Keane signed on a five-year contract

Rom - methinks he may have pause for thought a second thought even...?

Ha!

Next????

Walsh and his team have really got their shit together. This is bloody impressive. Never seen anything like it before. If we can sort out Sigurdsson then it will have been a remarkable window.

I don't think it will end with Sigurdsson. I get the feeling we're now feeling out seondary targets. Who knows how many will follow? Players will see what's happening and give us a second glance.

Does anyone know if Rom reported back for training with the others?

As we are both Norwegians, I think he's quite stumped! The new season hasn't even started yet, and for the first time in 25 years one of my RS friends hasn't already started any conversation with "how they'll absolutely win this year"! . :D

Tomorrow is going to be boring!

4 major signings in before pre season wtf is going on? This still my Everton?

Just wow - completely new spine signed. Gk, Cb, Mf, forward - all ready for pre season.

It's certainly going to be a different Everton that takes the field this coming season.

"Keane, who had been entering the final of his contract at Turf Moor, will now line up next to Ashley Williams in Everton's back line..."

I've got a tenner that says it'll be the captain who wins that place, not Williams. Any takers?

A keeper, centre half, midfielder and two strikers (albeit one for next season) signed up. Madness!

And more to come. I'm not bothered about a right back, I'd actually like to see Kenny given a go, maybe a young left back as understudy to Baines would be good. Bring in Gylfi, another striker (Giroud for me) and a top winger and we will be laughing!

I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear Kenwright's, Koeman's, Walsh's and Moshiri's sales pitches to these lads and our plans for the future. I bet it's all been very interesting.

It's clear that they've made them feel very much wanted and I imagine some of the deals they've put on the table for them have reinforced that. I get the feeling they've been made offers they cant refuse.

Where we've failed in the past few decades is we've had certain things going for us in isolation here and there (good manager, decent league position, good squad etc) but never had everything all in a line like we seem to have now - billionaire owner, new ground planned, global name as manager, high ambition and most importantly in modern football money to spend on quality p

layers and reward them accordingly. And the beauty is I think they feel they're here for a reason, and that reason is to play, perform and win and not be squad fodder sitting on the bench or out on loan if they went to City / Chelsea or the like.

We are, all of a sudden, the place to be. If this is the beginning, where will it all end?

What a great couple of weeks!

Happy days indeed.

Come on lads! I'm all for a Rooney return next!

If not, that's an interesting question. Bainesy? Can't give it to one of the new guys.

Come on BBC - why not give some of these other lesser clubs a look-in?
There are 91 to choose from you know!

What next? An all-ex EFC MOTD panel?
And first on every week?

Any one else who, like me, is getting mates and supporters of other clubs messaging them and asking "what the feck is going on at Everton?"

It's not just us Blues supporters sitting up and taking notice.

And I doubt we are done yet. I'm guessing 1-2 more (serious) forwards, a midfield play maker, another centre back, left back cover and possibly another back up keeper, depending who heads for the 'exit' door at Finch Farm.

I wanted confirmation in this transfer window that Moshiri was sincere in his stated ambitions for the club.

I've got it.

With Giroud and Sigurdsson, we'd be over 𧵎 million.

Who woulda thunk it?

Are all three right-footed (I have no idea!)? If so, I still think Jags will be kept as a strategic reserve, to play the games where he'll be most useful.

And that whole thing about Captains is so weird for non-British me... I would hope Jags can stay a Team Captain (to deal with everything 'community'-like), as he is good at that! But Everton really need a dedicated on-field plan for who'll Captain the playing side!

A few more in, a few out? An interesting journey for us all, and it may even take a couple of years steady improvement, a bit of tweaking, just as it did then all those years ago, before we won anything.

Just enjoy the ride.

I remain convinced it will eventually be Seamus.

Still think we should sell Barkley tho

Fucking mint.

Roll on new season!

Hey, wasn't a fella named Crowley the first patriot to die in the Revolution?

It looks like we've got us a lot of players a lot more "talkative" than our old ones, so I hope the pre-season will help Koeman into finding his "Generals" (as we might need more than one...).

Jags or Williams may still get that nod due to their experience. But of those two, only Williams is a talker...

Didn't he, at the time, say something about four famous clubs in the NW, and we needed a big name manager to compete. Enter Ronald Koeman. Followed by several players!

Happy days.

Can't think of one for Jordan Pickford.

Can't help but worry that something will go wrong and the football gods will get angry at us upsetting the natural order.

Pickford gets dropsy, Keane injured, Davy is addicted to Amsterdam brownie cakes and then the RS sign Ronaldo and Messi.

Please let this be the start of something good!!

This new lease of life and direction is only what the club and its fans deserve... long may it continue.

What a time to be a blue. COYB!!

One great thing about the 60s and 80s teams was we had several "captains" on the pitch.. Heading that way again...

If not Seamus, why not Schneiderlin?

Not getting me coat, having a great time winding up the few RS showing their faces out in Liverpool.

A short note though on Bill, he was involved again in the transfer and even gets a mention. Gets so much stick but he is Mr Everton. He has saved, created a base and now the club is growing.

Stadium, great youth system, growing first team and pricing for local kids & youth to follow the Blues (unlike the lot across the park). He has kept the roots of club involved.

Now we all got to grasp the optimism and turn it into results. We will push top six this season but truly believe we will be in a great position the season after. We have got to be patient and support the team during this fantastic transition.

And Mike (#35), I'll take that bet (in the spirit of good fun, of course). You might very well be right, but for all the carping about Williams, I've yet to see any evidence that Koeman doesn't rate his performance.

Let's all hope this marks the end of our inferiority complex, especially across the park. We're back!!!

I really felt a lot of last season's performances were way too insipid, despite some good home results. Particularly as we often improved in the final quarter when we had to I really felt we were capable of so much more generally.

Hopefully Koeman was just being functional with what he had available to him and now with a lot more of his own men he can really give us a season to remember.

Roll on August 12!!!

Guess I'll be watching to see if Barkley and Rom get sold and what other striker they will bring in to replace Rom at that point.

Pickford and Keane are two the emerging young stars of last season and Sandro is no slouch. With the likes of Klaassen, Schneiderlin, Gana and Tom Davies in the midfield one can be forgiven for thinking this team is finally equipped to go places.

The incoming of new players may not yet be over but with Lukaku and Barkley still around who knows what else will happen. Everton still have the experience of Mirallas, Lennon and McCarthy to call on plus the youth of Lookman, Kenny and Calvert-Lewin.

Of course signings are one thing and getting the right formula on the field another. With Moshiri and Koeman showing their hands we can certainly look forward to better times.

I read that young Henry Onyekuru chose to join Everton even though we were not offering the highest wages. We've come a long way.

I have a feeling we'll all be praising the Moshiah by the end of this pre-season. Those who doubted should swiftly give themselves a swift smack on the head.

COYFBB!!!!

One of the things I like is the number of "captains" we'll have on the pitch...and fighters too, or should I say winners...or both!

When Farhad Moshiri said that wanted to give his all to Everton, it looks like he means it.

Well done Mr Moshiri!

Pickford (23)
Kenny (20), Holgate (20), Keane (24), Galloway (21)
Gana (27), Schneiderlin (27)
Davies (19), Lookman (19), Klaassen (24)
Sandro (21)

Subs: Robles (27), Funes Mori (26), McCarthy (26), Besic (23), Dowell (19), Calvert-Lewin (20)

Pickford: talented keeper, key trait being distribution, long range passing.

Williams and Keane: proven, big, tough, no-nonsense defenders.

Gueye and Schneiderlin: high energy ball winners, good passers.

Klaassen: high energy attacking midfielder, offers goal threat.

Bolasie: very fast, direct, high energy winger. Not best final ball.

Sandro: high energy striker, play across forward line.

All signings are definitely meeting a specific criteria. We have a better idea of how he wants us to play. Solid defense, high energy pressing and counter attack football (Pickford will have a key attacking role I expect).

I expect maybe one more winger, especially with Bolasie's injury and Deulofeu's expected exit.

A big striker (Giroud?) also would fit into this model, a man to hold the ball and bring the wide attackers and at midfield into play.

A left back and another centre back are also possible entries, considering Baines' age and the number of games next season and Funes Mori's inconsistency. Back up and Europa centre backs we have Pennington, Galloway, Browning so maybe Koeman will deposit faith in them.

Another attacker, I feel, will depend on whether or not Barkley stays or goes.

Pickford – good young keeper lots of potential: 㿊m

Klaassen – not seen too much of him, done well for Ajax; unproven in the Premier League – 㿄m

Onyekuru – young Nigerian striker ripping apart a poor Belgium league; unproven in the Premier League – ٥m

Ramirez – up and coming Spanish talent had one good season for a poor Malaga team. Unproven in the Premier League – ٣m

Keane – ex-Man Utd and and Burnley centre-back and newest addition of England squad, had a solid season for a average/below average team. 㿅m

Total cost: 䀇m

Cleverley out – ٦m
Deulofeu out – 㾷m
19m

Expected sales:

Ross Barkley – 㿅-30m
Romelu Lukaku – 㿲-100m

Potential sales:

𧴪m minimum return imo.

Difference / net spend:
㿃m

If we don't bring anyone else in and sell Ross and rRom as expected we wouldn't have spent a penny like the last 10 years.

Happy with the players we've bought in although some unproven at this level, unless we keep Ross & Rom or spend another £50-70m we haven't really spent anything this window.

Hope for another 㿞-70m spend if Rom and Ross go.

I'm not an apologist for some of the things Kenwright has done and said during his tenure but I don't think he gets an appropriate level of credit when he has a positive influence and undoubtedly he has done well in some transfer dealings over the last few years.

There is a little devil in my ear saying we're just spending the Lukaku money. But even if that was true, I think we're spending it very well!

You'd think we'd have to balance the books for the stadium though. I'm guessing Lukaku out; Giroud or Rooney in.

I can't help thinking that we're on a winner, whether Barkley and Lukaku stay or go.

And boy are we building something, we always had the history and the class, but now we've got the new owner, a no-nonsense pedigree manager, the top scout and even a new stadium on the way.

5 class signings before pre-season and as many have said we've got some gas in the tank yet.

By my reckoning we've spent £86 - £96M thus far:
> Pickford: £25-30M
> Keane: £25-30M
> Klaassen: £24M
> Onyekuru: £7M
> Sandro: £5.2M

But against that we have substantial likely/possible transfer income in the £100M - £163.5M range:
> Lukaku: £80M
> Barkley: £30M
> McCarthy: £20M
> Deulofeu: £10.5M
> Niasse: £10M
> Cleverley: £8M
> McGeady: £5M

Which means even if we stumped up the figures suggested for remaining targets and spend another £85-100M:
> Sigurdsson: £35-40M
> Dembele: £30-40M
> Giroud: £20M

We could end up having a net spend as little as £8M (or as much as £96M)
> Outgoing: £171M - £196M
> Incoming: £100M - £163M

I know, I know this is all total Football Manager nonsense, but right now it is hard not to get carried away!

As for Jamie Carragher, none of Everton's signings would get in Liverpool first team.

I appreciate he's looking for a reaction, however, his credibility has take a big hit in my eyes.

I feel like any more than 7 might be too much integrating for one season and we may have to replace Ross and probably will have to replace Lukaku.

I would quite like those situations resolved now before we bring any more in.

Great window, though.

We're on our way back.

It adds even more to the feeling the stars are coming into line and the team involved in this probably make up for each others failings to present the full package (Kenwright has the heart and charisma, let's say; but Moshiri has the strategy and the finance; Walsh has the inside track and the contacts; Koeman has the players respect and the kudos etc etc.)

I know it's early days and they're stereotypical press conferences etc, but these lads really sound like they've bought into whats planned at Everton (Klaassen not wanting to talk to anyone else, Sandro and Keane both saying its the right club and right move for them etc) which is music to my ears.

These are young, quality, ambitious lads who I think are the type who want to work their backsides off to achieve success and not think it's a given, or their right, and they've decided / been persuaded that they want to do it here. And as far as I'm concerned any player that doesn't buy into that now can get up and go and I hope that's the club's view too. There are clearly plenty of players out there to fill their places.

Next season could really be quite a buzz. Bring it on.

A bit harsh, perhaps... but he made one mistake and was punished.

"I can't wait to go to school tomorrow, Dad! My mates are already jealous. Imagine what they'll be like now!"

I told him that this was just the beginning. I said it feels like the beginning of 'Our time' for the first time since the mid eighties. Good times! COYB!

All our signings should take us closer to establishing us as a regular top team as well as making us an attractive team for top players to sign for. Now just sign Giroud, Smalling and Rooney and I'll be in heaven!

How about that for a negative counterweight?

It was Crispus Attackus. I know that because I am in Boston at the moment, and I went on a guided tour with a little old lady dressed in a funny costume yesterday and she told me.

Although I don't agree with some of the 'Koeman out' comments made over last season, there are valid criticisms of him, and the current signings of these good players, and their press conference comments in support of the Everton management, don't necessarily negate these.

I realise there is a lot of elation about the current signings, but I'm more cautiously encouraged than elated. But I might become elated depending on how we perform on the pitch. Only time will tell.

Mr Attucks was killed at the Boston Massacre in 1770, and is the first American martyr, but the first patriot to die in the actual Revolutionary War when it started in 1774 was one Samuel Crowley.

"When Everton sign 4/5 players but none of them would make the Liverpool team!"

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/5382/perform-desk/2017/07/03/36813862/liverpool-legend-carragher-trolls-evertons-new-signings-on

It's exciting because if they achieve their potential with Everton then we will have some team. Also, the fact we have done good business early and decisively shows a level of professionalism hitherto unknown in my Everton supporting life (I'm approaching 40).

It's also exciting because each of these players appear to be a tad bit self confident/arrogant aka winners. Half the reason we always lose to Liverpool is because we sh1t the bed when we play them. The players we've brought in would RELISH going to Anfield and turning them over

If I could 'Like' I would. I'm so pleased and I hope we sell Rom (I rate him so highly but I only want players on the bus that are committed to us) and sign a top top forward desperate to win with Everton.

I'd also ideally like Barkley to stay but to learn from Davvy Klaassen... the first time passes, the decisiveness, the technique but if he wants to go then so be it. And let's replace him.

We do need a few more players tho: 2 striking options (assuming Rom goes), another effective winger (Mirallas inconsistent as is Lennon, Bolasise injured and Lookman a bit inexperienced), a centre back (in truth I don't rate any of our centre backs last season as being solid).

A few more pieces of the puzzle left...

Prices will rise and with their being a lack of quality centre backs and teams scratting for them, I think we have done exceptionally well to acquire Keane's services.

I vividly remember that summer too. We were all over Shoot! magazine. Cottee got off to a blinder and . the rest is history...

The big positives here are that we spending real money and that good players are coming here over other good clubs.

The unpredictable part is how it will work out. I remember the summer Liverpool brought in Barnes, Beardsley, Houghton and gelled right away. Man Utd had a spree with Webb, Wallace, Phelan etc and flopped. So there are no guarantees in football but we've every reason to be optimistic.

I haven't seen enough of the lad to be sure that he will significantly strengthen our defence on his own (so to speak) but he's the right age and rated by many so it seems like a great signing.

At any rate, I am delighted the club is doing such meaningful business at such an early stage of the window.

All I can think is that if I was an ambitious young player... I'd want to sign for Everton right now.

All it took was a bit of ambition from the club to change the perception.

I wonder what's going through Rom's and Ross's minds right now?

These fans are and always will be great Evertonians and were just giving their honest opinions in how they felt. I hope they were wrong and stay wrong; nevertheless, they were and are entitled to their opinions.

While I can see why you and everyone else is happy about our great work on recruitment, that doesn't make Koeman exonerated from some awful tactical and selection decisions last campaign.

The recruitment also doesn't make him right. We brought in, at no little expense, Steve Walsh to do it.

Koeman has a lot to prove for me because Moyes and Martinez were given much less and the former finished higher up the table with cup runs. Koeman has just returned us to a league position our players should have had us in before Martinez had his wicked way.

I'm excited by the signings but a little worried about Koeman's tactics and choices.

Also, there's a website called StubHub where I can purchase tickets for the Man City game, what end of the ground will the Everton supporters be in?

I need help!!

Nothing ever changes really, does it? They'll be 'challenging for the league' again come September.

4 of those are in the squad. Just those 4, or 2-3 more added, it's going to take a good while for everyone to get on the same page. We'll find out how good our coaching staff is.

It's looking like Moshiri meant every word: “We are a great club and we don't want to be a museum."

Football is all about the right mix of ingredients blending together. Koeman and Walsh have done well in identifying early who they want. Only time will tell if their blue print will be a successes or not.

I don't get wound up by ex-Liverpool players mocking us, and I wont gloat this season when we beat them. I do however want Koeman's new look team to play attractive football and win more than they loose.

One Samuel Crowley, clearly a forefather of one Sir James C Crowley IV, was a patriot of the highest bloodline!

And the event that kicked the whole thing off I believe was a Sullivan (Irish-American for sure, might have the name wrong) popping out of a pub in Boston fairly juiced (shocker) and having a verbal pop at the British.

The British soldiers took none too kindly to the Irishman's words (not historically verifiable but urban legend mentions the word 'cunt' was used... a lot!) and they shot the poor fucker dead.

The locals were none too happy with this event, took to the hills and trees with guns (hence our cultural affinity to these things), dumped some tea in the harbor, and the rest is history.

Happy 4th mate!!!

If you look at the top stat defenders, they were all lower league players because they couldn't attack. Hope he works out well as Jagielka is on his way to the bench.

Won't be long before "the you know whos" are rolling out the "It's our year" bus again.

Perhaps we should run a TW sweep on how far into the new season we get before one selected pundit makes their last delusional remark to this effect.

Preferred dates would be late October or early November. The sure measure that they've popped is when the glory hunters hop onto someone else's horse!

Regards the armband, I'm completely in favour of your suggestion of Seamus as Club Captain. Said it elsewhere.

My suggestion would be have Seamus as Club Captain, and assign two Vice Captains.

My thinking is that Seamus should be our next Club Captain and recognising that tells him, injured or not you're the man, the leader!

Then having two vice Captains means that Shay can lead from within and still be involved with two lads on the pitch. Even if they are older or experienced players (such as Baines, who appears not to have a prissy ego) Shay will be watching from the stands and picking up on stuff to pass on to the others.

Get well in good time Seamus, properly fixed. We want you back lad, not a moment too soon and not a week too early. Take care, Shay.

I'm not totally convinced by the signings made. All have question marks... but it's good to see us having a go. How long has it been that we've been able to say that?

I'll quietly wish you a Happy 4th as well, out of deference to the Brits here who might still be a bit tetchy about Yorktown.

Not that they would have us back, eh? Certainly not at the moment.

Enjoy your fireworks.

Absolutely spot on.

We can realise that 50>60% of these won't be utterly fantastic. It's just the way of these things. On the other hand if a higher bunch work out then bloody smashing. Gana was a terrific surprise last season, cost us almost bugger all.

We have been sat upon our arses watching big mouths telling everyone how marvellous they are for decades.

Even on the BBC website there are fans of the all mouth clubs from fragrant corners of the British Isles and further realising that Everton Football Club have abandoned the pity club mentality.

Bloody tough start to the season for a brand new squad. Get it right and we could be Champions by October!

Let's start enjoying being Evertonians again.

Unfortunately, Coleman won't play until the New Year, so I'd say he's unlikely to become captain until next season at the earliest.

Coleman has all the attributes you would look for, but I quite fancy Klaassen to claim the captaincy before close of season.

We're probably just short of a striker, an experienced one like Giroud, in the likely event that Lukaku goes (probably just haggling on the price). The board have delivered, the pressure is now on for Koeman to do so too.

I hope the wave of optimism and positivity will help us in the tough opening fixtures, then it remains to be seen how this team will come into their own. With the added input of Walsh in scouting not just the ability but the mentality and attitude of the players, I can't help but be optimistic!

"I'll quietly wish you a Happy 4th as well, out of deference to the Brits here who might still be a bit tetchy about Yorktown."

Mike, I've never heard a single Brit say a bitter word with regard to that history. Then again I don't meet many that know so much about it nowadays!

I have family and friends over there, and lived there twice myself – so I understand the difficult job you have coming, having to eat all that barbequed food and drink so much beer (good thing the American beer is harmless).

Have an enjoyable day.

First of all, thanks to Bill Kenwright for bringing Mr Moshiri to our club, with his business acumen and financial clout, we are now a real professional outfit.

Also, thanks to Ronald Koeman and his scouting staff and the speed these deals are done. No more dithering about. This is only the beginning, the Sleeping Giant has been woken up. COYB/

Hopefully, this July 4th will signal Everton's independence from that mawkish band of ex- RS that infest the media like the rats that brought the "black death" and "bubonic plague".

Let us rid ourselves of these forefenders of doom and, like our American cousins, mark today as the rising of a great "Nation" of football, fit to walk in the steps of those that have gone before.

For Everton, this is the revolution of the 21st Century and – as has happened before – we come again!

Some return from Deulofeu, Cleverley and McGeady still likely leaves something in the kitty, assuming Rom goes. Wages reduced with the 12 or so others off the books.

I'm just thinkin' – who's next?

Better get them all working well together before the start of the season, eh?

I really like Jags as a guy but never have been convinced of his captaincy. Would make a better Ryder Cup captain!

I think he would be drowned out by Pickford and Keane.

One thing in his defence he looks to have addressed the spine of the side: 'keeper, centre-back, centre-midfield and striker Will it bear fruit? God only knows...

50 years of being a fan has told me not too get too excited – that's why I won't. Let's not forget, the teams above are going to strengthen as well... Massively!

I have mixed feelings about the signing, because we have several young players waiting to get their chance that must feel that their now further down the pecking.

Difficult balance for Premier League managers, I know, especially Koeman where we are going for the top 4-6 and he knows the team must have a good season.

I just wish my dad could understand all this – lifelong Blues family and now bloody dementia has stolen the glory from him.

But I love stats and Keane has really good stats in some aspects of the game. He was in the top in clearances made in the Premier League last season. High on the list of headers won as well (those two have an overlap of course). He combines that with a relatively low rate of tackles and fouls. That suggests he has excellent positioning and timing skills.

Don't expect him to play killer passes, he has room to improve his game on the ball. If I had to buy a central defender in the Premier League purely on stats, it would either have been Michael Keane or the lad from Bournemouth, Steve Cook. And perhaps that says something about stats as well, of course a defender from Bournemouth or Burnley gets more chances at clearing a ball than one from Chelsea or Man City.

To ask your question directly: I think he is at least as good as Jags or Williams already and he is only 24. Good business IMHO.

If the squad stays as it is in terms of Lukaku and Barkley staying then I want to see another top class centre-back, left back cover, and 1 more striker. If they both go, I think we need another 2 strikers to add the 3 I already said.

My thoughts on Rooney are that from a business and commercial perspective it's a complete no-brainer for the club if it's a loan deal. He will put us on the map. As far as Rooney the player goes I think he's probably shot, but the roar of the Gwladys and Z-Cars might squeeze one more year out of him.

Crowley, was, in fact, known as the most evil man in the world. Ozzy Osbourne wrote a song about him (Mr Crowley).

If you remember the old hammer movie, The Devil Rides Out, the baddie in that, Mr Mocatta, was supposedly also based on Crowley.

Sorry, rambling a bit here. Is this really Everton? I shall miss the panic loan deals on the last day of the window. At least we had something to moan at then...

Keepers:-
Pickford, Robles, Stekelenberg, Hewlett.
I expect one of them to leave. Hewlett looked worthy of being 3rd choice from what I saw of the u23 games. If we have an injury crisis we can always get someone in on loan.

Right back:
Coleman, Holgate, Kenny.
We have a serious issue here. Coleman has a big question mark over him. Kenny has a more pleasant question mark over him after last season's form and the world cup win, whilst Holgate can do as cover, but is surely not good enough for more than 10 games at right back. I would like to see Kenny be given a go and then it makes sense to bring Martina in on a free to cover for him and replace him. Then as Coleman comes back we can assess Kenny's development and Coleman's recovery before deciding if we actually do need a first choice right back.

Left Back:
Baines, Galloway, Garbutt, Robinson.
We have numbers here. Especially when you factor in that Funes can play here short term if needed. However, I think it is agreed that Baines is more or less unchallenged. I would like to save the cash, to elevate Galloway to undoubted backup and see were we are at in January or even next summer. If someone like Luke Shaw, Robertson from Hull or Chilwell of Leicester are available for the right price, I would bring them in. But I wouldn't go throwing big money here this summer.

Centre-halves:
Keane, Williams, Funes, Jagielka, Pennington, Holgate, Galloway.
Koeman will surely know a good centre half when he sees one. Moyes always seemed to, but he did sign Per Koldrup! For me the big question is will Everton play with 2 or 3 centre-halves. I think we only did so once after Schneiderlin came in, and never when he was actually on the pitch. The reason being that the 3rd centre half occupies the space Schneiderlin wants to when we have the ball, and he's happy to drop right back when needed. Therefore, if it is to be just two, then why not go with Keane / Holgate and Williams / Jagielka. The two older guys can rotate with each other to establish the younger guys. Pennington can cover as fifth choice. I would sell Funes and only replace him if Jagielka also pursues a move. But with EL games I think we need him, especially to rotate with Williams.

Thus, I think we are now sorted in defence and just could do with cheap / free cover at right back, and should only sign a Baines replacement if something presents itself that is too good to turn down. Signing another centre halve will prevent Holgate getting games, and for me Holgate has the makings of a top player and now just needs games to develop and I want to see him get those games at centre half, particularly when we rest Keane in the less important games.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think FFP Influences the building of a new stadium. Also, youth development is exempt as well.

What I can see is he's the right position, the right age and has the right profile (ie highly rated).

Will he turn out to be great? The most learned experts in the world couldn't tell us that for sure. Too many variables, too many unknowns.

We're giving this a real crack though aren't we? As someone else said earlier, we've abandoned the self pity and starting acting like a big club.

"Eh?"

"Just wondered who you've signed since I left home 10 mins ago".

To his credit he said it is good to see then said maybe we (the RS) can learn how to do transfer business.

Skipped out of shop like a deer on coke. Happy day.

I have just seen a statement, from ex-boy blue fan, Jamie Carragher, on newsnow everton, saying that none of our new signings would be good enough to get in the RS team.

I appreciate he is probably just winding us all up, but why doesn't he keep his gob firmly shut.

There is always someone, when we get any good news, to be all too quick, to pour oil on the flames of our joy.

Maybe BK is a great snake oil salesman, as many have said on here, and so he is able to play his part in casting a picture or an illusion of what Everton is or stands for and so persuade the players to come here. If so, great. Just leave the numbers and the details to the professionals.

Loving this spending, by the end of August our net spend may not be too high but loving not buying the leftover scraps or make-do loan deals... Now when do we get this stadium built?

There is no doubt all the signings so far will improve the team and the squad. That has to be the main criteria when signing players. Too often in the recent past, because of lack of funds we have had to sell our best and buy 4/5 journeymen players with the money. These signings are better than journeymen players, but until we get into a Champions league place then maybe we will be able to buy the very best.

Ah, they were the days. Bambi and me.

“I've also got to say thanks to the Chairman Bill Kenwright - he's been absolutely fantastic getting the deal through. I also spoke with Steve Walsh, who I knew from my time at Leicester four or five years ago, and they really convinced me that this was the place to come and that Everton is the perfect club for me.”

Or is there some kind of conspiracy whereby the players are told they have namecheck BK in the press conference? Why would they? and what does BK actually have to gain? If he's claiming credit for nothing, then Moshiri wouldn't stand for it, surely?

This interesting from gobshite paper. Pretty accurate apart from prediction.

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Each potential signing for us, is met by BK, and they have to watch Blood Brothers, with Buffalo Bill, and should they manage to do so, without any adverse reaction, they're in! :-)

How about that for a negative counterweight?"

That is not a counterweight at all. I would argue, if this were to come true, it would actually be a positive.

I wager he will learn alot more from the collective team at Finch Farm than under Gareth Southgate's mediocre coaching set up.

Somehow, I doubt Moshiri gives a flying fuck, but it is a guess. What is more, if Bill gets abit of credit now and then, what is the harm. He is not likely to seize on his apparent popularity with incoming players to take back control from Moshiri.

"When Everton sign 4/5 players but none of them would make the Liverpool team!"

I am led to believe that Gary Neville has called him out asking why he put Jordan Pickford in his team of the year.

For all those who are hoping Lukaku would stay however - of which I number myself as one - I am quite reliably informed that the deal with Chelsea is long-agreed and that the only thing keeping it under wraps right now is Chelsea's new deal with Nike - who want him in their shirt when it goes public, not in one of outgoing sponsors, Adidas.

So a replacement 'centre forward' will surely feature prominently among any further additions to our squad?

If it were Giroud, despite the fact he is outside the age parameters of our current recruitment policy, I would be very happy.

He always looks good against us in particular, fits the classic Everton centre forward profile and would bring the rest of the team into the game through his hold up play, aerial prowess and Arsenal/France-honed football brain.

He could make us one genuine team of 11, instead of separate banks of 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 - or whatever that week's favourite formation happens to be.

I was critical of Koeman's selection and tactics at times last season, but clearly we are going to see his much more dynamic team, not Martinez-Lite this coming season. So let's see what type of a manager he really is.

Only one request from me: rid us of this inherent 'we are not worthy' inferiority complex we have at the so-called 'top clubs' and no more sh*tting ourselves at Anfield!

Oh, and PS: Rooney - NO!

It will only happen if he is released or we can negotiate a loan deal paying a percentage of his massive wages.

It will only happen if he is released or we can negotiate a loan deal paying a percentage of his massive wages.

However, Galloway's departure raises the question of who will provide cover for Baines. Funes Mori seems the only possible choice off the current roster, but obviously not a true left back. Robinson has yet to make his senior side debut and is, I believe, out of contract (although that can be remedied quickly). Garbutt's mere presence bewilders me after his disastrous loans at Fulham and Wigan -- clearly not good enough.

So do we splash cash on somebody, gamble that Robinson is ready for the big time, or hope that Bainesy has 45 games in that dodgy ankle? Interesting problem.

Possible incomings:
Giroud/Another striker 20 million
Rooney: Loan?

Total outgo about 105.5, say 115.5 including add-ons for Pickford and Keane.

From the following player sales (actual and speculated), we should get:

Cleverly 8 million
Deulofeu 10.5 million
Niasse 6 million (Hull City were prepared to pay 8 million)
McGeady 4 million (reportedly)
Lukaku 70 million (conservatively)
One of McCarthy/Barkley 20 million (conservatively)
Robles 8 million

Total 126.5 million

Giving a negative net spend of 11 million. So, probably opening the door for a big central midfield signing - perhaps a creative player like Sigurdsson/Mata for about 30 million.

Squad:

GK: Pickford, Stek
RB: Coleman, Kenny
CB: Keane, Williams, Holgate, Jags, Funes-Mori, Pennington
LB: Baines, Connolly
LW: Lookman, Mirallas
RW: Lennon, Bolasie
CM: Schneiderlin, Gana, Besic, Barry, Davies
AM: Klaassen, Sigurdsson, Barkley, Rooney
Strikers: Sandro, Giroud, Calvert-Lewin

When everyone is fit, my starting XI from the above:

Pickford
Coleman Keane Funes-Mori Baines
Schneiderlin Gana
Klaassen Rooney Sigurdsson
Sandro

Subs: Stek, Williams, Barkley, Davies, Lookman, Bolasie, Giroud

Top 4, guaranteed!

Well done, Bill, for bringing Mr Moshiri on board and in turn him appointing Ronald Koeman.

Good times ahead for the greatest club and fans in the world. Get ready for a great ride; it's been a long time coming. "

Once a blue..."

I recently posted a stupid one that you quite rightly binned but I fear that you are stiffling rigorous debate. I know you have difficult judgement calls to make but surely there us room for some dissent.

"Looking forward to the mea culpas from the "Koeman Out" brigade. You guys didn't see that coming, did ya ?"

I'm kinda disappointed that on a day of celebration you chose to post something like that, However, as a fully paid-up member, I will grant you (and others) your wish and give you the response you were "looking forward to"...

Yes, we did see it coming. We all saw it coming over a year ago, the much vaunted recruitment drive and rumoured war chest has been reported and predicted by just about every website, sports program and newspaper since the day and hour Moshiri walked through the door. The imminent departure of Lukaku and probably Barkley made it a forgone conclusion.

I can't decide whether the majority are giving credit to Moshiri, Kenwright, Walsh or Koeman for the recent acquisitions. There seems to be plenty being handed out to all of them...

I'm too long in the tooth to give any credence to the utterings of a player we have just made a multi millionaire. I know the real reason he has joined us is because we have offered him a better deal than anybody else.

If you wish to believe otherwise, be my guest, but I still clearly remember Lukaku telling us what a big factor Roberto was in his decision to join us; he was shouting "I'm a celebrity – get me out of here" before he got his kit dirty.

These (or similar) deals could and probably would have happened without Kenwright or Koeman. They would not, could not, have happened without Moshiri.

You seem to think people who criticised Koeman last season have been proved wrong, or should somehow be acting contrite? ... Bollocks to that. He deserved everything he got. There was no excuse for the pug ugliness his safety-first tactics subjected us to, thirty-odd times last season.

This is a second chance for Honest Ron. Even the Koeman out "Brigade" will recognise that. Moshiri has put his money where his mouth is and backed him to the hilt. You can be absolutely certain that the guy who enjoyed the least pressured job in the Premier League last season will feel the temperature in his office rise considerably. His excuses have been stripped away and he will be expected to deliver. The 7th place so widely predicted (and too readily settled for) simply will not do.

Ugly football, shameful away performances, and early exits from the cup competitions will see Koeman leave Goodison as if he had been fired from a giant catapult. Moshiri is doing business like a man who will not stand on ceremony if his general is found wanting.

I'm looking forward to next season, If Koeman proves up to it, Happy days. If I see the success I have been dying for, I would have no problem declaring I was wrong about him... but I'd hang fire with the "I-told-you-so's" if I was you. A ball as not been kicked yet. Your guy may not have been the main reason for these signings, but he will stand or fall by them.

We've seen what he's like as a manager when he's not under pressure; now we'll see what he's like when he is...

Tantum tempus narrabo

Pickford and Keane wouldn't get in a RS side that was constantly joked about last season due to the suspect keeper and centre halves?

He might be right about the others because the RS are well stocked in those positions but REALLY? Is this because he's bitter because Keane will undoubtedly get more England caps?

That said, I just hope open difference of opinion goes on because it's thought provoking, the essence of the site, and encapsulates us rampant Evertonians.

What is (or should be) anathema to any Evertonian is personality attack on a.n.other because of a differing opinion. We are, after all, a team too.

I rest my case Mi'Lord.

Maybe we do some players a disservice. Maybe some players can see what is going on at Everton and want to be part of it at the start. Sign for a resurgent Everton, play every week, passionate fans, new ground on the horizon, or get splinters in yer trumper at Old Trafford? Tough one, that.

After all, "A ball as not been kicked yet" so let's give Koeman a year or so, eh?

Omhoog de Blues
Arriba el Blues

and hopefully very shortly

En Haut le Blues

Carragher's Tweet music to my ears - there rattled now.

Rigorous debate is fine; personal disparagement and point scoring less so... We do what we can to keep it real. Thank you for your support!

Koeman was under plenty of pressure last season, pressure to get us back in the reckoning. He delivered. Yes, your comments about the dire means that got us to the end cannot be refuted, but make no mistake – he was under pressure.

Your specific assertion that he "enjoyed the least pressured job in the Premier League last season" is a total strawman that doesn't warrant any discussion.
He will be under similar pressure next season, as all Everton managers should be.

These buys are for the long term - they can grow with the club, as we gradually transition the squad. If we lose Lukaku, we lose a player better than anyone we've brought in. Maybe a couple of top class signings will change things, but I do not see top 4 as realistic. We've brought players who have the potential to become top players but I don't think any of them are there yet, with the exception of Keane who could play cb for some of the teams above us.

I'd like to see us improve our points tally and away form, and fight for top 4 as long as possible- maybe we will be in the fight, esp if spurs suffer in the new stadium and Liverpool suffer because of a lack of a squad. But I want to see progress in the cups. There is no reason, if we continue to buy well, that we can't be competing in the business end of the europa come spring. This will be important for growing our reputation, and as a stepping stone for ucl. Given the teams United played this season, we could very well go all the way.

We also need a good domestic cup run. With a better squad, we can still rotate and be a force in the league cup. Our weak departures last season were incredibly frustrating- we must learn from that. We seem to be building a squad big enough to compete on all fronts. But we will need patience- we are building a young squad, and that is an important strategy for the long term, but we've not brought in an alexis sanchez, a kdb, Jesus or Silva, a Pogba, a Mane, a hazard etc. We don't yet have the quality of those above us, at least individually. But, if we can find a real collectivity, and earlier buys will help that, then we can compete differently.

What I'd like to see in the final weeks is the purchase of a genuine creative player, or a very exciting one, along with the striker we clearly need. Maybe Rooney will bring in that extra quality for a season - and giroud can bring the goals. But I wonder if Walsh could pull off a worldly? Assensio on loan - turan in from Barca. Martial, suffering at United, perhaps wants out? Insignie from Napoli etc. It is probably unrealistic, and I'm completely behind the purchases and the long term strategy, but I'd love to bring in someone who is either a different level to the rest, or is genuinely exciting and can do the absurd. Klaasen will be a great box to box guy and finishes very well. Sandro will work hard, score some good goals and we will love the way he plays off the ball. Keane will sure up our defence, and along with Pickford, will be in our back line for years to come.

Whatever happens - I'm completely behind what is going on at the moment. As I've argued multiple times during this past year, I've not felt this level of optimism in the premier league era. We are no longer small time, struggling to compete with bargain basement deals. We are the biggest spenders in the league since January, and in time we will compete at the top end again.

Koeman is under more pressure. The management had gone to great lengths to bring him in him, Having given him three years to right the ship, they were hardly going to make demands on him in his first season. Unless our premiership status was threatened, his position was never in jeopardy. His first brief seemed to be to stop the rot which had set in under Martinez.

This time is different. Having spent more than any other manager in Europe he will now find himself under intense scrutiny. The expectation is suddenly a whole lot higher and not just within the club. The whole of football will be watching and expecting a big improvement.

My point (which I thought I'd made very clear) was a simple one: Koeman has been backed to the tune of nearly 𧴜M. These are the players he (not me) has chosen to spend it on and he will stand or fall by their performances.

It is ridiculous to suggest 7th place will do. We have just spent around 𧴜M after finishing comfortably in front of the rest last time around. Are we really going to humbly accept the same outcome??? The cup competitions will not lend an excuse for standing still in the Premier League either.

This thread is awash with excitement and although many will be seeing the new signings in the flesh for the first time next season, their expectations will be sky high. I can assure you this excitement is not generated by the prospect of finishing where we did in May. The club has splashed the cash like never before... what would be the point? Jam tomorrow? They've been listening to that for years! For 𧴜m most people will want to see an immediate improvement.

It makes absolutely no sense to to claim this is the most excited you have been for years when you cant allow yourself to expect the manager who has been backed more heavily than an other in Europe, to finish considerably higher than he did last time. . .to do better than Moyes did with nothing

Michael

Under the same pressure as last season?... are you sure? He followed a manager who had completely lost his way, He inherited a superior squad to everyone else outside the top six. Unlike the other managers, he inherited a 35-goal-a-season striker too.

He was given a free ride after disastrous performances in the cup and he was allowed to go virtually the whole season producing one shameful away performance after another. He repeatedly told us we could not/ would not challenge at the top places and he was not expected to... Not only was his job absolutely secure, he was going to get a massive war chest at the end of it. "Under pressure"? ... The bed tester a Slumberland was under more pressure than Koeman was.

Football is not only about league progress and it is too simple to state that 7th plus more signings: necessarily a higher finish. The teams above us will all spend a lot of money – several of them will finish with a higher net spend. They all had better squads, bigger wage bills and better first elevens in the first instance. We are playing in the Europa League next season – this season, we only had league and cup football to think about.

We have the players, with more to come. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves and start shouting the odds.

This is the season where Koeman has to deliver, where we'll know how good he really is.

I can't wait!

I think your cynicism about Koeman will be shown to be unjustified. Come Christmas, if we are not looking like title contenders, I will ask the same questions as you.

I can appreciate what you are saying in that I would be disappointed if we were to finish 7th after such an outlay on new players but it is possible to make progress by finishing in the same position.

For instance, we could achieve 14 more points and challenge the top four until the final stages of the season – that would be progress even if we ultimately finished 7th.

This would be the transfer that would really send a message out to the footballing world – can it be done??

I am chuffed to bits with our new recruits but I don't think they will be an overnight fix, I think we'll see a marked improvement but it will probably be the season after that we really see the fruits of those appointments and a few more we could see follow them in.

You are right Andy, there is no hiding place for Koeman, this is his team but I would still take Top 6, challenge for Top 4 and a real crack at a couple of Cups next year.

The year after that, the final year on his contract for 'the project', is the one where I would expect to see us really throwing our weight around with the Top 4.

Year 1 should be seen as the beginning, Year 2 the middle and Year 3 the end of the first volume of the Koeman story.

I'm not convinced by either Williams or Funes Mori and Jags will either move on or become a bit part player.

I can't imagine that. Despite our spending this Summer (in a very inflated market where 100m probably equates to about 50m two years ago) we still have a very young emerging squad that I don't think matches most of our rivals.

E.g. For me

Lloris/Vertonghen/Aiderweireld > Courtois/Luiz/Cahill > Pickford/Keane/Williams

Equally
Kante/Matic/Fabregas >
Dier/Dembele/Alli >
Gueye/Schneiderlin/Klaassen

And
Jesus/Aguero/Sane >
Sanchez/Ozil/Lacazette >
Sandro/Mirallas/Lukaku(Rooney)

I think we are breaching the gap and laying the foundation but we finished around 15 points behind top 4 last season. And they will likely all spend big bucks too. I'd settle for top 6, good performances and the integration of a team that can improve again next year and the year after till we are the ones being chased.

'Come Christmas, if we are not looking like title contenders I will ask the same questions as you.'

I'm sorry, but it's madness. Go look at the bookies odds. Look at finishing places for the top 7 over the Premier League era. Look at wage bills, team values. Look, most importantly, at the quality of the teams.

How can we compete with Spurs' first 11? Who do we have as good as Alli, Kane, Eriksen, Alderweireld or Vertoghen? Spurs are better in pretty much every position. How many of our players would get into their team? And what of Chelsea, the league winners? And my favourites for the title, City?

City's first choice midfield and attack next season, imo, will be:
Gundogan/Fernandinho, KDB, Silva
Bernando, Jesus/Aguero Sane/Jesus

How can we compete with that? Apart from a DM, not one of our attacking players would get in that City team.

Arsenal and Liverpool are possible, but even then, we do not have a midfielder as good as Coutinho or Mane, or Sanchez or Ozil.

It's fantasy, which completely ignores the superior quality of the teams above us - the superior quality what has established a consistent top 4, bar the one season Leicester broke it after woeful under performance from the other top sides, and the season we broke it over a decade ago. If some Everton fans think we can compete for the title, which I expect will be a tiny minority, then they will be facing some genuine disappointment next year.

We don't go from 7th to title contenders, when teams all above us will also spend money, by buying a young relatively unproven gk from a relegated side, one good cb, one young midfield unproven in the Premier League, and one striker, also unproven, whose finishing needs work. How highest profile signing might well be Wayne Rooney - a reject from the 6th best team in the division.

I'm optimistic about the direction in which we are heading, but we will need patience. And some understanding of the quality around us.

15 points is a lot.

I don't get this "I haven't been this excited in years" lark, at least not when it's followed by a meek surrender before a ball is even kicked.... "How do we compete with Spurs?" – WTF is that all about?

Spurs are decent team, but they deserve to be. They have bought shrewdly and with a vision. The players mentioned – Alli, Kane, Eriksen, Alderwiereld and Vertonghen – cost the club around £40m. We've spent that on two centre-halves. Their Belgian centre-halves each cost around the same as Ashley Williams.

We have spent years bleating that we cant compete with teams who spend fortunes, but we have outspent Spurs just about all over the park... and we still cant compete with them???

Spurs compete for the title now because they believe they will. You don't hear them bleating about how much Man City, Arsenal, Man Utd or Liverpool have spent... They just got on with the business of finishing above them.

I envy the fuckers, They are everything we should be. They play with a swagger. They have nowhere near our league pedigree yet they see themselves as superior. How do we compete with them? Well, shedding this accursed inferiority complex would be a start.

Truth is, although we were 15 points adrift of the top 6, it could 'readily' have been much less. I believe there isn't much in it when it comes to quality of players, between us and Liverpool for example, and last season was a big transition from the Martinez regime. If the away tactics had been more assertive, more closely matching the home tactics, who knows where we could have finished.

Now, some will say, "but we didn't do better, we finished 15 points behind, and that's a fact". Although they would be right, I believe there was a clear top 7 last season, and apart from Man City, Chelsea and Spurs, there wasn't really much in it. That's despite crap performances from us away to Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool, which to me actually underlines the point about away tactics falling short of what they could have been.

So, rather than trying to make predictions of where we might finish, be it 7th, bottom, or Champions, I'd rather say that anything could happen. Football (like life generally) can hinge on minor details, which makes predicting a fairly hopeless task.

The way the club is going at the moment means that there's a certain momentum of spirit, that we're generally on the rise, with new young blood (both recent signings and the Under-23s). It's possible that the new signings will help greatly in changing our mentality to a winning one, where we don't cave in when the going gets tough – surely needed.

So I wouldn't be surprised if we were title contenders, but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if we finished mid-table. But I think there's more chance of the former than the latter.

I think Koeman quickly sussed out that the talented and inconsistent players he inherited fold like a cheap deck chair when under pressure and that he needed a giant sized broom to sweep several out. Much like his predecessor at the end of his first season.

Where Spurs are ahead of us is buying the mentioned players earlier and therefore cheaper. And having a crafty businessman in charge, also earlier. And bringing a better manager in, earlier.

For all that, they haven't won anything yet, so for me, they're a scalp we can take quicker than some think.

You can't spend all this money and bleat about settling in time. Koeman rightly exercised caution last season, because he had an accurate outsider's view of what he inherited.

Now it's time for the front foot and positive from manager downwards. And that includes us, especially after Sandro's first missed sitter and Pickford's first clanger.