Brands denies contact over Lozano or Neres

Well I hope Brands comes out every week to put paper talk to bed...

But others will still debate any player linked with us... dismiss Brands and say its just a ploy to get the player for tge right price etc...

Meanwhile the reds are getting all tge plaudits and can do no wrong... depressing...

I thought somebody overheard him on the train saying there was interest in Neres. All tickets, please!

Alan and Mark, as with every pre-Transfer Window, there will always be rumours and counter rumours, but while it is nice to think that some of the players linked could join us, until they are pictured signing and wearing the shirt, I don't pay that much attention to them.

I think we are all well aware of the large scale reduction of personnel on the books is the first issue to be addressed. If we can keep the two players that we had on loan, Zouma, and possibly Gomes, and keep Gana (doubt he will stay) a striker and maybe a couple more is all we can hope for.

I feel a bit for Marco Silva in some respects that he has inherited a bloated squad, with some on ridiculous contracts (length of time and wages) so his hands have been tied with respect to any potential signings he would like.

I know it's water under the bridge now, but Silva did not exactly shower himself in glory when we went through that turgid mid-season period, where he kept picking and playing the same system which obviously wasn't working.

Alan, that was me. It wasn't me that overheard what Brands said though, it was two lads we know who were talking to him on the train back from spurs. These two lads told us they had been speaking to Brands, who said the club were interested in Neres and felt confident of landing him.

As somebody else said later on whatever thread I posted on, why would Brands tell a total stranger on a train his transfer plans for the summer, which I fully agree with, but I was only saying what I was told. Too many times in the past the club have let loose their transfer targets, only to be pipped at the post by another club.

Brands was definitely on the train though, as we saw him get off at Runcorn, and the two lads showed us a picture of them with Brands on the train.

Refreshing that Brands is so upfront. I very much appreciate that. Its is very much in line with the prevailing view of Brands as a effective Director of Football at Everton.

I did attack his appointment to the Board on grounds of accountability and the speed of the promotion. But I am now of the opinion that as appointment was the quickest and possibly the only way for Moshiri to get a handle on the Board and changes at Senior Management level.

Still can't fathom the continuing presence and influence of Kenwright & Co. Brands is obviously streets ahead.

Neres will be getting increasingly expensive and out of reach as Ajax's CL run continues. At Xmas you would have said you could maybe get him for £30m or so in the Summer but now the price might be nearer £50m. Don't see us paying that. Hoping his price will soar when he hits the CL winning goal!

I think Walcott may move on as I think he will become an even more peripheral figure, and he will want to play games rather than be a bench warmer. Lookman maybe loaned out to get game time. Vlasic may be sold. Oneykuru, is his visa still an issue? Mirallas will be loaned. So maybe there is a bit of mileage in it that we will be finding one class replacement for that lot.

Rob(#4); Sorry, Rob, I wasn't taking a dig at anyone and may be he said he is a player that a lot would be interested in. I don't understand Everton seemingly interested in so many wide players other than they may be improvements on those we have which include Bernard, Richarlison, Walcott, Lookman, Bolasie and possibly Onyekuru and Bowler, even allowing for Silva playing at least two wide at any time.

I've got bloody spurs on the mind. I meant to say on the train back from Palace.

You're right, Alan. I got the impression that Neres was a striker and not a winger, so unless there is going to be a mass clear out of our current wingers, I don't see the point in being interested in another one, unless like you say, he's an improvement on what we've got.

I've not really seen Neres play, other than last week against Spurs (bloody spurs again!), But for me he didn't stand out. Maybe he will put on a good show tonight against you know who.

I expect at some point Silva will say or already has said to Brands

“Get me Zouma, get me Gomes and please please get me a striker”

Let’s see what unfolds over another big summer clearout.

Jim, according to the red echo, Everton seems to think Gomes has set his sights on joining us permanently. Hopefully discussions have been on going during his time here between us, Gomes and Barcelona.

Can a club be accused of tapping up a player whilst he's on loan at said club though? (Only joking!!)

Rob(#9); That'll be 10-4, over and out then.

Alan #12 - I shudder when I hear or read 10-4 (or hear the name Broderick Crawford). A nasty throwback to that Spurs game.

Brent, I'll be scrapping playing Blue Moon on Sunday. After blaring out the Barcelona song last night which totally backfired, I'm taking no chances on Sunday.

Alan, I was thinking of saying "those spikey things that cowboys wear on their boots", but reckoned it would take too long to type out!!

So it was all your fault, Rob. Blue Moon my arse. Not that I intend to.

Guilty as charged mate.

Seems Chelsea have lost their appeal against their transfer ban, so it looks like we've got no chance of getting Zouma.

Yes Rob, no Zouma for us. I don't think they would have let him come anyway to be honest but losing that appeals shuts that door. Shame. Time to find another fast CB to take his place, have a look at the likes of Konate, Hermoso, Gbamin, Akanji.

I very much doubt these are realistic targets, and I think we have to come to terms with that.

I expect Brands to be more on the lookout for not yet household names. We aint City,who can simply spend 50million on someone in the blink of an eye. We need to learn to invest wisely.

Neres will be on the radar of all the top clubs across europe. Unfortunately, that is not yet us.

Longer version of this interview in Dutch press in which Brands is quoted as saying:

"The fact that you can spend money means that you have to be much more careful. There aren't a lot of other teams with that kind of money to spend. If you make a mistake with an expensive signing you can't get rid of them."

The last sentence there pretty much sums up how I imagine Brands is feeling currently with Bolasie, Sandro, etc. More broadly, it is becoming a problem for a lot of clubs. Look at Barcelona. Spent 142 million on Coutinho so I imagine his wages are substantial. There aren't a lot of clubs who could afford to pay Barcelona 50% of that outlay to sign him, never mind his wages. Ditto Sanchez on 600k a week at United, 80 million pound man Morata at Chelsea. Ideally, you'd see players sating "I love the game so much I will rip up this lucrative contract and go and play at Mechelen for 3,000 a week just to get game time." But with agents involved, even if a player accepts a lower wage on a new contract, the selling club invariably have to subsidize it or give the player a hefty payoff. So long term, a club could really go to the wall if they make a handful of big money flop signings.

Chuckie is totally overrated. Terribly inaccurate shot.

I don't want this guy in an Everton shirt.

In Brands I trust.

More Dutch press reports. Great news! Feyernoord have decided not to take up the option on Cuco Martina so he will be back in June. In fairness to the lad he is a decent pro. Kind of reminds me of a Tony Thomas type. Comes in, does his best, works hard, creates no waves, but just isn't all that good. Of our "dead wood" I imagine he is one who'll be able to find a club pretty sharpish.

Rob, I don't care if you heard it from two train passengers or a macaw in a pet store -- if you say it, I believe it. Shrug off these doubters.

I drew a different take on Neres last week against Spurs -- I really liked his quickness and confidence on the ball. Loves to take people on. But he definitely seems to be much more a winger than a striker.

Lozano, of course, has been #1 on my wish list since I first saw him pretty much win the CONCACAF CL for Pachuca by himself before he joined PSV. I advocated here that we try to snag him before the World Cup. Now he's the best attacking midfielder in the Eredivisie, but perhaps beyond our reach now with a reported $40 million release clause in his contract. His recent knee injury did not require surgery, so there will probably be a long line of suitors this summer.

Jamie, tell me you're kidding. The guy has 34 in 59 for PSV playing off the wing. Overrated? Inaccurate? Oh, my.

Alan 2, Rob Halligan, Mike Gaynes

I could see how the train story could be "true." Let's say you've got these excited fans chatting away. One of them puts it to Brands that we should buy Neres, Lozano whoever. Brands thinks to himself "well this is awkward. Next time I should drive. Obviously I can't get into a transfer debate with these guys so I will just kind of raise my eyebrows and smile. That should tell them it's not something I can discuss." Meanwhile the fans see Brands raise his eyebrows and smile and think to themselves "Did you see that smile? That was a knowing look. He obviously can't say 'yes' but that is his way of telling us the rumors are true. Where is Rob Halligan? I am going to tell him but just to make it a better story I'll leave out the smile and say he said 'yes' cause clearly that is what he meant."

No chance anyway on Neres.

Lozano is a curious one, electric at the world cup and been banging them in ever since yet no one has bid for him.

Kieran(#25); Far more likely that Brands was asked about Neres just as the Inspector arrived and he's looked up, smiled and said, "Just the ticket?". However, it is obvious that there's a lot of holes in this story.

Brent, I was at the Empire with my fiancee on the night of our 10-4 embarrasment. The programme commedian took the mickey out of us Blues.

I was at Goodison when the tannoy gave The RS score 1- 9 vs Birmingham. There was a stunned silence as the crowd turned to each other wondering had they heard right. The announcer slowly repeated, "Birmingham N I N E, Liverpool ONE!"

That was one of the few happy memories concerning that lot.

I can understand Everton favouring WIDE players especially tall wide players no one will ever score from set pieces and corners if they all stand between the posts.

Mike @ 24 -

I'm not kidding. I'm basing my opinion off what I saw in the World Cup. Lozano was entirely unimpressive to my eyes, and completely overrated. He seriously couldn't put a shot on target if his life depended on it.

Now I had zero idea that he had such a good goal per game average at PSV. I don't follow the other leagues at all really. So based on your recommendation (which does carry weight with me) I'll reconsider.

As I said, in Brands I Trust. But again, it's a leap of faith for me with Lozano, based upon what my own eyes saw this last summer watching the World Cup. I couldn't, for the life of me, understand what all the "Lozano hype" was all about.

Dick Fearon @28, yes I remember that vaguely, but also remember in the late 70's driving into Liverpool with my wife and family, and had the radio on for the match reports, and the score came through Liverpool 2-Birmingham 3, Trevor Francis and Keith Bertschin. So they have must have been the RS's bogey side!

Im sure MB, has done his homework.

Being realistic getting back to back preseason, successful windows is difficult, but I’ve every belief MB, will do the business for us.

Dick (28), you forgot to mention that 9-1 hammering of Liverpool by Birmingham City was a second division game, which made it more embarrassing, one over the eight was how it was described by us Blues.

The, Moroccan kid who played on the wing for Ajax last night would do for me, he was outstanding.

If Lozano was all that he would be in England by now. Despite his goal record in Holland, that pinnacle of European football, I’d tend to agree with JaC, to my eye lightweight and no better than what we have.
I will say though, the Dutch league is a total minefield, so hit and miss when it comes to players adapting to our league.

Brands knows what he is doing and it is reassuring. We need wingers who fit into the system that Silva wants. This means players who can lay on assists and ideally chip in with 10 goals. We need one as a replacement for Walcott who I believe will leave. He may need one as a replacement for Bernard unless he improves his assists and goals. Look at Liverpool, it took Klopp time but he ended up with round pegs in round holes in all positions for the system he believes is the best. I think that we will do it to, so close now but the thought of losing Gueye and Kurt Zouma is heavy. I genuinely believe that Everton has turned a corner and that we are on our way up, the ground move will happen and that we will continue to become more professional in every way. The frightening thing is that whatever we do has to be sustainable and yet we are competing with clubs who swim in money from shirt sales in the Far East or who are financed by ME governments. There are millions of Singapore Reds and no Singapore Blues

Continue to become more professional in every way, is the best way we have, of becoming great again, so I hope you’re right about that Martin.