Deadline passes without striking addition

Thursday, 31 August, 2017 780comments  |  Jump to most recent

Nikola Vlasic was the only first-team acquisition of the day

Transfer deadline day at Everton brought the expected acqusition of Nikola Vlašić from Hajduk Split but not the centre-forward that Ronald Koeman has been at pains to point out he badly needs.

The Dutchman used the occasion of the Blues' dismal 2-0 at Chelsea last Sunday, a game in which they failed to register a shot on target, as evidence of what is lacking in his side but despite the usual flurry of speculation, Everton will go until January at least without having signed a direct replacement for Romelu Lukaku.

Sandro Ramirez and Wayne Rooney arrived earlier in the window to bolster the attack and Gylfi Sigurdsson was signed for a club-record fee but a forward to offer height and physique up front remains elusive.

The likes of Olivier Giroud, Edin Dzeko, Raul Jimenez and Islam Slimani had been floated as options in recent weeks, while less attractive names like Watford's Stefano Okaka and Cardiff's Kenneth Zohore have emerged in the media this week.

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A late rumour involving Red Ball Leipzig's Timo Werner ended up having no verifiable substance but there was a report that Everton failed to land Jimenez despite offering £35m.

Another option, Swansea's Fernando Llorente, signed for Tottenham after looking a likely candidate to join Chelsea. Had he moved the latter, Michy Batshuayi might have thought twice about warming the bench at Stamford Bridge and make him a late target for Everton but he was named in Belgium's squad this evening, ruling out any real chance of him moving.

Instead, the only transfer news involving Everton and a striker was the proposed sale of Oumar Niasse to Crystal Palace in a £10m deal that would end the Senegalese player's fruitless 18-month spell at Goodison Park. That deal was still awaiting completion when the window officially closed and although Palace were granted two extra hours to get the paperwork done on their deals, it seems as though Niasse's transfer south fell through.

Vlašić, meanwhile, completed a switch from Hajduk Split for what will initially be an £8m fee but which could rise further depending on appearances.

And Fulham's 18-year-old midfielder Dennis Adeniran has reportedly followed the Croatian through the door at Finch Farm when he was signed for the Under-23s.

In terms of further outgoings, Everton reportedly rejected a £25m offer from Chelsea and any further pursuit by the Champions was apparently nipped in the bud by Barkley rejecting the option of signing for them amid rumours his relationship with Koeman is warming and he could yet stay at Everton.

Meanwhile, it emerged that Everton would only have let Kevin Mirallas leave Goodison in a permanent deal after they reportedly rejected an offer from West Ham to take him on loan for the rest of the season.

The Blues are thought to have knocked back a similar offer from his former club Olympiacos over the weekend when the Belgian was left out of the squad to face Chelsea. Ronald Koeman explained to the media that it was due to his attitude.

Under-23s defender Callum Connolly, who deputised for Leighton Baines at left back in pre-season, joined Ipswich Town on a season-long loan while midfielder Liam Walsh was farmed out to Birmingham City until January.

 

Reader Comments (780)

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Peter Larkin
1 Posted 31/08/2017 at 06:45:30
Here we are again. Scrambling for last minute scraps. Nothing will be the same indeed.
Victor Yu
2 Posted 31/08/2017 at 06:45:53
I know I am dreaming but I would be delighted if we get Sahko, Benteke, and Renato Sanchez (I would assume we are a better option then Swansea for him?)
Robert Leigh
3 Posted 31/08/2017 at 06:52:53
Excited about today - hoping the link with Werner was true yesterday or Dolberg.

One of them and a left sided defender (Gibson?) and Vlasic and it'll have been a fairly positive window, Mahrez on top would be a good window...

Christopher Marston
4 Posted 31/08/2017 at 06:53:36
This is going to be a let down
Joe Clitherow
5 Posted 31/08/2017 at 06:57:43
No rumours? We have rumours that we are in for Batshuayi. That would suit me to the ground as my number one hopeful target. Also Vermaelen.

I'd me more than happy if those came through.

Michael Mcloughlin
6 Posted 31/08/2017 at 06:58:20
Down to the wire for what should have been our most pressing priority after selling Romelu. The need for a striker has been obvious for months so I'm quite disappointed that our scouting team and our football director have not brought this about. Now I know we've bought Sandro who has shown enough over the early games to suggest he will be a part of the team barring the Chelsea game where I think he can be forgiven given the whole team was found wanting. It seems as thought the press are fully on the Rumour train and who always link Everton with every man and his dog. I am however full of hope even at this stage that we can get a decent striker in to compliment DCL and Sandro and hopefully pull together the jigsaw pieces. So come on you blues let's bring him in.
Sam Hoare
7 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:01:07
I'll take Vlasic, Werner/Dembele/Batshuayi and a strong fast LCB please. Vermaelen would just about do if he's put his injuries behind him properly but that seems unlikely.
Chris Perry
8 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:08:54
Get ready for huge disappointment, followed by the " we tried to" bullshit . Ambitions my are! Alehouse football again but no 25-goal man to do the business, the pantomime season will come early this year.
James Watts
9 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:13:32
Yes please Sam. Although Vermaelen has a knee injury right now I was reading earlier.

Queue the arrival of Okaka on loan .

Ian Jones
10 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:13:49
We are mainly concentrating on the players coming in. Any rumours about players leaving. Going to be a busy day all round especially witb many players away on international duty.
Mike Gaynes
11 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:14:45
Lyndon, unless you think "Timo" is a silly monicker more appropriate for a surfer than a footballer (and I wouldn't argue), I certainly wouldn't classify Werner as a "lesser attractive name."

On the contrary, if somehow we miraculously found a way to put that young man in blue, I'd be running down the beach screaming loud enough to scare every seagull from here to Alaska.

Meanwhile, I'm pleased about Vlasic. Thought he performed impressively against us. And we'll have an outlet for various pickle jokes for years to come. In fact, I'll go first... he'll be a dilly of a player for us.

Sam Hoare
12 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:14:45
Peter@1, if we spend £10m today with a loan or two then I'll agree nothing has changed. If we spend £50m plus like I hope then that would be a pretty big change.
Christopher Marston
13 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:19:23
Mahrez has been given permission to leave his country's training camp and sign for 'a new team' according to Sky. I wonder if it's us?
Peter Warren
14 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:20:39
Haha Chris keep believing!!!!
Christopher Timmins
15 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:24:19
I have to say that unless we acquire a proper number 9 between now and the end of the transfer deadline this evening that we will have ended up with an unbalanced squad, too many central midfield players, too many players who play off a central striker, an all round lack of pace and placed huge pressure on DCL to produce the goods week in week out until January.
Mike Gaynes
16 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:26:38
Don't get your hopes up, Christopher. Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea are all in for him ahead of us. And I just saw a report that ManU has dropped out.

We are nowhere mentioned for him.

Mike Gaynes
17 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:28:01
Mahrez I mean.
Colin Glassar
18 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:33:57
Vlasic, Vermaelen and Vatsuayahi all in today. It's going to be vucking nerve racking today!
Peter Larkin
19 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:36:48
Sam. We will make a profit again mate. Barks will go. Lennon. McCarthy. Expecting Batshuyai to come in on loan and some unknown. If you actually believe we will spend £50 million on a striker, despite having 2 months to do so, you're deluded. I'm thinking of adjusting our bet that we won't make top 10 this season.
Kevin Gillen
20 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:37:03
Everyone will feel better when today is over.
David Ellis
21 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:40:28
Fortunately I will be on a flight so will miss the whole thing! Hoping to getting good news when I land. I am sure we will get a No.9 of some sort - even if its a stop gap. Don't think we will complete the jigsaw in this window.

I also hope that Barkley is sold (not that I want him gone its just there's no point him hanging around and his value will drop) as well as Niasse and Mirallas (both of whom I would like gone) and Lennon because I don't see him playing a useful role and its easier to manage a smaller squad.

Scoring goals isn't about getting a 25 per season striker - we haven't had one for 30 years so its not a "normal" state of affairs. It's having a team that "clicks" that causes goals to flood in and this may take a bit of time. I'm not totally sold on Koeman, the team is often just too dour, but hopefully it'll come together.

Robert Leigh
22 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:41:36
Joel's Campbell needs to leave Arsenal, looked handy on occasions and we could give first team football?
Ajay Gopal
23 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:44:03
Ha.. ha.. Colin (18), maybe Vermaelen, Vlasic, Vardy ?
Colin Glassar
24 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:44:04
David, Barkley could be used in a swap deal with Batsuyahi which would make sense for both teams, and players.
Colin Glassar
25 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:45:07
Imre Vardy?
Mike Gaynes
26 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:52:13
OK, it's midnight here and my wife says I am NOT permitted to stay up and read the transfer rumors all night. So I'm going to bed.

I expect you lads to have a striker in by the time I wake up. Get to work!

'Night.

David Johnson
27 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:52:26
I don't mind waiting until the last day provided we do good business. I expect the next couple of hours will show us just how ambitious we really are . Come on Everto at least spend the TV money.
Colin Grierson
28 Posted 31/08/2017 at 07:55:29
If we don't bring anybody in up front then it will have been a dereliction of duty by Walsh. However, if we get someone that is unfancied; touted as being useless by those 'in the know' then I am prepared to let time tell before hurling the teddies. I'll keep my dummy firmly in my mouth for a while as Walsh was brought in to find talent that others haven't spotted.
I wonder where Mir all as will end up?
I'll be glad when today is over. I hate TDD!
Mike Davies
29 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:02:09
Expecting a couple of stop gap loan signings today. I just can't see anything major happening - who is going to sell their main forward on transfer day without a replacement? Werner for example is a total no-goer.

Okaka or Niang on loan. The only hope that could happen is Batsuyahi due to their interest in Barkley and the possibility of them buying Llorente.

James Newcombe
30 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:06:35
'Lesser attractive' name Timo Werner would be the best of the lot. Already a full Germany international at 21... Can't see it happening.
Chris Gould
31 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:11:26
Dreading today. Can't help but think that the RS are going to get both VVD and Lemar. The gap will widen further and we're scraping around for leftovers.
I'm normally far more positive but think we have left it too late to get a top striker who guarantees 15-20 league goals.
It will certainly take a huge sum of money to convince a team to release the quality we need when it will leave them with no time to find a replacement.
John McGimpsey
32 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:14:03
Prepare to be kicked in the goolies at 11:01pm.
Jon Saward
33 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:15:19
Vlasic, Vermaelen and maybe one more (Batshuayi, Costa (loan) or Werner - in reverse order of preference).

Those saying the club have planned badly or that we're 'searching for scraps at the end of the window' are simply being unfair. There were deals lined up for a swap with Chelsea for lukaku and Batshuayi, but Chelsea wouldn't go for it, Giroud changed his mind at the last minute, Werner and Costa were the next on the list and we've been negotiating for a month on both.

Sometimes you just can't convince cash rich clubs to sell Champions League players to non-Champions League clubs in what is already a sellers' market.

And we've done ok through most of the summer, right?

Liam Reilly
34 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:15:33
Gonna be a long day.

I'd like Werner but being realistic, the best we can hope for is the 'Batman' from Chelsea with Barkley possibly going the other way.

Let's hope Moshiri keeps off the texts to Jim White.

Ian Bennett
35 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:27:08
Everton have turned down loan approach from West Ham for Mirallas. Vermalen evens for Liverpool. Mahrez evens for Barca.
Ian Bennett
36 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:27:08
Matthew Salem
37 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:27:19
Transfer fecking deadline day . last chance saloon in our desperate search for a quality striker and we are not even being linked with anybody. This is so disappointing and to find ourselves here is something I would never have expected a month ago.
Shaun Wilson
38 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:38:23
Lol Mike # 26, I was told the same by my mrs! I'm assuming that you are on the West Coast? In SF myself
Jerome Shields
39 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:38:27
Problem is attracting top players to Everton. Our performances so far are not inspiring. A player who is considering his next move would playing for Everton allow his talent to flourish given the players he would be playing with and the ability of the manager. More likely to get someone who is looking a big pay day or someone who would use interest from Everton to negociate a better pay day somewhere else. Though a few clubs might call his bluff on the latter.

Also why is Barkley wanted by Chelsea? This is I am sorry to say the situation we find ourselves in under Koeman. In the game he has the reputation of not being good enough.

The performance at Stamford Bridge was a disaster that would make any player looking at Everton think twice. Walsh may be wishing wishing he had not came to Everton, but he has the consolation of his good wages.
Chris Gould
40 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:39:31
Jon #33
Regardless of what plans we may have had, they didn't work out and we are undoubtedly 'searching for scraps'.
We will probably end up with a stop-gap loan and have to make do.
John Audsley
41 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:42:29
I'm waiting for the first spot of Mr R at the airport
Victor Yu
42 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:43:05
Who needs a new striker when we have Jose Baxter as the secret weapon?
Andrew Ellams
43 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:43:42
I've decided to start the day expecting nothing to happen. That way I can't be disappointed come 11pm but alternatively could be ecstatic.

If we sign Werner can we please wait until I've left the office, I don't think my boss could handle my excitement.

Kevin Tully
44 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:47:08
This isn't good.... I've just seen Kenwright coming out of the Winslow absolutely bladdered, and Moshiri was bundling him into a cab. He was shouting something like
"Watch this space you ungrateful bastards"
Karl Masters
45 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:49:44
Jesus! After reading the last 40 comments, with only a few positives, I feel like throwing myself off a tall building! You miserable lot!

Cheer up

Chris James
46 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:50:26
I've heard we've got both doom and gloom lined up for our vacant slots - seriously I don't understand how some posters on here have survived this far, presumably no razer blades at home.

Clearly we need a decent striker and yes it should've been sorted by now but its not like theres 200s of 25-goal strikers available anywhere - certainly not in prem, how many have scored that in last few seasons? Reality is these players don't move easy and the very best want cl, we're not there yet.
Clearly we've been trying all summer for big names - giroud, batshuyi (sic) and costa, likely dzeko too but we're not the only ones with money now.
If we get a decent striker, werner would do me, then I think it will have been a very good window - first team bolstered and plenty of exciting new prospects. My only slight niggle so far is dowell/kenny not getting a chance when they both seem ready. Otherwise i'm happy to give the project time.

We gave cash and europa and will fet soneone

We will get someone in today

Matt Muzi
47 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:51:23
I anticipate disappointment!
Craig Walker
48 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:54:57
Anyone seen Riquelme in Liverpool yet?

We can have a new owner and more cash but some things don't change do they? I wonder which player we will make a late move for and fail to get this time.

Brian Harrison
49 Posted 31/08/2017 at 08:59:49
Well Koeman is certainly not stressed by all the speculation the BBC are showing a picture of him in Portugal Steve Bruce is also out there. Couldn't imagine Alex Ferguson being away from his desk on deadline day, things have certainly changed.

So I guess if we don't get a striker in Koeman will shrug his shoulders and say in his usual way "OK we didnt get in the striker I wanted" in other words don't blame me.

Eugene Ruane
50 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:00:19
Great that we won't be involved in this circus, what with us having Steve Walsh and with our new, modern, professional board having got all our business fini...sorry what's that, we haven't bought a fucking WHAT!?

Link

Drew Shortis
51 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:00:49
I still wouldn't be at all surprised if Costa came in on a six-month loan. Won't play for Chelsea, can't play for Athletico yet, not going to be loaned to a top four team or Champions League rival, needs to be playing and presumably, Chelsea won't want to be paying him wages if he's not playing or moping around their U23 team.

Long term I wouldn't want him at Everton because of his attitude, but short term I think he could give us that boost we need and we can then see who's available in January.

Middlesborough have just signed Shotton, perhaps in anticipation of Ben Gibson leaving. Young, British and left sided. Would fit the bill for me.

What we do need is some pace out on the left wing. We have Lookman, Mirallas & Lennon as options out right (with Bolasie later on) but no natural leftie.

Michael Mcloughlin
53 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:04:46
Personally I wouldn't necessarily want a prolific goal scoring striker, but a player who can hold up the ball in order for our midfielders to be brought in to create more options. This will benefit us as pace isn't prevalent in the side. Giroud would have been perfect as he is a clever player too who can see a pass to put others in on goal. As someone has already pointed out the same illusive player would be a decent target man again to bring in the strengths of Sigurdsson, Rooney and Baines.
Paul Mackie
54 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:11:51
What a shocker, it's deadline day and we don't have a striker.
James Watts
55 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:13:04
Judging by the picture of Koeman in Portugal by the beach on social media from yesterday afternoon he's either very confident we'll get our targets and doesn't need to be involved or has thought 'fuck it, I'm off to play golf as we ain't doing diddly'!

Guess we'll find out in the next few hours!

Alex Carry
56 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:14:06
I wouldn't mind okaka on loan, he's a strong and pacey striker who has often kept Troy deeney out of the watford team. Would be a good option up front.
Jon Saward
57 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:14:10
Chris #40

Ok - I'll half admit you might be right (couldn't bring myself to completely admit it).

I think some of the 'scraps' we've been linked with are tabloid twaddle. We would definitely have wanted to have sorted this out by now so the club probs has a list of 2-3 options today that are worth investing in and won't bother wasting the money if none of them come off.

Unless we take a desperate punt on Okaka at the last minute...😬

Nick Lacey
58 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:15:16
As good as Vermaelen is, the man has played about 10 games in 3 years. Sorry to be negative, but I'm not sure we need another player for the treatment room.
Dave Lynch
59 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:18:14
Like most things Everton in the last 20 odd years.

Starts off full of promise and then dissapears like smoke in the wind.

I'm in Rome airport typing this and am keeping an eagle eye out for swarthy Italian strikers with scouse phrase books as we speak.

Tony Marsh
60 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:19:12
Chris James @ 46. We needed another striker when Lukaku was at the club. Letting Romelu go to Man Utd for peanuts without a recognised replacement is the worst bit of transfer dealing in the history of our club.

We are told we have joined the elite now with a rich owner so why the rush to sell Lukaku? Did we need the money or not? It's a pathetic state of affairs. What's to be happy about have you been watching our terrible performances this season?

The whole club is still a joke. Koeman is a fraudster and I am beginning to think Moshiri is a stooge for Kenwright. I mean what has he actually done since he took over his shares? We have spent nothing again in real terms.

Oh and yesterday, right on cue, as the fans start to turn another bullshit article is released by the club over stadium designs!! What fucking stadium? Is the Kings Dock back on track because there ain't a thing going on at Bramley Moore. I was there yesterday. Absolute farcical load of bollocks. The Kopites are loving it.

The reality is we have an ageing squad with a few okay youngsters in there a manager who is as clueless as Mike Walker and more negative than Moyes. We still have Kenwright at the helm with his new best mate the skint Billionaire by his side. Add to this the invisible new stadium that is already a year behind with no sign of a shovel in site.

Yes, mate, it its all rosey in the garden. Evertonians need to wake the fuck up. More anger vented at the club by fans over crest designs and stripes around the away kit socks.. It's pathetic and sickening how gullible some of us are.

James Morgan
61 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:19:53
Despite us rejecting Mirallas' to West Ham Loan, he is available for sale. What do we reckon for Kev? £15m? If he were to leave for that, Barkley for £30m plus the £100m for Rom and Del then we wouldn't have spent a great deal of our own money yet Ronald will hopefully come deadline have the squad he wants. Good business, though ultimately what matters to me is the team on the pitch regardless of cash spent.
Eddie Dunn
63 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:24:06
Koeman on his holls - he is obviously quietly confident that Bill and Mosh will complete the business. Unless there is a Portuguese star that is packing his suitcases.
Nicholas Ryan
64 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:24:11
Have just been well and truly 'had' by my "other" [i.e. Liverpool-supporting] son. He said, with a straight face: ' Shock transfer news; Everton have signed an unknown American striker, who has just been seen at John Lennon airport!'

...Really, what's his name?!

.RICK L. MAY !!!

Ken Buckley
65 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:24:20
Finding a striker who is available is not that big of a problem.
Finding one that is better than DCL and available is extremely so.

Still soon be September 9th and we can mull over our transfer dealings and then off to Goodison to help out in the defeat of Spurs.

James Hughes
66 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:24:56
The BBC has a photo of RK in a bar in Portugal last night with Steve Bruce. So they are either having a break and given up on new faces arriving or ?
Len Hawkins
67 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:29:43
Haven't all the "Elite" managers been to a seminar with Ferguson giving a lecture.
Len Hawkins
68 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:29:43
Haven't all the "Elite" managers been to a seminar with Ferguson giving a lecture.
Chris Watts
69 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:35:50
Not sure why we're going for vermulen. He's 31 and injury prone. It would also mean 4 out of 7 recognised defenders are 32, 32, 31 and 34. So we'd be constantly having to rebuild. And next year we'll need an entirely new set of left sided defenders.

Surely it makes sense to get a young player who can take over this time next year

Rob Young
70 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:37:12
Surely a good number of strikers are available or will be available soon?
Llorente ending up at Spurs will make room for Janssen to be loaned out, if he ends up at Chelsea then Batshuayi must be looking to get playing time somewhere else.

Any move for Costa can only happen after Athletic Madrid and Chelsea reach an agreement.

That German striker has a very, very impressive CV I must day! I would like him.


Steve Bell
71 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:38:57
Spurs have now had an offer accepted for Llorente...which could throw the Batshuayi for Barkley option out of the window. Not a done deal yet, Chelsea will counter offer, apparently
Chris Watts
72 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:43:17
Ok what would be a successful day? I'd say Luke Shaw, Timo, the split winger, dembele and mahrez.

Pace, youth and goals.

James Stewart
73 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:43:41
Werner is only deal I'm interested in, he would be a game changer.
Andrew Clare
74 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:47:27
I'm like a moth attracted to a light- I just can't look away. Every bloody transfer deadline day. What for? Let's have a fantastic surprise today please?
Tony Everan
75 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:50:08
Vermaelen too fragile for the premier league , we need someone younger faster who will play more than 5 games for us without injury.

Striker is of the utmost importance today , there will be a lot going on behind the scenes. It will probably cost us more than he's worth and a hefty agents fee. Either that or the fee is so over the top we come out of it with nothing at all.

Leaving it so late has left us a bit exposed, but I'd rather pay over the odds and get someone decent in , than suffer a winter moaning about what could have been.

Gary Edwards
76 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:51:06
Mirallas 10m at best, last minute nearer 5m, he doesn't offer much and most recent reports have Koeman pissed with him not good marketing.

For several months it has been apparent to all and sundry that we've needed a pacey, proper #9 (effectively a replacement for Lukaku), and a LCB (as Funes Mori wasn't cutting it / cover at LB and to make the '3 at the back' work) and we arrive at TDD without either, it's pitiful really.

With some of the perennial big spenders having done little or no business this TDD has the same feeling as a game of "Bastard Brag" . if Walsh / Kenwright have a seat at 'that' table then I fear for our chances of getting the players that we really need.

Sam Hoare
77 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:51:55
Werner would be very exciting but surely Leipzig won't give up their star striker on deadline day. Plus would he swap CL for Europa? All seems very unlikely.

If Chelsea get Llorente then Batshuayi becomes a possibility. If Spurs get him would we fancy a loan/bid for Janssen?

I'm feeling optimistic about today. I'm gonna say we'll have 3 new players by end of the day.

Tony Everan
78 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:55:06
Slimani gone off the radar? I would have thought they have inquired about him.
Ian Bennett
79 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:56:50
Spurs have bid accepted for Llorente. I'd be in for him, we can outbid on wages and offer first team football.
Victor Yu
80 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:57:11
Apparently Niasse is having a medical at Crystal Palace.

Phil Walling
81 Posted 31/08/2017 at 09:58:28
When he's fit, Mirallas will be like signing a brand new striker ! Whether we get another big fella up front will make no difference the way this manager sets them out.

Hopes of a 'seventh finish' fading fast !

Charlie Lloyd
82 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:00:02
I have a feeling that some players will sign but we will be underwhelmed.

It's been difficult to get the deal for a striker sorted but going down to the wire isn't good business. We will either pay well over the odds or it'll be an Enner Valencia type arrival.

Kim Vivian
83 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:08:29
I would consider, if it happens, that Costa for 6 months (a year would make more sense) as a last resort before picking up scraps, so hope something more exciting occurs first. However, as a last resort, it's wouldn't be a bad one.
Kim Vivian
84 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:10:52
Andrew Ellams
85 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:12:05
If we get Costa it will be until 1st January and we don't have another game until 9th September so effectively less than 4 months. I don't see the point to be honest.
Brian Porter
86 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:18:11
I must say, I'm expecting absolutely nothing by tonight. Steve Walsh has been a total waste of space. What on earth did we need a bloody direct of football for? He certainly hasn't brought in anyone along the lines we were expecting. He seems to have had a nice, all expenses paid holiday in Italy at the club's expense when we all thought he was there to scout out new players for Everton... What a joke! Now Koeman swans off to Portugal on deadline day. Clearly he can't see anything happening that might need his input. So, even though we knew months ago that Rom was leaving, nothing has been done about replacing him. People mention names like Giroud and so on as if we tried and failed to get them, but in fact it has never been confirmed that we ever made an approach to sign him or anyone else. All we've had is newspaper reports linking us with various names, but no concrete news of attempts to sign anyone the press have linked us with. I can't help feeling that both Koeman and Walsh have shown a gross dereliction in their duty to provide Everton with the strongest possible squad for this season. All Koeman seems to care about is flooding the squad with midfielders, as if we're not already top heavy with them. Plenty of decent strikers could have been targeted and their clubs approached at the start of the window. To expect any club to sell a top quality striker on deadline day, with no time to replace them, is beyond naivety. By failing to recruit a decent striker after all this time, for me, translates into a very poor transfer window, despite the optimism that was born in the early weeks when it seemed we were serious about building a side capable of challenging for a top 6 or even top 4 place.
Koeman and his negative tactics and lack of attacking nous are turning the fans off more and more with each passing game. Without a recognised front man, I can only see more results like the Chelsea game happening.
How long will it take before Moshiri begins to have a few nagging doubts about his choice of manager?
Anthony Hughes
87 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:21:50
Koeman should have made his mind up what formation and tactics he was going to inplement this season and gone out and acquired the players accordingly. If it is to be 3-5-2 then he should have targeted quality pacey wingbacks and footballing centre backs. Top of the list should have been Lukaku's replacement but he has gone and got himself a handful of no 10's and players who can play in that role. No pace no width. No attacking threat no goals
Kim Vivian
89 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:23:43
Whilst I hope you're wrong Brian #86, I can't find much to argue with there, even if some of it is a bit extreme.
Michael Lynch
90 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:25:31
If Llorente goes to Spurs then I wouldn't be at all surprised if we take Janseen on loan. Expecially if they also want Barkley.

It worries me slightly that he became a figure of pity at Spurs, to the extent that they almost declared a national holiday when he finally scored.

Dick Fearon
91 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:25:48
Our brilliant manager from his own mouth has seriously undermined the sale or swap value of Mirallas, Barkley and Niasse.
Tony Dove
92 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:27:04
Still hoping that Ross stays as Rooney would have been great for him. However If he does go and we get less than 40 million it will be an absolute scandal. Oxlade - C is nowhere near as good, is the same age and is also in the last year of his contract.
Like many on here I still believe Ross can be a top top player and hope that comes true wherever he ends up. Have we bought better? Not in my view.
Adam Scott
93 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:27:26
Anthony (87) spot on.
Brian Williams
94 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:28:39
Barkley'll go to Spurs at the very last minute for £28m, Mirallas will go somewhere for £8m, Niasse'll go nowhere.
We'll end up with Vagisil from Split (who's supposed to be good against irritating cnuts so should do well in the derby) and Vermillion from Barca who'll sign at the very last minute, and end up with a very red face after tripping on the office carpet on the way out to be sidelined for three months!
John Raftery
95 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:31:02
Palace in for Niasse according to SS News.
Victor Yu
96 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:37:03
...trip on the office carpet on the way out and be sidelined for three months!..."

I believe he would pull and torn his hamstring and be out for the season when he stands up after signing the contract with us instead.,"...trip on the office carpet on the way out and be sidelined for three months!..."

I believe he would pull and torn his hamstring and be out for the season when he stands up after signing the contract with us instead.,Turned on,BlueKfrog,1,10:31:46,,223.197.136.47,probation,16940,08/31/2017 10:31:46,victoryu19,probation,, 845551,35424,toffeeweb,31/08/2017,Dick Fearon,bluebyu 28@bigpond.com,With a few coldies to hand I will spend a few hours watching the immortal tiny Tim in vital WC qualifier Australia vs Japan.
I will keep you posted. ,With a few coldies to hand I will spend a few hours watching the immortal tiny Tim in vital WC qualifier Australia vs Japan.
I will keep you posted. ,,,1,10:33:02,,58.108.113.6,ok,3378,08/31/2017 10:33:02,bluemoon28,reader,, 845552,35424,toffeeweb,31/08/2017,Xavier Spencer,n-saltrese@sky.com,RK in Portugal beggars belief.

Nothing to see here me thinks... move along please.

Shambolic. ,RK in Portugal beggars belief.

Nothing to see here me thinks... move along please.

Shambolic. ,,,1,10:35:30,,176.25.6.20,ok,5985,08/31/2017 10:35:30,ccentral1,reader,, 845553,35424,toffeeweb,31/08/2017,Mike Allison,mikeallison0026@hotmail.co.uk,"I'm pretty sure we'll have three new players by tonight, Vlasic will be one of them, I think Vermaelen will be another. Who the striker is I've no real idea. Looks like we'll be underwhelmed, but there's a chance of that underwhelming signing coming good.

Of the people linked recently, Llorente, Giroud, Dzeko, Costa and Werner would all be quite exciting signings but for various reasons I'm pretty sure none of them will be coming. The Batshuayi one is new to me and I don't know much about that link, but I think we're more likely to end up with one of Raul Jiminez from Benfica (they're certainly willing to sell, although their asking price is crazy for someone they only use as a sub), Islam Slimani or Vincent Janssen.

If we signed Janssen or Slimani I'm sure there'd be all kinds of moaning and criticism as neither have particularly impressed during their first season. However, I actually think both have the qualities and attributes to be successful and a struggle to adapt to the Premier League is understandable when stepping up from the Dutch and Portuguese leagues. Plenty of players have struggled at first before becoming successful later on. I would actually be reasonably satisfied with either, as I think both have been through their difficult transition period and are ready to step up. Some important context here is that everyone seems to be forgetting that it's a deliberate policy to sign multiple goal scorers, rather than expect to pick up a single centre forward who will match Lukaku. We shouldn't compare our top scorer this season to Lukaku, we should compare our top five scorers, or even our total goals, to last season's equivalent. The outputs of Rooney, Sandro, Sigurdsson and Klaassen should also form part of this conversation.

Gordon Crawford
97 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:37:14
What about Klinsman or Van Basten? They are two top strikers and no one has mentioned them.
Its going to be a long frustrating day I feel.
Simon Bates
98 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:40:54
Apparently we've agreed 10m with Palace for Niasse,

Spurs are going to 30m for Ross, we want cash only for Mirralas and the Split kid is waiting for his permit.

Thats 30m to spend there,plus big wages off the books .

Maybe we actually needed to free up Niasse's wages to make someone ,somewhere, an offer they can't refuse,?

Cmon Farhad, get yr contacts with Usmanov's associates working .

Walsh's forray into the italian erm, hmm family !!!, still seems to be under consideration .

It could take him years to get made, we should have sent Dunc, hes made his bones and bears our crest.

Mark Tanton
99 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:41:36
Why does Koeman have to be in the country? He doesn't write the cheques and he has a mobile phone.
Tony Everan
100 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:42:52
Brian , Vagisil good against irritating Cnuts ! ,

helpful,when we thrush Liverpool

Brian Williams
101 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:42:59
Mike#99.
A far too sensible post. Please try harder. :-)
Brian Williams
102 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:43:27
Tony. Get yer coat that was aaaaaaaaaaawful!!!
Tony Everan
103 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:46:24
Interesting that Celtic have signed Eduardo from PSG

May mean they have decided to cash in on Dembele for an offer they can't refuse? Whether that would be from us is another thing altogether .

Brian Williams
104 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:50:21
Tony. Would love that to be the case. Been saying all window we should try our best for him. Strong, fast, scores for fun and goal scorers of his ability can score at any level IMO.
Mike Allison
105 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:53:59
Sorry Brian.

Sack everyone! This is a disgrace and I hate you all!

Is that more like it?

Actually I missed out Dembele on my list of 'exciting' strikers as I've never thought we had much chance. I'd have signed him when he left Fulham. But then I'd have signed Van Dijk when he went to Southampton and Butland when he went to Stoke so what do I know?

Joe Bibb
106 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:54:26
Koeman in Portugal! Lets hope Benfica want him.
Santosh Benjamin
107 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:55:29
For once I don't have sit up till 3 am in the morning till the window closes. My wife will be pleased.
I'm in Sydney for the next 3 years and so the window closes at 8 am my time. Good for me since I'll be working overtime 3 times in the next 5 days!
About deadline day - want only a striker if nothing else. Would love dolberg or Werner. We are more likely to get okaka or someone if that level. Sad end to our signings after the great headstart. Fingers crossed coyb
Craig Walker
108 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:56:17
If Llorente ends up at Spurs, I can't see Chelsea wanting to let us have Batshuayi unless we could try and get him in a deal involving Ross?

I must admit that I'm a pessimist when it comes to the Blues. I think we might look back on our transfer dealings this summer as a wasted opportunity and poor use of money. Pickford and Keane look astute signings and I was always in favour of bringing Rooney back but there is an awful lot resting on Siggurddson to chip in goals without a decent target man to supply. I'm not optimistic about Klaasen's abilities to get goals from midfield a la Lampard from what I've seen. Early days but I'm worried. Seems a long time ago that we were gloating to RS supporters because we were splashing cash and getting linked with good players. Really hope I'm wrong and the club can pull a rabbit from a hat before 11pm tonight.

Ray Roche
109 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:56:31
Where is the "Koeman in Portugal" link?
Julian Exshaw
110 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:57:35
I don't expect anything. We have been down this road before and nearly always end up frustrated and disappointed. The truth is, everyone knew Lukaku was off in the summer and we had 3 bloody months to sign someone and here we are again in a rush for scraps. Not good enough and not worthy of a club with top 6 ambitions.
Victor Yu
111 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:57:58
Llorente to Spurs
Jansen to Ajax on loan
Dolberg to Everton

Perfect!

Xavier Spencer
112 Posted 31/08/2017 at 10:59:37
Ray, there's a photo of him with two bods on the BBC transfer deadline day feed. Looks like he's been out there on the lash with Steve Bruce. Hmmm
Chris Watts
113 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:01:23
Well at least we will see the ambition of the club by the end of today. I reckon

No signings - 7th. No cup wins
Split winger - 7th
Vermulen - 7th
Werner, dembele, mahrez and Shaw - 3rd plus a cup

Sam Hoare
114 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:03:32
Lucas Perez anyone?

Vlasic, Perez and Vermalen would be a decent day for me. A solid if unspectacular 6 out of 10.

Vlasic, Werner and Sakho (struggling to think of many better available CBs) would be a 9.5

Ray Roche
115 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:04:44
Thanks Xavier. It is a recent photo, right? I mean, those guys aren't taking the piss?
Michael Lynch
116 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:09:53
Batshuayi, Vlasic and a left-sided defender who isn't a sick note in, and Niasse and Barkley out would be a decent deadline day for me.
Paul Tran
117 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:11:33
I'd love Dembele. He's good already and he's going to get better.

But no, wait. I can see the story tomorrow, 'I would have signed for Everton, but the manager was in Portugal. No way I'm going to play for someone like that.'

I was on holiday in a remote part of the Highlands a few months ago. No web/phone signal. Lovely. Once every day we went to the next village to pick up/send emails. Sorted out three bits of work for my business that week. If I can do that, I'm pretty sure EFC can cope .

Jamie Morgan
118 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:11:35
I really like Vincent Janssen tbh. He was outstanding for Sweden and came to spurs with high hopes. Was hardly given a chance and by the time Kane was injured, Janssen's confidence was shot to pieces.

He's tall and leads the line well and if Llorente goes there he'll be available.
Not many peoples first choice but who knows what today will bring.

Vlasic, Vermaalen and Vincent

Karl Masters
119 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:14:20
Vladic, Van Dijk, Vardy
Ernie Baywood
120 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:15:23
I'll be absolutely shocked if we don't sign a striker. It would represent absolute ineptitude.

That said, I'm sure we will sign one. I'm assuming the delay is because we have some lofty targets before we 'settle' on a lesser light. That'll do me though. Aim high but eventually you have to accept the reality that we have to sign someone.

Alex Doyle
121 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:18:26
I really like the business we have done early. Strong signings to improve our spine. Am not convinced that anyone we sign today will be an improvement on what we have up front. Would like to see Calvert Lewin been given time to play and grow until January, when a top quality striker is brought in. Getting beat at Stamford Bridge as the third game in 6 days is hardly the end of the world.
James Morgan
122 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:23:11
Karl Masters, have you been watching V for Vendetta?

As for outgoings, we could potentially get about £60m in for Barkley, Mirallas, Niasse and Lennon. Then not only would we need a striker and centre half but a winger, preferably Gray, would have to come in.

Brian Williams
123 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:24:54
Jamie. Janssen's Dutch mate.
Mark Batty
124 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:26:59
Mirallas might have a bad attitude but then everyone's saying about signing Costa on loan

Why are we selling all our attacking players and replacing them with nothing, dangerous tactics surely?

Sandro - come on, he isn't good enough.

Klasssen - he is a expensive version of Naismith.

Rooney - has the heart and the "unfinished business" mentality but he's past all that, he's not what he was, you can see he knows this in the Chelsea game when he looked annoyed and frustrated when he was arsing up passes and losing out to the ball to quicker skilled players, his fave it looked like it actually sunk in he isn't a top player no more.

Sigurdsson - a lot of money to hope his balls from free kicks/ corners are on good form.

Can't believe how defensive and negative looking we are going to end up, ex defender as a manager?

Hoping we spread the goals with our midfield pulling them in relegation stuff, setting out to defend from the off is poor, we should set out every game to win score first defend after big defend and hope we get a free kick to a score - without a striker and attacking players this is how we are going to see us go throughout the season.

Brian Williams
125 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:28:24
Mate's just called me. He works in USM Finch Farm.
Told me we're very close to sealing the deal for some flashy cnut from Eastern Europe.
Vajazzle I think his name was.
James Ebden
126 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:30:43
£10m agreed for Niasse. Good to offload, more money in the kitty. Mirallas to follow? Think we should have bitten Chelsea's hand off for £25m for Barkley. 1 year left, injured, blatantly wants out. £25m was a good price and he can rot on their bench.

Wonder if Benteke will come the other way? we could do worse.

Andrew Ellams
127 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:31:16
Jamie. the Vincent Janssen at Spurs is Dutch.
Arild Andersen
128 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:31:35
I actually think Janssen would be a good move. From what I have seen, although not THAT much - but a few of his matches for the Netherlands, his style would suit us better than Spurs. Pace and good hold up-play, would make space for Rooney, Gylfi, Klaasen. When he was at AZ and was the top scorer in the Eresdivisie, he was renowned for his work ethic. Guess that's something for Koeman if he doesn't pick up Jimenez in Portugal.
Derek Knox
129 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:34:21
Would like Batshuayi, possibly as part of the Barkley deal.

As it stands, it doesn't look like we are being linked with anyone who sets the pulse racing, there is still time, but it is running down.

Laurie Hartley
130 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:35:38
I would swap West Brom Mirallas for Rondon. Very underestimated target man in my opinion.
Robert Workman
131 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:37:00
Niasse is going to Palace, not Brighton. Fee is around £10m.
David Booth
132 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:37:25
I have been told some news that will not excite any of us - Shane Long will be confirmed later today.
Denis Richardson
133 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:37:39
Have to agree in thinking Janssen would be a good move. The guy was scoring for fun before joining spurs, where he never really got a chance with Kane in the side.

Player would be willing (especially with RK as manager), spurs must be eager to offload and we desperately need a striker!

Also seems like Barkley would rather go to Spurs than Chelsea anyway.

Seems like a win win

Joe Clitherow
134 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:38:30
Serious question: what exactly is the issue around where Koeman physically is? Where should he be? This is the 21st Century and being in Portugal would not mean that he is not in constant communication with whatever is happening. He does not have to be sat in GP with a car ready with the engine running ready to dash off to get signatures. Plus with potential targets listed above sitting in London, Glasgow, Barcelona, Leipzig, Split, Cardiff etc he obviously can't physically meet all of them - and actually, physically meeting one at the expense of another could jeopardize a Plan B target if Plan A falls through.

I genuinely don't understand the point beyond it being another stick. This is the 21st Century, deals don't have to be done in a smoky back room of the Winslow

Andrew Ellams
135 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:41:08
Looks like we'll have to stump up best part of £25million to get Janssen. His record looks pretty prolific with the exception of his time at Spurs. Maybe he'd suit our style better than theirs.
Steve Bell
136 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:41:19
Worst case scenario - and surely easy to pull off- get a striker from whoever we sell Ross to?
Robert Workman
137 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:45:58
We are interested in Perez from Arsenal, according to BBC - so are Newcastle.
Ray Roche
138 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:46:15
How about Vincent Van Gogh, although I 'ear he's not as good as he's painted.
Colin McBride
139 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:48:54
Bet we get rid of Mirallas on loan, Niasse on loan, and Barkley for 22mill and get two kids in, one of which we send out on loan again. Depression pills anyone
Brian Williams
140 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:49:54
Ray. He's a red card waiting to happen, madder than Costa.
Tony Everan
141 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:53:42
Ray

plenty of Vs in his name, seems to be ''en vogue'' , manager speaks the lingo and if he turns out a poor signing should recoup the fee selling some paintings.

Andrew Ellams
142 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:53:55
Colin, we've agreed a fee of £10million with Palace for Niasse.
Colin McBride
143 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:55:22
It says on Sky that Palace

"Despite newspaper reports to the contrary, we understand no deal has yet been agreed for the transfer of Everton's Oumar Niasse.

However, Crystal Palace are interested in the 27-year-old."

Xavier Spencer
144 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:55:23
Colin, that's what I was sort of thinking. The lad from Watford on loan and the crock Vermaelen who was actually missing for a week recently because he had a cold. I kid you not. Look at link.

https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/8/31/16230132/thomas-vermaelen-transfer-rumours-everton-barcelona-deadline-day-news-latest

Justin McCallum
145 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:55:23
Can't wait to see Jim White on the phone to Moshri live on TV tonight getting the live scoop...I'm hearing live from SKY Sources that Vardy, Costa, Bony are all going to Everton !
Brian Wilkinson
146 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:56:26
Two things I have bleated on and on over the last year or so on here was to sign a top class goalkeeper, the other was trying to sign Michy Bats from Chelsea,.

We seem to have the keeper, so fingers crossed we get Batshuayi over the line today.

Andrew Ellams
147 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:57:41
Colin, the BBC say fee agreed at 11:07
Jamie Morgan
148 Posted 31/08/2017 at 11:57:55
Swedish Dutch! (It's all similar!!) my bad sorry. but the game I refer to was at Wembley where he led the line against England pretty well.
Sam Hoare
149 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:03:19
West Brom have reportedly bid 23m for Janssen. Amazing when they bought him for 17m last season and he's done sod all since. Football inflation...
Rob Young
150 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:03:42
How is a player like Janssen going to move today when he is actually supposed to be focusing on playing for is country v France tonight - huge match for them.
Sure his agent would do most work but he might want to check with the player to see if he has to agree wages with either West Brom, Stoke or Everton at some point?

Brian Harrison
151 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:05:14
I think some of our fans must be really desperate in the last couple of days I have heard them say Benteke or Bony and now today because Spurs have agreed a fee for Llorente, some suggest Jansen from Spurs. Guys if these are the only options because we have left it so late I prefer to stick with DCL or Sandro.
Tony Everan
152 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:05:18
Concerned that Levy is stringing this Barkley transfer along and will blame us .When his intention all along was to sign him on a free.
Tony Kost
153 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:06:39
I see Slimani and Mahrez's name being mentioned as targets.
I hope not!
LCFC bought Slimani for about 29 mill and he has found the Premier league difficult. (not good enough for us)

Mahrez has had a very inconsistent season after getting player of the year. I know he can be a very tricky player - but he provides no defensive cover. LCFC fans are very disappointed with him at the moment.

Batsushay would be an excellent buy.

Tony Everan
154 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:11:12
Everton enquire about Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi and Arsenal forward Lucas Perez . Bat would probably depend upon where Llorente goes , and whether he wants the move too, I think in the past he has been reluctant.
If we got both I would be happy.

Brian Williams
155 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:13:54
Nabil Fekir.
Brian Williams
156 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:15:46
No deal for Niasse btw.
Andrew Ellams
159 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:19:08
What about Fekir Brian? He sounds very similar to Sandro.
Carl Allan
160 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:19:26
I bet by tomorrow morning, in true Everton fashion, we end up with a weaker squad than last season. We no longer have a consistent goalscorer at the club, the jury is still out on Klassen and Sandro whilst Keane and Pickford are still young and best years areto come in the future.

We haven't replaced the counter attacking pace of Deulofeu the unpredictability of Barkley (he did score some wonder goals) or the wing wizardry of McGeady.

To me Koeman doesn't have a clue with big money. Would like to have seen Martinez with the cash - after all he did sign attacking types of players and it's goals that win games.
Brian Harrison
161 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:19:37
Alan Myers a Blue working for Sky at Leicesters ground today tweeted according to his sources a busy busy day at Everton both outgoing and incoming. Someone tweeted to ask was Timo Werner or Vardy the targets he said no to both. Obviously didnt mention any names but obviously things are happening.
Xavier Spencer
162 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:22:10
Brian @ 154, spot on. We're now looking at players who aren't good enough to even make the benches of teams we should be challenging. Bugger that. I really would rather just stick with DCL and work with what we've got.
Xavier Spencer
163 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:24:32
Alan Myers is someone who I really respect. Knows the club inside out and is very well connected and is not a bull shitter. This gives me hope...
Allan Barratt
164 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:25:16
Tom Davies has joined Coventry on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Nearly shit myself

Derek Knox
165 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:27:15
Oxlade-chamberlain has signed for the RS!
Anthony Flack
166 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:30:16
Sway Andy Carrol for Super Kev ??:)
George Cumiskey
167 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:30:39
We have made an offer for Perez on loan, typical Everton trying to sign a player who wants to go back to Spain. Nothing changes !!
Brian Murphy
168 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:33:01
Jim White just said we will have a very significant deal over the line between 8 & 9 this evening. WTF. Are we waiting on Koeman to get his arse back from Portugal to do a medical or something.???
James Morgan
169 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:34:12
Giroud was my first choice. Benteke my second. Seeing as we were in for Perez last year it makes sense us still wanting him now, especially at a cut price.
I don't think he's a target man type striker but if Mirallas, Lennon and ahem, Niasse are all to leave, it does make room for Perez and Vlasic. I wouldn't go anywhere near Bony or Janssen.
Batshauyi from Chelsea would be good if he could replicate the last Belgian we bought from them, but they will only likely sell if they get Llorente. Surely he will fancy his chances of ousting Morata rather than Kane, plus the better financial package and guaranteed trophies on offer at Chelsea.
I wait with baited breath.
Mike Green
170 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:34:19
A fit Andy Carroll with Sigs delivery would be deadly Anthony.

The problem is the second word in the sentence.

Mike Green
171 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:35:13
Brian #171 - everyone's got to have their tea first remember.
Tony Everan
172 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:35:14
now that Arsenal have sold the Ox , they may be after Ross.There maybe player plus cash deal Perez + 15m ? , wouldnt be surprised if Batman came on a loan.
Brian Murphy
173 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:38:14
No Panic really Mike is there FFS. Maybe Jim is waiting until he has donned the Yellow tie and will announce on SSN tonight.
George Cumiskey
175 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:39:34
James@172 Like I said Perez doesn't want to stay in this country, he wants to go back to Spain.So why sign someone who doesn't want to be here ?.
Andrew Ellams
176 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:39:47
Brian, or alternatively the player in question could be travelling over from Europe.
Tony Everan
177 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:41:32
Andrew

Raul Jiminez flying back with Ronald ?

James Morgan
178 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:43:53
George, if that's the case then fair enough. Though pound notes talk!
Brian Williams
179 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:44:17
Andrew#162.
He was just another name that has emerged mate.
Carl Allan
180 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:47:37
Southampton say there have been no bids for Van Dijk despite him being desperate to leave. Here's our chance to piss the redshite off and pinch him from under their noses like they did with Wijnaldum last summer to us.

Let's be more ruthless for a change instead of being everyone's favourite community club.
Steve Jenkins
181 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:50:56
I don't think it's been disclosed who Mahrez is supposed to be going to?

Alan Myers's said should be abusy day in & out for Everton.

When asked on twitter why he's at LCFC instead of FInch Farm he just said "long story".

Are pushing through a deal for a Leceister player - is it Mahrez?

He's already said Vardy isn't coming!

Carl Allan
182 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:51:36
Nikola Vlasic from Hajduk Split for £10 million, WTF?
Kim Vivian
183 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:53:44
Been out and about lads. Save me reading everything - anything actually happening?... Inbound that is.
Dave Pritchard
184 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:54:39
BBC website transfers done deals
11:31 - Tom Davies ********** - Coventry Undisclosed
Don't worry I've deleted Portsmouth from the above.
Dave Pritchard
185 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:57:21
Most likley Leicester player for us probably Slimani?
Arild Andersen
186 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:58:00
Reports say Llorente is having a medical at Spurs, so there goes our chance for Batshuayi I guess. Fingers crossed for Janssen, think he's a better option than Perez.
Derek Knox
187 Posted 31/08/2017 at 12:59:32
News from Finch Farm, they may have signed a new tea-lady. :-)

Left it a bit late in my opinion.

James Marshall
188 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:00:09
Virgil Van Dijk has left the Southampton training ground in the back of a blacked out car.

Where’s he off to?

Paul Smith
189 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:05:48
Been offered a ticket for Man U away. Holding off until we sign some one.
Michael Lynch
190 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:06:27
SSN reckon we've asked for Perez on loan from Arsenal.
Ajay Gopal
191 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:06:39
I don't k ow this obsession with a target man - the RS don't have any and they score for fun.
Tony Everan
192 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:07:32
Southampton are Liverpool B team , so if he's off somewhere doesn't take much working out.
Derek Knox
193 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:08:56
Just read there could be problems obtaining a work permit for Vlasic, basically the deal is all but agreed on, but at this late hour?

Why is everything left to this late hour?

Arild Andersen
194 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:09:57
Ajay (194) - no, but unfortunately they do have pacy wingers, movement up front and midfielders who actually can get a shot on goal.
Xavier Spencer
195 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:10:40
And sod all from the Echo's Everton reporter, Greg O'Keeffe. Just shows how far the Echo has fallen as a reliable and speedy source of football news on Merseyside. It really is a pitiful rag these days.
Steve Jenkins
196 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:11:17
Is Koeman being in Portugal just a coincidence?

Most likely.

He could be there for Jimenez?

I'd love to think if we was he could tie a deal up for Brahimi as well.

We were in for him last year but that all seemed to go quiet.

He's exactly the type of player we need/are missing.

27 years now & still not played in a big league - surely it's time for him to do so.

Come on Koeman/Walsh/Board get a cheeky bid in!

Rudi Coote
197 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:13:51
#194 Ajay . I agree. Just who is going to provide these CHANCES for any striker not just a target man.
The RS do score for fun they'll be having bags of laughs in the derby.
Brent Stephens
198 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:18:12
Joe #137 "what exactly is the issue around where Koeman physically is? Where should he be?with potential targets listed above sitting in London, Glasgow, Barcelona, Leipzig, Split, Cardiff etc he obviously can't physically meet all of them."

Not good enough, Joe. We pay him £6m a year so he should be able to be in several places at once (my wife expects me to)! Quantum Ron.

Karl Masters
199 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:19:47
Depression Central in here!!

Even the Samaritans would give up with some of you!!!

Brent Stephens
200 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:21:35
Kim #186 "Been out and about lads. Save me reading everything - anything actually happening?... Inbound that is".

No, it's all outbound - toys from prams.

Brian Williams
201 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:24:01
Doesn't matter where Koeman is. Very often the contact with an incoming player and the manager is by phone while the DOF and club secretary do the face to face stuff.
The club staff involved will have a shortlist of players to get and will work their way down that list as necessary.
All the players on that list will have been agreed by the manager with instructions to the staff to get the players at the top of the list if at all possible.
Ray Roche
202 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:30:12
Brent.
Cracker!
Brian Williams
203 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:34:03
Karl#202.
The Samaritans have opened a unique Everton transfer rescue line. Trying to find the number. I know it starts with Oh four fucks sake!!!
Jay Harris
204 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:40:30
Ron in Portugal.

Jimenez in Portugal.

Oh no!!

Sam Hoare
205 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:46:00
If Sanchez does go to City then I think that removes any slender hope there may have been left of getting Giroud.

Chelsea won't let Batshuayi go now they've missed out on Llorente. Perez wants to return to Spain.

Options drying up.

Reckon we'll be looking down on our C-list strikers. Jiminez? Okaka? Stracqualursi?

Rob Williamson
206 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:46:39
The samaritans are rubbish. If they really cared they'd phone you!
Pete Daniels
207 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:50:15
I don't know whats going on in that boardroom at Everton. I certainly hope that Farhad, Walsh and Co have not been on a bender since spending all that Lukaku money. It seems that way as they've been rather quiet since, hats off to the Sigurdsson deal but now we are being linked with Okaka? Or lately Perez on a loan deal when Arsenal want to sell he is for sale we were ready to buy last summer and now hes even cheaper.

I have waited all my life for this change at Everton please for heavens sake don't let all of us fans down some of us have waited a lifetime for this. It's like you've got a wedding, brought a new fresh suit, shirt, tie, even handkerchief and now the big day's here, you turn up with your full suit and tie but no socks or shoes. Please, whoever is in charge, don't make a joke out of us now we have come this far.

Harvey Miller
208 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:52:09
It's possible that there won't be no transfers at all for Everton today.
It is a massive failure if we don't get a real forward. Even if we do it's still gross mismanagement and poor planning.
They have known for over half a year that Lukaku goes. He has been gone for a month or more now. Still they left it this late.
There never was any reliable plan, they just seem to lock on a target for weeks and then move to another and another...
Of course we never know what really has happened and what the Everton staff have done but it sure looks like they don't either.
I just hope Koeman is In Portugal for Bas Dost.
Kieran Kinsella
209 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:55:05
Maybe Ron is joining Villa. Didn't Bruce sign Terry on a similar weekend trip?
Clive Rogers
210 Posted 31/08/2017 at 13:58:50
Jay #207, actually Jimenez is in Mexico with the international squad. Breath again.
James Stewart
211 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:06:06
Wonder what this significant business Jim White is talking about at 8-9pm. Slimani? Benteke? Hopefully Werner ( while we can still dream)
James Stewart
212 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:07:32
Renato Sanches to Swansea, Krychowiak at WBA what the hell is going on!
Joe McMahon
213 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:13:56
Sam (208) now way was Giroud ever coming to Everton. We ain't in London, or a club in the Champions League. Romelu was a one off, sadly Everton for established top players are not attractive. Rooney is way past his best and isn't wanted by CL clubs. I'm Just being realistic. IMO we will have to wait until we finally get into the new stadium for any real change.
Chris Jones [Burton]
214 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:14:07
James #215. Per BBC: "... Swansea head coach Paul Clement's connections have paid off. He worked with Sanches during his time as Bayern's assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti, and his long-standing relationship with the Italian has proved immensely valuable with this eye-catching move."
Anthony Hughes
215 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:17:46
Koeman's a name in football isn't ? Surely players will want come and play for him?
Jay Harris
216 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:37:05
Thanks for that Clive.

Its weird I started the transfer period hoping for Vardy, Dzecko, Dembele, Giroud even Aguerro and now I'm finishing the transfer window thinking why would LLorente prefer Spurs bench, why does Perez prefer Deportivo, why cant we get a number 9 from somewhere in the world.

Unlike Mike nobody told me to go to bed so I stayed up half the night in Florida and now I'm back in the Samaritans posting corner

Michael Lynch
217 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:39:36
Looks like Arse are letting Sanchez go to Citteh. What an attacking force they have there, if it does happen. Arsenal are a hollowed out shell of a club now, unless they can get Lemar. It's tough being an Evertonian, but imagine what it's like being a Gooner right now
Mark Tanton
218 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:48:20
It's not looking too good is it? Still I remember waking up to Fellaini...
Graham Mockford
219 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:50:02
Don't worry about letting Lukaku go they said.

We will be a better team they sad.

Fuck me we're leaving it late.

Joe McMahon
220 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:51:37
Micheal (220), take your point about being a Gooner, however what at least they can say is, they have won multiple trophies since 1995, and their ground is new and shiny and holds 60k and with no restricted views. I think us Evertonians have bigger worries.
Paul Smith
221 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:53:43
Bit shit this in it.
Steven Astley
222 Posted 31/08/2017 at 14:57:42
We should sign more players like Vlasic, get 4 or 5 in who not many have heard of, try them in the PL and see if they flourish.
Craig Walker
223 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:03:12
My heart bleeds for Arsenal. Twenty years of top 4 finishes but only managing to win the FA Cup and get into the Europa last year. If Koeman won the FA cup he'd be a legend.
Mike Green
224 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:03:26
Anyone for a game of 3 card?
Brian Williams
225 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:04:18
Mark#221.
Hey mate what you do in your private life is your own affair. :-)
Michael Lynch
226 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:06:42
SSN reckon Arse will knock us back over the Perez loan. Makes a change for SSN to talk about anything that isn't to do with the Shite. I'd forgotten why I never watch Sky for a minute there. Wankers.
Mark Tanton
227 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:08:10
That's a relatively quite night Brian!
Brian Williams
228 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:09:48
Mark. Haha any other famous footballers you've "woken up to"?
Brian Williams
229 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:11:15
I once woke up to a young lady who looked like Fellaini in the cold light of day!!!!
Mark Tanton
230 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:12:38
I never kiss and tell Brian. Fellaini was, as you'd expect, a nightmare - all elbows and knees.
Brian Williams
231 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:15:37
Nice one Mark! :-)
Jim Knightley
232 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:16:04
Arsenal are a selling club, despite their wonderful financial situation. Kroenke is taking alot of money out of the club and they will be finished as a top 4 side next season. Alexis will go for free, Ozil will too, and Koscielny might also be off. They've got very little coming through. To be honest, I think our future is much brighter, in view of our improved financial situation and aggressive investment in youth talent.

Also - we were never going to replace Lukaku with a top player. The Lukaku transfer itself was a one off, enabled by a fantastic first season under Martinez that promised much. We don't have Champions League football. We don't have the financial might or recent success of the teams above us. Change will take time: Walsh's value will be seen in the young players he has purchased. I think many on here need a little patience - we've destroyed previous records with our summer transfer spend, but that seems to have been forgotten because of the failures of the last week.

And we did sign a striker to replace Lukaku. We signed Sandro, and we signed Rooney. I expect that there is a realisation that Sandro is not good enough, and will not score enough, to take us forward, at least this season. Rooney doesn't have the pace to lead the line. But we do have 3 strikers the club, even if this will count as our major failure. We've got a few hours yet - I'd take Slimani, who has been underused at Leicester. Perez would give us the pace we lack, and he has also suffered because of Wenger's failure to give him opportunities (Which he himself has admitted).

There is still time, and I still think this window has been a success, in light of Lukaku's inevitable depature. I expect all those who criticised Lukaku will appreciate his value in his absence. Bullshit ideas about finding goals elsewhere and his lack of work off the ball were always rubbish - we would have been a much better team with him. But we will move on without him.

My fingers are still crossed for two coming in.

Kim Vivian
234 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:18:32
And I bet they end up with something this season as well, Craig.
Raymond Fox
235 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:19:19
I think Chelsea will have to loan Costa out for the season somewhere.
I'd very much like it to be here and you never know, but I fancy it will be to a Spanish club.

Nothing too exciting on the horizon for us at the moment though, is there.

Tony Everan
236 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:23:24
Looks like we are in the loan market now?

Im not sure Perez is the answer, never even got off the bench at Arsenal, it's a worry. I'm not sure he improves what we've already got.

Still waiting for this rabbit to pop its head out of the hat.

Mike Green
237 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:26:17
Very quiet on Ross...
Phil Malone Jnr
238 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:27:03
Benteke, Bas Dost, Batshuayi and Dembele... go all out for one of them. We need a target man!!!!!
Michael Lynch
239 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:28:01
Spurs not interested in Barkley, at least not in this window. I reckon he'll turn Chelsea down and see how it pans out. So we get to keep a crock on the books til January, when Spurs will probably buy him for tuppence.

It just gets better and better eh

Sam Hoare
240 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:35:57
Hmmm. Was expecting something to have happened by now. All gone a bit Sissoko...
Mike Green
241 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:40:39
Yep Michael - and then, in January I imagine Levy will say - wait four months and we'll give you a £10m kick back for saving us a fee and fitting into our wage structure at £60k per week.
David Booth
242 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:42:17
Brian and Mark: very funny. A bit of light relief for this last-minute madness again.

Seems whatever we try to do, we can't shake off the lingering things that characterise Everton, namely:

still leaving the most important purchases until the very last minute (if at all), in transfer windows

and

seeking to achieve no more than a draw at the 'top six' (as clearly evidenced by our sh*thouse formation/tactics at City and Chelsea - despite £150m-plus investment in a teams-worth of new players).

Every year we are led to believe things will change and every year we get the same old scenario - running round trying to pick up the scraps after everyone else has eaten.

There'd better be a quality centre forward lined-up before close of play today, or our season will already be defined with just three games played.

So we're either in for a truly amazing rabbit-out-of-the-hat, or another Valencia-esque damp squib.

Can't believe that with Lukaku's departure being known about since last season ended, here we are with seven hours to go, without a replacement in sight!

Danny Halsall
243 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:45:55
Starting to get a really bad feeling. Seems that we are panicking trying to et a forward in after missing most of our targets, not feeling optimistic.
Daniel Lim
244 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:48:24
The signing is probably going to be announced 5 minutes before deadline and the player is Duncan Ferguson. He doesn't need to go through medical after the "acquisition" as he has done that this morning.
Ian Reed
245 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:50:05
Can we register Big Dunc in time?
Dave Pritchard
246 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:51:06
David 245. Valencia-esque. Love it.
Ian Reed
247 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:52:14
Daniel, great minds and all that.

Given his history though, I think his medical should take all day.

Brian Williams
248 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:53:32
I have to say, lads, that if we take a step back and look outside our own little bubble, we can get a little more perspective on the situation.

Up until a few days ago, the RS supporters were going off their heads with lack of signings bla, bla. Arsenal are in total turmoil and Chelsea are struggling due to the Costa situation.

As an exercise when you're bored have a look at a few other clubs' main fansites and they nearly all very closely resemble ToffeeWeb in their content and posts.

Chill for now; go postal at 23:01.


Daniel Lim
249 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:55:58
Wow Ian, you mean you didn't see my post before you wrote yours?
Really great minds... haha...

Regarding his medical, I might be wrong, I think he doesn't need one, as we don't buy him from another club. The club just need to submit his registration at 10:55pm. But the fax probably would break down and we fail to register him.

Mike Green
250 Posted 31/08/2017 at 15:59:42
I reckon we've done our deals and we're sitting on them for maximum effect, dropping the big one at c.10pm. But then again I always think that and it's only ever happened once and the was the year of the Rom. I think it's there though, they've got their feet up behind the curtain, dunking Rich Tea's and watching Escape to Victory. Now there's a thought – maybe it's Stallone?
Mark Tanton
251 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:03:19
If I'd suggested on here in May as last season finished that we would go into next season with Klaassen, Sandro, Rooney, Sigurdsson, Keane, Pickford and Martina I think most of people would have suggested I was on the optimistic side.
Colin Glassar
252 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:05:10
The lights all over Goodison have gone dark".,"The lights all over Goodison have gone dark".,,,1,16:03:54,,86.183.243.98,ok,12051,08/31/2017 16:03:54,Bluebones,reader,, 845729,35424,toffeeweb,31/08/2017,Dennis Ng,dennis13@gmail.com,"Colin, stop being so pessimistic LOL
Graham Mockford
253 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:08:01
Mark Tanton

I think the majority of players have improved our squad

However if you had said to me we would sell a 20+ goals a season centre forward and not buy a replacement I'd say don't be stupid.

Mike Green
254 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:10:30
5 hours to go yet Graham.
Damian Wilde
255 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:10:51
At nost it'll be a last minite shit loan deal. Typical Everton. Finish 7th, QF of a cup. But always hope for more! We'll see.
Martin Mason
256 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:11:02
Calm down dears.
John Mckay
257 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:15:06
Daniel you can register big dunc whenever you want transfer deadline does not apply to free agents/unregistered players

Everyone going mental saying we are picking the bones after everyone else has eaten...

Mental because we've done some great business early doors like everyone wanted for the last few Windows, now we done that Everton get slated for not being busy on transfer deadline day.

All teams pretty much are scrambling around to tie up signings today I think only United I haven't heard anyone mention.

Sometimes deals for players take until the last minute when players know they not getting a move to the club they wanted so take whatever offer comes their way, also teams don't want to sell so big bids come in at the last minute, or the flipside to that teams don't want to buy so they get low bids for players that are trying to get shifted on.

It's all a big game of poker and usually when 1 transfer happens on deadline day a few clubs make moves as a result.

If we can get a striker in who will help us until the next window then great but we signed some quality players, Pickford and Keane in particular.

Joe McMahon
258 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:15:37
Damian, I've a feeling it may be 8th this season (at best). Europa games will catch up with us, and I have a feeling WBA may be 7th this year.
Tony Everan
259 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:26:28
Don't panic!

We still have the SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT at 8pm to look forward to.

Go for a pint , get some fish n chips on the way home , plonk yourself on the sofa at 7:55 and prepare to celebrate.

Anthony Flack
260 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:32:26
Knowing our PR machine the big announcement will be

- Schneiderlin to pass ball forwards later this season

Or

- Jags never to pass ball with left foot again

Steve Green
261 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:32:34
Koeman in Portugal...big deal expected at 8pm... Brazilian language is Portuguese .it's gotta be Costa. Cant get here from Brazil in time to meet deadline but first hand translation for the paperwork for Ronald sitting in Lisbon or Faro or wherever
Colin Metcalfe
262 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:33:21
If we keep Barkley I reckon he will sign a new contract and with the business we have done already happy days !
A forward line of Sandro / Rooney/Siggy & Klassan just behind will eventually gel and reap rewards and with Arsenal on the slide we should have no problem getting top six .
As for the next few hours , yes it would be nice for a extra forward as a plan B off the bench however DCL has changed my opinion recently and I believe we have a decent player who develop into a class center forward.
All is not negative as most of the posters on here seem to think , my biggest gripe is with our Manager , shame we can't throw Management into the transfer pot , any bid of over 5k for Koeman I would take it !!
Daniel Lim
263 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:41:31
I like that Steve.
Don't make me disappointed.
Colin Glassar
264 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:43:54
Is it coutinho , Steve?
James Morgan
265 Posted 31/08/2017 at 16:44:35
If we don't get a striker I'll be booting the first cat I see Friday morning! (Joking before PETA get me)
We needed a striker when we had Lukaku because Valencia and Kone were...well...Valencia and Kone! Who is seriously going to come in this late? Amateur, Everton, très amateur!
Paul Birmingham
266 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:05:44
Terms of endearment and 30 years of anguish, patience and hope eternal, and I'm hoping the SW, FM, BK and co, can pull the rabbits out of the hat with some proven deals ( as the clock has almost run down) in the xfer window.

This is Everton and a busy summer with some good business both ways, has raised hopes but will the most key elements, be delivered by the end of today?

I reckon they will , but will they be better than anticipated .The theme of ppppppp could go on all year, so let's hope for a good return in what remains of this window.

Eternal optimism lives as ever.

Rob Dunleavy
267 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:13:43
We NEED a striker... Come on Walsh / Koeman. There has to be some significance into Koeman being in Portugal last night - hoping its Jimenez or like someone said earlier it's one way to get Diego Costa from Brazil.

Been a good transfer window, lots of good signings for the future, but without a target man this season we will not be able to compete where we should be.

Seeing us linked with Deeney / Okaka is a major worry! one big signing still hoping!

Colin Glassar
268 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:15:04
Vlasic to sign and then the lights will be turned off.
Brian Harrison
269 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:16:52
Barkley with this hamstring which reports are saying he wont play till October, then Spurs will tell him turn down Chelsea and we will be back in Jan with a ludicrous offer which Everton will be desperate to take.

I know that when I started watching Everton in the late 1950s the club had all the power, but now it has gone way to far the other way.
Strange that Courtinho and VVD havent kicked a ball this season for their clubs, with doctors saying they cant play because of stress. Where will it all end, I don't see what benefit there is to clubs giving players 4 & 5 year contracts.

Mark Tanton
270 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:20:49
Big Ron has been blathering on for weeks about us needing a striker, so will he spit his dummy out if he doesn't get one?
Chris Williams
271 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:23:40
Perez gone to Deportivo on loan seemingly.
Mike Green
272 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:24:50
c.3 hours to go and then its SHOWTIME!
Chris Henry
273 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:26:19
I haven't read this thread much today, but so far we have been linked with so many other 2 bit players, however my money (and hopes) are on a late go for Jamie Vardy? I reckon £35m should get him.
Mike Green
274 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:26:27
Moshiri going to make a splash. Statement signing. Just wait and see. Jim White isn't one to get it wrong
Michael Lynch
275 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:30:15
I'm starting to feel a bit depressed.
Mike Green
276 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:31:03
It's TDD Michael. A bit like PMT for blokes.
Chris Henry
277 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:31:03
One name: Mitchy Batshuayi. (Was the original Rom alternative) if I remember correctly.
Mark Gardiner
278 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:32:10
Looks like we are getting Vlasic. Great So where will he play given that we already have three or four players that like to play in his position.

Is there actually any strategy to our transfer dealings as we seem to be buying players without the manager knowing where or how to play them?

Mike Green
279 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:33:32
They can sit on each others shoulders Mark.
Rob Dunleavy
280 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:34:46
I hope your right Mike
Raymond Fox
281 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:36:18
More than likely a splash in the Mersey, Mike 278.
Mark Gardiner
282 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:36:19
I really don't get it. Other clubs buy players to fit into the way that they play. We just seem to be buying random midfielders even thought the manager doesn't seem to know how he wants the team to play.
Paul A Smith
283 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:37:18
The same Jim White who had us signing everyone in Koeman's first window?
I think its safe to say Jim White does get things wrong.
Gordon Crawford
284 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:38:02
This all seems so very similar to me, it's like we've been here before. This reminds me of Black Friday, lots of panicking for a whole lot of crap. And with anything good you find, someone comes along and steals it off you.
Not looking forward to this last few hours. :(
Paul A Smith
285 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:40:13
Rob 271 how come you hope its Jiminez mate? Hes been as bad in the Portugese league as Okaka and Deeney in the premier league.
Sounds exotic but doesn't record great stats.
Kevin Tully
286 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:40:40
Q. Who will look the biggest fool at 23.01hrs tonight?

1. Twebbers panicking over nothing?
2. Koeman?
3. Walsh?
4. The Everton board?
5. Jim "massive deal unfolding at Everton" White?
6. Donald Trump?
7. Kim Jong-Un
7. Arsene Wenger?
8. That weatherman who said it wouldn't be windy before a hurricane?

Rob Dunleavy
287 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:47:13
Paul 289... Well quite frankly because he's a bit of an unknown and I don't want to sign Deeney or Okaka. I've watched a few vidoes of him online and would say hes got far more potential to make something happen then them two lumps! I'm still hoping its Diego Costa, but when were not hearing anything, im getting a bit more desperate for unknowns/players with potential rather than average mid-table strikers in the prem.
Gordon Crawford
288 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:47:19
All of the above Kevin.
Nicholas Ryan
289 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:47:41
I have a feeling, that Jim White's 'big announcement' is Barkley out, rather than somebody in !!
Colin Glassar
290 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:48:35
Ossie and Hibbo, Kevin.
Kevin Tully
291 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:53:10
I bet you those two have had a hand in negotiations, Col.
Mike Green
292 Posted 31/08/2017 at 17:55:48
Paul #289 - unfortunately I didn't have a "whiff of sarcasm" button to apply on my post. I think it's probably more likely Jim White has got it wrong but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Mike Green
293 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:03:19
Could be Nicholas #293.

I've got a big six sided dice here and have taped Costa, Barkley, Vardy, Giroud and Mahrez's faces to sides 1 to 5 leaving 6 blank (i.e. nothing doing).

Going to roll it at 6.15pm.

Gordon Roberts
294 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:12:21
If the announcement being bigged up by Jim White is to officially announce the lad from Hadjuk Split or the sale of Barkley, this site will go into meltdown!
Mike Green
295 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:15:16
OK - here goes
Mike Green
296 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:16:14
2 - its Barkley. Bloody hell. You're right Nicholas.
Eddie Dunn
297 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:20:23
The big news at 8 tonight is that Ron will revert to 4-4-2 when we play Bournemouth at home on Saturday the 23rd of September. Dean Windass and Billy Whitehurst up top.
Mike Green
298 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:23:25
Just done it again - came up as 2 next two times. It's definitely Barkley.
Mike Green
299 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:24:09
But it could be that he's staying. Higher than a 3 he stays, 3 or lower he goes.
Mike Green
300 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:25:20
3 - he's off. Announcement in the next couple of hours.
Paul Setter
301 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:31:12
4.5 hours to go and not a whiff of a hint for a new striker. Gonna be a long pedestrian season where we plod along with our sideways passing. Koeman has had plenty of time to address this issue.
Steve Woods
302 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:31:32
Joining in with the general angst to say that we need and more importantly RK said we need a LB/CB, no news or even a vague rumour for this one. Even when Lukaku was here we needed a proper back up for him and failed to bring one in . Gabiadinni links etc. Should we actually manage to get a recognised striker in these last few hours we still need a recognised back up for him. Oh, and of course a pacey winger, fat chance. Let's get a few more No. 10s and midfielders instead while there is still time.
Colin Glassar
303 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:44:32
Some say Jim White has promised us earth shattering news between 8-9pm. I'm watching the space.
Danny Broderick
304 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:50:09
We might as well stop checking and give it until the morning. Remember Fellaini's transfer, announced at about 3am? I feel we have left it so late that there might be something similar tonight...
Phil Martin
305 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:52:57
8pm announcement: Barkley signs a new contract. BK - "It is like a new signing."
Paul Mackie
306 Posted 31/08/2017 at 18:58:07
BREAKING NEWS: We're not fucking signing anyone
Ed Fitzgerald
307 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:05:40
If it is Earth shattering it is one of the following

Ronald Koeman - is resigning - highly unlikely

Diego Costa - has signed for us - even more unlikely

Ronald Koeman - commits to playing 4-4-2 away from home and 4-3-3 when playing at home - Impossible

Si Turner
308 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:06:19
Paul (310) what is your source for this breaking news?
Denis Richardson
309 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:06:44
Colin 266 - sorry to disappoint but a forward line of Sandro, Rooney and Sigurdsson will not be reaping any rewards anytime soon.

Sandro looks like he will need a while to adjust, Sigurdsson is not a striker and while Rooney may still have fight, I doubt he has the legs to start anywhere near 40 odd games for us this season, in fact looking at his record he rarely managed more than 30 league appearances a season (even in his prime). Also Rooney's average league goals per season is 11 (including his best years) so I won't be holding my breath on him banging in 15 league goals, let alone 20, this season.

We need to sign a striker - desperately.

Hopefully Llorente goes to Spurs (meaning Swansea can sign Bony) and we can sign someone like Janssen

Karl Jones
311 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:14:09
90 million for a striker nearly 2 months ago and we're scrabbling amongst the dregs for a loan signing in the last few hours. Incompetent. 2 really good signings in Pickford and keane, but they're not going to win you matches or get you into the top six.
David Barks
312 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:17:21
Would you all cheer up. Lennon is staying!! He is the key to the extra productivity needed up front. I can see all those goals now. Brilliant! Spurs will be quaking in their boots.
Steve Ferns
313 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:26:45
Koeman is in the algarve. It's a long way from Lisbon, similar to the distance between Liverpool and London. And he's there to play golf, which is what he was doing with Bruce. There's no football sides down there. There's an empty stadium but no top division side to play in it.

As for bas dost - he's utter shite.

Mark Morrissey
314 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:30:55
Everton also willing to loan out Ronald Koeman to any Championship side that MIGHT want him.
I'm sat here looking at SPN and my mouth is agape.
I am truly staggered
I am picturing RK and Steve Bruce in a bar together and just staring at each other like I'm staring at my TV. I'll wager he's livid. Stamping his foot through the floor like Rumplestiltskin.
Aghast I am, truly aghast.
I thought a new dawn had arrived. No just us going off into the Championship sunset come next year
Steve Ferns
315 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:38:53
Watford are going transfer nuts. I hope that's not to allow us to take okaka or deeney.
Stephen Brown
316 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:49:58
Could Ross Barkley be converted to a striker?
He's quick, hits with both feet! He would have to defend or make as many decisions?
He's over 6 foot, solid build!!
Could save us splashing out on some panic buy!?
Stephen Brown
317 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:51:36
Chris Sutton, Paul Warhurst did it !!!
Andy Crooks
318 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:53:28
We have known for a long time that Lukaku was going. The failure to line up a replacement suggests, to me, ineptitude up there with some of the worst failures by our club, and by fuck there have been some beauts.
No one ever seems responsible. We are paying big money to men who have not delivered enough. Dour and dull.
Oliver Molloy
319 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:55:51
Yeah Mark,

He will be going "FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK !!!!!!!! , you lying pricks Moshiri and Kenwright you promised me you had the money FUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKK YOUUUUU BOTH...


Shane Long folks..

Michael Ward
320 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:56:03
Vlasic done. Seen pictures of him signing, I expect it will be announced imminently.
Neil Thomas
321 Posted 31/08/2017 at 19:58:27
This is driving me mad. Surely if its a big name some sort of rumour would have been leaked by now. Got a horrible feeling our only signing will be the young lad from Split. If so can only see us going backwards this season.
Bobby Sjaak
323 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:00:54
Origi (already loaned out), Chadli and Mirallas aren't in the Belgium squad today because of the transfers, but Batshuayi is...

Giroud is also playing with France .

I'm guessing no Bat and/or Giroud this window.

Harvey Miller
324 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:01:41
I checked our fall-window activity since the present system was introduced (the 2002/03 season). Pretty grim reading so maybe there is no reason to be negative as the former windows were just as fruitless. No wonder 2008 and 2013 were the exceptions because they were the best seasons for Everton so far during the present system. So here it is:

2003
Francis Jeffers Arsenal Loan
Kevin Kilbane Sunderland £1m
James McFadden Motherwell £1.25m
Nigel Martyn Leeds United £500k

2004
-
2005
Andy van der Meyde Inter Millan (Ita) £1.8m

2006
-

2007
Thomas Gravesen Glasgow Celtic Loan

2008
Marouane Fellaini Standard Liege (Bel) £12.9m
Carlo Nash Wigan Athletic No Fee
Louis Saha Manchester United Undisclosed
2009
John Heitinga Atletico Madrid £6.1m

2010
-

2011
Royston Drenthe Real Madrid (Spa) Loan In
Denis Stracqualursi Tigre (Arg) Loan In

2012
Matthew Kennedy Kilmarnock £250k
Bryan Oviedo FC Copenhagen £1.2m

2013
Gareth Barry Manchester City Loan
Romelu Lukaku Chelsea Loan
James McCarthy Wigan Athletic £13m

2014
David Henen Olympiakos Loan

2015
Aaron Lennon Tottenham Hotspur £4.5m
Ramiro Funes Mori River Plate £9.5m

2016
Enner Valencia West Ham United Loan
Dominic Calvert-Lewin Sheffield United £1.5m

Mike Kennedy
325 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:02:14
At Stephen @320

I think strikers are born not bred. It is a natural instinct and confidence for goal.

That is why they are such a rare specimens, so expensive and hard to find.

As we are finding to our cost

Steve Ferns
326 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:02:53
Barkley would be great on the right of a front three. He can go outside and cross with his right. He has quick feet to wriggle past fullbacks. No defenders will want him running at them. From a wider position he can run on to the ball, attacking it, and he running at teams with pace. What sets him apart for me on the right of a front three is his ability to cut inside and shoot with his left. He probably has a harder if not better shot off his left.

Barkley can step inside from the right side and dictate play, similar to Rooney has done when he played there. I think Barkley, Klaassen, sigurdsson and Rooney could link up well together, providing they play off a big striker.

What I cannot see is Barkley playing as a number 9. He's not good enough in the air or in the box, you lose too much of what he's good at, by handcuffing him to it.

Addition: Barkley is also great with his back to goal and linking up play because he can roll the defender and run on goal so it keeps the defender guessing. However, I think he's better doing this a few yards off the main striker than doing this as the main striker.

Joe McMahon
327 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:04:08
Aother midfielder it is then - arrgghh. For gods sake Goals wins games and strikers score em. Rooney will not score the goals needed, should have not been brought back, Sick to death of the Pantomime Dame known as Bil Kenwright. That lot (yet again) will be laughing thier socks off, and giving us plenty.

Anyone looking forward to the next derby match?

Steve Ferns
329 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:07:06
Get ready for our big announcement Joe. £8m Vlasic. It's just the signing we've been waiting for!
Chris Williams
330 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:09:19
Barkley down in London currently, seemingly.
George Cumiskey
331 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:09:51
Koeman is in Portugal on holiday believe me, because he's not needed here. We are not signing anyone !.
Neil Thomas
333 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:10:57
Steve if that is the big announcement we are in the shit
Steve Ferns
334 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:11:15
Other than Vlasic George?
Joe McMahon
335 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:12:25
Cheers Steve, I'm made up now. We can now play the formation 5 - 5 - 0
George Cumiskey
336 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:15:57
Sorry Steve@338 that stellar signing passed right by me !.
Steve Ferns
337 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:16:16
550? Woah Nelly, that's a bit too gung ho. Koeman is looking at a 640
Steve Ferns
338 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:19:16
Pickford
Holgate Keane Williams jagielka
Martina Gueye Schneiderlin Baines
Sigurdsson Rooney
Arild Andersen
339 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:21:01
Probably playing with a false 9. We are hip. Or do you think Vlasic could jump like his sister? He'll win everything in the air, meeting the crosses with a Fosbury flop.

I'm getting very pessimistic. Guess Giroud was plan A and that was that.

Steve Ferns
340 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:23:17
Would you swap all of our signings to keep Lukaku and the players who finished last season?
George Cumiskey
341 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:24:13
Sky are promoting the signing of Vlasic as some kind of fantastic coup. I think we should of gone for Sahko from Liverpool exactly the type of defender we need.
Jay Harris
342 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:25:01
Its Batshuayi.

Betting suspended.

Not the standard we were looking for but not too shabby if true?????

I assume Barkley is going the other way as he is reportedly in London but it could be Arsenal or slimy Levy?

Steve Ferns
343 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:26:22
I see him as another managala. He's a great physical specimen of a man. But I think he lacks the mental attributes of a great centre half and I'd rather have an old Jagielka alongside Keane.
Chris Williams
344 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:32:00
Being reported that Barkley has turned Chelsea down.

Can't imagine why.

Dermot Byrne
345 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:34:07
Batshuayi my prediction earlier

Posted it somewhere so must be true
Steve Ferns
346 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:34:40
He doesn't want to live in London and instead wants to move to Tottenham .

Does Ross know where Tottenham is?

Chris Williams
347 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:36:17
Nice one Steve.
Neil Thomas
348 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:37:34
Jay and Dermot where are these Batshuayi rumours coming from I would be well happy with that but can't see it happening
Damian Wilde
349 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:37:51
Looks like Batkley may stay, gutted. Due to this injury, he'll probably sign a pre-contract agreement in Jan. and we'll get fuck all for him. Average player, needs moving on.
Chris Williams
351 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:40:25
He's down there in London for a reason, having turned down Chelsea.
Neil Thomas
352 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:42:07
Chris maybe Arsenal
Mark Gardiner
353 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:44:17
If Ross signs for a club that finished above us last season his career will go down the toilet. He'll be at West Ham/Southampton or a club like that next season.
Chris Williams
354 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:46:20
Possibly Neil, but Spurs must be favourites now.

Count your fingers Bill!

Steve Ferns
355 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:51:49
Spurs are in for the Barca midfielder. Would they take both him and Barkley?
Neil Thomas
356 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:53:17
True Chris but I still think he shit out not signing contract just can't see him getting in team above Ali Dembele or Ericsson
Aidan Baker
357 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:54:42
Interesting Vlasic signed with Elstone not club secretary Harrison. Generally Harrison is the man who hands over docs to be signed.

Is Harrison somewhere else ready to get somebody else to sign?

Dennis Stevens
358 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:54:53
Perhaps Ross is just sitting tight until he can leave for free.
Chris Williams
359 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:56:15
Me neither Neil.

Or Rooney and Sigurdsson !

Neil Thomas
360 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:56:40
Dennis I still think with the clubs he's linked with he will be a bench warmer
Fran Mitchell
361 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:57:51
Spurs currently playing Sissoko on the right, so Barkley would certainly get games.
Chris Williams
362 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:58:46
Jim White up next!

Let's see if anything is announced. Though not holding my breath.

David Booth
363 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:58:59
Never before that I can remember have we needed one specific player over any other - and with two hours to go, the void left by Lukaku has still not been filled.

We are either in for the biggest surprise most of us have ever witnessed... or the most crushing, inevitable, predictable, sense of disappointment and deja-vu.

Neil Thomas
364 Posted 31/08/2017 at 20:59:22
Nearly 9 so Jim Whites full of shit
Dennis Stevens
365 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:03:25
Neil, if he doesn't play for us then I'm not really arsed - especially if we don't even make any money from his departure.
Neil Thomas
366 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:07:04
I agree Dennis gutted that money could have gone to a decent number 9
Oliver Molloy
367 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:08:01
Neil , you have me in stitches with your observation !
Neil Thomas
368 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:11:22
Cheers Oliver but as anyone heard any more bullshit from Jim White? Just surprised he ain't linked us with Messi.
Colin Glassar
369 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:12:38
Time for bed methinks. Another wasted TDD. I can't believe we didn't have a striker lined up weeks ago.
Neil Thomas
370 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:15:22
This is doing my fucking head in. Just want a number 9. Only a couple of days ago RK said a number 9 and a left sided defender and he brings in a winger am I the only one confused?
Harvey Miller
371 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:15:32
Exactly, David #367. I guess it will be the latter but...
Oliver Molloy
372 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:20:07
Yeah , and Ronaldo Neil oh God I'm having a serious fit of laughter on here tonight.

Don't go to bed Colin , you'll miss the big Jim White news , and you won't sleep anyway will you?

David Booth
373 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:24:14
Deeney or Long becoming increasingly imminent...

But look on the bright side: could we get both?

Paul Setter
374 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:29:30
Is anyone actually surprised?? 97 midfielders on the books and not one striker any of the top 10 would touch, pathetic from someone who earns £6 million a year.
Keith Gleave
375 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:30:18
Overwhelmed!!!
Phil Sammon
376 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:33:47
Isn't Rooney a centre forward then? I'm not bothered if we sign anyone. I just want Koeman to start playing a balanced team with players in their natural positions.
Neil Thomas
377 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:35:35
Oliver got to say im sat here watching sky on one TV radio5 and on Internet and fucking starting to wish big brother was still on slowly going insane
Dermot Byrne
378 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:38:47
Neil..watch something else and return to media later. Not worth it you loony
Neil Thomas
379 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:39:29
And to top it off just heard Girouds wife turned down Everton move what a git divorce her
Andy Crooks
380 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:41:54
David # 367, honestly, if you had to have a bet, which of your options would you back? Our transfer dealings are over.
However, I have said the above on the theory that it will lead to me eating humble pie. The outcome one predicts is rarely right, so, if one predicts every negative outcome, the chances of a positive outcome increase. Fuck me, this is the way our club make me think.
Mark Tanton
381 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:42:12
It's the kind of stuff you cannot legislate for - Giroud wants to come and we are an attractive proposition. He is quality and we'd love him here. But his wife wants the London life. He should told her to suck it up for two or three years while he had the best years of his career at our wonderful club.
Neil Thomas
382 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:42:19
Easier said than done Dermot it's like a terrible addiction
Ciarán McGlone
383 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:45:08
Is anybody truly surprised?

Koemans transfer policy (much like his tactics and formations) make very little sense to me.

Neil Thomas
384 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:46:05
Mark should have just left her
Brian Wilkinson
385 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:46:59
Ok let's lighten the room, Belgium game just finished, Michy Bats showered and now signing the form to join Everton, Benteke to form the double act with Niasse as part exchange, better than the shite we've been reading last few Days.

Anyway back to reality, for Christ sake get a striker in before all my hair falls out.

Neil Thomas
386 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:51:09
Brian I started the night with hair like Fellani I now look like Bobby Charlton
Ernie Baywood
389 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:54:19
My faith is starting to waver...
Neil Thomas
391 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:58:05
One hour left and not even a rumour
Mark Tanton
392 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:58:13
Agreed Neil. He can afford a decent hooker.
Brian Wilkinson
393 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:59:41
Interesting fact, Michy Bats played as many minutes tonight for Belgium as Niasse has under Ronnie. It's the waiting that kills you.

One hour to go, it's like being double booked for a dentist appointment followed by the snip.

John Roberts
394 Posted 31/08/2017 at 21:59:45
No striker is a catastrophe and shocking management. Kiss goodbye to another season. It has been so evident in the 7 competitive games so far we massively lack a cutting edge up front. Can't see any of our strikers getting into double figures.
Dermot Byrne
395 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:01:16
Even with a striker we are far too slow
John Roberts
396 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:01:54
Also with stones and lukaku sales and others have we actually spent any money since moshiri moved in?
Steve Jenkins
397 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:02:38
We also just signed some 18 year old kid from Fulham (midfielder) to go into Un 23s
Neil Thomas
398 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:03:03
Seeing the hooker a certain player went with I hope he's on more money than him
Ciarán McGlone
399 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:06:54
Have to laugh at Jim White trying to make Drinkwater signing for Chelsea sound exciting Complete with dramatic music and all..
James Morgan
400 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:08:59
Ronald would have told the board his list of transfer targets. He has publicly said his desired positions to be filled so if we fail then it lands squarely at Walsh/Kenwrights feet. And Ron will be pissed.
Neil Thomas
401 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:10:37
At this rate Jim im considering getting pissed
John Mckay
402 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:18:34
Why can't the club come out and say that's it folks. Nothing worse than hanging around waiting. Even after the window closes your still hoping something has been completed but not got the news yet. You wake up the next day thinking something must have happened over night while you was asleep maybe Santa come down the goodison chimney with a new signing only to realise there is nothing. :/

Happy with our early business but did expect another 1 or 2 today other than this split lad.

Ian Horan
404 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:20:09
So the great Evertonian Ross has just cost EFC more than £30 million
Oliver Molloy
405 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:21:20
Barkley chicken outs of Chelsea move , I can hear Koeman from here - FUUUCCCKKK
laughing my bollocks off because I just don't understand it.
James Ebden
406 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:21:36
Wish Ross would just fuck off! Bet he got a call from Levy mid medical. Wait 6 months, I'll give you a brucey
Paul A Smith
407 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:21:56
Mark 385 its nonsense mate. No bids escape the press do they? Girouds agent said nothing.
One minute he is prime target then he scores against Leicester and based on assumption our maybe pursuit was off.
Because he scored v Leicester. Even fans thought the same.
He won't come now. We haven't even gone for him in my eyes we could have bid the supposed 20 million price tag weeks ago.
Tommy Coleman
408 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:23:03
Ross stays!? Amazing, changes his mind during medical.
Merson 'can't stay in Liverpool all your life', tit.

James Ebden
409 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:23:09
Guy is an absolute fuckwit. He will earn the bench wherever he goes because he makes the worse decisions on and off the pitch
Steve Ferns
411 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:23:37
Made up Barkley rejected Chelsea. I hope he's on his way home and signs a new deal. He's still the best player we have on our books and just needs to get fit and back in the side.
John Mckay
412 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:24:25
Do you think Barkley has been tapped up by that crook Levy?
James Ebden
413 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:25:56
You having a laugh Steve?! After the way he had treated the club and fans? No way.
He loses the ball everything he gets it. Always picks the wrong pass. Can't tackle for shit
Michael Burke
414 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:26:17
Tommy 412, I picked up on that statement too. Who the hell does he think he is. Why is London the be all and end all. I must be missing something.
Ian Horan
415 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:27:22
Maybe Barkley heard KOEMAN is about to resign due to a lack of 3 players
Damian Wilde
416 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:28:18
Steve, you joking? He's average. Davies and many others far better.
David Booth
417 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:29:42
Still time to sign another wholly unnecessary wingman/midfielder or two yet... come on you lot, don't despair!

Tony Twist
418 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:30:09
Barkley wants spurs and no one else. That's why there has been no bid from spurs.
Tony Hill
419 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:30:13
Neil (405), I am pissed. So much so that I find our ramshackle fuckwittery rather delightful. I have decided on YouTube evidence that Vlasic will be a giant and, on pure intuition, that the non-signing of a decent forward will matter not a jot.

Once you accept that we're just hopeless at modern football and everything that goes with it then all the love comes flooding back. All of those calling for patience as the great project unfolds, all of those (including me) calling for the heads of the fools that manage us: let us unite and celebrate the Glorious Incompetence of Everton Football Club. We are a poke in the eye to corporate efficiency and to the boring business of doing the right thing.

Come on Tottenham, you sleek losers, you're next.

John G Davies
420 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:30:15
He signs a new contract or he runs his contract down and we get no fee.
Simple
Brent Stephens
421 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:30:15
Maybe Ross is getting his own back.
John Mckay
422 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:30:16
Maybe he wants out of Liverpool because that lad at the club is still 'after him
Shame I liked ross wish he would have signed a new contract regardless so a bit of loyalty to the club and at least let us make some money on his sale. Looks like he will sit on his hands now for a year and take the big pay day at the end of his contract. Could see United going for him next year on a free
David Graves
423 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:34:33
Fantastic Tony. Cheered me up!
David Israel
424 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:35:53
Possibly, Tony, but then, why did he travel to London to have a medical at Chelsea?
James Ebden
425 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:36:26
Ross wants to wait until Jan according to Moshiri! Levy has tapped him!
Ian Jones
426 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:37:07
Farhad Moshiri on Sky now.
Ciarán McGlone
427 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:38:57
Oh my God.. Kermit the frog is pretending to be Moshiri on sky sports..

John Charles
428 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:39:09
Unbelievable moshiri spouting to jim White again
Getting the "need time to gel "in early
And the classic of bolasie and Coleman being like new signings!!
John G Davies
429 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:39:35
Go to bed now chaps.
Nobody signing tonight after listening to Moshiri on sky.
Paul McIntyre
430 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:39:36
Farhad says terms agreed... agent advised changed mind and will reconsider in January...shit house.
Ian Horan
431 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:40:25
Wtf moshiri, I am so pissed off. Gonna be a long hard season .
Oliver Molloy
432 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:40:27
This guy Moshiri is a fucking charlatan, no wonder Kenwright and him get on.
"We might need another striker.- the players we bought need time to gell, we will look at how we are doing in January " , what a let down.

Judging by what he said about Barkley, I can't see him playing for the club again.

James Ebden
433 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:40:38
Dirty tosser will go for a free. True blue my arse. Gets a huge offer, sticks his fingers up and then refuses to leave for a decent fee. And there are still some here saying they want him to stay! Unbelievable.
Peter Warren
434 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:41:18
Piss poor
Ciarán McGlone
435 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:42:46
All Koemans signings"

,"All Koemans signings"

,,,1,22:41:27,,2.122.51.109,ok,664,08/31/2017 22:41:27,ciar�n,reader,, 845973,35424,toffeeweb,31/08/2017,Neil Thomas,Tommotina24@gmail.com,Tony pissed or not im going out to buy a PSG shirt they know how to do business in a transfer window we have been promised so much this week and delivered fuck all. Yeah pleased with young lad we got but where is the top striker and defender that RK promised we would get ,Tony pissed or not im going out to buy a PSG shirt they know how to do business in a transfer window we have been promised so much this week and delivered fuck all. Yeah pleased with young lad we got but where is the top striker and defender that RK promised we would get ,,,1,22:42:03,,217.35.230.167,ok,20429,08/31/2017 22:42:03,NeilThomas,reader,, 845974,35424,toffeeweb,31/08/2017,Steve Ferns,stephen.ferns@hotmail.co.uk,"After Listening to Moshiri on Sky, I make the following conclusions:
1. No last minute signing.
2. No future for Barkley.
I hope Barkley can do something about 2, as he will get a chance to play as we don't have enough quality as recent performances and team selection have shown.

Chris Gould
436 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:43:04
Hahaha Ciarán #431

He has pretty much said that nobody else is coming in until Jan.
He also said that all of these players are Koeman players. Pretty much saying that Koeman has no excuses.

Also, I got the impression that he is very unhappy at Ross. £35 million deal done and then binned by Ross who wants to re-think it in January?!
The arsehole has just cost us a shitload of cash to move to Spurs in Jan for bugger all.

John Mckay
437 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:43:13
Yeah think that's all folks. Shame oh well.

Happy with the signings we've made, still lacking that prolific striker tho.

Jason Saggers
438 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:43:13
Jim White bottled it with his pal Farhad! Where was the "So how do you think Koeman will take not getting the striker and defender he requested, Mr Moshiri?"
James Ebden
439 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:44:31
Steve, he will no way play for us again after the way he has behaved. Koeman won't play him, he will rot
Brent Stephens
440 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:44:43
I can't believe that anybody would actually believe Koeman (or anybody else at Everton) if they say "we will get such and such this week" (did he say "will"? or "want"?). Take it all with a pinch of salt and then you won't be as disappointed if nothing comes off.
Jason Saggers
441 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:45:03
You might be happy John (#443); I'm not sure Koeman will share your outlook.
David Barks
442 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:45:54
New regime, same as the old regime. Scary to think where we would have been had Martinez not brought Lukaku in.
John Charles
443 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:47:17
Barkley soon to be sharing niasses locker
Jason Saggers
444 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:47:31
Has anyone done the maths, have we actually spent more than we brought in?
Damian Wilde
445 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:48:28
I didn't like him anyway, now I hate him and will boo him if he comes anywhere near the pitch. Bastard.

"Ross Barkley's transfer to Chelsea was all but done. The fee was agreed between £30m and £35m and personal terms had been settled. He was conducting his medical when his agent contacted Everton to say he had changed his mind and wanted to reconsider his options in January. He won't be playing much before December anyway and I'm sure it will be revisited in the New Year."

Raymond Fox
446 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:49:13
James 404, so Koemans excused himself from any blame again.
He's consistent I'll give him that.
Steve Ferns
447 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:50:17
Koeman might be gone before Barkley, James. Who knows at this stage?

How many players has Koeman fallen out with now? And all of them are the skilful ones. Seems he only likes people who run and tackle.

Sean Patton
448 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:50:41
So the manager wants a striker and a left sided defender yet we sign another midfielder!

What a palaver

Oliver Molloy
449 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:50:51
Steve, Moshri said when asked would Barkley play for the club " he plays in the number 10 position and we now have 3 players there , it will be difficult for him to play but he needs to play football " or similar words.

I have always suspected this Moshiri guy was a fake . I'm even more convinced now but he is absolutely livid that Barkley has cost him 35 million - which is why I can't see him playing for Everton unless we are down to the Barr bones !

Andy Williams
450 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:51:23
Christ. When will I ever learn. Spent the whole day checking TW, Newsnow and the BBC every ten minutes. As for Ross, I have always supported him and thought he was very hard done by. I still hope he decides to sign a new contract. However if he leaves on a free or at a reduced price then he is a disgrace.
James Ebden
451 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:51:27
Damian, you won't be alone. He will get an awful reception next time he is at the ground, whichever side he is playing for.
Completed shafted his boyhood club
Michael Burke
452 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:52:15
Very underwhelmed by moshiri in the interview. Seemed to suggest he'd be happy with where we finished last year.
Neil Thomas
453 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:52:21
Apparently we have made a bid for that Mexican twat fucking great
Steve Jenkins
454 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:52:29
I called it earlier, I don't even think now it's the Boards imcompetence.

Like I said earlier, I fully believe we were at the budget of what the club wanted to spend, hence no incomings.

We even wanted to recoup another £35M until Barkley's u-turn.

We probably tried for loans (striker), but so late in the window none have worked out.

Earlier in the window the club showed if we want to we can get it done & done quickly.

Koeman won't be happy - he's on record stating we need another striker and LB/CB.

We're now woefully short of both.

Moshri's interview saying want the players to gel...

In fairness, players & players coming going/or whether they gel - that's the managers call, and he's already on record stating we need a striker.

Back to the Everton of old.

Mark Morrissey
455 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:52:30
Koemans just gone for a smoke and a pancake !! bet he's fuckin livid and as for Eric Morecambe chatting to Jim White, wot a bell end. What other club has it's owner spouting off on live TV. I think it makes Moshiri look like a fawning tit. Bizarre twat
James Ebden
456 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:53:27
Steve, who else has he upset? Kevin " I cant pass for toffee" Mirallas ? Another player who flatters with zero end product
Denis Richardson
457 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:54:36
Utterly unbelievable from Barkley. He's literally cost us 35 million pounds!!

Plus his wages for the coming season!

'Changed his mind during the medical' - that's certainly a first for me. Travel all the way down to London, agree terms and then change your mind during the medical?

Glaringly obvious he's been tapped up by Spurs, who'll now sign him for free next season.

This kid really is thick. He's chucking a whole season down the pan and a World Cup season at that. He'll be nearing 29 by the time the next WC comes round.

Christy Ring
458 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:54:51
Totally disgusted, the one player we needed most was a striker to replace Lukaku, who was sold 2 mths ago. We have no reserve left back, or left sided centreback, and Koeman spent a month buying Sigurdsson for £45m! A total farce.
I hope he's man enough now to pick Barkley, ahead of Klaassen.
Brent Stephens
459 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:55:23
I don't know who to blame for the lack of signing a replacement for Lukaku. Guess we'll just have to kick them all. Bugger. I really did expect us to make a big signing. Dogs and wives beware tonight.
Steve Ferns
460 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:55:41
Oliver, Barkley can get a game on the right of midfield. We have no one else to play there. Lookman is better on the left cutting inside onto his right foot. The only other guy we have on the right is Lennon, but he fits better into a 442 more than a 433 or a 451. I want to see Barkley on the right of a front three with Rooney and Calvert Lewin.
Gordon Scott
461 Posted 31/08/2017 at 22:58:49
Steve Ferns... Barkley will never play for the club again.. He has totally fucked us over. I personally don't want to see him in a Blue shirt again.
Chris Gould
462 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:00:16
Not sure who I'm most angry with right now.
Ross Barkley or Olivier Giroud's wife.
James Ebden
463 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:00:24
Gordon, you and every other Evertonian, except Steve!
Andrew James
464 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:02:48
It's unusual to be in a medical at the Champions to change your mind.

He's either been told something or completely changed his mind.

Danny Halsall
465 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:02:55
Disgusted with Barkley, glaringly obvious that he wants Spurs, but because Levy is too tight to stump up the money, Ross will walk out on a medical and re-evaluate in January, which basically means he will go to Tottenham for virtually nothing. The lad doesn't give a toss about the club, anybody who thinks differently is deluded. The only saving grace is that he will ride the bench until Christmas and he chances of making the World Cup squad will be close to zero. To be honest, do not want to see him in an Everton shirt again, he has completely played us, the lad is the epitome of everything wrong with modern day footballers
John G Davies
466 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:03:15
Unbalanced squad. Centre forward was a must.
Can't defend the lack of a signing that would link the decent signings made to date.
No focal point to hold it up and bring the others into play.
Big, big mistake.
Steve Ferns
467 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:04:14
I'm far from alone James. I know a lot of match going blues who were saying their prayers that the window closed with Ross still an Everton player.
Oliver Molloy
468 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:04:32
I'd be very very surprised Steve if he gets a game , unless as I say we have loads of injuries.

I reckon he wont play for the first team again and will probably be told to stay away from the first team squad ( an that will be Moshiri telling Koeman by the way ) .

Christy @ 464

The word is Barkley is out of action till December so how is he going to get picked ahead of Klassen or am I missing something ?

Andy Williams
469 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:04:32
What the fuck was Italy all about!
Steve Jenkins
470 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:05:15
You really couldn't write this..

We've been joking about it, but half expecting it all day.

If the reports from the Portuguese media are true we've put in a last minute bid for Jimenez but, ITS A RACE AGAINST TIME to get it done.

Where have we heard that before?

The old - we were prepared to spend on a striker - see we made the bid but they turned it down, or, they accepted - but we couldn't get the paperwork done in time.

As I said, you couldn't make this up.

Lewis Barclay
471 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:06:11
Barkley, Besic, McCarthy, Lennon and Mirallas .
That could be half the outfield team for the 3rd round of the FA cup against non league opposition.
18 months ago that would have been close to our starting line up for our 1st team.
Colin Glassar
472 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:08:25
How embarrassing can it get? Once again our majority shareholder goes on national television to try and justify his amateur bungling on TDD.

At least Bill is a polished pro when it comes to lying in public. Show him how it's done Bill.

James Watts
473 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:09:05
Waking up to the glorious news we've only signed Vlasic . you kidding me?!?
David Barks
474 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:09:33
I would sincerely hope that the local and national media hold this regime accountable for this. I'm not holding out much hope for many of the supporters, but this Summer has been a disgrace. We did not strengthen, we overloaded all in one position and didn't replace the position where we lost our star player. And we were already short in that position to start with. It really is shocking. Ambition, yeah, right.
Ian Jones
475 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:09:49
Interesting comments again re Ross. Although I am not too bothered whether he stays or goes, whilst he is with us, I will support him.

Who knows why he changed his mind. Perhaps it suddenly dawned on him. The enormity of his decision to leave Everton was too much. Perhaps he has an appetite to stay on and fight for his place, sign the contract offered and then bugger off to Spurs.

Or he is after the centre forward role!

He has to be happy with his decision. Fair play to turn down Chelsea.

Ian Horan
476 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:10:18
I would put Barkley in front of a press conference and insist he explains why he cost EFC £35 mill. I would then make him train on his own and give out the Everton mints at the home game. That way he can get the dogs abuse he deserves. I never want to see the knob in a EFC shirt again.
David Israel
477 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:11:26
I suppose Ron will just have to change our style. Teams are known to exist, out there, which use no traditional striker, including a famous one from Catalonia, where Ron plied his trade. And there's also that crowd across the park.

I have to admit that Moshiri's statement has let me down. I can't remember a club owner, and a 49.9999% one, at that, going into technical details, as he has done this evening. And his comment on 'Koeman's players' has made me rather uncomfortable concerning the relationship between the two. Which, I'll also admit, was what I felt about Ronald's insistent public statements on the kind of players he wanted signed before the deadline. These people should grow up and work out their differences behind closed doors.

Shaun Wilson
478 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:11:51
No James, no kidding mate
James Ebden
479 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:13:57
Steve, so you think he's conducted himself well do you, and will happily cheer him on the pitch?!
I'm guessing you will be well drowned out by 35k others!

He is going to walk for free and shaft us. Utter disgrace, claiming to be a boyhood blue. Just a money grabbing little scumbag.
He clearly thinks he is better than he is. He has not progressed one bit for 3 or 4 years. Poor touch, poor decisions, zero tackling. Why do people rate him? Least he had done England a favour, he won't be at world cup next year.

Still waiting for the other "quality" players koeman had upset. No doubt Niasse in your opinion!

Denis Richardson
480 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:14:18
Well the window slams shut and we don't have a proper No 9 in the squad. Underwhelmed and confused just about sums it up.

Big ask now for Sandro, Rooney and DCL to take us to xmas. We'd better have a striker lined up for 1st of Jan 2018! Mirallas better get his head straight and find his shooting boots.

Will certainly be an I interesting next few months on TW. Should have just swapped Barkley for Janssen.

' Night all.

Kunal Desai
481 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:15:00
Same ol same really, yes we have bought in some decent players but we always fall short of one or two players. Happens every season.
No wonder we just make up the numbers in the league and the press and media belittle us. Top 6? no chance.
John Mckay
482 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:17:28
Maybe Barkley will sign a new contract who knows.

Just have to wait and see what happens now. Thanks God that TED is over. Most top teams didn't sign many players today either.

Glad Liverpool didn't get VVD tho imagine him having to go and play for Soto now after putting in a transfer request.

Andy Williams
483 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:19:03
Still sitting here praying that there is a last minute deal for Batshuayi or similar knowing full well that its not going to happen. Can't believe what this club does to me!
John Pierce
484 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:19:47
The Barkley fiasco distracting from a promising window ending as a typical Everton deadline day.

Outrage & mirth should be set aside for the 'Farce of Ross'. The facts are we have no proven centre foward to play off. False nine it is then?

If we hold with the narrative that Giroud was the man, the fact there was no back up or something beyond that is unacceptable.

Screws our season, gives Koeman the wriggle room with many to get off the hook. It will just encourage him to stick with the Fibinachi defence or whatever the soulless crap we've served up to date.

Proper Everton mess this.

John G Davies
485 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:19:50
Barkley has looked after himself and not the club.
Thats his prerogative and that's football.
Perfectly entitled to make the decision that earns him a £10 million signing on fee in January / summer window.
Harvey Miller
486 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:19:52
Total incompetence from the management but now DCL will get all the time he needs because he's the one and only real striker in the team. Sandro, Gylfi, Wayne are all attacking midfielders, pretty good ones but not strikers. Let's hope young Dominic learns fast.
We'll see many home games with more than 70% of the ball but no shots on target because they will just park the bus. Without a target man it's near impossible to penetrate taller team. You can play through that but it requires a much more skillful Barcelona type outfit.
Ian Lloyd
487 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:20:35
Demoralising, the only team in the league who hasn't got an out-and-out striker – what a shocking outfit we really are! I for one won't be watching the putrid football we play again this season.
George Cumiskey
488 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:21:09
What a joke club we are,we had no intention of signing a number nine or another centre half that's why Koeman was on holiday in Portugal.
Good old Bill still in charge of the transfers , saved a lot of money for himself and the club. But hey ho the good news is all the season tickets are sold.
David Cornmell
489 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:21:13
I'm a little disappointed to be honest. I hoped Koeman would take the undoubted talent Martinez had assembled and harness it. Instead, he has seemingly rebuilt the squad into Moyes squad Mark II only much more expensively assembled.

Say what you like about Bobby Martinez, his ambition was not the problem. That's what made him such a hit initially, he didn't talk us down the way Moyes – and Koeman – did and do.

I hope I'm wrong but this team does not on the face of it look capable of challenging for 4th.

Tony Hill
490 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:21:35
Yes, what we can, and should, certainly take from this difficult transfer window is that Ross Barkley is to blame. Farhad, Bill, Steve and Ronald (the latter of whom told us the 100% truth about the Big Dirty Traitor a few months ago) have every right to be outraged. As do we all.
James Watts
491 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:21:45
I'm absolutely gobsmacked this morning. I went to bed all happy and snug in the knowledge we would surely get a striker and a left defender on top of Vlasic. Mosh is different I kept telling myself. And now I'm also reading about Barkley. I really don't know what to say, even by out standards this is quite incredible.

I guess we can draw a few conclusions:

- Mosh is as bad as Kenwright with his bull. Let's wait until January. RIghto. No problem. In January. There is no value, we'll wait until the summer and on it goes.
- When the rumours are quiet it's because we really arent doing anything and not because we are using stealth tactics.
- Barkley really is as thick as people thought he was.
- 7-10th looks our best bet with a decent run in the cups and that's our lot. Again.

Damn. I really believed things were different.

PS Mosh thinks we can finish in top 6 with this squad and manager. Best laugh of the day so far.

Andy Williams
492 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:22:58
John. Of course he's entitled - doesn't make it right though does it?
Steve Jenkins
493 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:23:41
Buy the best set piece specialist for £45M, but don't bring in anyone to get on the end of them.

David Barks
494 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:24:42
James Watts,

For the first time in some time, I'm in full agreement with you. Sadly I wish the situation was different and we could find more disagreements. What a shambles.

David Cornmell
495 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:26:32
Mildly amused by I assume the genuine outrage at Barkley. He is a professional footballer, no more or less.
David Israel
496 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:30:39
Well, James #497, he may have a point. The Gooners are apparently imploding.
Tony Abrahams
497 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:31:45
Steve 460, my new favourite word is conjecture, but I would go along with most of what you have just written.

If Barkley, would have went tonight for £30 million though, it would have meant that Everton's net spend during this transfer window, would have been fucking, or very nearly nothing?

We have in my own opinion a much better squad of players now, but every good team, needs someone to lead the line, so for me this window has now been nowhere good enough.

The way it's now finished can't fill us Evertonians, with much confidence though, because something just doesn't feel right?

Lewis Barclay
498 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:32:18
What's really nuts is it appears:

Niasse and Barkley are still Everton players when the boss has publicly said they'll never play for the club again.

Mirallas has been sent packing with a bad attitude .

This is pretty scary. Everton could be bankrupt in a few years at this rate!

Paul Hughes
499 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:33:41
Barkley making headlines and I understand why everyone is unhappy. I think he's been so badly advised because he clearly has nothing upstairs to do that tonight.

The thing that I find disgusting is the team needed a Number 9 – we've been saying it for weeks and, surprise, surprise, we are the laughing stock again.

I cannot believe I have wasted my day and night sitting up in hope that we would sign Costa or Dembele. This puts severe doubts on Moshiri and Koeman.

Ciarán McGlone
500 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:33:53
Koeman spent over 150mill and bought 4 players who play in generally the same position. Added no genuine width and no striker - and we've had it confirmed that they were all his choices.

Frankly I think Koeman is a bit thick, and hasn't really got a clue what he's at.

But at least we have Ross Barkley to distract us from the real issues... Eh?

Dave Bowen
501 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:34:37
No one in except yet another f...ing midfielder. What does Walsh do? Is Koeman gonna field a whole team of midfielders? Why was BK on hols on transfer deadline day? Answers on a postcard please.
Tony Hill
502 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:36:22
We should have recognised Moshiri's embarrassing idiocy from his McCarthy/Sissoko comments last year. Some refused to believe it, some even now continue to imagine that there is a Grand Plan and that there will be a lovely shiny stadium full of stars. If only we close our eyes and wish hard enough.

God help us all. They don't give a fuck about the club. The lying, profiteering, greedy bastards.

Brent Stephens
503 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:40:45
Maybe best in future not to have signings completed early in the transfer window. Leave them all to the last evening and we'll feel a lot more excited.
Tony Hill
504 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:43:30
Better yet, Brent, let's get in signings that match our most pressing needs. The only club in the premier league without a proper attack. An utter disgrace.
George Cumiskey
505 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:44:06
Shambles isn't the right word for what's going on at Everton, it's disgrace and dishonesty from the manager up. I don't know why sky had a reporter there, nothing was ever going to happen.
A typical Everton phoney last transfer day.
Jim Knightley
506 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:44:26
Sorry, some of us might be disappointed, but there is so much bullshit on this thread.

We've spent over £150 million - we've beaten our transfer record several times this window. We've signed a great goalkeeper, a superb cb, some brilliant youth talent (Watch out for Vlasic and Onyekuru), one of the league's best performing AMCs and two strikers. They might not be the right strikers, but Rooney is a striker, and Sandro is definitely a striker.
We have spent money in real terms... for those arguing otherwise, use a fucking calculator.

It's a poor show to miss out on another striker - we've messed up, and this should have been sorted earlier. But this has not been an unsuccessful window, and our squad is better now that it was before. Lukaku's departure was inevitable, and according to so many experts on here, we will replace his goals from elsewhere. Aside from that bullocks, this isn't all woe and despair. It's been a good window, but one in which we've missed out on an essential buy. We will have to hope that either Lewin or Sandro proves themselves, and hope that we can make up someone in January.

It's bad but it's not the end of the fucking world. Liverpool didn't get a CB - Chelsea messed up repeatedly. Arsenal are a mess. Every team below us spent considerably less money.

Pull yourselves together. The aim has to be what it was before - progress in Europe and win something. We can close on Arsenal too.

Nigel Dooley
507 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:46:05
SHAMBLES " enough said,"SHAMBLES " enough said,,,0,23:44:37,,109.153.85.196,probation,18809,08/31/2017 23:44:37,Billybullens,probation,, 846119,35430,toffeeweb,31/08/2017,Mark Riding,Kmr.efc@virginmedia.com,"Gavin, I'm happy to give him stick mate.
Robert Hacket
508 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:47:27
Could we still feasibly get Costa in tomorrow?
Jay Wood
509 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:48:55
So... unless there is a Fellani-like late signing, we are about to find out if losing the 25-goal Belgian lump and signing players who will make up for the loss of his goals between them will make us a better team as many campaigned for.

Or then again, Niasse could be the focal point of our attack as there is no confirmation that his alledged transfer to Palace has gone through.

It will also be interesting to see how the Ross 'the Sphinx' Barkley situation plays out. I like Ross the player, but if the events of today are being accurately reported I think there won't be many Evertonians in as forgiving a mood as Steve Ferns appears to be.

Disappointing closing day of the transfer window, but we did get a lot of good signings in early, if people need reminding.

Be interesting to see how Koeman now sets up his team, his players.

Brent Stephens
510 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:49:15
Jim #512 - much sense in there and that goes along with my point about dissatisfaction in the final minutes of the transfer window being partly a function of having made such early headway in the transfer window.

But I'm still disappointed we haven't signed a Lukaku replacement.

George Cumiskey
511 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:50:27
Here we go again, we're waiting for the next transfer window. You couldn't make it up.
George Cumiskey
512 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:54:39
Has anyone else noticed how crap we've been this season without a striker ?.
Don Alexander
513 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:54:45
To those on this and other threads slagging off Moshiri, get a fucking grip!

He's visibly invested, rather than trousered, mega-money in squad development by any standard since John Moores' days, a new ground, the removal of very expensive/if not dodgy debt, and all he asked in return, in effect, is to be judged in three years time on whether or not we get a CL qualification.

He's already earned the right to go on for another two seasons before the axe-wielders start sharpening their weapons in my opinion.

Dan Davies
514 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:55:14
There will be a stadium Tony, only because of the Games and a fat profit to be made by somebody.

Starting to worry about all this now. SHIT. My bubble is defo burst.

Fran Mitchell
515 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:56:26
Hopefully this Croat will be a revelation, give us Speed and creativity out wide and Lewin will get opportunities too score and becoome a 15 goal striker.

If not, we are way too one dimensional and slow.

Chris Gould
516 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:57:58
You're quite right, Brent. If Sandro had signed today we'd have all been rejoicing. 16 La Liga goals for a poor team and wanted by Atletico Madrid.

Who plays if Baines's ankle goes again?
It's worrying.

Peter Gorman
517 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:59:07
The sheer fickleness of fans always ceases to amaze me
Dave Bowen
518 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:59:10
Sorry Jim @ #512, but you're wrong. I don't give a flying f... what other teams do or don't do, all I care about is Everton. We had 2 pressing needs; a CF to replace Rom & a left sided CB/LB. Neither has been addressed. I haven't been DCL's biggest fan, but after the Chelsea game, Sandra's 'contribution' made him look like Dixie Dean. I'm putting it down to adjusting to the PL (I hope). Unless RK changes his mind on Niasse & Mirallas (fat chance), we don't have a forward until January. A shame as the window looked the best in years. Everton that.
Paul Birmingham
519 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:59:11
Disappointing, and I sense RK, will bookmark this day. All in all despite a very good Cher window, ultimately the main project objective was not et.

I'm interested to see what SW,FM and BK et al come up with.

The team as it stands has no punch and on early season showing is miles off the pace and decisiveness needed to be serious contenders. 7th and 6th is best I see, but Z I hope I'm proven wrong. Bet spend overall is not massive taking away RK money, is the club saving up for the surveys at the docks?

Same old EFC and nothing is ever straightforward.

The so called new era still shows the same old lack of planning and strategy and I'm not sure why, the plan for a CF was not classed as jeopardy from 01.2017. Gonna be a slog again.

Past caring now and Let's hope for some look and fortune on the park this season.


Ciarán McGlone
520 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:59:28
Don,

Please explain what Moshiri has invested other than his share purchase?

I'm genuinely interested.

Brent Stephens
521 Posted 31/08/2017 at 23:59:46
Chris, Martina to cover for Baines. He's not been bad so far.
George Cumiskey
522 Posted 31/08/2017 at 00:00:29
The saddest thing about today is that we never even tried to sign a striker or left sided defender , that our manager was supposedly desperate for.
Steve Ferns
523 Posted 31/08/2017 at 00:02:02
James Ebden, you forgot Deulofeu.
David Barks
524 Posted 31/08/2017 at 00:02:39
Jim #512,

You must be joking, LOL. The only reason we have actually have a net spend is because Barkley pulled the rug out from under the club!! Niasse was expected to go, for 10 million. Barkley we agreed to sell for 35 million. Lukaku we sold for 90 million. I'll let you do those maths and compare it to your big 150 million spend number. My God.

Steve Jenkins
525 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:06:44
Add Cleverly & Del Boy who've been sold as well
Matt Muzi
526 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:08:23
Its all just a massive kick in the balls!
Don Alexander
527 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:08:29
Ciaran, the tone of your question, like those of your mate Darren's, suggests you have factual knowledge from which you're making it. Which is, of course, bollocks.

My opinion, and that's all of us fans can have - an opinion, is based on the reality that Moshiri has not trousered the Lukaku money or, as far as I can see, any other incoming. Instead he's re-invested it in players and besides, hopefully, has made a significant contribution to a brand new stadium. I'm not an accountant but compared to the entire EPL history we've had to endure as fans this guy is a breath of fresh air.

David Barks
528 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:09:09
Please God, please tell me that the majority of supporters will see through the con that this "new" regime has sold. There have been so many signs, but surely this Summer coming off of the prior year must provide enough evidence to know that this is not a new dawn. Please.
Gordon Crawford
529 Posted 31/08/2017 at 00:09:30
What an absolute shambles, again. We needed a striker to really push on and what have we got, no one. We needed a left sided defender and again we got no one. Moshiri yet again hasn't had to reach into his pockets. The money for finishing 7th plus the Rom money pretty much paid for everything.
And as for Ross well I am disgusted at his behaviour. He has well and truly shafted us. Unless he signs a new contract, then I wouldn't play him again. Boy it hurts to be an Evertonian at times.
John Pierce
530 Posted 31/08/2017 at 00:11:00
Spend as much as you want people, if it aint invested in the right areas its worth nothing.

Everton have over invested in midfield and delivered chronic underinvestment in the department that wins you games. A foward of international calibre, with a reasonable number of caps and at the very worst an improving goal return.

Say all you want about the improvements off the field, its all superficial if you can't win football games.

Everton have put themselves in the position of basically neutering itself.

No threat up front and easy to contain. The pain will be felt at Goodison most keenly when teams park the bus.

Andrew James
531 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:11:20
The problem is not having a man at the top. Our former prima donna was good at that in terms of scoring goals. Bringing in others, not so much.

If DCL can do this for a season (pressure for the young man) score 12-15 goals with Rooney and Sandro scoring double figures either side of him, then we are fine. Mirallas and perhaps Barkley might contribute more plus Sigg.

But there are too many variables now because Barkley wanted out, Mirallas is unwanted by Koeman and DCL and Sandro both have a lot of unexpected pressure.

Stick Jags up front for the rest of the season and tell the shorter players to give him the ball. It'll give Jags an unheralded 40 goals and probably win us the league.

Barry Williams
532 Posted 31/08/2017 at 00:12:13
I am not sure what to think at the moment and it will be interesting to see how things pan out over the next few months. My biggest concern is the cover at LB. If Baines does get injured, or needs resting as he undoubtedly will, who will take his place now Connolly is out on loan? Garbutt? Martina? We have also let Galloway go for a season, so it will be interesting to see what happens. I also feel we will have to abandon the 3 cbs formation in order to rotate them and give some rest to the older legs of Williams and Jagielka.

Midfield looks very strong, no doubt.

Out wide, we have kept Lennon, brought in another quick winger, plus Mirallas, Lookman and Bolasie when he eventually comes back. Again, that isn't so bad.

How we will set up the attacking positions is a bit of a mystery to me at least. Lewin can't be relied upon yet, he is young and learning his trade imo. Rooney and Sandro certainly aren't target men, Koeman needs to get his tactical head on and see what he can come up with by getting the best out of the forwards and how to rotate them.

A number 9 was needed no doubt imo, and the manager thought so too. But, we have a decent sized squad, but a slightly unbalanced squad too. Koeman needs to earn his corn now!

It should be interesting.

I have always maintained that I will give him until New Year before passing judgement.

George Cumiskey
533 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:12:54
Why do you always get a sneaky feeling that everything at Everton is a con job from the massive war chest to the new stadium ?.
Tony Hill
534 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:14:09
David (534), there are alway those willing to bless and welcome thieves provided they are well-dressed. We live by an entire economic system which depends upon it.
Brent Stephens
535 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:14:51
I'd be interested to know if anybody who said Lukaku's goals didn't matter ("only scored when the game was won" etc) are relaxed that we haven't signed a replacement. If his goals didn't matter, then presumably a replacement wasn't really important.
Jim Knightley
536 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:15:10
David - do you understand the concept of a net spend? Or numbers? It doesn't involve deals that didn't happen- it involves those that did. We didn't sell Barkley or Niasse and their departures were by no means certain. Your comments are indicative of a belligerent idiocy. Shall we account for buys we tried to make in the spend figure too? Ridiculous.

This might not be what we were expecting but to not see the difference to previous years.. is madness. When have we spent anywhere near what we managed this time? And obviously our spend includes Lukaku money and money for finishing in 7th. This is going from the bizzare to the downright stupid.

We've failed to get a striker- that is a significant failure. But we have not failed to spend money or bring players in.

James Ebden
537 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:21:04
Steve, how did Koeman upset delafeou?! Barca exercised as buy back we had no control at all.
But he is the same as Mirallas, all flattery, bit more pace, but again zero end product 90% of the time.
Paul A Smith
538 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:22:47
George 539 too many people have fell for this crap. Fans should be demanding the best for Everton not lapping the board up.
Ciarán McGlone
539 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:25:08
Don..

Great answer.. I'll file it under 'knows fuck all'.

David Barks
540 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:25:12
Jim,

Steady, you might want to check yourself when discussing numbers and accusing other of idiocy. We sold Lukaku, Cleverly, Deulofeu. We did not spend 150 million. When did we spend these numbers? The numbers go up every bloody year!! Every year is a record fee because every year the costs go up as well as the earnings. It's not operating in a vacuum!

We knew we were getting 90 million for Lukaku because it happened right away. Same with Cleveryly and Deulofeu. And you absolutely budget for things that haven't yet happened, that's what a damn budget is!!! Ever operated a business mate? Did you know what you were going to spend and earn by the end of the year? No, but you budget for it and operate accordingly.

The club knew all summer they were selling Barkley. What they didn't know is that he would screw then over and suddenly refuse the transfer. And you trying to say they didn't know if they would be selling Niasse? Who are you trying to fool, it was the plan all along. Those two players would have brought this Summer to a net spend of zero. Seems fairly clearly that's what they budgeted for. And yes, budget, that word again where you plan what you're going to do and hope it works out. Going to be very interesting to see how the snake oil salesman operating the club operate now that Barkley and Niasse blew up their plans.

Steve Ferns
541 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:26:28
That was this summer james. You forget last season when he was played out of position and fell out of Koeman and then joined Milan.

Funny how he got games for Milan and is in the Barcelona side now, but he wasn't even good enough for our bench. There's a pattern between Koeman and skilful players. He only wants runners and tacklers.

John Raftery
542 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:36:20
Brent (541) I imagine they are very comfortable. After all why should we worry about not replacing a big lummox with a low work rate and poor ball control?

More seriously the first half of our season may now be about grinding out results with a tight defence and midfield and somehow grabbing a goal or two from set pieces. It will hardly be pretty but West Brom have shown it can be effective. According to some we were uninspired in some wins last season at Goodison. I hope we can achieve the same this season but on the evidence of the past five weeks I fear we will not.

Steve Ferns
543 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:40:48
So basically a regression to the dark days of hoofball John?

The hope I have is that Koeman will be forced to draw on more of our talented youth and allow them to develop. We've talent there, even if his own short term goals conflict with our long term development.

John Mckay
544 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:41:22
Think everyone should relax. Would be great to have signed VVD and Dembele for me they would have made us top 4 contenders.

Rewind 2 months.

Would people be happy with.
Pickford
Keane
Klassen
Rooney
Sandro
Siggurdsun
Vlasic??

With the only real loss Lukaku.

I am, we all knew Lukaku was off he didn't give a toss about EFC his goals will be hard to replace but even if we signed a striker we'd still be short.

Good thing is DCL although probably not completely ready will be given a good season to test himself and improve.

I'm more disappointed we didn't offload Barkley and Niasse then signing a striker weird I know.

See how it pans out even with a decent striker we probably wouldn't have broken the top 4. Top 6 is probably the best we can get, arsenal look a mess as well.

John Daley
545 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:44:03
Did Niasse's move definitely not go through? I can't find confirmation either way.
Steve Ferns
546 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:46:46
The window shuts at 1:00 for Niasse John.
James Watts
547 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:48:24
Was just reading John that he's down there sorting things out and they expect it to be confirmed shortly. It can still happen as all the other paperwork was submitted in time. Apparently. Shame as we need a striker. Maybe he'll do a Barkley?
Tony Twist
548 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:55:36
What a joke. Nothing has changed with this club. Without a quality centre forward we will struggle to score against the majority of teams. I honestly think we are in a weaker position than this time last year.
Mark Wilson
549 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:57:12
Did I really just hear our owner managing the team ? Did he innessence suggest that he thinks the players need "time to gel" as some form of rationale for not buying a striker and a left sided defender ? His manager, whom he chased for months then gave a contract too worth £6m pa, has been telling everyone who will listen that we are in clear need of those players. Clearly the owner thinks otherwise and will be selecting the team to play Spurs.

Bloody Everton. You appear to have a transfer strategy st last. You appear to have the money to deliver it. You sell one of the best strikers in Europe let alone the premier league for a realtime value of £90m and secure Rooney for around £10m then you basically reinvest that, and as at 23:00 tonight you've seen your plans for a zero net spend shattered only by Ross Barkley being, well, pretty much, Ross Barkley.

We've had this do many times. When some here describe the transfer window as fantastic, or the best ever etc it seems to me that your delight has bugger all to do with the things that actually make up a "good" transfer window, but rather, your just chuffed if a particular favourite player arrived and maybe a couple of others who seem to be pretty decent. Your obviously not as bothered as one of the highest paid football managers in Europe is about "balance, depth and quality".

Does it make our signings rubbish ? Of course not. But right now it's a bit like buying a very sexy new sports car but only having the funds to take it out three days a week.

We've not completed the job. Frankly I don't care if Lukaku was a horrible little shit. Or his father a gobby bastard. I do care that we've let 25 goals leave with two years on his contract and, seriously, had one plan to replace him which seems to have gone down the tube cos Giroud's wife doesn't fancy living in our city.

Not sure how Koeman will react to be honest. There's something not quite right with his relationship with Mr Moshiri. This sky sports communication strategy is embarrassing and it seems the pair of them communicate via the media.

Money ? Not remotely a problem but as some are starting to ask, where is the investment in the team in terms of genuinely additional funds ? Amortisation accountancy tells us that Mr Moshiri's yearly commitment over the next five campaigns has increased from £30m or so to £70m pa. This matters, of course it does. But it's used now as a smokescreen for hiding the other important, more realtime measure, of net spend in-season which is a far better measure of the health of your playing squad development.

Despite it looking like Mr Moshiri was about to add £100m to the £108m we've received in sales, he hasn't actually spent anything. We've used the Rom money plus the hugely increased sky money to fund player purchases. The players seem pretty decent. Rooney will do far better than many predicted. Pickford will be England's keeper for years, Gylfi will be a hit but nothing like as effective without a top quality no9 to aim for in the air or on the ground. Klassen I'm honestly unsure about as I am about Sandro who seems to have a reputation coming here because he's cheap. But give them both time and who knows. Klasic ? Honestly no idea. Could be brilliant. Or not.

We are left with a very unbalanced squad. No pace, little height up top. No top six quality no9 despite DCL heroics. Two very, very, slow centre backs and one very good looking CB in Keane, but Williams turns like an oil tanker and yes there's no cover for Bainsey.

It just feels such a mess when it looked very promising. I'm making that judgement based on the manager's repeated insistence about the need for two players in particular. I suspect there's a gamble underway. Namely that :

We do ok ish towards end December then Seamus and Bolasie come back and don't take ages to make their impact;

DCL gets the game time in the no9 central spot and continues to show that he's a very good young player;

We don't get a bad injury to Keane or Baines;

We successfully, and much earlier than planned, promote Sambou and Bowler from the U23's and use them from the bench, or in the league cup providing we can stay in it for more than a round.

It's wrong to suggest that all the signings are now failures. They are not. We all know that. But by leaving the job undone and watching as most above us strengthen, we seem to me to have at best kept the pace at seventh, possibly sixth level, but really no better, and how we are going to handle the three games a week challenge for six of those weeks will now be even harder.

It could still be ok but I'm taking my lead from the bloke picking the team, er that's Koeman not Mr Moshiri, and clearly he's very, very, worried else he wouldn't have upped the anti so publicly over the last month.

David Israel
550 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:57:15
It seems we have signed one Dennis Adeniran from Fulham. Does anyone know anything about him?
John Daley
551 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:59:30
Cheers Steve.
Don Alexander
552 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:00:58
Mark Wilson (#555) I can omly assume from your typography that you're pissed. Well done!
Jim Knightley
553 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:07:55
David Barks:

Davy Klaassen £23,600,000
Jordan Pickford £25,000,000 (£30mil potential)
Nathangelo Markelo undisclosed
Michael Keane £25,000,000 (£30mil potential)
Sandro £5,200,000
Henry Onyekuru £7,000,000
Wayne Rooney Free (Worth £10mil according to some sources, as part of the Lukaku deal)
Josh Bowler £1,500,000
Lewis Gibson £6,000,000
Sigurdsson £45,000,000
Vlasic £8,000,000

That's £146mil excluding a Rooney fee and add on details. I've not accounted for all the youngsters purchased, because I don't have all the figures. The Echo put the spend at £155 million today. That's spend - because that's when a spend is. If you've got some hidden information that undermines the official sources, do share.

Now tell me - how much do you think we've spent?

And you are confident that Everton were certain we would sell Barkley? A player who can get a gigantic signing on fee by waiting a season? The notable thing about selling David, is that you need a buyer. When were offers coming in for Ross? For Niasse? Sounds like not many clubs wanted either.

If you've ever operated a business, then I worry for you. If you negate spend on the assumption of assumed outgoings in a context of uncertainty. Again, it's illogical to only apply this logic to outgoing deals and not incoming.

Fact - We've spent the highest gross amount in our history. It's not close to other figures - if you cant understand that changing context, then there is no hope.
Fact - we've spent the highest transfer net spend in our history.

Show how either of these are false? And yes our revenue has gone up - so has every club. In the Premier League era we were habitually among the lowest for net spend and gross spend - now we are among the highest. That is relative to revenue.

Don Alexander
554 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:08:27
Dennis Adeniran (#556) could be the next Messi.

Genuine welcome lad! Hope you have a really thick skin.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

David Israel
555 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:14:19
Thanks, Don. Hope you're right, of course.
Steve Ferns
556 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:16:18
It says he's a midfielder. Surprise surprise!
Gordon Crawford
557 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:19:57
Niasse deal has fallen through. Seriously this has got to be a wind up.
Don Alexander
558 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:22:00
And well said Jim Knightley (#559). Glad to see the doom-mongers have in you, me, and many others, a stance basing their case on reality, even though our reality may be based on the hope that is forever in the heart of the true fan.

Steve Ferns
559 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:25:10
Gordon. Just checked twitter and the SSN reported has confirmed it fell through as the paperwork was not completed in time.

It seems the greedy agents made this deal fall through, by not agreeing their fees in time. At least they lose out.

Ernie Baywood
560 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:25:14
I'm not interested in total spend, net spend or any of that crap. It's a completely different issue.

The fact is we only have one young forward who can lead the line and it's nowhere near enough. Koeman has been pretty rigid in his style of play yet we still didn't sign anyone who can play that position.

To me, this is as significant a failure as if we only had our youth goalkeeper on the books. We just had to bring someone in - didn't need to be a world beater.

So unless we change our style of play to something like an attacking 4-4-2, which Ron never plays, then we're fucked!

Don Alexander
561 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:26:19
Gordon (#563) if that's true I can only assume that Niasse and Barkley share the same bone-head, avaricious agent.
Darren Hind
562 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:26:51
and yes our revenue has gone up"

As caveats go . . . . ,"and yes our revenue has gone up"

As caveats go . . . . ,,,1,01:26:38,,94.9.151.41,ok,13643,09/01/2017 01:26:38,lauriblue,reader,, 846225,35424,toffeeweb,01/09/2017,Steve Ferns,stephen.ferns@hotmail.co.uk,"It just means Dominic Calvert Lewin and Sandro will have to play as the number 9, and we best hope they both stay fit.

Trevor Peers
563 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:31:18
Never thought I'd say this, but maybe Niasse should be given a chance.
At least he has some experience and did score goals for Hull.
Steve Ferns
564 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:32:26
He has pace, he runs and has high work rate. I'm sure we can turn him into the new Marcus Bent!
James Watts
565 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:37:14
Steve. The first three words explain why Koeman won't play him. No room for that in our team. Thought you knew that?
Mike Green
566 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:38:30
What a complete fuck up. Again.
Gordon Crawford
567 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:39:04
Steve (565) yeah I've just seen that's it's official. I can't believe what's happened this day with the transfer window. Don (567) I guess your right pal.
Niasse needs to play now, might as well give him another go.

Darren Hind
568 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:44:29
Don @533

A) Although Ciaran seems like a nice guy. I've never met him. so he cant be me mate

B) I hadn't commented on the subject

C) Ciaran's response (545)was delivered with the same accuracy as Mike Gaines's when he responded to your babble yesterday.

Now your back telling Mark Wilson he is pissed and that you are a "true fan" battling against the "doom mongers"

Take a deep breath lad . . You sound hysterical

John Mckay
569 Posted 01/09/2017 at 01:46:14
While Koemen is away should tell him when he gets back we signed Dembele from Celtic and stick Niasse in front of him wearing a Dembele shirt he probably won't know the difference and give the lad some game time. Scored a few at hull and scored a few in the U23's.
Will Mabon
570 Posted 01/09/2017 at 02:01:05
"Steve, he will no way play for us again after the way he has behaved"

What, changing his mind? Players are not legally or otherwise obliged to go anywhere.

Mike Green
571 Posted 01/09/2017 at 02:01:54
Almost 600 posts means one of two things.

Bad news day or good news day. There's the barometer.

James Watts
572 Posted 01/09/2017 at 02:50:04
Maybe Ron will pull one of his master strokes (?!) and convert our right back into a striker ala Steve Watson / Walter Smith? After all he tried the striker as a right back a few weeks ago so why not?

Step forward Cuco lad (when you arent covering for Baines that is). You can do it. In a months time well all be saying who needed a striker!

Kieran Kinsella
573 Posted 01/09/2017 at 03:28:20
James Watts 580

Funnily enough I was thinking along similar lines at about 3am last night as I wondered what we'd do "if" we didn't sign a striker. I forgot about Watson but I remember Everton youth center half Ian Marshall being converted to an emergency center forward at Oldham (?) before becoming a full time striker at Leicester. Likewise I remember Paul Warhurst filling in as a striker at Sheffield Wed when they were actually a really good team.

James Watts
574 Posted 01/09/2017 at 03:50:25
I know Jags can play in a few positions too Kieran. Maybe he's the target man answer?

I think we already know both DCL and Sandro will come back from international duty injured.

Philip Jeffries
575 Posted 01/09/2017 at 03:53:24
Just glad the window is closed. Games now thick and fast and no distractions. Koeman's next presser will be good viewing too! Just hope the Sandro that spanked in goals in La Liga can start to fire. Put him up top, give his the ball early and let him show us what he can do. Same with DCL. COYB!
David Barks
576 Posted 01/09/2017 at 03:54:16
James,

I expect better from you. You should know that Jags was forced into action as an emergency keeper in his Sunderland days. That allows Koeman the master tactician the chance to stick Pickford in the number 10 role due to his excellent distribution and Stek to be our big target number 9. Gimme take the entire league by surprise!!!

James Watts
577 Posted 01/09/2017 at 03:58:40
Jags played for Sunderland David? Missed that one 😉

Like the spirit Philip! Good on ya! I used to be like that once upon a time too.

Peter Barry
578 Posted 01/09/2017 at 04:11:15
Exactly as I predicted – it all ended with a whimper and no striker... cue the pathetic excuses from the Club.
Bill Watson
579 Posted 01/09/2017 at 04:33:20
One of the most successful full back to centre forward conversions was Fred Pickering!
David Barks
580 Posted 01/09/2017 at 05:03:20
James,

Doh!!! Confusing my red and white striped clubs. Sheffield, Sunderland, neither places I would choose to spend a minute of my life.

Derek Thomas
581 Posted 01/09/2017 at 05:28:53
If you haven't got one, can't buy one, well the coach will have to 'coach' his way round it.

False No.9's, mobile players buzzing around between the back line, not stood still, next to the CB - effectively marking your self.

Any from Rooney, Sandro, DCL, Mirallas, Vlasic.

Vardy and Cahill weren't as big as Lukaku...It's not the size of the man in the fight that counts, but the size of the fight in the man.

The first rule of coaching is; have better players. The Second is; Use a system that makes the best of what you have, don't play a system that requires a Big CF, especially if you haven't got one...and I don't mean your Scottish alter ego's 4-6-0.

Get off the golf course and earn your 6mill.

Chris James
582 Posted 01/09/2017 at 05:50:03
On the positive front at least all the naysayers and doom-mongers will be happy this morning having had their months of moaning proved 'right' (at least in their eyes). No doubt this will empower them to further relentless moaning and negativity throughout the season (much like Brexit and Trump allowed the right-wingers and nutcases freedom to get out of their boxes).

If so I might give TW a wide berth for a few months, spend some time in a slightly cheerier atmosphere, working a suicide hotline perhaps...

Ian Jones
583 Posted 01/09/2017 at 05:53:47
And for all those who feel Liam Walsh is ready for a stint in the first team wearing blue, seems he is ready for Birmingham. Out on loan.
Kristian Boyce
584 Posted 01/09/2017 at 06:22:59
I'm not a Koeman apologist but isn't it Walsh's role as DoF to buy the players? It seems like it's his incompetence that deals were not completed, and thus not providing the manager the tools needed to compete.

James Watts
585 Posted 01/09/2017 at 06:27:35
Kristan. Not sure we can blame Walsh either as I think you're forgetting one important factor. Was their any money available to buy the players we needed/identified? When we had the lukaku money round the corner getting players didnt seem to be an issue.
Will Mabon
586 Posted 01/09/2017 at 06:50:08
(much like Brexit and Trump allowed the right-wingers and nutcases freedom to get out of their boxes)."

Damn those pesky people with different views. Not everyone is a Eurogullible or a Hillary snowflake. ,"(much like Brexit and Trump allowed the right-wingers and nutcases freedom to get out of their boxes)."

Damn those pesky people with different views. Not everyone is a Eurogullible or a Hillary snowflake. ,,,1,06:43:14,,81.108.253.187,ok,19747,09/01/2017 06:43:14,Overdrive,reader,, 846294,35424,toffeeweb,01/09/2017,Paul A Smith,paulos81@hotmail.co.uk,I don't know whos fault this deadline disaster is but its somebodys fault.
Once again an Everton manager short of what he needs.
His treatment of Niasse and Barkley totally backfires.
I predicted after the Swansea negotiations that would be the last big move.
How awful. Its either Koeman has spent millions on 'productivity' with his major assists man who is stuck for somebody to assist now.
Or Koeman was set in his mind the board wouldn't let him go into a huge campaign with no real striker.
Either way its ended in Everton fashion
A 3 year plan to reach the Champions league one fan told me.
What a load of nonsense.
Sell your star man to the team that finished one place above you and expect to be joining them in 2 more years. Haha.
"But he wanted to leave"
So did Van Dijk Coutinho Sanchez etc etc
But we are so nice we promised Rom a happy life and took an easy sum for him while the Kopites turn down 125 for a player they sub most weeks.
,I don't know whos fault this deadline disaster is but its somebodys fault.
Once again an Everton manager short of what he needs.
His treatment of Niasse and Barkley totally backfires.
I predicted after the Swansea negotiations that would be the last big move.
How awful. Its either Koeman has spent millions on 'productivity' with his major assists man who is stuck for somebody to assist now.
Or Koeman was set in his mind the board wouldn't let him go into a huge campaign with no real striker.
Either way its ended in Everton fashion
A 3 year plan to reach the Champions league one fan told me.
What a load of nonsense.
Sell your star man to the team that finished one place above you and expect to be joining them in 2 more years. Haha.
"But he wanted to leave"
So did Van Dijk Coutinho Sanchez etc etc
But we are so nice we promised Rom a happy life and took an easy sum for him while the Kopites turn down 125 for a player they sub most weeks.
,,,1,06:49:49,,80.192.51.236,ok,12647,09/01/2017 06:49:49,Paulos81,reader,, 846295,35424,toffeeweb,01/09/2017,Steven Astley,Steven.astley@gmail.com,"There is no way of dressing up what happened yesterday.
We sold our best goalscorer. We needed a replacement, just someone through the door at least and they couldn't even manage that. Total incompetence. What happens now when Wayne and/or Sandro picks up an injury?

Amit Vithlani
587 Posted 01/09/2017 at 06:55:15
Jim @ 512 a good post.

No point arguing with the "sell to buy" merchants who appear to have something against our new club owners.

Using their idiotic logic, Spurs and Arsenal are sell to buy clubs as they have a negative net spend and you must ignore money spent on U23s, wages and hiring.

When called out on the stupidity of their logic, they conflate the club's failure to sign a striker with their illogical wrong headed analysis.

It was a disaster not signing a striker and brickbats should be thrown at the whole hierarchy gor that. However our failure to sign a striker does not make us sell to buy. Nor do the attempts to offload Barkley and Niasse (why not try and get some cash in for them?).

This theory perpetuating that we are run by Snake Oil Salesman is also ridiculous. Moshiri has cleared the club's debts and has a plan to take the club forward.

Furthermore, he sanctioned big signings and backed Koeman heavily.

There is no where for Koeman to hide now that the new owners have sanctioned heavy spending. His fault for not prioritising a replacement for Lukaku.

We know from Rooney's public statements that Koeman wanted him in January and the fact that Koeman has admitted Siggy was on his shortlist for 1 year, that Koeman sets the agenda for player acquisitions.

Tom Dodds
588 Posted 01/09/2017 at 06:55:24
My take on transfer spends & sales:

They (The Board & Moshiri) have skied away as much as they could possibly get away with to put towards the new stadium. You could hear it in his (Moshiri's) voice in the Sky interview, like a gambler losing a sure-fire bet at the last minute. Kenwright Mk 2, methinks?

I know the stadium is our big future for the club, but a big new shiny even fuck-off one is useless without a fuck-off team winning stuff.

James Morgan
589 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:00:26
Goodbye top six dreams!
If DCL or Sandro get injured, then what? Look at what our top six competition have got striker wise.
The U23s will have to be raided which in one sense is a good thing but I don't get how we got to this. Oh yeah I do, it's Everton! Pathetic!
Amit Vithlani
590 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:06:23
I also found Moshiri's comments last night interesting. He felt the squad had been strengthened.

Bleating over not having a recognised CF is not the owner's problem. Koeman prioritised and got Rooney and Sigurdsson. No one else wanted to join.

Up to our Dutch manager to shape a system now with the players at his disposal to take us forward.

Our anguish is resulting from how Koeman has set us up - where we came to heavily rely on Lukaku. We have lost the ability to score goals from wide areas or central midfield, and our direct style necessitates a big man.

We need a 20 goal a season man yes, but he does not need to be 6ft + if we adapt our style and play without 2 DMs in every single game. Get some players forward around Sandro, Rooney and DCL when we go forward and we might still score some goals even if they are shared around.

John G Davies
591 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:16:36
Amit,
There is no doubt the squad has improved.
How he sets them up now without a centre forward will be interesting.
Imo signing a centre forward was a must.
Paul A Smith
592 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:19:38
Mark 555 a couple easy to make typos in a huge thread and Mr Diplomat with all the wisdom on reality suggests your pissed.
The reality is your probably typing with a bit of fire in your belly watching another poor deadline day while trying to keep up with the excuses from fans that think we are doing things the right way (3 year plan an all that tripe).
Hopefully your typing hangover settles now the Moshiritonians have explained everything.
Paul A Smith
593 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:28:21
Barkleys agent a 'bonehead' now haha. Ours fan are unreal. Calling fans with real ambition to see the club move on while calling a man who has given his client the best advice possible (free transfer next summer, easy double your fees) is a bonehead.
Does anything interesting ever get stated in the land of ignorance?
Stephen Brown
594 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:28:46
Surely it's time to give David Henen a chance in the first team squad!

He's 21 now so isn't it now or never?

Also Niasse has to be used until January!

James Morgan
595 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:40:36
Will 594, well said.
Chris James
596 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:50:10
'Eurogullible' sigh. Did you get that from the Daily Mail or are you still reading the S**?
Ian Hollingworth
597 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:53:18
Shock news, Everton owners are not really the billionaires we all hoped for.
More shock news, Everton are not the massive draw to players we all think they should be.

Of course we will have had a budget that included income from sales.
We have made some good buys but missed out on key positions.
If we start winning games no one will care, if we continue with turgid performances and lose games then reach for the tin hats.
The manager now has his work cut out to earn his huge wages to fit the players into a system that works for them.


Paul McIntyre
598 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:53:30
Does the fact that Koeman was on holiday whilst Farhad resorts to Sky Spoorts to deflect pressure suggest all is not well in the boardroom?

Seems to me Koeman would happily take the club to the brink of financial ruin if it meant he got top 4 and put himself in the mix for the Barça job?

Denver Daniels
599 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:54:13
Dragovic (Leicester) and Krychowiak (West Brom) are gonna be cracking signings for those teams.

Rickie Lambert's available on a free ;-)

Geoff Lambert
600 Posted 01/09/2017 at 07:59:47
Koeman out Moshiri out New striker out new left back out new LCH out...

Our chance of top 6 Over and out

Dermot Byrne
601 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:02:36
It seems fair enough for folk to sound off for a week or so. It was crap end to window.

To some this will be numbingly depressing or completely over the top. So if that is likely to be the case, avoid the armageddon prophesies for a few days. Some will fall out or raise their level of ire to beat the previous livid post and eventually if nothing else finally turn attention to an actual game. That is when interest comes back for me.

(Having said that the sensitivities of the bloody furious always bring out mischievous tendancies in some. Same in real world)

Jon Withey
602 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:04:20
I think we can agree that waiting until deadline day just to please Sky is pretty dumb.

Expecting some very expensive Moyes-like performances for six months.

Now with 3 pissed off players, Barkley, Niasse and Mirallas.

I have to say that Mr Moshiri comes across as a bit of a fibber on deadline days.

Oh well, let's see where it gets us, COYB !

Tony Everan
603 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:05:38
Instead of challenging for the top 6 , I now see a season full of tight matches.
Maybe that's the plan , crowd out the defence and midfield keep,the game a tight as possible and nick a goal from Siggy / Rooney or from a well delivered dead ball. There will be other goals every now and then too.
We won't set the world on fire and won't finish higher than 7th in the league.
This meagre approach though may get us a good cup run.
Graham Mockford
604 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:06:14
Mike Green 258, Martin Mason 260

You were saying?

Dermot Byrne
605 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:11:50
"Moshiritonians" - don't let that catch on. It is a crap attempt at tabloid talk and far too many letters. Also, with this being TW, spelling wars will erupt by Tuesday.
Ciarán McGlone
606 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:13:07
The die is now cast. Koeman picked these players and prioritised the positions they play in. He now has no excuses whatsoever.

We have bought some decent players, but we've also added players who are surplus to requirements at the expense of other more vital positions. Anyone with eyes can see that Sandro isn't a striker and that Rooney can't play there either.

I predict these pages will be full of the words 'gel' and 'click' for the next 12 months, until it finally does 'click' that Koeman is out of his depth and dinning out on his success as a player 30 years ago.

As for Mr Moshiri... He hasn't paid off our debt, or invested in the team. We are spending modest amounts of the sky money and it's entirely plausible that the aim was to break even from player sales, given the failure to sell Barkley and Niasse. He appeared to be seething at that development on sky (his appearance on which was entirely cringeable). Kenwright with more money.

Eugene Ruane
607 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:17:27
Don #567 - 'Gordon (#563) if that's true I can only assume that Niasse and Barkley share the same bone-head, avaricious agent.'

By 'bone-headed', do you mean an agent who thought 'daft to advise my client not to bet on a Royal flush when I know his fat Dutch nark opponent only has 9-high.'?

Damian Wilde
608 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:27:41
Just woken up...no striker, disgrace. I've thought Barkley was crap for months and very much wanted to see him gone. Now he's a disgrace as well. He won't play for the club again, if he does he'll be hesbily booed and rightly so. Prick.

As for not having a centre forward, I thought we'd at least get a Straqurlirsi on loan, not even that, gone backwards!

Okay we have DCL, Sandro, & Rooney, but none are strong enough to play up top on their own, which Moyes, sorry I meant Koeman plays such a system.

In every game this season what has everyone noticed? Not enough upfront. So for two months we don't buy one. Fuck off Everton. 7th-8th place and fifth round of the vup here we come.

Kevin Tully
609 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:28:30
This wasn't the usual fume- fest of fans like us deciding we needed a striker, the manager has been saying it for weeks!

With that in mind, the closing day can only be described as a bit of a shambles. It looks as though any replacements were dependant on a Barkley sale at the last moment. Considering we thought we had a clear strategy, and the scrabbling about at the last minute was a thing of the past, then it seems the lunatics are still in charge of the asylum.

A shame, because it did seem for a while we had become a proper football club for a moment there. Instead, we are going into a very important season with no recognised no.9.

That's cannot have been the plan when we sold Rom?

Paul Mackie
610 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:32:55
Ciaran - Is Walsh blameless in this then? The Everton manager isn't in charge of transfers anymore. That's why we have a DoF. I'm not a huge Koeman fan, but the blame for the mess we're in doesn't rest solely at his door.
Paul A Smith
611 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:42:44
Damien why on earth would you boo Barkley? If anyone does that by me it will be followed by madness.
Kim Vivian
612 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:47:07
Well, this is a long thread - and some way to go I suspect.

My view is if we can hold on to 7th with what we've got and with what most/all the competition have managed to acquire it will be miraculous and bodes well for what we will achieve when eventually we do draw in our much needed targets which hopefully will be no later than the Jan window.

The next couple/3 games or so will not be much different I suspect because new players will take a few weeks to bed in but once new signings start having their desired effect I fear a siege mentality will prevail with the (not so) mighty blues.

When is the first derby match anyone so I can book a weekend away?

Disappointed is an understatement and I may be imagining it but there seemed to be no urgency or inspiration at all during the search this window. Siggy (I remain on the fence so far as £45m being well spent or not) has been on the radar for months and months, also Rooney, Vlasic I do not believe we would have if we had not played Hajduk Split, Keane and Pickford both seem a good buy but that's a job half done in my estimation.

Let's get this frigging Intl break out the way, get down to business and see what transpires but my optimism for any excitement this season has been well and truly snuffed out. I know we are not the biggest draw in the world (and now even less so) but moronic planning can only describe the last few months unless I am seriously missing something.

The reasons for that and blame allocation can only be guessed at so time for RK to get his magicians hat dusted off and pull out a rabbit or two. Or walk by Xmas.

I hope he succeeds but half his 3 year plan/contract is almost up and I can't see him producing anything that will attract the likes of Barca in the next 18 months.

Maybe our search has to extend beyond the playing staff.

Christy Ring
613 Posted 01/09/2017 at 08:53:01
The facts are, Koeman buys 3/4 players for one position. We needed another left back/centreback. The striker who scored 25 goals last season wasn't replaced. Who's going to score the goals now? He wasted a month concentrating on 1 signing, replacing Lukaku had to be his top priority. So is he going to ignore Niasse, Barkley and Mirallas now.?
Richard Cusworth
614 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:00:23
To me, there are massive questions as to the communication between the Manager and the Board. Had Barkley & Niasse gone last night, the net spend would have been zero.

Looks like we were scrambling around for loan deals too – all of which indicates the so called financial clout just is not there .that to an extent I can live with.

What baffles me then is how we end up with fewer strikers than last year bring in 3 number 10's and allow a back up left sided defender in Galloway go on loan... the very position Koeman wanted cover for! Koeman obviously wanted and expected more or surely the transfer policy would have been different.

Looks now like Chairman expects top 6 with what we have and a manager who knows he hasn't the tools to achieve it. Very poor; I just hope the players are not as deflated as we are!

John Charles
615 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:00:38
It could be argued we have strengthened the squad whilst weakening the team. What we haven't done is close the gap on any of those above us, in fact it looks like teams below us particularly WBA have closed the gap on us. Challenging for top 6 - no chance
Will be a challenge to stay 7th
Paul A Smith
616 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:01:49
Having a go at fans for urging the club to do more and better.
Praising the board for Pickford and Keane. Everton times are back.
Nothing against them 2 players but Everton Football Club buying a relegated sides keeper and Burnleys CB.
Shouldn't that be the norm?
I don't blame Koeman (although I am no fan of his)
If he thought the squad needed strenghthening he was right to do that. He was probably daft enough to think the board would back the manager with whatever he needs.
We would rather turn the under 23s into galacticos.
Mark Boulle
617 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:03:18
Amidst all the striker noise, what on earth do we do between now and 1 January if Baines gets injured?! There isn't a single player in the squad or U-23s (one or two loaned out) able to replace him is there...?

And even if he stays fit, can we reasonably expect a 32 year old, who has clearly lost some of his overlapping ability already, to be effective in every Thursday-Sunday double as the weather worsens in the next 5 months?

I'd say failing to buy / loan cover, or ensure an U-23s left back is available, is as big a dereliction of duty by the board / Walsh / Koeman as the striker failure. Bigger even, as at least we do have players that can play up front...

John Charles
618 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:10:37
Am not sure who is to blame for our situation.
Moshiri , Koeman, Walsh - all of them seem out of their depth at present but time will tell.

I don't really buy the mantra that it has overall been a good window as I don't think the team is anywhere near being set up to challenge for anything

Sam Hoare
619 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:10:52
Very, very disappointed.

Sandro, Rooney and DCL are simply not a strikeforce able to make us competitive on all fronts this season given the large amount of games we have.

We needed another striker.

The club did not deliver.

There are no excuses as far as i'm concerned. Someone or some people failed in their jobs. The gap between us and the top 6 has got no smaller. My belief in this new regime have been severely shook by the failings in this window.

Paul A Smith
620 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:20:20
Sandro Rooney Calvert Lewin.
I like these 3 players as ones who can try to open teams up and link up.
As far as goalscorers go where do they rank against every other teams 3 forwards?
As good as West Hams maybe? Nowhere near Leicesters I would guess?
John Charles
621 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:21:23
Still weak in defence - RB an issue at least till Xmas, (Coleman to come back like a new signing) Williams still playing (god help us) and absolutely no LB cover ( can Baines manage every game?

Midfield though full still seems muddled with a plethora of defensive players who offer nothing going forward and no pace.

Wings are an issue until Bolasie comes back like a new signing. Lookman very inconsistent, Mirallas was never great and now will be even more uninspiring.
Arron Lennon? Hope the new lad is a star!

The fabled number 10 . Should be Siggy (?) , where does that leave Klaasen and Rooney?

Forwards , DCL looks a good prospect but I doubt he will score 20 goals this season and Sandro seems like £5m player. Will we play Rooney up top, definitely not every game.

Mat Smith
622 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:22:12
I bet if you looked at the ToffeeWeb forum over the last few years the day after transfer deadline day you would pretty much see the same thing “that’s it our seasons over we haven’t brought in any good players”, “all the teams below us have strengthened and will now finish above us”, “We’ll never break the top 4/6” – it’s the same every year


People say we’ve not signed a striker this window but last time I looked Rooney and Sandro were strikers; Before Sandro came to us he was this amazing young striker that we had to get in, people were saying “he’ll be the signing of the summer”, now after a couple of games he’s rubbish and won’t achieve anything – really?!?!
People moan about RK not playing youth, isn’t DCL youth and a striker? I could put money on it that if we had signed some 32 year old striker people would then be moaning that he is stopping our youth progress.

Last time we finished 4th in the league we’d just sold our upcoming striker, Tim Cahill finished our top scorer (an attacking mid fielder) and Marcus Bent was leading the front line!

People then go on to moan that our net spend is to low, surely you should really be asking; “Is our squad stronger than last year” – if the answer is yes then who cares how much we have spent?

I for one am extremely happy with what has been one of the best transfer windows I can remember (and I’ve supported Everton for 22 years) – 10 new players in, a great mix of youth and experience with a few potentials for the future – and we’ve only lost 1 player who had any impact on the 1st team last season

I’m looking forward to the season kicking off again! 😊

Craig Walker
623 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:22:19
Hand on heart, who thought we would actually sign a decent striker yesterday? I hoped we would but leopards and spots spring to mind. Let's hope DCL and Lookman can step up and get goals. I just don't see it myself. I was going to say that we're back to the Moyes days of keeping it tight but at least he had the sense to recruit Saha, Yakubu, AJ, Jelavic (not Beattie though) in those days. It reminds me more of the days under Walter Smith of putting Steve Watson up front and hoping for the best.

As for Barkley, he is thick on the pitch and chooses the wrong option every time. Looks like he isn't much cleverer off it. He realised he'd be behind Drinkwater in getting a place on Chelsea's bench so decided to hold out for Spurs. Idiot. I like football. I hate footballers.

Keith Gleave
624 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:25:17
We strengthened in certain areas, keeper, centre half but we knew Lukaku was leaving and that should have been addressed from day one of the window opening.
The spine of the team is stronger however, we cannot continually play with two defensive midfielders. We require pace and we have none until our injured return.
There is need of cover for Baines, we are told there are few about, yet Chelsea pull one out of the bag who can play both left and right side.
Klassen is brought in, who I think is a good player but Koeman will not play him in the box to box role he was so good in at Ajax.
The questions for me are
1 why was no striker identified at the outset and bought
2 why if no out and out striker did we not buy pacy widemen
3 what the hell was the jolly to Italy all about
4 having seen our play (other than first half against split) does Koeman have a clue
Mark Tanton
625 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:28:17
I am more optimistic than some you, and an ally of Mat here. Calvert-Lewin is the natural heir to Lukaku; he can hold it up, he's strong in the air and he is will score goals.

In the past our midfield has been manned by Osman and Neville. We now have Schneiderlin, Gana, Sigurdsson, Klassen.

Koeman has finally resolved the goalkeeper issue that has troubled us since Martyn left. And Keane, if and when he eventually makes on, will be a £80m defender.

We also have Rooney, who is actually looking far better than I thought he would. And let's give Sandro a chance.

Over the last two windows we have strengthened the side. Let's now see how we do.

Kim Vivian
626 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:32:07
I just read that it was Mrs Giroud who sabotaged Mnsr Giroud's move to us. I thought somebody was being flippant on here earlier but evidently that is the case.

Jeez - it could only be Everton.

And Mark - strengthened the side? relative to who? I think most teams - worryingly those below us - have also strengthened.

Steve Ferns
627 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:33:45
Keith, we identified and almost signed Giroud three weeks ago. The question is why didn't we move to plan B after it fell through?
John Charles
628 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:34:28
With the team/strike force we have at the club - plus the new lad from Split - we have played 7 games and scored 7 goals.

Some ok results but performances have been poor.

Where are the goals going to come from and does anybody really think the current level of performance will have us challenging for anything this season?

Need time to gel .

Steve Ferns
629 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:35:26
Kim, any basic research would tell you that persuading Mrs Giroud to leave London was going to be very difficult, and it was mentioned several times on here up until he scored against Leicester and we accepted the deal was dead.
Michael Lynch
630 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:35:54
We've certainly strengthened, but I think most of us expected more. One of the reasons we expected more was because Koeman expected more. He clearly stated that we needed at least one more forward and one more left sided defender. So we aren't where we hoped to be, or where Koeman hoped to be. Moshiri has also clearly thrown it into Koeman's court - this is YOUR team, we've signed YOUR players, we're looking for top 6. So while the squad is strengthened, we've lost our best player and Barkley will probably never play for us again. It's fairly obvious where our weaknesses are and, to be honest, I'm more concerned about our defence than our attack. We did need a big unit to get on the end of Sigurdsson's set pieces, but I really like the way DCL has shaped up so far, and I think he could have a fantastic season - or at least the first half of the season before he burns out. So, hopefully, we pick up a forward in January to back up DCL for the second half of the season. And we pray nobody else gets injured. My concern is Williams and Jags and no back up for Baines. That could cost us big time.
Ray Roche
632 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:40:40
Steve Ferns #637

Steve, you can have a Plan B,C,D, etc., but if a player, or his wife, doesn't fancy living in Liverpool (City) or Cheshire then you have no chance. It's easy to blame the club but you can't make a player sign for you if he doesn't want to. And then there's the agents and their fees

Will Mabon
633 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:45:05
" 'Eurogullible' sigh. Did you get that from the Daily Mail or are you still reading the S**? "

I don't read newspapers, Chris, that's one of my own.

Where did you get the idea that everybody disagreeing with you is a nutcase?

James Watts
634 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:46:00
Mat #632.

I do like your optimism but there are some glaring problems there.

We can see neither Sandro or Rooney can be used as an out and out attacker. Especially in the way Koeman wants his team to set up, with 10 men defending, lone attacker who needs to hold the ball up for team mates to join in to hit teams on the break. It's clear already Sandro could work in a front 2 or behind the striker out wide. Rooney needs to be behind the striker.

That leaves us DCL. A kid, who has half a season playing on the wing with a grand total of 3 games as an out and out striker to his name. And that's before we even talk about how many he's scored. And that's it. We have no one else. Nada. Zip. We will most likely play about 25 games until the January window. 3 games a week, with just this lad.

Then there is the left back/left defense issue. Baines, at 32, can not play 3 games a week effectively. A 26 year old wouldn't be able to with the amount of running that's needed as we have no wingers. And for back up we have, errmmmmmm - Martina?! A right back. And to top it off, when Ron plays his 3 man central defence two of those are made up of Williams and Jags. What happens when we need to rest Keane? Williams and Jags it is coz he won't play Holgate there.

And remember Koeman was desperate for these positions to be filled, so he obviously thinks the same that is obvious to the rest of us. The good news for him is that he now has a great excuse for when we don't progress on last year. His presser has already been written. "But OK, we didn't get a striker so 7th is best we can do right now".

Like I say, I admire your optimism but no way in hell will we be challenging anyway shape or form for a top 6 place.

Steve Ferns
635 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:46:06
I'm not blaming Everton for Giroud. There does not appear to be anything more we could have done.

I am asking why in the three weeks after the Arsenal v Leicester game, we did not try to sign someone else. Koeman wanted a striker. Maybe we have Rooney, Sandro, Calvert-Lewin and all the other ones who can do a job up top like Mirallas, but Koeman wanted a specialised striker.

for me it all comes back to blowing £45m on Sigurdsson. We should have made the striker a priority. Sigurdsson is a luxury for the squad, we can get by and do very well without him. A striker is essential, and now we have to gamble on Calvert-Lewin's fitness and form, or we change the way we play and if so then surely it is a waste of pre-season and everything we have been gearing up for.

Steve Bell
636 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:47:47
Perhaps his last minute u-turn was Ross's way of putting himself in the frame to play on his own up top. Or in a 4-4-2 with Niasse. The shambolic end takes the gloss of the rest of the window - with worrying echoes of the 'old Everton' to boot.
Steve Bird
638 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:49:09
Okay, We all dreamed a bit but we now know what we have got.

I'm sure we were trying to get the striker we needed, but just because you fancy the best looking girl in the office, it doesn't mean she has to go out with you!

It's up to the manager now, he has to make this work tactically, and then its up to us, put our disappointments behind us and give these young players the support to drive them on.

I've said before, we are at the start of a project , we all bought into that, yet all of a sudden, we forget everything and criticisms and vitriol abound.

Steve Ferns
639 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:50:09
Steve, Ross' agent has come out and said that Ross never did a medical. He could easily come out and say Ross has decided he wants to stay and play for Everton. Instead he said he doesn't want to join a new club injured and will assess the situation in January. As much as I am desperate for Ross to stay, it does not seem at all likely. We are just getting played by Spurs here.
Kim Vivian
642 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:54:42
FFS

What else can I switch to, to focus on. Football is doing my head in.

Alex Doyle
643 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:54:57
Looking forward to hearing about people ripping up their season tickets because we have only spent 140 million in this window, most of it early and of a higher quality than we are used to. You would never confuse a ToffeeWebber with a ray of sunshine.

This gives us a chance to see Calvert Lewin and Sandro being given time to develop in the first team. Rooney can play there too. There'll now be more chances for our Under 20 world champions. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

I have no doubt Everton tried to sign strikers of quality and were offered Gary Goals instead.

Michael Burke
644 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:55:15
We need to remember these are not inanimate objects that are being traded. There is a human element to all this. For those complaining about players not arriving or Ross changing his mind, have you ever gone to a job interview and had a bad feeling about the place. I certainly have.
Tony Everan
645 Posted 01/09/2017 at 09:55:41
I just hope now that we get someone lined up for the positions we need at the very beginning of January.
By November it will be getting a bit desperate. Striker and LB cover will be paramount. By then it will become blindingly obvious to the powers that be .
So Steve Walsh , get to work. We don't wat to be faffing about on the 31st of January.
James Watts
647 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:02:04
Tony #655

I just hope now that we get someone lined up for the positions we need at the very beginning of January.

Wouldn't bank on it! We've had since March (when Lukaku turned down the contract and made it clear he was leaving) to get someone and didn't. But I supposed if we can offload Niasse & Barkley we might see some movement coming in.

Bobby Thomas
650 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:10:26
So it appears we placed all our chips on Giroud and after that were scratching around.

We really lack two fundamental things up front. 1) A target who can hold the ball up, play with his back to goal and link the play; and 2) someone with genuine pace to stretch teams and provide a different option.

We have neither of these qualities. This is going to seriously affect our season. We are a one dimensional side with a lack of variety, pace, width and goals.

I thought we needed 2 strikers, so to say the least I'm extremely disappointed that we haven't brought another option in. Even if it wasn't the player we wanted long term on a permanent deal, another striking option on loan was absolutely necessary. Maybe someone with pace to bring off the bench. Or someone good in the air to hit and knock crosses into if, or more likely when, we are running out of ideas. I'm sure no-one at the club ever thought for a second we would sign Valencia permanently, but he had value as a squad member last season.

We really need Sandro to have a good season and, in an ideal world, hit the ground running. If this is a season of adapting to the division, and that would be understandable to be fair, then we could really be struggling. There’s not exactly a Fellaini or Cahill knocking about who can play makeshift striker.

The striker issues and Barkley have taken all the attention. But there is also the problem of ageing center backs and an absence of left sided cover. Precisely what happens if Baines gets injured? They have had all summer to sort it. These ageing players will dip at some point. Rooney looks sharp now. Lets see how sharp he looks in January after we’ve ran him into the ground.

With the Europa complicating matters this year, I will be very surprised if we better last season’s league finish, despite our positive additions elsewhere.

An opportunity missed. Spectacularly.

John Audsley
651 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:11:05
Striker passes out pissed as deadline to buy a real striker passes.

Maybe Rooney was on the forum with us last night.

Moshiri shouldn't be allowed near a phone again, pissed or sober.

John Charles
652 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:13:41
Will RK still play DCL as right wing back.
The man is a genius
Stephen Brown
654 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:18:38
Time for players to step up !!!

No 9 options - DCL, Sandro, Rooney, Henen and Niasse. Surely they can get 25+goals between them!

Left back cover - Garbett and Martina!

What a chance for these players!!!

Tony Everan
655 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:20:14
Makes me think that they have made promises to Sandro about being the main man + guaranteed starter to seal the deal. The lad did well last year and hopefully is still on an upward curve. If he settles quickly , could come good for us . At the moment he looks over-enthusiastic and too eager to please. When he settles and gets a run plus a couple of goals for confidence it may click.
This is something I am clinging onto as a possibility.
Andy Crooks
656 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:20:53
The failure to sign a striker is indefensible and simply inept. In my view this squad is unbalanced, lacks pace ,guile and width. This is Koeman's team now and I have yet to see any sign of better times ahead. Bitterly disappointing.
Niall Kelly
658 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:29:30
I am as miffed as anyone else but a few points to make: We lost no defenders that were around the first team, but bought in Keane.

Koeman said he wanted a left sided defender? Well, Martina played there against Sevilla and did alright. We have Kenny and Holgate and I can't remember the other U23 right back, but he looks solid, Coleman will be back before we know it, so Holgate is then 4th choice CB. Kenny is backup RB to Coleman. Doesn't look that weak to me?

So defence: LB, Baines, Martina and Garbutt (I doubt he will ever play)

CB: Williams, Jagielka, Keane and (Holgate when Coleman is backfit)

RB: Martina, Holgate, Kenny and Coleman all capable of playing if required.

Midfield, no pressing concerns at all.

Defensive Midfield: Schneiderlin, Besic, Gueye and McCarthy (who looked good when fit last season) as well as Davies who plays slightly further forward.

Number 10: Sigurdsson, Rooney, Vlasic, Mirallas (for me his best position) Klaasen, Barkley (if he ever plays again)

Wide players: A mix of the above with Lookman, Lennon and Bolasie.

Now the dreaded attack, but hear me out here Kylian Mbappe was an unheard of kid 12 months no-one knew who he was he is now tto be the second most expensive ever player, I know we don't have a young forward like him but why are people writing players of after less than 10 professional games?

Our options: Rooney, Sandro, Calvert-Lewin, Mirallas (played here for Olymapiakos) and then we have a vast array of promising forwards in the u23's: Sambou, Henen (Koeman stopped him moving for some reason, maybe he sees something), Dyson (he looks a big strong player), Byrne, Mathias, Donkor (plays best as inside forward) and Lavery. I know some of these will never make it, but let's hope one of these burst on the scene the same as a certain summer signing.

Don't write us off before we have started, Koeman said he likes to play the youth, we have plenty of young attacking talent, lets use it! I have seen people wanting youth to play, now is the chance.

People are saying we will finish below our position last year well without Lukaku's goals last year we would of finished 7th. Have the teams below us strengthened that you now think these teams are superior to us? I think not:

West Ham: definitely not;
Southampton: no;
Palace: no;
West Brom: potentially they will challenge but they stop playing when they reach 40 points;
Watford: good signings but I think that every season they flatter to deceive... so no;
Bournemouth: no;
Burnley: no;
Brighton: no;
Newcastle: no;
Huddersfield: no;
Stoke: well, we have already beaten them and I can't see them doing much... so no;
Swansea: they may as well be relegated now, they will struggle even more this season.

Now onto the six above us: these were hard to catch already... they may be even more so now, but we knew they would be stronger this season than ever:

Spurs: they will struggle with Champions League and a relatively small squad as well as the Wembley factor but I think they will still be up there.

Man City look good, however, we contained them; bar for poor tactics and one mistake, we would have beaten them.

Chelsea: their squad isn't that deep. Last season we got thrashed and played of the park by them with Lukaku in the team; this season, after 3 away games in 6 days, we played poorly but they didn't open us up half as much as they did last season. Also, we had a half-fit Gueye and Sandro playing as well as a completely-out-of-it Davies.

Man Utd: they look unreal, much as it pains me to say it – Champions.

Liverpool: this is a strange one... they bought in Salah, who wasn't really required, and Oxlade-Chamberlin, who I completely don't rate. They haven't strengthened the defence and still look vulnerable. They also have Champions League which will take its toll. They will struggle more than you think.

Arsenal: this is a team in disarray – they have a defence that looks extremely low on confidence, a midfield that is capable of being world class but never seems to, and then a couple of strong strikers. However, Lacazette has already been dropped and an unhappy Sanchez – this will affect the dressing room – and remember, they are not used to the Europa League schedule; this will trouble them.

I see us being able to overtake Arsenal, even without a recognised forward. I know we have the Europa League as well and it will affect us but I feel we will take it in our stride. Rooney and Klaassen were there last season and will help in the dressing room.

Be positive, exciting times are ahead!

Paul A Smith
659 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:30:57
Even the Mrs Giroud story has believers now. The story that came from Charlie Adam.
Where is the story of us actually bidding for him.
Charlie Adam and the reporters didn't hear that but they have both heard the ramblings of Mrs Giroud.
Keep on believing.
George Cumiskey
660 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:30:59
What a cheapskate club we still are, no striker or left sided defender all they have spent is the Lukaku money and the money they thought they would get for Barkley.
They had no intention of buying anyone, the manager was on holiday in Portugal ffs.
Now we know why blue Bill brought in the new owner, because he's full of BS just like him and I can't see it changing for the foreseeable future.
Alan Smith
666 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:44:53
@597

What plan? What plan for winning the Premier League has Moshiri ever told us?

Its your logic that's flawed. We choose to sell Lukaku with out having a replacement goal scorer! He was contracted to us with a World Cup year to go.

Moshiri was also happy for Barkley to leave knowing a striker was not coming in. So Rooney has to cover up front. He also wanted Mirallas out. Lennon has his own problems and Lookman is not ready. So Sigurdsson is the only wide-ish player. That leaves Klaassen who has been poor so far, as the only No 10. But let's sell Barkley??

By the way spurs and arsenal are sell to buy! I don't care about them though.

Stick to our business.

Moshiri's plan is either a poor one or a Kenwright Mk 2 plan:

Get a top ten side for the cheapest outlay possible. Make a profit in transfers and in twenty years quadruple your investment.

Krychowaik, Gibbs, Sakho, Renato Sanchez all went to worse sides. Bony even.

These are facts mate. You offer blind faith, flawed logic and zero evidence.

Explain the plan or, better still, quote it!

Dennis Stevens
667 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:48:06
Surely there are one or two decent strikers around who are out of contract & available outside of the transfer window??!
Paul A Smith
668 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:48:32
So glad that before the window I used my experiences as a fan of 35 years to judge what we had done in the market and what we wouldn't do.
So glad I didn't fall for the new era dreamy nonsense and assume people I don't know like Steve Walsh (a PE teacher) is some sort of genius.
So glad I never lapped up Moshiri. Who called James McCarthy 'family' in comical fashion after the first disastrous window .
So sad I have more ambition than our amazing new regime.
People like Darren Hind thank god for fans like him who are not afraid to think outside the box. In theory its all turned as he said it would and his ambition is worth far more than some of the apologetic love in stuff on here. Praising signings we should make anyway, another campaign short of what we needed.
Celebrating stadium news then realising if there was no commonwealth chance we would probably still be painting Goodison for 20 more years.
Can't wait to see that little model stadium in our trophy cabinet
Thats how I feel anyway. My dad brought me up to believe nobody is bigger or better than US and until that belief goes I will moan and moan like a Madrid chairman until we wake up.
Kevin Dyer
669 Posted 01/09/2017 at 10:50:22
Interesting to note that our net spend this summer is approx £46m. Last minute failures to offload Ross and Niasse for around £45m. Which would have meant we'd have broken even.

Big-spending Everton? Do me a favour.

Paul Tran
670 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:02:48
Joke, disgrace, laughing stock.

These are the words used by Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea fans describing their transfer window.

So, what about us? Poor effort in failing to land a striker. I've said all summer it would be difficult and so it proved. Looks to me like those in charge are still learning about how to get these higher-level deals over the line.

Now we just have to get on with it. We've bought a good young keeper and centre back. Sigurdsson is a ready-made top notch PL player, I think Klaassen will come good in time and I'll judge Sandro when he's fit. And our fabled youngsters, those that haven't been loaned out, may now get more of a chance than we thought?

Which links in nicely with Moshiri's 'drunken uncle' performance last night. I don't normally like figureheads rambling on live TV, but we can glean some useful insights from this emotional stream of consciousness.

First, he sounded really hacked off with Barkley, to the point that I started thinking whether that had scuppered a last-minute deal. Lo and behold, Twitter had a report that we'd bid 35m for Jiminez. Coincidence? Dodged bullet?

Second, he quite rightly listed our signings and said they needed time to gel. Fair enough. He then backed it up by stating they were good players, which I agree with and also took as a hint to Koeman that he's had investment, now it's time to earn your money and get these players winning us games.

It's down to Koeman now. Four months of 5/6/7 defenders and a random mess in front of them will make us less attractive in January. A pattern of play based on a solid defence with attacking players interchanging and sharing goals & assists will get things back on track.

Both scenarios are possible with these players. It's down to how they're managed and organised. Moshiri didnt sound like a good loser last night. Judgement time for Koeman.

Steve Jenkins
671 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:03:49
Obviously it doesn't take the dting out of not getting a striker in or CB.

However Fulham fans on twitter are gutted about this kid we've just signed from them (always a good sign).

A converted midfielder from striker he has an eye for goal and is supposed to be an athletic player.

Already made a debut for the first team.

With regards to a striker - Koeman may simply have to play Niasse in games he feels against weaker opposition to give the other 3 a rest (or even use Niasse from the bench sometimes) when the games come thick and fast.

At least until Jan.

Say what you like about the guy, not a and not a long-term option anyone would want, but he has shown he is capable of scoring goals in the PL.

Nitesh Kanchan
672 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:04:47
West Brom have closed the gap on us with their new signings.They are also ahead right now on points.
Paul Thompson
673 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:07:28
Predictably two things are being confused and conflated by some - the 'bad window - total incompetence, sell to buy' argument and the striker/final day scenario. Overall, we had a good window, buying early without selling and earning plaudits all round from fans and commentators. Then the TDD. You can't blame the fans for a feeling disappointment on this. The manager reiterated time and again the need for an additional striker. It's not that we don't have any, but we need a different kind of(target man) who gives us different options. I simply don't believe Moshiri when he says that 'we re-evaluated the striker situation', as if that was a rational choice. I didn't want us to bring in anyone for the sake of it, but we clearly had an inadequate set of plans to replace Lukaku. However, don't let this define the whole transfer window. The key now is to adapt the tactics and set-up to play to and with what we have (which don't forget now includes Vlasic). But that's another debate.
George Cumiskey
674 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:18:00
Paul@685 Do you really believe Koeman will adapt the tactics and setup play from what you have witnessed this season?. If you do you are an optimist in the extreme.
Paul Tran
675 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:24:54
George, where did I suggest that?

I suggested it was possible with these players, depending on how they're managed. Based on what I've seen, I'm not holding my breath. That's why I'm saying it's judgement time for Koeman.

Apologies for not sharing your certainty.

Chris Watts
676 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:28:11
The daily mail have done a report card on every clubs transfers over the summer. We got a B which was the best of everyone except West Brom. Arse, RS, even cheap sea and spurs worse.

Just so frustrating we didn't get a world class striker. However upon reflection koeman has good players available and has to show he can pick the right players in the right positions and just go for it. No more 3 at the back with holgate WB. No more DCL as WB.

Brian Williams
677 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:31:52
Just seen that Niasse didn't go in the end. Striker problem sorted!
James Morgan
678 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:32:03
We will have to dip in to the under 23s it seems. Who is our main striker for Unsy? Sambou? He can at least tell his lads there's an opportunity for them to get a chance with Ronald. Hopefully we may find an unpolished diamond!
Steavey Buckley
679 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:34:23
Even with Lukaku, Everton could not challenge a top 4 position with the present squad. Without Lukaku, Everton will not achieve 7th position neither.
Paul Thompson
680 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:41:27
Paul (#687) - I think you'll find that comment was directed at me. So, George (#686), the honest answer is I don't know whether Koeman will adapt his tactics, but I think it's possible. Unlike your every post, I don't believe everyhting he or the club does is a disgrace or a disaster.
Tony Dove
681 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:41:42
Typical Everton end to the transfer window but delighted Ross is still here. Cant believe Koeman was in Portugal. Would any manager worth his salt not want to vet a player in person before buying him. Has he even met Vlasic?
Terry Underwood
683 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:46:27
Glad we didn't panic and pay mega bucks for a sub-standard player . great chance for Lookman or DCL to step up, you never know.
David Hallwood
684 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:52:59
Paul(#670) didn't Unsy's missus do the same when he signed for West Ham, but he re-signed for us cos she wanted to move back oop north. So wives do have a say.
Gary Edwards
685 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:54:10
Taken from 442:

"Despite a raft of new signings, there’s an argument that Everton aren’t actually that much stronger this season following the departure of Romelu Lukaku."

Is about right.

We currently sit 12th in the table, have scored 2 goals in 3 games and conceded 3 goals and therein lies our problem. We will not score enough goals this season and as long as Koeman insists on playing 3 at the back we will concede goals regardless of how good Pickford is.

It's difficult to understand why we bought so many midfielders, why we spent 45m on Sigurdsson when we have very limited striking options no outlet, no blistering pace that stretches teams. What system does Koeman intend to play ? what's the strategy ? We have some excellent midfielders but they're falling over one another / confused as to their role because they see others carrying out the role they thought they were meant to be carrying out and it's in a compressed area of the pitch because we can't stretch defences with our striking options.

The 442 article suggests that we'll challenge Arsenal for 6th. Looking at how some of the other mid-table teams have improved in a more structured way (e.g. WBA, Soton) 12th. may be about right.

Derek Knox
686 Posted 01/09/2017 at 11:56:28
Despite not getting a striker in, we have still lost £45M, with the Barkley and Niasse deals both failing because, Barkley changed his mind, or his agent did, and Niasse couldn't agree personal terms.

You couldn't have imagined this scenario, two months ago, still we just have to get on with it.

Nick Wall
687 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:02:06
And so, after spending over £150m, we end up with 3 keepers and no target man. Robles is a big lad, any chance that he can play up front ? The squad's stronger, we've got lots of exciting young players, but you have to think we've just blown our chances of improving on last season. Koeman will make do, he'll play Sandro and Rooney up front on their own, which is not their best position, they're more effective operating behind a target man. So for the failure to make one key signing the whole team will be disjointed. Koeman has been crystal clear about what was needed. The failure to deliver is down to Walsh and the Board, and I'm not interested in their excuses. Heads should roll for this.
Colin Glassar
688 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:02:31
I disagree with those who are saying we aren't stronger than we were in May. Yes, the failure to replace Lukaku is near criminal and the lack of a left footed CB means we can't really play Koeman's preferred three at the back but the likes of Pickford, Keane, Siggurdsson and co are far superior to what we had before.
David Pearl
689 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:07:51
If he wasn't put out with the cat I'd try Mirallas as a number 9. He used to always make the same runs as Lukaku did. He's played and scored there before. Its him or DCL. Another fine mess. Over to Koeman. I haven't seen us improve since the first game I watched under RK at the start of last season v Spurs. He needs some inspiration. Maybe he was in Portugal for Devine inspiration from Ronaldos statue.
Andy Meighan
690 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:12:36
Mark (#635), Osman was a far better footballer than them 4 you've mentioned He could put a ball through the eye of a needle and didn't cost the earth. The one thing he did lack was pace. Sigurdsson is a dead-ball specialist, we all know that. The other 3 couldn't thread a needle let alone a killer pass.
Chris Watts
691 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:19:59
Maybe DCL will step up. As the day goes on I'm feeling more positive. DCL and Sandro might turn out to be our fowler and Owen. Giroud was always considered a liability for arse. There are no guarantees that he, unpredictable costa, or any of the other strikers mentioned would make a difference.

One thinks that maybe we should have kept lukaku for another year however we do have a much better squad than last year. Onus is on koeman to get them firing now

Andrew Ellams
692 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:21:18
Colin, we are stronger in the areas you mentioned but considerably weaker in the goalscoring area which is pretty much the fundamental part of the game. If you are going to score less goals than before you can't possibly be stronger.
Chris Watts
693 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:21:50
At least we're no RS who have gained ox but missed out on lemar and VVD. And they have a miserable courtinho on their hands
Kim Vivian
694 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:22:39
David - I have often maintained that. Mirallas is not a 'target' man as such (not sure I can even remember him heading a ball never mind actually scoring with his head) but I think that is how he used to operate at Olympiakos before he joined us. Can move left, right and go direct, and could create some fair distraction to opposition defences allowing our other goalscorers in if not netting himself.

But as you say, he seems to be in the doghouse with Niasse and Ross so not much chance. However it does seem that RK has forced on himself, or had forced on him, a few u-turns to look forward to you in the upcoming weeks.

Chris - if we could swap players with the RS tomorrow I would be quite happy.

Colin Glassar
695 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:26:22
No denying that Andrew. We have one of the strongest MF in the prem now and our defence isn't too shabby but up front will be a major weakness this season unless . Costa signs for atletico Madrid today and they loan him to us until January!

He has been playing loads of beach football so he should be fit.

Anthony Hughes
696 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:28:18
Will Koeman get a sulk on now and continue with his ultra defensive tactics and formations to prove a point? Is he thinking fuck you Mosh where's my striker?
Chris Williams
697 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:28:45
I think we have strengthened in every area of the squad except one which we have weakened. How badly this will affect us remains to be seen.

We should score more goals from midfield and set pieces, and we should concede less goals. Whether this and the goals we get from Sandro, DCL, Lookman will compensate for the important points winning goals Lukaku scored ( i.e., not all of them) is debatable.

The really important thing for me though is how we set up to get the best out of the squad we have, which means playing to our strengths.

For me, no more 3 centre halves unless it's in Europe at a pinch, or to rotate.We don't have the players for it.

No more players out of position, DCL or Holgate at wing back. Round pegs in round holes please. Prefeferably Holgate at centre half and Kenny in for some games.

We have attacking midfielders, including Vlasic now, so use them.

Defend when we have to not as the priority.

I suspect the football may not be pretty at times and defensive away from home, but that should be because the other team is attacking not us sitting deep and inviting them on..

If ever there was a chance for Koeman to show us his coaching credentials it is now, because we are where we are until January and until key players come back from injury. Jam tomorrow is not applicable now.

We will all learn much over the next several months.

Anthony Hughes
698 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:32:05
Colin@701, funny thing is the less superior players are still here and looks like they may have to get a game, i.e Jags, Williams, Mirallas, McCarthy.
Don Alexander
699 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:33:42
Eugene (#617), I was writing as a fan of the club, not a one-eyed sycophant to a player whose decision will deprive the club, his club, the club he allegedly loves, of tens of millions of pounds.

Still, trebles all round for some though, because despite that he's apparently dissed our current manager.

What planet are some TW'ers on?

Anthony Hughes
700 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:38:57
We didn't buy any wing backs though, so it will have to be square pegs in round holes if that is Koeman's preferred formation. Hopefully Baines can stay fit all season otherwise we could find one of our selection of defensive midfielders employed there.
Andrew Ellams
701 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:40:24
Colin, we can't sign Costa on loan today can we? Spanish clubs can buy or loan from English clubs but players can't come back the other way because our window is shut.
Paul A Smith
702 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:40:26
Don you are unbelievable. Moral highground every time.
Barkley supposedly loves Everton. Do you ever realise the irony of your posts?
He loves Everton supposedly but hes bang out of order for not leaving the club he supposedly loves.
I suspect they at least matched the wage Everton offered him so he hasn't been greedy or hasty.
Instead he has chosen to stay at the club he 'supposedly' loves.
So what you are suggesting is that Barkley possibly doesn't love Everton because he doesn't want to move yet. He wants to use his head and make more money like nearly every footballer out there. Near every working human out there.
But Morally Don you would have helped a billionaire buy more players by leaving the club you supposedly love.
Brilliant stuff.
Mike Green
703 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:40:39
Correct Colin #701 – we are much stronger than before, have done really well in this window which makes last nights debacle all the more frustrating.

Evertonians who ask whether those who wanted Lukaku out are happy now are missing the point. Everton wanted Lukaku to stay, Lukaku wanted out. We had to sell him and had to replace him and haven’t, which is basic negligence.

I don’t believe we were reliant on the Barkley money to get a striker either – and if we did that’s also negligence in my opinion. The maths have been done by many that we aren’t too far in hock from net transfers, the EPL is awash with money this year and has the £60m Chinese overdraft facility the club was trumpeting a few months ago suddenly disappeared? So I think that’s a red herring and to pin it on Ross is unacceptable. I think a striker coming and Ross going are, or should be, completely separate issues – unless that striker was involved in some kind of swap with Ross which doesn’t appear to be the case.

Ross Barkley is going to Spurs in January or June, either for nothing, or something that Levy believes is acceptable.

Was Koeman still in Portugal? If so, and he chooses to be on a golf course rather than at Finch Farm / Goodison Park on a day as important as this, I have little sympathy for him. He, Walsh, the money men etc. should all be together until our business is done. Our owner should also stop playing games with the media as he has been burnt by it more often than not now. I am also starting to dread how we are going to overcome some of challenges we are sure to face if we are to get a new stadium if our deadline day performances are anything to go by.

Andrew Ellams
704 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:49:53
A lot of big moves in this transfer window have been between English clubs. Is the Premier League brand faltering across Europe?
Tony Everan
705 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:50:10
Apparently we tried to sign Babacar from Fiorentina , but it was all too late and they could get a replacement in.

Blah blah blah

Paul A Smith
706 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:52:46
The only cover we had for Baines we loaned out.
"Nothing will be the same"
"We're doing things the right way"

Letting your star man go to your nearest rivals in the table.
"Its a 3 year plan to reach CL an he wanted to go"
Yawn

Leaving your manager and fans short yet again for the toughest campaign in years.
Sly whipsers "err say nothing to the doom club who already know this but that was typical Everton wasn't it"

Derek Knox
707 Posted 01/09/2017 at 12:59:31
Agree Mike @718, how could a Club, not only sell their main source of goals, (which do win matches) without lining up, or securing a replacement, before letting him go?

Assuming this was an oversight, why leave it so late, which has backfired.

Like you said in your post, there is no question we have improved in many areas, but what worries most people, including myself, apart from set piece situations, where are the goals going to come from?

Don Alexander
708 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:01:02
Paul (#717), he refused to sign a new contract. That means he wants away. He jibs Chelsea. That means we didn't get a significant fee. Not getting a significant fee impairs the club from signing better players.

That's really not that difficult to understand is it?

Stan Schofield
709 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:10:10
When we got the spate of signings early in the window, I said that they were encouraging signings but not exciting, and that I might have been excited if in addition to those signings we'd kept Lukaku.

He had two years left on his contract, and we didn't have to let him go, regardless of his wishes.
His value to us over the next two years, coupled with the new signings, could have been more than the £75M fee Utd paid us. If we had kept him, that would have been a massive statement, really signalling the supposed 'new era'. But we didn't keep him, and the new signings look pretty much like the 'old Everton', nothing particulalrly world shattering.

We let him go, and haven't replaced him. In my mind, there are two possibilities at play: Either:

(a) Incompetence and typical tight arsed dealings like we've got used to with Everton, or

(b) Part of a 'master plan' in which we no longer depend on a 'target man' in the way that we did, the new signings like Rooney, Klaasen and Sigurdsson herald a new approach involving slick fast passing movements, and goals distributed more evenly over the team, all planned via Koeman's pedigree of great Dutch football, and making us look more like City or Barca.

Now, the cynic in me says it's more likely scenario (a), same old Everton, no surprises. The 'hopeful Evertonian' in me says it's scenario (b). If I had to bet my shirt on it, I'd have to go for scenario (a).

George Cumiskey
710 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:14:55
Don't you toffee webbers realise we didn't make a single offer for a striker or defender on the final day and our manager was on holiday in Portugal.
Can't you see the wood for the trees, why is everyone clutching at straws ?. And our esteemed owner rambling on sky sports , embarrassing.
Andrew Ellams
711 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:18:21
Stan @ 727 for scenario a and b read plan a and b
Danny Broderick
712 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:19:54
Steavey (725) and Daniel (728),

Wind your necks in please!

Drink driving is out of order. But suggesting he shouldn't be touching a drop of alcohol during the season is ridiculous. Nothing wrong with drinking at the right times. We've got a 2 week break after a hectic start. There's nothing wrong with him having a drink, but he should have got a cab...

David Israel
713 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:20:57
I'm obviously disappointed that we didn't get the much-needed striker in. But people, starting with Koeman, should be realistic and pragmatic. We still (unfortunately) have Niasse on our books, and are paying him his wages. He may not exactly set the world alight, but showed he can score goals in the Premier League, last season at Hull. I am not saying he should be part of the starting eleven at every game, but surely he can be used in home games where the opposition play it tight at the back? Like I said, it's being pragmatic. If you don't have a dog, you should hunt with a cat.
Tom Bowers
714 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:21:54
Why don't we accept the fact that Rom. wanted away to a Champions league club and getting a replacement was always going to be difficult.
Prolific strikers like him don't grow on trees and many fans gave didn't realize how good he was when giving him stick last season.
Okay, the club have brought in Sandro who Koeman thinks will grab some goals and has also added Rooney and Gylfi thinking this will compensate and we will have to see, as only 3 games have been played and these players have to have time to gel together.
They will play a different game to the likes of RS who rely on out and out speed but have spent a King's ransom on their offence.
We could argue that the best form of defence is a good offence but that didn't help RS last season.
For at least the next 4 months we will hope that what we have will improve to a level much better than last season and certainly with the likes of DCL and Tom Davies their is certainly reason for optimism.
Chris Watts
715 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:29:17
Interested Barkley was going for £35m. Not too long ago he'd have been worth the same as lukaku who post neymar may have gone for more.

Imagine how much Ali would go for. Koeman clearly isn't the only manager who has concerns about Ross. Even drink water went for more!

Andrew Presly
716 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:40:57
To quote the great Saul Goodman let's break this down to brass tacks .

This team with Lukaku up front Champions League qualification and a reasonable title bid.

But really, deep down, we don't need to win. It would be nice, but we just don't.

Man United need to win.

I've reluctantly come to accept this difference and will try and make the best of what I see as we get seventh again and enjoy a few European away trips. Lyon will be fun.

David Israel
717 Posted 01/09/2017 at 13:47:44
Chris, we have to bear in mind that Barkley is in the last year of his contract, and that brings the price down, as happened with Michael Keane.
Amit Vithlani
718 Posted 01/09/2017 at 14:11:59
Ciaran @616, agree with the first part of the post but not this:

"As for Mr Moshiri... He hasn't paid off our debt, or invested in the team. We are spending modest amounts of the sky money and it's entirely plausible that the aim was to break even from player sales, given the failure to sell Barkley and Niasse. He appeared to be seething at that development on sky (his appearance on which was entirely cringeable). Kenwright with more money. "

Err, he has. He injected 80 million pounds to repay our debt. Confirmed and announced. He did this before the summer, and at the same time as the club spent some serious Wonga on Schneiderlin and Lookman in the January window (where there was no incoming cash).

The club then raised a further 60 million pounds from ICBC. None of that cash went back to Moshiri - it was clearly announced as being for the club's expenses - so we know he still invested 80 million pounds.

Wneed the financials of the club to see how the increased Sky money has been used. Our wages have gone up significantly.

Also, failure to sell Barkley & Niasse means we spent more than we recouped - so someone somewhere did have to stump up the cash. That person took the risk to pay out the transfer fees before money was received.

Under Kenwright, our two most successful seasons (in 2004 and 2014) the key signings were made on deadline day, after players had been sold (Rooney) or brought in the last minute when our Sky money arrived.

Not happened this season has it? Cash was splurged before Lukaku was sold and before the influx of this year's cash.

Finally, why is it a bad thing to want to sell Niasse and Barkley and balance the books? We do not need a squad of 30 players. It is Koeman - not Moshiri - who decides who he wants in his squad. If a player then becomes surplus to requirements, why should we not try and sell them, balancing the books in the process?

Levy has done it for years and has produced title challengers in Spurs. What is more, their record signing, Sanchez, cost less than Sigurdsson. We have more GBP 30m+ acquisitions then they do - certainly suggests that this Board have not been averse to spending the money.

The fact that Koeman and Walsh ballsed up the signing of a CF is not the Board's problem. What will be their problem is if we underperform this season and they fail to get rid of Koeman at the season's end.

Kenwright stuck by Moyes and Martinez for too long. Moshiri has backed Koeman to the hilt. If Koeman fucks up this season, then Moshiri will hopefully give him the sack. If he does not, I will be the first to criticise him for indulging his manager. Big clubs with ambition do not stick by under performing managers. Meanwhile, being ambitious and savvy with your finances are not mutually exclusive, as so many other clubs are showing.

Are you aware Bayern, who always seem to deliver on the pitch and make big signings, also have surplus cash of almost GBP 200m tucked away in a fixed deposit? Probably the best run club in the world.


Tony Everan
719 Posted 01/09/2017 at 14:15:59
If we can get Ross signed up and playing out of his skin consistently , he will be 30-50m and going to the world cup.

Would make sense for him and us to sign a 100k pw deal with a 35m buyout clause .

I would love him to sign and be a success and the whole thing to backfire on Levy.

Paul Birmingham
720 Posted 01/09/2017 at 14:34:09
Stan, at 727, agreed. I also doubt this set of players have the natural skill and tenacity aka Barca , 7 years ago. RK, no doubt will have his views and I sense their will be a strained if not further strained relationship with him and the board.
His x2 big asks, he didn't get but the writing was on the wall prior to the Ppoor showing at Chelsea on Sunday.

As in life there are certainties the face us all, and the trials of life with EFC, never go away.

Maybe the 3 year project will become a 6 year plan, which is more realistic?

Ciarán McGlone
721 Posted 01/09/2017 at 14:47:56
Amit,

Buying the debt, is not the same as clearing the debt. We still owe the debt.

Steve Ferns
722 Posted 01/09/2017 at 14:49:31
Paul, I do not forsee Ronald being a manager for many more years. He is 54 now, that is 56 when his deal expires and if he gets the Barca job and 3 years there, then he is done with football by the time he is 60.

So I cannot see him extending his contract and making a 6 year plan. He's a man on a mission and Everton is clearly a stepping stone.

Paul A Smith
723 Posted 01/09/2017 at 15:06:29
Don 724. How do you know he wants to leave? He may not have liked the offer.
Also, when Moshiri took the reigns it became his job to make funds..
Barkley has no obligation to make decisions in order to help Moshiri raise cash.
Now thats not hard to understand is it.
Amit Vithlani
725 Posted 01/09/2017 at 16:05:00
"Amit,
Buying the debt, is not the same as clearing the debt. We still owe the debt. "

Err, Liverpool Echo
"Everton have released their annual accounts for 2015/16 and have confirmed that major shareholder, Farhad Moshiri has cleared the club’s debts by providing an interest-free loan of £80million with no agreed repayment date."

Everton's debt was not bought. It was repaid. And the funding was an interest free loan with no repayment date (not some loan with a usurious rate raised by Kenwright & Co ).

It had to be done as a loan - even thought in reality it is equity - because Mosh does not own 100% of the shares and straight equity would have been dilutive.

Ciarán McGlone
726 Posted 01/09/2017 at 16:09:57
Perhaps you should read what you've just posted Amit.
Christy Ring
727 Posted 01/09/2017 at 16:15:54
Sky calculated with in/outs, we spent £40m this summer. If the Barkley /Niasse deals had to go through, we'd have £2m profit. So nothings changed.
I find it hard to see where the goals are going to come from. A lot of pressure on DCL, who is the only target man we have, and if he's deployed like he was against City, he'll be burned out in no time. I still believe Koeman's insistence on buying Sigurdsson (45m) at all costs, instead of spending big money on a no.9, was a huge mistake. I said it before WBA signed Gibbs, would have been a great addition for £7m, considering Baines is the ONLY left back we have.
Clive Rogers
728 Posted 01/09/2017 at 16:37:20
A striker would have been the icing on the cake. But at least we have cake and we can add the icing later.
Andy Ellis
729 Posted 01/09/2017 at 16:51:08
Clive 738, some unbalanced ingredients in that cake. I hope to never see 4 centre half's in the starting line up again but no doubt we will with Koeman. No matter how millions we spend or don't spend I lost faith in his ability to set a team up a long time ago. No doubt he's having a nice break on the golf course with his £6mil, probably thinking 'let them eat cake '
Paul A Smith
730 Posted 01/09/2017 at 16:59:53
Steve 732 Koeman will be a golfer in 5 years if he keeps up his routine.
Amit Vithlani
731 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:00:13
Perhaps you should stop posting patently untrue statements Ciaran.
Mike Gaynes
732 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:03:45
I haven't seen it yet on either the EFC website or TW, but Sky Sports says we have signed another young player -- 18-year-old Dennis Adeniran joins on a four-year deal worth possibly £4m. He's an England U18 midfielder who steps right into our U23 program.
Mike Gaynes
733 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:05:14
My mistake, it IS on the EFC website. http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2017/09/01/denis
Don Alexander
734 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:05:22
Paul (#733), anyone refusing to sign a new contract is, de facto, wanting to leave. By signing a contract they want to stay. Surprised you haven't been able to grasp that, but given you're views on the terms of Mr Moshiri's "job" I'm not that surprised after all.

Had he wanted to as the owner he could have legally pillaged the club rotten, but he hasn't. Instead he's invested a great load of dosh to create a vastly changed squad and put plans into action to create a new stadium. And okay he's generated income by getting rid of a few players but, demonstrably, he's still separately invested heavily to the tune of well in access of £100mill.

I'd have thought an Everton fan would support that instead of taking action to deprive the club of wealth it needs to prosper.

James Hughes
735 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:06:29
Steve ~732 Koeman will get nowhere near being Barca manager until he gets us playing football. That is clearly not happening at present.

I agree he sees EFC a rung on the ladder upwards. I will cling to the hope that he actually knows how to get a team playing football.

Martin Mason
736 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:08:54
Don

There is another option which says that I don't know what I want to do yet but will make my mind up by the time my contract expires. Until then I'll see what my options are.


Brian Harrison
737 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:13:04
Mike

Apparently the Fulham fans are going mad over this, they reckon for the money we have paid for Dennis Adeniran is daylight robbery, seems they really rate this lad. I cant say I have seen him play but I guess this is another spot from our Mr Walsh.

Brent Stephens
738 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:14:20
Christy "If the Barkley /Niasse deals had to go through, we'd have £2m profit. So nothings changed".

And if we'd signed a striker etc... So

John Charles
739 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:24:58
Amit, just because there is no concrete repayment schedule for the loan does not mean this is not a debt against the club.

It may well be the Moshiri never calls in the debt, conversely it may well be that he does.

John Charles
740 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:29:40
Everton have patently spent money in this and other transfer windows. Not moshiri this money will be off set against incoming monies and at financial year end the club will have made a profit or a loss. If it is a loss this will be covered by overdrafts or loans as per every other business. Moshiri will not dig into his private monies to cover it. Nor should he
Don Alexander
741 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:40:46
Martin (#746) that may well be so, but that is a self-centred attitude to put it politely and especially so in the case of a millionaire. That attitude will definitely deprive us of many millions of pounds. That'll depress our ability to sign very expensive, and therefore talented we'd hope, signings. It effectively hurts the club and that's not what any Everton fan should ever do as far as I'm concerned. Doing it makes you a **** in my less-than-polite opinion, that's all.
Christy Ring
742 Posted 01/09/2017 at 17:43:13
Brent 748# Pity you can't see, We had agreed fee's for Barkley and Niasse, we had no deal for striker whatever.
John Daley
743 Posted 01/09/2017 at 18:04:58
"I'd have thought an Everton fan would support that instead of taking action to deprive the club of wealth it needs to prosper."

If, by 'Everton fan', you're referring to Barkley, then he hasn't had to take any action...apart from shaking his head at whatever has been shoved in front of him.

He might be an 'Everton fan', but over and above that naively romantic notion, he's also a professional with vast earning potential and a duty to himself and his short career to ensure any decision on his future suits him, his family and no fucker else.

Like he's supposed to set aside his own personal aspirations, doubts or day to day happiness, to help secure Everton football club the best deal possible? After they appeared utterly disinterested in doing so themselves by leaving contract talks with the player until so late in the day?

Strange, how the fact he's 'an Everton fan' wasn't of such significance when the club stupidly delayed offering him a new deal whilst continuing to dish them out to others, or when his manager publicly stated securing his signature "wasn't a priority".

Ciarán McGlone
744 Posted 01/09/2017 at 18:08:22
Patently untrue?

Ok then Amit, where's your evidence that this loan will never be called in?

I haven't posted anything untrue. You have speculated that it's equity. Everton owes Moshiri 80 mill. That's the only fact we have.

Stan Schofield
745 Posted 01/09/2017 at 18:10:46
Don@751: I don't agree that doing it makes him a twit.
Damian Wilde
746 Posted 01/09/2017 at 18:29:58
John Daley, please don't mention 'short career'. 'His famiky', etc. Yeah, he'll probably finish his short career a munti millionaire, must be terrible for him.
John Daley
747 Posted 01/09/2017 at 18:34:26
Damian,

It doesn't matter how much he earns, he's not going to put the interests of a football club above his own. Would you?

Amit Vithlani
748 Posted 01/09/2017 at 20:04:27
Ciaran. " I haven't posted anything untrue. You have speculated that it's equity. Everton owes Moshiri 80 mill. That's the only fact we have."

Righto. Here goes.


"As for Mr Moshiri... He hasn't paid off our debt"

Patently untrue. The 80m came from Farhad Moshiri to Everton, not Bill Kenwright or AN Other. So he paid off the club's debt.

"Amit,

Buying the debt, is not the same as clearing the debt. We still owe the debt."

Err, bullshit bingo again! He did not buy the debt. That would mean that the existing debt with its usurious rates of interest would still be in place. Moshiri repaid the debt with an interest free loan.

"Ok then Amit, where's your evidence that this loan will never be called in"

The clue is in the phrase "no fixed repayment date".


"I haven't posted anything untrue."


Bullshit bingo again!

Amit Vithlani
749 Posted 01/09/2017 at 20:17:06
John Charles.

"Amit, just because there is no concrete repayment schedule for the loan does not mean this is not a debt against the club.

It may well be the Moshiri never calls in the debt, conversely it may well be that he does."

As a 49.9pc shareholder, other than an interest free loan with no fixed repayment date, how else could Moshiri repay the club's usurious debt without diluting Kenwright and co?

Shareholder loans of this type are the norm to advance funds where the one with the deepest pockets does not own all the shares.

What is more, if a loan is interest free, it will mean that should Moshiri call it in the future, he will receive back less than he provided in real, inflation adjusted terms. Inflation erodes the value of money and interest is supposed to prevent that.

Lastly. Moshiri cannot call the loan as a shareholder if (a) it would make the club insolvent - because the board directors would then be in breach of their fiduciary duties to ensure the club is not recklessly trading and (b) he has expressly agreed to subordinate his rights on the loan as part of raising the ICBC funding.

Moshiri has sunk 80m into EFC (atleast) and there is a good chance he will not ever get it back given its deeply subordinated nature. That makes it as damn near to equity as you can get.

Ciarán McGlone
750 Posted 01/09/2017 at 20:27:59
Might as well talk to a wall.
Brent Stephens
751 Posted 01/09/2017 at 20:33:59
Amit, for what it's worth, as a non-accountant I follow your points.
John Otway
752 Posted 01/09/2017 at 20:37:59
Ciaran. And that's your best response?
Ciarán McGlone
753 Posted 01/09/2017 at 20:41:11
If it required a more complex response, I would've provided one.
Andy Crooks
754 Posted 01/09/2017 at 20:44:00
Amit, we owe Moshiri money. Do you really believe he will not want it back?. His actions suited him. He is not a benign benefactor, that is not made him rich. He is utterly self serving, why should he not be?

His relationship with Jim White is bizarre and, frankly, naueseating. He is a hard nosed businessman with an eye for a profit. In the insanity of the Premier League he will get it. He has not cleared our debts, he has taken control of them and not because he is an Evertonian.

Ciarán McGlone
755 Posted 01/09/2017 at 20:50:56
Andy,

I think his repeated admissions that Moshiri could call the loan in above, more than answers the question I asked.

Bullshit bingo.. as someone once said.

Amit Vithlani
756 Posted 01/09/2017 at 21:16:19
Andy Crooks. "Amit, we owe Moshiri money. Do you really believe he will not want it back?. His actions suited him. He is not a benign benefactor, that is not made him rich. He is utterly self serving, why should he not be?

His relationship with Jim White is bizarre and, frankly, naueseating. He is a hard nosed businessman with an eye for a profit. In the insanity of the Premier League he will get it. He has not cleared our debts, he has taken control of them and not because he is an Evertonian."

Fully agree with the first paragraph he is not a charity. Neither are the Glazers, Abramovich, Fenway and pretty much every investor in the world. When did want to making a return on investment become a bad thing?

Disagree with the statemeny "he did not clear the debts". He did. It was not some magic fairy. What.8s more, he cleared/ repaid usurious, dubious, BVI based loans with an interest free loan with no fixed repayment. Surely that is a good thing?

As for the Jim White thing, yes agree. Weird. But does not change the fact that he has put the club.on a healthy footing.


Ciaran.

"
Andy,

I think his repeated admissions that Moshiri could call the loan in above, more than answers the question I asked.

Bullshit bingo.. as someone once said."

More bullshit bingo, coupled with a problem with reading and understanding.

Brent - thank you, although no doubt the length of my posts will be called into question!

Ciarán McGlone
757 Posted 01/09/2017 at 21:35:39
No problem with the length of your posts contradicting yourself and your desperate need to demonstrate company law 101 is a tad annoying though..

I'll let you have the last word, fire away.

Laurie Hartley
758 Posted 01/09/2017 at 21:52:40
The mystical world of balance sheets has always baffled me but Andy's statement "Amit, we owe Moshiri money. Do you really believe he will not want it back?" got me thinking.

If he ask for his £80m back will he have to pay 49.9% of it? Just asking like. I can feel my head getting sore.

I can see a thread popping up in January - "where has the Moshiri money gone?

Tony Hill
759 Posted 01/09/2017 at 22:15:16
Yes, Farhad and his colleagues are in it for the money, of course, like they all are, because that is what they do - even the Biggest Blue of all, BK. There will be nothing done which jeopardises that main objective, the expansion of the owner's bank account. He has bought debt but will expect greater payback in the end assured by marketing and media sales momentum, which is perfectly proper by the rules of the game. It can be said, of course, that the owner has every incentive to maximise investment over time, within reasonable bounds, to maximise profit.

What worries me, though, is that the record of such people at clubs like ours is, to put it at its best, mixed. Risk against return from a starting point like Everton's is vexed and I am concerned that Mr Moshiri has a touch of the Kenwrights: theatrical appearances signifying nothing, always in the certain knowledge that he will not be ultimately out of pocket and that a light touch on the tiller (barring a total meltdown) will more than suffice, thank you very much. Keep the punters rolling in with cliffhanging stories every season of what thrills they can expect next time, just wait. The bunce will look after itself.

It's a recipe for stasis in terms of the team's progress - the sort of thing Bill has been doing for years - just upped a few notches in the new era to achieve the same net outcome. Nothing to frighten the horses. Perhaps that's all we are entitled to expect now, but I confess the prospect bores me to tears already.

A proper shift will only occur if Moshiri is a stalking horse, as some of us had hoped. I am now much more doubtful on the basis of this inept transfer window.

Don Alexander
760 Posted 01/09/2017 at 22:30:33
Amit, speaking as I do as an economics/accountancy novice, thank you, genuinely. Courtesy of you I now have a level of understanding that only underpins the feelings I've had since Moshiri effectively took over; that the opaque, shifty, seventh-at-best mentality endemic to Boys-Pen-Bill's regime is finally over and better things are coming our way (and BPB trousering £25mill in the process whilst the club shell-out the ginormous compo they did to that clown Martinez still rankles with me).

Thanks again!

Bob Parrington
761 Posted 01/09/2017 at 22:35:34
Verging on stupid or perhaps ridiculous to not sign a top striker to replace Rom and yet sign a team full of mid-fielders. Defences win tournaments but attackers win games? Seems to be the motto. But 1 pt in every game only means 38 pts.

Worried! Yes!

Amit Vithlani
762 Posted 01/09/2017 at 23:03:38
Laurie - if Moshiri asks for his 80m back, how much he gets back depends on the following:

Will it make the club insolvent?

If yes, he can't have any of it back as his board can be sued by the clubs creditors.

If the answer is no, he gets back 80m not 49.9pc.


If however this event (ie the club remains solvent whilst paying him back his 80m) can only happen, say, in 2020 or 2025, or some other date in the future when the club passes the solvency test (so not like a typical loan), then the real value of the 80m he put in will be eroded by inflation and he is getting less back in real terms.

On the other hand, the BVI loans put in by some anonymous murky offshore vehicle could have been claimed back in full, with all the interest, even if it made the club insolvent - because their links to the Board could not be established, so they were third party loans with rights to make the club insolvent if necessary.

Not a very good way of funding the club.

Hope your head doesn't hurt, the point though is that Mosh has made the club's financial foundations alot safer than before.

Still, he does deserve flak for the Jim White carry on, although hopefully people will still see him as a force for good and avoid posting patent untruths about what he has put into the club.

Dan Davies
763 Posted 01/09/2017 at 23:03:54
It is worrying Bob, we've strengthened with Pickford, the defence and midfield but up front it's seems the powers that be have taken a big gamble in attack.

Rooney is quality no doubt - but the man is past his best. Sandro is young and talented but unproven in the Premiership. DCL same as Sandro.

Hopefully with midfielders chipping in we can replace some of Lukaku's goals but in my book we needed a striker.

C'mon down Mr. Niasse! Lol.

Ashley Roberts
764 Posted 01/09/2017 at 23:27:23
I agree with Ciaran (#506), the Barkley debacle has certainly distracted everybody from the main issue: we have not purchased a replacement for Lukaku. Hopefully Calvert-Lewin and Sandro will come good but we really needed to buy somebody of some pedigree who has a history of finding the back of the net.

I have not understood the purchases we have made other than Pickford, Keane, Martina (to fill in for Coleman while injured) and Rooney. Did Moshiri not say last night that Barkley would find it difficult now to get a game because we have 3 number 10's in front of him namely Rooney, Sigurdsson and Klaassen. Can somebody explain to me why we bought 3 guys who play in the same position when we needed left sided defenders and a striker.

So how do you put 3 number 10's in the same team; yes you play them out of position!!!! Makes a huge amount of sense to me and smacks of square pegs in round holes.

I am sure we will now see a lot of folk being played out of position this season to accommodate the large sums of money spent on them.

Jimmy Sørheim
765 Posted 01/09/2017 at 23:53:27
As I predicted, Bill Kenwright still has the running of transfers. I saw the signs in January when Lukaku told the truth about the club having no real ambition. Everton and Kenwright equals heartbreak, it is that simple.

Ronald Koeman will have to utilise the U-23s and re-call Dowell from loan at some point. This is a weak side, compared to Martinez eye for talent Koeman has zero.

Overall, I think Koeman, more specifically his piss-poor attitude has started to tear into the positivity of building upon what he was given.

The loss of Lukaku was a major, major disaster, the Barkley saga and Niasse drama, this looks like a soap opera, my good feeling towards Everton has started to sour because of Kenwright and Koeman are the soap opera actors destroying everything sacred, good or positive feeling towards the future.

I am not convinced Koeman will utilise the U23s either, I am truly disgusted by the lies from this club.

Where has the love for the club gone????

Kenwright is still here, and the lovely memory of him slagging off pure Evertonians in the parking lot is becoming very vivid again out of nowhere.

This sour man truly cant help but drag this club down, I am sick and tired of him selling off our best strikers.

First Rooney in his prime, then Lukaku in his prime, this irks me to no end, I will never be able to truly have faith in this club as long as Kenwright is still pulling the strings.

My blue heart is breaking but I still keep Duncan Ferguson and his awesome heartfelt passion in my DNA map for what is the true soul of this club!!!

Brent Stephens
767 Posted 02/09/2017 at 00:05:54
Ciaran #767 - Although Amit doesn't advertise it, I think he is a Finance Director, so my guess is he knows what he's talking about. More than Company Law 101 as you refer to it.
Brian Wilkinson
768 Posted 01/09/2017 at 00:15:11
Niasse has been given the number 34 jersey, got a locker and back training with the first team.

Ron has dismissed Niasse from Day one has publically time after time said no matter how many goals he scores he will not get selected, now may have to climb down on that one.

He has publically put Ross Barkley down on a few occasions, yet the likes of Williams get off scot free and never once have I heard him slate certain players.

I think Ronhas to lose the stubbornness of not backing down and get a balanced team put out instead of worrying about other teams, grow a pair and have a bloody go.

I do not like Ross doing a upturn to sign for Spurs in January.

Something is not right when the likes of Barkley, Niasse and Mirallas are in the firing line and come across as disrupting the team.

When you have someone I admire like Unsworth who has nothing but praise for Niasse then something is not right.

Something needs to change and Ron needs to sort out between himself and the players whatever the problem is.

Ciarán McGlone
769 Posted 02/09/2017 at 00:26:04
That's impressive Brent.

Does being a finance Director give him any knowledge on whether moshiri will call his debt in or not? Because that's what's being debated.. not some sophistry about company law.

Dennis Ng
770 Posted 02/09/2017 at 00:54:46
Is Henen available to play or is he injured? Don't remember him out on loan this time so hopefully us not having bought a striker means he will be given a chance.
Brent Stephens
771 Posted 02/09/2017 at 01:07:37
Ciaran, I'm an amateur in this finance stuff but I don't think Amit was arguing whether or not Moshiri WOULD call in his loan (debt as you call it).

I thought Amit's point was about whether Moshiri bought the debt or repaid the debt. A fine distinction but I THINK I grasp it (with all its financial implications as set out by Amit).

Sorry, Amit. I shouldn't speak for you on such a complex matter. I might misunderstand this.

Ciarán McGlone
772 Posted 02/09/2017 at 01:30:23
Brent,

He took issue with my statement that Moshiri hasn't paid off our debt. He hasn't, he has simply restructured it as a shareholder loan. A junior debt, but a debt no less - and it is on the books.

Amit Vithlani
773 Posted 02/09/2017 at 02:03:08
"He took issue with my statement that Moshiri hasn't paid off our debt. He hasn't, he has simply restructured it as a shareholder loan. A junior debt, but a debt no less - and it is on the books."

Righto. One final go at dispelling this bullshit.

1. Who paid off 80m of Everton's debt if it was not Moshiri, the tooth fairy? You said Moshiri did not pay it off. He fucking did. 80m of the club's third party liabilities have gone. Instead, in the capital structure is money invested by Moshiri.

2. You said he bought the debt. He did not. He repaid it. Gone are interest bearing loans with a fixed repayment period, some of whoch were from a shady BVI shell secured on our Sky cash. Had he bought the debt, the original debt instrument would have remained, so the interest rate would have continued to accrue and it would be Moshiri not someone else collecting interest. This is not the case, is it?

3. Everton had to pay off their legacy debts. These loans were expensive. They had no way of doing so without shareholder money. BK could not participate in a rights issue. So, how would you, Ciaran, fund Everton if you owned 49.9pc? Stick in some cash, write it off and let BK and his chums still have a free ride? No. You would put it in exactly the way Moshiri put it in, with no interest and no fixed repayment date but still a loan. The investment ranks ahead of BK and his chums in the capital structure but below other creditors of the company. If Everton are never in a position to repay Moshiri back he cannot call the loan. If he did, his board would face legal action. So it is not unconditionally callable. As a result, in the accounts of the company, it will appear as a shareholder loan. Clear and comforting to all that Everton's solvency cannot be jeopardized, and clarity for Bill and his chums that they rank behind the bloke who cleared the club's expensive liabities.


David Barks
774 Posted 02/09/2017 at 02:52:22
Amit,

Moshiri loaned £80 million to the club. It may be interest free, but it is a loan.

David Johnson
775 Posted 02/09/2017 at 06:27:05
The Kenwright legacy is safe in the hands of Mr Moshiri. Onwards we roll towards the next transfer window.

But wait – you never get good value in January. I know... let's wait until next summer.

Paul Smith
776 Posted 02/09/2017 at 06:49:04
How much did the RS spend ? Bucketloads.
Still we sell to buy at Everton. Things have changed just no where near as much as I originally thought.
Ciarán McGlone
777 Posted 02/09/2017 at 07:35:33
Amit,

If I get a loan from a relative to meet the spiralling costs of a quick quid loan, my debt doesn't vanish, despite the use of financial semantics. Would you agree?

I may have repaid the initial creditor, but I have not repaid the actual debt. Again, would you agree?

I would be willing to make a small wager with you that over the next few financial cycles one of two things will happen;

Either he'll start to get some of his 80 mill back in small tranches, or he will use it as capital to buy out other shareholders. Would you agree that either of these scenarios are distinct possibilities?

Dermot Byrne
778 Posted 02/09/2017 at 07:42:45
Paul 786 I think you neatly sum up in nice, simple way what lies behind this 787 post thread. We hoped we would have changed more than we have by now.

Were we misled or did we believe the new positive marketing the club is doing to improve our profile? I do recall us basking in the limelight as we made headlines at start of transfer window.

There are good arguments to be had re who we brought in but it will take a decade to turn the equivalent of a well loved 139 year old corner shop into Tesco...presuming we want that of course.
Tha


Colin Glassar
779 Posted 02/09/2017 at 08:04:10
It's taken me a day to, partially, calm down after another TDD disappointment so now my question Mr. Moshiri is, what's going on with the stadium pal?

Some of us are not hoodwinked by your annual phone-ins with Jim "Everton are going places" White so where are the financial plans, designs, investments etc ?

Paul A Smith
780 Posted 02/09/2017 at 08:05:41
David 784. Exactly. Otherwise it would have been said as Moshiri donates money to Everton.
Anyone who thinks he came here to do anything but increase his investment is living in martian land.
Because we laid out 100 million upwards on new players, some fans see that as worthy of a thank you.
If we had added these players and kept Lukaku it might have been great.
This is just another Kenwright with better collateral.
And to those asking what is the problem with making a profit on investment. There is no problem for the idividual making it but your investment in watching Everton should be demanding a great return too. Moshiri chose to come here he wasn't forced and looking at how we do business with transfers, his idea of reaching the top 4 teams and mine as an Evertonian are completely different.
But then again if you have tons of supporters looking for faults in your best assets the owner probably does love that lot.
Kim Vivian
781 Posted 02/09/2017 at 08:09:53
In late on this but Ciaran's right as I see it.

Moshiris investment, on which he expects a return, is whatever he paid for the 49.9% equity he bought in the business (and on which he could just as easily make a loss, btw). Aside from that he has since has used his own money to relieve the business of its debt liability to BVI and/or others and, of course, will expect those funds to be repaid at some point. The debt remains as a liability to the business because he has not, I assume, gifted the money to Everton. It could, indeed, be repaid in share capital thus increasing his equity stake but that would probably be resisted by the 51.1% participants. It is quite possible if Moshiri is to increase his stake in the business in the future that this money will be used as a part payment for any increased percentage. This may be the longer term plan.

In the meantime the money has been made as a loan not an investment. If and when the business gets sold on, if it has not already been repaid, that debt will need to be cleared before the shareholders divvy up the net gains from the sale.

However - we do not actually know the terms of the money made available do we? So is all supposition is it not?

David Johnson
782 Posted 02/09/2017 at 08:18:08
As I said last week , Moshiri has merely added financial liquidity to the same old shenanigans that have plagued us for twenty years. Same old shit just a little slicker. Jim White = Chemical Ali and Bill Kenwright is still the ace of spades. The millions are as elusive as the chemical weapons. Billy Bullshit reigns supreme and most of you still swallow it even after twenty years of evidence that he is a arsehole.

We have the chairman we deserve.

Amit Vithlani
783 Posted 02/09/2017 at 08:24:11
Ciaran, a loan between two individuals is not regulated by the Companies Act and does not benefit from the laws surrounding the fiduciary responsibilities of a Board. This is not semantics. So long as Mosh is a shareholder, and so long as Everton would face insolvency if he tries to get his money back, he cannot pull his money out.

The debt his money replaced however could be called regardless of the threat to the club's solvency.

That means the club is on a safer footing.

As far as the scenario you suggest, where he takes out cash in tranches from the club, this is only possible if the club passes certain tests:

1. Will it remain solvent each time it does so (if yes, a tick from the companies act)

2. Does it comply with terms and conditions laid down in the club's ICBC loan agreement and other relevant agreements? If not, he cannot take out even small tranches unless he repays the ICBC loan too (or they waive the requirement).

If the club is financially sound enough, it is likely both tests would be passed and your scenario becomes viable. But that is not a risk for the club. What would be a risk is if cash is taken out when the club fails both tests. Not possible for Moshiri's money (without serious repurcussions) but possible for example for the old BVI Loans.

Big difference.

Lastly, I have no idea on what his arrangement is to buy out the other shareholders. It is not public and likely to involve BK making another mint in the process.

As for the rules regarding whether the club can provide Mosh the Dosh to buy out BK, this is governed by a complicated set of rules which you can find on the HMRC and various audit/accounting websites. But again, the club would need to pass various tests/meet conditions.

Amit Vithlani
784 Posted 02/09/2017 at 08:44:37
Kim Vivian


"Moshiris investment, on which he expects a return, is whatever he paid for the 49.9% equity he bought in the business (and on which he could just as easily make a loss, btw). Aside from that he has since has used his own money to relieve the business of its debt liability to BVI and/or others and, of course, will expect those funds to be repaid at some point. The debt remains as a liability to the business because he has not, I assume, gifted the money to Everton. It could, indeed, be repaid in share capital thus increasing his equity stake but that would probably be resisted by the 51.1% participants."

So, he can convert the loan into shares if he got the approval of the other shareholders, right? Whereas a third party loan, which his money replaced, would have to be repaid in cash correct? So does this form of funding not make the club's financial structure safer, as the shareholders have the power to issue shares to him at a later time instead of the club trying to find cash which maybe it does not have?

What is more, I think you are right that other shareholders might have resisted a rights issue. But the club needed cash to repay its third party debt. So, how else could Moshiri have put the money in without gifting it to Everton? Why should he gift it and let BK enjoy a free ride?

"This money has been made as a loan not an investment."

No. The 80m is still an investment. Equity is not the only form of investment. He put the money in to reduce the club's interest on 80m of liabilities and create room to borrow more from third party lenders. Provided the new money/saved interest is spent wisely, that improves the value of the business and supports the value of his own shares.


"If and when the business gets sold on, if it has not already been repaid, that debt will need to be cleared before the shareholders divvy up the net gains from the sale."

Yes true, but what is wrong with him wanting to rank ahead of BK in a sale? He puts in the cash, and as you admitted is at greater risk of losing more money than all other shareholders if the club goes under.

Furthermore if the value of the business when sold is less than the value of the club's liabilities he will have to write off some or all of the 80m because it is the senior creditors of the company who get out first. His ranking ahead of other shareholders was the only way he could put the money in without gifting it.

"However - we do not actually know the terms of the money made available do we? So is all supposition is it not?"

We know it was interest free and had no fixed repayment date.

Ciarán McGlone
785 Posted 02/09/2017 at 08:49:37
Amit,

Stop throwing up red harrings about insolvency. No one is suggesting Moshiri will put Everton in a position where it cannot meet their debts as they fall due. That is an entirely irrelevant in an argument about whether Moshiri can realise his 80 mill in the future.

And neither am I arguing that the club isn't in a safer position.

When the flim flam is stripped away from your post, it's clear that you don't disagree with anything I'm saying. We have an 80 mill debts in the accounts, and it is owed to Moshiri. The mechanics of how he gets it back is irrelevant, because he will get it back.

I don't need to regurgitate a thousand odd Sections of the Companies Act to know that.


Paul A Smith
786 Posted 02/09/2017 at 08:58:04
Ciaran, when you were told Moshiri could 'legally pillage' the club you should have left it at that mate.
Notice the Moshiri side reach further and further from the point you made in the first place.
The day I sit at home defending a club owner who didn't play football on the street or at least had an interest in the playing side of the sport is the day I want earth to burn.
Mike Green
787 Posted 02/09/2017 at 09:04:12
If you pay off a debt, you pay off a debt.

End of.

Anthony Flack
788 Posted 02/09/2017 at 09:07:12
Trying to put a different perspective as most of us are disappointed we did not sign a great number 9

Apologies if others have already said broadly the same thing - but maybe

1. We could not find a good enough forward who wanted to come and correctly avoided some 2nd rate tat, who would only get in the way of the younger forwards - and of course provoke a bad reaction on here

2. Niasse is not good enough and this is why he is not picked - nothing more sinister anymore. The fact someone wanted to pay £10m for him suggests a shortage of supply of good forwards

3. Barkley is badly advised and precious. Whilst a potentially outstanding talent he is missing something (including the obvious early pass)

4. Mirrales is a drama queen, thinks he should be in the team every week but when he gets a chance doesn't take it - no great deal if he stays or goes

5. As for Koeman I would rather have his straightforward gruffness than Herr Klopps sycophantic platitudes - no one has that many front teeth

We will all feel better when we find ourselves 5th by end of November - good start with a win over Spurs next week

Get the new players bedded in, share out the goals, and please never play Jags on left side of back three .

Don Alexander
789 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:08:19
Paul (#796), the fans of some clubs feel their chairmen/owners have indeed pillaged their club, Blackpool's being a case in point (three relegations in five years, eight managers and near zero visible spend on a poor ground and a Sunday League training ground).

And I believe Mr Oyston, the main man, did indeed play football and began supporting the club from their Boys pen.

Just saying.

Laurie Hartley
790 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:21:23
Thank you to both Amit and also Ciaran for your posts regarding this £80m quid.

The understanding of this babe in the wood is that:

We owed someone £80m for which that someone received large interest payments.
If that someone asked for it back, under certain circumstance e.g. us being skint, it could send us under financially.

Moshiri didn't like this for at least three reasons:

He saw it as a financial threat / liability
He likes to be in charge of the money
EFC was paying interest to someone else other than him.

My next naive question is:

As a result of EFC not having to pay the interest to an outsider does the (let's call it) NEW interest free loan effectively give him a return on paper on his initial investment in the club. If so can it be calculated as a % of the interest payments?

Amit Vithlani
791 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:21:52
Ciaran

"Stop throwing up red harrings about insolvency."

Considering the highly perilous financial position the club had to endure during stretches of BK's reign, safeguarding the club against insolvency is most certainly not a red herring.


"No one is suggesting Moshiri will put Everton in a position where it cannot meet their debts as they fall due."

So, he has done some good by the club then. Glad we agree.


"That is an entirely irrelevant in an argument about whether Moshiri can realise his 80 mill in the future."

The argument you put forward was that Moshiri did not pay off the club's debt and he bought the debt. When you were shown up for posting bollocks, you changed tack and said yeah but it is still debt and he can realise it in the future. When repeatedly challenged as to how else he could have put the money in without gifting it - since a rights issue was not feasible - you curiously remain silent. You also believe Moshiri should be a benelovent benefactor because you keep referring to his ability to realise his investment. Yet you ignore the fact that several owners of other clubs have put in money as loans, including - Chelsea’s parent company, Fordstam, owed Abramovich £1.053 billion in loans at one point.

"And neither am I arguing that the club isn't in a safer position."

So Mosh's Dosh did the club some good. Agreed.

"When the flim flam is stripped away from your post, it's clear that you don't disagree with anything I'm saying."

I have consistently disagreed with your assertion that Moshiri did not pay off the club's debt and that he bought the debt. Both statements were patently nonsense.

"We have an 80 mill debts in the accounts, and it is owed to Moshiri. The mechanics of how he gets it back is irrelevant, because he will get it back."

More bullshit. He cannot get it back if in the process of doing so the club goes insolvent. So he MAY get it back in certain circumstances. And the 80m will not be classified as third party debt in the club's books. It will move to shareholder loan account whose value could be written down by the auditors if they conclude that there are no circumstances where the club can pay this back without endangering its solvency.

"I don't need to regurgitate a thousand odd Sections of the Companies Act to know that."

The lies keep coming don't they? I did not regurgitate 1000 sections of the companies act.

Ciarán McGlone
792 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:35:05
I give up.
Paul A Smith
793 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:37:43
Legally Robbing is not a term Don. To do something legal cannot possibly be in the same breath as something illegal like thieving Don. Just saying like.
Legally pillaging is basically illegal isn't it?
Paul A Smith
794 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:44:13
Where are we going here? The owner didn't buy us a striker which we most certainly need. Or a full back or a centre back.
Is this not right?
Anything else doesn't matter.
As an actual fan of the team I only see it as important to talk about what we haven't got. I am only in this to see Everton win and I am only concerned about what we need to win.
Seeing quotes like that above " he can't get it back if the club goes insolvent" is up there with the most pointless comments ever.
He has put in what he has put in knowing we won't be insolvent while the premier league is thriving and we still sell our stars.
Ciarán McGlone
795 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:44:26
Actually I don't...

Answer one single question Amit.

Who paid off the BVI loans? Here's a clue, if you say Moshiri, you are wrong.. due to privacy it would've been Everton.

So when I said Moshiri hasn't paid off our debt, I was technically and substantively correct. He made a loan to Evertons business vehicle, and they paid it off. But you somehow believe you've shown that comment up to be "bollocks". You haven't, despite your obvious attempts to take the discussion into new, undisputed and irrelevant territory.

I'm done now.

Amit Vithlani
796 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:48:27
Laurie

"The understanding of this babe in the wood is that:

We owed someone £80m for which that someone received large interest payments.
If that someone asked for it back, under certain circumstance e.g. us being skint, it could send us under financially."

Agreed.

"Moshiri didn't like this for at least three reasons:

He saw it as a financial threat / liability
He likes to be in charge of the money 
EFC was paying interest to someone else other than him."

The first point is likely to be true although who knows what Moshiri thought.

Point 2 I don't really know if he wants to control all of the funding. I would suggest not, because he let the club borrow from ICBC after he paid off the old loans. ICBC is the world's largest bank so highly reputable.

Point 3 he is not receiving interest on the 80 mill and as he created the platform for the club to raise money from a reputable bank he seems to be ok with others earning interest. The BVI loans however could have been diverting interest to parties connected to Everton but we will never know due to their shadowy nature.

"My next naive question is:

As a result of EFC not having to pay the interest to an outsider does the (let's call it) NEW interest free loan effectively give him a return on paper on his initial investment in the club. If so can it be calculated as a % of the interest payments?"

Not a naive question at all, and quite shrewd actually.

The answer to both questions in theory is yes.

Lets say Moshiri paid 80m for his shares and invested 80m to clear the club's debts. The club received 80m and other shareholders pocketed 80m. But Moshiri's outlay is 160m.

Now ICBC lend 60m. Assume no other creditors.

Scenario A
Everton is then sold for 1.06bn in 2021.

ICBC paid off 60m
Shareholders collect 1bn
Mosh receives 499m.

His return in % will be 499m over his 160m outlay but expressed as an annual return over 5 years (known as IRR).

His comparative return will be alot worse than BK. Mosh got back about 3 times his money but BK got back much more (as a %) as he invested a less than Moshiri.

Scenario B.
Sky bubble collapses and Everton defaults on ICBC debt. Bank says pay us or you go out of existence.

Mosh says he cannot put in any money and BK holds out his trouser pockets showing they are empty.

A loyal fan, who played football on the streets and happens to have 60m to spare, pays off ICBC with a loan with no interest or fixed repayment debt. In the process he asks Mosh and BK for all their shares.

Facing the wrath of fans not wanting to see the club go out of existence, both reluctantly agree.

BK swans off having already trousered a nice chunk when he sold his shares.

Mosh writes off his full 160m as he has no rights to call his money ahead of ICBC.

He shakes his head and puts a redline through his 160m.

He then stumbles across ToffeeWeb archives and stumbles across this thread where he was accused of financial chicanery.

He lets out a final anguished cry, and then slips into darkness.

(Scenario B)

Mike Green
797 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:56:58
Off to argue the world is flat no doubt.
Amit Vithlani
798 Posted 02/09/2017 at 10:57:12
"Who paid off the BVI loans? Here's a clue, if you say Moshiri, you are wrong.. due to privacy it would've been Everton."

I don't understand what you mean by privacy? Are you making up new financial concepts to go with your other bilge?

"So when I said Moshiri hasn't paid off our debt, I was technically and substantively correct. He made a loan to Evertons business vehicle, and they paid it off. But you somehow believe you've shown that comment up to be "bollocks""

How do you know Moshiri did not wire the funds to the BVIs and other lenders making up the 80m directly? The act of doing so would still constitute a redemption by the club of its debt, from funds provided by Mosh. So technically you cannot prove your position unless you have the bank transfers in your hand.

" You haven't, despite your obvious attempts to take the discussion into new, undisputed and irrelevant territory."

Irrelevant because you finally agreed and admitted the boy Mosh did some good for the club.

"I'm done now."

At least leave the ball behind so the rest of us can play?

Ciarán McGlone
799 Posted 02/09/2017 at 11:09:14
Privacy is a legal term, go look it up.


Kim Vivian
800 Posted 02/09/2017 at 11:10:52
Did someone change the headline on this thread?
James Watts
801 Posted 02/09/2017 at 11:32:02
Paul #804

Where are we going here? The owner didn't buy us a striker which we most certainly need. Or a full back or a centre back.
Is this not right? Anything else doesn't matter.

Let's pack that in young man. Don't you start talking sense, I'd have no one to argue with!!!

Laurie Hartley
802 Posted 02/09/2017 at 11:32:59
Thanks Amit.

Looks to me like Moshiri is a smart lad and Bill Kenwright is no slouch either. If BK happens to "stumble" across this thread he will be rubbing his hands together with glee like Fagan out of Oliver Twist.

Paul # 804 - correct - he didn't buy us a striker which is hugely disappointing - he expected Kenwright, Walsh, and Koeman between them to do that.

Usmanov offered Kronke £1b for Arsenal so, provided Walsh and Koeman bring success on the footballing side, your scenario A of a potential sale for $1.06 in 2021 does not seem unrealistic to me.

In the light of all of the above, like us, he will be expecting a lot better from Messrs Walsh and Koeman.

Eric Myles
803 Posted 02/09/2017 at 11:34:22
I think you meant 'privity' Ciarán.
Amit Vithlani
804 Posted 02/09/2017 at 11:57:58
Indeed Laurie and not just BK, but other small shareholders of the club (you lucky devils) should be happy too.

Mosh is providing funding directly or arranging it through ICBC which has, as Ciaran reluctantly conceded, put the club on a better footing.

With that better footing, there was no excuse for Koeman and Walsh not to prioritise replacing Lukaku.

So deadline day passed without a striker arrival.

Koeman has to deliver, as he has been backed heavily, or the next big decision Mosh needs to make is to fire him.

For me, that is the test of Mosh's ambition. Big Ambitious clubs fire underperforming managers without wasting time, even if the Chairman appointed them.

It is why Chelsea under Abramovich's various managers have won more titles than Arsenal have under Wenger.

Lets hope Mosh does not tolerate another 7th place finish with no trophy. Better still let us hope Ronnie delivers a top 4 spot or indeed a trophy with a strong league position.

Tony Everan
805 Posted 02/09/2017 at 13:17:04
BBC ''Barcelona say Liverpool wanted £183m for Philippe Coutinho''

Should we ask Man Utd for another £75m for Romelu? say was a misprint in the paperwork should have said 2 x £75m payments.

Paul A Smith
806 Posted 02/09/2017 at 18:50:02
James 811. Sorry mate.
What a thread though James. We can argue and argue all day and I hold nothing against anyone disagreeing but I stand by how I have always been as an Evertonian.
If I find something wrong I am bringing it up even in the happiest of times as I see us as a ruthless machine. As corny as it sounds. I love it when we win but I never let it cover any poor detail up. Sorry if that offends but people can still enjoy how they see fit.
All the good I will always appreciate and if its special I give it the respect it deserves.
As soon as I see something that makes me think we really want to join the elite I will applaud the plan and attitude.
John Wilson
807 Posted 03/09/2017 at 12:03:05
Barça did not ask for Lukaku – he's not world class... he is just good at scoring goals, to an extent anyway. He out-grew Everton, where we are right now that is.
Brian Harrison
808 Posted 03/09/2017 at 12:06:12
I see the papers are reporting that Crystal Palace and Everton were trying to do a swap deal to bring Van Hanholt to us and McCarthy move in the other direction. This was to give cover for Baines apparently.
Frank Crewe
809 Posted 03/09/2017 at 12:31:00
We already have strikers but our manager insists on playing them out wide. Just put the players in their proper positions and let's see one less defensive midfielder and one more attacking midfielder. Put some pace on the wings and let's give it a go.

Time for Koeman to show some faith and attack more. If we are going to lose then at least lets lose trying to win.

I still advocate a 4-4-2. Schneiderlin in front of the back four. Sigurdsson getting forward behind the front two. Lookman or Lennon and Mirallas wide. Rooney and Calvert-Lewin as the front two.

Paul A Smith
810 Posted 03/09/2017 at 16:44:14
John (#817), everybody knows who wanted Lukaku and both have more money than Barca.

I think you should look at Coutinho as a whole rather than the highlights where they fail to show how often he gets subbed. It will show up as a stat on your screen of course but how often does anyone notice.

When he leaves them they will be happy their getting the next man who can do 90 minutes more often.

Sorry for talking a red on here but I am fed up of how often their players are higher thought of than our own. And ours played down in comparing with theirs.

James Owen
811 Posted 03/09/2017 at 22:10:04
I think the mask is starting to slip on this fucking Cyborg. He's another fucking Bobby Brown shoes, with a defensive mindset, and big talk. He doesn't seem to have good man-management skills either. Why put so much effort into bigging up Lukaku all last season when he knew he was leaving? When he constantly treated Barkley like dirt and with disrespect when he knew the same?

The last two games have been eye-opener also. When we were facing 10 men against Man City, we couldn't get near the ball, totally outplayed by Chelsea. No wonder we couldn't get a striker before the deadline, if they watched those two games. We were just fucking pathetic.

Michael Kenrick
812 Posted 03/09/2017 at 23:51:48
A report claiming we balked at £46 million for Jimenez, but tried and failed to get him on loan for £2 million:

Benfica rejected Everton's transfer deadline day offer to take Raul Jimenez on a season-long loan deal, according to reports.

The Mexico international played 32 times in all competitions last season for the Portuguese side and hit the back of the net on 11 occasions.

The Toffees were reportedly willing to pay a loan fee of £2million to bag the striker until the end of the season.

However, A Bola claims that Benfica had no intention of letting Jimenez go out on loan to Everton and they rebuffed the bid.

The Merseysiders were looking for a target man to replace Romelu Lukaku with Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson not fitting that mould.

It is understood that Benfica were prepared to listen to offers for the striker but only if they reached towards their valuation of £46million.

From TeamTalk.

David Johnson
813 Posted 04/09/2017 at 00:20:44
Says it all really.
David Johnson
814 Posted 04/09/2017 at 00:34:05
I sometimes wonder if we do anything at all to try and hold on to our better players, cos let's face it – we wouldn't have a transfer budget otherwise.

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