Brands feared he would lose out on Mina after his heroics in Russia

Alan Ball was a good spot, though... A tricky one, at that! :D

Brands must have a hell of a scouting network, at least through the Barca organization. If so, it's proving to be a fruitful partnership.

Interesting also that while many posters here thought Mina was holding out for a better deal, it was actually Barcelona that was stalling.

Surely this has to be better than just going for a way past it Rooney for £150k a week and selling Lukaku as part of the sodding deal — and £45 million for Gylfi Sigurdsson.

I'm happy, and long may it last!

Congratulations to Brands for resisting overtures in respect of Old Trafford rejects and holding out for the player he really wanted. Of course only time will tell if his judgment is correct.

Or on the Beeb for a 'beep' or three! An instant hit with the new generation! ;D

Can't imagine that with Koeman and Walsh somehow.

Unlike Walsh who I always thought was a bit of a blagger regardless of his work at Leicester.

I’d like to know if Lozano was actually on our radar but we preferred Richarlison.

I like the level of player he is aiming for. Very ambitious.

I know it was only one game, but I really did think: Wow! Chuffed he is our player now. Do us proud, Yerri Mina of Evertonia!

Isn't it a bit early for Brands to be patting himself on the back regards Mina – he may well turn out to be utter shite. I hope not obviously but let's wait and see. Brands should keep on keeping on in my opinion which I hope Nigel and others accept that I entitled to.

And by the way it was Silva who told Moshiri to get Richarlison at Everton not Brands.

After all, Snodin picked us over Liverpool (for less money) and Mirallas picked us over Arsenal.

In the end it doesn't matter. He's in the door now so let's hope he's good!

Interesting to get a bit more detail on the transfer dealings. Shame we couldn't have nabbed Brands the first time around and ended up with Walsh.

We've obviously got a very down to earth DOF.

Love it.

Hope the guy breaks his arm patting himself on the back.

He should.

It was a great transfer window for Brands and the Club, and his first one with Everton.

Well done. Brag away Marcel!

He also explained to people, myself included, that a modern transfer is not as easy as some seem to think. Especially if you are not part of the elite group of clubs. There is clearly no secrecy anymore and smuggling a player into Knutsford Services to sign on the dotted line is no longer an option.

It seems if they don't communicate with the fans, they are incompetent and if they do, it's bullshit. Can't please some people.

Im all for being open and honest and if he is as good a judge of footballer as he is with his words then thats what matters.

Again, Moshiri needs to be given credit and time. I, for one, think he's doing a fine job.

Big step forward?

Who employed him?

Another step?

All I can see.

Very very early days for Brands to be patting himself on the back – and of course I would not want him to break his arm doing this (what age are you – 12?)

If Man Utd had wanted Mina, he would have gone there. What's the buy out clause of Mina?

Which perhaps one day is how we will remember the Moshiri era, especially if Usmanov gets involved as well...

Join us and believe... and take the risk of suffering later.

Strangely just too easy to not believe anything.

Marcel's qualities will not have gone unnoticed and although new to Everton, other clubs will come calling for him in the future.

I have been and Evertonian for over 40 years, so I am believer, don't you think!

Let's see how we get on, nothing would give me greater pleasure than for ALL these new signings to have us all excited about the future, I just think it's early days for our new DOF to be bigging himself up.

That's an insight and a half. Kind of makes me think Marcel Brands could be the sort to have a twitter account and some tall tales about Mo Salah! ;)

Okay, there were a few good years in the '80s and even more greats came to the fore til the Red Shite got us kicked out of Europe and the team broke up. But, since then, we've been eating gruel instead of steak and now the butchers isn't out of our price range and I feel optimistic again.

It may be short-lived or it may be the start of a new era I certainly hope so because I have got the knife and fork out you carry on with your spoon. As I said, I have read more than enough negative shite to last me a lifetime.

He was asked about Mina, about why the transfer took so long, about if Mina had doubts (he doesn't claim Mina would have rejected Man Utd, he just says that mina was not waiting for Man Utd as reported, but that it was Barça who were waiting for a bigger bid, which did not come), and he answers the questions.

He also answered questions on Gomes and on Richarilson (where he admits we overpaid, but we had to due to relations between the clubs, and he was a player both he and Silva had no doubts about).

This is what happens, media interview people.and people respond. If we refuse to do interviews, or refuse to answer questions, the media then take it out on the club (ignore, make up speculation, criticise).

What did you want him to say? — "Yeah, we signed Mina, but he could turn out to be a right dud, so let's call this interview off"?

Apologies for denigrating your view but sometimes the optimistic and cautious, pessimistic just annoy each other.

Who is right?

Both our dreams, I hope.

We just need a bit of belief from the terraces to restore our rightful place at the top table.

We can start by overtaking Spurs and Arsenal.

Doesn't that sound like Brands expected the player to reject Jose's overtures?

Which is a breath of fresh air. I like it.

“... I didn’t want to spend any more money.”

Is there an element of sanity creeping in, rather than giving other clubs an extra £20 every time they ask?

We can only hope.

He basically says that, had Man Utd come in, then any player would go to them, but they didn't. The player was happy to join Everton over any other club with genuine interest.

Steve #21, true no doubt, because at PSV he signed players from Pachuca, Sarsfield and Nacional. But I wouldn't be surprised if there's been some sort of cooperation with Barca, which has an extensive network in Latin America. Most clubs just can't afford a worldwide scouting network. And Brands doubtless has a well-established relationship with Barca through Cocu.

And Steve #25, I like that one!

Stand your ground fella. I notice you didnt attack anyone elses opinion of the interview, but the self proclaimed positives can be a hungry pack on here for anybody not happy clapping everything they hear.

On this occasion I liked what Brands had to say and I don't agree he was patting himself on the back as he was answering direct questions . . but You are 100% correct in saying celebrations are a little premature. Mina has not even pulled on a blue shirt yet.

Without ever meeting you, I know by virtue of the fact that you are a blue that you will badly want the signing of Mina to be a big success, However very wisely you are waiting to see how signings pan out before handing out the bouquets.

If the SPP's learned nothing from last years disastrous transfer window when celebrations went through the roof, I think its safe to assume they never will. They will always be a bit premature.

What strikes me is the speed and anger with which they will round on an alternative opinion. . . That the irony is lost on them is a constant source of amusement to me

Just to be clear, I hope Brands turns out to be a masterful DOF, the real test will be him unearthing some gems from his connections in South America and football in general for our club that will make us better on the pitch and financially .
According to Colin Glassar he is renowned for unearthing talent , still waiting on your reply to me by the way Colin - see 35 and please educate me some more regards the players Brands has talent spotted, I genuinely am interested.

Last year we bought jigsaw pieces that didn't fit each other. This year we've actually looked at the picture on the box first.

These players won't all work well, but there's a semblance of strategy that will override inevitable 'mistakes'.

Grounds for optimism, with the evidence to follow.

If we'd been pipped by a late bid for Mina and this came out, I imagine we'd have heard a lot about "typical Everton" not getting the job done etc.

But hey, he looks cool and said shit.

Let’s review the previous two years and Steve Walsh.
- what’s his role?
- where does the managers role end and walsh’s role begin?
- who has final say on transfers?
- what’s going on with transfers?
- do we have a plan?
- why didn’t we sign a striker?
- why didn’t we get more money for Lukaku?

There was questions and confusion. Brands came in and immediately told the press his role. He’s now come out for his first interview since and explained a few things. He’s not actually said anything he shouldn’t have. He’s simply doing what we the fans want and explaining himself.

And yes it is stage managed. The fact he’s spoke to the written press and given an interview to Everton TV shows that. Whether this is his idea, or more likely, the idea of Barrett-Baxendale or the board we will have to see. I believe lessons have been learnt from the Walsh fiasco and with Brands they club are trying to make sure the confusion and uncertainty does not undermine Brands in the same way it did Walsh. Also, I think that Brands having a high profile can only help the club.

Both like to promote from the academy players, both like to play an aggressive game. Pochettino arrived at Spurs after an horrendous transfer window were they spent the Bale money, and Silva arrives after a pretty poor transfer window for us spending the Lukaku money. I would certainly recommend the Pochettino book entitled Brave New World. Gives a brilliant incite into the day to day workings of a manager.

But getting back to Silva he spent time assessing every player before deciding who to let go and who to keep, and I cant see he has made any mistakes in that department. I think most fans know there will be no quick but even from the first game you can see an intent that hasnt been there for a while.

It seems you just can't win at Everton. Walsh is (rightly) criticised for failing to communicate and Brands is criticised when he does.

I'm just thankful we have a DoF who appears to be addressing the glaring weaknesses in our squad. Whether the players cut the mustard remains to be seen but at least the management appear to be working to a plan.

An entry likely to rouse the interest of the keen eyed DoF and Barcelona.

[Stolen from James Nesbitt in Cold Feet].

Ok, I'm sober now, and I'm going!

According to Colin Glassar he is renowned for unearthing talent - please educate me some more regards the players Brands has talent spotted, I genuinely am interested.

You don't sound genuinely to be honest. But anyways, this is a simple question to answer.

- Brands at RKC: Bear in mind, RKC was small a club always battling relegation in the highest Dutch division when he arrived, winning the relegation play-off three years in a row in that period. After that they ended in mid-table safety every single year. The second year after he left they got relegated and never really recovered, they are mid-table in the second division last years. In that perspective, the unearthed talents: Khalid Bhoularouz, 35 caps for the Dutch, played in a semi final of the WC, started his professional career at RKC after Brands spotted him in the youth of another club. Michael Krohn-Dehli, 59 caps for Denmark, same story: spotted in the youth setup of another club. Maarten Martens, 9 interlands for Belgium as his promising career was crippled by injuries, again spotted in the youth setup at another club. He also loaned Jan Verthongen and Thomas Vermaelen, respectively 108 and 69 caps for the Belgians, both playing in last WC for the Belgians. These are all players that normally never should have played for tiny RKC. He worked miracles there - of course together with the rest of the setup of that club.

- He went to AZ after that. AZ was full of ambition with a rich owner. The fun lasted for four years, then the company of the owner went bankrupt in dramatic style, quite an interesting story if you're into that kind of stuff. Brands stayed for another year, didn't jump ship at the bankruptcy but steadied AZ into the club they are now, contenders for continental qualification. Unearthed talents: Demy de Zeeuw, lower league player brought in by Brands, ended up with 27 Dutch caps, played in a semi final of the WC. Mousa Dembélé, yep, that guy from Tottenham, 77 Belgian caps, played in a semi final of the WC. Guys like Pontus Wernbloom and Rasmus Elm, 59 and 31 caps for Sweden, brought in from Sweden and proved to be very successful. All in all, AZ won the league title as the first club outside of the three Feyenoord, Ajax, PSV since 1982 (!) under his reign, and after the bankruptcy of the owner, most people considered the shrewd dealings of Brands one of the main factors of keeping AZ itself from going in administration.

- In 2010 he ended up at PSV. PSV is one of the richest clubs in the Netherlands, always playing to win the league and hoping to progress in Europe. Unearthed gems: Dries Mertens, 75 caps for Belgium, played in a semi final of the WC. Georgino Wijnaldum, 48 caps for the Dutch, played in a semi final of the WC. Kevin Strootman, 40 caps for the Dutch, Jetro Willems from a lower league club, 22 caps for the Dutch. Santiago Arias, recent signing for Atletico Madrid, 48 caps for Columbia. Héctor Moreno, 94 casp for Mexico. Andres Guardado, 150 caps for Mexico. Hirving Lozano, 32 caps for Mexico. Seeing his history, there are probably two or three guys currently at PSV that in a few years should be added to this list in retrospect.

I only mentioned well-known names who turned out to be regular starters for their countries and went on to bigger clubs. That it was so easy to do even from his time at RKC, should say more than enough. By all means I don't see Brands as some kind of saviour, he will get slated on this site sooner or later for things he does wrong. But to ask about his history in unearthing gems, I don't think that is the way to go if you try to play down this guys record.

Any other suggestive questions you want answering?

He’s a 6ft 5 Colombian,
and now he’s signed for Everton,
Yerry Mina
Yerry Yerry Mina,
We’ll sing his name Everywhere we go,
From the Gwladys street & away from home,
Yerry Mina
Yerry Yerry Mina

I hope they all chipped in and brought their own bevvies and munchies.

I love the instinctive expletive Brands came out with when Mina scored, adding because it was against England it was 'double shit!'

I never understand the criticism the club attracts during transfer windows, which range from 'why don't the club keep their traps shut rather than publicise their transfer targets to the selling and other interested clubs?' (when it is only tabloid gossip and rumour), to 'why don't the club keep us informed about the progress of deals?'

Brands reveals there was a great deal of thought, groundwork and negotiation behind our summer deals, which necessitated the waiting game we played. This was due to various factors, including Brands and Silva only joining in June plus the World Cup factor.

That they were primarily interested in signing Sevilla's Clement Lenglet in itself is interesting, but were denied that when he signed for Barcelona, so they switched to Mina who was pushed further down the pecking order due to Lenglet's signing.

Brands's explanation that, yes — we could have secured Mina's services earlier in the window, but we would have had to have paid more. That's good financial husbandry which merits praise for holding his nerve, surely?

There are no grounds to disbelieve Brands when he says Mina "was 100% convinced that he wanted to play for Everton". His insights on the Gomes situation are also informative and again reveal the nuances and difficulties clubs face in landing targets. His interview on EvertonTV is also worth a viewing:

Brands Hails Club Support In 'Building Strong Everton'

I like how he says he is a man who builds for the future. He is not interested if a new player plays well in his first or second game, but how he performs over the long term.

The transfer policy is now driven by getting value in the market by buying young players with future value also. The academy and the players we produce will be part of this process. Many positives to be drawn from the interview.

I certainly don't think Brands's words merits Oliver's one line cynicism @ 3. Nor do I consider Oliver is unfairly rounded upon in this thread by 'happy clappers' sticking their fingers in their ears, chanting 'Hari Krishna', to drown out a contrary opinion they don't want to hear.

Oliver's stark 13-word sentence represent unsubstantiated opinion which deserves to be challenged.

Oliver #68, nobody "asks" for an interview. I was what you folks call a sports "journo" for 15 years. I was never once asked for an interview by a team executive, coach/manager or player. Nor did I ever hear of it happening. It's a part of their job – some enjoy it, most put up with it, a few absolutely hate it – but nobody ever goes looking for it.

Thanks for that, very informative indeed, I didn't know you were Colin Glassar though!

Jay Wood,

Well why didn't Mina come out and say "I only want to play for Everton" since he was 100% committed to joining us? Why didn't Mina tell his club, Barcelona – "No matter if Man Utd come in for me, I only want to play for Everton."

“From the beginning, Yerry was 100% convinced that he wanted to play for Everton but then you guys (the media) messed a lot of bad things for us because Man United was in — I'm not sure how they were in or if Barcelona used it — so I had to be strong and say 'if United are coming, they are coming in but the player wants Everton'".

So were Man Utd in or not, and why did it matter if Mina was convinced Everton was the club for him? He's not sure if Barcelona used it!

I said it once and I will say it once more, If Man Utd had wanted to sign this player, my opinion is he would not be here; I also think anyone who thinks otherwise are a little naive.

Mike @ 91,

you could be correct, but our PR people would be keen to have "positive vibes" floating about and would be in constant contact with the media looking for opportunities etc.

At the end of the day, it's all spin, you buy into it or you don't. I rarely buy into spin and now of course Man Utd are saying they wouldn't pay the agent fee's for Mina, which I also don't believe – if they wanted him, they would have paid whatever.

Brands seems a positive guy but let's face it Walsh and Co are not a hard act to follow are they? Brands has a lot of work to do and I hope he does it well and any players he signs do the business for Everton FC.

Let's see what happens...

Yesterday Marcel Brands spoke to Everton TV, the Echo, a number of other print journos. They didn't all turn up on the off chance.

Clearly they must have been invited in and this must have been earmarked for a good few days at least.

The club is trying to change from how it was under the last regime and is being far more transparent. I like how we're handling things and hope it continues.

It seems to me that reasoned argument isn't really your strong point, so I'd just like to say that, in my opinion, and as you repeatedly point out we're all entitled to them, you seem like a genuinely negative helmet.

It's only my opinion, of course, and as such it is obviously subjective as I have no substantive evidence that you are indeed a helmet (just a gut feeling), so I freely admit that I may be wrong...

Yep we are all entitled to our opinion. I don't know what you mean by calling me a "helmet".

Perhaps you could tell me as it's not a phrase I have heard anyone use when speaking of a person in my part of the world and while you are at it, explain what you mean also by reasoned argument because I'm in the dark who I've argued with.

I didn't mean any offence in either your world or my part of the world, I was merely trying to lighten the conversation, so apologies for my choice of simile and for any upset it may have caused. Sorry.

I felt your comments stated your opinion then debated the responses you received. Maybe you didn't.

Up the Blues!

If you did but notice, I questioned just one of your posts in this thread, the very first one @ 3, in which you baldly stated, based I presume on the opening post:

"Self praise as they say ! Just get in [sic] with the job Mr Brands.

You offer no reasoning why you considered Brands was engaging in some kind of self-aggrandisement. A number of people, including myself, didn't and don't read Brands' words as you did and simply said so.

You subsequently added a completely different topic which has absolutely no bearing on your post @ 3. Namely, it is far too premature to call if ANY of the new signings will prove worthy or not.

That is a different discussion altogether, and one I would agree with and have said so on TW on many occasions: no incoming player or manager, regardless of his pedigree or previous history, comes with guarantees that they will perform to acceptable levels.

Now the meshing of the two may make sense to you, but to my mind you are wrong to interpret Brands' description of how our summer transfer dealings played out as arrogant self-promotion on his part, but correct to display caution as to whether any of the new signings will deliver.

Your hypothetical reply to me about Mina doesn't interest me in the least. It's just brimful of speculation and is not related in anyway to the curious and cynical (to me) interpretation you made of Brands' interview in your post @ 3.

https://talksport.com/football/411661/rogue-agent-demanded-i-pay-him-50k-over-kurt-zouma-transfer-reveals-everton-sporting-director-marcel-brands/

As a PR guy myself, I heartily agree with you that Brands' accessibility and openness in answering press questions is a very positive thing. Certainly he comes off as more cooperative than Koeman/Walsh, although I doubt he has quite the same enthusiasm for the process as Martinez for example. And I have no doubt Brands has accepted additional responsibility in this area because Silva is much less comfortable in English.

Some of the stuff thrown at Oliver in the name of positivity defies belief... Good job the "negatives" crowd are not after him, that's all I can say.

The rare "breath of fresh air" we see mentioned repeatedly on this thread and the Rich one, are not rare at all. They come along on with monotonous regularity. These "rarities" are a crucial part of the kite-fliers calendar.
Moyes, Martinez, Koeman and the Night King have all been welcomed as "a breath of fresh air". So too were Kenwright and Moshiri and here we go again with Brands and Silva.

These two guys are being paid the big bucks to turn this club around and, while criticism would be premature, the OTT roars of approval are quite simply cringeworthy. They've barely got their coats off!

Oliver Molloy registered an opinion, whether you agree with it or not, he hardly stretches the bounds of credibility. I personally have no problem with the Brands style, but he's hardly the type to hide his light under a bushel? And is there a single Evertonian out there who doesn't want to see this highly paid individual get on and do what the club are paying handsomely to do?

I despair when I see all these bouquets thrown around every time we get a new manager or sign a few players. I don't think I can stomach another "breath of fresh air" like Koeman or Allardyce, or last season's spending spree. Nor do I want to be told (yet again) that "this time is different".

Silva and Brands have got a real job on their hands here. Can we not just wish them well and support them rather than praise them to the hilltops before any of their much-vaunted last-minute signings have even kicked a ball.