Koeman hints at further ins and outs

We're well over halfway through January, and dealings with players such as Belfodil and Depay means we're really looking to strengthen the squad, I just hope we're well prepared to deal with the last part of the window.

Looks like if Plan A didn't work, we don't do Plan B but find another Plan A (bring in real quality).

I see Perez is being underused by Arsenal. His goals scored and assists stats this season are excellent considering the limited time he's played. Looks like Walsh was spot on with him.

Van Dijk is too much money for 18 good months in the Premier League – he could well be a world beater, but he needs to prove it over 3 seasons to be worth what Southampton are asking.

But if I do give it a bit of thought, certainly re this season, getting players in now (the right players obviously) could be a lot better for us.

Sure Sunday's result gave us all a huge boost (and hopefully leads to us taking off like a rocket) but the probability is that this season is, to all intents and purposes, over (re actually achieving anything) and we are now looking at next season.

And if it does turn out that way, it might be better to begin 2017-18 season with a settled squad and avoid the usual summer of ins and outs.

It might help us to hit the start of a season with a completely settled squad of players who know each other and know each other's games and it could give us (or anyone) an advantage to say 'actually we did all our business early so let's get on with pre-season.'

Just an idle thought.

Lukaku has done incredibly well (or been incredibly fortunate) to avoid missing more than a couple of games through injury over recent years, but if anything were to happen to him, who have we got capable of stepping up in his stead?

Better to get the right people than panic and pay over 㿊m for Moussa Sissoko!

And some of our midfielders offer such little goal threat (Gueye, Schneiderlin, Bolasie, Lennon etc); we do really need some more firepower.

Valencia played top striker at Pachuca and won the Liga MX scoring title with 18 in 23. Mirallas played top striker at Olympiacos and won the league scoring title with 20 in 25. Plus there's Calvert-Lewin.

And who knows, in case of emergency we might finally discover the England striker hidden inside Ross Barkley.

So I'm not sure we should spend major money for a striker to cover the possibility that Rom misses a big chunk of games. If he goes down with a hamstring for a few weeks, we do have some decent short-term options.

You are right – we do have back up for Lukaku in Mirallas and Valencia and I believe that is why we brought Valencia in on loan in a bit of desperation at the end of the last window.

But, whether or not this is "decent" cover, I don't think it's good enough cover if we want to break into the top 6. But there's no point in bringing in ordinary players – something I like about Koeman, he seems very picky.

It's really difficult to play a 4-2-3-1, without a "1".

And I think Fonte would have been worth a punt at ٦m.

I know that normally the bulk of transfers are done in the summer, but we have to face the likelihood that our top striker will be off at the end of the season.

Just because we have had "radio silence" for a few months, doesn't mean that he is looking forward to the rest of the "project". I suspect that Ron has promised him a move and that is why he is keeping schtum.

For the following season, I'm hoping he can add to the squad with more of the youth (if they're good enough) so that the additions needed won't be many, maybe a couple of big statement players, hopefully attackers or strikers.

I think Manolas or Van Dyck should be the minimum standard for CB otherwise we might as well stick with what we have until the summer.

Keeping a clean sheet against City is no mean feat and maybe once Gueye gets back with Schneiderlin and Davies we will be really strong at the back.

Robles has done well of late but I can't see him being our No 1 long term. Baines has certainly slowed down and any fast winger will get crosses in against him as we've seen this season. Whilst our centre halves can be solid for the most part, none of them are that commanding in the air.

For me I hoped this window we would see goal scoring midfielders,/wingers and a striker come in. Maybe Lookman will be that player but when you look at other seasons we had goals from Mirallas, Lennon, Kone and Barkley. This year Ross has 4 and then Coleman & Mirallas have 3 so I think we need to get more goals from midfield. I can't see Gana and Schneiderlin getting many goals so hopefully we'll see another goal scorer come in soon.

There is the attraction of Champions League football, the draw of London, particularly for foreign players, and their wives and girlfriends. Spurs have leap frogged us in the last 5 years, because they are able to tick these boxes-money, stadium, location and prospects and their new ground is getting the all important cheese tasting room ffs! Obviously aimed at the French!

I think we lost out on Perez in the summer because it was Arsenal we were up against. Perez knew he would get more game time with us, and that we could match the cash, but he still chose the ArsE.

This is still going to be a long haul, if not such an impossible dream as it once was. Bramley Moore Dock will take care of a lot of the barriers I think, but again a long way to go there, and most of the available 'space' is in fact water.

I think a lot of clubs have cottoned on to the fact that the January window is an agents/theives dream where they like to move their assets to the highest bidder, so clubs are a bit more reticent to make deals right now.

The Said Berahino one is a strange one. Two seasons ago they (WBA) could've got £20m, or more, and refused. Now he's valued at less than half of that and they still don't want to sell and he can leave for free in the summer! Very strange imo.

Listening to Koemans references to the chairman, Bill is still calling the shots or should I say shits?

If nothing changes we'll have Rom, Lookman, Valencia, Lennon and Mirallas as our only real options for upfront and the wings. If Rom gets injured we are in trouble. Hopefully Koeman has something in mind before the deadline as it could be a long few months ahead.

I think that shows Koeman just won't take in players for the sake of numbers and so when the price went over £10M he probably thought nah it's not worth it. Walsh seems to be recommending a lot of Algerian players with Ghezzal also on his list.

Don't forget we'll soon have back Calvert-Lewin as well who you would hope is better than Valencia. I'd like to see a right sided midfielder being brought in. Pity Mourinho started to play Mata again as he would be excellent for us.

You said: Expect the usual frantic, frenetic last day of the window, missing all the main targets and bringing in the make weights.

Goes against what honest Ron said:

"I hope [to see more incomings]," he said.

"We are working on that but only when we can get players in who can make the team stronger.

"I don't bring players in to get more numbers because that is not what I like."

Don't you believe Honest Ron?

I also completely mistrust Lying Bill and his capacity for fucking up.

I guess we'll know soon enough.

As I've said on another thread, the manager has to deliver with some promptness but I get the feeling that he's gaining the players' respect and/or compliance – even if he's a bit of a distant, over-frank twat. That's a winning combination: fear/faint resentment with obedience and performance. Keep at it, Ronald.

I'm quite happy to be told that this is bollocks, I should make clear.

We definitely dodged one there. Pulis has been clever played politics and got shut.

Also Tony, if Koeman takes no prisoners then he is sending out the harsh message that many modern players and their parasite agents won't enjoy. Basically don't join my project if your first objective is cash not success. I do think this is most good, for sure.

That really would be a step towards success. A player who wins vital games. A blue Sergio shirt.

We have 10 players out on loan, apart from Geri, is there any real prospect of offloading any/most of them. Do we want him to leave anyway?

Griffiths is on loan for his development. One for the future between the sticks?

Will Hull seriously bid for Niasse or use him and send him back at the end of the season.

Watford could possibly bid for Cleverley.

However, we still have Gibson on contract until 2018. No offers that we are aware of. Who would take a chance on him. He must have been smiling when his contract was extended!

Barry and Jags contracts expire in June. Give Barry a coaching contract and release Jags in recognition for his service. He may well leave during this window, but wants to stay and fight for his place!

"Tom Davies has made clear his ambition is to become an established first-team regular with Everton after signing a new five-year contract to June 2021."

This, taken from Tom's Wiki page.

"Davies signed a new five-year contract with Everton in August 2016"

He became eighteen at the end of June 2016, he signed a five year contract in August 2016, so Everton have been on the ball with lad, nobody will be surprised when he signs another new contract very shortly.

I've ditched my info source.

Happy days😀