Silva happy at Everton and “thinking big”

I will try to read between the lines further,

"I was clear with Marcel (Brands), with our board, with our owners and with our chairman, that to sign somebody we have to be clear that they are coming here to improve us – and for the positions that we really need."

I wonder if this has something to do with the U23 "transfer budget" oft-mentioned last year that suddenly disappeared last summer once Marcel and Silva arrived. Though, Unsworth acts as if the first team and U23 are separate entities, they are essentially eating from the same pot. It could be a case of saying "Well, Unsie has his eye on x, y and z 18-year-olds that will cost us 㾶 million," and Silva saying "Bollocks to that, chuck that 㾶 million to the Yerry Mina deal."

I am confident we are in good hands here.

Nice update and views from the manager. Now let's get back to playing the games.

He fills me with more confidence than the previous manager so that makes me content at this moment.

We do need to be patient but Palace with their counter-attacking style will tell us a lot about if this coach is learning and adapting.

Seems sensible, points out, as most TW folk agree, this may take more than a few weeks and is honest.

Like the guy. Doesn't search for silly headlines.

The shift in personnel both on and off the field has been amazing and all for the better, a complete turnaround in such a short space of time.

We are entering a special time; when the squad is all available, we will be a force to be reckoned with.

Great times ahead!

Back to the Silva interview. He is so refreshing, particularly after Allardyce, who usually spouted rubbish about himself and his dubious achievements. It is still far too early to draw any definite conclusions, but he is always to the point and never pompous. He still has a lot to prove to win over Evertonians who have had too many disappointments for far too long. It is essential to give him time.

The part of the interview that Lyndon didn't include was were Prentice said Silva's approach to buying players was very measured, unlike Koemans who acted like a kid given a trolley in Toys R Us and told he has 15 minutes to fill the trolley.

I know some Blues are very wary to start to get too optimistic, remembering how that optimism under Martinez soon evaporated. And I can understand that and Silva is yet to acheive as high a finish as Martinez. But I always thought under Martinez the cards would all come tumbling down as they did.

Time will tell whether Silva is the real deal, I happen to think he is, and at last when we go away from home I don't think we will do well to get a draw. Even besides his buys, when you think our last two managers were both ex-centre-backs, yet Silva has got Keane playing much better than either of his predecessors.

I agree. Also, out of respect to the other players, Silva is hardly likely to say something like "We need Mina playing ASAP he is 100% going to be a starter."

I hope Marco is the real deal. Only time will tell I suppose.

I couldn't agree more. The man was stubborn and just didn't pay enough attention to defending. And many on these pages just didn't like the possession football he employed.

But I always got the sense he bought into Everton 100%, was committed, and loved the Club.

I think Silva isn't quite as "pink-pegasus-with-wings" as Martinez, but he definitely seems as committed.

The League Cup still grates on me immensely. But overall I'd give Silva a B- grade, and he's trending up in my opinion.

As Colin says, time will tell.

He says himself that replacing the first team wouldn't have been the right strategy until he could run his rule over the players.

He'll need time and possibly 3 or 4 Windows and I hope the supporters get behind him and Brands.

Maybe given time it will happen but so glaringly obvious since Lukaku's departure. Still maintaining the faith but we have to identify a target striker and secure him in January.

Maybe they did, but the market wasn't awash with options.

What they did bring in is two more attacking players who create chances. When we had Rom, one of the biggest concerns was that he often received very little service. He thrived when Barkley and Deulofeu were at their best, and for a period was effective in his link-up with Bolasie. Koeman identified that we needed greater “productivity” I believe he called it; his signing just didn't work out.

This season, we have 13 goals in 8 matches so far, and in only two of those games has Bernard played. Arguably we would be 6 to 7 points better off if we had a class striker given the amount of decent chances that have been created, but at least this season they are being created. Remember last season, entire games without a shot on target?

I reckon a striker will come, but his priorities were to get the defensive group up to scratch and get the left side of the attack sorted. Even average forwards will get goals if there are enough chances created, just look at Ings, Austin and Murray for example.

Stephen #28, I'm quite certain they saw the need and identified goalscorers to pursue. They just weren't able to find one who met all four criteria – good enough, available, rationally priced, and interested in coming to us. (Or whose wife was interested – merci, Mrs Giroud.)

Quality strikers are the toughest thing to find in the transfer market. As Jim Harrison says, it'll happen.

What advantage could possibly be gained by fans praising Silva?

Could it be they are just expressing their true opinion?

I saw the free kick on one of the American online services. I was reading the preamble about the circumstances of the goal and Rooney was described as "the former Manchester United forward".

That doesn't detract from the fact it was one of the sweetest strikes of a football I've ever seen.

We are a couple players short of having a starting 11 who could really strike fear into the top 6. A top class striker and a central midfielder to partner Gueye and things will get very interesting.

As already pointed out, it's a tough task getting in a striker for sensible money. If he's proven Premier League quality, and in the right age bracket, he'll cost a fortune. If he's from a foreign league then he's a gamble.

Tosun and Niasse were foreign gambles. Lukaku was proven Premier League quality. Getting Lukaku was a masterstroke by Martinez. Silva and Brands need to pull off something similarly masterful. We'd waited sooo long for a striker who could actually score. It's bloody frustrating to have had one and not make the most of it.

I'm optimistic that Silva and Brands will get it right. There will be many strikers who will be excited by the prospect of lining up with Richarlison, Bernard, and Sigurdsson. A top striker will feel he'll get 20 league goals playing with these players. Someone like Rashford should jump at the chance to join us. 20-25 league goals playing in your natural position with us or 12-15 playing out wide for Man Utd? For someone with so much to prove and develop, we would be a great fit. Sadly, he's out of our price range.

January will be interesting.

So, in my mind, that leaves the striker. I really rate Rashford too . Getting him would be a coup. Shame we didn't demand him as part of the Lukaku sale. We really would have a cracking strike line up for the future Richarlison, Rashford & Lookman are very young and all class.

I really want Calvert-Lewin to make the grade, Maybe a loan and playing every week would be best for his development. But to get to the top 6 and dare I say it beyond we need a more finished article.

Or maybe Richarlison will continue and thrive in the No 9 role. He is a natural finisher quick and has some aerial ability. The service to him will need to be tailored to suit his game.

Against Leicester, Wes Morgan was clearly told, do not let Richarlison turn with the ball. He will leave you for dead. That's why Morgan kept going through the back of him. Richarlison will get more of the same. I'm a bit concerned about him getting injured because of the treatment he will get from desperate defenders of Wes Morgan's ilk.

Playing him Centre is best only as a short-term fix. I'm sure Brands is considering the best options for us there. Maybe even a world-class loan in January? — before it becomes the exclusive transfer priority for the summer.

Yes, both will cost... but are achievable.

I'm really looking forward to Sunday's game to watch Bernard first hand and see if we are evolving into a good team or is it still flashes of individual brilliance.

When we start to move and keep the ball with confidence and zip and start keeping clean sheets at the back, then I will start to believe we are becoming a top team.

Hopefully Silva will keep basically the same team as last week with the exception of Coleman instead of Kenny.

Up the toffees!

The Wolves game turned on Jags being sent off. Away from home, we got something. Morgan ended up being sent off because he couldn't deal with Richarlison. Sigurdsson showed eventually why we paid so much for him, because he can make the difference when it matters.

He's not big but very sharp and mobile. The next Aguero possibly. A proper goalscorer. Looks a player to me.

Simples!

It would be nice to see a couple of demolition jobs in the next few games, tomorrow and Man Utd away. Wishful thinking!

I hope the international break hasn't impacted the squad and the team kicks on from Leicester.

Tosun and Clavert-Lewin fit the above — apart from the scoring goals bit..

"For me when you talk about motivation and commitment, it's an obligation," Silva added.

"It's not that one win can give our players more motivation. It can give more confidence and a smile on a players' face for sure, but commitment and motivation is an obligation when you work for a club like ours."

Lee @54, we do have two kids at Wigan but I definitely heard during the transfer window that you can't loan two players off the same club so maybe you're right about different divisions or it also might just be a rule for the Premier League?

I think great things are around the corner and really look forward to every game home and away more so than I have for some time. It feels good to be going to the game knowing that the team will be playing entertaining football with a number of players who can turn a game.

So, hats off to M&M for a very good start so far and also to Mr Moshiri for getting the right personnel.

As others have said, early days but plenty to be positive about.

As for a striker, finding a 20-25 goals a season man will be very difficult particularly in January. Not sure if I can think of anyone who fits the bill. I would like to see Calvert-Lewin sent out on loan if we do bring someone in; I still think he may have a lot to offer but needs more experience and to sharpen up – sink or swim time. Whilst I am suggesting either is the answer it would be interesting to see how Hornsby (when fit) and Henry Onyekerou would perform. Not 100% convinced about Rashford, could Zaha be persuaded to join us?

I've said it before but Moshiri needs to give these guys three windows minimum, with funds to spend by whatever means, before he, Moshiri, can reasonably expect to see any real progress on making a meaningful attempt to secure Champions League football regularly, and if it's there after just three windows, I think he should name the new stadium the "M&M Miracle Stadium".

He is fast, strong can hold the ball up and link play and is a decent enough finisher on the deck and with his head. He's scored goal's for United and Arsenal domestically and in the champion's league and also performed well in an England shirt.

I think Wellbeck would be a good signing for us plus he is a manc and would almost certaily jump at the chance to move back up north.

In my opinion the only doubt on going for him is his injury record which is the not the best at all but for the cut price money we could get him for and the impact he could possibly make I'd say he is worth a punt.

It's also the board's duty to back him all the time and give him the best possible chance while showing the fans they mean business.