Koeman eyes productivity as recruitment drive beckons

This summer will show us if Mr Money Man is all talk or not... Koeman has done okay for Season One, he has lost some of the fans with his away record, but you can't have it all – it's a 3-year project.

More often than not we seem to muddle through the window, missing out on those who were (allegedly) our top targets and are then left scrabbling around for attainable alternatives after the season has already started.

At least we've got something of an excuse for not getting them in before the first game this time, I suppose.

Regardless, it will all be easier to swallow if Moshiri has learnt from last summer and can refrain from pressing 'send' at the end of any texts that might have Jim White' s testes tightening and him telling us all about "earth shattering events set to happen at Everton in the next six days" etc.

For most of the season we've bemoaned the fact that we're not creative enough, don't get enough goals from midfield, service to Rom isn't good enough etc.

Now Ron comes out and says that getting in players that can fix this is a clear objective and, if they can do the business they're wanting to do in the summer, we will be much stronger in this area for next season.

He brought Bolasie in to contribute to this and he got badly injured. He gave Deulofeu his chance and he didn't take it. He's done the same with Ross and he's not taken it. We've offered Ross a new contract – he's not signed it.

So – where does that leave us as a creative force? Empty. There is nothing there which means he's got to start afresh and get the players in that he and we know the team needs if it's going to threaten next season.

So why the cynicism…..? What do you want the bloke to say? What do you want him to focus on?

It's up to the board and the recruitment team to do the business but personally I couldn't be happier that Koeman is publicly stating this is his priority for next season. If it doesn't happen I imagine he'll be pointing the finger at the hierarchy far harder than we will.

Give him a break.

Nearly 30 years ago... jeez.

Shhhh Ron, don't give the masterplan away.

I am interested to know what Steve Walsh is doing as it appears to me that he is doing lots of work getting young players in but very little on the first team. The truth is that Everton will not be able to get top players in the door. Koeman will use that to make excuses when Everton are unable to break into the top four.

Five clubs above Everton will be able to take the cream players: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and now Manchester Utd who can all offer Champions League football. It's the chicken-and-egg situation. How do you get top players at your club? By being in the Champions League... and how do you get in the Champions League? By having top players at your club.

Losing Lukaku and Barkley – it's like building a house with strong foundation then losing the foundation and having to knock the whole house down and start again, rather than having the strong foundation already and then just adding onto it.

I feel sorry for Koeman, sold a dream by the club but he will be off by the end of next season when the dream becomes a nightmare. Apart from all the positive stuff above, have a nice day.

The club is in the best situation it's been in for a very long time.

We have the Europa League (almost at least) – which, if not anything else, it gives Koeman the chance to bring in a lot of good players.

I'm hoping for consistent players, as well as exciting players.

GK: Butland / Pickford (hopefully both)

CB: Romagnoli

CB: Manolas (or a big marquee CB)

LB: Chilwell & Sessegnon

RB: Walsh special (not many obvious fits out there)

CDM: Dendonker (great young player from Anderlecht - 6'-2" & still 21 years old)

CM: Klaassens (consistent & productive)

CAM: Sigurdsson / Rooney

CF/Winger: Sandro

ST: Iheanacho

The magnificent seven which turned into two, both goalkeepers... oh, and John Bailey wasn't bad.

Come August we will need to have addressed a number of key issues – Goalkeeper, Centre-Half, Play-maker and Strength in depth. That's not to mention the ongoing situation with the contract impasses of Barkley and Lukaku.

The real work is not really for Koeman but Walsh and the board of directors. A repeat of last season and it will be much of the same.

Bringing in new players is one way of trying to attain more productivity, but so is improving tactics with the current squad. You need both in my opinion: (1) getting the best out of the players currently available, setting the tactics and team selection accordingly, and (2) bringing in new players where possible to build on (1).

I'm not convinced that Koeman has done enough with regard to (1), and our poor away form compared to our good home form is relevant here. Trouble for me is, Koeman is always focusing only (so far as I can see) on how the players perform, and on how we need new players. I'm not aware of him focusing on improving his tactics and team selection, on his improving as he learns lessons given the resources he has available.

This concerns me. I'm not criticising Koeman for his productivity comments, but I am concerned that they might detract from the issue of good tactics and getting the best from current players. I wouldn't want to see him blaming lack of productivity solely on his current limited resources. They are limited, but that's not the only factor in productivity.

If we wanted to sign Wayne Routledge and James Tomkins, I'm sure we could probably make good offers and have them wrapped up within a week or so. But trying to sign the likes of Koulibaly or Dolberg or Michael Keane even is much harder as they will probably have more options and be keen to wait and delay to see who else gives them an offer. I believe this is what happened with Alex Witsel last Summer, who had agreed terms in principle but waited and waited for a better offer.

The higher you aim, the harder it is. Hopefully having Europe will give us a slight edge over last year but I still expect a drawn out affair. Hopefully we'll see some Walsh gems come in early but any of the high profile moves will no doubt linger on for eons...

The most important players are those already at your club. We need a year of togetherness unhindered by transfer speculation about prima donnas with people begging to die for the shirt, that's the only way we'll make progress.

Will we be stronger at the end of the transfer window? Somehow I doubt it but I already have two season tickets so hope springs eternal. I just don't think top, top players will come to Everton.

I would like to see Dowell given a chance, that boy has some class.

Sadly, Robles is not the answer, as every 'keeper by definition can be relied upon to make an eye-catching save every now and again, which he does. But he is too fallible on too many occasions.

Butland would be the man to take us forward and someone on whom we could build a solid foundation for the future. However, Stoke beat us to his signature in the first place and I am not sure we have a realistic chance of prizing him away from them now.

And in front of him, we need an imposing, influential, inspirational centre-half. Van Dijk would appear to be attracting too much attention now for us to be his preferred choice. But was anyone else as impressed as I was with Ajax's Davinson Sanchez last night? Could he be worth a look?

Klaassen, meanwhile, looked like the Dutch Eredivisie was about his level...

The problem with any player coming from the Dutch League is that they invariably find the pace of the Premier League too much. However, there are also many success stories, and I would guess you can't know how they'll cope until you give them a try.

I would prefer we look at Germany and France for some young talent. Their leagues are more similar to the Premier League.

A manager, especially one of the highest paid in the world, should be getting the best out of what we have at present. He should have the leadership qualities to change the absence of a winning mentality at Everton, with the players we have. New signings then add to that, but we can't and shouldn't depend on them happening.

We could and should have progressed more in the domestic cup competitions with the players we have. We could progress well in the Europa League with the squad we have, so long as teams are set up well with the right attitude. Man Utd are no great shakes, after all.

They've been in for almost a year, scoured the planet for talent, and they come up with the mighty Southampton's 3rd choice right back on a free. What a statement of intent that is! Only at Everton can we go from 'fee agreed' for Sigurdsson, to signing Martina in a couple of days. Amazing stuff.

Can't wait to see the back 5 of Stekelenburg, Martina, Jagielka, Williams & Baines. I can sense the shudder of fear throughout Europe.

4 goals one assist from 12 game isn't that bad. If he had've stayed with us and got those stats he'd have been our third top scorer. I think he would have scored more than that with us and certainly more goals than Enner Valencia.

He said weeks ago that more productivity was required this summer. Some criticised him for allegedly undermining the players. Now he repeats it and some seem critical again, inferring it's just occurred to him.

For the record he and his employers have said they're now one third on the way through their 'project' to get the club qualified for the Champions League, so what's Koeman supposed to say to the media when they ask him questions about the sort of player we're seeking to achieve it – they having the right to do so and he having the contractual responsibility to answer?

He was born in Rotterdam and once played for a Dutch team. Hopefully that's the only reason our Dutch coach is being linked with this gash player.

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"Only at Everton can we go from 'fee agreed' for Sigurdsson, to signing Martina in a couple of days. Amazing stuff".

What's amazing is that that is true. Well...

Might have more to do with the fact he's the manager who signed him for Southampton?

Paying 㿈M for Rom in 2014 was a major step for our club as we had previously spent years going for the cheap option. Of course there is a huge element of luck involved with new signings; I really hope Koeman and Walsh have some highly rated strikers in mind to replace Rom.

I see Belfodil scored 14 goals last year for Standard Liege. Slimani only scored 8 for Leicester. It looks like Defoe is off to his first club, Bournemouth.

Seriously, who will pay £50m for Barkley or £100m for Lukaku? Fine, we don't intend to sell, but we expect other clubs who don't intend to sell to accept our bids then?

And it's starting to feel déjà vu with players we are linked to drifting away: Tielemans, Pickford, Rooney, Sigurdsson, Van Dijk – the list goes on.

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I'm anxious to see the direction of the the club's ambitions by the type of players they bring in.

Hopefully those two are the reasons why this plum average player is being linked with us and not because we actually are getting him.

ps: You forget point out Martina also played for Ronald's brother at RKC Waalwijk for two years.

He's simply not capable of attracting big names and getting the deals over the line. I'm basing that accusation on every single summer since he has been chairman.

See you at midnight on transfer deadline day.

I hope that's not at Holgate's expense. We need the lad to play to develop. Also, I would like to see Kenny get a run.

I no forget point out nothing. I just not know.

I can't see that Martina gives us any more "productivity" then say young Kenny. Still, it is only a rumour, so I shall settle back into my chair, watch the world go by, and wait for good news.

You not know a lot.

What will happen is we will sell Ross, bring in a replacement, and offer the guy mores wages than 𧴜k.

This could have been sorted months ago: Do you want to play for Everton, what is it you are looking for, then we will assess and either meet or decline.

Thanks. I'm old enough to remember but maybe too old to remember properly! I just looked it up. I remember the signings but not that they were all completed in advance.

I think we all need a break.

Schneiderlin joined us early in January for a number of reasons:-
1. No one bigger than us was making a move for him in January;
2. He played for Koeman before;
3. He didn't have to move house.

Had it been now, then Schneiderlin would have waited for other options. Players will always be told, don't worry Everton is in the bag, let's just wait and see if we can get anything else.

The type of player we want, will always want better than were they think we are. We can only get players who think we're as good as they can get, to come here early.

Indeed. Shame old Everton. No certainties in any part of the game now but, when the new regime burst into town last year, who would've anticipated the way this transfer window feels it may pan out.

There may be some pleasant surprises to come but I personally feel that everything around the cases of The Departing Two, the PR, the handling, some (rumoured) targets, is painting a very familiar picture.

No quick fix just yet.

To suggest otherwise is letting him off the hook in terms of taking some responsibility for bad team performances. He may turn out to be a fantastic manager given time, but the jury is surely out on him at the moment. I for one would like to see him openly take more responsibility instead of focusing on individual player performances and repeating that they need to 'press' more.

I'm not sure they exist, but I'm hoping Walsh and the manager can find them.

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Reality is we are 7th place in England, with 5 clubs in the Champions League. You could argue we our fishing in a different pond but many still choose to warm their arses on a heated seat in the top 4.

The buzz word is productivity, lost in translation or not, I'm so skeptical that Koeman won't alter his tactics that I can't see even Macgyver or the A-team wrestle free of his iron clad dourness.

There's a sign at Goodison Park that says "Keep off the grass", with Ronko the players take that seriously as a tactical order, a lot of hoof and not so much productivity.

So let's see if the expected influx of ball jugglers, magicians and big sky thinkers change Ronko's approach to tactics.

Remember once he hacked and whacked as a top defender, he had Gullit, Van Basten to pass to... where's our Dutch masters?

I think you should start every post with "For the record, I don't like Ronald Koeman", just to clear up any confusion

Mate, just say it out loud: "I don't like him."

You suggest that giving a manager credit for improving points total and league position is letting him off the hook, but what did you really expect from this season? Do you really think that any of the 6 teams above us have worse squads?

Of all the players we are linked with, we are up against teams below us. It indicates absolutely that they do not see us as closing the gap to the top six.

Any hope of progress looks like being down solely to Walsh's left-field rabbit-out-of-the-hat signings.

I do think we have higher expectations of Moshiri than he can or will deliver.

I hope I am wrong, but...

As Doc Holliday almost said in 'Tombstone': "Why Eg(erton), whatever do you mean?"

It's ok. Rhetorical question. I know what you meant really:

"WHAT?!? You mean you don't have a rudimentary knowledge of the recent history of RKC Waalwijk? Where have you been? Probably dining out on baby rusks and partaking in banjo duels, I'll bet.

I myself have known for five whole minutes. Just let that sink in... five minutes. I am now steeped in knowledge of Southampton's reserve right-back. I know him intimately (not literally, we've never met). I'm Will Graham to his Hannibal.

You know how? I make a point of Googling every single player Everton are linked with, prior to getting on YouTube and perusing piss-ant 'highlight' reels with oddly ill-suited music. Particularly when it's a player I've got designs on prematurely dismissing as "gash" and "plum average".

Preparation. That's the key. Remember that. Then the next time someone addresses you with a mangled arse of a sentence starting "You forget point out", (when meaning "You forgot to point out") you might not look so fucking stupid".

....or something along those lines.

Joot is quite fashionable too Russell Griffiths has just been released kinda like Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy.

Don't do Facebook, more your Twitter type. Soz n that.

Could you explain the difference between a "whack" and "pass" please? If you're saying that Ron had Gullit and Van Basten to "pass" to then I'm not sure I understand your use of the term "whack" in the previous section of your post. Where exactly did he "whack" the ball and who did he "whack" it too?

I believe a "pass" in football would be 'hopefully' an accurate moving of the ball from one player to another, whereby a "whack" would suggest an aimless movement of the ball anywhere. Not too sure about "hacked" either.

I saw that Rooney has supposedly said today "I've played for two Premier League clubs and they're the only two Premier League clubs I'll play for", but I'm holding out hope that means he might fancy a move abroad.

He'd walk into the back four of all the teams above us. So I think that's it.

That ship has sailed, folks. We've got Walsh to uncover the next Van Dijk... haven't we?

Wima.

If they do in fact leave, It will essentially mean we have only two guaranteed first-team starters: Gueye and Schneiderlin.

In front of them, we need 3 creative midfielders or attackers and a main goalscorer. Davies, Lookman, Mirallas, Bolasie and maybe Williams and Dowell will have a role, but are not definite starters.

Added to the need for 2 centre backs, and 2 wing backs and a keeper... We have a lot of work to do.

You know, a debate doesn't have to become polarised between 'I love him' and 'I hate him'. It can be a bit more subtle and in-between these extremes.

If Kenwright is really in pole position on controlling signings, aided and abetted by our CEO, then there is a big stumbling block. I am surprised that Moshiri is going to sit back if it is the case as Ronald may decide to depart out of frustration? It was clear he had to read a riot act, publicly, to get the Schneiderlin deal to happen.

If Kenwright is trying to retain Ross (and I sympathize with that) then we could see Ronald left out to dry? When so much is set to happen, simultaneously, such as our 2 best players departing, a major overhaul and changing of the guard, decisions on the new ground to be taken, preparations for Europe, incoming players eventually coming in, then the management is really up against it!

Are we on the cusp of something really good, or are the wheels going to come of big time? Ronald and Steve Walsh need to show what they're made of this summer, and so does Mr. Moshiri.

You don't think that's a good reason?

Well (shakes head) fair enough, but personally, I instinctively feel more of a kinship with anyone who happen to have been born on roughly the same piece of land I happen to have been born on.

He was a functional part of two great teams, Holland and Barcelona. His role was a simple one and he was strong powerful defender who often resorted to fairly foul means to get the ball. Part him, part the era.

He was of course a dead ball specialist, but mostly once he won the ball he just gave to the gifted.

Everton are quickly becoming that reflection of his playing days, but a poor reflection. The power is there Gana, Schneiderlin, but that's it. No gifted players to finish the comparison.

Look at video or two, he was truly a dirty centre back.

Of course, the demands of the Europa League will require a full complement of players in reserve and, presumably, Koeman regards his old club's third choices as of greater quality and potential than the likes of Kenny, Pennington and Holgate. If so, we can expect further signings of 'proven' talent from the South Coast.

So much for the brave new world we were promised. To tell the truth, I'm beginning to see the Dutchman much as Sunderland's fans saw Moyes with his mass recruitment of our 'deadmen'!

Please stop writing that the club has to get their business done early. If you want Champions League level players – it's not going to happen!

Nigel, Sam, Steve and others are right. The best available players, who want to play in England, are going to first try to sign with the five teams in the Champions League or Arsenal. Those teams also pay more.

It will take time for many available players to truly know if they have a real chance to be signed by a European Champions League team. Then, Everton will be competing against other European mid-table teams for the best of the leftovers – at the end of the summer most likely.

Then there are our actual targets, and if we're aiming high we're often going to be disappointed because the best players want to play for the best teams, and the modern day money teams, or modern winning teams – we're neither of those things, which I always think is worth remembering.

Young players don't know anything about our history, and they also don't care about it either – the best young players, and the best players in their prime, have never seen us win anything!

Isn't it Wilma?

You didn't answer the question.

No, no, not at all, the handle can be in five or four letter format no, not Wilma, no, of course not, no.

One of first people I met up here was a guy walking his dog on the beach. I heard him call his dog in a Scouse accent; "Shankly, come here now!". When I got closer the first thing he said was "You're a Blue aren't you? I could tell by your face when I called me dog" It was great to meet a Scouser in our first week up here.

So if Koeman can pull the kinship thing with Van Dijk, I'll doff my cap to him. But my instincts tell me for a top footballer in demand, kinship means slightly less than potential titles and Champions League football.

It'll probably work with Martina, though!

I'm recognising what he's achieved, but also where he might improve, and where he might admit as much. I don't think that's a lot to ask of a manager with his status and salary.

I believe Liverpool's squad is no better than ours, and that Man Utd's is not much better. But there's a lot of catching up to do with the others in the top 6. I believe we could readily have finished in the top 6. Our away tactics and team selection were faulty in enough away games to identify where we could easily have done better and therefore finished higher.

I think as a club we still lack a winning mentality, a refusal not to keep going regardless of the opponents. That's not Koeman's fault, it's an Everton problem. But I am expecting him to improve here, and expected more of this this season.

A question for Koeman is, has he done as much as he 'reasonably' could have done this season with the players he has available? That's a separate question from one about the players and needing to add new signings. I think it's reasonable to ask that of any manager. If we as fans don't keep asking that, surely we are also failing to have a winning mentality, we expect more given that our manager is high profile and highly paid. Yes, we expect more from the players as well, but that's separate from the expectation of the manager.

Who knows the secrets of the BMB?

We can only hope? Or is this a negative thought?

Manure is a conundrum of mismatched players as Mourinho is in the process of building a team, himself. But, if you look at a man for man difference between us and them, I would point to the better central defence and goalkeeper, plus Matta etc.

We have some recruiting to do!! You know that as much as the rest of us on TW.

My own view is that I would accept losing Lukaku and Barkley if it means we build a "real team" that works together with the right defence and supply line to the strikers (assuming we enlist some good strikers). But every player has to "put in". None of this prima donna stuff!

Regarding Liverpool, last season they finished on 60 points. This season, their manager has got more out of those individuals you mention, plus of course they've got Mane as well.

I'm hopeful that next season our manager will get more out of our existing players, plus hopefully we'll have some decent signings. I'd like to see us keep Barkley and Lukaku. If they leave, that's unlikely to solve the mentality problem we have.

Barkley dithers on the ball and Lukaku expects to be given the ball in places that are great for him (in his mind) but actually are low percentage chances. He wants the ball where midfielders instinctively normally wouldn't place it. It doesn't work. Even average midfielders know where a striker should be moving into without the ball, but Lukaku doesn't seem to know this.

It's frustrating watching our midfielders waiting for Lukaku to get into a high percentage spot only to watch him do the complete opposite. The chance dries and while the midfielder is waiting perplexed the ball is stolen out from under him. Lukaku is devastating running from either wing toward a defense being suddenly to back-peddle (eg, his two goals vs Chelsea to knock them out of the cup the other year), but that's about it.

Barkley suits this one type of play since he is great on the counter attack feeding the ball to Lukaku early, but its a one prong attack in a league where multi prong attacks achieve long term continual success. Its also bang easy for opposition managers to blunt it since we only have one way of attacking.

The Ancient Romans only had one way of attacking. It was great until the enemy figured that out and looked what resulted. I often think this is why we don't do so great away from home at poorer teams. Their managers, lacking players that can break down anyone, are forced to really study us and figure out how much a one-trick pony we are. Probably the main reason why we are better off without either of them.

Not sure if I really want an unfit 16-stone gambler anonymous who likes a drink or three. Maybe Koeman can get him fit to play.

Roll on August

Sorry, I'm new to that speak, –l'll take your word for it.

Another slow blue news day. Unless Ronald doesn't have a signal on whatever beach he's on.

I just want us to win something for a bloody change.

I'm a bit sceptical of that kind of analysis, but if it turns out to be effective, maybe it will tie in with Steve Walsh's role in helping identify players at the minimum cost with the maximum effectiveness. If so, we might expect more focus on low-cost signings than high-cost 'marque' signings.

Europa league may be worth 10 bob initially. But Man Utd gambled and have ended with the big prize.

They may have a better/bigger squad but shows it's worth taking Europa League seriously.

When the window shuts, we will all know where we stand.

We're still a million miles from winning a trophy and have become a retirement home for has-beens seeking a last couple of years in the Premier League sunshine.

Amateur hour has become 20 years, easy money for over-rated "superstars" and shit players and managers with no idea of how to construct a competitive team or what tactics to use at this level.

Do really think things will change? New owner, director of football, and very good manager. The structure is there. Let's wait and see.

If he had the cheque book, I would agree. He has as much power over signings as you or me. He probably has made a list and said "Over to you, Director of Football." Rather have him banging on his door in three weeks if we haven't signed anyone.

Like I said in my previous post, don't get too excited. Transfer window closes 31 August. If we can get away with not paying salaries over the summer, job done.

Do we want our manager starting the next season without a break – big $$$ salary or not? Don't we want him back fresh and ready for the challenges that the new season brings? Surely we shouldn't begrudge him a break, even if he's just weeding the garden.

Agreed, ٤million a year is beyond the widest dreams of most of us (unless we win the lotto) and he would maybe pay a gardener to do that kind of thing. But you probably get the drift of what I'm trying to suggest!

You do not need to be sitting in an office at an empty Finch Farm to conduct transfer business.

There are amazing things called mobile phones and email to send/receive information. And devices called aeroplanes to transport people to meetings with agents/players.

I think Koeman will manage. Don't you?

I've always thought that, in spite of all the millions pouring into our club, it will be the skill, knowledge and inspirational qualities of the manager and his ability to turn ducks (some dead) into swans which will be the factor to transform our fortunes Not transfers.

Next season, I shall look for a 5th- or 6th-place finish and at least one cup semi-final. Not much to ask, you say... but, to me, as the ultimate realist, it would be a bloody miracle!

Have a good summer!

Fast and strong as fuck when he can be arsed. Cracking shot as well, but for me, that's about it. Awful control, awful understanding of where to go and when to go in a game, and an even worse attitude.

I'll be happy when he's gone.

Wayne Rooney desperately wants to come back and play for Everton. Koeman and Walsh have both said they would want him. It seems as though behind the scenes there is a split at board level over the value of paying him 𧵎,000 p/w on a 3-year contract plus a nominal fee because there will be no sell-on value.

Same old Everton. Once a Bullshitter always a Bullshitter. Personally, I will be very surprised if Ronald Koeman is still manager by next August as he won't take this crap from anyone.

I also expect a challenge on 5th or 6th place as I think we're way off top 4 and it's a massive ask. Man Utd finished 6th and will probably spend over 𧶀 million this summer.

If we replace any of the top 6, then we will have done well. I would love to see us have a proper crack at the Europa League.

I liken this to doing the same thing as the mainstream in the sharemarket vs the contrarian view, ie, if you want to be the same as the rest, do the same as the rest. Maybe Ranieri made this point in a practical way!!

I think what I am trying to say is that one needs to think about putting a group of players together that can work as a team, as distinct from buying players who look good individually and trying to make them play as a team.

I reckon this is the way Koeman is looking at his challenge.

He signed Lukaku for a lot less than he's worth now, brought Stones through into first team and sold him for 㿛½m which seemed a decent amount then. Barkley was also brought into the first team and shone in Martinez's first season... since, Barkley is well just Barkley.

Two semi finals were reached last season, even though some of the players did a Chelsea of two seasons ago.

Koeman has spent a good few million since taking over but he's not exactly set the world alight has he. Be critical by all means but also give some credit where its due.

The squad under Martinez has shown since that many were over the top or overrated.

I promise that this is my last defence of Martinez, honest. Fire away.

Big statements mean sweet FA until they become reality and Everton continue to provide us fans with statements.

The "Everton in the Community" stuff is the only stuff that is real. We are way way off challenging the top four unless there is a lot of money spent and I keep saying this, I see nothing from Moshiri in this regard. It will always be sell first and them buy.

He got lucky in his first season with 'the most points in a season'. In the League Cup and Europa League, as soon as we met a team who had turned up, we promptly lost. I think that is all the credit he deserves.

Leicester had a freak season. I don't think that will happen again any time soon.

As for this "productivity" caper, I'd rather have football nous.

Arsene Wenger – now there is a man who knows what football is all about.

It's becoming a busy pre-transfer window window rumour window.

This piece draws a comparison: https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/fixing-everton%E2%80%99s-creativity-analysis-of-potential-summer-transfers.96790/

Sounds to me like we should keep Ross, sign Boudebouz (who was statistically one of the most creative players in Ligue 1 last year) and then find a Mane type player who will offer the sort of movement that Lukaku does not.

We've been shite for more than two decades. It's difficult for talent to prosper fully in a shite team. If we let the most talented players go, then to me it'll be a sign that it's the same old shite Everton. We need to add to the existing talent, not get rid of it and stay mediocre.

It must be close to 𧵄 grand a week, over 5 years, yet still he won't sign... What else can Everton do, beg him?

"Martinez also turned Goodison into an "all you can eat, help yourself" points buffet for away teams. Threw away points from winning positions with his idiotic tactics like a bad gambler in a casino. Oh and spouted more bollocks than Trump."

Oh lord how that brings back awful memories.

This leads into what Stan says. We should be keeping the best players and adapting the team and tactics to best utilize them, then augmenting the team from that basis. I've said before, we've rarely played with the best forward "line" set up to best benefit what Barkley offers.

Many may disagree but we often had much better movement and variation in attacks when Naismith was pulling people all over the place and making space. That is rarely seen now.

Feels to me too, like too much "Same old". I think we're building a "Business Case" team.

Dan, that was a terrible time. I have to admit, in many of those home games, I almost went tactics-blind, couldn't really tell what was going on. It seemed as much like a palpable, powerful air of negative expectation as the tactics.

That West Ham game was the ultimate; you could've bet your house on the result after we went 2-0 up. A very mysterious era... or should I say, phenomenal.

Barcelona confirm Ernesto Valverde as new manager at Camp Nou

Season One: get rid of the dead wood. Season Two: buy top players with the board's backing. Season Three: break into the top four. That's very much clear to me.

The board may have a different 3 year project around the new ground, sponsorship etc. Everton will do great if they remain the best of the rest next season. The only real chance Everton have of breaking into the top four next season is if Farhad friend sales his shares at Arsenal buy's into Everton and we spent very big like Manchester City did.

If Everton want to be seen as a serious team then simply say Lukaku is not for sale at any cost this season ask again next year and complete a deal with Barkley and move on. That's the only way anyone is going to look at Everton as serious about next season. Apart from that, Everton will become a joke for all the teams above us. Let's get real.

Difficult not to feel sorry for him.

Beardsley, Kanchelskis, Hinchcliffe, Ferguson, Speed, Dacourt, Barmby, Jeffers, Ball, Gravesen, Pienaar, Lescott, Arteta, Fellaini, Stones... oh and Rooney.

I'm not sure what your definition of 'decent player' is, as you only think it extends to Rooney but those are just the ones off the top of my head that made the team weaker (when you consider Beardsley was replaced by Brett Angell, Jeffers with Radzinski, Speed with Claus Thomsen and Stones with Williams).

That'll get the tongues wagging, I've no doubt, but your claim is a bit dubious.

Lescott maybe, but the rest were pretty average or past it, IMO; it's a myth we sell our best players these days.

Kenwright, who is otherwise a total disaster, has somehow managed to get extraordinary prices for Rodwell, Fellaini and Stones. All were easily replaced.

His asking prices for Barkley and Lukaku, who both can't get out of Goodison fast enough, seem extortionate, but I wouldn't be surprised if he manages to get close.

Have the good grace to admit that Peter has called it right on this, please. The fact that it might be 22 or 23 years rather than 20 is not really the point. That is a decent list of players of whom many were far short of 'past it' when they left

Of course, everyone on here has noticed Kenwright isa genius when it comes to transfers!

Surely we don't have to go through another season of looking at their miserable faces, whilst they pick up a fortune?

I can't argue with that at all. There are clearly players who don't appear totally enthused, to say the least. I won't mention them on principle because those debates quite frankly have become tiresome on here for a while.

However, you must admit that a fair few on Peter's list would enhance our current squad.

One name Peter didn't mention was Arteta and I think he's the key one. Billy kept him around until midnight on deadline day then "reluctantly" sold him when there was no time to replace him.

To me, that's the type of Kenwright shenanigans I'm not convinced we are getting away from. That plus phantom bids for Barry Ferguson, Kuyt and Owen. When we sat on our hands till fees and wages had been agreed with other clubs then we offered worse terms.

We live in hope. Maybe for once it won't be misplaced.

Some cracking players on that list though. Kanchelskis was an Everton great in Season One and hauled off in ignomy against Hull in the cup in Season Two.

Dacourt looked a great player and I wish we had Beardsley in his prime. Hinchcliffe is possibly the third best left back I've seen for us behind Wilson (not Ian) and Baines.

Might be wrong, of course, but once Desperation Kirkby foundered....