Everton close in on Allan

Bernard was described by Felipe Scolari as 'alegria nas pernas' - 'joy in the legs'.

The current Brazilian boss Tite considers Allan 'tem rodinha nos pés' - 'wheels in his feet' (like rollerblades, I guess), such is his nimbleness and dexterity with the ball at his feet.

It's a Brazilian thing.

And not being funny, how the fuck are these two lame-arse signings justifying Brands's role at the club? Isn't his job to bring in unknown gems from around the world that we nurture then sell on for horrifically large fees?

All he's bringing in are ancient journeymen looking for a last big payday with no appetite for the game... absolutely pathetic!!!

Right now we need a couple of proven players to stabilize the midfield. When we have secured that we can go for up and coming ones.

i agree with Steve Ferns that there is an inconsistency between positive forward play and defensive players who prefer a comfort zone of sitting deep, with a rigid back four. Everton need to be moving forward as a unit, or players in midfield and the forward line will still be left isolated, with the high press ineffective. This type of unit is what Ancelotti prefers.

Hopefully the manager has a clear understanding of what these players will deliver for him and how the pieces of the midfield jigsaw will fit together.

I can see a midfield 3 of Allan, Gomes and Doucouré. Gomes will hold the position. Allan and Doucouré will provide the vital thing we have lacked in midfield for years now - energy! Our whole game will improve. Closing down, passing tempo, and hopefully forward passing...

If we can get Rodríguez in on loan, it's a no brainer. A front 3 of him, and the improving Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, ticks a lot of boxes.

Our midfield has been a shambles for about 3 years, devoid of energy and forward passing. If there is one thing I expect Carlo to fix, it's our midfield. If we end up signing these 3 players, we will be well in the mix for top 6 next season.

Getting a solid starting formation is so critical early in the season if they want to mount a challenge.

Like the top clubs you need a squad that has strength in depth which also provides healthy competition for places.

Once Carlo establishes in his own mind what players are his best then he can start to establish a system that will bring out their best attributes.

If they cannot discard the ''debris'' on the books just yet then at least those players will be put on notice that getting a start in the Prem. won't be easy and perhaps they can be forced to go on loan again or be picked up in the next window by teams they would be better suited to.

Mike #102, as always I hate to say it, but we must assume that Gbamin will not be back. Few pro athletes fully recover from either of the two injuries he is currently recovering from, let alone both. If he does return to Prem level, that would be splendidly spectacular and a wonderful bonus for both him and the club. But at best we should be treating it as a hope, not an expectation or something to be counted on.

Martin #115, I had that one all cued up, but you beat me to it.

Jay #114, enjoyed those descriptions.

And I expect that he's wrong now

He's got a proven record, as a player and coach.

I have faith in Carlo, to turn around the run aground oil tanker of EFC, on the playing side, and hopefully EFC, will now align as a club, and start the road to Damascus, which has been far too long.

EFC, has to make new history, there's no options,

Can this be a turning point?

I think we will hear nothing about the CB or Boga until they sign.

BTW, it should be mentioned Napoli couldn't have won without a couple of top quality attackers who were very good on the break and clinical striker like Mehrtens to make/take the few opportunities that came their way.

“Never go back” remember when Lee Harvey Oswald came back to the US from USSR? Or Kendall from Notts County? Didn't end well.

Allan is the type of player who can improve those around him. This is One of our best signings EVER. I'm over the moon.

I'm with Steve Ferns, pick Keane at your peril, especially if you are implementing any sort of press. Keane is as bog standard jigsaw piece who only fits in a low block or at a push a deep lying counter attacking team.

If we are buying two box to box midfielders then to stop them being overly fatigued we must play a high line, squeezing play to make their skillsets, effective winning the ball back in the opposition's half. I'm encouraged with the speculation but if we don't add a quick center half along side Holgate we are dead in the water.

Rumors of a new contract for Keane? Well I'd sell him or Mina, keeping one for the games we are going to be up against it. To date Keane looks like the horse for that course. However make no mistake he's deeply flawed in open space.

Several posters noted how good he was after the restart, the bar was that low it was itself no achievement. The times he got drawn out to the flanks he was eviscerated, in particular Vardy destroyed him.

We must buy a better centre back.

P.S Who was responsible for Iwobi? My God he was a bad signing!

Mike #102 agree completely, we may well be surprised by some of the outgoings.

The nuances between a DCM and a CM who tackles are being stretched a bit too far on here. As Sam @ 100 shares, the two CMs used by Ancelotti will alternate with one sitting while the other connects with the attack. So versatility is the key he looks for in his system.

As for both being too old, I disagree. We have a set of talented younger players who need quality senior players around them - Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Holgate, Davies, Branthwaite, Nkounkou, Kean, Iwobi, Mina, Pickford and Gordon are all under 26 years old. Where we have completely failed is in the signing of senior players to lead and guide these youngsters.

We do need a quick, left-sided centre back - not to replace Keane but simply to allow us to play a higher defensive press. We saw the impact of losing our only mobile, rapid centre back to injury when Mason got injured at Spurs.

We now seem to be on a path of trying to rejuvenate lame racehorses to recapture peak form. Personally I feel that Rodriguez was the only one of the three who was truly a top player to begin with and hence why this a risky strategy as those who follow the equine game know that these types are a fast track to the poorhouse. Brands has done his best to navigate this risk on behalf of the club and I'm glad that he is here to oversee it as had Walsh been at the helm I'm sure the Colombian would be signing his four year contract so we could get the deal over the line.

This year I could see our best signing still being at the hands of Marcel. Moise Kean is the player I'm really hoping for big things from now that he has had that tough first season under his belt.

If I had my way, I'd never countenance a dedicated stopper / tackler in the team... nevermind two of them...ever again.

A complete Mid Field Unit is the way to go...and we've lacked it for donkey's years.

Finally?

Just see Pique, Terry, Kompany (in later years) so whilst I appreciate Keane and Mina are not as good as those mentioned, I am sure Carlo can coach the system into the players. Branthwaite may also significant game time and he looked reasonably mobile.

Lastly, the rotation of one CM holding the position to screen through balls will also stop most long passes through the middle as mentioned above.

I am absolutely delighted with all 3 of these players plus Arias coming in with some deadwood sold or loaned out.

COYB

Right-back is a weak link for us and he will make that position much stronger, especially with Seamus competing to start and as back up. I think Brands and Ancelotti have already made their mind up that Jonjoe is being sold or is going back to Shalke.

When Brands was appointed we were dreaming of something similar to Leipzig's and Sevilla's approach but Carlo's arrival has made this role of Marcel practically defunct and these signings have all but confirmed it.

IMO we have to think about sharing the load and this brings to the fore the need for Carlo to be planning the "on pitch" tactics and getting all of the coaching staff to get this right with the playing squad, along with he himself.

Brands's job is considerably different to Carlo's. His is more management of the processes to ensure that Carlo's needs are met in terms of players in and out but much more, too! This is a massive job in itself.

I believe the board actually made a good decision (I hesitate to say "for once"). I believe that this does really remove a significant amount of interference in things Kenwright should have no say in, if Everton is to be run professionally. Frankly, I think a number of posters on here have been short-sighted to target Brands as a failure in the role he has.

I agree, they don't really have much to do to adjust. If they keep possession, complete a pass forward, and put a few tackles in, the fans will be so grateful.

Lucky Everton have Ancelotti on board to attract them to play for Everton, we would have been scraping the barrel with another Manager of 'potential'.

Interesting Dan@135, Italians producing defensive master classes used to be very common. I would love to see it at Goodison over the next few years though, because I feel it's the best way to counteract these better teams who have spent an absolute fortune, until we can build our team up.

I keep going back to Arsenal, defend deep, defend as a team with every player behind the ball, but break quickly, and rely on a quality forward to punish your opponents.

The longer yesterday's game went on yesterday the more the Arsenal forwards got isolated in possession going forward, but maybe this is because they were leading and Arteta has introduced a lot of discipline into his team?

I agree the strategy is still to reduce the age of the squad, but something needed to be done in certain positions and only tried and tested players that Ancelotti knows will follow his instructions, week-in & week-out, with the technically ability to do so. Brands is still very much of the overall strategy with youth development initiated changes and acquiring ready made young players, but you also need some season professionals.

I remember Sigurdsson having his usual anonymous game, giving instructions to Gordon who was playing well, which caused Gordon to look at him, with a bewildered look. Gordon had moved into a covering position which Sigurdsson should have been in, but as usual he wasn't there, he was hiding somewhere. Young players need older players who give good examples of themselves.

We never replaced Lukaku.

Carlo will have his formation ready – he just needs people who can play it. The central midfielders we have now cannot. Of them I would only keep Gomes – personally I can't wait to see him play further up the field. Carlo has a soft spot for Davies, so I expect him to stay. Siggy can go as his legs have already left the building. Delph is a waste of space, though the treatment table loves him and with Gbamin we'll have to wait and see.

Brands has recently brought in two youngsters – Branthwaite who on 1st inspection looks a very shrewd piece of business and the French left back – name escapes me – who Carlo spoke to by phone to get his signature. He sold a left back to Wigan and got this kid on a free – that's him doing his day job and doing it very well.

COYBs – looking forward to Season 20-21 – Covid permitting of course.

The Rodriguez deal is sweet. And he's a player. Lets hope it works out.

I agree with Steve Ferns about the need for an out and out holder that can screen the back 4 and offer protection. The best holder at the club right now is probably Holgate! If we got a strong, pacey athletic centre back in I'd have no problem playing him there. Centre half seems to be on the back burner now though.

Another person that plays the holding role is Delph. I think we will keep him. He's only on a 3 year deal. He's a bit of a crock and needs to be managed like Louis Saha, but if he's asked to do what his body allows him - start around 10 or 15 games in all competitions - then he'll be a useful option for when we play a diamond (Rodriguez at the top of it) or the 4-2-3-1.

Long term though, we need a mobile, athletic, screening beast in front of the centre halves.

First; my pet hate, the DoF buys players and says to The Coach...if he's not what you really wanted - you're The Coach, so coach him to do better.

Then there's (IMO) the correct way, The Coach says, I want Allan, or, if not him, the next best you can get. I think we are seeing it tending more this way.

Of course the DoF is still doing the Branthwaite thing, finding young long term prospects.

Some have expressed their apprehensions about why Everton would want to pay big bucks to land Doucoure. Think about it - if our 3 main player acquisitions this summer are Allan, Doucoure and Rodrigues, then we need to have at least 1 of them with PL experience and Doucoure fits that bill quite adequately.

And those dismissing Michael Keane as a poor/average CB, are very, very wrong, in my opinion. Yes, he is not a fancy dan CB who plays the ball out from the back, but he is a very solid, old-fashioned English defender - dare I say it, a younger Jagielka. He has had his problems since joining Everton, but I feel that Carlo will trust him and improve him, and we have already seen the evidence of it towards the end of last season. If Carlo and Brands were to sell a CB, then I suspect it will be Yerry Mina (to PSG/Spain), and replace him with someone like Tomori on loan with an option to buy.

Tomori I like but he is still inexperienced and a bit of a gamble. Maybe one to consider on loan, only with a right to buy option. The Man City kid is interesting too. I think we will be considering a few alternatives.

If we get someone in, do we then sell Keane if we get a good offer? Approx £20-30M? There will be a few mid-table clubs who would compete for him. Or sell Mina, who may be reluctant with the arrival of two compatriots. As solid back-up, on balance due to fitness, I would prefer Keane to stay.

Branthwaite is in the wings too, and is going all the way to the top, but needs a year or two to develop and get more strength into his frame to be a regular Premier League centre-back.

You're right : we haven't replaced Lukaku.

In fairness I don't think there is a replacement. You're talking about one of the top 10 or too 5 strikers in the world

That said, buying potential in Kean was just folly. We needed (and still need) another goalscorer

Now I can't think of any of our recent past managers who could have persuaded a player wanted by Juventus, a team regularly in the Champions league, to sign for perennial mid table Everton. But according to some T/W posters he isn't the player we need.

It's Reported that James Rodriguez is about to sign, another who wouldnt normally consider signing for us if Ancelotti wasn't the manager. But hey what does Ancelotti know about who we should sign, he has only won Champions leagues, National leagues and Cups. He is just a washed up wily old fox, who is only here to top up his pension.

Maybe we should have gone for a less qualified manager and lets face it I have seen a lifetime of them at Goodison. Just maybe for the first time in a long while, lets trust that this manager knows what he is doing, and not listen to the doom mongers on this site. I mean if we cant trust Ancelotti with all what he has won then where do we go as a club?

Any one of us can pick holes in anything and everything relating to the current playing staff and those that we hope to sign, but as fans we have to hope that this management regime succeeds in getting some of our good players to become very good players and that the standards are raised to a more than acceptable level.

Treat the start of the new season as a clean slate, judge everybody connected with the club on what happens from August 13th onwards. It's time to let go of the baggage that has weighed us all down over the past [insert your own time frame] and get on with what we would all like to be doing, cheer on the Blues in every game they play. If it goes pear-shaped we can then justifiably issue the brick-bats to whomever deserves them, I'm sick of the groundhog day mentality and I truly hope it changes from here on in.

And Maybe in this set up Davies may actually improve, finally.

Darren H, wrote something on T/W, a couple of years ago about Tom Davies, Fran, and it has stayed with me ever since. He said Davies might not become a top player, but he definitely thought he could become a good player, and a perfect foil for a more talented partner, so I'm definitely not giving up on Tom, now it seems we are going to be bringing more talented midfielders into the club.

And ever since Koeman and his obsession with 'No 10', we seem to have been stuck on this idea of a midfield set up as defensive mid, creative mid, attacking mid. This can work when all elements function e.g. Gana, in form Gomes, in-form Sigurdsson. But as soon as any element drops form, gets injured, is sold, or, as we suffered, all the above, then it is much more difficult. It isn't easy for a reserve player to simply come in and sub a specialist position.

One No 6 and 2 No 8s, or 2 No 6s and one No 10 (in loosely defined midfield roles definitions) are easier to adapt and change. Delph would more easily adapt to this type of role, rather than asking him to either sub for Homes (he ain't a creative mid), or Gana (nor is he a defensive ball-winning midfielder). Same for. Davies, but both could play alongside Allan or Doucouré.

As for Doucouré, he's aggressive and a great engine up and down the pitch. We'd have a completely new midfield, and let Gomes play in his proper position.

I'd forget about Delph, he's constantly injured, and that's not going to change, and Mina is not far behind him, and the earliest we'll see Gbamin is the Autumn.

I don't understand the Keane bashing, after the lockdown, he was one of the few players who excelled, and saying he plays too deep, and slow, well the midfield he had in front of him, where the opposition walked through without even a tackle, he had no protection ahead of him whatsoever.

We had Gana and you would repeatedly highlight he wasn't disciplined enough to play DM, we had Schneiderlin who was disciplined, but has been dispensed of. Maybe we are just not going to play with a classic DM.

We're signing Allan and James, and you seem to be moaning that we've not signed a Hojbjerg. Let's just enjoy it, world class players coming to play for a world class manager!

I think good players can play in any team if they are focused and fully fit. Everton have had too many misfits and some of them expensive.

Carlo has an opportunity to buy two or three new players and will be judged on who he brings in and what the team does in the new season but one thing for sure not changing the existing squad will result in another lousy season.

Good luck Carlo.

We are signing players who are a classs above what we currently have, Brands although not signing young sell on players is not getting shafted on the price of the player (Napoli originally demanding £35 mill) getting Allan for £22 mill with £3 mill add ons. That to me is a result of holding his nerve.

Doucouré is similar, if we get him. Finally I just looked at the 20-21 league table!!!! Suprise suprise all the teams are on the same amount of points 0. So all teams are equal at the moment, let's start a novel approach to TW??? Stop bloody moaning and save it for 10 to 12 games in.

If the shite is hitting the fan then, crack on – it will be open season and the moaning will be justified. COYFBB

Gana was about the best defensive midfielder we could have. He was really very good for us. But frankly, getting him would be a step back and to be a top team I don't believe he would be in it. He isn't that good! I remember Steve praising Schneiderlin's qualities and if he was in form he would suit Silva the coach's system. Newsflash - both Schneiderlin and Silva were at their best, both at best bang average and in my opinion shite and just bollocks from people obsessed on tactics.

I want a team with top midfielders. Allan is one. I think Gomes is one. I have rated Doucoure for years and would love him. Rodriguez- wow. If we start having players like this, midfielders who can play - geeez - Michael Keane instead of that purposeful pass to the right back, can just play simple passes to or midfield. We can play proper football with people who play their way out of trouble, who control games, who can play quick and slow. We ain't got any of these three yet so I'm not getting over excited but if we do, fantastic.

Now there's a thought!!

Whereas if we got Edouard, he'd be with us for a few years! It's all getting very exciting for a change, funny feeling Moise Kean may move on.

I don't have the intimate knowledge of the workings of the club as others on here will have but from everything I had read under Silva he identified the type needed and skill set required while Brands would draw up a shortlist which would tie in with the overall strategy of reducing the age profile and increasing the resale value of the investment. Only Delph as far as I can see deviated from this plan and was perhaps seen as a short term fix in providing much needed leadership and character to that crucial area of the pitch. The other aspects of his role as you rightly point out are still as valid.

Brian- Just as you are delighted with these signings and are content to trust implicitly Carlo's judgement it is unfair of you to label others as doom mongers who disagree with his judgement or slate them for expressing a view. Some of us have real fears over the direction of the club and aren't willing to bank on the cult of the persona over what they may view as damaging to the best overall interests of the club. Thankfully Brands seems to be safeguarding it.

On the face of it Centrally which many view as a problem area we are adding a 29 year old who will most likely need time to acclimatise and struggled for a game at a mid table team in a poorish Italian League and a 27 year old player who was pivotal in helping his team to be relegated from the division. Incidentally both of whom are similar types to Gomes, Delph and Davies in that they don't have the discipline to sit and aren't creative enough to play more advanced. Yes Carlo will have a vision but it's not unreasonable to express our doubts.

Tony- You can take yesterday's match as the perfect example why these three players may not transform our team like many our predicting.

Arteta began his reign with a three in midfield of Guendozi, Torreira and Ozil seen as the best of a bad bunch. He knew he desperately wanted Xhaka yet the fans hated him, he rated Ceballos but didn't like his attitude so unlike Siggy and Schneids for us he ruthlessly jettisoned him as he later did with Ozil and Guendozi.
None of this stinking the place out every week.

He has given Saka, Maitland Niles and Willock chances to claim central berths with Xhaka his main man, Ceballos normally getting the verdict and one other. Recently it's been Naitland Niles a player he is letting go as he doesn't highly rate and yesterday with Ceballos out their seventh choice midfielder Elneny who was sent on loan came straight back in and performed excellently. Its like personnel are irrelevant as they all just fit in seemlessly as they all have clearly defined jobs and are accountable for them. They don't work hard, they don't play.

Personally I don't think the likes of Gomes, Siggy, Delph Davies and Gordon at their peak are really that far of the best of Arsenals midfielders it's just that their potential has not been maximised. We need to get more out of these players as well as acquiring those to benefit those that remain.

Allan and Rodriguez would be a significant improvement on what we have. No doubt at all about that for me. But, it doesn't address the issues that we have. As the season fell apart after corona virus and afterwards, lots on here thought we were going down this season, that there weren't 3 worse teams. I didn't agree. I thought we'd get the right players in, to address the issues.

The issue for me, is midfield and how easy it is for teams to cut through our lines and pass through our midfield. This must be addressed. The thoroughly depressing news that the woeful Michael Keane has got a bumper new 5 year deal shows he's going to remain in the starting line up, and so prevent our defence from playing closer to the midfield. Allan is not a player who can play in front of the defence and screen it and stop us being played through so easily. Sure, if we had Zouma and Holgate instead of Keane, then Allan and another similarly quick and tenacious midfielder could do something about it. But with the defence say so deep, because of Keane, he will simply get passed around or bypassed by a long ball.

There is a gap there that needs plugging and the new season is only days away. This is 2017 all over again.

I did wonder if we would consider a swap Ramsey for Kean, but with three new midfielders that would seem unlikely.

This time is different to then, midfield is key, if we are playing two up top we need serious legs in midfield and Allan and Doucouré have serious legs. Yes, 29 isn't an ideal age to be spending lots of money but this isn't the 80s when 30 was heading towards retirement. More and more players are playing at a high level to their mid-30s.

Keane is slow but is a solid defender. What is key is he passes on his experience to Holgate and Branthwaite in particular. Both of whom have great potential. I do think we will see better from Mina this year trusting he doesn't suffer his perennial injury problems.

If James is going to play 10 we are going to see one of Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin play up with him. I do think James will create space for other players.

I'm not convinced on Doucouré but I said the same of Gana who was part of the Villa team that went down and we were all pleased with that signing in the end.

Do these signings improve the team? Yes. Will they make us more difficult to beat and provide a more attacking threat? Yes. Having 2 players with legs around Gomes could lead us to seeing the best of him too.

Makes me look forward to the start of the season more. I wish we could get lucky with injuries this year.

I'd also like a new keeper or for Pickford to show the correct level of concentration for 90 minutes.

The end of the season was similar. Especially after Schneiderlin left. As bad as he had been he had improved under Carlo and would have provided support to a group of players who looked on their arses.

Going into a match with Sigurdsson and Davies as a central pairing is a position we should never have been in. There isn't a team in Division that would choose that!

We need strength in depth, and competition for places. Going to be a bit of financial pain short term to achieve that

And a simple answer to Steve Ferns concerns. Sign Jorginho from Chelsea! Job done

As for Steve Ferns... well after a quite bizarre attempt at defending the utterly overwhelmed Silva - followed by absolutely zero contrition for being totally wrong by the way - my opinion of Steve's views on football is nigh on identical to my opinion of my little Jack Russell's. Neither of them know SFA about football and nor is that likely to change. The dog at least shuts up when people tell him to.

Keane bad, we need a DM, Keane bad, we need a DM, Keane bad, we need a DM...yeah we heard you the first dozen times sport. You can give it - and us! - a rest now.

Christy #182, I'm not sure I would use the word "excelled" to describe Davies' performance as an attacking midfielder -- I would opt for "potential" at best. The fact is that even playing farther forward, he has rarely scored or created goals for others. I'd agree, though, that given his touch on a pass, that might well be his best position, and he should finally get to play it if these signings are completed.

Interesting perspective from Royal Blue Mersey on Brands' toughness (some would say overdue) in transfer negotiations helping us make better deals: https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2020/8/29/21374988/everton-transfer-rumours-allan-napoli-james-rodriguez-real-madrid-loan-deal-marcel-brands-ancelotti

Easy to turn, poor acceleration over the first first yards and gets ruined when isolated. Play anywhere close to the half way line and he's toast.

Fran, your observation about the team attacking and defending as a unit is very much the to the point. To get the best from our midfield the defence has to have the balls to move up the field as a unit. In simple terms it gives more options and smaller passes to make as the team are closer together. It's exactly how the better teams play. Weave this over arching concept into our squad and it's clear we have no space for a player like Keane. It's bad news he's signed a new deal.

We cannot play as Bayern and City and PSG do, with the backline up the pitch and joining the attack, because we do not have pace anywhere along our backline. It's not just Keane -- there is no real speed anywhere in our defense. Holgate is the quickest by far, and even he's not exactly Kyle Walker. With or without Keane, we can't play our backline at the halfway line against quick teams.

Carlo is working with what he has, not what you'd like him to have. Keane is right for the defensive system he is using at the moment, otherwise he would not have approved the new contract. And he was certainly the best of a bad lot during our last dozen games.

If we defend deep we are committed to counter-attacking football. That's fine against the top tier sides, Arteta has figured that out already, (mainly cos his D Is pants) but he has excellent holding midfielders and elite level attackers. The small number of chances they make are scored, we don't have that luxury. Against poor teams he doesn't play that way.

If we do get Rodríguez then he is not a disciplined player (he needs to feel he's is the star), to maximize his skill set we need him to be free and play high up the field, sitting deep is the worst of all set-ups to accommodate him, when you go a goal down that mindset is impossible to flip. I'm not a fan and I stand by better teams moving as a unit is the way forward. The problem is Carlo is a product of his time, I fear a more defensive approach which is going to nullify our flair players.

Obviously, the down side is that if they do fall out of favour they can prove difficult to shift, as we well know.

Personally, I think Allan and James (if those deals close) will improve us defensively in a major way. Why? Because IMO our biggest defensive problem hasn't been bad defending. It's been the inability of our midfield to keep the ball. Our midfielders are generally (perhaps excepting Gomes) giveaway machines, easy to take the ball from and prone to bad passes in bad areas of the pitch that allow opponents to trigger instant counterattacks against our backpedaling backline. We've been burned so many times that way.

Allan and James solve that problem. They are extremely difficult to take the ball from, and they are both exceptionally accurate passers. They won't lose the ball in the center circle and then watch the opponent roar back down the pitch 4-on-3.

So I think they'll take a lot of the load off our center backs. But that's just my opinion.

https://sportwitness.co.uk/allan-goodbye-lunch-bobo-restaurant-everton-transfer-now-imminent/

Who knows how any new player will do, but it's definitely the mindset that needs changing at Everton, especially if you think our players potential has not been maximised.

If we are to get more out of the players you mention, I'm sure it will only come with re-inforcement, just like Arteta had to change his personnel, to get the required fight, energy, and pride, to change the belief of his team?

Don't forget their main man, De Laurentis has a formidable reputation. I think Brands is building a similar reputation here.

The reports are the deal is done, so probably just waiting on getting the player in for his medical. Don't be fooled by the picture on twitter of him at John Lennon Airport as that's an old picture of him in a Napoli tracksuit for a Champions League game against Liverpool.

Seeing a few people have a pop at Steve Ferns... For what it's worth, I recently had a look at a ToffeeWeb thread on Gylfi Sigurdsson's arrival a few summers back (Yes, I have too much time on my hands). I wanted to see what the general reaction was to his signing. Makes interesting reading. Lots of people were getting very excited. But in the midst of it all, Steve Ferns was chiming in as the lone dissenting voice, offering a – in hindsight, eerily prescient – tactical analysis of exactly why Sigurdsson's signing would leave the team utterly disjointed.

We all now talk about the stupidity of Walsh and Koeman signing a bunch of Number 10s like it was obvious even that summer, but it looks to me like Steve Ferns was the one who spotted it first. So if he has concerns about Allan and a lack of defensive midfield cover leaving Keane exposed, then I'm inclined to listen. His tactical musings aren't always right (See: Marco Silva), but they're always interesting – and he's one of the regular posters that elevate ToffeeWeb far above the usual club fan site.

Personally for me, it is the likes of Steve and a few other knowledgeable and strong characters which make this site. The personal grudges and back biting are tiresome and childish.

I will say Alex in response to the comment "We all now talk about the stupidity of Walsh and Koeman signing a bunch of Number 10s like it was obvious even that summer" that my footballing knowledge is significantly less than Steve's by some considerable margin but even a complete moron could see this was not the signing we needed.

I was utterly dumbfounded by our pursuit of all these No 10s at the time. It was ridiculous – and we are STILL paying for that disjointed splurge.

How do I do this you may ask? It's easy really, I just watch the player in matches from my seat in the main stand. If he's rubbish, that's it, I think: "Shouldn't have signed him, he's shite"

He has never been good enough to justify building a team around him to suit his game. Then, he has never really had a place in the most other systems, especially the 4-4-2.

Why hasn't the fabulous Iwobi and Gomes revived our fortunes or maybe the terrier-like Bernard or dynamo Delph? All these guys are on huge wages and have hardly scored a goal between them and represent very very poor value for money. These are Brands signings and he is the chief architect of our downfall IMO and should be replaced.

Sigurdsson, who can add and create a few goals, especially when he had Gana alongside him, is not the reason for the awful position we find ourselves in, as is always the suggestion on here – that is absolute tripe.

Surely there is a mid table or bottom half Premier League team who would take Sigi at a significantly reduced figure, we would have to pay him off some I'd imagine. £8-10M? Villa?

We now have a proper manager, but our midfield is the worst I can remember and clearly the number one priority to change out.

The 3 player's being courted (supposedly) will deal with this at a stroke. Don't forget Gordon will play left, from what I have seen I would pick him before Walcott, Iwobi, or Bernard. Also, Gbamin will hopefully eventually be fit by the New Year – be like another new signing. Gomes may well be up to speed again, but I do have my concerns.

The midfield is always the issue in any poor team – the balance to attack and counter attack all stems from there plus the shape/balance has to be there to, to repel being countered/defence becoming outnumbered.

Sort the middle up the length of the pitch first, down the sides comes later. The goals are always in the middle of the pitch, never changed.

Siggy is very far from our worst player. He's a consummate professional who always tries his best and is always useful from set-pieces. Which is why Carlo plays him (also because our central midfield options have been extremely limited)

But he is also symbolic of our wayward transfer. We vastly overspent on him and bought a slow technical player whose main prowess was from set-pieces at a time that we lacked aerial threats and were crying out for more pace and dynamism.

The moment we spent £45M on Sigurdsson, every team in the world then saw us as someone who could be ripped off. He's not a bad player but it was bad recruitment.

I think we will see an impact on the players that we already have: the defence will look stronger and the attack more dangerous.

Let's face it, we practically played without a midfield last season. Ancelotti knows how he wants the team to play and the new signings – especially Allan and Rodriguez will know exactly what he wants.

I would like to see a fast central defender added and Bolasie & Co offloaded before the window shuts. We will then be in a much better position.

He's not alone, it's a tactical game after all, but footballers hate over complicated coaches, especially some of Everton's squad, who seem to hate every different type of manager we have had over the last few years!

Keep it simple, Carlo, and just get everyone on side.

Calvert-Lewin is not an out-and-out striker, Moise Kean has struggled, when he has played up front either in tandem with Calvert-Lewin or indeed on his own. Having said that, the lad has only had limited cameo appearances.

"Alzie... Alano "

We all have our own opinions on Sigurdsson, he certainly isn't the worst of our recent midfield signings or anywhere near. It's hardly his fault if we overpaid for him.

Brands has presided over the worst deals, for acquiring expensive bum midfielders in our recent history and yet he's still sat in his ivory tower taking money under false pretences – that's the real reason for our abject failure and lack of progress: he's been absolutely hopeless.

But his recruitment was symbolic. It was one of the first in a series of terrible recruitment missteps. Large overspending for a player that was nowhere near a priority.

I don't agree that Brands has presided over the worst deals and I think the losses that we took and will take on Walsh's signings will be greater than on Brands's. Neither can really hold their head up high so far.

I don't always agree with his points of view, agree with many of them though, he never tries to be clever, just believes in what he says and sees. Carry on that way, Steve.

5 or 10 years ago you might have got away with a featherweight player who only comes good now and again, because most other teams were trying to play with a number 10 as well. But the fitness levels and speed of play have now gone through the roof.

All the other teams cottoned onto this much quicker than us - our big problem these last 3 years has been midfield imbalance, mainly having to shoe horn Sigurdsson into the team in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Sigurdsson's days are numbered. Ancelloti has only been playing him because of a lack of options. Once we bring in our reported 2 or 3 midfielders, Sigurdsson will either leave (hopefully) or be sitting back collecting his wages.

He has no place in an athletic, hard-working team looking to play with tempo. Hopefully that is what we are going to become...

Poor management, poor coaching, poor recruitment, poor tactics, disciplined defence, poor passing, poor tackling, lack of speed etc, etc. Some of these or all of these, take your pick.

One thing is for sure we all want that to change soon and until they can shed some of the players who have proved they cannot do the job better, I will feel.

Bringing in two or three new players may help but you still need a system, proper application and commitment. If some key players sustain injuries then turning to tried and failed bench players will just bring us down again.

Hopefully Carlo will be able to get the best of everything from the personnel he favors and push this club to the top again.

I wouldn't be so sure your going to get an athletic midfield, most of Carlo new acquisitions are close to the age 30 mark!

What is it with all this BS that players are finished at 29?

We're busy trying to replace Sigurdsson with... Rodriguez.

Who is a similar player, just even slower!

I think these type of players we are linked with could give us this; winning mentality and experience to compliment some of the young players we have coming through. They will learn far more from Rodriguez and Allan than some of the "experience" we currently have. We can then put a strategy in place for the longer term, but right now, we need to address the bleeding wounds.

I've not seen much of him; however, if a player has spent 2 years at Bayern Munich and is currently in the Real Madrid squad, it seems we'll be adding quality. All you can ask is that what you buy improves on what you have or the balance of the squad. Richarlison aside, our scattergun transfer "policy" of recent seasons hasn't done that.

Arsenal have just given Willian a 3-year deal and he's 32. They're also trying to get Aubameyang to sign up for £250,000 a week and he's 31.

If Messi was was available at a realistic price most the Champions Lion clubs in Europe would be trying to sign him and he's 33. If a player is good enough age doesn't come into it.

Realism gents: collectively we are all culpable for where we are. In no particular order. Rooney's signing was an emotional homecoming of the prodigal son.

Martinez was originally a visionary in his first season, his attacking intent was refreshing after the KITAP1 of the previous 11 years, unfortunately Martinez built on a solid defensive unit left by Moyes. Sadly he couldn't rebuild that aging section of the team.

We have all been hamstrung by the different ethoses of 3 or maybe 4 managers, to which Brands has quiet frankly had mission impossible sorting out in a timeframe to match our expectations.

We are stuck between the dewy eyed reminiscence of our long gone halcyon days of the 80s and Boys Pen Bill's bullshit.

Finally over the past 3 years have become more and more envious of the RS both their success and their style of football. Sadly their success only flames our frustrations and anger against the board the players and even each other here on TW when we have different views.

It's time to remember we all want the same thing for our Team and we all have differing opinions on players football and reasons why we are where we are!!!!!

Let's respect each others views and remember we are either chosen and not manufactured or blighted by our love of the club. We will have are turn in the limelight again – not sure when, but lets hope its is sustained and a prolonged period of time!!! UTFTs

Wouldn't you be ecstatic if Everton signed Messi 33 and Ronaldo 35 who will be 36 in 6 months? Surely in the position we finished last season, a quality players regardless of their age is what we need to improve. Yes if they get injured we will have to play the usual players, but no team in the league can buy a complete new team.

Looking at the players mentioned who we are interested in bringing in, Brands and Ancelotti are strengthening the problem area we all talk about and that is the midfield. It may take 2 or 3 more transfer windows to get into a top 4 to 6 permanent position but you have to have experienced quality players regardless of their age to get you there, and as this transfer market has shown getting in this position enticing more quality players may be easier.

We have to start rebuilding from where we finished last season regardless who was to blame, and we appear to have the people to do it. It's hard enough to build from the ground up, it's even harder when you are in a hole.

Age does not matter, as long as you have the ability.

Steve Ferns argument that we need a DM to win the ball back in front of our defence and that Allan or Doucouré don't fit in with that because they press high up and win it higher up the pitch is some of the most backward-thinking I've ever heard.

I may be missing something but pressing the ball high up the pitch is exactly what all the top teams do, they also don't play with this mythical DM that's supposed to win the ball in our half, isn't that what our defenders are supposed to do !?!?

Unbelievable.

So, hate doing the team prediction thing, but suddenly there could be optimism in the air!! Ignoring defence, which will pick itself from what we already have:

4-2-3-1:

Gomes, Allan
Richarlison, Rodriguez, one from Bernard or Doucouré
Calvert-Lewin or Kean

4-3-3:

Gomes, Allan, Doucouré
Richarlison & Rodriguez floating just behind a point man of Calvert-Lewin or Kean

Gana was a success for us as under Koeman, Allardyce, and Silva we didn't control possession and needed someone to get around the pitch and win the ball back. The best sides control possession and don't have to waste a player.

Look at Bayern – 4-5-1, two talented centre mids and an attacking mid who defends from the front. City play similarly. They both have older players mixed with youth and they work to win the ball back high up the pitch. I'd like Everton to play that way.

Allan seems to be more than just a destroyer but not much of a goal threat. Doucoure and Rodriguez would fit well. Gomes and Davies don't fit well where Siggy can compete with Rodriguez. For me, a midfielder needs to do a bit of everything including being a goal threat.

His passing wasn't the best nor the worst. That he wasn't so great at it only became apparent when the terrific Barry was replaced by that stiff Schneiderlin and Gana was forced to carry some of that dud's water moving the ball forward.

The only thing "perplexing" about Gana was how the departure of that one single player had such a detrimental effect on the team.

Richarlison
Walcott
Allan
Doucouré
Rodriguez
Gomes
Sigurdsson
Gordon
Davies
Delph
Bernard

All of the above will be considered if fit, unless of course we manage to sell a couple. That's quite a selection headache for Carlo, it will be fascinating to see who he goes for and with which formation. I would imagine the players he has signed will get the nod the most often, that's usually what happens.

I would expect Rodriquez and Richarlison to be ideally suited and cause defences many problems; additionally, we have Calvert-Lewin and, because of his role and centre-forward attributes, we are going to be quite a force.

If Marcelo gets the player in that Carlo desires we could have an exciting season ahead.

Danny B. #244, if you've seen much of Rodriguez, there's no way you would compare him to Siggy... at his best, his shooting and passing skills are about three levels above anything Siggy could ever dream of. James is also cat-quick over 5-10 yards (when healthy) but not a burner down the wing.

I'm not convinced he's quick off the mark either.

If Doucouré comes, him and Allan would be the engine of our midfield. In here, I think Gomes, should he regain his best, could shine. Davies also. Delph would be adequate back up to Allan should he stay.

I wonder about Sigurdsson. Surely he must be speaking to his agent about finding a new home, and I'm sure, for a reasonable fee (£10-15M) a number of Premier League clubs would be interested – the likes of Villa, Newcastle, West Brom. He surely doesn't want to be on the bench all season.

He's an ideal gamble. Huge possible upside, limited downside.

Where does the smiley picture go though?

James Rodriguez Is Latest Name To Join Calvin Klein Underwear Campaign

From what I have seen of Rodriguez, he's a clear upgrade on Siggy. For one, he makes attacking passes with tempo, spreading the play - I don't think I've ever seen Sigurdsson switch it across to the other flank.

You also can't get the ball off him. He twists and turns and wriggles away from defenders. Sigurdsson, in comparison, is easily dispossessed.

I'd also say I see Rodriguez playing wide right or left in a 4-3-3. Him and Richarlison can interchange.

I think we've seen the end of a number 10 floating around, waiting to receive the ball. No more passengers.

https://princerupertstower.com/2020/08/30/everton-strong-position-third-midfield-target-allan-james-rodriguez/

Rafinha, by the way, is the brother of Thiago Alcantara. If both sign as rumored, there'd be a possibility of brothers playing against each other in a Merseyside derby. To the historians here: Has that ever happened before?

Rodriguez is a Carlo favourite, I just hope he doesn't find the Premier League too physical, and lives up to all the hype. He has a lot to prove, especially to some of the ultra-critical on here, I wish him lots of luck.

                  Pickford
Coleman   Holgate    Mina   Digne         
Gomes         Alan
Rodriguez   Messi    Richarlison             
Calvert Lewin

I'm 45, and any pace I once had is long gone, so playing me at No 10 would be almost as bad as keeping Sigurdsson there...

How old is Zlatan again? He is 39 in about a month, the 3rd of October. Ahh ok so only 10 years older than Allan?

I just cant stand some of the negativity here. Whining about the age of Allan. Seriously, come on. Give us some better options... please enlighten me. This is one of the few signings the last couple of years that actually make some serious sense.

Our (not mine) obsession is with size, pace and power over skill and ability.

I'll take your Messi and raise you a Crouch or Walcott!

Yes I'm stereotyping but how many Beardsleys and Gazzas have we bought through in comparison to our continental counterparts? We focus on size, pace and power.

He was talking about our fans, and said we don't mind a few high or long balls, for the forwards to fight over, which is something that would never be encouraged at the Bernabeu

He said he told the players before the Man Utd game to throw a few of these long balls in, because it really gets the fans involved – so finally we might just have a manager who understands us?

Two years later, he was a World Cup Winner. And he went on to play in the 1968 FA Cup Final. Auld git!!!

Then again, didn't Bob Latchford play for us against his brother Dave, who was in goal for Birmingham City?

It seems that 2 of the 3 are as good as done! But I thought FFP hindered our spending power?

Can someone explain please how we can fork out £80m and a loan deal, without selling the deadwood!!!

Anyway methinks if Allan and Rodrigues sign on then they may not bother with the overpriced Doucoure.

Just choose his moments to get forward, say from 32 years old onwards. Even if he gets forwards less in a couple of years time, he's got better feet and a better pass forwards than Gana. He'll still be quality over 5 to 10 yards.

Cheers Colin.👍

I cannot really understand why some people really want him back. When Gana played bad, which he did a lot (except for the last spring period he played for us), it was so frustrating watching us play.

And I agree that the best thing in modern football is to have midfielders that can do everything from ball-winning, passing, running etc. That makes everything harder for the opponents. With only one forward-thinking midfielder, the opponents can target him much easier and cripple the offense.

When we had Gueye and Gomes in the middle in our team setup, we really were not good enough offensively. For med Gomes/Gueye we tried it, it worked good sometimes but in my opition offensively weak.

Compare Gana with for example Fernandinho when we was at his peak for a couple of years ago. Fernandinho was not only a good defensive midfielder with an engine. He also had brilliant passing ability and a football mind beyond Gana.

I think some of you in here seem to remember only his good days and not his bad ones.