Martinez eyes “two or three” summer signings

"...We are really getting noticed in Europe..."

Really mate? I know he has to remain sanguine but clutching at straws or what.

We need to be getting noticed in Hull, Stoke, Southampton... maybe we can start with the Swansea boys noticing us on Saturday.

Evertonians know how the club works and we can't blame the manager in isolation. Arrivals will come when we have been forced to sell and apart from free-transfers we always seem to be reactionary rather than pro-active in the market. At the same time, if those who have 'deliberately' under-performed are shipped out, then just maybe we might be in better shape come August. Let's hope so because this close season will be one of the most important we have had for a number of years.

One club is a consistent top 4 challenger the other is a wannabe.

Guess which one we are.

You just can't trust Martinez on anything. You can't believe anything he says and I don't trust him to make the right signings either.

I predict next season will be more of the same.

I really do feel for those fans who pay to support Everton live in eternal hope, that just maybe, things will come good.

Reality is, as a football club, we are now going backwards. The Moyes years took tiny baby steps forward, but the Martinez years will take us to places we could only dream of; that dream is very much a nightmare.

There you go, insanity confirmed. A football club that doesn't rely on results. What are we relying on then? Ten months of tedious sideways performances? Ten months of John Stones being the only youngster showing any sign of improvement? What in the name of god is this madman talking about?

Any transfer funds we have available this summer should instead be spent on rocket fuel. Strap this idiot to a shuttle and send him back to whichever planet he came from.

And although it could be said that a lot of managers tend to follow the same pattern, in our case, this combination of what basically (as our fanbase knows well) truly 2nd/3rd rate players coupled with Mr 'NO MONEY' (Kenwright) all adds up to one wide chasm-looming season to come.

If he firmly believes the current aging squad, plus two new additions will fulfil that dream, that will only confirm his total loss of grip on reality and an appointment should be made for him with a good psychiatrist. His delusions are going to take us down at some point, unless we get rid of this charlatan and dream merchant before it's too late to save our club from the inevitable consequences of his absolute ineptitude.

So, on that basis, if McGeady and Alcaraz have a couple of good games then they'll be sound then, eh Roberto? No need to replace them?

I actually hope the guy gets no money. He'll only spunk it again.

And in other great news Martinez has allowed Luke Garbutt's contract to run down to just a few weeks. Don't get that one sorted Roberto, we wouldn't want a great young player like Garbutt signing a new deal, not when you can probably find another defender like Alcaraz.

This will only get worse.

Next season we will need another centre-back, an attacking mid, a right back to cover Seamus. The keepers need to reverse their roles; Robles starts, Howard as the experienced backup. Another striker would help, also. Plus replacements for those who are almost certainly going to leave.

The summer window is going to be "make or brea ". RM keeps going on about the long term. My biggest worry is that he's not capable of getting things right in the short term. We are going to need a lot of new blood next season. I don't think "two or three" will be enough. He HAS to be given the funds to get the quality players we need.

I'm just scared, even with a suitable war chest, we will end up with 2 or 3 defence midfielders, that we will always play out of position.

How can anyone compare our transfer activity with clubs with boundless wealth? We have a board who do not invest or even advertise our merchandise on any platforms other than local areas.

Why do the fans castigate Martinez for his two seasons in charge. He is in exactly the same position as OFM who eventually jumped ship. Already he is being knocked over the next transfer window without any one knowing who he is going to target.

I hope none of you knockers ever get jury duty.

It's disturbing that Martinez feels only two or three need to come in, we are an ageing squad with way too many injury-prone inconsistent players. I'd be looking at more like somewhere between 6 to 8 new players of satisfactory quality, not more dross like Atsu, Alcaraz or sideways defensive midfielders.

Hearing this man going on with his gobbledygook makes me question my own sanity in following Everton under this manager. I really despair for the future of MY and OUR club under the control of Kenwright and Martinez.

We should be planning next season's signings. He should be bullshitting and saying the rest of the season is important, who wants to watch our players in flip-flip mode for seven games and blow the ٥-8M that could come with a higher placed league finish?

Cleverley isn't as bad as some of you make out, would be free, and Martinez hasn't even talked about signing him in this story anyway.

Our profile has raised in Europe, we beat Wolfsburg home and away, who are currently second only to the mighty Bayern in the Bundesliga, and despite him being a carthorse who couldn't trap a bag of cement (according to some posters) we have one of the best young strikers in Europe who is the Europa League's top goalscorer.

There are legitimate concerns and criticisms with Roberto, most notably that he doesn't give young players much of an opportunity and has kept much older players in the side at the expense of people like Garbutt, Atsu and Besic. The dropping of Robles after three clean sheets for a Howard who was in poor form before his injury will take a lot of getting over, but the legitimate concerns get lost under an avalanche of hysterical whingeing every time he says something in a press conference.

We also don't need a complete squad overhaul. I think we at most four new players, with about four leaving, this might be reduced if we're serious about promoting some of the young players who've been out on loan. We have an awful lot of young talent in the squad, including 14 young players who may be able to contribute to greater or lesser degrees.

The issue won't be spending millions on bringing in loads of players, it'll be finding the right 2-4 players that make the first XI stronger, and using the ageing players in back-up roles, as well as bringing the promising youngsters through. The worries should be based on whether he'll do that successfully or not. And none of us know if he will, no matter how angry you can make yourself thinking of all the stuff he's got wrong this season.

He needs to get it right this summer.

Instead of looking at the likes of Cleverly, a journeyman player if ever I saw one, and someone who wouldn't have got near the England set-up if he'd played for any team other than the Mancs, we should be tying down Garbutt to a new deal.

Could someone please put us all out of our misery?

You say we've got one of the best young strikers in Europe in Lukaku? Not this season he hasn't! He's done well in Europe, I'll give you that, but domestically he's been average at best and still looks like he's got a lot to learn. Contrast him to Rooney at 16 who could basically get a ball to talk, he was that good.

Rom seems to think he's on par with the aforementioned blues player and co. He's not – not by a long stretch. You could argue the service has been poor at times and you'd be right but that still doesn't excuse his poor first touch and his chronic ability to read the line.

Also, you seem to think Cleverley isn't as bad as we all make out? He is... he's worse. And he's exactly what the club don't need because the midfield is overloaded with players of the same ilk.

There seems to be a train of thought amongst managers in the Premier League that, because a player played for Ferguson at Man Utd, he could automatically do a job elsewhere. Absolute codswallop... Butt, Phil Neville, O'Shea, Brown to name but four have done nothing since leaving there. So lets hope the Cleverley rumours are just that.

Oh and as for his absurd "What we've achieved in Europe" statement – how laughable is that? Yes, the Wolfsburg games were exceptional... but, as soon as a result was needed in the knockout stages, he blew it spectacularly. No, I'm afraid he's a fraudster. But one thing is for certain: he's here for the long haul. And that's what worries me...

As well as this we have players who things aren't really working out for at Everton. McGeady and Mirallas don't seem to be working out for Martinez. Atsu hasn't really had any playing time. If you add in Distin that makes five.

I would also add Pienaar, Osman and Gibson to that list. I'm not saying we should get rid, but with these players there are question marks over their fitness and how many games they can play. Those three players are the creative side to our midfield, and their absence has been little short of catastrophic.

There also seem to be problems with our defensive midfielders. McCarthy seems like he will pick up injuries occasionally, and we are over reliant on him. Will Besic be able to deputise more effectively in his role next season? Also Coleman and Baines aren't getting forward as they used to. Is that due to problems in midfield?

I'd like to think that his outward appearance masks inward urgency, but it does seem as if the next transfer window would require the signing of several players who can actually step into the first team. Not something that has happened too often.

Gareth Barry is, as we have witnessed, on his way down, I don't want to slate him too much, he was great last year for us and has been a quality player in his career but he's become past it.

James McCarthy is our best defensive midfielder but has shown this season that he has struggled with injuries and could do with being a bit bolder at times and expansive.

Besic, now I know this one may not go down too well here, but, apart from running around a lot (which of course is always appreciated by fans), what does he really offer? He's not creative, doesn't score goals, doesn't get anywhere near the box to try and score goals, and he's always liable to land us in the shit with a crazy moment.

Gibson, as we know, has the ability on the ball to offer something different but his injury record has now become a chronic concern; through no fault of his own, he has become the new James Vaughan and you simply can't pin your hopes on him appearing for more than 10-15 games a season.

That leaves basically Ross Barkley as our only attacking midfielder and of course that's a big question for the summertime to answer... Will he still be here next season?

Mirallas, although not a central midfielder will also be on his way.

McGeady has not lived up to the high expectations that Martinez told us all to have when he signed over 12 months ago.

Atsu will go back to Chelsea having not looked anything like a Premier League suited player and will join a club in a league more suited to his style.

Osman is Osman as we know but now at 34, just read 'Gareth Barry'.

Lennon has been a very positive player since signing on loan, arguably over the last month along with Jagielka he has been our best performer. But he of course is going back too in May, with it hardly certain he will be an Everton player next season.

When you look at the squad, it's becoming very bare on numbers and on variety when you break it down piece by piece. This is why, with players leaving and again a year older, we need substantial reinforcements – and this is just assessing midfield, we are light on centre halves and strikers too.!

This season has been a disaster but I am an optimist and I will try to give our manager another chance. It's pretty clear where we need strengthening (crying out for creativity in the final 3rd and from deep when Gibson is not playing) and this Summer he will not have his part time job as pundit to distract him.

I hope the scouting team has been working overtime coz it's gonna be make or break and time... and if Cleverly comes, Alcaraz gets a new contract and we bring in some other over-the-hill 30(+)-year-olds then the knives will start getting sharpened.

We could throw our hat into the ring for 'freebies' such as Ings, Ranochia, Schaar, Konoplyanka, Bellarabi and Neto for a start.

He said 6-7 players last year and we got half that amount. Going by this calculation we’ll get 1½ new players next season...

Going on the premise that you need two players for each position and that the formation is likely to be 4-2-3-1, hereÂ’s my possible squad for next season:

New Goalkeeper / Howard
Coleman / New Right Back
Baines / Garbutt
Jagielka / New Central defender
Stones / Galloway or Browning
McCarthy / Besic
New Creative Central Midfielder / Gibson
New Creative Left Winger / Pienaar
New Right Winger / New Right Winger
Barkley / Naismith
Lukaku / New Striker

IÂ’m working on the presumption that Mirallas is going, Lennon is going back to Spurs, and everyone else is sold and/or released as theyÂ’re not good enough.

Howard remains – but as a back-up, aging goalkeeper.

Galloway or Browning – whoever is further developed out of the two.

ThatÂ’s eight new players needed to provide adequate cover and competition. Four players out of the eight would need to be able to walk into the first-team.

Additionally, I would offer Hibbert, Osman and Distin coaching roles at the club. Osman could remain in the squad, maybe as a personal tutor to Barkley to help on decision-making.

That's 8 players out. Now I think our squad had the numbers to compete in Europe and the Premier League this season, just not the quality. Players like Alcaraz and McGeady have proved they are not up to it. If these eight leave, we need at least eight in surely? Let's say perhaps one or two come from the youth setup, perhaps Browning and one other. That leaves six new players. If we count Lennon as one of those, which I think we should, that's five. Still two more than Martinez reckons will be enough.

I'm intrigued to see what Martinez can do, and what money he will be given to do it. I just hope to god he's learnt from this seasons mistakes!

On the Cleverly issue, I would take him on a free. He may not set the world alight, but we need players, he has proven Premier League experience, and may just flourish with us. Look at Lennon, I was not excited when he arrived, but he has shown the kind of effort and determination which has eluded say Mirallas or Barkley, players who grab more headlines but seem less effective on the pitch.

For me, Martinez needs to start using the likes of Henen, Browning, Garbutt, Galloway, Ledson and Long. Add three of these to the squad, and then maybe we only need to being in three new faces from elsewhere.

With the side safe now, RM has a real opportunity to play the younger players and then determine who and what we need in the summer; but Cleverly is far from the answer.

That quote to me suggests he isn't talking about players like Cleverley or Januzaj specifically! Those 2 may well join, one on a free and the other on loan, to make up the numbers, but when he talks about wanting 2 or 3 to step up a level, he's talking about a better quality of player that is going to improve the first team!

We'll definitely make more than just "2 or 3" signings in the summer cos we'll need to when 2 or 3 leave. I'm just interested to find out in what positions he wants these 2 or 3 players?!

For me, we definitely need a quality winger, one that will go straight into the team. I reckon one from Deulofeu, Rafa Silva & Konoplyanka could be an option and either would be great and an improvement! Then I think we need another winger to give us options, and that's where Januzaj on loan could be an option.

Then I think it could be between a GK or CB that we could be looking for or have in mind to come in. As for GK's, it could be one from Nyland, Marshall or one we've not heard about or who's not been on the radar from January in the press?

CBs I've not got a clue, we don't get linked to many tbh. I've only seen us linked to Van Dijk, Lewis Dunk, Kaboul, Winston Reid & Stefan Reinartz (sp) in past year or so and many of them names are not so inspiring if I'm honest. Out of those I'd probably only have van Dijk or Reid and Reid as just signed a new deal at West Ham and van Dijk is valued at around ٦m by Celtic.

I'd like to think that Martinez as got a striker lined up for this summer as we need one to truly push Lukaku for his place in the team and when Rom is injured or whatever, come and step in and get the goals. As a second choice striker, I'd have any of Austin or Ings! Due to circumstances (relegation or tribunal) both would be available for around ٤-7m I reckon and that's pretty good going for either as there decent players and got goals in them. Austin would be my choice though.

Preferably I'd like us to have the money to be able to go out and get a GK (Nyland), CB (Van Dijk), winger (Deulofeu, Rafa Silva or Konoplyanka) and striker (Austin) for the team and then get another winger (Januzaj, Jese Rodriguez, Munir) on loan and an all round midfielder (Cleverley for free, Sergi Roberto on loan) to give us options but I don't think we're gonna have that kind of money for all that without sales, that's why I think someone like Mirallas could go, even though Martinez probably wants to keep him.

I agree with Martinez, yes we've had a bad season by last season's standards, and our football hasn't been as flowing as last, but in Europe we've shown up well and it won't've gone unnoticed! We've got some good players already at the club and just need 2 or 3 to come in and make the difference, take us up a level and Martinez knows that and knows who will be able to come in and do the job.

I will know that we're truly in the shit if we sign Cleverly and give Alcaraz a contract extension.

Hopefully after Distin retires we may find out what really happened around the end of last year when he and Eto'o suddenly became persono non grata and a lot of the backroom staff resigned. Still amazed more hasn't come out.

If we are only bringing in 2-3 players, every single one of them would need to be top class that will challenge for a starting 11 position now. We can't afford to gamble on buying potential en mass, and we certainly don't need any more ageing legs in the squad.

As much as I'd like to be proved wrong, I just can't see this happening. The increase in Sky money will likely account for the budget deficit caused by finishing below the projection of 8th, and Kenwright does not have either the form or funds to back his manager with more than a single big money signing.

Unfortunately, this is another case of speaking whilst saying nothing, and likely an attempt at persuading a few more season ticket holders to renew earlier with disingenuous talk of better times. I'm sure I'm not the only one yet to be convinced.

One or two of them with 10+ PL games under their belt would bolster the squad.

We need to get rid of Alcaraz, McGeady, Distin is clearly going, Hibbert needs to become a coach, Pienaar, Howard, possibly Kone, Mirallas clearly wants to do one with Lukaku following in his footsteps & I think despite his recent performances Gibson's injury record makes him untenable.

I have felt for some time to give us any hope of getting back into Europe we need another striker (two if Lukaku goes), two wingers minimum, an attacking midfielder (Cleverly isn't the man for me), a centre half (or, if he's ready, bring Browning into the first team permanently) and a goalie.

I wonder if RM has been told what he will have available in the summer for new players by the board. Whether that's because the board are holding onto funds, or whether it's because they think they may have to get rid of RM if things don't go better next season & need to attract another manager.

Kenwright and Co wont spend anything this summer.

And while ever they rule it will be the same.

Sad but damn true.

Then he would know that we are all embarrassed by them.....

To me, this is simply a Championship manager turning our proud club Everton into a Championship team. The only hope we have is that BK's ambition for the club is a lot higher than what his manager's seems to be and he takes some action.

Elstone : "Listen now Bobby, we're only going up to 㿞M plus 𧵎k a week for that Sterling lad, I know we only just missed out on Suarez. Remember, we've only got 𧵬M in the kitty this season."

FFS, why do you all think we have we got McGeady, Barry, Alcaraz and Gibson playing for us?

Why are we looking at a player like Cleverley? Because Martinez wants them above every other available player?

Why did Moyes have to sign Drenthe & Straqualursi, or McFadden & Hitzlesperger?

Have you all had a lobotomy?

Think before you drink before you post!!!

You know perfectly well that there are good players out there that don't cost the world and gems. Of course we are not going to be getting the big hitters but that doesn't mean we have to be content with getting in tried and tested mediocrity.

You make it sound like his signings are forced on him.

No ambition, no plan, no future. Everton is fooked.

The days of us having to sign the likes of Hitz and Straq are gone given the gallons of cash we now get from Sky. Only 10 months ago we smashed our transfer record with a certain 㿈M signing! Including Besic, we spent 㿌M on transfer fees last summer. Of course none of us are mad enough to think we can compete with the rich clubs but we certainly have enough funds available to not have to be looking at signing Tom Cleverly.

Eto'o left in January and with the likes of Distin (hopefully), Alcaraz (probably), and Mirallas leaving in the summer, as well as (hopefully) both loanees being sent back where they came from, we'll have a MASSIVE gap in the wage bill for new players. There are literally hundreds of players on a free in the UK and across Europe at the end of the season and a lot of these are decent (eg, Ings).

Of course like every other club, we'll have to generate some funds from sales as well and we should be able to generate a few millions from the sale of Mirallas. Fact is we will have cash to get decent players – certainly ones of a higher quality than Tom Cleverly.

Whether the players want to come to us and more importantly want to play for Martinez, or whether BK trusts the manager with new funds (or not), is of course a completely different discussion.

I've always said our 2007-08 squad was our best team in the Premier League era and it was made up of players that Moyes had scouted from abroad and in the lower leagues, that didn't cost a fortune:

Howard
Hibbert
Jags
Lescott
Yobo
Baines
Osman
Arteta
Neville
Fernandes
Pienaar
Cahill
McFadden
Johnson
Yakubu

These were all players which Moyes brought in and only Yakubu was expensive at 㾸 million. Johnson did cost ٦.5 million but we did sell him for a profit.

My point is, it's about identifying 'potential' with the funds available and its been proved it can be done with relative success. Much of our squad at the moment is what has been left behind from the Moyes days... and I dread to think what our squad will be like when Martinez has built a squad consisting only of players that Martinez has brought in. My guess is it won't be as competitive as the 2007-08 squad.

I must have been watching a different club these last 10 months because I firmly believe we need to ship about 5 or 6 out and bring in at least the same number to replace them, as well as the 2 or 3 Martinez talks of to keep us competing with the teams above and around us.

With all this TV dosh sloshing around surely we will have over 㿊m to spend, as well as any money we get from the sales of those we ship out. My guess would be between 㿔-50m in total.

I have a bad feeling we won't be spending that amount though which is in itself a sad situation.

Has someone organised a protest/petition to get him out? We need to put pressure on Kenwright and make our feelings felt in no uncertain terms.

We will be relegated under Martinez – and he will smile, just smile. It will be an enduring and horrible image.

I had to share, just saw it.

Gibson isn't an option & Barry is 34. We play with 2 holders and we need 4 in the squad. 4 who can actually contribute. This season we have been light in there for various reasons.

I appreciate its quite difficult to get excited about any deep lying midfielder. Everyone said Gibson was shite when he came. Many people saying it for no other reason than he cost 𧺬k and was called Darron Gibson. It quickly became apparent that he wasn't.

Cleverley isn't top class, but he is a good deep lying midfielder who has played top end football and he would easily improve the squad on a free.

And like it or not, that's our market. Apart from one or two cash signings.

Anderson has also played international and Champions League football as well, and ge is absolutely appalling as well.

The perceptions of Everton have improved over the past 12 months. This proves these are the ramblings of a delusional dunderhead in dire need of urgent medical treatment. As for Europe, nothing was achieved,Señor.

Please do not give him any money to spend. A P45 would be nice.

His old club will be in League One next season. Perhaps that is a challenge more suited to his abilities.

I don't think many people are angry with Martinez, nor do they "hate" him. The simple fact is many many Evertonians do not rate him and they believe he is dragging our great club South. Why? How long have you got?

The only positive I can take out of the latest pile of gibberish is that he isn't expecting some mythical "Recruitment dept" to tie up these players up for him... it may have taken two years, for the penny to drop, but hey, better late than never.

Kenwright should man up. If he intends to allow Martinez to have his inadequacies exposed still further next season, then he should say so and let those who are uncertain about renewing their season tickets, make an informed decision.

If he doesn't, then pay him his compensation and kick him to the curb now, let the new guy do next season's planning.

Kenwright to man up?! That will be the day!! He only appears when there is a good photo opportunity.

Koeman decided he needed virtually a new team and the board backed him and 9 new players were signed. This statement smacks of we've not done too bad, so we can get away with just 2/3 new faces. That is not the case at all. Next season will probably be a disaster.

Wake up.

To spell it out, everyone is screaming about free or loan signings being shite, whilst fat chops and his mates do not put a penny into the club. What are they there for? Aren't they the real reason we are looking at players like Cleverley?

Lukaku and Besic cost a combined 㿈m (٢m of the reported Lukaku fee was an add on if we reached the Champions League.) We sold Fellaini for 㿇m.

Pointing out these facts do not have to be a 'defence' of Martinez, but the next manager, and the manager after him will all be scratching around for loans and free signings.

Some seem to be happy with that state of affairs at Everton, so I'll leave them to it.

I will break it down to you... the players still had a large part of OFM mentality and RM added his own to it which worked gang busters. But instead of RM thinking yes I have just discovered something good here, he just dismissed it and went ahead with his philosophy and got us to where we are now. It’s as simple as that, I am afraid.

Not everyone said Gibson was shite at Man Utd, I certainly didn't think so. He's always been able to pass the ball forward and pick out players, and he used to have a very powerful shot from which he scored some screamers. The trouble at Man Utd was that he had players such as Scholes and Carrick in front of him in the pecking order; plus (even more so with us) has always struggled to keep free from injury - that's the only reason we got him so cheap. There's no comparison between Gibson and Cleverly. One of them is constructive with their passing, the other just sits in midfield passing the ball sideways. Just ask Villa fans what they think of him - it wont be complementary, that's for sure.

You also say, he's a 'free signing'. I'm afraid there's no such thing, we will still have to pay him 㿞-60k a week, which adds up to many millions over the course of his contract and will further increase the wage bill. Furthermore, I can see Cleverley being a Martinez favourite. By that I mean Martinez always selecting him in the starting line-up regardless of how well he plays. I can imagine us fans getting pissed off with seeing Cleverley start every game because all does is pass the ball sideways but for some reason Martinez will think he's undroppable.

A little more imagination needs to be shown in the Transfer Market. We don't need to buy failed PL players and pay them 㿨k a week. In the past we've found gems abroad like Arteta and Pienaar. In the lower leagues we've found gems like Lesscott, Cahill, Jags and Stones. There's all this extra TV revenue which means we can afford better players abroad, because just being in the PL gives us a massive financial advantage over most other foreign clubs.

Martinez may have no intention of signing Cleverly. We can all fill our boots when he's wearing the shirt, and before he's kicked a ball for us.

You also say:

"My post at #67 wasn't written to defend any manager or their transfer record. (For every good Moyes signing, I will name a shit one BTW, that tends to happen over 11 years):"

True, Moyes did sign some shit players, as do all managers. But you've got to admit, he did put some very competitive squads together on limited funds. There's no comparison between the 2002 squad he inherited and the 2007-08 he created. Is Martinez capable of improving on what he inherited? I have my doubts.

But every quote just gets worse and worse, doesn't it? You just want to shake the guy and tell him "Yes, results DO matter." "We like to win as well as enjoy the art of football." He must be the only manager who isn't competitive.

We're a big deal in Europe now? Are we in a time machine back to the 80's?
Sure we beat Wolfsburg when they were figuring out to play amongst each other. But really the only thing people will remember is how we folded like a tent in Ukraine. This is a results business last I checked and the only one who doesn't think so is the guy who got relegated the season before last.

Only Everton. Bill hires this guy as his first interviewee. You don't even do that looking for a chasier at Tesco.

Mcgeady and Pienaar may also be surplus to requirements but I cannot see Januzai being an impact player if he has been pencilled in by RM.

Thus, Howard, Pienaar, Osman, Gibbo, Baines, and Barry are not going anywhere because they are under contract or are useful still. Kone, Robles, McCarthy, Oviedo, Lukaku, Naismith, and Besic and McGeady are under contract and all but the last two are actually worth keeping (plus no one is going to buy Kone).

I think Coleman, Barkley, Mirallas, and maybe McCarthy and Lukaku have to be sold (not all of them but some combination) in order to free up funds to buy players we need. While hopefully neither Lennon or Cleverly are one of the new signings, this then would put the need for going out to buy players at 3-4 (creative forward, centerback, attacking mid, outside right back) RM will always be able to pick up a striker/forward on a free plus we will still have McGeady!

The rest of the squad will have to be the youngsters who need to be moved up, and if not good enough, moved on.

Hibbert was unbelievably given a contract extension for next season.

But would anyone seriously expect RM to spend wisely?

If so, based on what evidence to date?
If not, why should he remain in post?

(And don't get me started on the ' we don't rely on 10 months results' garbage).

The older I get the more I realise how little the influence we ordinary punters have on the scheme of things. Most of us will now have to live with another season of relative mediocrity before it dawns on someone – presumably Kenwright and his board – that Martinez is not the man for the job.

So many of us, having watched football for long enough, already know this but we little choice but to wait until it dawns on enough people – in particular those who are able to take decisions and who should have a better grip on reality that the crucial decision needs to be taken.

In the meantime I pay 𧹈 or so quid for my season ticket but effectively have no voice. It is only in the world of football that so many so called commercial enterprises (namely football clubs) are able to operate with so little regard for their customers.

I also want to say that for all those people who think that it's what Martinez says causes us to want him removed - it isn't.
It is the way his team has performed for most of this season that is the problem. Then when we listen to Martinez' interpretation of events, either after the game, or on what we have leaned and must now do, that we despair. In fact we seem to be about to learn from every game without ever showing in the next game that we have. It is then that we come to understand that Martinez resides in a place which - wherever it is - is not where most of us live!

Im not saying every player that comes through the system at United is good. Anderson didn't come through the system btw so what your point there is I don't know.

As for Robbie Savage.....he had a decent Premier League career & Moyes was very close to signing him once. If I remember rightly one of our infamous instalment deal proposals scuppered the transfer.

Savage wasn't shite. Top flight average maybe. Cleverley isn't "shite" either. Its just a brain dead way of writing a player off, disliking them just for being them rather than taking their development, circumstances or situation into consideration. Lee Carsley was "shite" when he signed.

The lad has played plenty of football at a level this club has been nowhere near. Check our budget and check the league.

I wouldn't be going out on the ale to celebrate signing Cleverley but..... do I think it would be a way of improving the squad in an area that needs bolstering, on a free, so we can focus elsewhere. Yes.

And I think people would be bit surprised when he got playing and Evertonians saw him regularly. But when your automatically written off a "shite" then you will surprise people. He also would not be footballer of the year.

All I'm saying is that I just don't think he's shite. And if he turned up here, which seems a likely scenario, we'd find out he may well not be. I'm also saying I refuse to fall in and categorise a player as "shite" just because it seems popular to do so. Remember the outrageous stick Peter Crouch took? Ive heard people say Jack Wiltshires shite. He just isn't.

Although if Roberto has our hero's performing as they have been this season then he may well look shite!!

Could there be another, better option somewhere? Maybe, that's what the scouting network is for.

Mark #105

Well fuck me, I never thought we'd have to pay him.

Plus you seem to have envisaged Cleverley's entire, & as yet unconfirmed, Everton career before it's even begun.

No wonder you think he's shite. You've got it all mapped out already.

We have very little money & last time I looked half the players haven't left.

So how do you propose we sign 9 new players a la Southampton?

People are right that we don't have the funding of other clubs. The answer to that is to attempt to get value.

So if you need squad depth, try youngsters first. With limited funds you can't have a big squad of high quality and experience do you have to compromise on one. A big, low quality squad will get you relegated pretty quick.

Look at players approaching the end of their contract who have unrealised potential. Didn't work with McGeady but has with others.

And every now and then add a genuine quality player to the ranks when the funds allow.

That was pretty much the Moyes model and it makes perfect sense.

Of course then you have to let them go for the win when you're scared of losing...

We don't want good players who upset the dressing room and training sessions.

We don't want good players who are not prepared to bust a gut for the team.

I could go on and on.

Finding the right people is not easy. Finding the right people who are available at the right price is not impossible but it comes close. Let's hope the two or three new faces give the whole squad a lift and help us on to better times.

Lescott, Jagielka, Distin, and Stones were all bought for low fees.

These are the two positions that really need strengthening next season. We need a midfield general and as Harold has posted elsewhere a big, young, strong, left footed centre half (good in the air).

Moyes definitely had an eye for a player. There must be similar gems out there - we just need someone capable of of finding them.

I didn't say sign 9, but I feel we need about 5. Half the team haven't left, but we have a lot who are finished or semi permanent crocks. Look at Osman today. If Martinez can't see that his body is past it he's a fool. Hibbert has another season but has been injured for 95% of the last three seasons. I'll be amazed if he starts even one game next season. Then there's Howard, Barry, Gibson, Piennaar. Even Jags and Baines are getting near the end.

Need to go as well:-
Distin
Pienaar
Probably Barry (though he played okay today)

Get Garbutt signed up, sort Mirallas out.

I get more than "2 or 3" from that lot.

To quote from The Who "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss".

For me it's groundhog day again, when I signed my infrequent posts back in 2012 with "Moyes out, Kenwright out", now it's obviously "Martinez out, Kenwright out" ... can you guess the similarity?

Two average managers; one shite chairman.

Given that we currently have no less than 4 CDMs, none of whoms contract is expring any time soon, do you think it would be wise for RM to use up a sizeable chunk of our wage bill to make Cleverly one if his 'top targets' this summer?

Gibbo may well get injured a lot but I hope RM is not looking to put Barry out to pasture with 2 whole years left on his 60k/week contract! Can't see Besic being too pleased if he suddenly goes down to 5th in the pecking order either.

I relaise we may not end of signing the guy but CDM is certainly one of the last areas of our squad that needs strengthening at this time. However, for some reason I can't get this nightmare out of my head that not only will RM sign Cleverley but he'll also give Alcaraz a contract extension simply because he knows both players and it's an easy move for him.

I've never before said that RM was turning us into WIgan but if Cleverly comes we'll have no less than 5 of his Wigan players on our books!

They might be keeping him in a job because the only way to get shut of him is if we all agree he's useless.

Is it 2/3 signings full stop or is it 2/3 on top of the numbers now, with additional bodies to replace any that leave ( for whatever reason)?

Those doing the asking need to leave less wriggle room for slippery answers.

The Cleverly deal is done, so no need to discuss further.

We need another centre forward. A top class goal scorer, to compliment Lukaku. And off-load Kone. I have now come to the conclusion that Kone is not the answer. You need to do more than just be able to hold up the ball. A lot more.

We need an attacking midfielder. But has Martinez identified that need? I very much doubt it.

We need cover for our centre backs. Alcaraz should be locked out of Goodison Park. He brings nothing, and it would be a backward step to sign him up on any sort of contract. We need cover at right back. Would Browning have conceded that penalty yesterday? Coleman needs to be rested, sometimes. And I was actually impressed when Browning played a few games at right back. Never to be seen again.

The youngsters should be also given a chance (although I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen). Robles, Browning, Garbutt, Ledson, Long. There are also a few others. But I fear that they will not feature. Also Oviedo (when fit).

There will be 100s of players moving clubs in the summer. And we will all comment on how well other clubs have done. And we will all comment on why Everton were not in for certain players. We will all comment on why Everton missed out. And we will most likely be stuck with the usual bargain-basement plodders. And be told how phenomenal they will be for Everton. It is all so bloody depressing.

I really do fear, for this Everton team, under Martinez. His buys to date have been rubbish. His marquee buys have not really set the Premier League alight (and yes, I mean Lukaku). And yes I am grateful for his goals, but I always feel that he can do more...

And I would be worried, very worried about next season; worried that our resident genius can identify what positions need strengthened. Because dropping form players, and playing his favourites, shows me that he does not pick his best team. It shows me that he is not flexible. It shows me that he does not know how to meaningfully rotate. It shows me that it does not really matter who he brings in. If those incoming players are not used properly. Look at the way Eto'o was used. Nobody will tell me that he could not now have played the role that Kone is now playing. But Martinez prefers Kone. Says everything. Doesn't it?

Rant nearly over.... (quite a number of rants, with Martinez in charge). I'm normally very resigning when it comes to Everton. I normally just go with the flow. And hope for the best. But I cannot help remembering what Martinez did at Wigan. Their football got worse (the FA Cup win was more down to luck). And look at Wigan now.

I see no improvement in Everton. I see nothing to indicate that we will do any better next season. And his transfer targets do nothing to inspire me. Nothing...... We will win nothing with players of this calibre. But that is what we will be stuck with. So let's give Cleverley a chance. Is he really any worse than what we already have? We can at least try to consolidate a top ten place next season. Hopefully!... I see Everton under Martinez, doing no better than that. But I really do hope that I am wrong. Fairy tales might happen. Rant over.

And please, no bloody more players from Wigan.

Some might disagree but I thought Moyes had a better eye for the bargain type player. He would not have bought Besic (who I do not rate). He had a better eye for midfielders. He brought the current Everton defence, to the club (including Oviedo and Garbutt). Moyes brought Mirallas and Gibson. And of course the golden oldies, are Moyes products. God help us when Martinez has to start from scratch, to build an Everton defence. Imagine four Alcaraz type defenders. My old heart might not be up to that.

Not defending the past regime here. They also had problems in the transfer market. We never had a proper 20-goal-a-season man under Moyes. (That IMO would have made a big difference.) And Moyes also, never gave youngsters a proper chance. Only a small few broke through. And Moyes was ultra defensive.

As we are now witnessing with Martinez, the circle of mediocrity is never ending. We need a chairman that can break that circle. We need a chairman with vision. We need a manager that can also break that circle. We need a manager with vision. Unfortunately, we have neither. And we have not done so for many years.

My point is, that I would have trusted Moyes more with a transfer war chest (I say 'war chest', laughingly) than I would trust Martinez. I wouldn't trust Martinez to go to bloody Tesco's.

But we will all plod on. We will all be supporting next season (because that is what we do). And we will all be hoping that Martinez gets things right... because that is all we can do. Great being an Evertonian, ain't it?

On RM's transfers, tbh, I don't think he's done too badly (gets tin hat).

- Lukaku & McCarthy: both expensive but we won't lose money and both have been generally good.
- Kone: ٤M wasted would seem to be the case...
- Besic: relatively cheap, should get our money back.
- Barry: too long a contract but the only way to sign him...
- Alcaraz & McGeady: both not up to the task, took a punt and didn't cost much. Need to move them out.

So the only real cock-up where we've spent big money is Kone. I'm not too down on the signings; for me, the depressing thing seems to be the targets and his views going forward.

What really worries me re his 'we only need 2 or 3' is that, of the players we currently have, come August, no less than 8 (yes eight!) will be 33 or older. Even without Distin, that still leaves 7 senior players over the age of 33... nevermind quality, the squad needs a massive overhaul to lower the average age. Also, none of these old players will have any resale value.

The only way 3 new players will be sufficient this Summer is if RM is planning to use young players alot more.

We must plan to have a younger, fitter team next season. I feel lack of energy and stamina have cost us this season and contributed towards us losing a staggering amount of points from winning positions.

CB: Micah Richards, we could end his current nightmare in Italy and get him back to the Premier League where he belongs, plenty of experience too.

CM: Jack Collison, free agent looking for a club, only 26 with loads of Premier League and international experience also, just need to sort his wages like.

FW : Charlie Austin... Goalscorer wherever heÂ’s been, great strike record, perfect foil for Rom up top, the Toon are keen by all accounts and want to offer QPR 㾶 million, even our tightwad board can shell out and chance it for... 㾷 million.

Total spend around 㾻 million for the summer, three players with plenty to prove but who could do the job, at least the bank will be happy too, job done alround!

Collison, i'm not keen on. Not sure he would provide the creativity we need and is no better than McCarthy, Besic, Barry etc

Austin, I quite like. He gets goals and seems to have a good work ethic but I wonder if he'd be a bit James Beattie and not mobile enough to play the loan striker role. Having said that, you can't argue with 17 goals in the PL and there aren't a wealth of good strikers out there that I can think of.

So who would you prefer Cleverly or Collison?

I would love to have De Bruyne at Goodison to be honest but we would have to sell half our squad to fund it... umm, I wonder !?