Doucouré set to complete Goodison switch

I would not mind if he now spends the rest of the transfer window trying to get the excess players out – namely, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Delph, Walcott, Besic, Sandro, Bolasie, Tosun. I suspect that is a far more difficult job than the new signings.

What the long term consequences are, is anyone's guess.

Are we really buying a whole new midfield? Pinch me Blues.

And finally a replacement for Gueye.

That should stop the undeserved critism he has been getting off our residential fantasy football managers here on TW.

Thank you, Marcel Brands. Now, for your next trick, Sandro, Bolasie, Wallcot, Besic, Davies and Delph – your taxis are waiting.

To be fair, Walcott, Besic, Bolaisse, Sandro are all out of contract next summer anyway.

Doucouré is absolutely nothing like Idrissa Gueye.

Fingers crossed for Boga and Tarkowski.

Everyone keeps bemoaning the lack of carbon copy Gana replacement but Allan and Doucouré will simply not be waltzed through like last seasons mess and will be able to turn us around quicker. We still have Gbamin to come back eventually (fingers crossed) who can shield the back 4 if needed.

Unpopular opinion klaxon: Delph may be needed this season as, when fit, he shields the back four and has played left-back for England, so is useful for the squad.

Paul #7, too much information.

We're still going to need a right-back and centre-back at some point. Possibly a striker too. But perhaps with a half-decent midfield in place, we can get more out of the likes of Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin and even Bernard (whom I still like, even if the end product hasn't been there).

If nobody else comes in then, on paper, we'll still have had a good summer. More will be needed down the line but, please God, let these three work out..

These three bring plenty to the table: instead of a plate of mash and boiled hogget, we can now find noisettes of saltmarsh lamb, feijoada and bistec encebollado.

I just hope we don't get indigestion.

Also, with these three signings, it may enable Delph to provide the cover at left-back that we need – as he did at Man City.

Apologies to Marcel Brands btw. I have been quite critical of him lately.

Good job, Marcel... now just get rid of the stiffs!

This midfield will suffice for the next 2 to 3 seasons whilst allowing our DoF to start to put into place the system he developed so successfully as Eindhoven.

Thou shalt not pass, and for sure it will not be easy now for any opposition to get through.

At least that's what I hope.

Pleased with Doucouré, he will be an important signing, just as much as James and Allan.

It is getting interesting, Carlo means business.

[* If, as expected, all three sign.]

If it doesn't pan out, they could set up a ladies hairdressers.

Outgoings will come from the wide players.

Happy as a pig in muck with this signing.

I wasn't missing going to the match too much, during the lock-down, but if we sign these three and possibly another one or two, I'll be raring to go when we are welcomed back to our seats. So long as we don't have to sell any of our current better players we should hopefully see signs of a recovery in the coming season:

Goodison Anniversary

Hopefully the new players will gel straight away and we can start performing like a proper team.
COYB

I've got to admit it's getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It can't get no worse)
I have to admit it's getting better (Better)
It's getting better
Since you've been mine

Me used to be angry young man
Me hiding me head in the sand
You gave me the word, I finally heard
I'm doing the best that I can
I've got to admit it's getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It can't get no worse)

I have to admit it's getting better (Better)
It's getting better
Since you've been mine
Getting so much better all the time!

Lets bloody hope so - its not as though we've been waiting for long is it ?

Turns out they will sign for us but some players just feel a bit better in West London at a Champions League club in a brand new stadium.

This is incredible work; of course we must hope they settle in and gel but it looks like these are real feats of signings the likes of which I think only Lukaku and Kanchelskis can compare in my lifetime.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, wow!

I think they will turn their attention to right back now. Possibly Emerson or Arias in next and that maybe it. Unless Moise is adamant about returning to Italy, then a more proven goalscorer will be brought in. Carlo will have a shortlist already.

I can see us wheeler-dealing from now on in, swaps, loans, player plus deals. They'll need to move on three or four too through sales or loans.

Walcott for free if anyone will take him.

Cenk for free if anyone will take him.

Bernard for any kind of fee. £5m plus

That's a great link. The description of the stadium when new, fantastic!

Even the Sky pundits bigging us up!!

Good work by Brands if we're paying the prices quoted in the media. Ancelotti a factor at play here too – if he wasn't manager we'd only realistically be able to get Doucouré. Let's hope James still has some magic left. Big fish in a medium-sized pond etc.

I hope we see the earlier Doucouré.

I've been critical of Brands, although I think he has underperformed to now and hasn't found anywhere near the young prospects I was hoping for, it sounds like he's saved us at least £10m by being patient. He also said that a couple of years ago about Mina.

The only other central midfielders I would now keep are Gomes and Davies – although I would look for a loan for Davies when Gbamin is nearing fitness.

If we could get a dynamic right-back on loan (Emerson, Arias, Florenzi) then that would represent a pretty effective window I think.

It's a bit more short-term than I'd have gone myself but I guess sometimes, if you look after the present, the future will get better by itself. Certainly makes for an interesting spectacle!

I fully expect us to revert back to the quality, under-24, younger recruits In forthcoming windows.

Also, I think we will see a much more targeted approach, focusing on one or two signings per window, but real quality (and probably expensive) young players.

If Tom isn't going to be involved, it would be best for him to move but, despite everything, I still think he could become a very good player.

Who knows how it will all pan out. Nobody can guarantee translating previous success in other leagues to Premier League excellence, but hopefully this sort of influx of talent, energy and excitement might serve to awaken some of our existing squad to significantly up their own levels. Here's hoping.

Pickford
Coleman Keane Holgate Digne
Allan Gomes Doucouré
James Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

He's exactly what we need.

We Evertonians are not hard to please, a kind word now and again will almost suffice, but this week has made me smile. Our club have that effect now and again.

Shane Duffy to Celtic has also made me smile. It was destined.

Trophies here we come!

Are we believers now that good times lie ahead under our blue Mr Ancelotti, or still cautious?

Things weren't happening and Carlo put his foot down and we get our problem area sorted in the swish of a pen.

Would it be too much to ask to get a quality right-back and a new goalkeeper?

Then Christmas will have come early.

Does this get exciting:

Clown's replacement
Arias Holgate Mina Digne
Rodrigues Allan Doucouré Gomes
Richarlison Calvert-Lewin

Pickford
Arias Holgate Mina Digne
Rodriguez Allan Doucouré Gomes
Richarlison Costa

Tasty!!

I wonder how our 2019 season midfield is feeling? They had their opportunities and can only look into the mirror and ask themselves how they ended up in the Championship. Hopefully a lesson learned for some of them... of course, that is if they actually care.

No one can accuse Carlo of not addressing the issues (as obvious as they were). No one can accuse Brands of not being good as his job of negotiating. £60M for them three is borderline shoplifting.

Lastly, no one can accuse Moshiri of not backing his manager. We don't get these players without Carlo but Moshiri has put his money where his mouth is. If we get our team playing European football in Bramley Moore Dock, he'll double his entire investment anyway as the club will be valued at £1.5bn Plus but the fella has ambitions, I'll give him that.

This new midfield is going to make last season's look like a Piss take. Them shower last lesson didn't know if it was fucking Pancake Tuesday or Sheffield Wednesday!!!! Tits!!!

Roll on the new season! COYB!!!!

https://mobile.twitter.com/adamsg1878/status/1301198821335199748

Please don't be another false dawn!

This is torture!!

This lad is an absolute beast and he puts in the kms. With Allan fighting alongside him, I can see an effective 4-4-2 on the cards.

Great effort by Marcel and Carlo.

A top class right-back and goalkeeper and this could be a heck of a summer. May take a few weeks to click but, once again, the owner has shown his mettle and commitment to the club!

4-3-3:

Gomes Doucouré Allan
James Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

4-4-2:
James Doucoré Allan Gordon
Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

4-2-3-1:
Doucoure Allan
James Sigurdsson Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

With Kean, Walcott, Gordon, Davies, Gbamin, Bernard all in reserve. I'm not going to lie, I'm licking my lips in anticipation.

We all knew that we needed a whole new midfield and by the looks of it we have one.

Am I being greedy in wanting a proven goal scorer to help out Richarlison?

Last season, a lot of teams kicked Richarlison out of the game knowing that Calvert-Lewin isn't the same threat. A Diego Costa type would do me.

In any case, he's a clear upgrade on what we've got. Hopefully he will be more like the player he was 2 years ago than last year. Having him and Allan at least restores the engine we have been lacking for 3 years.

Pickford
Keane Holgate Tomori
Coleman Digne
Allan Doucouré
Sigurdsson
Rodriguez Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

That looks like 12 players. No wonder they’re champions!

There was a stat on Twitter recently about all our midfielders. If you put all of them together, they have made over 400 performances, from which they contributed 40 goals and created 26 assists. So basically, from the lot of them, you get one goal in 10, and one assist in 16. It's remarkable Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison got 15 goals in front of that lot!

I predict we will get more output from a midfield 3 this year than we got from a midfield 4 last year. And at least one of our front 3 (Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Rodriguez) will get more than 20 goals.

The attackers feeding on scraps is hopefully a thing of the past. So is nobody tackling in midfield. We are going to be a proper team again next season...

I would not be surprised if Walcott or Sigurdusson move across the pond as for sure some players have played their last game for us. The books have to be balanced (somewhat) and the wage bill reduced.

Nice to have players coming in as that squad of last season had 'relegation battle' written all over it.

Link to his YouTube compilation. I think the stark thing to notice is the sheer amount of interceptions and powerful running with the ball. As deceptive as YouTube videos are, they are the hard things to disguise as they aren't caused by poor defending or players standing off of him (as you would expect in montages for forwards from substandard leagues).

I for one am genuinely excited by all three signings. Keep them all fit and I feel we will be all good this season.

The only decent midfield recently was with Barry and McCarthy in Roberto's first season. We still only have Richarlison as a regular goal scorer. I'm not convinced by Kean and I think we should offload whilst there's reported interest in him.

The goalkeeping position definitely needs strengthening because Pickford costs us too many points. We also need a decent right back. We'll need to ship out as many as we can from Bolasie, Besic, Sandro, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Davies, Walcott and Iwobi.

A good day but there's still a lot to do to even compete with the likes of Wolves. Promising though.

Same formation as the RS?

No wonder they won the league playing with 12 men!!

Some players already here will no doubt be more ready to compete or else will want out soon enough.

Not expecting a much-changed starting lineup for the first game from the season finale against the Bees but let's see how things pan out over the first month or so.

You probably missed this story during your hospital stay. Here is the thread covering it here on TW:

Historic England Object to Everton's New Stadium

Given the government - local and national - will be desperate to kick-start the economy post-Brexit and with Covid-19 lingering, I would hope it's not a deal breaker.

Saw your reply on the Blackburn game off thread. Double angioplasty! Not a man to do things by half, eh?

I resided in Belo Horizonte about 8-9 years ago where, of course, I adopted Cruzeiro as the only blue-shirted club in Serie A as my Brazilian team. And didn't they do me proud... up until last year's debacle and fall from grace to Serie B for the first time in their history.

Love MG. My type of country. Mountains. Forests. Great trails. Far more benevolent climate than steamy Belem!

Looks like Everton may get the pulse racing this season if these signings come off, so be careful Steve!!!

Keep well, fellah.

The biggest problem Brands has now is how to move on players on massive salaries: Sigurdsson, Bolasie, Ramirez, Delph (too injury prone), Besic, Iwobi, a huge task.

Hopefully James and Allen will sign tomorrow, my wife is Colombian so she is over the moon although can he keep fit? That's my one big worry about James.
Certainly we seem to be going in the right direction now to get that 3rd choice keeper at Man Utd who Is still well better than that clown we currently have between the sticks!

Bolasie, Walcott, Iwobi and Iwobi's shadow would do it – plus a bit of dosh.

Doucouré should be able to settle in very quickly as an experienced operator in the Premier League. On the occasions I have seen him play against us, he has always struck me as the sort of player we were missing.

There is greater risk concerning Allan and James who each may take a few weeks to acclimatise to a different country, league and club. How quickly they settle in the team is likely to determine the shape of our season.

Rob #95, yes, you're being greedy. I think Rodriguez turns Rich into a 20-goal scorer with his through passes, and if Calvert-Lewin simply maintains his level from this past season, that's a potent frontline.

Benn #84, Pancake Tuesday?? I love your posts. Colorful.

Karl #106, patience, patience, patience. A whole new midfield, two of whom have never played in England, will take time to jell. Especially with limited preseason training together. Don't get grumpy if it looks a little disjointed for the first month or so.

Jack #50, not a false note in there.

Alan #39, not bad.

Sorry to sound sceptical but supporting Everton since the Premier League was created (and decades beforehand, when a mere 14 trophyless seasons was rightly deemed totally unacceptable) has done that to me.

Kenwright (and his clan) out!

Big names, exciting players, positions that we needed filled.

I mean, enjoy it while you can.

I am not being greedy, well maybe a tad, but if we could land Odsonne Edouard and Emerson too, okay (I did say greedy), that would make this Transfer Window the best!

Oops, almost forgot there, Romero from Man Utd on a 2-year contract!

I think Allan and Doucouré will flank him and have licence to get forwards, both in the attacking sense and also to hunt the ball and win it back. Gomes then being the easy pass backwards and able to spray the ball about from deep to our much improved forward line.

DK #126, sorry, mate, but according to Spotrac, Romero is on £70,000 a week. Unless he's willing to halve his salary (unlikely) or Pickford is about to be sold (also unlikely), I don't think it'll happen.

I always get nervous when Everton are on the cusp of something – then they let you down.

It won't happen this time.

If the default is that Gomes starts on the bench then I wonder how long he will remain a blue. If he does leaves, it will be a real shame as I think he has found his home here after his problems at Barca.

Inside info from James's family is that it's a done deal!

He'll certainly stay, as will Pickford, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, and probably Walcott and Bernard. Bolasie, Sandro, Besic and (unfortunately) Delph will go in one form or another. I think Walcott might go if we get a good offer. Tosun is injured so I don't see how we can sell him until the next window.

Delph, unless a bad apple in the dressing room, would be a very handy squad player.

I hope they are on the phone to their agents saying get me out of here, but I doubt it. They're more likely doing a mental calculation of so many weeks at this many thousands of pounds and then sitting back with a smile of the... Nothing to see here, I'll worry about my future in 18 months or so, sort.

As to Gomes, he looks the part, but he's all show and no go and I don't want him in the holding role, your granny on a zimmer frame could ghost past him. In fact, I don't want him anywhere near our box... too many rash tackles.

He'll drift into the deadwood, must get rid of, list in 12months... if not sooner.

The fact is you don't get to be a top player without a powerful competitive drive. Players want to play, and most of the guys who find out over the next four months that they can't get on the pitch with our new midfield are going to be on that phone call with their agents. Pro careers can be pretty short, and nobody wants to be replaced, bypassed and left sitting and watching other guys play for an entire season. Nobody.

I know your cynical view is popular among the fans, but I can tell you with considerable conviction that it's mostly untrue.

We should also learn from last season. These new players are just as likely to get injured. It is no good getting rid of all Sigurdsson, Delph, Iwobi and Bernard! We have seen how effective a midfield of Gomes and Davies is!

I think it would be fair to think that some of the others may also raise their game, with better players around them. Midfields are generally the sum of their parts and these additions make tactical flexibility a reality.

Against Spurs and Wolves, he didn't even trouble the laundry lady, everyone saw it, it was pointed out on live TV. The stats say that in those 2 games he didn't make a single tackle.

Unfortunately in the Premier League we've seen the likes of Winston Bogarde of Chelsea who happily and publicly stated his intention to pick up a colossal paycheck for doing nothing. Similar to the attitude Gareth Bale now has at Madrid.

However, next year we have the Euros, African Nations Cup and Copa America. So I'm hopeful our various current internationals (just about all our rejects minus Walcott, Davies and Sandro) will have enough professional pride to seek a move elsewhere for the sake of their international careers.

I would think Sigurdsson and Gomes are particularly “at risk” right now assuming Bernard has already accepted his fate. I'm unclear exactly how we will line up next year but with three predominantly central midfielders being signed maybe the wide boys have a glimmer of hope?

I still think there are 1-2 more players to come in at right-back and left-sided centre-back but then it is clear-out time. Then over to Carlo to see if he can knit this new squad into a functional team.

Kieran, I knew somebody would bring up Bogarde, but he's the exception. And my impression of the Bale situation is that he tried to leave Real Madrid last summer to get back on the pitch but was stymied by the club's financial demands.

I too expect that, once veteran players like Sigurdsson and Bernard know they're out of the picture, they'll be eager to move. Not so with Davies, since this is the only club he's ever known -- he'll want to stay and fight for his place. I'm just saying he's going to be very, very worried about keeping it.

Stephen #138, playing badly is not the same thing as being willing to sit in the stands and watch and collect paychecks. For most of his career, Gylfi has been one of the hardest-working players in the Premier League. Obviously he went stale this season. But he's not going to reject a move someplace else just to cash in, as Derek predicted.

For Davies, the best option all round would seem to be a smart loan. Barring injuries, difficult to see him getting ahead of the other players and he really does need regular football to kick on.

In an opinion that is not likely to resonate with all, I think we will see a better Iwobi, this season.

I don't know much about Iwobi and so cannot comment too much. I watched him 'live' vs Man City last September and he looked like there is a player in there somewhere.

Much will now be down to Carlo to spin the web as per Steve Brown's comment @140.

Without Carlo Ancelotti, I think it is unlikely we would have got to this point. Hiring Ancelotti and Brands was a major statement by Moshiri – I'm hoping this is our watershed moment! COYB

Mike, you are one funny dude.

Oy vey.

Been watching him for five years now and have never seen it yet, but hope springs eternal.

Sigurdsson, Tosun, Delph and Walcott will only decline further, so the best option is to try to lessen the losses we will make on their transfer fees (unlikely), but more importantly get their wages off the salary bill.

Having looked on various Watford fan sites, none of them seem to be particularly bothered about losing Doucouré so I will judge when we see him play.

This could easily become a 4-3-3 with Richarlison and James operating as wing forwards. We will have a lot of options.

I'm not sure Gomes would suit that role, nor do envisage Carlo playing there (happy to eat my words if true and it works btw). if Carlo does want to play 4-4-2 with all fit I fear Gomes may be warming the bench. I

agree totally with you that we have lots of options, let's trust the old boy knows what he is doing. A young high potential left-back on the cheap, centre-back on loan (if Tomori with an option to buy) and a solid right-back.

Let's watch Kean tear it up this season.

How ineffective has Sigurdsson been, and Delph is never fit... get rid. Gomes can play, in his proper position, and Davies is worth having on the bench.

Ever heard of Winston Bogarde?

After all, so many posters have been quick to criticise him for every failing and failed transfer and even an editor has thrown their hat in, pointing out that he is still chairman and therefore has sole responsibility for all the transfer mess. It's only fair that he gets the praise when we sign a decent player or two.

Thank you, Bill.

This is what a Chairman and former owner should be doing as part of their duties. His dereliction of duties for the past decades cannot be eradicated so easily.

I think I'd like to have a beer with you sometime. :)

We've asked him to be many things that he isn't. To be honest, you could say the same about most of the decent players we ruined.

However the thought of Gomes playing in the middle of it, or a 4-4-2 (or anything other than a 4-2-3-1 as he needs a babysitter), would be enough to give our centre-halves panic attacks. What sublime protection one of, if not the most, dribbled past players in the Premier League would provide.

Nice beard and knocks a cracking cross-field pass once a half though. At home. Away, it's just the beard. There's no substance to his game. He personifies Marco Silva's Everton.

Competition for places will be improved so that should be a good thing and would suggest that Carlo is looking towards a 3-5-2 or a 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-3-2-1 formation to accommodate the many Midfielders he will now have at his disposal.

I haven't seen Allan play but I hope he will be one player who can improve things defensively which I think we badly need.

I would have really liked to have seen a 'keeper come in, hopefully, there is still time yet, the sooner we see the back of Pickford the better. I would take the £30M back in a flash but no-one would be stupid enough to offer the money we paid.

Bolasie – get rid.
Besic – Get rid.
Sandro – get rid.
Tousun – get rid. (I actually think he is a good finisher and could flourish as the centre in a 4-3-3.)
Wallcot – keep we are going to have injuries and he has pace.
Davies – keep, he's young and has potential.
Gomes – keep, he is very handsome.
Sigurdsson, Bernard & Iwobi – I've put these together as they all play in a similar position: attacking midfield, No 10, on the left. I think only one goes, but who?
Sigurdsson – we have had him for 3 seasons only one of these did he play in his prefered place, 38 games 13 goals. I'd keep him.
Iwobi – he didn't do a lot last season but we paid a lot for him and he's young; whatever people might want, he is not going anywhere.
Bernard – I like watching him play, but there doesn't seem to be any end product and Carlo doesn't seem to rate him. So it's probably bye-bye.

That said, there is probably some economics in here, and we will listen to offers for all of them.

Bobby 169

"Gomes. No substance to his game."

Represented Benfica, Valencia and Barcelona.

He has been inconsistent, yes. But when he has been on it, Everton have looked good. How good would any player have looked in that midfield last season – let alone one who had that injury

I think, in a team with better players and a more defined role, he will be an asset.

And yes, he gives Ginola a run in looks.

What a transformation our midfield will be, with these 3 added, I just wonder how many more we will get in before the window officially shuts. Got a feeling Romero the now 3rd choice goalkeeper at Man Utd could be next.

If we could get Emerson, and Edouard too, I think we would definitely be a different proposition against the so called top six, not to mention the also-rans. As someone else mentioned I think the entertainment factor will be back, and hopefully some Silverware.

A fully fit Gomes is in my starting 11. Be interesting to see what formation Ancelotti picks.

Looking for 3 today.

Has he gone off the boil a bit? Or was the one season the exception? A lot of watford fans are not too sad to see him leave and claim they will miss Capoue more. Doucouré is accused of being too lazy and giving the ball away too much. Is this just bitter fans or did he down tools a bit after not being allowed to leave?

Allan and Rodriguez have been excellent over a long period but Doucouré has only had one season in his life where he has really looked like a top class player. If he can hit that level again then great but sometimes when signing players we can be guilty of just remembering the highlights and the two or three match-winning games they had when the cameras were on. Hopefully Carlo gets him back to his best.

Also adding Doucoure to his purchases which will completely transform our midfield, anyone could see our midfield was woeful, but getting quality players in to replace them was the hard bit. Whether Brands had anything to do with the prices agreed I don't know, but these buys are solely down to Ancelotti.

I am sure there are even more changes he would like to make but with the impact of Covid-19 and the FFP rules he may have to settle with these 3 for now. I am sure in an ideal world he would like to bring in a quality striker, but that might have to wait till most of the deadwood has been moved on.

Surely even the most pessimistic Evertonian must be a little excited over the 3 players coming in. I know some will question whether Rodriguez and Allan will be able to adjust to the Premier League, but I am sure Carlo knows them better than any fan and I trust his judgement.

Carlo is a shrewd operator and when he said some weeks ago that he had been given assurances by the board that he would be able to spend then maybe we shouldn't be surprised at how quick he has identified the players needed.

And just as important he has also got Gordon to extend his contract and will no doubt do the same with Branthwaite, so he is not only looking at bringing in new players he is also looking after the young players.

Maybe the doubters will see that this isn't a guy just here to top up his pension.

Given he has apparently told them he wanted to go to Everton only and play for Ancelotti I think he will be extremely motivated at least. The only thing holding him back will be whether he is good enough or not which remains to be seen for me.

All the players during that time suffered – not just Doucouré.

He will do just fine for us.

I agree about Doucouré last season. I thought the player had mentally already moved on from a disjointed Watford side and was in a sort of holding pattern mentality, keeping a few percent in reserve. Hopefully he will turn on the gas for us these next few years.

He will realise this is it for his football career, it's now or never. So I think we may see the previous form from him come back to the surface. He will be inspired playing alongside better players and for Mr Ancelotti.

Time will prove, but if as it stands these three signings all get delivered, then fair play to Carlo, Brands and The Everton Board.

Looks good value and hopefully a rock solid midfield.

On the goalkeeper note, you'd like to think that Jordan Pickford will take proper stock of the team situation and realise that there's no given in any team and every player earns his position in the team on merit.

I hope also we see a new Captain and I'd start with Lössl as goalkeeper if no new keeper comes in.

No more on the scale of self-inflicted disasters we've seen the last two years from our goalkeeper.

Hopefully a big welcome to Everton for the new signings.

Paul #186, ever seen Lössl play?

I'm thinking of penning an article called “Bill Kenwright – Everton's Saviour” to see how many responses I get!!!

I hope I detected a liberal sprinkling of sarcasm.

Trouble is we haven't seen much of any of them yet and they are all obviously superfluous to the rosters of their selling clubs.

So don't get carried away by statements that xxxxxx and xxxxxx will necessarily solve our problems in midfield, lets see them in our team before we pass judgement.

I for one have suffered so much disappointment in reason seasons that I'm holding my water. I recommend you all to do the same.

Jesus above that was like cray-cray. That's us sorted.

Someone above said that's our midfield sorted for the next 2-3 years while Marcel does his thing and brings in the young, eventual replacements. Couldn't agree more.

Now my goal for Everton is to NOT go into Administration / file bankruptcy.

We need to begin to make money and become a self-sustaining Club, not an owner-injection Club.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Moshiri will sort it out in time.

Sangare was one but not sure he was ever on Everton's radar. I've read good reports about the guy but never seen him in action. On the other hand, I've seen Doucouré a few times and never been blown away.

I thought Collins, Dacourt and Materazzi would turn us around. But hopefully this will go better. I'm just glad we won't see Schneiderlin out there any more.

Doucouré has never been much of a ball winner. He's better at it than the likes of Davies, Gomes and Sigurdsson but he's more of a rounded box-to-box player who carries the ball and gets on the end of balls into the box. More Cahill than Gana in a way though it depends on where Ancelotti plays him.

If we play 4-4-2, Carlo needs 2 energetic midfielders who can cover a lot of ground at decent speed and can tackle, pass and carry the ball. We had no players like that last season. Now we will have two...

I suppose it makes things interesting.

Smith assembled a superb team in 1998-99. When big Dunc left, we had nobody to get us a goal. The problem was scoring goals. And we didn't have a good goalkeeper.

Campbell came in and formed a partnership with Jeffers who began to break through and results thereafter were outstanding.

But a midfield of Barmby, Dacourt, Hutchison and Collins would've been amongst the best in the Premier League at that time.

ps: I am not a fan of Kenwright.

Jay (111) - much appreciated also. I DID miss that thread, and will go back for a quick peak soon. By the way, I almost got in touch the other week, when to my utter, gob-smacking surprise, I saw that the Blackpool game was 'live' on ESPN Brasil. Unfortunately, I only stumbled across it after 65 mins on the clock! How crazy is that! Am hoping now to catch Burscough v Chorley at some point!

Ticker is battering away quite well now, with much less work to do, now that the channels have been expanded with the aid of four old valve springs from a '73 Allegro. Gives me hope that I will more easily survive the coming weeks, in spite of all the 'usual' excitement.

As for our 'other' team: I've never really bought into the 2nd Team thing that heavily, but have to admit to being seriously gutted when Cruzeiro were relegated last season. Bit like seeing a majestic structure reduced to rubble, or sink below the waves. And have to admit, I lost sleep over it, fearing omens of what might befall the other boys in Royal Blue and White Umbro kits.

On this thread in general, and subject of who to release. I fervently believe we need to retain Gomes, Bernard, and Davies. If we demand a 'Plan-B', even a 'Plan-C', then we need the tools (oh dear) to implement these.

Is winter in Belem any different than the Summer...? Enjoy the fish and the cold beer. Look forward to chatting again soon.

Take care, and all the best, Steve

I want our current transfers to be completed... they seem to be taking forever!

"Oh mother, tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Don't spend your lives in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun"

Like you, I'm gob-smacked that Blackpool-Everton was on ESPN Brasil! I had no idea! That has got to be the Richarlison factor, even though he was nowhere near the game.

Glad to hear the ole ticker is behaving itself.

As for this line: 'Is winter in Belem any different than the Summer...? Enjoy the fish and the cold beer.'

Forgive my outbreak of manic laughter! I wish!!!

Pretty much 30C+ all year round. Rarely drops below 25C even at night. If - once-in-an-Everton-trophy-winning-season! - it does drop below 20C at night, my esposa Paraense wraps herself in a blanket. Me? Shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops year round. And that's overdressed!

As for the fish and cold beer, you missed out the obligatory acai with the fish, otherwise you were spot on!

Take care fellah.

I've been checking the official Everton website every hour for days but nothing, at all.

However, what is very noticeable is that nothing has been posted on the 'News' section, today. This is very unusual as, usually, even the most trivial things are on there.

Could it be they are poised (all day) to make an announcement?

And Gbamin and Mina!

They got lucky and miraculously were healthy for a few hours on medical day. I think we need to invest in a top-of-the-range MRI scanner so we can have a good butchers at what's going on inside.

Bill @ 91:

Good! No more bad news for now.

As far as I can recall, James McCarthy's appearance record was very good at Wigan.

Injured on arrival and we waited, what, 18 months before we saw him play? Basically one-legged.

I cannot see how the medical staff missed the fact he had a bum knee.

I agree but, without sounding ungrateful or greedy, I hope we recruit a few more. I think we can cope with the centre-backs we have with Mina (if fit), Keane and Holgate plus Branthwaite and hopefully Lewis Gibson, who I rate fairly highly.

If we could get Emerson (right-back) and Edouard too, it would be a total transformation. I don't know about whether Pickford can be relied upon for another season, or whether we could do with back-up, or replacement (Romero or Rulli).

There was nothing wrong with McCarthy's medical, he played 39, 39 & 37 games, including League Cup, in his first 3 seasons. Then he had hamstring problems, but Martinez kept rushing him back.

The club certainly knows how to keep its fans waiting doesn't it?

Nothing against Kone, though. Alcaraz was a joke signing, but I thought Kone was going to be a pretty good one to add to our attack.

More like Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane rushing James McCarthy back.

One of those games in the Europa when we were wearing out Wolfsburg. Mac had been out with little niggling hammy problems, then a more serious one. Then he's sent out to play that game. 15 minutes in, he's walking holding on to the back of his leg.

There's a fair argument that James should have taken better care of his career. What we know is, Club or country, when they called his number Mac suited up and went out there. A fellow like that needed to be looked after a little bit by management.

He was not, especially by Martinez.

He was Roberto's boy, no question. Martinez brought him out of Scotland's weekend pub league into big time footy, then took him along to Everton.

Then fucked him over.

I'm no big fan of McCarthy. As I've mentioned more than once, without Roberto signing Barry, we would have wound up with Fellaini out and Mac in.

Not good.

With that, baseline requirement for we supporters being when players come out there wearing the shirt, they bust their ass for it they'll get respect.

McCarthy earned his.