lunstram couldn't get in the Yeovil team last year, so have my doubts about him at least for the moment. McAleny I would love to do something, but you just feel he is destined to be a championship level player really, or a Nugent figure at best. Duffy, for me anyway, is a relic in defending terms. When you look at John Stones, Caulker etc. It is clear the the Duffy school of defending finished a good many years ago.

The rest of them, Kennedy et al. are surely not earmarked for premier league football for at least 12 months I would say.

He also has to realise that, despite not being a rich club, we are a very well followed club with fans who are every bit as interested in what the manager has to say as any other major club in Europe.

He will have to learn that being the face of Everton whilst good for his profile also has many drawbacks particularly when it comes to money for transfers or holding onto players who the board would be happy to cash in on.

I am not yet in total panic but, like somebody mentioned on another thread, this pre-season has a lot in common with the one immediately following our CL qualification year; god forbid it manifests itself in the same way out on the pitch in the coming season.

A little under 3 weeks left to the start of the campaign but if, by this time next week, things haven't resolved themselves regarding new arrivals, then I will also be throwing the lifeboats over the side of the ship.

BTW, when did Bill last speak to the fans or the press? — Always a worrying sign when he goes missing from public view.

Martinez must be wondering what the fuck heÂ’s doing at Everton. Was business ever this hard at Wigan with Â’arl peg leg? Was it fuck. WeÂ’re an embarrassment. And you think of the potential this club has.....

Where the fuck is all the money? Where???

The club must be sitting on a possible 㿞M purse so they have no excuses for not investing in a high priced striker; although I appreciate this isn't easy post a recent world cup.

If the club don't pull a big signing out of the bag before the season starts I'm sending my 3 x season tickets back; I'm sick of the way our club is run.

The problem comes though that for a club like us, all of our other business is so dependent on this, particularly the wage budget I imagine. Therefore we are leaving everything on hold until there is some resolution, even so far as the Traore loan.

Spending all our cash in a diluted manner on 7-8 decent squad players won't get us to the next level. Look at what Spurs did with the Bale money and what Liverpool are doing with the Suarez cash. Quantity does not equal quality. I would be happy to see the likes of Garbutt, Duffy, McAleny and Henen given some playing time in the early rounds of the cup competitions if it means we can spend on 2-3 top quality players who can make a real difference in the big matches. I'm confident Lukaku will be one of these. The others will probably happen on deadline day and catch us all by surprise.

Mark, I mentioned it on another thread this morning that it is a good twelve months before we can expect anything substantial from our younger players. It's part of the frustration with the lack of transfers into the club. We are going to lose a whole season, as well any any ground we made on the other clubs around us last season. We are barely standing still at the moment, let alone moving forward.

BK: " Errrrrr (looks at floor)Â… they are all coming along slowly to be fair Roberto, honestÂ…."

RM: "Bill, we can't go into the first game with just Naismith up front, our fans will go ballistic!"

BK: "Listen, Bob, David (Moyes) and I had a great understanding, he kept us out of Europe and the fans' expectations down and I paid him top dollar, you are seriously rocking the boat here fella! Bloody hell, I have already spent ٠ million on that Barry guy and we normally sell our best player by this stage every season.... and I have expectant directors to payÂ…"

And I don't want to hear about the debt. Its been around 㿔M as long as I can remember. We could earn 𧺬M and the debt would still be around 㿔M. There is a massive black hole in our club that is swallowing funds and it needs explaining once and for all.

The problem isn't supposed interest from Madrid or Juventus (where he would be a squad player) or Wolfsburg for that matter. The stumbling block is Mourinho who is still unsure whether to let him go on loan or to sell him. Jose is under no pressure to bring this to a quick conclusion but we are.

I still believe we will get him but who will blink first? This is football poker at its best/worst.

Sorry but if another club comes in for him now, we have only ourselves to blame! 3 months we have had to sign him, or 15 months if you count the fact we had all last season to have a word in his ear. I'm really disappointed with our transfers so far...

Early business with 4 quality first team players for 㿊 million and we were ready for a massive season. What happened to Roberto's mantra of coming out of a transfer window stronger than when we went in??

Whichever way you dress it up, Besic and even Lukaku are not an improvement on last season unless he has a few quality loan deals in the pipeline. Traore was a crock all last season who we still paid a wage too and yet, with only 3 weeks to go, we're still talking about him maybe returning??

Has anyone at goodison seen our first 10 fixtures??

Team Players In Spent
Arsenal 3 – 㿠m
Aston Villa 3 – ٢m
Burnley 7 – ٧m
Chelsea 5 – 䀏m
Crystal Palace 3 – ٢m
Everton 1 – ٞ
Hull City 3 – 㾺m
Leicester 5 – ٥m
Liverpool 6 – 㿽m
Man City 3 – 㿨m
Man Utd 2 – 㿥m
Newcastle 6 – 㿎m
QPR 3 – ٦m
Southampton 2 – 㿆m (䀈m received) and counting
Swansea 5 – 㾸m
Spurs 2 – 㾼m
WBA 6 – 㾼m
West Ham 5 – 㿉m

Some fees were approximated but assumed right as reported in press.

We all know we are desperate for an out and out striker and as I have said before we need to move onto other targets as Chelsea and Romelu seem to be playing us like a fool with the promise of a deal with us if nothing better for either of them comes up. The more we wait the more desperate we become and the stronger any selling clubs hand becomes.

So let's up the ante for all signings as we can't afford to start slowly again next season, I would settle for Besic, Henen and 3 other forward thinking players by the start of the season. My 3 would be Lukaku / Bony, Traore (Barcelona) and Jay Rodriguez.

We need to cut our losses on Lukaku and look elsewhere or all the hard work of last season will have been for nothing.

The Chelsea manager is the one holding this up not our board. Why would he let Lukaku go now when he really does not need to?

It's not as if he needs to sell to buy. Lukaku could force the transfer by putting in a transfer request.

Like most on here, now I'm fed up with it all and so dissapointed.

I know it's talkShite but it is promising and they give it an 8/10 to happen.

Relying on rival Chelsea to release Lukaku after the season has started will ensure an uncertain beginning to Everton’s campaign. Either the deal should be done soon or not at all. If Chelsea pull out close to the end of the window, at the last minute, that would potentially take us out of contention for a top four finish.

If JM, who would you prefer to sell, Torres or Lukaku? Keeping Lukaku could seem the much better option – especially with Drogba to help coach.

Let’s hope a deal for Lukaku can be struck soon! Or else ...

I'd be more concerned of the delay in the negotiations with Chelsea over Rom: I suspect this is less about cash and more about an option on a certain Ross Barkley.

If we're relying on simply bringing players through the youth setup, then any talk of competing for top four is misleading fans. That's survival, that most definitely isn't pushing on.

What is sad is that Roberto is no longer talking about targets, apart from Lukaku - which I can't see happening. He's talking now, like Moyes often did, of just looking for somebody. Anyone, almost.

"That's not a decision to be taken lightly and one the board is currently on with.

It's not inconceivable this could go ahead so they could all cash in their chips. Or they may well take a large dividend before they sell up. Who knows what their plans are?

El Bob is sounding more like Bullshit Bill at the moment, his answers sound like Prime Ministers question time as he gives an answer nothing to do with the question. Who cares if he has a good relationship with Chelsea or Besic has made friends with some of the squad in Thailand? — We need players signed on the dotted line, at least enough to replace the ones who left on loan.

Four out, one in so far.

It's a little early to judge the younger players or in fact any players after one pre-season game in the blistering heat.

It's a fitness gainer game, that's all.

It would be nice to have any new signings in but to be fair, we are only one player down from last season (hopefully he will sign soon) and that team wasn't too bad.

I know others are buying players, but look at Everton. We have had a consistent strong core of players for years now with the odd addition every now and again.

We are not suddenly going to slip miles behind teams, as we still have good players already and youngsters coming through too.

James 46, what use would sending the season tickets back be? You have already paid for them.

To be fair, he has just been given a new contract...it's all starting to look very familiar at Casa Everton

Of course, I could fall back on the words of wily old Dave Whelan, Roberto's business tutor. "If you are going after a goal scorer, keep your lips tightly sealed, because they all want one." So, fingers crossed, something might be going on we no nothing about.

As for the other positions. We don't want a Gueye or a Velllios. It has to be the exact player for the exact role. Martinez has spoken of this on many occasions. Time is not important. Getting the right player is.

We have no idea really (except Colin) why the Besic deal is being held up or what Lukaku wants or how long he'll take to make up his mind.

He has clearly stated, which he rarely does, that he wants a number 9 before the start of the season. If we get one and if everyone stays fit then I think we're ok. Once we get all the desired business by the end of the month of course.

We are lacking a main central striker, a cover for him and a creative midfielder.

Im sure we will loan in a couple of people but its getting a touch late in the day. I know some people aren't too bothered and are happy to wait till transfer deadline day but for me its too late to get your main targets in.

3 or 4 games are gone by then and they have missed pre-season with us as well.

Im struggling to understand the delay if RM has identifed the players, we have the money and the guys want to come.

I think its fair to say that none of us have any idea whats happening at the moment

Its up to BK and the ever gurning Elstone to sort it out

Watch this space.................................

I know mate, I'm full of shit........I'd never send them back, just letting off some frustration. The signing of Lukaku would put a smile on my face no end.

Several times each season I swear down that I will not renew....then April comes along and soft ollies here pays the full whack at once

Nobody mentioned anything about the age bracket ! :-)

"Hello, it's Bill Kenwright here Darling, can you put me through Roman please?"

"Hello Roman, There's someone called Bill on the line, says he's a massive pal of yours."

Roman; "Not that fucking bum - always on the bastard mooch for players. Tell him I'm on my yacht, and if he phones again, tell him he can't pay for Lukaku on the drip over the next 27 years either."

I've been following the club for the last decade or so, and I can not remember a single transfer window where we'd spend big and sign a bunch of players. You can call Bill Kenwright a Scrooge McDuck, but just look where this transfer window philosophy got us and where is, eg, Tottenham with more than 𧴜M spent on useless rubbish players.

Personally, I do prefer signing quality instead of quantity. Besic, Galloway – the deals will be sorted out, and if we don't get Lukaku, I'm sure Roberto Martinez has it all covered with numerous "in case of" scenarios.

You can always choose two ways of reacting to stuff – the positive one and the negative one. Hasn't Roberto shown you the right one during the last season? Stop your bloody whinin', you lads look like a bunch of elderly women selling eggs in a Lithuanian market and criticisin' authorities with your know-it-all attitudes. IMWT, COYB, ETID.

If we paid silly money we would doubtless grab our targets immediately. I'm glad that we don't. "OK, Devil Sadvocate," you may be saying, "but the Besic, Galloway and Henin deals are hardly big money, are they? Why haven't they been signed, sealed and delivered by now?"

Well, I don't have that information to hand, but let's say Galloway wants more money and/or better clauses than we can sanely offer? What do we do? Give in to him (as Man City probably would) or carry on negotiating? The latter, I'd say. Even Chelsea have to have a wage structure in place, witness Mourinho's recent comment about Man U overpaying Shaw on the wages front.

There is plainly no problem with Besic himself, or he wouldn't have gone to Thailand with the squad; so maybe the rumours are accurate and there's a problem with who pays the agent for a deal that's already been agreed. Tiresome, I agree, but not obviously evidence of EFC's inherent shitness at board level. Henin? There's been no huge delay, and I dare say he'll be an official Everton player as soon as RM is settled back at Finch Farm.

So there we have it. Don't worry, be happy.

Every other club has moved in the market and the gap between our squad and the other clubs is ludicrously big. Other clubs are entering the final couple of furlongs and we are still in the stalls.

Martinez will soon lose patience with this clubÂ’s attitude if he has serious ambitions. I am sick of being among the only Â’realÂ’ investors in this club (the fans). The present board are hanging onto the money for grim life and hoping we can get away with spending nothing!! If Lukaku is off the hook we could well be catching a crab. Even Besic is not yet signed and all the other clubs are buying really good players without hitches.

The story is Remy has a minor heart condition and the deal has fell through due to Borini not agreeing to stay at Sunderland. Remy will still be snapped up by some other club I am sure.

I have said on another thread, I'm usually stressed during the summer transfer window, but this time I'm feeling pretty calm. I just have a feeling that the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place over the next few weeks. If we get Lukaku he won't need bedding in time. This is also the first window in ages where we haven't had to fight off aggressive advances for one of our stars. That stability do the squad the world of good.

I now think that maybe if Lukaku comes back that he may be sulking a little in light of the move he couldn't make and his performances may not rate as high as last season. Just a thought!

Hopefully RM is working on a contingency plan given that the options of injured Kone and up in the air Traore are not viable at the moment. As it is, he only has Naismith and Mirallas as possibilities so maybe he will try to play without the usual ''big'' target man, which would only work if some of the midfielders give support quickly, like Barklay or McGeady.

Interesting note you made about big strong players. Watching the football last night I was struck by the size and power of some of these guys, and how they made it count at set pieces. That said, it was the smaller, sharper players who opened things up and created chances. Tall or small, there was no-one like Pienaar or Osman. They all had good body strength and were able to ride tough challenges.

Still time for a few surprises. No-one knew about Delboy or Lukaku before they arrived all wrapped up.

As with Besic most delays are not with the player but with other minor problems as the player usually is in agreement with going to the club before negotiations begin. In regards to Lukaka if he is in favour of coming to Everton then the problem is in the negotiations.(if any)

As some one else has stated (you do not have to be a rocket science to know we need a striker) why not at the end of last season when the manager was aware that Lukaka was leaving was no plan for another striker put foreward instead of waiting to see if he; may become available.?

We also need another quality midfielder and there does not seem to be any movement to getting one and so far with less than 2 weeks to the start of the season the team does not seem as strong as the team that finished at the end of last season.

My belief is that you should have the strongest team you are going to use over the season at the start of the season and have the remaining couple of weeks of the transfer window, if funds are available;? to strenghthen the squad.

People who try to exept what is going on as (the Everton way ) should not exept this as there is something Extremally wrong in the club when it comes to transfers.

We all know what's going on but we are powerless to do anything about it.

We can't vote with our feet, as most of us have already renewed our season tickets and I certainly don't want to see another daft clown with a cake scenario again, as ultimately it does nothing at all.

Even with all the daft protesting our knobhead neighbours did about the last Americans, it came to nothing. The reason the last ones were ousted was due to the banks, not the knobs with stupid placards.

None of the above actually exists - Lukaku is not due back until the 30th, and Martinez and Chelsea have stated long ago that nothing would conclude on his situation before then.

I don't understand why everyone is freaking out about a deal that wasn't ever supposed to have happened yet anyway.

Success is expensive, and this board want to take, but not invest. So it’s not hard to work out what direction we are going. I think it’s going to be really hard for Bobby this year, again I hope I’m wrong , but we haven’t moved forward in any way.

Still trying to pick up scraps of loan players , struggling to complete a transfer. Same shite just a different season. And as somebody else has stated, wait till Billy Liar starts selling our gems.

There is no point repeating all the perfectly valid questions already posed on here regarding the whereabouts of our surely substantial transfer budget. We all know there should be one, swelled by recent player sales, but God knows where the Board have put it.

If it is to be Lukaku we go all out for, I predict nothing will happen before next week at the earliest. We have to wait for the Sky money, then comes the phoney war of whether or not we've made a bid, followed by protracted negotiations...Waiting until then is going to be horrible, but I reckon we'll be lucky to see Rom signed and sealed before the season kicks off.

I just hope to God there is a Plan B ready, rather than a plan to panic if Lukaku doesn't come. That Plan B, incidentally, cannot be Traore! It needs to be a big-name, established striker who guarantees goals and is ours to keep.

Still, at least we're not Southampton!

I cant remember a time in my 38 year old life when it seems we have pinned so much on one player

Lets hope Roberto has a plan B or C....................or X, Y and Z

In other words, he's already wearing the socks and shorts and the shirt is halfway over his head.

@John 110. He IS coming

The reason you cant remember another time wth so much on one player is because it has not happened before. Hence (potentially) record signing.

Potential game changer/paradigm shift if we can recruit and keep Rom and Ross at Everton for some decent length of time I believe.

True, Garbutt has shown promise but defensively seemed somewhat naïve. Duffy looked capable but after that I'm struggling to think of anyone who looked anything but a novice in either game.

And that bloody useless goalkeeper................!

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/475896/97m-haul-sees-Liverpool-BEAT-Manchester-City-in-the-Premier-League-earnings-table

You’re basing that opinion on pre season friendlies ?

Is that the same squad strength that seen us get a record total of points for a Prem season?

Do you not consider, with the benefit of last years experience, we could improve that total?

I hope your right, I really do

Im just feeling very uneasy about it all. Its taking an age to sort out and goes again his dream of playing Champions League football

Having everything depend on one guy who could cost 㿀 M plus in the "Blue Bill" era is astonishing to me.

All summer this has dragged on and I hope one way or another it gets settled quickly

The manager warned us that we would be doing deals right to the final minute of the deadline. To me that meant that the clubs with the dosh would be doing their deals first, and we would probably end up with sloppy seconds.

We have the same owners, an identical board, and no new investors. I'm curious: what was it that made some of you think that this close season would be any different from previous ones?

I know itÂ’s frustrating not to have the millions that some teams have but itÂ’s no guarantee of success look at Spurs outlay last year it didnÂ’t get them top four football did it. The RS have 43 in their squad now and they still havenÂ’t got a defence as good as ours plus they will miss Suarez big time. As RM says we need a number 9 and if we canÂ’t get Lukaku, we should go for Bony or Jackson Martinez from Porto

Southampton have sold an incredible amount of players and Chambers has officially joined Arsenal as of today. Perhaps the need to reduce the wage bill is having a real impact on the clubs as they adjust to the various rules that have come in recently.

It wonÂ’t make it a level playing field overall, but there will be a few more players available on free transfers towards the end of the window and it might help explain EvertonÂ’s seemingly slow progress in bringing players to the club.

Then again......

Even if (god forbid) we donÂ’t buy anyone else apart from Besic, we can still field a decent second XI without using any of the kids apart from Garbutt, who definitely looks up to the job:

Robles, Hibbert, Garbutt, Stones, Alcaraz; Besic, Gibson; McGeady, Osman, Oviedo; Kone

I reckon that team is probably good enough to get a result away at FC Honka Espoo of Finland. (In case youÂ’re wondering, yes, that is a real team and they will play in the first qualifying rounds of the Europa League!)

Pienaar and Mirallis are useful players but never in a million years will they strickly adhere to the football philosophy of Martinez. He didnÂ’t sign them and you can tell. Both are determined to play their own game and if it means ignoring team-mates....so what. In fact, with Pienaar, if your name is not Baines and you pass him the ball, donÂ’t bank on getting it back. Garbutt has already found this out, as did a few youngsters against Tranmere. A weird man indeed.

God knows what goes on with this transfer business. IÂ’ll bet Roberto is in the dark much of the time. Some even do it by fax. In fact, Newport did a deal on twitter. Agreed everything then sent the papers by express mail. Crazy stuff indeed.

I like your confidence.
Another 15 games would mean we would be playing in the final

We need to add two attacking midfielders in my opinion, and one of those must be creative. But what of the loan market this year? If all goes well, we would have signed two of the four successful loans from last season, and re-signed one (a real vindication of the loan strategy). IÂ’d be amazed if, given the added pressure on the squad and MartinezÂ’s penchant for loans, Martinez does not bring in another couple of players on loan. If Lukaku does come in, and joins Besic and Barry, I still expect another 3 players, and hopefully a deeper squad than last season. That said, weÂ’ve no chance of fourth place in my opinion. We came 7? points behind Arsenal last season, and theyÂ’ve strengthened this summer. We now have to deal with the added pressures of Europa League football, not to mention a better United side and a Spurs team who have had longer to gel.

But it would make a lot of sense if Chelsea are reluctant to sell him outright and are happy for him to have another season at Goodison whilst at the same time it might suit our manager and Board.

My musings were a reaction to the possibility of either scenario becoming a reality.

Deary me, again! How about making the comparison fair and square instead of naff rash remarks at the end of July. The business you are comparing this with was done and dusted at the start of September.

So, why the need to make this false comparison now? Tell ya what, you pop back on here on September-3 - my birthday, by the way, mark the date - and THEN and only then make sort of comparison you have made here.

"ItÂ’s still important for us to have all our players back. We donÂ’t have [Andre] Schurrle, Oscar, Willian or [Eden] Hazard and they are the four players we build the game around. At the same time they need a holiday, but the players who are here on this training camp are working very hard."

"We are going to have Christensen and Ake, who are coming from the Academy," he said. "We are going to have training with us, but also playing for the under-21 team, [Dominic] Solanke, [Jeremie] Boga and [Izzy] Brown.

"The other ones who are a bit older, 20 or 21, we feel they need to compete against men in a different league, people like Patrick Bamford, John Swift, Nathaniel Chalobah. They are ready to go to other clubs and have a good loan".

Not a peep about Lukaku.

I still have confidence we will have two new strikers in the squad before 1st sept. (If we only have Naismith up front until kone is back weÂ’ll be in the relegation zone come November!).

Have patience and keep the faith in Roberto.

(Although I must admit IÂ’m not sure why the Traore loan is dragging on....maybe itÂ’s Monaco dragging things out and not us....)

To compete in 4 competitions its important to have 2 players for every position... well we can just about manage that at the moment:

Howard
Coleman Jags Distin Baines
McCarthy Barry
Mirallas Barkley Pienaar
Kone

Robles
Hibbert Stones Alcaraz Garbutt
Gibson Besic
Mcgeady Osman Oviedo
Naismith

We arenÂ’t too far away from being where we need to be... its just the overall quality and size of the squad that needs a little investment. If we can add the signings of Lukaku, Astu and Traore to the players listed above, before the season starts, then I think we will be in decent shape - and hopefully there will be enough cash left in the kitty for another permanent signing and a loan before transfer deadline day.

With the money the other clubs have spent I think 5th would be a great achievement.Obviously hoping for better,but a bit if realism called for

If we could take Romelu on loan for a year and buy another such as Bony or Remy I would think that would be a good piece of business for the club. But as usual we'll have to wait and see what transpires.

Someone above apparently heard Martinez say that we needed 7 new players in addition to the 4 on loan last season that returned to their clubs. I didn't realise the Europa League involved 30 extra games per season...

I'm sure I've been listening to the same soundbites as everyone else, yet I was always under the impression that we'd get 4 or 5 new players, plus hopefully a couple from the youth team.

We got Barry and Besic, we've been told most recently we're getting at least 2 more attackers. Atsu and Lukaku have been strongly suggested as those targets.

I suspect on deadline day(when Martinez told us we'd probably be doing some business), we could well possibly pick up another couple of players if other clubs are getting desperate to offload and Martinez likes the look of them.

This site sometimes reminds me of an online version of Chinese Whispers played by a bunch of manic depressives. Especially so during this time of year.

I like that he will bring youth through, look at the great mix of experience and youth. BrendaÂ’s like a spoilt kid in a sweet shop RM has a plan.

Besic is a master stroke.

Am really not that worries this season. Top 4 will be a miracle but top 6 is achievable with a decent striker and luck on the injury front.

Liverpool, Man U and a couple of others are almost signing half a new team this summer. It will take these players at least until Xmas to gel property so not too bothered. And that's if the player end up performing well...

No copying or you'll have get detention!

God knows what's happening with Lukaku, + no loan players have surfaced yet, I'll be very surprised and disappointed if we don't get 1 to 3 quality loan players in this season.

How would you feel if you were a Southampton supporter?
Finished 7th for a great season for them, now had their team decimated by the 'rich clubs'.
Something intrinsically wrong with the Prem. what chance have the smaller clubs of breaking the strangle hold the money rich clubs have?
You can argue that Southampton didn't have to sell them but if a player is determined to leave it is usually folly to keep them, so dispiriting for supporters.

Maybe I took it wrong but reading these lines I understand 6 or 7 new additions to the team. Maybe again I wanted to believe 6 or 7 new transfers because in my mind these are exactly the numbers we need in this ageing team. Young lads are welcomed, maybe another rooney or another barkley is ready to pop out but to be honest I don't know a lot for these guys, never seen them play. I have faith in Martinez he will try whatever he can to add strenght to the team, my lack of faith is about the board. Whatever money come in this club somehow they vanish, I hope the debt would vanish the same way one day. I would like to see what excuse the board will have then...

I had Kone in my second XI purely because who the hell knows when he'll be fit? If he is, I have a sneaking suspicion he might play a useful part over the season.

I'm afraid Duffy will make a competent stopper for a mid-table championship side, but is unlikely to feature much for us. To be fair, he defended ably against Leicester, as did Hibbert, but the both of them are too 'old school' for Roberto.

I agree, Peter, but I think Alcaraz has more in his locker than Duffy. Mind you, it's about time be brought it out and showed us!

As long as Chelsea know we are desperate for Lukaku they know they hold all the aces.

Martinez needs to call Chelsea's bluff and look elsewhere and not put all his eggs in one basket.

Its a little like being at school collecting footy stickers, as soon as you showed excitement about a particular card, you knew it was going to cost a few stickers and a shiny badge in exchange.

Before you accuse any more people of "hearing one thing and assuming another" lets have a recap of what Martinez actually said.

"It's not about improving the squad, its about increasing it.
When you are playing in Europe,you need six or seven NEW players, thats the reality of it and we will do it.
I get excited about signing NEW players, you need FRESH blood " Sam #4 and iaKovos #123 are merely quoting the manager, not, as you claim starting "chinese Whispers" . . Not once does Martinez mention promoting kids already at the club as part of that seven. The clue is in the word "NEW"

It's quite inexpensive for people to come on TW and blindly post "IMWT" - actually its free - but I wonder how many youngsters believed his promise and bought season tickes on the back of it ?

Two down ( even if they will probably be competing for the one place ) and five to go

He is a compelling subject though,hard to resist commenting on I’ll give you that.

I remember reading an article just after the season about whether they would keep the stars and that it was vital for any confidence in the clubs resurrection. They look stuffed right now... Hectic. Wonder what is driving this exodus?

But he could still bring in six or seven players before the transfer window closes but that imho is highly unlikely. We have 2 new additions on board and will probably add another 3 dependent if one of those is Lukaku.

However, I do believe that Roberto as I have stated earlier had better learn the art of saying nothing at all, otherwise his good qualities will always be undermined by saying things that he believes, at the time, he says them but will come back to haunt him as lots of people will point them out if the results are not what we hope them to be.

To be frank it really doesn't matter to me if he says that the earth is flat as long as he produces a team that we can be proud of and one that wins more often than it doesn't. If he fails to produce a good winning team in a reasonable time scale with adequate backing from the club then he goes and I won't lose any sleep if that unfortunate scenario transpires.

Obviously I want him to succeed at Everton and for him to be here for long long time.

Rumours are that he has a minor heart defect and it is this that is troubling Liverpool. Maybe they can't insure him apparently. If (god forbid) something happened where he could not play again they would have lost all of the money.

Southampton selling players because they want to leave. — That’s OK with players the team can do without, but not the key players (unless they like biting the opposition!).

Suarez could have been sold before last season, but Liverpool refused. Suarez just had to get on with it. No club has to sell a player under contract who wants to leave and if the player reacts badly on and off the pitch then he will ruin his career. Prof. footballers have to be just that. If they are under contract, they have to give 100%. No decent club would expect anything less. For Southampton to sell so many makes a lot of cash for the club, but will seriously damage the team. I predict Southampton will have a relegation scrap this year.

Thankfully, Everton will keep hold of their key players. — Losing your keys is very worrying!

I have wondered sometimes why we have never had this type of run for our players... I think we just don't make ourselves seem approachable and we are quite good at giving new contracts... For the most part.

Stop freaking out and calm down everyone! James Marshall #104 makes a nice simple point that might help.

And also, please stop explaining your ridiculous versions of what MUST be going on behind the scenes based on absolutely nothing but your own fevered imagination!

We didn’t need a massive overhaul, in fact our stability and squad togetherness is our strength and signing too many players would be a bad thing. We’re three signings away from having two good players for every position as well as further options and young players with the potential to develop into first team players. That they’re not good enough right now doesn’t mean they never will be. If we signed Lukaku, Traore and say, Atsu we’d have a fantastic squad of between 25-30 players capable of performing at the top level.

Those three signings are also genuinely likely to happen, although obviously the big unknown is will it be Lukaku or a ’plan B’. But as James says, no-one involved at Chelsea is in a hurry to offload him. From what we can tell, he’s chosen us because he knows he’ll be the main man here, which is what he wants, but Chelsea, as is their right, are taking their time. He hasn’t even been back in the country to talk to Chelsea since the World Cup, so how can anyone expect to ’know’ what’s happening?

I reckon Pochettino going so soon after Nigel Adkins together with the attraction of big time and Europe allied to agents making big fees on every transfer (something I think should be controlled better).

As for us, I am reasonably happy that we look sound defensively now and for the future but we look totally impotent in MF and the striking department.

Since Fellaini and Tim Cahill left we have been unable to find a decent goalscoring MF player... hey it may have even been worth a gamble on Fat Frank.

We desperately need players who can score goals and I would consider Remy who is now surely available for less than ٦.5M together with Lukaku and forget Traore who would only be on loan anyway. Then if we don't get Lukaku at least we'll have a decent No 9 and if we do then it will keep both of them on their toes.

My post isn't another dig at Martinez; I just get a little frustrated when the fingers-in-the-ear crowd claim he didn't say these things and his "accusers" are making things up. Sometimes it takes a direct quote.

I agree with you that Martinez would sometimes be better advised to say nothing. His latest promise of signing a number nine before the big kick off didn't need to be made. I hope for his sake he can deliver.

This makes me think that either the Lukaku deal is pretty much done, but is subject to some agreed delay (I've heard 30 July mentioned a few times, also post-Chelsea game for obvious reasons) or Roberto is letting that speculation continue to be a smoke-screen whilst looking somewhere else entirely. Sometimes he gushes a bit, but the bloke's a long way from daft. I reckon we're in for a surprise or two.

As Chris says, RM is a long way from daft - and he's a great one for public relations (which is a plus and a minus, as far as I'm concerned, but that's another story) so there is likely to be some method in his statement.

I can’t see how he believes two signings will be enough now we have added to our midfield with Besic and Barry. The only logic I can see is that he means two proper signings, one being a Number 9 (Rom or someone similar) and another being another attacking player with the value of minimum ٥/8m.

I’d then like to imagine Henen and Galloway will also sign but as they are for the U21 side; he does not include them. Then I’d imagine Bobby would want Traore (on loan) and at least one or two other loan signings to bulk up the squad.

Please, please tell me I’m not as deluded as the kopites in thinking this... cos, if I am, we are in for a struggle this season.

Come on, Bobby mate, sort it out.

So just how will Man Utd be on 8 points after 3 games???

More whiners on here than its possible to believe, although Kenwright being called Scrooge McDuck nearly made me spit my tea out!

Interesting, but is it significant.... ?

The press has a field day speculating, as we know. But, to have a just-turned 21-year-old, whose scored at a 1 for 2 rate over 2 seasons with different EPL teams, all but off the press radar? When does that happen during Silly Season?

Something's up.

I'm thinking Colin Glasser is calling it correct. (By the way Colin, one of the spell-checks to your last name is "Gasser").

Atsu, I don't know and familiar with his name because of talk on here. You're right, no mention of him in Jose's comments from the article I quoted.

Today we add Roberto's "We need a number nine", comment to the dead calm regarding so hot a prospect as Lukaku. I conclude he's coming.

We'll need another striker signing beside him. I think Kone is done. Second surgery on a knee already subjected to major surgery some years back. "Floating cartilage" Roberto referred to it a week before Kone was set down again for the same knee.

Floating cartilage is a big no-no for baseball players, never mind footy ones. Roberto needs to get in someone else beyond Lukaku.

Lukaku first though. We get him in, those 4 clubs finished above us need to look out.

Would we want him? For me, Yes (as well as Lukaku of course, not instead) Would he want us? More than he would want QPR, surely? Can we pinch him from under Harry's nose? Maybe..
Can we afford him? Perhap...

I fell sure the kids only asked their parents to buy them a season ticket because Roberto mentioned signing a certain amount of players,they had no intention of asking their parents,grandads etc for a season ticket before that statement.

Valbuena has been a fabulous player for years now. I don't know why he is suddenly being linked with a move away really. If he wanted to come to the Premier League then he should have done it 3 years ago. I'd be surprised if he lowered himself to QPR's level, but they do have a habit of paying exorbitant wages.

Very intelligent player though and someone I've always liked. He would play in Barkley's position though. I reckon we have more pressing issues to tend to really.

I wish the lad a speedy recovery from the latest of his set-backs but mention all this to emphasise he cannot be regarded as a candidate for regular appearances in the No9 role !

I do agree with your sentiments though, I was under-whelmed when we signed Kone. Yes, I'd seen him have 3 very good games against us that season, but was aware of his limited appearances previously, and thought we overpaid for a decent striker who had just been relegated, and was 30.

It's looking like he may go down as blip on the Martinez transfer record, but everyone makes mistakes. OFM signed his fair share of turkeys, and even HK deemed it a good investment bringing Mick Ferguson in, in 1982. Mind you that batch of transfers did include Big Nev.

Also, that Swiss lad at Bayern looked to be up there with the best of divers in the World Cup. No thanks.

Lets hope Mrs Ferry doesn't make you wait till 11:55 on the third to reward your faith and optimism, or worse, fail you on a medical at 11:58 cause of a dodgy knee.

When did they say that........? I'm in work so missed it.

Then he will disappear quicker than a bishop from a brothel raid once more season tickets have been sold.

Should call uncle bill buttercup, he builds us up then knocks us down with another false dawn, lets hope once, just this once, the press conference is about a proven striker bought.

That's what I was stating in reply to Jackie's post but I didn't respond quick enough to make it join up..

Havn’t Barça brought in Suarez (1 in) but offloaded Sanchez, Bojan and Tello??

IÂ’d say things are looking better for Geri than they were at the start of the summer.

"We will see what happens."

Is it me or are Everton the bigest wind up merchants ever?!! First Besic joins us on our tour but doesnt sign, leaving us all waiting for a glitch over the weekend.
Now they announce a press conference shrouded in mystery at 4pm with no media links about anything!

I am guessing it will be about a young belgian striker signing.....but not the one we all want it to be.

Would we have a press conference to announce a friendly with them?

Or some sort of club ties?

I reckon there will some significant comments about significant announcements to be made soon, significantly.

the countdown has begun......

Whats everyones thoughts?

Confirmation of the site theyÂ’re interested in but nothing more.

Weather its is anything to do with that god knows. Everyone seems to be in the dark.

Lets just hope its something exciting

It has to be something major or theyÂ’re going to look pretty stupid. I just canÂ’t believe it hasnÂ’t leaked in this day and age.

Ian, What the fuck has the weather got to do with signing Lukaku.

Usually gives me a bit of information, very strange that!!!

This announcement @ 4pm is not about Lukaku.

Brilliant — that made me laugh!

But, if its Roberto at the press conference then it must be about a player

my serious guess is thatÂ’s is the FSS cheque and its finally cleared.......after 10 years at the bank

Stadium/ Take-over and the press conference would have been made the Chairman/CEO.

So that leaves new contracts for Barkley/McCarthy and Stones?

Not liking the interest in McCarthy from Man Utd.

And we've found a plumber capable of lagging the pipes.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/391558/EXCLUSIVE-Chelsea-REFUSING-to-print-Thibaut-Courtois-or-Romelu-Lukaku-shirts?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-star-sport+(Daily+Star+%3A%3A+Sport+Feed)

Pretty sure he's available as well...

So what's changed? Nothing. Lukaku is a No 10 and Martinez has said we need a No 9... so expect one to arrive shortly – together with a winger methinks.