Everton reach Mangala loan agreement with City

Could also do a fine job providing door security for the Directors Box.

Other than that...

What a joke this club is.

He's big, quick, strong and most importantly left footed. He was very good at Porto and did okay last season on loan. Never quite settled into the team at City but there may still be a player in there.

It's only a loan and we are obviously lacking left footed defenders. He could potentially play left centre-back or left-back... though wouldn't offer much offensively.

A sensible if not inspiring move.

All the has-beens, never-beens, discards, untested or unproven get on the coach for Goodison Park please!

I hope Kenwright et al are pleased with what they've done to our once great club.

Beggaring the obvious question why, I tend to believe supporter's assessments rather than those so called 'in the know'.

Judging by the comments we have landed another expensive show pony, that is if true.

Surely though he will be better than some we have going through the motions.

Mangala, if it happens, is a good option though as he's an excellent player.

I am sick of the club, sick of being let down by them. If I manage to drag myself to possibly two more games this season, I will be amazed!

Strong, fast, left footed and good in the air. Can't be any worst than what we have already that will be a year older next season – Williams 45, and Jags 106...

Also, loan-to-buy makes perfect sense. I'm as staunch a critic of our transfer policy as any but this makes sense.

Fully agree. This place is turning into an absolute whinge fest, and unfounded whingeing, most of the time, at that.

Some don't understand that buying/loaning players, for who it hasn't quite worked out from clubs above us, is generally the order of things. They're hardly going to sell/loan us their best players.

There needs to be a realization of what we are and where we are (at this present time) instead of playing "fantasy football."

We've always looked more solid with options in this position – Lescott, Distin, even Funes Mori was starting to look a little more settled. My only concern would be that he has been brought in as cover at left-back. Our chronic lack of pace at the back and carrying Schneiderlin for the last few months will continue to hamper us going forward.

So either way he'll only be with us for a couple of months, and we can get a couple of permanent left sided defenders in the summer when there's a proper transfer market.

If he’s no good we’ll send him back

If he’s good then we’ll try to buy

Yet the club are still criticised.

Everton, the home of cynics

We need reinforcements quickly and this guy has shown to be an uncompromising good player; exactly what our shambolic defence needs.

There's no shame in not starting in that Man City side.

The last left footed centre half that we took from City worked out quite well.

On loan – looks like a common sense deal to me.

Abraham Lincoln said – "Most folks are as happy as they want to be."

We forget he is young and has potential, but recent showings certainly don't convince me.

If Mangala happens then let’s just see how he goes, I won’t hold my breath on it happening though!?

Honestly, it's not as if we can sign a Laporte for £57m is it? And for all we know, he could yet turn out to be Mangala Mark 2.

The club is often justifiably criticised but whingeing about this already is ridiculous. Incremental progress is all we can ask for.

He is similar to Sakho at Palace. Sam will have him defending and then twatting it upfield and he will probably look good doing it.

Tosun better get those Cuban-heeled boots out for the extra height he is going to need.

Mind you, if we did get him early enough and he plays and has a mare tonight...

Those mentioning John Stones, well he initially struggled at Man City too and is maybe more to the manager's liking style-wise (though Mangala did play over 50 games).

For me, not knowing a lot about the guy, it seems win-win, especially given what we need, what we have, and the time of year! Oh, and he has played in the Premier League!

Error prone? So are all of our other defenders. If he can comfortably head a ball, then he has a skill the others don't have...

He is left-footed, strong and will improve us where we are weak. It is good business.

If we were to end up in the Championship, I don't think it would have been as a result of signing Mangala!

Addressing some of the comments above though is worrying, a general point, ToffeeWeb has always mixed praise and criticism in equal measure, but with the current disappointments of this season, the latter is very much to the fore of late and perhaps is the resultant anger at the sheer bloody frustration of being an Evertonian.

If he impresses, the naysayers on here will be demanding that the club stump-up the dosh in the summer to get him permanently.

"Why are we in for Peter Reid, useless crock?"

"Why are we in for Andy Gray, useless crock?"

"If he hasn't made it at Liverpool at 23, why are we signing Sheedy? We don't need their cast-offs."

Different teams, different needs. I get really bored when every time we buy a player who isn't wanted by another team, it gets slagged off. There are hundreds of players who've struggled at one club and gone on to success at another.

26-year-old French international, until recently the most expensive defender in Britain, on a loan with no risk, when everyone's been complaining that our centre-backs are too old/, too low, or too shite. And still some people whine.

I think he'll be excellent. Strong, fast, very good in the air, and with a point to prove. Great news!

He doesn't play that regularly for City, because he's not quite as good as Vincent Kompany and John Stones. – Well, that could be said of 90% of the defenders in the world!!

He's big, strong, solid and miles ahead of Martina. Just don't expect him to be bombing up the wing and launching pinpoint accurate crosses in.

Put him left centre defence with Garbutt as wing back, Seamus on the right with Holgate inside and that could be a decent back line once they all get to know each other.

That leaves Kenny, Jagielka, Funes Mori and Keane as back up. I'd like to see Baines given a left side holding role alongside Guye, Keep Sigurdsson central flanked by Walcott and Davies with one of Tosun< Calvert-Lewin or Niasse up front.

A bit of a thug in my view and, according to Man City fans I know, a waste of space (and a shedload of money).

Where's the left back, Walsh?

I imagine Mangala is far more up Allardyce's alley.

Sam is no fool – he knows our defenders are not fit for purpose but he is unable to do everything at once. He is trying to plug the gaps everywhere in an unbalanced squad.

Let's hope Mangala has the game skills to go with his physical assets.

If we sign this guy and then bring in a manager that might want to play a bit of ball, Mangala might well be discarded.

By the way, it is reported the Fat Waiter at Barcodes wants him too.

Seems a pretty good attempt to begin the work of improving the team in the areas we definitely need to.

I think that there are a number on here whose detestation of Allardyce is so strong that they are in danger of clouding their judgement because of it. He's brought players in, during a notorious transfer window, who will give some impetus to our attack, which should lessen the deluge of attacks against our defence that's been happening all season.

If he gets this lad from Man City, then it means we have at least some options on both the left flank and the right. With Seamus preparing to get match fit over the next few weeks and Ramiro back in training, then we have also another player that can do the left full-back or left sided centre-half.

It's an awful set back for James, and a blow to us but I think it's about rescuing a season for us, and the worst thing this club could do now is panic buy to add to the already burgeoning number of players that we are stuck with and will find extremely hard to shift.

As for tonight, Leicester are looking good but the news that Mahrez and their Captain are likely to be missing, is welcome.

Each unto their own and all that but there appears to be a number who will give Allardyce (and the club for that matter) no credit at all; but would rather find fault no matter what.

He's also an upgrade on everything we've got in centre mid too. I've wanted him as Barry's successor for a long time. No-brainer, especially if he's available on loan.

I'm not saying we are going to win the premier league because we might sign Mangala, far from it, but FFS give the lad a chance before you start ripping him to bits.

He was very rarely injured, gave 100% in every game; yes a very good acquisition, when most had written him off.

I always believe in most sports, the old adage is 'horses for courses' – this applies to players and managers alike, one side's flop, or surplus to requirements, can be a brick with another Club.

Of course there are always exceptions, and can be... what rhymes with brick? Let's hope this guy is not in that category.

City like to play out from the back which doesn't really suit Mangala – he appears to be more a stopper which is exactly what we need at the moment. You never know – he might bring the best out of Keane.

After West Brom, where Williams was dominated by Rondon of all people, and Holgate couldn't pass to a team mate when he had time and space, anything's better.

A loan – it's a no-brainer.

I know football fans have a right to demand and there's likely always a little hyperbole, but for once couldn't we just back off and give things a chance rather than down the neck of players, manager, and board???

Mangala is a £30-40M defender who was prized at Porto and then initially fared okay at Man City till he lost his way. He wasn't the first to do that and many good players have disappeared (including some of our own).

In that we don't have left-footed defenders, and a player who has been part of a team that have played at a higher level and won things is available, I don't see this as ridiculous option for a loan.

We have also re-registered Garbutt as a left-back option and are presumably still looking at options. However, you really can't have it both ways...

'Just get in a left-sided defender!' and 'Not this £40M player who was in a Championship side is not good enough' seem to be slightly contradictory opinions.

Personally I've never really paid him much attention so can't form a genuinely reasonable opinion.

I do wonder how many other people on here have really paid that much attention to certain players when they're all of a sudden mooted as becoming an Everton player. Are you all scouts? Maybe you don't have jobs and spend all day watching videos of footballers. I don't have time, so a player like Mangala has entirely passed me by – maybe I just don't watch enough football anymore.

Can review everything else in the summer.

Glad to see Klaassen, Ramirez, Mirallas and Besic put to use too as we weren't going to play them.

I hope Lookman and Vlasic get more game time too.

I don't think the club are going to fanfare any of the dealings they are attempting (or passing by on) but I think the club will go for the best available player that fits in with their requirements.

Sounds just what this bunch of girls need then.

5 of the top 6 have been signed by Man City, with the top one being VVD at the RS.

Man City paid almost €54m for Mangala.

Given how many people seem to rate players based on their fees these days (and often on here), this would surely be right up there as a top signing for a club like ours.

Make sure you bring a peaked cap when the sun is out on match days...

If this lad arrives, give him a chance. He is big, strong, good in the air, and quick.

And he has a bit of a mean streak too, a quality that our team needs.

Fast, Left footed,good in the air, strong in the tackle, and on loan deal till end of season.

What is there not to like about this deal if it comes off?

ps: A good link here: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-fixtures-derby-mangala-14023911

After signing French defender Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao, Manchester City's 'annual defence spending' has exceeded the actual annual military defence budgets of 52 countries.

1. We will install Mangala as our new DoF.

2. Steve Walsh will then be freed up to act as the badly needed cover at left back.

Very shrewd boys, very shrewd.

It's a bonus, here until the Summer if he agrees, gives us another option, it cannot possibly be any worse than no one coming in.

Least we can do in return for Mahrez missing tonight's game thanks to Man City.

The Distin comparison is a pertinent one. The Dignitas crew were out in force on that one too.

Has he improved? Anyone see any glowing reports? He won't have been under much defensive pressure when deputising in the City side this season. Not much preparation for a stint in the overworked Everton defence.

Reminds me of the kind of signing we used to make under Moyes: A player who had a big reputation, who's career has gone slightly off track who now has something to prove.

Only seen him in the flesh once when they beat us 1-0 at the Etihad. He almost broke our players back with a karate kick off our corner. Don't think he's improved since then.

He'll cause mayhem in either box so I think we should have him as our main striker.

He can help defend the long balls punted up front by the other promising teams ie Burnley, Huddersfield, Watford & Utds (all of them).

He'll fit in very well.

I'm prepared to give the guy a chance... let's face it, he's got to be better than that Keane bloke.

The negativity on here confounds me. Every player in our back four has been slated on here recently; now an option turns up and he's slated before kicking a ball.

Let me let you into a secret, Bobby Moore died some time ago, we ain't getting him nor Kevin Ratcliffe (retired), Franz Beckanbaeur (retired), Norman Hunter

So as with everything sometimes good players can appear to be rubbish when a partnership doesn't work. CBs that don't work as a duo. Tend to struggle

From 'we must be desperate to sign him; he's only good enough to lift luggage from a roof rack; he's so error prone its untrue' to – 'he's immediately better than any defender we currently have; he's big, strong and quick as well as left footed;' not that straight forward this scouting lark is it?

To those taking the piss – name one of our Centre Halves who are currently a) better b) younger c) left sided d) fit.

If City did take a punt on him initially – and he turned out not to be as good as they wanted - does that make them a joke too?

I'll take any glimmer of hope at the moment – pending the real plan unfolding in the summer.

So come on the beauts on here get in early and blame Everton, Steve Walsh, Kenwright etc etc.

Incidentally, we may be debating a non-existent loan here. Everton are confident of securing this loan, yet how many on here have confidence in Everton's confidence, this close to the deadline??

"Has a bit of a nasty streak"

What the fuck are you talking about! He's an absolute beast and is just what our team of pansy-arsed flouncers could do with to get them playing. This is seriously good business in my view.

Maybe I'm missing something but personally I like at least one of our back four to be a malicious hard man thug type like that bastard Norman Hunter who the opposition look to avoid when entering our half. This could be a really significant signing I'll be totally overjoyed to see a little spine and steel in a blue shirt for a change. Goodbye Jags. Goodbye Williams.

While some describe him as 'strong' in the tackle. and having seen him play many times on the box,often in slo-mo, my opinion is he is a yellow or red risk in every game, more so than Williams, so again, in my opinion, leave well alone, Just Saying.

Rather than goodbye Jags and Williams, it's good bye Keane and Holgate. Allardyce will play the other two for their ability to read the situation and marshal Mangala through the game. There's no way Allardyce would team up an error prone player like Mangala with an out of form Keane or an inexperienced kid like Holgate. I would expect Holgate to nudge Kenny out of the team until Coleman's return.

Wasn't this the thug who Kung Fu kicked, (can't remember who) One of our players?

A few caps for France suggests a bit of pedigree but then again, even Schneiderlin somehow picked up a few.

If Mangala is such a brute I hope he starts early and goes in on half of our players.

The only thing this lad has going for him is his heading ability.

The Premier League is far too quick and physical for him.

He is ponderous in the turn and is a mistake waiting to happen.

For all those criticizing Martina this is the 6'-3" version.

As reported elsewhere Blind is out of contract in the summer and apparently available but it seems we only get the duds from Man Utd.

As is stands I've no expectations tonight in terms of transfers, but Leicester will still nudge this match on current form even without Mahrez. Hopefully a nice surprise tonight on both Xperia and the match.

It's surprising that we are bringing in a left sided center back now, with Funes Mori back in training. If Mangala comes in and plays left back, I think that TW will have a breakdown.

We shouldn't trust ANY player that Mourino doesn't want. Also when did we decide that we are in a position to be too choosy? I wish we were but we just aren't.

A loan with an option to buy is the perfect low-risk option anyway.

The last left-footed central defender we took from them worked out just fine! Welcome to the best club in the world!

Everton are some ways away from having £250M worth of center backs who can play the ball safely out of the box and pass it to another blue shirt in front of them. We have problems actually passing the ball forward anywhere on the pitch. So for us a CH defender who can put in a biting tackle and hoof the ball out of the danger zone is almost exactly what we need at this moment. Who the foot cares if he makes Ashley Williams look like Tom Finney.

The moment he comes, I will NOT be shouting "you're shite", I'll be 100% behind him... but I think we'll be looking at a few more heart in mouth moments.

Thinking about it, possibly similar to those Sakho used to give to the other lot!

Chelsea did have an excess of very good players at the time. However I am probably biased in that I don't like Mourinho or Man U and I don't like taking anybody off them.
.

Can't be a lot worse than some we've got.

FFS just read Lookman has gone out on loan. The School of Science is officially dead and buried. Disgusting.

Manchester City bought Mangala because of his speed and imposing physicality. They tried to play him like Stones which doesn't suit his style.

We have been crying out for a defender who has speed and an imposing physical presence (Like Lescott, Distin or Yobo). If Mangala finds his Porto form we might just end up with a bargain.

Porto excepted, he's always been hired by big clubs to win right now.

The young players mentioned weren't ready yet, so sold. By clubs having the financial acumen to sign top talent.

"Danny Blind would have been a better option, and can play left back."

Perhaps it's Daley Blind you refer to? Danny Blind is a little old now :)

Welcome Mr Mangala!

Would we?

Would we?

Anybody?

Identi-kit Sam player with the emphasis on physical traits.

He has the potential to be a dominant centre half in the air.

But the move is late and is opportunistic, Laporte’s transfer surely triggering his availability? So not planned, that worries me.

It will encourage us to player higher up the pitch so if paired with Keane or Holgate could have a positive knock on affect.

But if I see this lad play left back Saturday .

...then bring in other teams' expensive overseas flops.

Baffled. Especially with Sam's comments on Klaasen and Lookman.

For a split second I read that we'd signed Mandela! TBH if Koeman was still in charge I would have believed it!

I really like this move. He’s left footed, at a great age for a CB and filled with desire to prove City wrong.

A lot of his mistakes derived from City’s desire/insistence on defenders playing the ball out which is definitely not Mangalas strength. So long as he can hoof it I think he’ll do alright.

Will be interesting to see who he’s paired with. Possibly Jagielka to help talk him through his settling in? Or Williams? Keane doesn’t seem much of an organiser. I believe that Holgate is actually very communicative but doubt Sam would want to put the youngster with the newbie.

His wages aren’t astronomical so there’s very little we can lose from this deal and I reckon there’s a decent chance he might become our best defender.

Okay we had a win yesterday but the defence, particularly early on was still panic struck.

For the remaining 13 games at least he can give some extra height back and front but they won't sign him come the end of the season because if he plays well then City will take him back due to Kompany's injury problems.

If, it doesn't work out, for whatever reason, we do not need to pursue the matter when the loan ends. I have a feeling that this guy may prove a hit, I remember when he initially went to City, and most Clubs were envious of his acquisition.

At £15M to make it permanent, also makes it a very attractive proposition, we paid double that for Michael Keane.

I welcome him as I am sure others will too, and look forward to seeing him in a blue shirt come Saturday.

He was an able deputy for Kompany/Stones at City and they paid top dollar for him when he very well sought after all around Europe - yet people are complaining about him being signed on loan?

I do wonder who would actually placate people on here - moaning about Walcott, moaning about Mangala, complaining about Tosun - what do you want, Franz Beckenbauer and Maradona??

(sorry if I insult anyone with that last remark, I admit I have no idea how sensitive you are about the Falklands)

You never know – they didn't pay £42 million for him for nothing... or are there scouts and football directors worse than ours?

As some have said, Man City's style of football did not suit his game. He will enjoy playing our semi-direct style a lot more. Horses for courses. If he slots in and strengthens our defence, we have an absolute bargain.

A tough game to start off against Arsenal away. Will big Sam go for 5 at the back?

Coleman Keane Jagielka Mangala Martina.

I admit when I first heard of this link yesterday morning, it filled me with dread. But, after reading comments on here, I think he could be a good signing.

It's all well and good talking about his time at Man City but he will be playing with different tactics here. He is not a ball-playing defender and he won't be playing that here. I think there is a good, solid centre-back in there which could only benefit us. He's at a good age and if things work out, then £15M to sign in the summer is good value in today's market.

I think he automatically will be our best centre-back and would think Allardyce will play him with Jagielka or Williams until the end of the season. If it works out and Keane is given a chance, I think potentially we have a good, solid centre-back pairing for a few years to come.

Up the toffees.

So worth a punt and I hope he is a raging success - good work by the club again!

We have had a very good window!! 7th here we come!!

I would play him and Holgate, with Keane challenging. See if any partnership looks possible.

The season is basically pointless, so everything needs to be about prepping for next season. Williams and Jags only in emergencies.

Davies and Gueye in the middle, Vlasic given opportunities off the bench, and Calvert-Lewin or Tosun as attack. Niasse is at best a 'super-sub', and has no long term future.

Now with his issues mentally, Do you really expect Allardyce to pick him with Keane? My guess is that it will be Jags / Willams and Keane / Mangala. Meaning Holgate is unlikely to play, other than to pop up at right back if Seamus is feeling it.

We need the exposure as a club, and we need the experience as a team if we're looking to play Champions League football. Yes it could be to the detriment of our league season, but if we want to be a top club we need to act like one and deal with it – like the top clubs do.

We have plenty to play for this season in my view.

It hates me to say it but I think that we need to get enough points on the board to be safe of relegation and then plan for next season, to rotate players and see who will be up for it next season.

I know Moshiri had this "3 year plan" but it's not as easy as that. I do think we are a few players short of being a really good team.

If Baines was fit and playing like his old self, we would be pressing teams higher up the field better, and not to mention being tighter at the back. This is what Sam wants.

Our major weakness is from crosses and, if he can do both of the above, it will be a plus for us. We look shocking in this aspect and have done so for yeeeeears!

He's very well rated and highly regarded, just not a pure ball-playing centre half in the Guardiola mould.

I don't have a solid opinion on him since I haven't watched enough of him to form one, but City fans who watched him say he's a good player. He looks like a big old unit as well, which bodes well for our paper-thin defence.

Personally, I would think that it would be better to have X as an attacking player who add something going forward, but also energetic enough to press higher up the field.