Bolasie heads list of outbound deadline-day loan deals

I find the McCarthy link a strange one, as he hasn't even had a run out or appearance from the sub's bench since his injury, how can Silva assess him on those grounds?

The other one that mystifies me to a degree is Bolasie, he terminates is own contract (loan) with Villa, has little or no chance of breaking in to the current squad. Unless there is a last minute development he is languishing around FF till next window, or, does he know something will happen?

On the bright side we aren't in a relegation scrap at the moment.

He won't want to play in the Championship and a Huddersfield will be needing some cash

If Gueye does go he will leave a huge hole in the middle of the park. To replace him, would love Davies to put in a Huddersfield-type performance against teams who aren't bottom of the league but the jury appears to be out on that one.

At least with Mooy we know the lad has played in the English league so there's none of that six months to acclimatise lark.

I'd make them a good offer.

I don't like keeping unhappy players - perhaps the Gueye thing is brinkmanship on our part to get a better deal.

You can imagine at board level they might be writing off anything special this season and considering profits from sales.

Lord knows Gueye was one of the few Walsh and Koeman got right - will he have to pay for the rest ?

A sign.

With a huge arrow on it.

Indicating that the opposition goal is THATAWAY!

What a brain dead statement to make.

Was Tim Cahill not initially a “shitty player” from a team in the Championship?

I'd rather take a punt on Mooy (who was head and shoulders above anything when he came on the pitch Tuesday night) than spend £40 million on another foreign mercenary that doesn't like the weather.

At least the Australians have a winning attitude when it comes to sport, something we have missed for years.

I'd personally love Mooy here after watching him last season and earlier this.

I don't think loan only outgoings will do it so I think it would have to be a sale/s. It would appear that the only player Silva wants to sell (if reports are true and they're probably not) is Tosun.

I can't see anyone offering the reported 㿀m price for Tosun so that looks like a non-starter. Therefore I, rather long-windedly, agree with Mike Gaynes that there'll be no business for us today.

Avoid Sky, watch a good documentary, or Winterwatch, or go out and get pished. Avoid bananas, custard or ANYTHING that's bright yellow and attached to a loquacious Jock (racist alert) with a penchant for talking absolute shite!

Amen.

in terms of winning attitude, I would again question that with someone from a rival team in the Premier League doing worse than us. It would seem to me if Mooy had that, he would be driving them on to at least perform better or win more games. I think it would be a mistake to keep signing players who have been relegated or are part of teams that do worse than us – their losing habit could end up infecting the whole club.

Seeing as we are short of goals and a proven Premier League striker, why not loan Lukaku back? I'm not saying he would come but I would be happy with that

I'm of the opinion that our mindset needs to change – that's us supporters and the club – stop buying low level players from low level clubs, losers that have never played for higher echelon clubs like we've been doing for years.

It's a mentality issue that runs deep through Everton the club, and it's supporters. I'm just trying to promote a thinking process which doesn't see us constantly shopping in Lidl, perhaps not Waitrose, but maybe Sainsburys.

Everton is a mediocre club with a mediocre attitude, and that needs to change by not buying mediocre players.

They weren't a waste of money.

I think PSG will stump up a few extra million and we will grant him his wish to leave. Mainly because our season is over and also it generally isn't a good idea to keep players who want away.

I would like to see a quality loan reinforcement come in to cover the position. I'm hoping Mr Brands has someone lined up of quality who could become permanent if the loan is a success.

On the striking front, forget Batshuyai at 㿏M, stick with Tosun and Calvert-Lewin until June, see if they can justify us keeping them in the picture. There was a better showing from Cenk on Tuesday, can he build on it?

Then from now onwards plan for a quality centre-forward to join in June as a priority No 1.

The Gana money, if he is sold, would be better spent on making Zouma permanent if that is possible.

Use the Gana money to buy in the summer.

That's a lot to try and sort out in half a day though...

(Apologies if this has already been mooted)

James #24, I'm in agreement with you. Mooy is able to look pretty good in a poor team, but if we buy players who wouldn't make the bench of a top 6 team, then we'll never become one.

Sigurdsson looked fantastic at Swansea, far better than Mooy looks at Huddersfield. Yet, now we have Sigurdsson he doesn't stand out at all.

We need players that either stand out in very good teams or show huge potential in lesser teams. Mooy has looked pretty good in a poor team and wouldn't interest Brands in the slightest.

They look great at poor teams that lose, and are expected to lose. Their poor games are often ignored as with the weak elements of their game, and anything decent they do is highlighted.

I'd prefer going after someone like n'didi (think thats the name) from leicester, or put the trust in Brands to find a gem who won't cost the earth.

Haha. I'm not ruling out a third time for Peter Beagrie myself!!!

There's only been a handful in the last five years that have actually properly made it.

Lukaku being the standout.

Sigurdsson has been fairly consistent goals wise but was grossly overpriced at the time.

Jury is out on Mina and Gomes and I wouldn't be spending 㿊-40 million on him unless he shows something I haven't seen in his game yet.

Digne is okay going forward but defensively very ordinary and found wanting.

Richarlison is faring the best but as stated whilst he's got an eye for goal his all-round game isn't great.

Pickford is just about making the grade at the minute but still for me has far too many lapses and erratic moments.

Tosun, not worth the money paid.

Walcott not worth the money paid.

Keane is maybe just about making it but still not totally convinced by him.

Bolasie, Klaassen, Williams, Sandro and Schneiderlin should all be filed under “to be destroyed “.

Since 2013, there's only been Lukaku, McCarthy (first season) Barry (first season) and maybe one or two others like Gana and perhaps Pickford sneaks in just about, Gylfi perhaps depends where you sit on the fence with him, who have really made a regular impact.

So when you look at the bigger picture it's not just Aaron Mooy that might not reach the expectations.

Very few Everton signings from recent years do.

Name me an EFC midfield player you can rely on – apart from Gueye? No-one is my answer. A terrier is exactly what we need right now in that half-hearted midfield of ours.

Can't take anyone on loan, and I doubt they're interested in spending any money on an already bloated squad. Doesn't look like that Bolasie will get his wish to go to a Premier League club either on loan or permanent deal. I bet Silva is none too pleased to have him at the training ground having already told him he has no future at the club. Soon to be joined in the summer by all the other deadwood returning.

How we get these players off our books must be the most worrying part for Brands and Silva. Most on wages that most Premier League clubs couldn't afford never mind the transfer fee. I would imagine Everton would have to agree with the buying clubs to pay a high proportion of their wages. How that will impact on our ability to bring in players in the summer will be interesting.

We need to find a way of getting 'proven or potential' top 6 players here and not settling for second tier players, otherwise how are we going to meet our objectives?

Mooy is a class act. I feel a completely unwarranted sense of pride that he's ‘made it' in the Premier League.

I'd have him in a heartbeat at EFC. Very, very clever player.

Then again, I am someone who thinks Sigurdsson is still hugely underrated and under-utilised.

Our signings have not overall been too clever anyway. A clear out of our forest of deadwood is needed before we risk bringing even more in.

However, we would miss out on potential transfer funds (after us making the initial outlay in the first place) or use of the player. So, from a business point of view it makes no sense to buy out the contract and forego any potential income.

The next best solution to not finding a permanent buyer, is to find a loan club, who could potentially pay a loan fee and pay some or all of his ludicrous wages.

There may be differing opinions to who these players are but certainly some spring cleaning needs to be done if this club is to move on.

They have a bunch of players who just don't measure up to top Premier League standard.

Aside from the legality of such things, what message would that send to current players as well as potential new signings?!

That may well be the most mental thing I've read on here in a long time. :-)

I would love to know how much of his wages we are paying while out on loan. I would love to know if their is a player playing in the Premier League not at a top 6 club who is earning 𧴰,000 per week. I would hazard a guess and say none.

I am baffled how Moshiri, a top accountant thought that this was good business. Schneiderlin another on a reported 𧴰,000 per week and can't even make the bench, who is thinking "Oh he would be good for our team" earning that sort of money?

These 2 are just the tip of the iceberg, most of the on-loan players are on very good salaries. And, if you can't offload them in the summer, can you imagine what the atmosphere would be like at Finch Farm with 7 or 8 players who are not wanted at the club?

He was rubbish. I agree with you on Sharp, he'd also be rubbish!

And he's 78!!

Lots of Premier League players outside the top 6 will be on 𧴰k a week.

Felipe Anderson at West Ham 𧵄k; Vardy and Schmeichel at Leicester, to name three.

Managers don't give a toss what players are paid, they just want them in their team, let the board worry about that. So if you're Koeman or Fat Sam, these players are a punt worth taking because they probably know they won't be at the club long enough to be held accountable.

I reckon Bat would be keen and up for it at GP, but does he really have what it takes to perform week in week out in the Premier League? I'm not convinced but that's only my opinion.

Some nice surprises for Everton tonight? Wishful thinking. If Gana stays will it rock the boat, if he has submitted a written transfer request then, reluctantly I'd try and off load. If this is the case it's another kick in the teeth for Silva.

Mooy did run the show earlier this season when Huddersfield came and he ran the game. He looks the type who won't shirk, and gives 100% every game, but unless Huddersfield have given up for this season, I can't see them selling as they may try and achieve a great escape.

Interesting evening on TW, tonight and let's see what happens.

No-one's coming today and that's no bad thing. We've got a pretty decent first XI who have not been at their best for the last month or two but getting in short term fixes is not the answer if we want to move forwards.

This summer will be a huge ask for Brands and hopefully he can manage to shift some of the deadwood off the wage bill and bring in a two or three more players to bolster the first team. We can't be buying 8 new players every year and building a team that way. Bit of consistency and a long-term plan is required.

Stephen Dobbie has 37 already this season, surely an up and coming youngster like him would be worth a punt? That first goal of his hat-trick against Dundee a couple of nights ago was a cracker.

I think we could get him for about 𧶲,000. Chump change eh? He's already got Premier League experience too. No-brainer for me.

They'll hang on till the summer, get a few out the door then try to buy a striker. Nothing to see here.

I'm feeling at peace.

Off to bed. Get up in 7 hours and see what's transpired, if anything.

That wasn't Brian's question tho!

I don't necessarily want to see anymore big money punts even this summer on players with very limited experience of English football or at least football in one of the big leagues.

This calls for International Rescue to get it done.

With the exception of Davies, all three have a good shout for being in the first XI anyway. Sure, people might say Calvert-Lewin is not good enough, but most of them think Tosun is not good enough as well, and Richarlison should play on the wing.

Apparently Michy Batshuayi is going to West Ham on loan. West Ham actually want Maxi Gomez, but will sign him on a deal that sees him move in the summer. Therefore, Batshuayi will be brought in as a stop-gap. Everton do want him, but can only spend cash on him in the summer, and will wait to see how he gets on at West Ham before making an official move.

File under #too much time on their hands

Chelsea have given the green light for either of those clubs for Batshuayi but he allegedly wants to come to Everton. It's basically down to the player. There was actually a little whisper that Everton would try to get Zouma on a permanent deal and then loan Bats but I think that's pie in the sky.

The same rag, by the way, that said Silva would resign if Gana was sold is now saying Gana's in Paris hoping something will happen. Meanwhile, the ever reliable Sky say he, and McCarthy, are going nowhere!

Regards up front, we do need a decent goal scorer, as Richarlison has done really well in his first season so far, but he can't do it all on his own.

If he got injured, we only have Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cenk Tosun, as our other strikers. Since Romelu Lukaku left, we have never really replaced him.

Ronald Koeman brought in Sandro Ramirez but he wasn't any good, Henry Onyekuru was another but needs to play enough games to obtain a work permit that would allow him to play for Everton, and Sam Allardyce brought in Cenk Tosun, who did okay to a certain extent, but hasn't really been in the team much this season since Marco Silva has been here.

Richarlison has showed promise so far and is very talented but, as I said, he can't do it all on his own and we need a quality striker to strengthen our attack up front.

That should really happen in this transfer window and only time will tell as to whether or not that will happen.

So if anything happens today, it will be Michy Bats and Gaye merry go round, or nothing.

That's my assumption anyway.

Sweet titty all.

Batshuayi won't be signing permanently at Everton and we can't loan him.

Gueye will be made against his will to stay and then flogged in the summer (once a player wants away these days it usually does happen)

McCarthy will go on loan possibly, which is pretty pointless.

We can't allow Tosun to leave now not with no real striker replacement.

However, as has already been said a dozen times in this thread - we're finishing mid-table so why panic and spend at all?

The most boring window since Mosh took over.haha

Anderlecht can have Bolasie as long as they don't send us Radzinski

Jon he is not a free man, he is under contract and all that is associated with that.

Michael Lynch I hope you understood I was being tongue in cheek by calling him a youngster! As for doing a job in the premier league, I think he struggled in his prime. Still a cracking goal record and his first against the Dundee (available on the BBC website) is an absolute cracker.

Go look it up Jay. I'm going on what I've seen this season. Madison also scores goals and is player I've followed since the championship. Brooks is another player that was linked to a lot of top clubs before Bournemouth took a punt. My point was that that you can find gems in the championship and the two I named are players in their early 20's while Sigurdsson is nearly 30 and cost a fortune comparatively.

What a let down!

Marshall
Byron, Shawcross, Van Dijk (you can have one),
Mooy, McMananan, Ince, Eagles
Austin, Dembele

I could've put more thought into this, there have been some cracking shouts. Of course, with players like Dembele we could've blown another 40 Moshiri dollars.

Enough of the mediocrity. I'm still waiting for our marquee signing to show the football world we mean business and not blowing 𧶲M to remain static as the 7th best team...

As has already been said, our season is over we will finish 7th-10th, why not use the time to maximise the opportunities for some of our young lads.

Unless a masterstroke can be pulled off by Mr Brands, forget it. This season is a write-off so start the planning now for our summer signings, then maybe next season we can achieve something.

I think our days of paying large sums for players in their late 20's is over. Brands likes younger players with potential and resale value.

The Echo has a slightly different reading of this — it's only another loan, more's the pity:

Cuco Martina is not in new Stoke boss Nathan Jones's plans and has been allowed to cut his loan short so he can make the switch to Feyenoord.

The move to Holland will be for the remainder of the season with Everton saying, at this stage, there is no permanent deal in place for the end of the campaign.

Arsenal say they can't pay any transfer fees, Chelsea couldn't bring anyone unless they sent one out so they loaned in and out, Spurs saying they can't sign anyone.

The only team spending is Newcastle and that is probably because their pot of gold has burst at the seams after years of frugality. I think it is just a matter of time before transfer fees become a thing of the past in this era of jokers making 𧼐,000 a week just to post on Twitter and take regular vacations back to Chile.

I don't know if you knew but we did put a bid in for Maddison and it was a straight choice between us and Leicester. Unfortunately he chose Leicester, some you win and some you lose. I do think that going forward Brands and Silva are both committed to bring in younger players. Seeing the money isn't as plentiful in Germany as over here their clubs are targeting young players playing at Premier League clubs.

I'm assuming we aren't going to buy someone, especially if we keep Gueye, so that seems to rule out Giroud or Batshuayi from Chelsea. Charlie Austin on loan? He seems to be behind Ings and Redmond at Southampton. He would be a punt though.

Hopefully Brands and Silva have something up their sleeve anyway. I hope it is just their poker face when they say no one is coming in...

The only reason I think, is koeman thought we were white close to having a top 4 side. These finished products were supposed to provide instant improvement and propel us into the champions league slots. And then we'd go from there. Unfortunately they all flopped so in hindsight it is just terrible business. No short term gain and no resale value. So it's put us back years. Weep weep

Lukaku McCarthy Barry Del Boy. Good signings that improved the team hugely. And he brought stones in and played Barkley. That first season is still our best in the last 20 years.

It wouldn't be deadline day without someone mentioning his name would it?

Jester.

The trouble is that the likes of Leicester, West Ham, Wolves and even Bournemouth have pretty good squads and a fair bit of cash to splash around these days. We are way off the top 5 and will do quite well just to stave off competition for 7th over the next few years. Its an increasingly tough league the PL. We all dream of winning titles and competing in the CL but the reality is you can spend £250m and not make a dent. I expect those with lofty expectations to be frustrated for a while longer!

Oh and on people saying don't buy from the lower leagues... tell that to Spurs over Aili. There are loads out there and the Sheffield Utd forward would be great.

Assume you're referring to Antonee Robinson, and the news isn't good. His recovery from November ankle surgery has been slower than anticipated. I don't think he's even back in training at Wigan.

Baines is out of contract in the summer. He's on big wages, although not Batshuayi wages, and we might have to pay more than the going rate for a backup left-back to secure Baines for another 12 months, and that would still mean Baines taking a pay cut, and it might be he's able to get a better offer elsewhere. That's a real headache for Brands in the summer.

I would keep Baines.

How do the top teams get their players then? Rooney, Stones, Arteta etc. Great players in a poor team and thats just from us. Mane, Van Dijk and a few other RS signings from poor teams come to mind.

Utter bollocks that one.

Maybe someone like Newcastle would want him for free, and so can offer him more than we would and, more importantly, give him first team football?

Southampton are unwilling to let him leave until they sign a replacement but Everton are in advanced discussions about him, so I'm being told; let's see what happens.

This video is horrifying.

As this season is over for us, Silva should play the players he expects to be here next season – so Keane with Mina. Davies a good run in midfield. Calvert-Lewin up front. Kenny a good run st right back.

If Zouma, Gomes, possibly Gueye, Tosun are not in his long term plans then put them on the subs bench intermixed with youngsters who Silva & Brands think have a chance.

We will never have a better chance to look at what we already have than now.

Southampton are allegedly unwilling to let Austin leave on anything but a permanent deal.......

My son told me about this today, but he's never right, so I'm surprised to be hearing this now!

Ohhhh behaaaave!

I'd take Ings but not that fat carthorse!

I suspect most players are taken from lower clubs to the big boys, why should we pay a premium by going to the big boys first when we can go straight to the wholesaler?

Mooy, if he keeps playing like he did against us, will end up at one of Rupert Murdoch's favourite teams. He wouldn't represent such a huge gamble for us.

I really hope we sign Zouma and force a loan through but it's very doubtful.

What about Kevin Mirallas?

Maybe Jose Baxter on loan?

Is James Vaughan still around?

Apologies as I guess I'm not cheering anyone up...

Stick with Calvert-Lewin and Tosun – focus on creating more chances... and FFS mark that zonal chap at set pieces!

I totally agree.

I totally agree there is latent talent in the championship but Maddison (who is not getting a regular game at Leicester) and Brooks are still not producing what Sigurdsson does which is score goals and provide assists. I agree, he is not the quickest... but I would put his workrate above the majority of Premier League players.

The two lads you mention are no more impressive than Tom Davies was in his first season so it is too early to judge them, IMO.

See if there's anything worth watching on the other channels...

Does this make a difference if he went, financially to him?

Regardless if he wants out, Bon voyage!

Players like Schniederlin are not even making the bench yet they take £100k+ a week home with them.

We should have moved out at least 4 or 5 on permanent deals through this window, not brought back balloon heads to reloan out at different clubs.

Niasse should have been sold not loaned, Cardiff have the money as they had it for the lad who died in the plane crash.

They need to fuck off the January transfer window now in my opinion and just go back to the good days of having it open right through until March.

And re your post #182, agreed, although both Brooks and Maddison do have skills that Davies doesn't, and a higher ceiling in my opinion.

Roll on Summer.

Don't worry — I've got my coat.

They're now saying Batshuayi wants a move to Spurs. Funny how that's only come to light since it was announced that Everton have no interest in buying him.

Sky continue to go live to Finch Farm where the reporter reports the same thing over and over again.

Spurs are in London, of course, but they can have him, we don't need any more overpriced flops.

I was at Saint Mary's last season when we were stuffed 4-1 and he out-muscled our defence easily. I know the purists will shudder but I think it's a good call.

Sorry about your house sale news, from my own experience not something that ever runs smoothly, a bit like our transfers... lol.

"I hope I am wrong but I have grave doubts about signing Niasse. He seems to have a good football brain but almost all the goals and assists that I have seen of him on YouTube would not result in a goal in the Premier League and his footwork seems poor.

At the reported 㾹M~15M it could be way too much. Remember, McGeady came from the same league; his goals and skills looked great against Moscow teams prior to buying him and he was reputed to be only cost about ٢M. I think it is another panic buy."

Obviously the landscape was different when we signed Campbell in 99' but the principle is pretty much similar to us right now.

We are limping over the line this season and look woefully short of attacking options, hopefully Richarlison, Tosun and Calvert-Lewin remain fit, albeit two of the three are better substitutes than starters.

Maybe we are seeing the root of all evil, coming to the fore right now, with clubs beginning to realise how much of the gravy train, players/agents are taking out of every new television deal that is made, and despite all this money, most of them are either going backwards or just standing still.

It's a world of difference from Austin who can't get a game for a team that barely stayed up, is struggling again, and is only wanted by Championship clubs.

He's not world class but what he probably would do better than any of our current strikers is hold the ball up, back to goal, and dig in during games like Brighton away, Southampton away, Leicester at home — where we had bully arse centre-backs.

On the Mooy debate I would agree with Jim Bennings and others.

People who go on about 'top six players' should perhaps realise that the only players who could be classed as such, are players who play in a top six team at any given time. So, it begs the question, do we currently have any "top six players"?

The obvious answer is a resounding NO. Because we are currently not a top six team. Therefore, it follows that we should be looking at players who could possibly help make us into one of those teams.

Like it or lump it the table doesn't lie. We are in desperate need of players who put a shift in and have an end product.

If that is "unfashionable" names like Mooy, we should remember names from the past such as Alan Harper, Kevin Sheedy (yes I remember some of the scorn at the time regarding Sheeds, being an RS reserve), oh yes and in even brighter times, Paul Power.

Even I raised an eyebrow when Howard signed him, but what a fucking brilliant job he did in every position he was asked to play and I think he played virtually all positions excepting GK an CF.

So, lets stop being snobby eh boys, cos its laughable in our current position. At the moment I would wish for a Paul Power in every outfield position because even an "average" player like him could find a team mate from 3yds and we could be certain he would bust a gut for the right to wear that shirt.

I am sure Paul himself would agree, its not a lot to ask is it?

He also predicted that the FA Cup and the League Cup would not have the prestige they had then in the coming years. Very knowledgeable man Mr Wenger, and I think he still has a role to play in the game.

Or perhaps do you see him adapting to our current style of play? I doubt he has the fitness to play the way he'd have to. He also lacks the pace. He might be a presence in the box, but Marco Silva wants a “different profile”, in other words, a different type.

Usually you're on the money but the old memory must be going a bit. Campbell left Arsenal for Forest. He was playing for them in The Championship when he decided to join Trabzonspor in 1998. Souness was the boss at Galatassary until about 96.

I myself want better quality than Austin but sometimes it's just having that alternative. I feel our attacking play is too predictable at times and we can't mix it up when Plan A hasn't worked.

It's not an ideal world but then we can't go out and sign Salah, Mane, Aguero, Kane, Higuain.

We took a punt on players for big fees from abroad, like Tosun and Niasse; they have not worked out.

Lookman, and Bernard, not quite wingers, they come in off the line and try and play inside, but this isn't easy when you don't have a centre-forward, who really gets hold of the ball?

I'm not sure on Austin, but when I've seen him he's big, strong, and aggressive, and that is something Everton are lacking all over the park. We go side to side, we go backwards, but it very rarely goes forward, into the forward's feet, and this to me is what football, should always be about.

We will be safe and with being out of both cups it may be the best time to test some kids fully. If he fails then we take our time getting Gana's replacement in the summer.

League's done now and we haven't exactly been pulling up trees with him in the team. Stupid if we don't cash in.

㿆M is fair. We're not going down, we can manage okay.

If Gueye was a football ground he would be a rabbit hutch in Kirkby.

About right for us.

It's a bit early to say Baningime is more disciplined than Gueye.

Gana is a poor user of the ball but he's miles ahead of the rest when it come so to putting out fires in our midfield.

㿆 million? I'd take that for him but it's come too late now to replace him probably.

Using a very simplistic comparison, that's at least another potential four seasons Gana could play.

Not all players' careers are over at 30. Imagine if a club had "ditched" David Silva because he was approaching 30.

Sorry about Campbell. I was in the gym so didn't have time to check. I think he's a different level to Austin and I think this Everton is a different level to that side who looked down until Campbell's 9 goals in 7 games.

On Gueye, some really really rate him, and the manager is amongst them. Why not dig his heels in now and sell in the summer?

How much was Klaassen?

He goes to ground a lot, you pick up knocks. You stop being able to run them off. Those knocks see you out longer and longer.

Those downward spirals can often come out of nowhere.

Take the 㿊M, save the money til the summer to replace him with a better player.

I actually feel it's a massive mistake and will cause a lot of resentment toward's the management from the dressing room.

Silva can hardly preach on the matter after his behaviour when we came calling for him.

Around the Mooey discussion, why not sign from teams beneath us? Them lot signed Robertson, Van Djik, Shaqiri, Wijnaldum & Mane from lower teams and play a part in their first team, I could pick a starting eleven from teams below us that would likely beat our strongest 11.

The biggest challenge is value for money, half the reason that most of the recent signings are deemed unsuccessful is we pay huge fees and/ or huge wages.

I'd rather us look at players in the under-24 bracket that could come in for a reasonable price on reasonable wages and have a hunger for the game. It's less pressure than a big signing & If they don't work out, it's easier to get them off the books than a Niasse, Bolasie or Schneiderlin.

Given recent and current DOF and Managers, how have we not taken a few more ٣m -㾶m punts on Championship, European and South American players, you could argue that Lookman, Vlasic & Onyekuru are players most likely to develop in to either good players or ones we make good profits on.

I reckon it will take a few years to undo the poor recruitment since we have had a bit of money. We need an inspired signing soon...

I wouldn't let him go for 㿔M at the moment; yes, at the end of the season... but it's too risky now!!

I'm not saying it's good or bad to keep hold of Gana. The only point I'm making is that using his age "alone" as an argument to let him go is a faulted one.

The players will definitely be on holiday mode going forward, although you could argue their season ended due to their fragile mentality on 2nd December.

Gana not getting his move, may create an even worst atmosphere in the team. It never tends to work well for us when we stop players from leaving. "Money Can't Buy You Stones" didn't last too long..

Come back, Sam — all is forgiven!

If Everton set a price and decide what the club would require to let him go, why should they then fold when their valuation is nowhere near being met?

How many goals between Calvert-Lewin, Tosun and Niasse?

Did you REALLY give in to the naysayers that said we didn't need a striker? How blinkered they were and as a club we are! A top striker becomes available and we turn up our nose!

Well done, Everton. Well done, ToffeWebbers.

We get the team we idiots deserve...

He signed a contract; if we don't want to sell him, so be it. I don't think he is the problem with how we are playing and I think his passing is not as bad as some make out.

In fact, after a very promising start, Gomes's passing has been pretty poor for several recent games.

㿅 Million in today's terms buys you very little. We have 6 or 7 wasters that we need to flog on and hopefully Brands can do that in the summer.

Again, Steve @238, I for one, would seriously love Silva to "forget all he's done" cos even you as his agent (haha) must see that "all he's done" amounts to fuck-all.

A good coach is adaptable and my main contention when arguing with you before he was appointed was that his record in the Premier League proved he was unable to adapt and therefore, not a good coach.

Even your espousal of his tactical "genius" proved his intransigence. "He always plays with a 6ft 4 centre back", "He always plays with" a certain type of defensive midfielder etc.

Now your "yard dog" description of Austin bears out my earlier post regarding snobbishness.

If something isn't working then fix it! Even if it means getting a "yard dog" in like Austin. Because, in my opinion, he is infinitely better than the dozing "pussy cats" who don't give a shit, that we currently have in "our yard"!!

Game of bluff going to the wire, I think we will get the 㿊M — or very close to it.

I know he's a professional but what about his mindset? How will he perform?

If we compare Gueye to Tosun we should hold out for £75 million!!!

Moshiri will have to take a big loss as their contracts run down. It's a good transfer window for the board, there is no pressure to bring anyone in.

Why, when people get famous, do they get their teeth done too big? What's wrong with making new teeth fit your mouth??

A decent Championship player at best.

LMAO. That's so true mate!

There's worse midfielders still training at Finch Farm. I hope he does well and proves a point.

Interesting to see if PSG up their offer in the next few minutes.

As expected, very little dealing this window for Everton.

So letting him have half a season to get games and get fit for next season after his injury problems early this season? Well I think it makes sense.

I was really impressed with how he played when he got the chance last season.

The remit to Silva would have been to prove himself to the board that he is the manager to take this club forward beyond next season. Turn the form around without any additions; if not, then he may not be the manager at the start of next season.

It's really honestly remarkable. Let's persist with Calvert-Lewin!!! Wow!!! That will be fun to watch...

Wake up, guys. It's pathetic what we're aiming at: Calvert-Lewin (Under-21 striker) vs Batshuyai (World Cup semi-final striker).

Some fans on here really need to understand football and how to judge a footballer properly. Living in some weird wonder-world 'Tosun & Calvert-Lewin will see us right...'

Well done, guys!

Plus the usual humiliation from the RS??

And more losses against the other Sky 6???

I'd like to see also what's gonna happen to quite a few of the U23s, as some are at the end of their time at EFC, and will have to move to continue playing at a decent level (Foulds, Sambou)

I hope Baningime is not forgotten, and the usual loan clauses are set up, just in case.

Let's see if Jimmy McCarthy stays, as I think he has a role to play during the remainder of this season.

Calvert-Lewin has potential — and maybe more!

Do you honestly believe that any amount of shouting on this site re: a striker, or any player, has any leverage with the powers that be at EFC?

Connolly's loan cancelled at Wigan and then he's joined Bolton.

Beni Baningime joins Wigan. Both in the Championship.

Antony Evans in League One with Blackpool.

Is Beni replacing Connolly? Or was Connolly playing full-back?

Skills, attitude and personalities, as in all jobs, it's finding the right chemistry.

I recall Unsy, saying once he had it in his locker. It seems the only youngster with a remote chance of coming through is Tom, but he's gonna have his work cut out, but I hope he gets his belief back.

Let's hope so.

He's not that good, and you can't use a World Cup semi-final appearance in isolation as ammunition. How many goals has he scored since? Where's he been since?

Oh and if you can use the World Cup for ammo, then Calvert-Lewin scored the WINNER in the U20 World Cup Final!!!

No Batshuayi for us, thank fuck!

Oh yes! Calvert-Lewin has potential – how could I forget???

Potential is so much better than getting in someone that can actually make an impact.

I'm so annoyed, so angry that we still persist with these rubbish strikers (5 league goals a season???) instead of a proven striker.

What is our mission statement exactly? To be a mid-table rubbish Premier League club? Okay fine. Brilliant transfer window...

But, if it's to attempt to launch into top 6, then be honest, we are not really going for that... are we??

The club and the fans don't know how to judge a player and that's why we end up with Niasse, Calvert-Lewin & Tosun up top... Brilliant. What a great transfer window. And, worst of all — we are okay with it!

ToffeWebbers — you ARE the problem!

Or, put it another way: "Under-20 World Cup Winner" versus “Flop wherever he's been”...

Calvert-Lewinis a Championship striker or impact sub at best. He should be nowhere near our first XI. I've never seen a player 2nd to every ball so often.

Have you been reading from Batshuayi's agent's glossy brochure?

"World Cup semi-final striker" indeed, injury-time sub, if you read the small print.

𧵘k a week wage plus 㿏M is a bit of a leap of faith in my opinion. He hardly played in the World Cup, playing 2nd fiddle to the Man Utd reserve striker. May be better options available in Summer, so in the meantime, let's see if Calvert-Lewin has what it takes.

Marcel Brands will run with ruthlessness and will be wise to the fortune frittered away on crap, these last few years.

Let's see what the summer transfer window, brings in.

Don't be so silly, Kase.

Worst window in living memory...

I'm just so frustrated that we're happy to go with the guys up top vs Batshuyai instead

I hope I'm wrong but if not then the club and ToffeWebbers should be big enough to be accountable and say "Yes, we should have bought Batshuyai" instead of being stupid.

Would we miss a good defensive midfielder as much as we would benefit from for a proven international goalscorer??

I'd say he would have gave us the focal point and finishing ability up top we have been badly missing.

I have no doubt he will do well for Palace.

More importantly, Brands really rates him. Silva might not as much, or he'd have started more often, but let's wait and see. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, as the saying goes.

Here, with half a dozen others who don't want to be here!

Am I right over the past year he has signed maybe two extensions to his contract? A massive add-on to the existing daft salary... only to do what?

To fuck off when it now suits him? Get real. This is what's wrong with this game now.

He'll have a cob on now, and will deliberately misplace passes... so nothing has changed there then!

Let's be clear: we have priced him out of a move. I can only imagine that doing that does wonders for moral!

I take a completely contrarian view to you.

Harsh on Gana? We have invested heavily in him with a long term contract.

If he is furious, suck it up.

Question the club's thinking? It makes a change we didn't lay down and have our bellies tickled and take the money as we traditionally do when clubs come calling for our better players.

I'm delighted he is staying.

I, for one, have started to come around and reckon we might have something worth working with.

So take your mission statements and terrible transfer windows and have a decent kip...

Gana can be upset, but he needs to look at the little value that PSG put on him. If they wanted him, pay his market worth.

Please let it happen...

Don't give me this 'elite club' crap. They're no Marseille or St Etienne or Lyon.

Also, I'm glad we didn't go blowing insane money on desperation signings, like last January.

James Maddison is a regular at Leicester. He's currently out with a knee injury. If he was fit, he'd be one of the first names on the team sheet, such has been his impact.

Personally, I prefer a No 10 who can run and carry the ball. Sigurdsson can't do this because he's too slow. I'd like Sigurdsson played deeper as a traditional No 8 (alternated with Gomes) and Bernard or Lookman tried centrally as our playmaker.

No player in their right mind would turn down PSG to stay here under the present circumstances.

All we are left with now is an unhappy player who will most likely down tools and be sold for even less in the summer.

And, as others have pointed out, I suppose you *can* call him a "World Cup semifinal striker" in that he *did* sit on the bench for Belgium... except for that one time they let him onto the pitch and he kicked the ball off his face.

Also, I think you seriously overestimate how much collective pull we have with Marcel Brands.

A player who no longer wants to play for the club and we are offered over his market value? A player who never shows up against the big boys and has been found wanting against the little boys this season!

Are we really going to build a team around this player at 29... really? Shocking decision. We should be looking to the future; this season is over. Crazy.

We dodged a bullet there!!

No need to bolster the squad now.

Let's hope we're already hard at work on getting a few cut-price deals in early on this summer.

He's not very good and that was a lot of money and now he's pissed off. It was a chance to cash out on a very limited player which is unusual because most of our players you couldn't give away.

We don't have a clue.

Too much "remember when" on here and I agree with Tony Soprano on benefit of that topic.

Liverpool and Man Utd are the two biggest clubs in England. They've won less than Man City and Chelsea recently. It takes time to change the natural order.

It's the same in France. It takes time for PSG to knock Marseille off their perch. The difference being PSG didn't exist 50 years ago, whereas Man City and Chelsea at least have a long history.

If he handed in a transfer request then he may now be pissed off at management for not accepting the PSG bid (low or high).

The question is now whether he will be in the starting eleven after stating he wanted to leave; and, if so, how will he perform thinking how he could have been playing for a top team and in the Champions League.

If having his head turned is likely to affect his game then we will soon find out but it may be better for Silva to start making changes anyway given there is nothing to lose.

That hasn't stopped them badly unsettling the player and even the manager by all accounts. The whole transfer system worldwide is corrupt from top to bottom and the entertainment value of the game has plummeted dramatically because of it. Most top players are more skilled at diving than playing football.

It has more to do with not wanting to pay a ٤M loan fee and 𧵘k a week to a mercenary Chelsea player who, from the perspective of our league position, won't do anything to improve our final outlook... We can finish 7th with what we have, we won't finish any higher if we signed Messi, Bale & Mbappe.

We need to wait until the summer, wait until the wages of Baines, Jagielka, Williams, Mirallas, Dowell etc are off the books and we've also moved on the likes of Schneiderlin & Sandro as the wage bill has already spiralled out of control for a club with our turnover.

We can then offer a Premier League salary to a striker who will genuinely give us something rather than wasting money on club draining journeymen... which last January's 㿔M and 𧵬k a week has, as so often has been the case over the last three windows, proven to be.

When the club says we can't sign anyone else until we lower the wages or we sell a player means exactly that. Personally, I'm all for a bit more due diligence when it comes to player signings.

If only there was an ignore button!! He must be on the EFC payroll or lead Defence Lawyer for Silva. I feel really sorry for them both!!

Leon Osman got better in his late 20's, as did Peter Reid and many others. Personally, I think Batshuyai was overpriced but will prove to be an excellent purchase for Palace.

Whenever I watched him play for Chelsea, I was very impressed with him. He will get better and better and we will rue the day we missed out on him.

Why is that so hard for some to understand? You can only sell players other clubs are willing to buy!

Even handed/minded response – fair play. However, with all due respect – winning games/ scoring goals and enjoying matches is what being a fan isn't all about.

We may still finish 7th and we may not. It's a risk. But, if we aren't gonna win the Premier League nor challenge, then let's at least win a few games eh! But we can only do that with a goal scorer – not Calvert-Lewin.

After splurging money in wages for the likes of Sandro Ramirez, Morgan Schneiderlin and Cenk Tosun, Moshiri can be forgiven for not splurging a further (rumoured) 𧵘k a week or ٦.3M pa on a huge punt on Batshuayi. As much of a farce FFP appears to be across Europe, you know that Everton would probably fall foul of it.

* don't get me started on agent fees.

Clearly they thought they could low-ball & force Everton's hand. I feel like just about every club in the world is confident they can mug Everton off in transfer dealings.

Then there's the knock-on effect: the player will be gutted that his dream move never came off, his mind will not be settled for the next week or so, and probably won't be selected. Poor decision all round from my perspective.

We're bad at selling as well as buying. Whatever you say his obligations are now, he wont be giving maximum. His mindset should surely be considered not just the replacement.

I also think we could get a better player with not much more. Maybe one that could even pass or shoot!

There is the chance a player puts in a request but is more than professional when he doesn't get his wish. But in this case, with PSG bidding the highest they were allowed, I think rejecting them was the right move.

If Gana really wants to leave, he'll play his arse off for the next four months, and perhaps stoke the interest of a couple of other big clubs in Europe, creating a bidding war. You never know...

John P, Derek, Roman and Tom, I for one don't expect Gana's performance to fall off based on this mess. He's a complete professional who gives his all every moment on the pitch, and I think he'll put his disappointment aside and put in his best as he always does.

Brian #353, give it up. People who think that way aren't open to basic common sense like yours.

Not really seeing an up side.

I might be wrong, but my instincts tell me he's a different type of person to the likes of Lescott, Lukaku and Barkley.

I tend to agree with Mike and Rob, Gana is the sort of player who gives his all in every game.

I wonder how is our old boy Ross feeling these days, one year on. Sitting on the bench watching your team getting stuffed 4-0 at Bournemouth and not considered worthy, but hey, he's at an elite club now.

Doubt that will happen, does he drop Gomes? He's tried Gana and Davies before with little notable success, so what does he go for, in which will be a much more difficult game.

Confidence should be boosted after Tuesday, but can't see us getting back to back wins either. There again, Wolves have been very hit and miss themselves, so I think a lot will depend on which Everton, and which Wolves turn up.

What worries me is the Money situation. Did we not have the Money to buy anyone, even an affordable youngster?

I know we are high on salary and one want the total team salary Down. Understandable. But if there's no money for a striker when a striker is so much needed

Perhaps Moshiri is tired, or broke? I donno. But when we used so much Money last couple of Seasons? Oh, wait... that was the Lukaku money. And a couple of others.

Do they really know red from black? Starting to think not.

But for 㿏 million, I just feel like we're better off waiting and trying to bring in someone we can feel a lot more confident in.

This is the management team that said they think it is important and are keen on giving youngsters a chance to prove themselves. I'd have thought a series of almost dead rubber matches until season's end would have been just the chance, but then, we need the money a Premier League finish brings.

It's a hard life, this management thing.

Could you please expand on your notion that QPR have a great history. I have been around supporting Everton for seventy years and I must have been asleep during their Historic reign. They have made the odd visit to the top level during their tenure in the football leagues. There are at least fifty teams that have more History than them. I agree that Notts Forest have more history as do their competitors Notts County.

"No, we shouldn't have bought Batshuyai." And I'm so glad we didn't.

There, I've said it. Does that make me stupid too?

But you know what it does mean? Count the hundreds... no, thousands of posts over the last few months that said "we absolutely MUST sign a striker in January".

Didn't happen. But that won't stop the flood of posts saying, "Now, we absolutely must sign a top striker in the summer."

[Drops the green flag and starts counting...]

No-one would have been happier than myself to offload the likes of Schneiderlin and many other non-producers, but unfortunately they are still with us, I am sure that M Brands did try, but not an easy task at all.

As for the youngsters, although I hate to agree with Allardyce (Sky Sports Transfer Deadline Studio guest), he stated that between the first team and Under-23 squad there are about 50 in number, each squad is split to 22 so there are a surplus to requirements, even with rotation. It doesn't necessarily mean these lads have no future, but it is better for them to get experience playing, than just training and hanging about.

Of course they are easier too, to loan out because they are on manageable wages for clubs to accommodate them, albeit temporarily.

We didn't cave to a club not meeting our valuation of a player. How often have we been able to say that over the last decade (and beyond, before my time)?

I agree with Rob Marsh. Gana doesn't seem to be the type of individual to pack it in when he doesn't get what he wants.

People will continue to call for a striker. Why? Because we really, really need one. But we need the right striker, not just the available guy who to obtain, would necessitate selling our best player this season, with apologies to Zouma who's been pretty fantastic too.

I've said all along I trust Brands. He didn't "fancy" a move for Gana, or signing Batshuayi. Fine.

To splash the cash now? What does it get us? It won't even get us 6th place, FFS! Save the money, see how some of the younger kids do these next few months, reassess, and make your moves in the summer. Prudent.

We're in really, really good hands with Marcel Brands. Trust the guy. I do and will continue to do so.

Off to bed to dream about Natalie Sawyer on Sky announcing we've just signed Mbappe. Topless.

History means nothing, absolutely nothing; location means everything.

I personally feel a bit ashamed with the money spunked by Moshiri over the last few windows on crap – it's embarrassing and it's got us no further up the table... Arguably, we're further away from the top 6 than ever, and with a greater list of failed transfers to get over added in to the mess

Until his injury, Baines was one of the best of our players out there, despite his age and, after Digne was sent off, our only full back option was to send on an out-of-position Kenny. Do you really want to leave us even more bereft of natural left sided defenders? Please don't say we need to buy a replacement as I think, come the summer, Brands and Silva will have other priorities on their mind.

With Lucas Digne as first-choice left-back going forward, I'd say we're lucky to have a player of Baines's ability and experience as a back up to Digne. It was a one-off to see one left back injured and another sent off in the same match, so overall I think we have that position covered for the time being.

To include Baines in your otherwise accurate list of deadwood is, purely in my opinion, grossly unfair and unwarranted when speaking of one of our most reliable and committed players.

If Gana wants to go he can go in the summer when we can get in a better quality replacement that [in theory] improves our midfield and team set up.

We don't need to pander to other clubs or any player's personal whim . PSG can wait till June, Gana can wait. Mr Brands is trying to do what is best for Everton FC, and the No 1 rule is don't sell players and make your squad weaker. Only sell when you can have the opportunity to strengthen.

Good on the club for rejecting PSG's offer.

And as for Charlie Austin, yes he has got his qualities, but is limited, is mediocre at best at the top level. If we are targeting journeymen like Charlie Austin there is no hope left for us.

This is Everton — we need to be targeting players who have the ''potential'' to be top 6 or, dare I say it, top 4 players. Getting players with potential on the upward curve is the toughest thing to do in football recruitment, but it's the type of player who may that will come to us and be played; established top 4 players won't.

Beni, get to Wigan, toughen up and show me your ready for it next season!!

A topless Mbappe?

You need help.

If Gueye wanted to go, then it's his agent's job to get the buying club to pay the going rate; so, if he's upset at anyone, it should be his agent.

As for mediocre, well that's fine just look at Laurente at Spurs. A second string average striker who is now linking play up, scoring goals and getting assists.

He is a similar case to Austin. They know their trade and can play. Remember when Andy Gray arrived after many injuries and more clubs than Gary Player. Loads of people questioned why we went in for a guy past his best. Paul Power was another ordinary player who came in and did a splendid job... good pros that can do a job.

Good to see we kept Gueye in the end. He seems like the kind of player that wouldn't cause disruption in the dressing room for not getting his way.

I'm one of those that doesn't think Batshuayi is a load of rubbish but the wage numbers being thrown around were ridiculous. On reflection, it was probably the right choice not to go for him. Having said that, I think he'll do well at Palace.

For me, the balance since the Bosman ruling has swung way to much into the players' favour. They want the security of 3- or 4-year contracts but want to tear up the contract if a better offer comes along. There are very few jobs were people get 3- or 4-year contracts and irrespective to what happens to that company, I bet many people would like that security.

I always remember an interview with Brian Clough a couple of years before he died and he was asked how he would handle a player who had still 2 years on his contract asking for an increase. He replied:

"I would get him and his agent into my office I would then produce the contract they had both signed. I would then ask them to confirm it was their signatures on the contract, then I would tell them to fuck off and not waste my time."

Pity more clubs and managers don't adapt like that today. I know the world has changed since Clough's days... but sadly, in football, not for the better.

As for only being able to sell only to those willing to meet the asking price, that's a sure way of going out of business. You don't keep stuff you can't sell or won't use or will lose anyway in the fullness of time, aka an employment contract. If it means selling at a loss to cut your overheads, then that is what you do; it is pointless holding on to a drain on your resources rather than lowering your own costs by helping the buyer with theirs.

Brian, I agree with your sentiments but I think that the Chinese club removed the Arnautavic offer from the table, meaning he had to go back to West Ham with his tail between his legs. Won't be long before he's badge-kissing again.

Whether he could now be bothered to play will be interesting.

My only regret was that we were not able to see any permanent outgoings. It would have been nice if a juicy bid had come in for the likes of Sandro, Mirallas, Bolasie, Schneiderlin or Niasse. As it is, Brands will have to work hard to shelve that deadwood in the summer.

I expect Gueye to leave this summer. Hopefully he has a good end to the season and if so then he will probably be allowed to leave this summer for 㿅M+. I expect Brands to target younger players and I think central midfield and up front will be the main areas of focus. Possibly a right-back as well depending on the form of Kenny and Coleman over next months.

I hope the ‘drains' aren't up in the boardroom with Brands having to defend his decision not to cash in the context of another mid-table finish looming.

What a tosser that man is. For a transfer to fall through an agreement has to be reached and an agreement was never reached between the clubs.

If it didn't cost I'd join the phone in but fuck lining their pockets!

For those still angry at Gueye not being sold, and there were some late on (no doubt after a few swallies) it was a simple matter of Everton placing a value on the player and no club offering that amount.

I'm convinced there actually ARE some on here who wanted him, and were sure, he'd be sold so they could tear into the club and when it didn't happen they've done a complete 360 and are tearing into the club for NOT selling him.

Have you considered that the player might want to walk away? It's time to give him a decent send-off, thank the guy for his contribution, wish him all the best and promote Matty Foulds to No 2 to prove his worth.

Personally I'd rather do that rather than cling to the memory of a player who will just become a shadow of his former self and end up being abused when a 20-something no-name winger goes passed him like he's not there.

The same goes for Jagielka – please not another 㿲k a week extension. Let's promote Morgan Feeney and give him the opportunity to show what he's got.

If we don't utilise and promote from within, what's the point of having the Academy?

Silva and Brands have been true to their word, They both indicated back in the summer that they are not fans of players coming in or going out in the January window.

Funny how the club gets battered for keeping perhaps this season's strongest performer!

Gana is a highly paid professional and will have to get over it. I am saddened that so many posters thought that collecting a derisory fee for our consistently best-performing player was good business. It was also important for Brands to demonstrate that we are no longer to be bullied by predators like PSG.

Summer is the time to attract quality players to improve the squad and the highest finish possible (7th) is essential. Why pay a hugely inflated fee for Batshuayi or sign a journeyman like Austin?

Loaning Baningme to Wigan will hopefully give the youngster the experience to step up next season and offloading Bolasie to Anderlecht was a bonus, so I believe we have had a very good January window.

Big teams, have big squads full of good players, whereas Everton have a squad of about 10 good players, and if that is the reason we have failed to rotate our team, then not playing Baines to give Digne a rest every so often ranks as very poor management to me?

I know, if I was Digne, I would have apologised to my team-mates last Saturday, then turned straight to the manager and questioned his tactics because our defence just don't play as a unit and get very little protection off the men in front of them.

Is this the tactics that Silva should keep working on?

Manchester City's most consistent and arguably most important player is Fernandinho, who will be 34 in May. Matic at Man Utd is 30. Busquets is 30. Kroos is 29. Age doesn't mean anywhere near as much as it did 30 years ago.

And also, according to rumours, Arsenal and Man City?

It's interesting that Man City wanted him.

I wonder if we can explore Fabian Delph coming to us as a regular starter and mainstay to our central midfield? He is a part-time player for Man City and the business would be good for us if Gana did want to move.

Delph is a player I like, and maybe a decent replacement.

I don't believe Silva has put Baines out to grass, and he always says how important it is to have Leighton and Jagielka around.

Leighton was in the team and I cant remember which team it was that Leighton made a mistake that lead to a goal so was quite rightly dropped. Then after a mistake by Digne last week Leighton was recalled against Huddersfield and was playing well only to pick up an injury which meant he had to be taken off.

I like the fact that Silva never uses excuses for a defeat or poor performance and, unlike a certain manager I doubt he would ever blame snow on a pitch for a poor performance. When he has criticised his team its always as a collective and not singled out a particular player, even though some of our losses were down to individual mistakes.

Gueye is a class act and would do well in any team, the 㿆M PSG offered for the time of year (window) was definitely low end, I feel reassured to see the club take a hard line like this. It also sends a message to the players, in the words of Mick Jagger: "You can't always get what you want!".

I'm not too sure about our youth being loaned out, we're safe and could have afforded the likes of Baningime and others playing time.

Bolasie, Niasse and Mirallas are dead losses – any way we can get them out the door, we should take.

Having forwards and wingbacks who have speed and tenacity at getting back quickly and tackling well are the key to being a successful team.

In the meantime, teams like Everton should be playing as a tight unit to at least give themselves a chance of sharing the spoils instead of going gung-ho for a win and getting caught out.

When they have some new, capable players, perhaps the Silva strategy will come good.

We mainly need to trim the squad so I'm not bothered we didn't sign anyone this window. Our season is completely over and we have zero chance of relegation. We may as well shift players when we can and focus on who we can sign in the summer.

Still loads of deadwood to chop down but at least, come June, Williams will be gone and I read Fiorentina are looking to sign Mirallas for €7m, so that's at least 𧴜k/week off the wage bill.

Also, Rooney (remember him) will officially be off the books as his contract with us is over this summer. I believe the deal we have with DC United means we're still on the hook for some of his wages! That really was one of the worst transfer decisions made in recent times, never mind forcing him on a manager who didn't want him, it massively restricted our ability to replace Lukaku.

Fuck-all to look forward to over the next 3 months. Awesome being an Everton fan these days.

I'm excited to see what Brands can do this Summer with a load of tosh cleared off the wage bill. Losing the wages for Rooney, Williams, Mirallas, Martina is a good start. Hoping that Bolasie and Sandro have good loans if we could shift those two we'd really have some room to operate in.

Dunno why, there's not substantial evidence yet, but I really feel Brands is our best bet of bridging the gap. He will aim for young players and it will take time; there will be more ‘transition' which will frustrate many on here but I do feel we are going the right way after the terrible damage done in the Walsh & Koeman era.

The 㿷M we would have lost in transfer fee could well have been at least offset by having him knock in 20 goals or more for another two years.

Let's hope the Gana situation signals a new way of handling players at Everton. Player power rules only if you let it rule.

The bad news... we still have Gana Gueye.

It's not easy, I know, but we should really be trying to sign young decent hungry players from the lower leagues rather than prem mercenaries or go for young players at top 6 clubs who've got no chance of getting into their first teams. If they don't work out then at least we (hopefully) didn't spend too much.

The transfers over the last 3-4 years have been nothing but diabolical. Even the ‘good' players cost us far too much. We paid at least 㾻-20M too much for Richarlison (Fernandez at West Ham cost 㿏M and he's quality), before adding the 㾶M compensation for Silva. No wonder the taps's now run dry.

Brands will hopefully focus on getting permanently rid of at least 4-5 senior players between now and the summer, on top of the 3 whose contracts run out. It really is amazing how bad we've been in the transfer market recently. Literally wasted about 𧶲M!

If we really intend being back at the top, and not just talking about it, we have to keep players like that, hold them to their contracts whether they like it or not.

If we accepted the argument you've put forward about ego, players with ego would always get their way, and player power would always rule. It would be like letting a spoilt child get their way when they throw a tantrum.

Spurs have shown the way in recent years, not often overpaying on players or wages and picking up young talent with the time to blossom so even some of the flops (like Lamela and Janssen) can be sold without much loss.

“It's good for us as a club and for me as a manager. When a club like Paris Saint-Germain has a big interest, it means we're doing a good job. I know he is a good professional and a fantastic boy. He enjoys playing here.”

Good one, Marco – ‘Merthy chuckle that laa'

The team will not go down and now the players have to be what they're suppose to be – professionals and not a bunch of frightened pansies. The manager has also to show us what he can do, he's cornered!

I shouldn't feel excited about the rest of the season but strangely do?

He also needs to remove Mirallas, Martina, Sandro, Schneiderlin, Tosun, Jagielka, Williams, Vlasic, Browning, Galloway, Garbutt and Bolasie from the wage bill, plus decide whether a raft of loaned young players have a future. Lots to do!

If Brands could REALLY use his magic, he could convince the RS to sign all the ones you named.

It's not just you Rob. I'm pleased we didn't overreact and sign just for signing's sake.

Two bulls, Papa Bull and Son Bull, at the top of the hill. They're looking down in the valley, full of cows.

Son Bull says, "Oh! Dad! There's one! Let's run down and fuck that cow!"

Papa Bull replies, "No son. Let's WALK down and fuck them all."

Marcel Brands is Papa Bull.

I wish the clubs had the power but they don't. The players and coaches are earning far too much and the TV money has created a weird business scenario. It really is a house of cards which could come tumbling down. All we need is a tech breakthrough, a war, or an economic problem. The top players want it all.

They want to live in a nice place, they want to play for a winning team and they want to be the biggest earners.

We only have to look at Hazard at Chelsea to see he doesn't give a fig for his bosses ideas, and he will be off in the summer. Pogba had a big problem with Mourinho but look which one of them left his job. Coutinho got his move, a year later than he wanted, Saurez got his. Lukaku was just the same.

If a top, top player downs tools, his value drops and the clubs panic, try to placate him with a promise of a move soon, or more money, or both.

The only reason we held on to Gana is that PSG didn't offer the proper rate. Simple as that. If the buggers had offered 㿏M, he would have gone.

I'd go with most of that list but Tosun will get a few more chances now to show that he could contribute. I'm unconvinced but he was better vs Hudddersfield.

Also I'd try to hold onto Vlasic, he's not on huge wages and I think is a player on the up. He's been the best player in Russia this year ahead of Paredes who PSG just bought for 㿔m so, unless we get an offer in that region, I'd keep him a little longer.

The reason we may be 'strangely happy' about signing no-one is because when we do sign someone it is more often than not an expensive mistake .

Buying in January for big money is panic buying and is even more risky . With some of the signings we have made over the last few years we don't need any more risk factors added on top !

Players like Sandro and Schniederlin take 𧴜k+ out of the club without putting anything in, other players like Jagielka and McCarthy (done a good job in the past but paid handsomely for it) needed shifting too.

Niasse on a permanent rather than loan would have been more useful, and a few of the younger lads who haven't made the grade (Browning, Pennington and Garbutt to name a few) would have been worthwhile moving to free up wagers.

Hopefully Bolasie and Martina changing clubs is beneficial in the summer, where they move on permanent deals, but even Besic, who is loaned out, could have done with becoming a permanent deal.

All-in-all, we're still left with a lot of deadwood, we were right not to spend with all the above taking money out of the club, and I'm far from surprised that Moshiri didn't want to throw more money away.

All of the above moved on in the summer along with Williams, Tarashaj, maybe Baines and Tosun too would free up a lot of the wage bill.

We have a lot of talent out on loan in my opinion too, Vlasic and Onyekuru can easily be first team players next season, while Antonee Robinson, Baningime, Connoly and Dowell should be ready to strengthen the squad.

Brands has a huge job of changing around this squad, we have far too many idiots taking money out of the club so much so that huge losses will be made on players but it's inevitable and a must to get the decks clear for the new blood.

For me, the season is pretty much over, we now need to concentrate on players like Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Kenny and Lookman so they are ready for a big push next season.

What I'm less pleased about is nailed by Alan (#394) in his second paragraph: "You don't keep stuff you can't sell or won't use or will lose anyway in the fullness of time" — that covers a host of fringe players, Simon (#433) also says, who will likely not be used, plus a good proportion of our TWENTY loaned-out players.

Brands, for all his glowing reputation, was completely unable to offload a single one of them to any other club by way of permanent transfer. Not even for reduced (or no) valuation in terms of fee. We couldn't even give them away!!!

That's assuming he tried... And I may be wrong here in that there is some fiscal reason (related to player amortization?) whereby it makes more sense for us to keep them on the books this season (at least until 31 May – the end of our current financial year) rather than sell off in January at a loss.

Paul the Esk... help?

If you don't think that the manager could have rotated these two players in a more professional manner, that's your opinion, but Baines wasn't even used over the Christmas period, which tells me, how much he's been in Silva's plans.

It may be that Brands skill is in identifying talent rather than being a salesperson which is a different skill. The one and only thing I will give Kenwright credit for is his sales skills. He always managed to talk up our players so we received inflated transfer fees for the likes of Rodwell, Fellaini, Lescott, Jeffers.

In contrast, the regimes in recent years have shot themselves in the foot. Case in point, Koeman very publicly dismissing Niasse. Hardly a way to attract buyers.

Similarly, Bolasie is back from an okay-ish spell at Villa but, when club sources say "Everton were unhappy that he ended his loan early" and that "he does not feature in the first team plans", the message is that the people who know him best think he is shite. Tough to pass his 㿷k a week wages onto someone else with that kind of a sales pitch.

Ditto remarks from Unsworth on the likes of Browning, Galloway and Garbutt. Yeah okay, we aren't going to fool Real Madrid into buying them, but when we publicly talk about NEEDING to offload them, and HELPING them find a team. It smacks of desperation and doesn't invite interest.

It is kind of like saying "Hey I have got this older Mercedes... but it is an absolute piece of crap... I am trying to dump it off on some mug... do you want to buy it?"

I'm beginning to get that feeling about Brands, someone at last has their hands on the stearing wheel and feet on the pedals.

Pappa bull is doing a good job of guiding his young bull at the moment.

I think there's only two types of business to be done in the January window. The first, you're in the relegation quick sand and are absolutely desperate to survive; the other, you're selling at outrageous prices to the desperado mentioned above!

Whilst the club may have to take the hit, perhaps a player or two might feel disposed to agreeing to a cancellation to pick up what remains of their career.

Most, rightly, for them will not be interested one iota in this idea but Everton must explore all avenues to allow us space in the wage bill to get fresh blood in.

Mistakes have been made, time to own them and find creative ways to manage players out.

Brands has signed as many bummers as his predecessor!

Have a look at the records of any DoF in any club they're all buying duds as well as the good ones.

The wealthier clubs tend not to be noticed so much for it because of their wealth-driven success.

It's his performance over the long-term I'm watching; for the present, though, he hasn't done too much wrong.

And insofar as offloading all the loan players, the excellent rhetorical question from Michael Kenrick regarding amoritization aside, I don't think Jesus could move on some of our players!

I had a weird dream last night. Mbappe was standing in front of me, shirtless, and said, “Hello big fella. My name is Natalie Sawyer.”

Thankfully I woke up immediately. Quite disturbed I might add.

Mike Gaynes, I sprinkled that shit over my dinner last night. I wonder if there's any connection with the dream?

"Brands, for all his glowing reputation, was completely unable to offload a single one of them "

If you were the DoF of another club would you be in a rush to buy either of Niasse or Bolasie after previous performances and at the prices EFC are asking?

Heaven knows what Bolasie's salary must be, he'll probably resist any move with a dip in salary. Niasse just hasn't got what it takes. It's the Koeman era that really did the damage.

Brands has something of a job on his hands, some of them may go on frees.

Enough already. Let's have a Wolves thread!

No Kidding.

All clubs/DoFs make mistakes.

I agree - Wolves thread please! :0)

If Silva isn't inadequate as manager, most of the players he has to work with are. And surely that's down to him as he signed them!

Being mealy-mouthed because you hope things are going to suddenly come right is purely a delusion.

Derek Dougan would fight anybody, any time. His partner John Richards was hard as nails too, but fuck me, did he know where the net was. If you wanted a bevy this was the place, great fun... and if you were stupid enough to go looking for a fight, there would be plenty to accommodate you.

They'll be bevying all over County Road tomorrow. It'll be good to see them back.

Wolves were top of the League at the time and us in midtable but we did the double over them thanks to goals in both games from my hero, Dave Hickson!

I know Wally Fielding got one and maybe Eddie Wainwright and there was, I'm sure, another Blues scorer but the games have merged into one for me although I'm sure someone can provide scores and scorers. I seem to remember that the oddly named Jessie Pye got one for them!

Ever since, and although they've plumbed the depths, there has always seemed something magical about the Gold and Blacks. Roll on tomorrow!

Send me a package. I'll trade you some local Oregon pot.

Billy Wright, the England and Wolves captain, marked Davie that day, he never finished the game, carried off and taken to Walton hospital with concussion, I think he spent the night there.

There was over 75,000 at that game, I was in Stanley Park hanging on a tree trying to see glimpses of the game.

If I had my way we would go back to the old system, the manager has total control over the entire system (this is providing you have a good manager); if it goes wrong we then know who to sack.

The world has changed; Moshiri type owners are more and more common, turning up with bundles of money and not a clue how to run a football club. Managers tend to want to be successful at any cost, whereas owners don't like the 'any cost' part of it and employ a DoF to insulate themselves against cost.

Failed managers and tired scouts, generally speaking no arguments there, though an exception would be Zidane at Real. We are, were we are though and every club now seems to have one and we have to work with them.

I will reserve judgement on Silva; he's now backed into a corner and we're about to find out how much ability, fight and motivational skills he possesses.

If I've come across as mealy-mouthed that wasn't intentional, I made a concise statement that I believe is true. Mistakes are made by clubs and DoFs often, we can both probably research this one and come with the right answers as we see them, it won't solve anything.

Yes, I hope things will come right with Silva and also hope for the next manager as you and I will do if Silva is sacked. His back is to the wall now and it will either break him or make him, if it makes him we might have a decent season next time.

There was calls for both Kendall and Ferguson to be sacked before glory came, I was one of those calling for Kendall. I don't believe my view of this is delusional, it's realistic if anything. I'll give him to the end of the season.

This I assume is down to Brands being a serious operator. No panicking, just sticking to our guns and not getting shafted. PSG deliberately came in low and wouldn't meet the asking price. Fuck them.

Gana seems a good lad, is a multi-millionaire and will get over this. We put him were he is now. Punted on him when he was relegated. Don't cry for him, he has already won the lottery of life. He also knows football is a business and how it works.

Now pull on that Royal Blue Jersey and continue to play your heart out for us.

One of the most remarkable, single-minded and free-thinking men ever to play football. He was, in many ways, as mad as a fucking snake.

The players are no better, of course – the Labbies and Westiies of another lifetime – and all that's left for me is the cynicism that comes with old age and broken dreams!

At the end of all this it will come down to the fact that we either have a good coach/manager or we don't, the good ones will get any team playing to their abilities.

Silva is more important than Brands or the PR machine that spouts crap.

We're all bit tired of this year-on-year failure, but something catches my interest about Silva cornered and having to prove himself.

Everton over the last 3 seasons has nearly knocked the dream out of me; in fact, after Millwall, I came very close to crumbling.

But the dream won't go away. We will be great again.

Maybe we should never have bought anyone in the summer and Silva should have used his managerial skills to get a tune out of the likes of Vlasic and Co.

I echo the views about Wolves. A great club with serious supporters and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.

On top of that, there is 21 members of staff employed to handle the first team. There is 5 staff for the U23s. There are four different guys for the U18s. According to LinkedIn there are 55 scouts employed by Everton.

The club, like every other Premier League club, is massive. They keep getting bigger. The manager cannot do what they used to do. There's too many people and not enough time. The job had to be split into two. One guy to train, coach and pick the side, the other to handle the transfers, the contracts, and all the off-the-field stuff.

Alex Ferguson was the last proper manager, or maybe Arsene Wenger. Alex Ferguson did change his job significantly at the end. He stopped coaching the side years before. Like Koeman, he used to stand and watch whilst others did it.

Then in the last few years, he didn't even bother watching the coaching. The stories were he watched out of a window from an office inside Carrington. He became a supervisor. He was essentially a Director of Football, but one that took charge of the team on match day. He had great instincts and experience, and so it did not matter that he did not have the first-hand experience from coaching the players day in, day out.

This is not something that can be replicated. I'm not sure about Wenger, but I hear he also was not coaching the side in the latter years. He also had David Dein doing a lot of the Director of Football type tasks and did not take them on himself after Dein left, although he made sure everyone knew he had the final decision.

I hope everyone can understand that a Director of Football is not an option. It's a necessity. One man cannot do everything. Clubs are too big, too bloated, and they keep getting bigger. Marcel Brands says about his phone ringing non-stop all day with agents calling him. When would a manager take these calls? There's not enough time in the day.

We look back to our last glory time under Howard Kendall. Back then he would ring up Cloughie, "I like that boy you have at Number 10, can we do a deal" Cloughie "Yes why not", the price would be agreed shake of hands, medical and all done.

These days, there's so many legal and financial requirements nationally and internationally to meet before a deal can be done and also terms and add-ons, it probably is well beyond any manager to do on his own. DoF is probably an administrative roll as it is a football one.

The sad thing is though, this DoF roll will take away some of the manager's authority, I'm sure them Man Utd players put that bit extra in knowing SAF was the one who upped their wages, would they have tried so hard if he no influence and a DoF carried all the clout?

I didn't know it took so many people to run the club.

I started supporting Everton in the mid-1950s. Everton is a big business and, after decades of running even our family SME's I have to admit that nothing is a it used to be throughout even the 70s - 2010's. There are far more demands from every quarter. Therefore, I have no problem whatsoever with the need for a DoF role as well as Manager, Coach, goalkeeping coach etc.

I believe we have started to get some things right again in catch-up from our drop back from reality. Now we need continuing high performance from the first team in response and confidence that the investment in the new ground so that that it does truly happen.

The thing with the size of Everton, and the Premier League in general, is so many talk about the TV money.

It's not going away. If one network said, "Nah! Too much to stump up." Another network would slide in and probably pay more for the rights.

Wait until Facebook or some other massive social media giant buys the internet and streaming rights in a few years. It will be an absolutely astronomical figure. Seriously off the charts.

And the beast that is the Premier League, and the individual teams within the Premier League, and the players salaries, will grow and grow to the point of absurdity.

And if you're thinking, "But Jamie, we're already certifiably at the absurd level!"

I think you're so, so wrong. We're just beginning to scratch the surface. Five years from now an average striker will set you back 𧴜,000, and teams won't even blink at that number.

Could be wrong. World-wide recessions and depressions change things. But right now the way it's going, and with the internet giants starting to seriously take note and plan to bid for Premier League rights, I think it's going to get laughably absurd with the economics very soon.

Everton will be massive. Problem is, other clubs will be circus-massive.

I think January buys are often panic buys – remember how we dodged a bullet on Sissoko a couple of years back.

A win tomorrow please, Blues.

Then there'll be the European Super League and what happens then??? How does your crystal ball advise on this?

I break the crystal ball when looking into the future and the prospects of a Euro Super-League.

It would ruin football. Full stop, ruin it. I can't think about it because the prospect of such would kill the game I've grown to love.