Everton land Funes and Lennon

, 31 August, 320comments  |  Jump to most recent
Deadline day fails to produce promised attacking target
The deadline for incoming transfers passed at 6pm this evening after what was a disappointingly quiet day at Finch Farm.

Ramiro Funes Mori had a £9.5m move from River Plate made official, after he received authorisation to play in England. The 24-year-old's signing ends Roberto Martinez's search for central-defensive cover following the departure on free transfers of Antolin Alcaraz and Sylvain Distin.

The manager had promised two more "attacking" signings before the end of the window to add what supporters hoped would be genuine quality in the form of a creative attacking midfielder and either more firepower or another option in left midfield where Steven Pienaar's craft is sorely missed.

"We've been very consistent about using the window in our favour," the Catalan is quoted as saying. "In terms of talking about what we spend, it's important to wait until the last day of the window."

Aaron Lennon is set to become a full-time Everton player.

Apart from Funes, Aaron Lennon was the only other arrival. He had reportedly made it clear that he wanted to return to Goodison Park and Spurs preferred to move him on rather than keep him for the last year of his contract.

A deal initially worth £4m, rising to £4.5m based on appearances, was agreef with Tottenham and Everton submitted the deal sheet before the 6pm deadline after the winger had undergone a medical.

A bid to get a late loan deal over the line for an as-yet unknown player is believed to have failed while the Blues rejected an £8m offer from Norwich City for Steven Naismith.

Article continues below video content


The day was packed with the usual rumours that failed to pan out, including a suggestion from France that Everton had lodged a £14m bid for Erick Lamela, a rumour that failed to pass muster. Links with Swiss forward Breel Embolo, Sevilla's Juan Muñoz, Roma's Juan Iturbe, Werder Bremen's Jannik Vestergaard, and Partick's Jack Hendry Hart were also wide of the mark, while long-time mooted target Virgil van Dijk joined Southampton.

Meanwhile, the Echo reported that a last-ditch attempt to revive the Andrei Yarmolenko deal was scuppered when Dynamo Kiev raised their asking price for the 25-year-old.

 

Reader Comments (320)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Kieran Kinsella
1 Posted 31/08/2015 at 23:55:11
I guess the whole "Number 10" thing he was going on about isn't going to happen because Bobby didn't realize that Kenwright was planning to use the Stones money to fund that deal.
Chris Sillett
2 Posted 31/08/2015 at 00:00:57
I predict a day of exciting stories from fake Twitter accounts claiming all sorts of deals being agreed, medicals being done etc but by around 5:30pm we all accept Mori and probably Lennon being the only additions.

It won’t stop me feeling like a kid on Christmas morning when I wake up though!

James Stewart
3 Posted 01/09/2015 at 00:08:14
Everton roll into town only to find tumbleweeds blowing across the transfer battleground. All the best movers have been snapped up.
Christopher Marston
4 Posted 01/09/2015 at 00:10:20
WHERES THE MONEY, BILLY?!!
Aidy Dews
5 Posted 01/09/2015 at 00:12:55
I read that Shakhtar seem willing to sell Bernard IF they got the right offer. Apparently us and Porto want him.

Would love Yarmolenko but that deal looks dead.

A Spanish Twitter page claims Munoz will join tomorrow for £3.5m, so let’s wait and see?!

And I think it inevitable Lennon will join, why, I don’t know, don’t think we need him anymore now we’ve got Deulofeu back. It’s a genuine left winger we need imo.

Scott Bosworth
6 Posted 01/09/2015 at 00:17:51
I just keep telling myself that Arsenal accumulated £200m in the bank in large part because Wenger steadfastly refusing to splash the cash, year after year after year, much to the chagrin of supporters, and that Bobby is trying to do the same thing here.

Right?
Right?
(Right?)

Sob

Harold Matthews
7 Posted 01/09/2015 at 00:37:02
I thought Virgil Van Dijk was a certainty till we signed Funes Mori. Martinez definitely has strong Celtic connections. With a transfer request submitted and rejected, maybe Stones is none too pleased. None of us know the real truth.

Don't know how long it will take to build him up but Leandro is a definite longshot for the Kone No 10 position. By now we will have seen him on the ball and Martinez may give us a hint.

Kristian Boyce
8 Posted 01/09/2015 at 00:44:32
Just for tradition sake, Riquelme spotted at the airport. Sat with Fernandes, Fer, Muller and Ravenelli reminiscing about past windows.
Petet Henry
9 Posted 01/09/2015 at 00:49:12
I hate being poor... to think this club used to break the British transfer record... CHEERS, BILL!
Colin Glassar
10 Posted 01/09/2015 at 00:51:26
To paraphrase old' blue eyes, I've got high hopes. Neuer, Varane, Griesman and Ibra all to come tomorrow.
Marcus Reynolds
12 Posted 01/09/2015 at 01:28:20
Close but not cigar for Everton fans once again when it comes to transfer deadline day. All the talk but to no avail. Bottom of the league when it comes to money being spent. You reap what you sow.
Mark Andersson
13 Posted 01/09/2015 at 01:33:16
I'm living in Australia and living in hope that today we sign a player that will put all my doubts about Robbie to bed.

There was not much on here for my morning read, hope there is plenty by the time all you hopefuls wake up.

Kristian Boyce
14 Posted 01/09/2015 at 01:35:15
I think this window has mirrored Martinez's tactics, no plan B!
Stephen O'Donnell
15 Posted 01/09/2015 at 01:44:58
Come on Roberto. Give us all Evertonians quality signings by tonight. We defo need them if we have ambitions
Jamie Sweet
16 Posted 01/09/2015 at 02:01:06
I still don't understand why you would wait until the very last minute to sort this all out. Surely a couple of days before deadline would be far more sensible.

Wait for the reports that we made a last minute bid for only to run out of time to finalise the deal.

Alan Ross
17 Posted 01/09/2015 at 02:04:11
Perhaps another window like this one, next year and we should have enough for a New Stadium. It will probably eventually be the best stadium in the Championship.
Matthew Salem
18 Posted 01/09/2015 at 02:05:41
They’ll probably report that we were finally able to come to terms with Kyiv over Yarmolenko only for the deal not to go through by 6pm because our fax machine is broken. I wouldn’t put it past Everton.
Terry Murphy
19 Posted 01/09/2015 at 02:19:30
Pessimists only get pleasant surprises.
Phil Sammon
20 Posted 01/09/2015 at 02:26:18
I like Lennon... but that’s one area we are well stocked.

A number 10 seems everyone’s top priority... where does that leave Ross Barkley?

I seriously doubt whoever we sign will be a part of our strongest eleven.

I’d love another striker but what’s the point when he wont play more than 15 minutes a week?

Drew Shortis
22 Posted 01/09/2015 at 03:18:45
I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t see a loan or two, perhaps players we haven’t even been linked to as yet. If the right permanent transfer isn’t on then we should save the money until January and go for Yarmolenko or whoever then.

Of course I would have liked a marquee signing, but if the option is a last-minute panic buy or holding onto the dough until we can land someone special, I would prefer to be patient.

Mark Andersson
23 Posted 01/09/2015 at 03:21:19
Alan (15) that made me laugh. I heard that we have signed a Number 10. No player just a shirt, we are now working 24/7 to find someone to wear it.
Phil Jeffries
24 Posted 01/09/2015 at 03:46:46
Love the humour so far on this blog. Just a shame that there is a lot of truth amongst the sarcasm and laughter! If we end up with no marquee signing, this current board will just be adding fuel to the fire currently building underneath them. If this window passes as another missed opportunity and we then get the expected ’lack of funds’ announcement regarding the new stadium in October, fans like myself who have sat on the fence regarding our board will firmly be jumping over to join the mob of angry Evertonians wanting answers.

The only way I’d accept no marquee 'Number 10’ is if we announce a deal for Yarmolenko is signed and he will arrive when he January window opens (giving Kiev plenty of time to source a replacement). I don’t mind holding out if the right player is signed for a large sum of money.

To be honest, I think we’ll end up with Lennon and maybe another fringe player. That being said I’m still checking the internet every 2 minutes... I just can’t help setting myself up!!! Come on Roberto... pull that Ukrainian rabbit out of the hat!

Ernie Baywood
25 Posted 01/09/2015 at 05:27:26
I'm guessing Lennon, Mori, and some last minute dash for a player that no-one had ever thought we were interested in. There's always one isn't there?

Signing that player will then be considered make our break for our season... tick, tock, tick and there's interesting news coming out of Finch Farm...

David Chait
26 Posted 01/09/2015 at 05:58:37
Reading up on Iturbe, on whoscored lists passing as a weakness. But he likes to dribble and shoot from distance....

Exactly what we have and don't need another of. Hopefully the club turning from Genoa means it's a no for us too.

Charles Winston
27 Posted 01/09/2015 at 06:35:56
I had enough of us buying on late window "options" with great crap talk "Give me till the Deadline before you judge" shit!

I have been following this saga from day one. I am confident that Old Man Bill and Country Mouse Martinez will help us to excrete more pain and agony.

Bunch of hopeless leaders, No Money, No footballing Brain, Nothing.

Fucking Fed Up!!!
Amit Vithlani
28 Posted 01/09/2015 at 06:37:35
BK to stun us all by capturing the perfect 10. Unfortunately it turns out to be Bo Derek. Martinez was crying himself to sleep until he realised she was quicker than Barry.
Chris Gould
29 Posted 01/09/2015 at 06:47:42
I agree with Phil. Where would a Number 10 leave Barkley? Shunted out to the left? We don’t need a Number 10, we need a left winger/striker.

Barkley will only improve if he plays. He has the potential to be better than any Number 10 that we could afford. We need to keep the faith with him. He isn’t going to play CDM. He doesn’t have the right attributes.

Stephen Bird
30 Posted 01/09/2015 at 07:03:02
We are all looking at additions but don’t forget there will be departures.

McGeady, anybody??

Christopher Timmins
31 Posted 01/09/2015 at 07:05:06
Eleven hours and counting, one central defender and one creative player please! Now or never.

I agree with the contributors that Barkley should play but what happens if he gets injured?

Tom Hutchings
32 Posted 01/09/2015 at 07:23:06
I’m just happy the window shuts at 6pm tonight; it means I don’t stay up past midnight listening to the radio, searching the web for last minute deals and finally coming to terms that we haven’t... and feeling totally knackered the next day for it.

The Blue in me still believes they’ll have some surprises up their sleeve... will I ever learn!!?!

Sam Hoare
33 Posted 01/09/2015 at 07:31:17
I’m pretty sure we won’t get Yarmolenko in January by which time the richer clubs will see a bargain and get him for their bench to then sell him at a profit a year later.

When was the last time we got a glamorous player on a free transfer or pre contract? Don’t think Naismith or Cleverley quite fall into the category!

Jim Bennings
34 Posted 01/09/2015 at 07:47:10
I agree Sam

Anyone thinking Yarmolenko will be at Everton in January is dreaming, his value will rise if he shines in the Champions League group stages in particularly, this needed to be done in this window.

I'm not expecting anything today apart from the Mori deal to go through.

Shaun Traynor
35 Posted 01/09/2015 at 07:49:23
Morning all. is it a day of dread or a day of excitement? I'm predicting disappointment and cries of 'where's the ambition' or 'where's the money' or 'fuck off the lot of you'

Anyways, here's to the roller coaster that is deadline day as an Evertonian!

John Voigt
36 Posted 01/09/2015 at 07:50:26
I'm waiting for the transfer window to close and then make a judgement on how Everton did this window.

So far it's a disappointment. Premier League teams with aspirations spend money and Everton haven't spent. That's a simple "factoid".

Here's another "factoid", Lukaku and Kone can't play every important game. There are knocks and suspensions that are "normal" even if players are relatively healthy.

Who is going to take Lukaku's place when he can't play?

Another physical #10 who would keep Everton's attacking shape should have been a high priority. These players are available. In Everton's price range they won't score as much as Lukaku, but heck that's OK. The Blues need bodies with a physical presence (and are currently short on them).

Phil Sammon
37 Posted 01/09/2015 at 07:55:09
I'll be tucked up in bed at the deadline due to a hefty time difference. Still, I bet Kenwright and Elstone will be snoring louder than me.
Harold Matthews
39 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:06:05
Looks like Ramiro Funes Mori is to be our Deadline Day marquee signing. Lennon the expected minor signing plus bargain basement Leandro...
Colin Glassar
40 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:06:06
Going to work in an hour. I’ll be turning everything off until 6pm. When I get home I’ll turn on SSN, check TW, Twitter, BBC etc... to see just how many quality players we squeezed in on TDD.
Colin Glassar
42 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:10:09
I see Gibson is in court today for his DD charge. If he is sent down do you think the club will sell him or we will continue to pay his wages while he's in the nick?
Barry McNally
45 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:14:06
Colin, hope you're wearing an illuminous yellow tie in true deadline day tradition!
Ray Roche
46 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:14:32
Colin, they could always cancel his contract. I believe clubs can do that if a player falls foul of the restrictions such as drinking, inability to play due to such circumstances as... er... prison etc.
Colin Glassar
48 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:25:12
We should get Harry Redknapp to help us in the transfer window. Our lot seem to be bloody useless.
Tim Locke
49 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:29:01
Looks like a quiet day ahead. Plus side it's sunny.
Aidy Dews
50 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:37:38
I was looking last night and Iturbe hasn’t gone to Genoa on loan. Roma did a U-turn and decided not to loan him out so maybe they’ve had a cash offer for him instead and would rather sell?

That’s clutching at straws a bit, seeing as though Rome have let both Ibarbo & Ljajic leave to join Watford & Inter respectively.

Embolo sounds an interesting one. Great prospect but can’t see us signing someone like him and not a creative player which is meant to be our priority!

Joe Foster
51 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:51:51
Our excuse this year will be "We thought TDD was on upto midnight."
Nigel Gregson
52 Posted 01/09/2015 at 08:53:52
Alex Song gone to WHU on a loan again.
Jim Bennings
54 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:02:48
Transfer deadline day and all you can read about on NewsNow Everton is flippin' Darron Gibson due in court over his act of pure stupidity!!

Who even cares about this guy anymore? He’s a 6-game-a-season man and will never offer anything to a Premier League club looking to go places nowadays.

I’m still waiting for some decent signing(s) but, then again, I’m still waiting to win the Lottery.

Mike Allison
55 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:05:41
Kristian (8), thanks for that, at least there's one thing we can rely in on transfer deadline day.

On a more serious note, I'm normally very patient, but after the summer we've had I expect a Yarmolenko-level signing. Without that, serious questions need to be asked about what is going on, and the club needs to give answers. The atmosphere at Goodison is already a problem, and with Chelsea up next, the last thing we want is a subdued fan-base in a game where the crowd could genuinely affect the result of the game.

Mike Allison
56 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:07:34
BBC have just claimed the Funes Mori deal is £9.5M!
Peter Holland
57 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:11:03
It’s on the Everton official website as well!
Ray Roche
58 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:19:33
Mike, there might be a bit of clever accountancy going on there....or it's 9.5m Lire.
Nick Page
59 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:20:09
I've just seen the Mori deal on ITV was £9.5m. Whaaaa???

Is that a typo or has Green taken his cut for being a friend of Everton, 24 hours a day?

The mind boggles at this place, it really does.

James E Evans
60 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:23:57
£9.5m for Mori?!!!

What the flying fuck? The fee has been £5.5m until now.

Christy Ring
61 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:24:27
David De Gea on his way to Finch Farm.
Tony Abrahams
62 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:25:41
Makes yer laugh, the price of the wig has gone through the fucking roof?
Kevin Tully
63 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:36:16
Does anyone believe that fee? They do make me laugh.
Brian Harrison
64 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:39:19
Thankfully all the nonsense will stop at 6:00pm and we can settle down for a few months till the madness starts again in January.

I hear some fans asking for us to sign Lennon, now the lad did well during his loan spell but when would he get a game? We have Mirallas, McGeady, Pienaar and Deulofeu who are all wingers, yet RM has played Cleverley on the left and Kone on the right in the last couple of games.

So can someone explain how getting another winger in helps as we don’t even start the ones we already have.

Ian Reed
65 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:42:59
Guardian claims the £9.5m includes some kind of fee to the Argentine football federation, but that can't cover the whole difference between the £5/6m we were led to believe was the fee, so where's the rest come from?
Shane Corcoran
66 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:48:16
£9.5M confirmed on the official site. Very unusual these days for the club to release the fee, especially Everton.

I’d say they paid more as he can also play the Number 10 role...

Nigel Gregson
67 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:52:18
Jesus... £9.5M? I hope he’s good.
Ian Reed
68 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:52:46
Maybe there was a 50% bump as he's got an extra name.
Jim Bennings
69 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:53:23
For that price he's either a long term replacement for Jagielka as we know Jags is 33 now, or he will take over once Stones eventually leaves.

At least Mori comes from a tough physical league, as you'd expect from the South Americans.

Christopher Dover
70 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:54:48
Very excited getting Messi -- then re-read and it said getting Messy !!
Nigel Gregson
71 Posted 01/09/2015 at 09:56:57
Putting up the £9.5M value smacks of desperation. As if the club were answering the question: "Where's the money Bill?"
Tony Abrahams
72 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:04:01
Very true Shane. They must have accepted the fee over 7.5 years.
Simon Bates
73 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:05:44
Really what is going on at Everton? So far are Song, Januzaj? Fernandez, Lescott back even, cover for left back and centre half, all solid Premier League additions have been snapped up.

hate to say this but West Ham are a serious threat to our ’best of the rest status’ the height that OFM said was as far as he could take us.

RM said he will take us to the promised land; this is why I dislike broken English... I think he meant back to the promised land, after leading us to the Championship !!!

Alec Smith
74 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:10:49
Betting suspended on Lennon going to Everton after some big money was put down.

According to SSN.

I just can't contain my excitement........oops too late!

Nick Page
75 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:18:50
Naismith linked to Norwich. I hate all this paper talk, lol.
David Booth
76 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:35:00
Brian #53: my views entirely: 'Can someone explain how getting another winger in helps as we don't even start the ones we already have?'

Lennon is a failed huffer & puffer that we neither need nor is good enough.

NO, no, and thrice no from me.

Geoffrey Feeney
77 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:37:41
Chris Sillett (#2), if signing Lennon excites you, I'd hate to think what prezzies you got as a kid on Christmas morning.
Steve Jenkins
78 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:38:49
£9.5M? Do me A favour.

I don’t believe we paid that for this lad, and I want to see the bank transfer and statement before I do.

Club propaganda by any chance, stating to the fans that we’ve spent highly in this window.

Funnily enough, Leandro went from £500k (which seems about spot on for the league and club he’s playing for, completely unproven at any real level yet) to £4M. Another huge jump in fee, coincidentally coming around the same time as the club was coming in for major stick re lack of money spent.

Regardless of what we may spend before the day's out, I don’t for a second believe we paid anywhere close to the two fees reported for these players.

Anyone gullible enough that does believe that, please leave me your e-mail address so I can email you. I am delighted to inform you that you have won a million pounds, however, I just need you to send me £50k for processing fees, allowing me to get the money released so that I can then send the £1M to you.

Further details including the bank account for where to send the money to will be included in the e-mail.

Tony Dove
79 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:41:36
Lennon at any price would be a real sideways move. Very disappointing.
Gavin Johnson
80 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:57:40
For a reported £4.5M. Aaron Lennon will be a very good signing.

Had we not signed him last season, I doubt we’d have even finished as high as 11th, such was his influence both in attitude and having a fast player as an outlet to speed up the play.

Craig Walker
81 Posted 01/09/2015 at 10:59:16
I would be happy if we got Lennon and offloaded McGeady. He’d give us some more pace which we desperately need. Lennon was our best player towards the end of last season in some games (e.g. Burnley at Goodison).

We desperately need a number 10 because Ross isn’t the answer in that role. Would like to see us get another goalscorer. Think we should go for Charlie Austin. He may be a Mitchu type one-season-wonder but is surely worth a punt. Felt we should have gone for Lindegaard in goal as well but that ship has sailed now.

Why, oh why are we anxiously awaiting new arrivals on the last day, yet again?

Craig Walker
82 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:05:51
McNulty hearing rumours of Naismith to Norwich City. Just wild rumours or are we planning a decent forward to come in?
Gordon Crawford
83 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:07:13
Well we needed a defender, so that's one position sorted. But I hope he turns out to be world class. Now we need a striker; a playmaker, and maybe Lennon for good measure.
Kase Chow
84 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:09:37
Surely we need another goal scorer to lighten the load from Lukaku

Another centre back to give us 4 (don’t forget injuries & suspensions and loss of form has an impact and 3 won’t be enough)

We need a No 10 and a left winger... that’s 4 players AFTER Mori. Assuming we get Lennon and he can play on the left (a massive assumption) then we’re STILL 3 players light (at least)

Nick Entwistle
85 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:12:21
It's the transfer day of averageness!

Where’s Fernandez and Drenthe?

Craig Mills
87 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:21:48
£9.5M – that’s looking a big risk......
Gordon Crawford
88 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:25:50
Kase, your right in what your saying. But Everton aren't run by Carlsberg. No chance that Everton will sign all the players we need.

Here's hoping we get some of them though.

We should be called the "sticky toffees", for we have been stuck in a rut for decades.

John Crook
89 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:34:49
That Thomas Andrade, (who was here on trial a couple of weeks ago) who Roberto said a move to England wouldn't be right for his career............has just signed for Bournemouth!
Kase Chow
90 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:43:06
John #74,

Yes that was a weird one.

Gordon #73,

Agreed. But then we’re tacitly admitting that top 10 is our aspirations.

Milos Milenkovic
91 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:44:45
Craig, if Ross isn't No 10, then where is he going to play?
Roberto Birquet
92 Posted 01/09/2015 at 11:44:52
De Gea on loan, anyone?
Gordon Crawford
94 Posted 01/09/2015 at 12:00:28
Kase (#75),

Mate, again, I agree with you. Top ten is what we will get this year. But maybe I will change my mind again, as there are 6 hours left.

But I have a feeling that the money from Sky and BT will be going towards the supposed new stadium and to our existing debts.

Iain Latchford
95 Posted 01/09/2015 at 12:01:00
Personally, I believe that, with Charlie Austin in our side, we would score more goals and win more matches. For £15M, I believe it would be a good deal. I’m surprised we’ve not been more strongly linked with him.
Jon Withey
96 Posted 01/09/2015 at 12:24:50
Lennon over McGeady would be an upgrade.

A young striker over Naismith could be an upgrade.

Maybe we have just enough CBs with 3 senior and 2 youth (Tyias, Galloway)

But we are seriously missing a No.10. and left attacking midfield - especially with Cleverley out.

You'll always want more but if it was 2 then a left winger and No.10 would be my choice now.

Where are we at with our injuries - Gibson, Cleverly, Pienaar, Baines, Galloway, Hibbo ?

Danny Halsall
97 Posted 01/09/2015 at 12:32:22
Very underwhelmed by our window especially given the fact that we are in need of a freshen up.

Agree with the majority of posts that it would be great if we could get McGeady off the books and bring in Lennon. However, if that is all that we are going to be doing then I won’t be happy.

Pleased with Funes Mori, but we need more.

Dave Pritchard
98 Posted 01/09/2015 at 12:37:17
Jon, is Osman injured as well? Don't think he was on the bench last week.
Jim Jennings
99 Posted 01/09/2015 at 12:44:12
Craig #68

Re Naismith to Norwich, I refer you to post 49 on the Lennon Set for Permanent Everton Switch thread from August 10th

Jim Jennings
100 Posted 01/09/2015 at 12:44:37
Link below

http://ToffeeWeb.com/season/15-16/rumour-mill/30546.html

Chris Gould
101 Posted 01/09/2015 at 12:50:13
5 hours to go and not even a sniff of a bullshit rumour!!
Lennon it is then.
Harold Matthews
102 Posted 01/09/2015 at 12:53:39
£9.5M is fair for a young international... A quarter the value of Stones. £2M less than Van Dijk. I haven't seen the lad but he is left-footed, good in the air and has just picked up a South American Champions League medal. Will have to win his place but will help us play three at the back.

Can also play left back, which might work well with Oviedo in front of him.

Carl Taylor
103 Posted 01/09/2015 at 13:13:53
Thoroughly underwhelming!

Mori, the long awaited replacement for Matterazi. Henen & Rodriguez, will either kick a ball in anger for the 1st team? Cleverley, direct replacement for Osman. Deulofeu to come off the bench. Holgate, in the hope he’s the next Stones. Lennon, if he comes back, another option from the bench player.

Who have we bought to change/improve the 1st eleven? Nobody. Utter rubbish and the majority will lap up Blue Bill's and the Board's spin that Kiev stopped us getting the No 10 we desperately need.

Time to change our outlook. Mediocrity is not an ambition to achieve.

James Hill
104 Posted 01/09/2015 at 13:20:36
Let’s assume RM got the job based on a long term plan to build a team that will give us all the success we crave. We simply do not have the resource to buy a winning team day one and are unlikely to get that type of investment in the current state. Therefore things need to be done differently.

The pattern seems to be clear: buy for the future and the right characters, which RM means buy into our vision. Perhaps the refusal to accept John Stones transfer is a statement that we will no longer to your stepping stone, excuse the pun, to so called bigger clubs. Come to Everton and your contract will honoured in full or don’t come.

This may be our only way to get back to the top where we belong. Transfer deadline may not mean so much if this plan can be achieved. I know I’m dreaming, but you never know.

Christy Ring
105 Posted 01/09/2015 at 13:26:14
I'd sell Naismith for £4m, McGeady for £2m, and bring in Austin, Lennon and Marshall.
Kase Chow
106 Posted 01/09/2015 at 13:32:03
The thing is that the media have different aspirations for Everton than us fans: they see us as a mid table team and thus laud Billy and the board for achieving that on no money.

For the directors, Everton are a cash cow (with the TV money) and hence just lap up the profits.

Even for the players, they see Everton as a steeping stone (witness comments in the past from Lukaku, Mirallas and the transfer request of Stones).

It’s only us mug fans that hope for/want more.

Everyone else wants us to tread water, which we do so it's all good from where they’re standing.

Gordon Crawford
107 Posted 01/09/2015 at 13:34:57
Suppose it could be worse, we could be the laughing stock that is Man Utd at this moment in time.

Liam Reilly
108 Posted 01/09/2015 at 13:40:58
See the Telegraph are reporting that the RS are in for Yarmolenko; now that would be a kick in the nuts.
Jon Ferguson
109 Posted 01/09/2015 at 13:44:18
Christy 88 - have you got the Champ Man controls enabling you to temporarily manage another club (preferably Liverpool) and buy McGeady for £2M and Naismith for £4M before quitting? If not there is no chance another club will buy the players for those fees and we’re stuck with them.

If you have got the controls can you also get us Yarmolenko and some of the creative players we’ve been linked with, preferably at bargain prices.

Thomas Surgenor
111 Posted 01/09/2015 at 13:51:04
Surely a deadline day bid is too late for the Kiev president?
Wasn't he quoted as saying our bid came too late in the window?
Denis Richardson
113 Posted 01/09/2015 at 13:54:16
CB at least done. Will reserve judgment once he's put on the shirt a couple of times.

Still no creativity in the middle of the park tho.

Gavin Johnson
114 Posted 01/09/2015 at 14:03:09
I joked last week on a thread that the 3 signings would be Rodriquez, Mori and Lennon after the Yarmolenko deal collapsed. The way it’s looking those will be the three signings, and while Lennon is good, It will feel a bit like we’ve stood still again buying loan players again, like we did with Rom and Barry the previous summer.

Two unknowns and a good squad player are a bit underwhelming after being linked with Yarmolenko, Shaqiri, Bernard and Charlie Austin.

John Crook
115 Posted 01/09/2015 at 14:03:56
If it is just Lennon and Funes Mori, then Roberto has lied about improving the squad window on window.

Alcaraz and Distin out and only Funes Mori in as a replacement equals one defensive squad member down. Lennon was already here last year so hardly counts as improving the squad. Deulofeu has been here before and the Cleverley deal was always inevitable.

So you could argue that we have only ’improved’ the squad via Cleverley (who is now out for 2 months). Surely Rodriguez doesn’t count and Henen (who was also here last year) doesn’t count as improving the first team squad.

I’m hoping for a half decent exciting signing (the Number 10 that’s been mentioned for weeks) but I’m not getting my hopes up!

Alan Bodell
116 Posted 01/09/2015 at 14:17:02
For years now, we have been renowned for our dressing room team spirit and that always gives extra on the pitch so with our young squad I am quite happy with only a few new faces. Look at how other teams sign in packs each season (our loveable neighbours etc.) and it goes tits up with offloads aplenty.

We’re doing okay right now and building; obviously if the top sort like Yarmolenko could sign, then yes... but I am happy going lowkey while our young lads mature.

"Money Can't Buy You Stones" and ask the RS if money can buy you success?

Liam Reilly
117 Posted 01/09/2015 at 14:29:25
Le10Sport are saying that we’ve bid £18M for Erik Lamela. Could he be the Number 10?

Was very useful at Roma... not so good at Tottenham.

Alex Walsh
118 Posted 01/09/2015 at 14:39:38
I would worry there could be a major backlash from fans if this supposed No 10 doesn’t suddenly appear from somewhere.

All summer we’ve been told we need a creative No 10. If he doesn’t come, unfortunately this window would be a failure. In turn, mounting more pressure on both Martinez and the Board.

Peter McHugh
120 Posted 01/09/2015 at 14:45:25
John (#96) we’re all frustrated but you can’t say Roberto has lied and back up your arguments saying "that hardly counts"!

Let’s hope we get the attacking players he’s after... whether or not we get Lennon (and £5M seems well OTT), if that is it, then it will be disappointing. I think we’re all praying that Yarmolenko comes in but looking unlikely.

Bill Gall
121 Posted 01/09/2015 at 14:56:32
Sorry to say that the transfer window is slowly coming to an end and with only 3 hrs to go we are getting the normal reaction from Everton.

Unless things change, we may not even get Lennon.

Gavin Johnson
122 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:02:08
BK & CO MUST GO!!
Dave Lynch
123 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:02:40
Christy@88.

Who in their right fucking mind would pay £2 million for McGeady?

Mike Mulhall
124 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:02:43
I think only the Hammers have really gone for it today. Sky look like they are struggling for a story as well.
Kerry Frahm
125 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:02:48
I’m not feeling as underwhelmed as a lot at the moment but it’s not right saying Roberto has lied or is useless in the transfer department.

It’s not just Roberto involved. The player, his agent, his current club, the medical, the possible lure of other clubs and the finances. All of these have to come together to make a transfer work. The big Yarmolenko looked to have been scuttled by his club boss, others will not have made it past the enquiry stage, others will have just been too damn expensive but it’s not all Roberto’s or Bill’s fault.

Deulofeu, Cleverley, Funes Mori, Rodriguez plus the couple of young bloods and maybe Lennon does not make a poor window. Fresh challenges for new players (Timmy Cahill was an unknown from a lower division club) or kick in the bums for current players having their positions challenged could work wonders. Keep positive! COYB

Dave Lynch
127 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:07:22
Kerry.

Explain to me why we always wait till the last minute to do buisness.

Why not get it done early instead of waiting for the bargain basement scraps the other clubs don't want, most of our "scuttled" transfers are nothing but smoke and mirrors, designed to make the deal an impossibility due to time constraints.

It's all bollocks...

Paul Mackie
129 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:14:49
If the window ends like this then the board and Roberto have some fucking explaining to do. We're still lacking creativity in midfield and will struggle to break teams down. We won't get relegated but can forget about any European adventures for the foreseeable.
Kerry Frahm
130 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:15:47
Dave (104), I don't have an answer that would satisfy but I suspect when players are available and they hear that Everton may be interested, they might just say, well, lets see if anyone who finished in the top half might be interested as well?

Keep in mind that Chelski have only just managed to sign a young CB. The Arse couldn't get a striker. Manure couldn't even offload a GK that wanted away five weeks ago.

All I said was that Roberto shouldn't be shouldering all the blame for the actions in the transfer window. Now if you wanted to discuss why we ended up in last seasons league position, that's a different story altogether!

Gavin Johnson
131 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:19:01
On the case of Yarmolenko, why were we only start opening discussions with the Kiev Chairman just over 5 days ago when their transfer window was about to shut, making it nigh impossible for them to bring in a quality replacement.

To me, this has the whiff of BS! Did we ever expect to sign him?! Was it like the Alan Shearer bid all those years ago when we offered something like £8m when Newcastle had already had a £12m bid accepted?!

Kase Chow
132 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:26:13
What's all this crap about be positive??

Why do we have to change OUR mindset to deal with a rubbish situation whereby we've failed to adequately bolster our squad that performed so poorly last season

We have 1 reliable striker. One

That's a disgrace. IF Lukaku gets injured or shows last season's form then we are buggered

We have 3 centre backs, 1 of whom has never played EPL football and is reputed to be slow

We have 1 right back. We have 1 established keeper. We have no no.10. We have 50 million wingers when we only play 1

What's going on????

Gordon Crawford
133 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:26:20
No disrespect to anyone on this forum, but I am a bit sick and tired hearing of all the young talent we have coming through the youth ranks. This has always been the case with Everton, but how many have actually made it?

Still waiting for the Ferrari that is Jack Rodwell to show up, all be it, not for Everton, or Ross Barkley, to show the world that he is the new Michael Ballack.

The only player we have produced in 20 years who has filled his potential is Rooney. So I would rather that Everton bought proven players than buying lots of young players with potential. Rant over.

Peter Morris
134 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:32:59
Kase(90)

Whatever you may say about Buffalo Bill and his posse, they have NEVER taken a cent out of this club.

You may have some justification that they have never put sufficient funds IN, and that’s another argument, but in their time as owners of EFC, they have never taken any dividend payments from the club, and that is an indisputable fact.

Christopher Marston
135 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:36:25
Kerry. He said it. It won’t happen. He has lied. Unless he signs 2 or 3 great players.
John Daley
136 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:38:22
I don't know why people go into the transfer window under the misapprehension that we're going to be making a shitload of signings all of a sudden, never mind enticing!marquee names to the club. We all know it doesn't work that way at Everton, despite the persistent rumours linking us to every semi-humanoid who ever set foot on grass. You're just setting yourself up for an obsessive summer of checking out news snippets with as much thought put into them as fortune cookie filler and a feeling of despair when they all turn out to be fantasy.

Whilst I too am dissapointed not to see more additions, I do think some are getting carried away beating the 'it's a disgrace and we're doomed' drum.

The suddenly much lamented losses of Distin and Alcaraz can't really count as making us substantially weaker at centre-half compared to last season. One was injured more often than not, the other not called upon (for whatever reason) throughout the entire second half of the season. Mori has now been brought in and will at least represent a realistic option rather than just a token name in the squad list.

It's also churlish to say 'you can't count' the likes of Holgate, Rodriguez and Henen because of their respective price tags and/or inexperience. No can forsee their likely pace of progression with any degree of certainty. The same was said of Stones when first brought in. Look how that perception changed over a short period of time. Similarly, Galloway was also dismissed as a signing for the distant future, but has since become a contributor to the first team squad way ahead of the arbitrary schedule some imposed on him.

They might not have any impact in the immediate future. They might be just bit part players in the short to medium term. They might even end up with their careers in tatters, strolling down a long deserted highway, belongings in a big fuck off bin bag slung over their shoulders and that mournful piano tune off The Incredible Hulk tinkling away in the background. Doesn't really matter. You can't deny the fact they've been brought in during this window or dismiss them completely simply because they don't fit the profile of the more glamorous name you would prefer.

Sure, unless something changes in the next few hours, then this transfer window can rightly be classed as utterly underwhelming. However, there's no need to make it sound worse than it really is. We've not been weakened in any way and we've added a few more options to what we already had. Hardly exciting, but not the end of the world either. The squad has been strengthened, just not to the extent many had hoped, or would have been required to automatically alleviate the dark cloud that has seemingly hung over the club since halfway through last season.

Harold Matthews
137 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:39:42
Yes Andy, sounds more like Groundhog Day than Deadline Day but perhaps Martinez has deliberately planned it that way. Retaining faces who understand and play to his philosophy and not losing the club identity like Brenda's bunch of strangers across Stanley Park.

My only concern I mentioned twice yesterday. In order to keep things flowing, refs are turning a blind eye to many infringements, resulting in a massive advantage to big, rough physical sides. Let's face it, Eric Dier and the Spurs heavies almost kicked us off the pitch. Ashley Williams, Shelvey and the Swansea muscle men took care of Rooney and United. Palace, West Ham, West Brom, Villa and others are no longer lightweight but, apart from Lukaku, Everton are a very flimsy bunch.

Cleverley has already been crunched out of action without a whisper of a protest and there will be more to come while referees continue with their present agenda. Let's hope we have a strong bench.

Kase Chow
138 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:41:10
Gordon #112

Spot on

Tony George
139 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:47:57
I seem to think Roberto did once talk of bringing in 6 or 7 new players but never implied they would all be 'marquee' signings... whatever they are!

I can see that he has principally focused on signing young players who can more easily adapt to his preferred style of play but I suspect he has spent the money made available to him well.

Of course, until we see them perform it is impossible to know for sure if he's really got value for the £20Million expended.

Ged Simpson
140 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:50:05
"So I walked down Bullens Road, looked up at the corrugated steel and realised my dream could come true."

Yeah right.

"I then signed for West Ham."

Christy Ring
142 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:55:24
With a little over 3 hours left in the window, no sign of ANY striker coming to Everton. Lukaku is the only quality striker we have. If he gets injured, we’re screwed.

If we don’t sign a striker, BK and Martinez are a fucking joke. What is wrong with Charlie Austin ?, there has to be money to spend.

Christopher Marston
144 Posted 01/09/2015 at 15:56:36
John, you're right, we haven't he weakened. However, the point being made is that we are WEAK!!
Tom Bowers
145 Posted 01/09/2015 at 16:02:57
Lukaku is our best striker but come on, we do have Deulofeu, Henen, Mirallas and now Rodriguez who may be next to partner Lukaku upfront.

Finding a ’’prolific’’ scorer with experience may be costly. I think we may have to go with what we have now.

Jim Bennings
146 Posted 01/09/2015 at 16:07:08
Tom,

You can’t really class Henen or Rodriguez as a serious option for a Premier League assault at this stage.

You say it will prove costly but compared to other clubs we have spent little.

Gavin Johnson
148 Posted 01/09/2015 at 16:36:25
Well nobody will be able to say anything about money being wasted like on Rom last season. Deulofeu, Cleverley and Holgate for £5.5M+ is fantastic business.

I would have thought Van Dijk would have been a better option than Mori for just £2M more. But I’ll give the lad a chance.

Yes, on the one hand we have to be realistic as it's the Everton way, but how can anyone have expectations of finishing in the top 7 when Martinez has had a Wigan Athletic budget to spend? It’s not good enough for a club the size of Everton.

William Cartwright
149 Posted 01/09/2015 at 16:41:54
Thanks Roberto for keeping Stones, Mirallas, McCarthy, and Garbutt; for bringing in Cleverley, Deulofeu, Funes Mori, Holgate and, and if you add Lennon then I will be pleasantly relaxed to see what the season will bring.
Tony Hill
150 Posted 01/09/2015 at 16:48:35
It's the lack of creativity that has been, and will remain, our core problem. Who is going to provide it? It is damning that we have not resolved this despite it being a glaring deficiency for at least 12 months.
Mike Hughes
151 Posted 01/09/2015 at 16:48:46
BBC transfer deadline day home page.
And guess whose photo is on there?
Unbelievable!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/33590187

Christopher Marston
152 Posted 01/09/2015 at 16:49:00
£7 to 8M for Nais!!!! And we rejected it???!!!!!! Bloody hell!!!!
Jermaine Jennings
153 Posted 01/09/2015 at 16:50:57
Bloody Aaron Lennon!!! What a pile of shite, he’s past it and he knows it. He will be chuffed if he signs as no other club is interested in him.

He’s had 10 years to prove himself at Spurs and he’s failed... but hey, guess what? Everton will take you on and look after you until you're shite again!!!

Very poor signing by Roberto if he signs. Embarrassing, this is.

Dave Paul
154 Posted 01/09/2015 at 16:59:11
#115, Jim - I agree. I think some are going a little over the top with their comments. However, with the current squad we have I can see a mid table finish only.

It's a shame because I really think there is an opportunity in the PL for ’other’ clubs to push for 2 of the CL spots this year (the top clubs apart from Man City don't look all that)....

I hope I'm wrong but could be ANOTHER error by this board in not strengthening when there is a chance to push the club on.

Christopher Marston
155 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:00:36
Agreed
David Booth
157 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:11:16
Heartily agreed.

He’s nothing but a ’trier’ who can’t even make the bench at Tottenham – is that what sort of player Everton aspire to nowadays?

Hope it’s just lazy press speculation as nothing else of any consequence seems to be happening with less than an hour to go.

Liam Reilly
158 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:13:11
We'd have a good five-a-side team with all these wingers if Lennon comes in too. Don't get it.
Danny Halsall
159 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:15:17
Seems as though Lennon is going to get over the line, which I am pleased about. Good squad player, runs his nuts off and is an experienced pro. Good business if we can get him for £4-5m.

We have been careful with our money this window, or what little money we have and we have done OK. As mentioned in another post, £5.5m for Holgate, Deulofeu and Cleverley is fantastic.

I must admit that the £9.5m spent on Funes Mori shocked me a bit when I saw it this morning, but when you think that he is a 24-year-old Argentinian international who has just been apart of a Championship winning team, perhaps it will turn out to be a punt worth taking. My only regret about this window is that the Yarmolenko deal did not go through.

Peter Morris
160 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:17:02
Current BBC sport headline says:

"Martial, De Gea and Stones latest"

The former two are live and developing stories. What’s Stones up to BBC? Opted for spag bol in the canteen? Nothing... Shit stirring twats.

ps: I’m glad we haven’t sold Naisy. He might be a journeyman, but players like that get you through the winter, when more brittle and injury prone players fall by the wayside. Plus, I think he is an all round good egg.

Brian Wilkinson
161 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:18:00
Spot on Bill@124, saved me typing all that.

Only surprise is we didn't take the money for Naismith, then try for Austin.

John Daley
162 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:22:33
"Current BBC sport headline says
"Martial, De Gea and Stones latest" "

Mourinho is left checking his lucky watch, minute by minute, as the clock ticks down:

Link

Gaute Lie
163 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:32:06
Martinez is The Lizard.

Just look at the picture.. And his brilliance in getting top notch players.

This Argentinian better be the real thing.

Matthew Roberts
164 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:45:27
Lennon is a good solid buy. Glad we will get him, but very uninspiring to say the least. After the Yarmolenko rumour, I was excited. It's the hope that kills you.
Christy Ring
165 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:46:01
Agree Brian@135,
£8m for Naismith, add £7m for a natural goalscorer in Austin, a no-brainer. Martinez admitted we need another striker, what's he at??
Phil Malone Jnr
166 Posted 01/09/2015 at 17:50:37
Wish I shared the positive outlook of some of the people on here..

So so dissapointed.

Harold Matthews
167 Posted 01/09/2015 at 18:01:30
Jeeps. Just read the Naismith bit.
Jamie Barlow
168 Posted 01/09/2015 at 18:56:04
Why would we sell Naismith with an hour of the window to go. You lot moaning would put your faith in these fuckin idiots to spend the £8 million? Didn't think so.
Everton Caetano
169 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:00:04
Thank you for being useless, Bill. Your dealings are keeping Everton mediocre. I live in Brazil but can I say that I love this? Please return Everton to Evertonians, Bill, you do not make a good president.
Kieran Kinsella
170 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:06:54
Just goes to show the number 10 was a load of old bollocks based upon the sale of Stones.

The good news is, that we should be able to withstand an injury crisis involving wide men.

The bad news is that the profligate Barkley is the only infield player who can occasionally create an opening.

Matt Muzi
171 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:14:28
Very disappointed with our business,

We haven't bought anyone in, who in my opinion improves the team, apart from Del Boy.

We've bought players who potentially could amount to something in the future, a player we have supposedly paid £9.5 million for, who is premier league unproven and has somehow increased in value by £5 million in the space of a week, after signing???

No number 10, no left footed wide players, no cover for Coleman.

We face the prospect of having Kone play up front if Lukaku gets injured and to top it all off we could of turned down an £8 million bid for Naismith.... AAAAAHHHHH!!!!

Brent Stephens
172 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:19:33
Maybe the offer for Naismith came in too late for us to get, eg, Austin in, so we decided not to sell Naismith.
Drew O'Neall
173 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:21:46
The No 10 was Yarmolenko although I’d call him a No 11.

Presumably we would have floated an increased offer with Kiev with the Naismith money but the chairman seems like a shark.

David Hallwood
174 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:22:20
I see Gibson got a 20-month driving ban, so no prison. It’ll be like a new signing! And so will his chauffeur.
John Crawley
177 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:28:38
I don’t think we’ve spent wisely and in the right areas. The spine of the team should of been the priority. That starts with the goalkeeper, most important position on the pitch. Followed by a centre half, a creative playmaker, a striker and if we could afford it a left sided midfielder.

Instead we’ve got a box-to-box midfielder, two right wingers and an untested centre half. I think Deulofeu is the only one that really strengthens the starting 11. I’m not convinced that Martinez is great in the transfer market as he doesn’t seem to have a plan or, if he does, he’s not sticking too it!

David Flanagan
178 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:30:39
We basically have the same team as 2 years go so 3 transfer window have done nothing to improve it. Any long term injury to Lukaku or Coleman and we have no replacements.

I don't see where the goals will come from as we lack any link players and we have zero creativity. Too many safe signings, players Martinez knows or who have been here before.

Martin Mason
180 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:33:59
I believe we’ve bought a mix of established players where we see the player will improve what we have and we’ve bought with a view for the future. This is very good management and a far better strategy than splashing on a "marquee" signing in the hope that this will improve the whole side, nice though that would have been.

This TV money to the EPL clubs is like giving whiskey to alcoholics and all it does is drive the price of average players up to totally unjustifiable levels, lining their pockets and that of their blood sucking agents whilst doing nothing to improve the finances of the club. Only the club knows what has happened over the transfer window and how this has fitted in with their strategy.

Everton needs to get on to a firmer financial footing and spending all of their spare revenue on playing staff and wages won’t do that but I believe that they were prepared to buy if the right quality was available at the right price, they just didn’t see the value over and above the quality they have in the squad already.

Scott Goin
181 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:38:58
I'm certainly disappointed we didn't get our playmaker this window but at least Roberto didn't spend our precious pennies on a mediocre #10 just to say he got his man. It was apparent to me that RM was focused on a few select players that he felt could do the job of a #10 for us (and might be willing to play for Everton). Some would say that he wasn't prepared enough to have a plan B but maybe he just didn't feel like spending a ton of money on a player he wasn't fully confident in (especially when he may have thought he could still get his original target). Maybe it's better to save that money and try again in January.

I'll be honest though, I'm not confident in the club as it stands fighting for top 4 or winning a trophy. However, I do feel like we're on the right track in regards to building a team. I love that we're focusing on young exciting talent with a few experienced, hard-working mentors. This plan was never going to yield instant success but I strongly believe that it will pay dividends in the future.

Oliver Molloy
182 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:44:41
After all the talk, Martinez and Kenwright have failed to add the striker we desperately need and the much talked about No 10.

To be honest I’m not interested in hard luck stories,it seems to me that whoever was the managers main No 10 target should have been prioritised as soon as the window opened and we should have gone and got him- simple.

Why did that not happen? It’s a disgrace considering how the manager and the whole of football know this is a position we badly need filled.

18-year-old Mason Holgate is a terrific signing and I predict he will be knocking on the door for the first team squad quicker than people think.

I know nothing of the Argentine and Uruguayan players, let’s hope we will be raving about them before the end if the season.

I do believe we as supporters need to ask why an extra £3 million had to be paid for Mori.

Another winger in Lennon, what a joke! What is the obsession, does he collect them or what?

I am very disappointed because in all honesty I believed that Martinez was going to bring a rabbit out of the hat.

Standing firm with John Stones was Martinez best bit of business, but he will be away if not the next window, then the one after. John Stones himself deserves great credit the way he has handled all this. At 21 years old, he has shown a maturity way beyond his year.

So next up is the visit of Chelsea and a guaranteed 3 points - right Roberto.

Kiern Moran
183 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:45:42
Apologies not read other comments. Two signings seem reasonable, suspect Barkley will become our missing number 10 (and touch wood having an improved season so far).

I am commenting so quickly as found the headline "Norwich offer £8 million" startling, like Naismith – not the most technical player, good work effort, gets in opposition faces and scores goals, but £8 million? I would have snapped it up.

Wonder if the offer was an instalment package.

Tony Hill
184 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:49:33
Martin/Scott, your points are fair but the fact remains that we presently have no-one who can direct our play with any ingenuity to break sides down, especially at Goodison. That is why we are so ponderous and why we are so vulnerable - we recycle the ball harmlessly and then give it away.

It may be that we could not have done any better in this window, and I have considerable hopes of Deulofeu who has indeed been an excellent buy, but it is going to be a hard watch over the next 8 months. If we cannot get a number 10 in the summer, I shall be surprised if we pick one up for value in January.

Anthony Hawkins
185 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:49:36
I doubt the starting 11 changes much from all that’s gone on. The strongest team in my view is:

Howard(!?)
Coleman
Stones
Jagielka
TBC (Baines when fit)
Besic (Cleverley when fit)
Barkley
McCarthy
Deulofeu
Lukaku
Mirallas


Oliver Molloy
186 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:52:29
And replaced him with who Kiern. One of the most consistent players we have is Steven Naismith; what he lacks in technical ability he makes up for in more ways than one!
Peter Lee
188 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:54:05
We turned down £8m for Steven Naismith, £35m for John Stones.

One straightforward interpretation of this would be

a) we don’t need the money
b) the manager considers them to be important players for the squad going forward

I can quite understand why some posters on here permanently antagonistic to the board and manager twist themselves in knots promulgating other unlikely reasons (Charlie Austin! ..... Charlie Austin!!.....Charlie - no ligaments - Austin!!!} in the case of Naismith, but it strikes me that you can’t go along with this in the case of John Stones and refute it in the case of another player.

That would be illogical... oh! Silly me.

Dennis Ng
189 Posted 01/09/2015 at 19:56:13
The signings are underwhelming after the hype but not very different from past years. I wouldn’t sell Nais, even if I agree that the fee is about right. What bugs me is that we spen t£9.5M for Mori? Really?
Ian Riley
191 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:06:43
Rejected £32M+ and £8 million respectively. All credit to the chairman! An Everton fan just like me and you! Loves the club! One day you will all realise how lucky we are to have him! He could have made a fortune this month but put the club and fans first. Have a drink on me tonight Mr Kenwright and the rest of the board.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks once again!

Kevin Dale
192 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:07:02
Before the end of last season I would have said we needed a creative midfielder (in place of Barry) and a big left footed central defender, what we have actually signed I’m guessing we wont get to know until Christmas, he has brought in some youngsters but how good they will be who knows?

We still have in my opinion a very small squad of 1st team players, at some point this is going to hurt us!! I just hope we play a more attacking type of football rather than all this pass, pass and pass again at the back stuff!!

I wont know if I’m pleased or not until after the next few games!!

Joe Foster
193 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:07:24
Same old same old this transfer window. I foresee a split fan base, more protests and no signings in Jan. At least them British VIrgin Island bank accounts should be healthy.
Martin Mason
194 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:10:38
Tony, Barkley has improved tremendously this season and my guess is that when he put a value on a new #10 it was based on how he values Barkley. We don’t have the £100M a year for transfers that could get us into the top group and we need to find money for a new ground that we don’t have at the moment so where are we aiming for?

I believe that we have a squad good enough to get close to the top 5 or 6 and that our weakness now is not the squad strength but how Martinez is setting up the team and using the assets that he has which, despite the occasional stellar performance is generally not fit for purpose.

I’m also desperately disappointed that we don’t have the purchasing power we once had.

Jim Knightley
195 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:15:49
We needed a creative player, and the failure to get one is shocking. Just as shocking was our inability to add a 3rd senior CB until the last day of the transfer window. But let’s get some perspective.

After years of minimal net spends, we’ve followed up our biggest summer ever by signing Mori (£9.5M), Lennon (£4.5M), Deulofeu (£4-4.5M) and Cleverley (Free but guaranteed that we paid a signing on fee). We also added Holgate for £1 million (estimated) and Henen for a minimal fee. That’s around 20mil in net spend. When I suggested that we’d spend £15-20M net earlier in the summer, I was criticised by several people. We also managed to keep Stones after a summer long campaign by Chelsea. That is admirable, and went against what many of us expected (me included) We deserve praise on this point. It’s worth reminding many on here that we finished 11th last season, even if we may be a top 7 club, and that turning down a likely British record fee for a defender who wanted to leave to play for the champions was a great achievement.

I’ve got complaints like many of us. I feel that we need a creative mid, that we should have signed a third CB before the start of the summer, and that a talented younger forward would have been a pleasing acquisition to provide cover for Lukaku. Yet, we do have Kone as a back up option, as well as Mirallas who has played up front previously. Naismith could also play up top, and our options in that area are hardly terrible. The money we’ve spent is an improvement, and it is a movement in the right direction. Deulofeu is a wonderful buy. Cleverley is clearly a talented player. Lennon was superb after joining on loan last season, even though I do not think he is what we need. The jury will be out on Mori, but his purchase is exciting.

This is not a poor window. It’s not fantastic, but I do not feel that a net spend of almost £20M is bad going. I expect that out net spend will be in the top half of Premier League teams at the final reckoning, and probably in the top 6/7, even if we haven’t been able to generate transfers fees in the way that teams like Spurs have because of minor spend in windows prior to summer 2014.

Martin Mason
196 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:22:17
Very well put Jim.
Tony Bourbon
197 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:23:46
Oh well, I guess we could play Lennon on the left, but make him run backwards?
Carl Taylor
198 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:26:49
Jesus, the Blue Bill brigade are out in force tonight. Not good enough for this club, may aswell have bid for Messi and Neymar, because we had a £15 million budget having just received over £80 million in TV money alone. What a well run club.
John Keating
199 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:27:13
Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.
We actually managed NOT to get any of the positional players we identified months ago we needed.
Leandro - sounds like some fucking ninja turtle - for half a million.
Some lad that nobody knows anything about for almost 10 million.
Lennon, a headless chicken to swell the coffers of the Spurs supporting Everton director/backer for an over the top 4 million absolutely unbelievable
No wonder we're a fucking laughing stock.
Tom R Owen
200 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:29:09
People on here still singing BK praises and love the Everton need to get on a firmer financial footing!!

Kenwright has had 20 years to get things firmer and we are still taking out loans!! He knows if he had tried to sell Stones there would have been a riot at the next home game!!

Tony Hill
201 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:32:03
Martin, again I think that's fair, though I do not share your faith in Barkley as a number 10. I used to think that was his best position but I now think he is better running from deeper.

We all share the disappointment that we cannot buy at a higher level, let us hope that we can build from youth - that is an area where I do have some hopes.

I also agree that the manager is not getting the best from the team but that is another debate.

Oliver Molloy
202 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:36:48
Ian, but he is so not an Everton fan just like you or me!
What would Bill Kenwright have done with the "fortune" he could have made, please tell me.

He had absolutely NO OPTION but to to refuse all offers for John Stones this time round otherwise all things Everton, him, the manager the supporters could never have been taken seriously again - supporters like you and me - it would have been crazy and things would have become even more difficult for the chairman, his and our credibility as a club would be worth nothing, he was very aware of this Ian.

I do not despise Bill Kenwright,in fact in general I have supported him over the years but I am leaning towards those who ask" where is the money going Bill".
Be careful what you wish for is what you are saying I think.

As chairman of Everton he has the responsibility to do the whole due diligence bit that involves any potential buyer, but it is taking too long and there has to be questions as to why this is the case.
Surely we as supporters deserve more Ian.

Jamie Sweet
203 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:40:09
We were asked to wait until today to pass judgement.

I waited.

My judgement : ABSOLUTE FUCKING DISGRACE!!!!!

I actually feel sorry for John Stones, being made to stay at this ambitionless joke of a club.

Chris Sinnott
204 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:40:17
Gavin 125 - how can you say money was wasted on Rom? We obviously haven’t seen a full return on what we paid for him. This is because he has only had one full season since he signed permanently.

He has scored 40 goals in 86 games for us. That is a great return. He has scored more goals for his age then Messi did at his age. Sounds like you are one of these "fans" who will moan no matter what.

Michael Polley
205 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:40:58
Disappointed we didn't land another striker, and or creative player, but I like the mix of young players and seasoned pros in our team. I think we have potential to be a top 7 side, but maybe not this season. Work in progress !!!
Keith Monaghan
206 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:44:06
Generally well said, Jim @ 163 - although I don’t agree with all you said, but that’s life! To the Austin fan club: I don’t know how good he is, but it seems that 20 PL managers thought he wasn’t good enough for their needs at the price; what risks are there we’re not aware of?

I’ve believed for ages we need a creative midfielder, but they are very expensive, poss beyond our means? Perhaps we could have swapped McCarthy for Eriksen at Spurs? Hang on, I think Spurs would laugh their socks off at that - and that’s the problem.

Keep hoping that Ross will consistently deliver quality performances, but just don’t see it happening - he’s as inconsistent as his shooting.

Made up we’ve kept JS - hope he’s here for at least 2 seasons - don’t know anything about Fori, but think he may be seen as Jags’ replacement?

Bad news re Oviedo again - hope the estimated time out is not under-estimated.

Stewart Rowlands
207 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:50:33
I fully agree with Jim (163) but with the addition that Martinez has also persuaded Mirallas, Garbutt and more importantly McCarthy to sign new contracts.

Mori is somewhat of an unknown quantity (being a fluent English speaker is certainly an advantage) but the other signings have improved the squad.

Rather than make signings for the sake of it I’d rather that Martinez waits for the right players that he wants and thinks will fit into the "group dynamic", "playing philosophy" or whatever the current buzzword is.

Overall I’m a glass half-full man, particularly as Bill told Chelsea to do one. This is the wrong site for positivity though so I apologise in advance for all of the above.

Raymond Fox
208 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:53:11
I’m satisfied that the manager has attempted to sign the players that he thought were needed.

It takes two to tango though and you have to agree a price with the club and then the player has to want to play for you. Not that easy when they look at our record over the last 20 years.

A lack of a quality midfield playmaker is our main deficiency, but what ever happened to players that can play in numerous positions. All this ’oh we have too many right wingers’ surely the likes of Mirallas, Lennon and Deleufu can fill other positions.

We still have Osman, Pienaar and Gibson who can play centrally when fit. If you look at our squad now it looks pretty strong to me, top 4 ambitions when we started the season seemed somewhat pie in the sky and I think its still beyond our reach.

We’ve a good mix of young players coming through that may develop into important squad members if were patient and their given a chance. Just a pity Baines and Cleverley have bad injuries.

Jim Jennings
209 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:53:35
Jamie #143

I have it on very good authority (I know, I know...) that Norwich came in for Naismith some time ago. Everton were open to a deal but told Norwich it was dependant on someone coming into Everton first.

I took this at the time to be Lennon (deal agreed literally months ago but financing it...a different matter) and alluded to this weeks ago in an earlier thread (see post #88 above) and frankly am flabbergasted no media outlet appears to have got wind of it.

Anyway, now that the Lennon deal is done and we rejected the Naismith bid, my suspicion is now that the Yarmolenko bid was the one it was dependant upon.

Alex Kociuba
210 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:54:21
I don't want to be harsh on Naismith, but honestly - £8 million?! That's the most ludicrous bids for an Everton player I have ever seen. (Although we did once get £600k for Brett Angell).
John Keating
211 Posted 01/09/2015 at 20:55:52
Lyndon,
You put this article up. You asked contributors to ToffeeWeb to stop being so negative and the ramifications to those who were negative.

So I ask you, and please let’s not have the diplomatic bullshit, what do you really think of this disaster of a transfer window. Get it off your chest son, let it really go!

Martin Mason
212 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:02:59
Oliver, BK had every option of what to do over the Stones sale, he is the owner of the club and it's his business.

Regarding where the money is going it's staying in the club unless you can show differently. Over to you.

Christy Ring
213 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:03:02
A lot of mixed views about Kenwright. But when clubs like Palace, Stoke, WBA and Derby (and no disrespect to them), have a bigger transfer budget in the window. It tells you that Kenwright, Green, Earl and Elstone have run Everton into the ground.
Andy Walker
214 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:03:08
I'd have taken £8m for Naismith and brought back Jelovic for £3m.
Martin Mason
216 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:08:05
John Keating, you didn't understand what Lyndon said.
Dave Abrahams
217 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:10:58
Ian Riley (161) are you being serious or are you taking the piss?

Hope it is the second option.

Gavin Johnson
218 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:14:00
Jim #164. You’re entirely right. A £20m net spend is pretty good going, and that’s kinda where we thought we’d be when there was the announcement that we had an "ample" budget. That said, what we’ve spent is really not that impressive when you compare it the likes of West Ham, Newcastle, and even the likes of Stoke, Crystal Palace and WBA.

So it’s all relative and whereas £20m would have been a very good summer window in years gone by. It’s peanuts in a window that has seen United spend £36m on a 19-year-old who is a relatively unknown outside of France, and we’ve spent around £20m but are still near the bottom of the spending league.

Keith Monaghan
219 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:14:06
Andy - Jelavic would have wanted guaranteed 1st team place as his eyes will be on playing in Euros next summer - in spite of our limitations, he's not good enough to be 1st choice for us. £8M for Naismith sounds great but what do you get for that e.g. John Evans!?
Brendan Fox
220 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:16:10
So then it is only Funes Mori and Lennon in which is a totally underwhelming end to the transfer window given the key positions strength in depth is required (GK, AM & CF).

Hope the heat gets turned up on the Board by all supporters concerned with the lack of ambition shown by the Board of our once great club. New club motto should be "sed mediocritatem nihil est satis"!

John Keating
221 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:16:41
Martin,

As far as I can remember, Lyndon, asked us not to be so negative as regards to our posts?

Oliver Molloy
222 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:18:40
Alex, Steven Naismith is worth every penny of £8 million and more.
Kristian Boyce
223 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:27:29
As usual, Bill and Martinez has come out of this window smelling of roses to many fans. In reality it’s another poor one with the needs as well as the expectations that were identified at the end of last season not being met.

With both B&R’s triumphant stance on Stones and even with Coleman, that praise has again covered up their deficiencies. We have strengthened this window, but we are still very weak. Without the creative skills of a playmaker and the reliance on basically one main striker, we are going to struggle yet again. If the dreaded hamstring curse hits especially in defense or up front, then we don’t have the depth to cover it.

We’ve made all these noises about creating a golden generation, and bringing in players that will entice our brightest and best to stay. But not building on what we have, it’s going to be more wooden spoon than golden.

Stephen Brown
224 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:30:44
Stones, Jagielka, Baines, Cleverley, Barry, Osman, Barkley, Lennon.

We could field a team with 8 England internationals. Is this a record???

Si Cooper
225 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:38:12
If Mori works out Ithink it is Stones who will be allowed to leave. The manager said he wasn't going anywhere 'now' after the game on Saturday.

Personally, I don't think every youngster we buy or keep hold of after the age of 18 is really expected to make the grade. We are now obliged to field an under-21s team rather than a reserves and the number of over-age players is restricted.

I had hoped for 3 or 4 real upgrades to the squad, quality capable of reducing the likes of Ossie and Peanuts to emergency cover only. Don't think we got that, and at least three of our acquisitions are real gambles, so I'm not happy with what we did in this transfer window.

Tony Abrahams
226 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:39:07
Martin, Bill is a puppet mate, I'm sorry.

Darren Hind, called it right again. He said we wouldn't sign a number ten, this window, he was right.

I think the most underwhelming thing is, that the manager was saying at the end of last season, that we needed that real creative player. The fact that we haven't brought one in is very disappointing.

Have to agree with you, regarding the manager Martin, because whatever way you look at it, Everton have now got a decent squad. A little bit short in places, maybe? But we have some very good players, and it's up to the manager to use them all properly now.

Oliver Molloy
227 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:39:56
Martin, yes of course he can do what he wants and has done.
What was it Martinez said - NOT FOR SALE 3 or 4 times, before Bill came out and said it,not forgetting an Everton director said it before him.
Both would have a looked a little silly had John Stones been sold, so yes I believe he had no option on this occasion NOT TO SELL.
Regards you saying the money stays in the club I would say it is definitely staying somewhere!

Frank Thomas
228 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:41:54
The arrogance of the Moyes and Martinez is simply staggering. Maybe LVG also has that same trait. We bought a good defender and an attacker Lennon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Lennon) who has worst goal scoring record than either Mirallas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Mirallas ) or Naismith (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Naismith) so that he say he bought a striker at the end of the transfer window that he can improve. I bet we paid about £7M for him even if is half of that he does not bring anything other than discord to the camp.

If we had to pay £20M for Andriy Yarmolenko https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andriy_Yarmolenko) it would have shown serious effort to improve and the money would have been repaid 3 fold. Soon the prize money would be very much bigger and each place in the league would be worth a lot more than six months in the Europa league so we needed to go for broke and into the Champion league places.

This was a great year to do it Arsenal playing really poorly, LFC heading for disarray, MUFC can’t seem to score for money and Chelsea have a colander for a defence. Well done Martinez missed the opportunity again maybe Lennon could train with that other great purchase McGeady (23 app 1 goal) who he bought for £1.5M

Andy Walker
229 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:46:27
Keith, I think he just wanted to get out of the Championship. He'd have got games for us I reckon, at least as many as at West Ham who have more competition for striker positions than us!
Gavin Johnson
230 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:56:22
Just read an article on NSNO where Tim Vickery is saying Mori is shite again. Tbh, if we’d have brought in Van Dijk instead. I’d have been a lot more satisfied with the window. Of course Vickery could well be wrong but I have the feeling it going to be 50/50 on whether he adapts. There’s actually a video on YouTube that shows Mori having a concentration lapse and losing possession for a goal.

I hope he is the player Martinez is talking up cos it’s going to bite him on the arse if Mori turns out to be his Kroldrup.

Dennis Ng
231 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:57:08
Stephen, definitely quite something to be having international players on our squad. I can only hope they are all current internationals someday in the near future.
Brian Harrison
232 Posted 01/09/2015 at 21:57:50
I cant understand RM and his transfer dealings. He presumably wants to play a possession based game, yet buys Lukaku who is about as far removed as you could get from a footballing centre forward. He now has 5 wingers at the club, 4 of them are quite pacy, so you would think he wants to play at pace when attacking the opposition.

But no his team for the last 2 games have had Cleverley wide left and Kone wide right. I would love to know how Mirallas and Deulofeu feel about us signing Lennon. I mean despite RM getting Mirallas to sign a new contract, he seems reluctant to start him. RM said at the start of the window he wanted a Number 10, so what happened yet another change of mind.

Funny how last week the fee for Mori was £4- £5 million today when the deal is done the fee is reported to be £9.5 million. I can only assume that Everton have added his wages for the length of contract hence the leap in the fee.

Anthony Lewis
233 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:00:40
I’m not usually one to bad mouth the board. Sit on the fence kind of guy. But this transfer window is a joke. They’ve had all summer to line up targets and get them, but they’ve failed miserably. Where is the much vaunted number #10?

All summer we’ve heard "judge us at the end of the window". Well I’ve effin well judged you and it’s shit.

Fuming here...

We’ve all been saying for fecking ages that we’re one or two players away from a top team. And I truly believed this year all we needed was a #10. I actually believed we would get one.

Really don’t know why I bother, Everton will always let you down.

Mike Oates
234 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:04:37
I said yesterday I only expected Mori and Lennon today and Dick Brady ? told me to have a good night’s sleep and maybe my wishes would come true.

Unfortunately I suspect that the wishes of Coleman, Stones, Lukaku, Barkley, McCarthy to get another quality intake to underpin Martinez’s Golden Generation have been totally letdown. As I suspect has the majority of Evertonians. I can't for the life of me believe Martinez didn’ t have at least 2-3 options per position he wanted to supplement.

Poor poor show by all concerned.

Drew Shortis
235 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:05:15
I’m fairly happy with this window. Disappointed we didn’t land either Yarmalenko or the number 10 we were hunting, but hugely encouraged that we have kept the likes of McCarthy, Coleman, Barkley, Lukaku, Mirallas and Stones.

Add to that a four first team players in Mori, Lennon, Cleverley and Deulofeu, plus the likes of Rodriguez, Henen and Holgate with the next few years in mind. If the likes of Ledson, Browning, Dowell, McAleny, Galloway, Pennington and Garbutt can progress then we will have a really strong squad. These youngsters can take the place of older pros like Osman, Jagielka, Barry, Hibbert and Pienaar as their contracts expire, freeing up more funds to invest.

When you look around the other clubs and analyse their acquisitions and departures there aren’t many outside the top six teams that have left us behind in terms of quality signings. The average number of new first team players seems to be between 3 to 5. Arsenal only got in Petr Cech. Some teams got a lot of players in, but when you really look at them there’s a lot of journeymen and completely unproven types in there.

I do think we missed out on creative, flair player along the lines of Shaqiri, Ayew, Payet, Yarmolenko or Roberto Firmino. However, we should not forget the signing of Deulofeu who is a real coup for the club and is just the kind of flair player who can open up defences.

I just hope we get everything set up to bring in Yarmolenko in January and don’t miss out to the RS. It looks like we do have the funds to sign him and hopefully by then Kiev will be prepared to sell. May well be worth the wait.

Joe Foster
236 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:06:15
This is probably the Most important season ever. With the riches that await the teams who stay up next season. We can only hope we now have enough to do this. Plenty of teams around us have strengthened significantly to try and secure this pay day.
Anthony Lewis
237 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:12:16
Drew, I’m sorry to pick on you mate, but how anyone can say "I’m happy with the window" is beyond me. We need to be strengthening the squad, not adding to it with a few players in the likes of Mori, Cleverly and Lennon.

You named the players who are already here, McCarthy, Barkley, Coleman, Stones and Lukaku. But what must they be thinking?

None of those players will take us to the next level. And because of those transfers the named players above will likely think, "Everton have no ambition, they are not going to help me fulfil my ambition" and they will likely look to leave to seek the trophies they desire.

Jamie Barlow
238 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:13:01
Andy Walker, you can't be serious. For what reasons would you have Jelavic over Naismith?

Is it that hard to believe someone offered £8 million for Naismith? In the days of £35 million for Andy Carroll and£12 million for Stephen Fletcher, Naismith is worth £8 million.

Naismith gets it. He gets how limited he is in skill and flair. He knows he isn't that type of player so he makes up for it in other ways. He's a grafter and a fighter. I think he's great, but that's the type of player I like. He's a niggly little shite, he gets in peoples faces and winds the opposition up. We've already seen it this season. He also scores goals. If half of our other players gave as much as he does every time he plays, we'd be fantastic to watch.

I wouldn't have sold him for more than was offered.

Ian Bennett
239 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:16:50
I hope Spurs and Chelsea are done for tapping up.

We failed to address the creativity and goal threat as well documented by most blues.

Taking in Lennon to add to the other 3 right wingers is bonkers when we have no one for the left hand side.

Mori seems a complete gamble. Could be awesome, could be an expensive flop.

Overall the squad has reduced in age, but really lacked that type of ambition we are seeing at the likes of Stoke or West Ham in players coming in or letting some of the deadwood go.

Tony Abrahams
240 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:17:35
Nearly ten million for a reserve centre half? It's just not Everton, this, and has got me thinking all different scenarios. It's not a position were you like to see changes every week, so is he thinking 3 at the back, and playing with wingbacks?

If this was the case, then surely you wouldn't need so many wingers in the squad. Piquet, never really cut it in England, but is undoubtedly a good player. At least we can start concentrating on the football now.

Ian Riley
241 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:24:44
Right, it’s over! Time to settle down to the season ahead! I expect the club to offer Mr Stones a new five year contract (pay rise) with a buy out clause of £40 million. The guy has been professional and committed with all the shit going on. Don’t blame him for putting a transfer request in! We all would!

Mr stones will go on to win trophies but not with Everton! The Chairman knew this was not the right time to sell for his own reputation!

Anthony Lewis
242 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:28:14
Jesus H Christ...

Three (3) right wingers... Where is he going...

Oh I give up

Oliver Molloy
243 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:30:19
I see news emerging that McCarthy has been sent for a scan of his knee at the insistence of Everton according to O’Neill.

Apparently not serious and should not effect McCarthy playing on Friday.

Obviously still frosty relations regards club and country, although O’Neill insists everything is fine this time round.

Brian Hennessy
244 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:40:23
I'm surprised at Roberto to be honest. He always speaks of being stronger at the end of the window than at the start of it.

All he had to do was to get rid of McGeady, keep everyone else and he would have kept his promise.

Paul Kelly
245 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:43:02
Shit transfer window, too those who go on about renewing or keeping players your missing the point, they are our players anyway, it's about improving/additional players.

And those defending billy bullshitter, you're what's wrong with this club.

Pathetic, let's srart a riot, I'll chuck the first brick.

Gary Carter
246 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:54:53
Very poor transfer window and quite incredibly no Number 10 that Martinez has talked about for quite some time now. Cant help but feel that Lennon was a last minute desperation signing. Also means we now have 4 wingers on the books even though he prefers playing a centre midfielder and a striker as our wingers. You seriously seriously have to question whether Martinez has any set plan or idea as to what exactly he is doing as all the evidence to my mind would suggest otherwise. For me our transfer dealings defy belief. £9.5 million on a centre back that is surely going to be back up to our current 2 !?!?! or is he going to start playing 3 centre backs that’s not really worked in Premier League history to add to the tippy tappy football that also doesn’t work.

I’m sorry, but a win away to Southampton and a draw against a very poor Spurs isn’t fooling me just yet, I think Martinez could steer this club into some very choppy waters, not just on the pitch with his bizarre footballing ideas but also with his off pitch dealings and very limited transfer dealings. It must be about 75% of players that he brings in have played for him before !

Frustrated, very frustrated both on and off the pitch.

Jay Woods
247 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:56:01
I was gutted to the core when we didn't get Shaqiri, but the consolation of Yarmolenko was really soothing it all for me. But of course, we couldn't manage that either (my wife is Russian and when they say yes, they mean no; and when they say no, they mean, "prevail upon me to agree"). I believe Ukrainians are the same.

That digression aside, I have to say, what a revolting transfer window. Even the signature of Deulofeu is little more than a glorified loan. Are we to feel so grateful for the stance on Stones as to pass over the scandalous failure to sign the attacking quality we sorely need?

Sure, some of our younger fans with no experience of what it's like for us to be top dogs will be satisfied with what amounts to an assurance of yet more mediocrity. But for Evertonian forty-somethings (and over), this prolonging of the malaise is intolerable.

Ross Edwards
248 Posted 01/09/2015 at 22:59:22
If Martinez really thinks this has been a good window then I’m sorry, he is deluded. He is sugarcoating our failure to get this famed number 10 he said was a priority.

He failed. Now we’re being told we’ve had a good window. Does he think we’re stupid or what?

Bill Gall
249 Posted 01/09/2015 at 23:00:59
Just glad that the transfer window is now closed for 4 months. as far as Everton's acquisitions go I am a little disappointed as apart from Cleverly there does not seem anyone else that is going to become a regular first team player. With the number of wingers we have I will not be surprised if Mirallas , requests a transfer in January as Martinez normally only plays 1 winger. The 2 South Americans may or may not prove successful, but from what a number of pundits seem to think, is that it takes a season for them to become acclimatized to the Premier and may be for the future.

We did not bring in a # 10 that Martinez wanted, and that could be for a number of reasons, including out of our price range or, the player did not want to come or, there was no one out there he liked that was available. Regardless of the reason it is a little disappointing as we do not seemed to have strengthened one of the major areas that needed it.

The next few games will show if any of the new acquisitions are played or even on the bench, and hopefully the unknown players will spark the regulars into action.

Tom R Owen
250 Posted 01/09/2015 at 23:03:51
Jay (#217),

From a 50 something Evertonian, well said! This week is BK's 70th; let's hope he keeps to the line he once said about not being chairman after his 70th birthday.
That would be my birthday wish.

Derek Thomas
251 Posted 01/09/2015 at 23:10:53
If we go out and play like Vs Watford then it doesn't really matter who we do or don't sign. Not Impressed with the Window in the short term,The Manager in the medium term, though he, like me, may not be impressed with the Board and is no doubt restricted cash-wise.

We now have 2 weeks to fume ourselves into a howling mob to welcome Maureen, so not all a waste then.

Phil Sammon
252 Posted 01/09/2015 at 23:11:19
So was Martinez lying when he made his top priority a number 10?

Or is he lying now when he says he's happy?

Can't believe we spent £9.5M on a sub CB. Surely that and the £4M for Lennon could have gone towards the game-changer we can all see we need.

Clive Mitchell
253 Posted 01/09/2015 at 23:31:52
Don’t want to be negative, want to be proved wrong, but I fear RM is not a good judge of players. People who ought to know feel Funes Mori will simply not make it in the Premier League. He lacks ’the quality, the physicality and the pace required’.

Leandro has no chance. And Lennon will not look any better to us in a year than McGeady does now. How we could do with a Moyes capture - a Coleman, Pienaar, Jagielka, Distin, Cahill.

Colin Glassar
254 Posted 01/09/2015 at 23:36:57
Right then, what are we going to call this new lad? Funes or Mori? I think Funi is the best option and cheaper.

As for yarmolenko, the more I hear about him, and his owner, the more I'm put off. He doesn't want to play for us and if he does eventually come he will just use us as a stepping stone to go to a richer club.

Danny Kewley
255 Posted 01/09/2015 at 23:42:06
If we can reproduce the form we had in Bobby’s first term and the game against Southampton the other week then our new players, as weak as some may feel they are will prove to be a bonus.
Andy Codling
256 Posted 01/09/2015 at 23:50:55
So a centre half, when we lost two centre-halves, a manager who said we need a number 10 and identified his targets months ago and we end up with Lennon.

Sorry, a pitiful window.

Matt Ostnes
257 Posted 01/09/2015 at 00:12:22
Colin #224 , the River Plate fans call him Ramiro (mainly because when he played alongside with his twin brother we need to distinguish which Funes Mori we were talking about). In Twitter or forums we refer him as FM6 (FM25 for you) or the more epic Funes Dios (Funes God).

The tv broadcasters usually refers him as Funes Mori

Brian Porter
258 Posted 02/09/2015 at 00:38:24
Jamie Barliw #209, well said mate. I’m with you on this one. I also wouldn’t have let Naismith go. As you say, he’s a grafter and a fighter, gets in people’s faces and makes things happen. Within a few minutes of replacing Lukaku last week he’d won three free kicks, Lukaku didn’t win one all the time he was on, and you could see he was winding up the Spurs defenders, exactly what people keep saying we need and who then put him down in their next breath.

I love the guy and always feel he could make something happen when he comes on, unlike Kone for example who I still think is a flop and will soon burn out after his short burst of actually looking like a footballer. It can’t last.

Naisy is just what we need when things are tough, and who was it scored the equaliser when we were under the cosh at Barnsley... Naismith, almost inevitably!

Jim Knightley
259 Posted 02/09/2015 at 01:14:29
Gavin - I think that many Evertonians on here look at blinkered vision at both our own club, and others. Pessimism is directed towards us, whilst other teams are over-rated. I've seen all kinds of clubs represented as moving beyond us. You mention Stoke. Stoke spent how much this summer? 3million net. Everton fans have done the obvious time and time again on this board with Stoke - They've looked at Shaqiri, and Afellay, Van Ginkel and some Real Madrid youngster, and have followed the name rather than the player. Afellay is ineffectual - he is not as good as Mirallas or Deulofeu. Shaqiri has moved to Stoke because he flopped at an inferior Inter side, and found no other suitors. He is talented but incredibly greedy and lazy. Van Ginkel has talent, but he is no world beater. Incredibly, many Everton fans, especially those who watch a few highlights on MOTD, completely ignore the players Stoke have lost. Three of their best 4 players of last season: Begovic, Nzonzi and Moses. Moses was on loan of course, but was integral to their attacking play. Begovic is a superb goal keeper, and Nzonzi was the most important of all. Without him, they lack a strong spine, and I doubt they will finish in the top half this season.

Those labeling this window a disgrace lack realism. We have been disgraceful over an extended period of time. But over the past two summers we've spent over 50million. We've brought in brilliant young talent, and held onto Stones. Those stating Kenwright could not have sold Stones clearly do not understand football (173 and 175). He could have sold Stones, just as chairmen have sold top players integral to their teams at terrible moments. Just as they even sold them to rivals. I'm sure plenty of Arsenal fans would have lined up to state that RVP would never have been sold to United, before the fact, because it would have signaled the end. Or Nasri to City. Or Adebayor etc. Or Spurs wouldn't have let Berbatov go on deadline day. Or us Arteta. But it could have happened and would have been accepted by the fans, and we would have moved on just as we will move on when he eventually leaves.

Kenwright should not be our chairmen, and our financial situation has been mismanaged for years. But not everything has to be unequivocally negative. Kenwright deserves credit for keeping Stones, as does our management team. We have also invested in players. As I said before, it's not fantastic, but you can hardly describe our window as a disgrace either. We've lost no one essential, and have added a fantastic young winger in Deulofeu, another good hard working winger in Lennon, a good CM in Cleverley and a young CB who we all have high hopes for (Along with some youths). Our squad is strong, and arguably too big for a team without European football, even if it is unbalanced. The failure for me is the lack of a creative midfielder. We need more creativity, especially at home, because Pienaar and Osman are too old/injured to provide it. I would have liked to have seen a creative midfielder rather than Lennon, and expect that Barkley's early season form may have wrongly stopped us from buying one. I also think we should have had a CB in weeks ago. A striker would have been nice, but Kone's return to some fitness, as well as two very viable out of position options and Mcaleny, hardly leave us in a terrible position. United and Arsenal both have UCL football to handle, and are both in a similar position to us.

As I said before, our net spend will put us into the top half of the spending table this summer. We all wanted more, but many expected less too. I believe our purchase of Lukaku and our desire to hold onto Stone demonstrate that we are a club with ambition. We've got a great young spine and will have a good and exciting season if Martinez plays the right tactics. Fingers crossed that our lack of creativity does not hurt us, and that that issue can be addressed in January.

Drew Shortis
260 Posted 02/09/2015 at 01:54:41
Jim Knightley 229
Excellent post mate. Couldn't agree more. West Ham is another example. Yes they got in Payet, Song and Moses, but they also brought in Ogbonna who we had been linked with and he looked garbage - subbed at half time in his first game & a thirty year old Jelavic.

Swansea only got in one player of note: Ayew. Southampton strengthened at the back with Caulker and Van Dijk but lost Clyne and Schneiderlin. Palace did well with Sako and Cabaye in. Villa got in a few decent looking players but lost Benteke. Arsenal only brought in Cech. Spurs fans are far from happy, though I think Alderweireld & Son Heung-min are decent. Newcastle got in Wijnaldum who looks promising and the red card magnet Mitrovic. West Brom, Watford, Sunderland, Norwich, Leicester and Bournemouth brought in nobody who's going to set the PL on fire. As far as I can see only Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool can really say they have spent big money and I'm not convinced with all of their dealings, especially Chelsea having missed out on Stones.

I do think we missed a trick not bringing in a playmaker, but we could still remedy that in January if the funds are available (they better be!). We got our big money striker in last summer and I believe he will easily improve on his league tally from last season as long as the team plays well and creates chances for him.

Of course we are focused on our own team but it is easy to underestimate the value of keeping our talented core of players together. Cleverly has slotted right in. Deulofeu and Lennon already know how we play and I would expect Mori to come in at left back to cover the Baines shaped gap and get used to the pace of the Premier League before he has to move into the centre. If Barkley can continue to improve on his decision making and passing then the immediate need for a number 10 is reduced.

Things could have gone better, but they could also have gone a lot, lot worse!

Jamie Crowley
261 Posted 02/09/2015 at 01:58:56
Jim Knightly at 229 -

I literally got off my seat and applauded your post.

Well said sir!

Jamie Crowley
262 Posted 02/09/2015 at 02:02:45
Phil -

£9.5 mil on a back up CB?

Unless we finish top four that back up CB will be starting next season.

Solid investment...

Dennis Ng
263 Posted 02/09/2015 at 02:12:19
Jim, great post! If only we didn't spend that much to get all these players.

Jamie, that is my opinion of how things are headed, unless Mori and Leandro turn up the heat and style of our beloved team.

Jamie Crowley
264 Posted 02/09/2015 at 02:12:25
We held onto John Stones.

We bought 7 players. Some excellent talent at real bargains and some fantastic up-and-comers.

We sold no one.

We spent approximately £25 million.

But the window was shit because we didn’t get that elusive #10 creative world-beater...

You’re fuckin kidding me, right?

Drew Shortis
265 Posted 02/09/2015 at 02:36:45
Clive Mitchell 224
The negativity about Ramiro seems to mostly emanate from Tim Vickery who's appraisal seems to go directly against many other views I have heard from sources who say he is excellent. There's one video on You Tube of him losing possession on the edge of his box which leads to a goal. Not a compilation of errors, just one example.

As for physicality, the lads 6'2 and looks in great shape. From what I have seen of him on You Tube he looks strong in the air and seems to have a decent amount of pace. He's a left sided centre back which will add to the cover for Baines when he gets forward. He's been part of a River Plate team that won the Copa Libertadores and is part of the Argentinian national team.

I'm willing to ignore Vickery and give the lad a fair chance before passing judgement. I don't get the 'Martinez is blind-sided by South Americans' just because he had one flop with Boselli. On the other hand he did rate Alcaraz so I do still have a bit of scepticism about his ability to pick out defenders, but I hope he has learned from his past mistakes.

To be fair I don't know he will be a hit. I remember bigging up Kone when he arrived and thinking McGeady & Bilyaletdinov would be great, but I do believe in giving new players my full support.

Ian Doyle
266 Posted 02/09/2015 at 02:39:13
I was actually expecting a right back, as who is Coleman's cover? And now Oviedo is injured again, I thought a left back might've been a good idea.
Andy Codling
267 Posted 02/09/2015 at 02:49:37
Evertonians happy with mediocrity again!!
Gavin Johnson
268 Posted 02/09/2015 at 03:14:47
Yes Jim, as usual a very thorough post. I think Martinez and the board have put themselves in a position where the summer transfer will be held up to scrutiny, with the proclamations of buying a No. 10 and a striker.

They've promised a lot, but on the surface delivered little. I say 'surface' because I'm happy with most of the signings and the fees paid. Although, to me, we've seemed to have taken an almost opportunist approach where we've gone for ex-loanee's and players Martinez knows who have become available on attractive deals - Cleverley, Deulofeu and Lennon. And whilst I think all three are very good deals, did we need to buy 2 wingers when there's more obvious deficiencies in other areas of the team.

I think it's actually a big deal that we didn't buy the elusive No.10 and a striker. They they were the positions we desperately needed to fill. We managed to buy the CB but there's polarising opinion on whether he'll make the grade so 9.5m which seems a lot of money for someone who has no experience of playing in a European league. Some have moaned that we've let 2 CB's go and only brought in 1, but people are forgetting that Galloway has been promoted to the first team squad and Browning will also get more game time.

So while we've done good business on what we've paid - apart from Mori where the juries still out (I'm trying to warm to this signing but I just have a bad feeling about it) I can't believe we've not bought in a proven player in at least of the other 2 positions.

I'm a Naismith fan and think he's the model pro and a valid squad member. But I can't believe he wasn't sacrificed to buy a goalscorer. He's not a player who should be in the first 11 and we haven't got enough goals in the team.

I wanted Austin and while there's the doubt over long term fitness, he seems to have put his injury problems behind him and he would have got us goals. He has done wherever he's played. I don't want to keep carping on about Austin in case of offending the Austin haters ;) So equally we could have gone for someone like Jordan Rhodes. I'm not sure Rhodes can do it in a team unless he has another striker to play off, but the point is we needed a goalscorer and a bit more creativity which is where my own disappointment lies.


Jamie Sweet
269 Posted 02/09/2015 at 03:16:00
I've read some very good posts from both ends of the spectrum regarding whether this has been a good or bad window.

Ultimately, we have not added genuine strength in probably the two most vital areas where one or two injuries would leave us woefully exposed so I'm sorry, I can't see how this could possibly be viewed as a success.

Roberto really should keep his mouth shut regarding his transfer plans as he has either been guilty of some pretty terrible forward planning, or been royally stitched up by the money men.

Dee Gidwani
270 Posted 02/09/2015 at 03:26:43
I really don't get all the hate.

We haven't seen any of Mori or Rodriguez yet people are bitching about them. One too expensive and the other too cheap!

We kept our best players, got in some good ones, and yet people still complain.

Sure, would loved to have got Yarmolenko in, but it's not like he went elsewhere either. Maybe we can go in again in the next window and try.

Overall, we are definitely in better shape after the window and that's the main objective.

I don't know why so many of you are always so negative. Be positive once in a while, you feel better, trust me.

James Marshall
271 Posted 02/09/2015 at 03:39:06
We signed Rodriguez and Lennon - 2 attackers.

Funes Mori - a defender

Deulofeu - attacker

Cleverley - midfielder with versatility

Holgate - young defender

OK we need a striker, but RM likes Lukaku, Kone and Naismith as our forward players, as well as Mirallas who can do a job so it ain't all doom & gloom.

I reckon our squad will be OK this year.

Gavin Johnson
272 Posted 02/09/2015 at 03:53:35
Dee - Read Tim Vickey’s assessment of Mori on NSNO and watch some of the videos on Youtube where he’s got his very own bloopers video. I don’t think people have got a problem with the fee. It’s good that we’ve broke the our record for our most expensive defender.

I think the only question mark is over the deal £9.5M fee which is a lot of money to spend on a player who is unproven.Generally in the past, we’ve tended to spend the bigger money on players who could be deemed as sure things in players like Yakubu.

At least in the Moyes era. Apart from Bilyaletdinov and Kroldrup, who both proved to be costly mistakes. I really hope Mori makes the grade.

Denver Daniels
273 Posted 02/09/2015 at 04:22:49
Gavin #241,

I'm not gonna judge a guy one way or the other based on a Youtube video. I mean, Distin and Yobo could easily have their own bloopers videos too. It doesn't make them bad defenders.

We have to hope the manager's got this one right. In essence, every transfer is a gamble so only time will tell.

Seriously disappointed we never got the no.10 we needed. Maybe we could offer Gourcuff a pay as you play deal as he's available on a free. Forget Yarmolenko. We missed the boat there. Time to look to Holland, Spain or Portugal for that technical midfielder. Really surprised there was no back-up.

Chad Schofield
274 Posted 02/09/2015 at 04:30:17
I’m with Jamie Crowley #234 and James Marshall #240.

I would rather Ross, Gerry and Conor McAleny were given a chance to stake a claim at number 10 personally. We’ve added players and while Mori may have cost more than we wanted to pay, swap the figures around for him and Deulofeu, and it’s pretty good.

Every window "could" be better, but let’s give these players a chance. I wasn't wowed by Cleverly’s signing but he slotted in well.

Brian Porter
275 Posted 02/09/2015 at 06:21:43
Can’t understand those who were so keen to see Steven Naismith go. I may be wrong, but, after Lukaku and Mirallas, wasn’t he our third top scorer last season?

He would actually have had three more goals that were eventually deemed own goals with deflections from his shots which proves how good he is at getting into those goalscoring positions. Add those three and he’d have probably scored more in open play in the league than Lukaku, who of course had penalties in his collection and scored most of his goals in the Europa League.

Apart from Lukaku, Mirallas and Naismith we don’t exactly have many free scoring players and certainly few of our midfielders contributed much in goals last season. So, let’s give credit where it’s due. Naismith is an important squad player, one of the few ’fighters’ in the team who is prepared to get in the opposition’s faces and make things happen.

Who pulled us level at Barnsley? Who won us three free kicks within minutes of coming on at Spurs when Lukaku hadn’t managed to win one all the time he was on the pitch? We need that kind of tenacity in the team, but some people would be happy to see him go and be replaced by who?

Another powder puff midfielder with no goals or ambition in him? Just look at Naisy’s face whenever we concede a goal. You can see the anger and frustration in his eyes, and feel his determination to pull it back as quickly as possible. Is that not the kind of spirit some on here are asking for?

Denver Daniels
276 Posted 02/09/2015 at 07:35:19
The Yarmolenko money plus the Lennon fee plus the £8 mill for Naismith could have gotten us a top class player.

Still some good freebies available now the window's closed. Maybe we’ll get one more in.

Denis Richardson
277 Posted 01/09/2015 at 07:35:46
Ignoring ’ones for the future’ as they wont help us this season. If I have it right we’ve signed one CB and three midfielders this window (a winger with potential plus 2 grafters). We now have about 12 midfielders in the first team squad for 5 positions (really 10 for 3 positions as McCarthy & Barry) start most of the time. That’s a lot of bench warmers, if they even make the bench. Also doesn't bode well for the likes of Ledson.

Just like last year and the year before, IF everyone is fit we have a decent first XI. But should the likes of Coleman, Lukaku or Jagielka get injured, we’ll be exposed. We again lack real squad depth at GK, defense or up front. We have tons of midfielders but how many are actually good enough? Unless Barkley continues to improve, we’re going to struggle for goals from midfield again.

Time will tell whether the new CB was worth it or not. Lennon was a waste, totally not needed. Will be interesting to see if he even starts.

We should also have trimmed the squad by letting McGeady go (even for free!) and I am totally dumbfounded that we didn’t accept £8M for Naismith. I still cannot believe how such a limited player is getting into our side. The likes of Pienaar, Gibson, Hibbert also all still here, getting their wages and doing not much else....

All in all nothing to get excited about. It’s also too early to see if the manager has really changed his tactics. Four games played and the Southampton game is the only one where we played well so far.

I just hope all the money we’ve saved will go towards a new stadium or getting rid of the ridiculous loan from one of our directors.

Sam Hoare
278 Posted 02/09/2015 at 07:46:14
No playmaker in and given our lack of left wingers I wonder why we didn't pull out the stops for Ayew or Sako, both of whom have made great starts and were free transfers.

Lennon will be useful and time will tell on Funes and Leandro.

Overall it's hard not to feel that we have been outdone by the likes of RS, Spurs, Palace and West Ham.

Paul Mackie
279 Posted 02/09/2015 at 07:50:58
Jamie @ 237

It's not a matter of how much we spent, who we didn't sell or how many players we brought in. It's the fact that we still don't have anyone in our midfield who can replace Osman and Pienaar in terms of creativity. All Summer we had Roberto harping on about how that was the position we needed to fill and we haven't.

So we can look forward to more games where we fail to unlock defences and give fuck all service to Lukaku.

Paul Tran
280 Posted 02/09/2015 at 07:52:33
Are we stronger? Yes.
Did we get the players we need? No
Did we get the creative player/No 10 Martinez said he wanted? No
Did we ship out the players we wanted to? Only the ones whose contracts ran out.

Interesting that journalists have taken a pounding on here all summer regarding Stones. One journalist doesn't like Funes Mori and that is now proof that he's rubbish. Really? We've never heard of Leandro, so he's obviously rubbish, isn't he? Let's see what they're like before slagging them off. All foreign signings are a risk and gamble, regardless of price and whether we 'know them'.

Interesting that there are comments about Martinez not finding a cheap and cheerful 'Moyes signing' like Coleman or Lescott. First of all, its now more difficult to buy any English/Irish based player for £60k these days. Second, I don't remember Coleman being a world beater from day one. I don't recall people coming on here and rejoicing at the £60k signing from Ireland.

If Martinez came on here and said we went for a few creative players, but couldn't get them because we wouldn't pay for them or they didn't want to come to Everton, what would you say? That's what I think happened, doesn't make him a liar.

We never know how good a transfer window has been until a few months later, when the players have bedded in. I'm not excited by this window, but its success will depend on how much Martinez gets out of the players he has. This squad is good enough for top six. It's better than the other 6-14 clubs, who had to spend mad money on unproven players to try and reach our squad's quality.

The season starts here. Its down to Martinez to shape and motivate the team. It's also down to the players to show some leadership and bottle for a whole season, rather than the odd game.

Colin Glassar
281 Posted 02/09/2015 at 08:06:09
Jim Knightly 232, post of the year sir.
Tom Kelly
282 Posted 02/09/2015 at 08:16:09
We have got stronger in the wingers department but what is the point when we only one starts? No disrespect to Lennon but we already have several wingers.

I'm disappointed not to get another attacker like we were promised. Hope RM changes his tactics around so we do look like a contender for Europe.

Bill Griffiths
283 Posted 02/09/2015 at 08:27:41
Great post Jim. I agree with all you say but it does worry me we didn’t sign the Number 10 promised.

People have posted maybe Roberto will bring one in in January but he’s indicated on several occasions previously he doesn’t like signing players in the January window. Hope he goes against his inclinations this January if someone suitable is available.

Anthony Hawkins
284 Posted 02/09/2015 at 08:34:45
I'm clinging onto the hope that Martinez is building for the long-term and isn't overly concerned about this season.

A lot of the signings being made have been 'one for the future' or young, initially fringe players who are hoped to grow into first team challengers

Paul Smith
285 Posted 02/09/2015 at 08:48:34
I agree wholeheartedly with Jim Knightly, a superb post!
Steve Jenkins
286 Posted 02/09/2015 at 08:56:21
My biggest concern is how our board can negotiate a deal for circa £5 M, only to then later have to pay nearly double because they clearly have not fully understood the full circumstances of the deal.

I'm hearing different rumours as to why the extra money needed to be paid, two being, a tax that we had to pay and the other being that the player was entitled to around 50% of the transfer fee.

With the fee already agreed it meant it then had to rise significantly for it to go through.

Anyone able to shed light on the situation?

David Midgley
288 Posted 02/09/2015 at 09:12:26
Lots of people are commenting on our new centre-back, Ramiro Funes Mori.

If you go to TW home page,then Rumour mill. There is an article "Everton land Uruguayan striker"

If you scroll to post #99 it is a very interesting read .

Ged Simpson
289 Posted 02/09/2015 at 09:46:13
It's not just the tabloids. From Reuters today:

"Manager Roberto Martinez is pleased with Everton's business in the summer transfer window and said the Premier League club have ensured they will maintain continuity at St James' Park."

Simon Hermansen
290 Posted 02/09/2015 at 09:56:29
We saw at Spurs that our usual tika taka style of play needs a creative No 10 but v Soton we played on the break, relied on power and pace and it worked superbly.

I’d like to see Barkley deployed deep next to McCarthy, two out-and-out forwards (Lukaku and Kone) and two box-to-box wide players (probably Lennon and Mirallas).

The players we have at the moment are more aligned to soaking it up, breaking play down and breaking fast. This is used on occasion by RM and always seems to pay dividends.

Sometime you’ve got to play to your strengths but I can’t see RM dropping the philosophy any time soon...

Jay Woods
291 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:00:17
Oh well, everyone just loves Jim Knightley's post so roll on more "as you were" for Everton. Acceptance of mediocrity has metastasised into the broad Evertonian hive mind. You'll all be no doubt delighted when we finish eighth.
John Jones
292 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:17:18
How can Martinez come out and say he's happy with the transfer window? We now have FIVE wingers, all of whom are right-footed. Not one of them has started a Premier League game this season.

Barkley is the only player that can play No 10 with any sort of merit. So is McAleny going to get a chance in his most natural position? Is Dowell going to make the breakthrough?

If you look at the squad, we look really unbalanced again; I think we have about 4 left-footed players in the entire squad.

If there is a "Golden Generation" play them and let's see it instead of talking shit.

Dave Abrahams
293 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:19:16
Ian Riley (165-214) sorry mate, apologies, you had me biting like a shark last night. Kenwright gets me wound up... The quicker he goes, the better.

Denver Daniels
294 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:19:56
The more I read about what’s transpired, the more apparent it becomes that waiting till late to do our business has literally cost us big time.

An extra £3.5M for Funes Mori to get the deal done as we didn’t have anyone else lined up.

We could have gotten £8M for a 28-year-old Naismith (to Norwich) plus McGeady (to Sunderland) could have been gotten off the books. But as we didn’t have time to replace them, we couldn’t.

Shambolic!!!!!!

Peter Morris
295 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:21:17
I, like most, am frustrated by our failure to land a ’playmaker’, marquee signing or not, as I think we are severely handicapped in that aspect of our game. I also strongly suspect that the club put more effort that it felt comfortable with in trying to persuade Yarmolenko to come.

My sense has always been with that one is that we were playing the role of stalking horse both in the eyes of the player and his club, and if I’m correct in my view, this amply demonstrates a handicap we (and many others by the way) must live with and try to overcome. We are in no position, unlike Chelsea and the Mancs clubs, to conduct wholesale summer ’drafts’ of incoming marquee signings. We have to juggle with the limitations of lack of financial clout with the constant threat of having our better players taken off us.

That’s why I think the retention of Stones is the biggest achievement of this window as far as we are concerned. It sends not only a clear message to the player himself, but also to the likes of Lukaku, Barkley, Coleman and McCarthy that, when the club gives you a big pay rise and a 5-year deal, we need and expect something in return. I know there is the flip side of us having a Berahino on our hands, but with the player we have, I think not.

The huge bubble in TV money that flows through this season and next gives clubs like ours at least the breathing space to try and develop internally a competitive team to take us forward, rather than having to bow to the inevitable and wave them goodbye just as they hit their peak. I firmly believe that had we been bringing Rooney through today, we would have kept him for 5 years at least.

I think we have a new window, not a transfer window, but a retention window. It’s fuelled by the new TV deal. I think we have about 5 years before the players and their agents restore parity and get their share of the new TV money back in their hands rather than the clubs. Let’s use the window to it’s full effect!

Barry Pearce
296 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:23:16
For Martinez to say this has been a good window, I'm afraid the man's deluded. Heaven help us!
Ged Simpson
297 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:25:02
Thanks for signposting to that David (#258).

Really interesting

Paul Ward
298 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:37:16
Some excellent posts today as usual. Disappointed or satisfied which ever side you take, the squad looks slightly stronger.

The problem is, despite our individual hypotheses of where the new boys will fit in, they are likely to be put into the present unchanged and unbalanced system Martinez employs.

Paul Cherrington
299 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:44:39
Sorry but, for me, this is a poor, poor transfer window with none of what we needed addressed at all or to the proper standard.

We overpaid for some unknown South American CB when we could have got a known quantity in for an extra £2 million in Van Dijk. But yet again we arse around and let another club steal the initiative.

No Number 10 coming in when we’ve had all summer to sort it out and everyone (even the manager) knowing it was absolutely imperative is a disgrace.

And then to just sign midfielders in the main but not actually any of them filling a gap (ie, a left-footer who could play on the left wing) really rubs salt into it.

I blame them all – the board for waiting until the last minute to make moves and spend money & then the manager for making poor signings with the money he was given.

Neil Thomas
300 Posted 02/09/2015 at 10:57:45
I understand the disappointment in us not getting that Number 10 we have been after, but I think we should look at it this way: maybe there was nobody really suitable during this window.

The last thing our club needs is to panic buy. We are not Chelsea or Man City, we simply don’t have there financial clout to be able to spend £20M on a punt. For some clubs, they can afford to spend that just to put them on the bench. I would prefer us to wait and get the right player, than to rush in and buy an unsuitable player.

For all we know, RM may well have inquired about about the right player and got told "Not at the moment; come back at a later date." Look at Chelsea and Stones for example; Chelsea got told he’s going nowhere for now, and they went out and brought a load of garbage for silly money.

The same can be said for Man Utd, who just spent £36M on an unproven teenager just because they're having a problem scoring. These are players who will probably be back on the market or sent out on loan next season.

So maybe we should look at it from a business point of view. That is to get the best deal for the best players and not to get second best just for the sake of it.

Neil Riddell
301 Posted 02/09/2015 at 11:16:33
Yes, a bit disappointing, perhaps for different reasons than others on here.

Yes, it’s fantastic to keep Stones and all our other young stars.

Yes, I’m disappointed not to get a great playmaker – Yarmomenko would have been such an exciting acquisition.

Yes, Cleverley and Deulofeu were great bargain buys.

I’m actually a little disappointed at our late business: £9.5 million seems a lot of money for what we’re getting, and why are we paying £4.5 million for a 29-year-old winger (when we’ve already got two great wingers)?

I don’t care when we do the business but normally we get great value for our money (and waiting till the last minute is part of that) but I’m not sure we have in this case.

Paul Thompson
302 Posted 02/09/2015 at 11:34:02
The most important point on this thread is made by Peter Morris (#265) – this is as much a retention as a transfer window. It’s too easy to focus on what our rivals have bought, without seeing who they sold. Villa are a case in point: lots in, but their two best players out.

We’ve seen how Southampton (who have some similarities to us in youth set-up) have been decimated by failure to retain or replace. We’ve also seen past examples of mass influx of players who have failed to gel (Sunderland, QPR). This time Watford, Stoke and Villa are trying to repeat the trick.

In recent years, Everton have had to fight hard to retain Baines, Coleman and now, Stones. It’s bullshit to call us a ’selling club’ and Kenwright and Co deserve some credit for this. Fans have to accept that if we don’t sell for our marketable assets then it will restrict funds available for reverse big money signings.

However, on the buying side, I do believe that the club’s strategy has been much less successful. Where it is best is buying cheap and young to develop or sell on (Stones, Coleman, Henen, Holgate). Buying established players in the mid-market has often been erratic and timid. We identify target needs (No 10; striker) and then fail to follow through or wait until it is too late to do good business. If, for example, Cabaye and Payet were available, why didn’t we go for them?

Taken one by one, many of the signings in this window have been good (Deulofeu, Cleverley, Holgate), but in aggregate they have left key needs unaddressed. I am baffled why we have stockpiled so many right wingers when the need in the left, and am unconvinced that spending £9.5M on an Argentinian centre-back when proven alternatives where available for a little more.

In sum – a mixed window, but certainly no ’disaster’.

Brin Williams
303 Posted 02/09/2015 at 11:34:17
Andy Codling (#240) – Evertonians happy with mediocrity again!!

Seems we were unable to land the big fish this time but plenty of little codling about.

Barry Jones
304 Posted 02/09/2015 at 12:04:03
I think with the signing of Funes Mori you have to read between the lines. Stones will be gone by either Christmas or next summer. When a player wants to leave (he handed in a request) the club and player normally reach a compromise. Train and play like a good boy for this season and you will get your reward. There is no way he will be here after this season.
Paul Cherrington
305 Posted 02/09/2015 at 12:12:15
If we’re gonna sell Stones anyway (which I agree is likely), we should have taken the money now while a decent amount was on offer and we needed it to bring people in.
Barry Jones
306 Posted 02/09/2015 at 12:17:19
Jim Knightly, you have discussed the acquisitions of only one so called midtable club, Stoke, and in my opinion, inaccurately. What about Crystal Palace, Swansea, West Ham and even Leicester? Do they think that they will all end up below us in the table too?

At least Stoke (and the other teams mentioned) have bought with balance in mind and not gone out and bought several wingers. We have started reasonably well, let's see how we are doing at Christmas.

Drew Shortis
307 Posted 02/09/2015 at 12:22:25
Barry Jones 271

You may well be right about this, but I had to listen to everyone in the media, work colleagues and a good proportion of posters on ToffeeWeb saying that he was 100% gone in this window, yet he’s still here.

Lets see how this season plays out and worry about it then. As for now, we can forget about transfers and concentrate on what really matters.

Colin Gee
308 Posted 02/09/2015 at 12:49:36
I came back from London on the train last night, picked up a copy of the London Evening Standard (imagine a crapper version of the Echo). And the headline inside the back pages says "Stones is still No 1 target as Chelsea bring in Djilobodji"

In the article, it says that Chelsea will make another attempt to sign Stones in January after Eveton turned down bids of £20M, £26M, £30M and £38M.

So before the window had ’slammed shut’ last night the London Press were already saying that Chelsea will try and sign JS in the next window... And so it starts again...

Richard Reeves
310 Posted 02/09/2015 at 12:57:39
Martinez must've felt that Mori was an important signing to cover for Jagielka in case he gets injured and possibly cover at left back.

The cheap replacement striker with no top flight experience, free signing of Cleverley, ultimately development option of Deulofeu, and no number 10 or additional proven striker to challenge Lukaku, confirms there was no money again to improve the squad in vital areas to take us to the next level.

This tells me that the board were willing to cash in on Stones until something changed their minds. People can point to £20 mill being spent but that was on seven players, on some positions that needed to be covered and prospects for the future. To bring in that playmaker (no 10) would probably cost roughly the same amount and similarly with another proven goalscorer (No 9).

Yet again, the manager will have to make do until the club get the highest price for Stones after a good season and Euros.

Kevin Tully
311 Posted 02/09/2015 at 13:06:01
I think you have to judge this transfer window by taking into account what the manager wanted and what he ended up with.

In that case, I’d say 3/10. Also, I have to give ’dithering Dave’ some credit here. He was obviously waiting for loans to land in August as well. Sorry, Mr Moyes.

Liam Reilly
312 Posted 02/09/2015 at 13:39:09
Mixed Bag

Too many wingers – no Number 10 and the new Daniel Passarella or possibly Per Kroldrup to sit on the bench.

It’s a bit of a mystery who is going to play where.

Peter Morris
313 Posted 02/09/2015 at 13:46:11
Barry (#271),

You are probably right, indeed I wouldn’t give you odds beyond next summer. Certainly, Stones should NOT be rewarded with even more money, as I see some have argued, without in return a couple of years at least being tagged onto the contract.

The Euros feels like the point to me, but I think the risks of us getting less than Chelsea were prepared to go to are small, and worth taking, if only for the message it sends to our other coveted players.

The ideal would be for Stones to sign for one of the big continental players, Bayern Munich perhaps. Anyone rather than those rats in West London. They have behaved appallingly towards EFC, in my opinion.

Raymond Fox
314 Posted 02/09/2015 at 13:48:21
Andy (#240), it's not a question of being satisfied with mediocrity; do you think we can outspend the likes of Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs?
Adam Carey
315 Posted 02/09/2015 at 13:48:30
I think some of the feedback, whilst interesting and often humorous, needs to be reviewed with a little perspective. Funes Mori, even at £9.5M is a reasonable buy for a young attack minded defender who has played in a winning team, (albeit in the Argentinian league). A winning mentality is a good thing.

Lennon, Deulofeu and Cleverley could be sold in the next window for more than twice what we've paid and they all improve the team. Holgate, Rodriguez and Henen are ones for the future and if only one of them pays off we'll be in profit or have a gem on the cheap.

Clearly, Yarmolenko was the one that got away, and something clearly stinks about the deal, whether it is how we wanted to pay or some dodgy dealing from abroad.

Big teams missed out on marquee signings this year. (Chelsea - Stones, Madrid - De Gea, Spurs - Berahino) and if you're telling me that Chelsea wanted that lad from France, Man Utd wanted to pay £36M for an 18-year-old, Arsenal only wanted a goalie, and Man City wanted to spend £100M+ on 2 players just to hit their release clauses.

I think this window as a whole has been hit and miss.

Brian Harrison
316 Posted 02/09/2015 at 13:50:21
I really hope that the correspondents who cover South American football are wrong and RM has worked wonders in getting Funes Mori.

As all the South American correspondents are saying that he isn’t worth the money and is prone to making mistakes, I hope he hasn’t been bought on the basis of his YouTube clips and would be interested to know when RM has seen him play live.

Brian Wilkinson
317 Posted 02/09/2015 at 14:10:13
We have our Number 10 in Ross Barkley, he loves the club, so much so that he tries too hard and focuses too much on not making a mistake and hearing the groans from the fans when he does.

He is young, he will learn from them, but groaning and slating the guy is just going to shoot his confidence to pieces. We need to get behind him, support him. Once the barrackers get off his back, then you will see the real Ross.

He will learn to get his head up, look to play the simple pass, dribble past players, do what hes best at. Until then, we need to get behind him.

Barry Jones
318 Posted 02/09/2015 at 14:25:19
Brian, I would like to think that you are right. We definitely must give Ross plenty of chances to develop into that playmaker that we all want him to be. My only reservations are that I fear he may not have the innate qualities that great Number 10s have.

In this position, you have to be very savvy and see everything that is going on around you in order to make quick decisions. Ross is great at running at people and his ball striking is phenomenal but good Number 10s spot things quickly and release the ball at the right time. This is where Ross needs work.

Peter Williams
319 Posted 02/09/2015 at 14:29:43
Marquee signings?

Marquee is another word for big tent... ie, circus.

Balotelli, Llamela, Soldado, De Maria... just a few marquee signings.

Dennis Ng
320 Posted 02/09/2015 at 14:32:49
Barry, I agree with you and it is this reason we should get a proper functioning number 10 to grow Barkley with. Failing that in this window is my main cause for great concern, especially when our outlay is significantly larger than in past years.
Tim Wardrop
321 Posted 02/09/2015 at 15:08:31
This is from Tim Vickery (a pundit I have a lot of respect for) on BBC re: Mori

"It seems to me that Roberto Martinez has a blind spot when it comes to bringing players straight in from South America. I would love to be wrong about Ramiro Funes Mori. But the only really good thing I can say about him is that language is not going to be a problem. I don't think he has the quality, the physicality or the pace to survive in the Premier League."

Dave Pritchard
322 Posted 02/09/2015 at 15:19:05
Let's hope that Vickery's love (to be wrong) is fulfilled. It is a worrying report but I would rather wait and see what the lad plays like. May not have to wait long to get our first sighting if Oviedo is injured. Appearing against Chelsea would be a real test for him.
David Chait
323 Posted 02/09/2015 at 15:24:04
Two problems with our window: re our #10:

1. We appeared to have all our eggs in one basket; and
2. We left it very late to try sign him.

We should have known in July that Yarmolenko would not come and be able move for the many other quality #10s that moved for much less.

To watch Newcastle, Swansea, Stoke and especially West Ham with Payet all get a #10 that would have fitted us very well smacks of very poor planning and execution.

James Marshall
324 Posted 02/09/2015 at 15:29:35
Funes Mori has just been picked for Argentina again, so he can’t be that bad. Tim Vickery is just a fan like the rest of us, so why anyone gives a whole load of credence to his ramblings is beyond me – he’s just some bloke who happens to live in South America.

Journalists' opinions on footballers means no more than mine or yours. They have zero qualifications to make judgements, merely opinions, like us. Ignore it all. The proof of the pudding...

To the people upset about not buying a marquee player or a Number 10 – just because you have the money, doesn’t mean you can buy who you want or simply conjure the right player out of thin air. Have you ever considered things like squad harmony, or dressing room spirit, or whatever you want to call it?

You can pick names like Ayew, or Yarmolenko all you like, but what do you know about them bar a couple of games you may have seen, or a few YouTube clips? There’s an awful lot more to investing in a player than what you see once or twice.

John Daley
325 Posted 02/09/2015 at 15:36:21
I oan't understand why everyone is putting so much sway in the words of Tim Vickery. The words of most qualified journo's are quickly written off as nothing more than the selective whispers of a shit stirrer on most occasions. Yet, a guy whose 'expertise' rests solely on the fact he emigrated to Brazil and eked out a living as a TEFL tutor whilst watching a bit of togger in his off time, is suddenly viewed as some kind of Oracle.

This is the same guy who said Anderson would be an absolute star at Manchester United and possessed "lots of pace of his own...acceleration like the Millenium Falcon, strength on the ball, and a wonderful left foot".

The fact is, Vickery set his stall out regards Mori early doors and there's no way he can deviate from the 'he's a dud' mantra now without looking like a bit of a dick. Hence him banging on about it all the time. If the player proves him wrong and goes on to have a storming season I'm sure he won't be so quick to keep dragging the guy's name up every sodding chance he gets.

James Stewart
326 Posted 02/09/2015 at 15:48:04
Vickery has come under a lot of fire on here but he knows his stuff generally but it sounds to me like he has an agenda/history with Martinez. Sour grapes due to Martinez never seeking his advice when other mangers did.

I wouldn't read too much into his assessment of Mori, pace is one of his biggest assets. He is quick! Pace is the last thing you would call him out on.

Liam Reilly
327 Posted 02/09/2015 at 16:13:24
Last time I checked, the Argies were the Number 1 team in World Football and this guy is in their squad and highly regarded by their coach.

Vickery, like many journalists, gets it right some of the time but a broken clock is right twice a day; so let’s just wait and see.


Steavey Buckley
328 Posted 02/09/2015 at 17:45:35
After assessing the current playing staff, Everton are still lacking an attacking edge to even compete with the likes of West Ham and Crystal Palace, who have turned over major opposition that Everton could not match at present.
Jamie Tulacz
329 Posted 02/09/2015 at 18:40:25
On a brighter note, at least Aaron Lennon looks a bit more cheery in his signing-on photos this time...!
David Booth
330 Posted 02/09/2015 at 18:42:11
I am extremely worried that, with Lennon’s arrival, only injuries or desperation will prevent Martinez from turning us into nothing more than a team of slavish grafters.

We were crying out for width at Tottenham – but, instead of playing Mirallas (whose spectacular half-volley sparked our revival at Barnsley) and Deulofeu (who gave one of the most inspiring performances I have ever seen in an Everton shirt), he plays Kone out of position on the right and Cleverley out of position on the left. Then brings Naismith on!

And as for his obstinate persistence with the now wholly ineffective Barry - McCarthy axis... words not only fail me, but every other Evertonian. Is there ANYONE out there who thinks it works any more?

I think we are close to having what can be regarded as a ’People’s Choice’ first XI:

Howard
Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines
McCarthy, Barkley, Cleverley (preferably Pienaar when fit?)
Mirallas, Lukaku, Deulofeu

However, in front of our keeper and back four I am sure Martinez gets a fattie on fantasing about the day when he can play Lennon, Naismith, Barry, McCarthy, Cleverley and Kone and grab a hard-earned point at West Brom.

After a wonderful debut season, he has gone worryingly backwards and it is now safety first and being more concerned about the opposition, than focusing on making them concerned about us.

One final thing that occurs to me too, when we play a more marauding style, with Mirallas, Lukaku and Deulofeu all going direct to goal as soon as they they get the ball, Barkley becomes twice the player.

All hard work and no play however, alongside the likes of Barry, Naismith and now that failed headless chicken, Lennon, makes him a very dull boy!

Crossroads looming large on the horizon, Roberto. Make sure you choose the right direction...

Andy Crooks
331 Posted 02/09/2015 at 18:52:06
Excellent, David Booth. We cannot talk about who we missed in the window when the players we have are misused. We need the best from our squad and, in my view,our current coach is incapable of producing it. I would have done without a single signing if the money was used to compensate and say farewell to Roberto Martinez.
Darren Hind
332 Posted 02/09/2015 at 19:09:58
"Those stating Kenwright could not have sold Stones do not understand football" ... dear me.

I go as far to say that those claiming Kenwright could have sold Stones don't even begin to understand Everton.

All summer, Kenwright could have put this sorry saga to bed but he lurked in the background as his manager faced a continued and concerted media frenzy.

Martinez managed the situation and he managed it alone; if Kenwright got the faintest whiff that his resolve was wavering, Stones would already be wearing the blue of Chelsea.

Let's be clear here: Kenwright has previous for selling our better players, but Martinez manipulated the situation quite superbly. Anyone who thinks Kenwright could/would possibly have flogged Stones after Martinez had rounded on Chelsea and the media alike needs their head examined. He had won the total support of even long time critics like me. To over rule him would have been a catastrophic move... and Kenwright knew it.

It's worth noting that it wasn't until the 11th hour when Billy rode in on his white charger... where'd he been all summer?

This transfer window HAS been a disgrace, despite the staggering amount of Sky money falling into the laps of our board. The manager still did not get anywhere near the support he was expecting.

Every Evertonian should be deeply disturbed that we finished comfortably below Stoke last season. I feel very sad that we now have fans who are examining their window in an attempt to justify our own.

If Bill Kenwright is reading TW tonight, he will be sitting very comfortably on his non-contributing arse

Andy Crooks
333 Posted 02/09/2015 at 19:19:07
I agree, Darren. The squad is not strong enough. Our coach named where the improvements were needed and did not get them. I have grave concerns about Martinez but not about his single-handed defence of our club this summer.

I believe that Bill Kenwright is either utterly out of his depth or is cynically manipulating Evertonians.

Steve Barr
334 Posted 02/09/2015 at 19:43:48
Pasted below is the Telegraph’s verdict on our transfer activity. They have us pushing tfor a tiop 6 finish based on the deals done!
What they wanted - Roberto Martinez said he wanted a striker, a number ten and more defenders. He also made it clear how keen he was to secure Tom Cleverley, but - most important – he was determined to retain the youthful core of his squad and resist bids for John Stones and Ross Barkley.

What they got - Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu’s arrival delighted Roberto Martinez but the fans never got the major name they wanted. Keeping John Stones from Chelsea was probably the most significant piece of business. Striker Leandro Rodriguez and defender Ramiro Funes Mori are unknown quantities, but Aaron Lennon still has time in his career to flourish.

Verdict - There is enough here to keep Goodison optimists – of which Martinez is the biggest - looking forward. The cynics insist there is a lack of dynamism in the transfer market. A number ten never did arrive but the potential is in the squad to challenge for the top six and perhaps the top four.

Ins: Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona), Tom Cleverley (Man United), David Henen (Olympiakos), Mason Holgate (Barnsley), Ramiro Funes Mori (River Plate).

Selected outs: Sylvain Distin (Bournemouth), Luke Garbutt (Fulham, loan), Chris Long (Burnley), Antolin Alcaraz (released).

Aidy Dews
335 Posted 02/09/2015 at 21:06:41
I must admit, at the time of the window closing I was pissed off that we had not got a playmaker in! For me that was the main position we needed to fill and im sure Martinez would of given Kenwright & Elstone a list of targets and they've both failed him massively in not bringing one in. It was and still is a problematic position for us.

Also I'd of liked a more proven striker brought in to give competition to Lukaku but it seems as though Martinez is going to show some faith in Leandro.

But when you put the disappointments aside, we have done some decent business. We got Deulofeu back like a lot wanted. We know his quality and what he can bring to the table and he's going to be a big asset for us this season. Cleverley as come in on and free and leading up to his injury he was showing up really well. We've brought Lennon back and although personally I don't think we really need him, he will add much needed pace to the side and work rate. Then both Mori & Leandro bring that surprise factor, that unknown quantity to the team and hopefully they turn out to be shrewd signings but they will need time, maybe the whole season to adjust to the pace of the league?!

We've signed players up to new deals, kept Stones and now we need to give our all this season and make it successful!

I'm not daft enough to know though that next summer, Stones could end up leaving. I'm not so sure Chelsea will come back in, so it could leave a door open for United, but he was being watched by Barca a season or 2 a go but they felt he was too inexperienced and went for Vermaelen instead, so who knows, has a great season for us, goes and plays well for England at the Euros and puts himself right on the map, with their transfer ban well and truly up aswell, they could come calling again with a massive bid?!

But I think we need to let him get back from international duty, let the dust settle after all that went on in the window, and sit him down and try and show to him first that we really do value him and offer him new terms before he makes any decision on what he wants to do with his future!

On other issues, people need to stop listening to that Tim Vickery! Thinks he knows absolutely everything about Sth. American football and even tries to have a dig at Martinez about him signing Boseli but if your after a striker at Wigan and see someone who scores over 30 goals in just over 50 games then why wouldn't you take a risk on him? Man Utd were watching him at some stage and took a fancy so he can't of done that bad before England.

But that Vickery is slating Mori yet this lad as broke into the Argentine national side and is back up to Garay & Otamendi and keeping the likes of Musacchio & Fede Fernandez of Swansea out of the squad and for me, their no mugs either! So he must have something about him!

And as for Leandro, I don't believe for one second he knows more about this lad than our scouts do! He's just judged the league and just made an assumption that he'll be shite. You go and look at the stats of both Suarez & Cavani who started out in that league before moving to Europe and there goal scoring stats aren't as great as they are now! But they've come to Europe, improved over the years and are world class players! I'm not for one minute saying Leandro will end up so, but to write him off for playing in a shite league is just stupid! You need to watch these lads after a prolonged period, let them settle and then take judgement!

But hey, this Tim Vickery, the "expert" on Sth. American football, once said Paulinho & Lamela are world class talents and those 2 would make Spurs instant title contenders upon signing them and they've not got close and one is now in China and the other can't get a move out of Spurs! So yeah, he's a great judge of player over there...

But I for one wish em the best and hope they do great and contribute greatly to the cause!

Dennis Stevens
336 Posted 02/09/2015 at 21:38:05
I presume the club can still sign out-of-contract players even though the transfer window is now shut. There must be one or two that could improve the squad, even if it’s just an experienced centre-half to provide cover.
Ernie Baywood
337 Posted 02/09/2015 at 21:55:53
Exactly Aidy. How many good South American footballers are there? Is not like it's a part of the world that doesn't produce players. What league do we expect that they will start out in?

Very relaxed about the Leandro signing. In modern terms he's costing next to nothing and who knows what he could be.

Higher expectations from Mori with the fee but let's see him in the pitch before we make a judgement.

Martin Mason
338 Posted 02/09/2015 at 22:20:58
There's 2 possibilities, one is that the squad isn't strong enough and the other is that it is and we aren't seeing the best of it. Moyes left a side that qualified for the CL, we've improved it in quality and depth since then so I go for the latter. RM is a great guy and I'm sure that he's very knowledgeable but I think he is the problem not the solution.
Raymond Fox
339 Posted 02/09/2015 at 22:24:45
Wise words James 296.

I liked what I saw of Lennon last season, he has to be a plus.

We need to give the South American players some time to get acclimatised so to speak, both with the football and the culture.

Can't be easy.

John Daley
340 Posted 02/09/2015 at 23:23:12
"Moyes left a side that qualified for the CL"

How's that then?

Patrick Murphy
341 Posted 02/09/2015 at 23:42:01
Martinez takes the rap for taking a CL team to its best ever points total in the PL era? I must have been on holiday when Moyes took us to the CL before he left, well arguably he did but it was almost a decade before he left.

Villarreal, Martin... do you remember, Yellow Submarines, iffy Italian Ref, lost both legs and we haven’t been near the CL places since.

Oh yeah ,we nearly got there in Roberto’s first season with that record points total I mentioned. Back the board at all costs Martin and blame everybody else: the manager, the players, the supporters...

Winston Williamson
342 Posted 02/09/2015 at 23:56:42
I like Martinez's overall plan (I'll avoid the word 'philosophy'...shit!) of buying a core set of younger players and allowing them to develop into the spine of the team.

I like his choice of young players too.

However, his tactics and style of play, for the large parts, bore and frustrate me.

The thing I liked about Moyes' teams was they closed down their opponents. If Martinez can instil that intensity to his team (and employ a bloody specialised defensive coach) I'd be happier.

David Smith
343 Posted 03/09/2015 at 03:07:40
Not sure if anyone’s familiar with New York, but I was just walking along the road in Queens, next to Queens Center mall wearing my Everton shirt and someone (presumably Argentinian) drove past, wound down his car window and shouted FUNES MORI! and gave me a thumbs-up.....

I'm not sure whether he meant "This guy's great!," or "Why the hell did you buy him?"

Phil Sammon
344 Posted 03/09/2015 at 04:29:42
A few on here, myself included, have been giving some long-overdue stick to Tim Vickery lately. He doesn't rate Mori and he's entitled to his opinion.

However...

I heard his interview regarding our acquisition on 5Live and the silly twat plumbed new depths even for him.

I'll paraphrase...

"Basically Boselli was shit, Martinez hasn't learnt his lesson and now he's got Mori, who is worse than shit."

That's right. If one South American fails, they all must be shit.

Now an actual quote...

"A Premier a League manager rang me and asked me what I thought of Boselli and I told him to stay well away."

And finally,

"Mori doesn't have what it takes...but I'll be presently surprised if I'm wrong."

Talk about having your cake and eating it! Did anyone ask Vickery his opinion on Forlan before signing him?! How's Lamela doing? It's all very well cherry picking the ones you got right, Tim. I thought Adel Taraabt was going to be the next Zidane!

I'm tempted to jack my job in and go live in some far flung corner of the world masquerading as a 'soccer journalist'. If that mug can craft out a career then so can I.

Paul Ward
346 Posted 03/09/2015 at 05:49:56
Please read (David Booth 202 & Andy Crooks 203) because by Christmas, Martinez will be the main talking point. By then, most posters will finally realise, whatever players at his disposal, he is incapable of selecting a team with balance or adaptability.

So many managers in the past like Kendall, had humble beginnings but bought the right players and used them to their full potential. Martinez uses players to fit in to his obsessive plan that he will not change.

John Voigt
347 Posted 03/09/2015 at 12:34:37
Everton have a very good core but blew the chance (my opinion) at making a real run the the Champions League spots cause the Blues won’t score enough goals this season with the squad they have.

Lukaku will score as many goals as a "Giroud" who plays for a club that will make Champions League (most likely).

Everton had the chance this summer to add true playmakers and attacking players that SCORE GOALS, but Everton sat on their hands, didn’t spend and it’s going to cost us a chance to really push for a top 4 position in the league.

All you have to do is compare the Blues squad to the likely top 4 teams and see we are well short on talent and also laking goal scorers.

I’m a Yank and in Yank jargon, "This Sucks Big-time"!!!

Stones has stayed, Barkley is a year older and more mature, Lukaku is getting better and he score 10+ goals every year and will do it again if he stays healthy. Why Everton can’r recognize they need to take a chance this season and make it a truly special one is beyond me.

Cleverley is a very good addition but he doesn’t score goals.

Lennon is a decent option but he’s only going to score around 6 times.

Where are the goals going to come from?

Kone is a good option and I like the fact he plays and balls are now snt his direction instead of Lukaku. Kone’s 1st touch is better than Lukaku’s so it’s been positive, but the Lukaku/Kone tandem can’t play all 38 games.

I like Naismith and he might score 6-8 times, but it’s not enough.

Oh well, I’ll still root for the Blues and hope a miracle happens cause that’s what it’s going to take this season!

Richard Reeves
348 Posted 03/09/2015 at 14:09:43
I would be useless as a manager... my defence would probably be shipping in goals left, right and centre. The reason I say this is because, with the lack of funds available, I would be focusing on the goalscoring department and be taking risks with the defence.

I would've hoped Jags stayed fit all season and brought in a youth player to fill in at left back until Oviedo, Galloway or Baines are fit. Browning would be my cover for Stones and I would give Pennington more games when Coleman needed a rest.

I would've used the Mori money and the Naismith money to bring in Austin and I would partner them up front in most games, I wouldn’t've bothered with Lennon but I might've if there was no-one else better for the £7 mill I would have left.


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads

© ToffeeWeb