Doucouré signs on to bolster Everton's midfield

Brilliant, pace and power!

The midfield is bound to be better this season with the buys made.

Combined with skill, grace and aggression alongside Rodriquez and Allan. Ingredients we have been missing for way too long.

Beat me to it, Joe. Well done, Everton!

That's what I'm talking about!

Excellent stuff. Our new midfield is looking awesome now.

The thing with this transfer lark is it becomes a buzz so, as soon as one is done, you're looking for your next fix.

Could be the best signing we've made. IMO a better choice than Højbjerg. We will have cover with Gbamin.

If we can get rid of Sigurdsson, Davies and one of Walcott, Bernard or Iwobi, it will have been a fantastic transfer window. COYB

I've just come off the Everton website, to see if he'd signed, and must have missed the announcement by seconds!!

And then there were three...

Fair play to Moshiri. He hasn't just brought Carlo in to look good. He's backing him to the hilt.

This is getting interesting, or as Barry Davies once said "VERY" interesting.

Can't wait for the curtain to go up...

Next transfer window can we avoid slagging off “typical Everton” when they haven't signed anybody 10 minutes into the window.

We've got signings. Of quality. At good fees. With limited length contracts. With much improved PR. Well in, Carlo and Marcel.

OMG! OMG! OMG!

Excellent buy. We have some very exciting midfield options now.

Brilliant. A proper combative midfield at last...

After my lengthy review on James, here's my commentary on Doucoure:

YAY!

Okay, who's next? Gimme another hit, Marcel!

Welcome, Abdoulaye,

Relieved and absolutely delighted. He has a touch of class and will give his peak years as a footballer to Everton. He will be integral to transforming our midfield and give us a good few formation options.

Every bit as good news as Allan and James Rodriguez.

They think it's all over...

Andrew #7, spot on. Marcel and Carlo have become transfer crack dealers, and we're all their eager addicts now.

Wow, a whole new midfield in four days!

I like the way the Club's Communications and Media team have managed these announcements. Rather than three announcements in one day, we have had a good news story on three successive working days, thereby keeping the club in the national headlines for those three days. It has also allowed the three players to share the attention on an equal footing.

Bit less glamour than the previous two signings but by far the most important!

What a great week! 😊

John #20 spot on.

Brent 11 - agree with all that. Another goal scoring midfielder with pace and power.

Good fees, sensible contracts and little fuss. A welcome change.

Brilliant or potentially brilliant signings.

All's we need is a right-back, probably on loan, and that would be one helluva window.

Delighted.

Rob#19.
Rob, when's the announcement for the fourth transfer mate?

Oh, my! Very happy with all these three additions!

Faaaaaaaaccccckin ell !!!!

This is one serious midfield now!

Can't remember a more exciting time to be a blue.

Unbelievable.

Great news. Now I really have to go with a fire evacuation coming to my town Eugene, Oregon, USA. No locusts yet, but a crowd of right wing, gun totin crazies comin thru the smoke. COYB.

This is the guy we were crying out for. Excellent signing, now Ancelotti needs to mould a team to challenge the top four. Even with these signings we won't go anywhere without creating a heart to the team, hopefully Allan and Doucouré with help from Gomes and Davies that will happen.

No doubt that Carlo identified the problems and has acted! Wow! From despair at the end of last season to excitement! Can't wait for the first match. Let's get at 'em!

Well done everyone at the club!

Massively buzzing here, 3 top quality midfielders, all wanted to be here as first choice and all compliment each other.

There's not been many great weeks in recent years to be an Evertonian, but this week is game-changing. I can see us being a real force this season.

Danny agreed.

Not the most glamorous of the three and definitely the ugliest, but this is the one I wanted.

Media outlets more interested in misbehaving young England players than making us headline, but I have a feeling we may just make them sit up and take notice this season.

COYB

Andrew (7) - you got that right. I feel like the hunchback in the movie 300.

"Yes! Yes! I want more! I want it all! Wine! Wealth! Women!"

Impressive.

We need a right-back, even on loan.

A centre-back, even on loan.

And another winger. Leon Bailey would do.

Brian, I've heard Tomari will be early doors tomorrow.

Albert #30, condolences. I'm a Duck in Brookings, and we're smelling your smoke down here. Hope everything turns out okay. Keep us posted, please.

Best of luck there, Albert @30.

Straightforward choice. Strong, energetic, fast, will be good at helping us move forward quickly.

If I was Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison or Kean, I'd be looking forward to playing with these three around me.

Graeme, last I heard Leon Bailey was in quarantine in Jamaica after going to Usain Bolt's party.

What a statement we are making, just praying they all stay fit. Another very good deal brilliantly negotiated.

Rob #37, I can feel a lynching in the air...

We should keep Bernard but the rest (Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Walcott, Davis, etc) should be shipped out!

Superb signings so far. I'm sure they'll make some of our underperforming squad improve too!

I'm more interested now in who we can offload for the rest of this transfer window. Hopefully Delph, Ramirez, Iwobi and Tosun.

I'd keep the other perceived deadwood in the squad to see if they can find any form?!

When Gbamin gets fit, he can be slowly introduced. Allan and Doucouré would be my first choices in a 2. Doucouré doesn't even need to adapt so should be starting on Sunday.

It's a definite statement of intent. Now for a right-back, left-sided centre-back, and left-footed right-forward and also back up left-back and we are ready to go. He is a good age; hopefully he is our Essein or Vieira.

Terrific work, Everton – the project gains proper traction. It will be interesting to see if we really do start to see what Moise Kean is all about. Make or break, young man – and no excuses now.

Carlo must be tempted to play Nkounkou left-midfield, James right-midfield, Doucouré and Allan centre mids, and say “There you go – a complete new midfield, Gordon comes on at 60 mins, the rest of you can either pull your finger out, up your game and fight for a place or find another club!“

It'll never happen, of course, he knows they'll never be able to find new clubs.

Great signing Doucouré though, he offers something different from the others, so a great fit.

Got to be happy and content with our new midfield! If they all click they will be an awesome trio, now we can look forward to the new season with real hope.

Three top players and three top deals, got to be impressed with work done so far in this transfer window.

Trouble now is, I want more of the same, just in different positions!!

Benn #29.

Lol. You've only just come down from last night!

Just need a keeper and a striker now and we have top 6 in our sight.

Brilliant!

But I have to say that Nkounkou has certainly made me sit up and take notice. Could be a Brand's masterpiece.

Three quality additions to our midfield, with the new young left-back and the possibility of Tomori on loan, I'd dare say this could be our best window in years. More importantly, getting business done early and in areas we needed to strengthen.

I've been critical when it comes to Brands, but him and Carlo have done superbly.

Annika: “I want more of the same, just in different positions!!”

At my age, they are the words I dread hearing!

Time to sell or loan a few...

Albert @30,

I've just seen that on the news, armed to the teeth militias on both sides of the debate, it only takes a wrong word and the scene could turn horrific.

Also absolutely delighted with this signing, a big robust strong willing runner who can grab a goal COYB!

Albert #30, stay safe mate.

Well, with spending £63 million on these 3, then Brands will have to make sure that many of the deadwood are shipped out pretty quick. I think we were spending about 80% of our income on players wages before we signed these 3 players, and add the wages of these 3 and that is just unsustainable.

Most accountants reckon the sustainable level is around 70%, and with rumours of more players coming in, and with no gate receipts, we could be spending more than we get in, I wonder what Mr Micawber would say to that?

I am absolutely delighted with the signings and it's why I was ecstatic when we signed Ancelotti, as only he had the pulling power to bring these players to Everton.

Good news to come home to. The Doucouré of Silva's time at Watford could be even better with class players around him.

Quite a lot of Everton chat on TalkSport this afternoon which is unusual, but I stopped listening before this was announced.

I think we have enough new players for now, and we've all seen what going too far, too fast can do. The next window will be around before we know it.

Getting 2 of these 3 would have been hard to imagine a short while ago. Exciting stuff.

Can we be greedy and ask for another 1 or 2? Zaha perhaps.

I haven't been this happy in many years. Please, please, please, don't fuck it up.

At long last, a midfield with some muscle, pace, creativity and, dare I say, 1-2 masters of the dark arts!

No more airy-fairy, tippy-tappy, 'please don't hurt me' arsehole cowards whose heads drop at the first sign of trouble.

Not since Tommy Gravesen and Lee Carsley have we had a midfield who might actually show some fight and heart.

I would love a reliable goalkeeper, Marcel.

Marcel?

3 fantastic signings. Going to be interesting on the fume levels if we come back with nothing as usual from the big smoke on Sunday...

I remember seeing Doucouré at Goodison and couldn't get over the sheer size of the guy. He's a massive unit physically intimidating and likes to leave a bit on people.

Arguably the signing I wanted the most.

Also £60M for the 3 is brilliant business. Have we got room on the credit card for more?

I wonder if a few members of last season's midfield are thinking "Fuck me, the game's up."

It's unbelievable, still no mention on the BBC, fuckers.

We now have a midfield that consists of a Rotweiler, Artiste and Workhorse. What a great combination.

Just heard the news.

So excited.

Have to say I think this is it. This is Moshri's last roll of the dice. From here on out, it will be sell to buy and develop the kids. It's now or never under this ownership.

Go time.

To put this into some kind of context, we've got these three for about £60 million and Burnley are asking for £50 million for Tarkowski...!

I don't think so Jamie, due to Covid-19 it's a buyer's market at the moment.

That's almost a boast, Brent.

Would be churlish to be disappointed if this hadn't happened, but it feels like it completes the set very nicely.

With all the calls for shipping players out, it seems like there is hardly anyone from last season everyone would like us to keep (barring Anthony Gordon and Gbamin). We still need a decent sized squad of players especially if we are going all out to win a cup (or two) this season.

Anyone think we shouldn't be looking to achieve in multiple competitions this season / don't need four or five midfield back-ups?

Fantastic we have all 3 in!!! We should be in a much better position than last year squad wise, but this seasons is likely to be a very strange one.

Michael #61, that may be the quintessential Everton fan post of all time.

Brian #69, I posed the exact same question the other day. There must be some sinking feelings in certain stomachs.

Welcome, Mon Ami, to the best supporters in England. Give us all you have and we will back you to the hilt. COYBs.

Brent (54), comment of the day! :-)

Exciting times to be an Evertonian, but nowadays I tell myself not to get too excited. The best-laid plans can come to nought for any number of reasons, and I have seen that with Everton too many times. Just keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

I really think that time is up on some of these guys – Sigurdsson, Delph, Besic, Sandro, Tosun, Walcott, Bolasie. I have started believing in Bernard again, don't ask me why. Davies, Iwobi, Kean, Gbamin – I would still keep because of their age and huge upside potential.

Brent 54 - genius.

Well, now we have gotten 3 major signings, let's hope the supporting teammates can raise their game to give us a team that can win a cup and get into the top 6 or higher. On paper it looks like we will have a strong team, but we play on grass not paper.

I really hope that Doucouré plays on Sunday and makes sure that anyone trying to kick Richarlison out of the game like last season, will receive a strong legal reply.

If these 3 players are available Sunday it is going to confuse Tottenham as Everton will have a different formation. This is the time to show we can play and hopefully beat Sky top 6 darlings.

Apparently this is Times Square

The link wont inbed but its below

https://twitter.com/LewyBrown7/status/1303401079573446657/photo/1

Si #75, I think most of the calls for players to be sold or loaned are with the club's finances in mind. Yes, we definitely need a squad if we are seriously wanting to compete for honours but some trimming is also necessary.

Personally, I have every confidence that Marcel and Carlo will get the balance right. As some other posters have already noted, the quality of the new signings may help raise the game of a few who struggled last season. If so, I am sure those players will remain part of Carlo's plans.

Not wishing him any particular ill, but if Schmeichel pulls a hammy or something, we could see two Everton keepers opposing each other in this game. Denmark's backup is Lössl.

Before we go shipping everyone from last season out we have to remember we still need a squad. Also, we have to look at the bigger picture.

For all we know with the acquisition of these players maybe our underperformers will start to be the players we wanted them to be when we signed them. It could be that this is what the likes of Sigurdsson, Iwobi, Bernard, Gomes, Kean, Davies etc will realise to get into the side they have to start upping their game.

There will be no shoo-ins anymore. They are competing with top draw players now, so going through the motions won't be enough.

Can someone please slow these Waltzer's down, I'm getting a trifle dizzy?

Well that's the 3 targets through the door successfully, as has been mentioned, who's next? I have heard (grapevine style) that Tomori (Chelsea centre-back) may come on loan, and Jesper Cillesen (goalkeeper) too to make Pickford sit up, put his tongue back in his head, and possibly commit him to the bench!

COYB

What'd really make my night now is to see Højbjerg and Kane go for a full blooded 50/50 and put each other out of Sunday's game. 🤭

Brian, have you seen the shiner on Kieran Trippier after him and Danny Ings collided in training? I believe the pair of them were sparked out.

Brent @54, that is so funny, I really laughed out loud!! Maybe I should have phrased that slightly differently.

I will chuckle all night at your comment, thanks for making my evening even better!

I saw the incident, Rob. It was a bit like a Laurel and Hardy film!

So the season is nearly upon us and, per usual, I am excited.

Of our three signings, for me, Doucouré will prove to be the pick of the bunch and will get even better with Ancelotti's coaching - this man has some engine!

In bringing in players he has previously worked with, obviously shows Ancelotti trusts them to make a real impact.

I really hope James Rodriquez adjusts to Premier League quickly and becomes the player we all want him to be. Allan hopefully will be that "leader" we have badly missed in the middle of the park.

Interesting to note the length of contracts all three players have signed. There were rumours this is what held up the announcements of both Doucouré and Rodriquez who wanted a year more than what Brands was prepared to offer, lessons learned from previous transfer activity perhaps!
COYB.

Slightly off topic, but a player I'm sure everyone would like to sign, Kevin De Bruyne, has been named PFA Player of the Year. The RS fans will be going ape shit about that, convinced one of their own should have won the award.

Well, no team is going to be walking through our midfield again with this bruiser who also has a lot of skill.

Add to the tenacious Allan and the passing of Gomes and I forgot the artistry of James we have one of the best centres in the Premier League.

I suspect other fans will soon be saying why didn't our club buy any of these players?

Fantastic business by Everton, we should be very excited as to what we are about to receive.

I just flicked on the England game in Denmark and it looked like the stand was full of socially distancing KKK members. I thought they were trying to kick racism out of football???

Frank @86, absolutely spot on. Last season, we had Delph, Gomes and Gbamin all out. £60M worth of talent missing all in the same spot.

Herr Klopp also continues to give credit to the quality of his squad in training. The likes of Iwobi, Davies, Bernard, etc may not be winning us the Champions League anytime soon, but they are a solid top half Premier League team themselves and if we train at that level we will play at a better one.

Squad is so important!

As I said a couple of weeks ago and as far back as a couple of years back, I would be as happy as a pig in muck if we sign Doucouré.

Never thought we would get the guy, but boy am I glad we have him, Happy Days.

Duncan, that could be construed that you are in Denmark!

Be assured they are not serious KKK Members because they wouldn't be able to see where they were going, (no eyeholes) so no threat, but one may have a pair of scissors! :-)

This is the pick of the 3 signings for me. Proven at Premier League level and shouldn't take as long to get up to speed. He's exactly what we've needed for years and what we as fans have been shouting for, a box-to-box midfielder who comes up with a goal.

Brian #97,

I didn't think we'd get him alongside the other signings and, when the situation dragged on, it looked as if we'd missed out on him.

I'm so glad we've now got him at Everton, not really sure why... Perhaps it's merely his size and presence rather than his skill-set, but it makes a change to have that type of player in the middle of the park for Everton, after watching so many small-framed, lightweight types in the past.

Great news and a fine piece of work in securing those players to bolster our midfield.

Hopefully no mercy at Spurs and we play them off the park.

I'm not gonna tempt fate but I've a good feeling (lol😂) for Everton on Sunday.

This midfield can hopefully gel and become a solid, reliable unit and can last the 97 minutes and not falter.

Exciting days, and I'm raring for Sunday's game.

Three very good pieces of business with all three getting sensible contracts.

Really looking forward to the new season, we have to let the newcomers time to settle into the team, the midfield being the engine room of any successful team.

Albert #30, I hope you are able to get out of Eugene and relax with those nice chaps in Portland.

Good point, Derek. Probably just as well that they can't watch this game! Dreadful.

Rob #93, saw that, and it's well-deserved, but the outrage of the RS will make it even better, right?

As an aside, we are currently blanketed in eerie orange smoke from the Oregon fires several hundred miles away (referenced by Albert #30), and my wife just wandered in to say it looks like the end of the world out here.

My thought was that of course, when we've just completed our greatest transfer troika ever, the world would have to come to an end today.

Brian #88, you're scary. Just saw Christensen and Kane come together.

A goodly number of us were highly critical of our midfield last season.

It was to the point that, by the last game, I was wondering where we might end up in 2020-21 without some serious changes in the engine room.

The owners and the Board have really delivered in backing the management. If only we can now keep the key men off the treatment table.

Just off topic but I don't know anything about Nkounkou. Is this one of those players we get in who is “one for the future” but we never see or is he likely to feature this season? What are his strengths?

Really excited again but more cautious than some contributors. I still can't believe how badly it went after Koeman splashed the cash. I'm hoping Carlo is far shrewder and knows what he'll get from Allan and James. At the risk of sounding greedy, still feel we need a top keeper, a bigger goal threat, cover at centre back and a full back. Seems a lot to ask for. Hoping Kean can offer us something with better service.

For now I'll just enjoy the feel good factor. If we can't be optimistic pre-season then when can we be?

Phew, that Cristiano guy is still pretty damn good, isn't he? Even for 35.

Craig (107),

I've just seen glimpses of Nkounkou in the two games vs Blackpool and Preston and he looks like he can play a bit. I'm reserving judgement on him until I see him a few times.

In reading a bit about him, after he signed, it was stated that Everton have been watching him for the last two seasons and they signed him after he had refused a professional contract with his French club. We had to pay £200,000 compensation fee for his services.

Everton think they have signed a very good player, he started training with the first team as soon as pre-season training commenced.

Lots of games coming via the League Cup so it wouldn't be a surprise if he got a couple of games early on.

I always want to sign younger players with lots of potential but I'm pretty pleased with how this window is shaping up.

£60m for Rodriguez, Allan and Doucore is great business. It's less than we paid for Siggurddsson and Klaassen.

All these players are clear upgrades on what we have. No one can know how quickly or how well they will settle but we have clearly addressed the issues of the team. At sensible prices and wages.

This is the type of window we should have had when Moshiri first came. How Koeman and Walsh set us back!!

Jose Mourinho was licking his lips ready to unleash Hoebag, Everton's "one that got away" Dier, and Deli Ali's brother on us. Now I am thinking we may have the last laugh

Neil (84) I get the necessity of reducing the wage bill at some stage in the near future but I'm not in tune with what seems like fervour at times to get so many different names out of the club.
Apart from the injured or emerging talent pretty much all of our midfield (plus gk and CBs) seem to be top of someone's blacklist.
I've seen a few posts like Frank's (which I very much agree with if I haven't already made that clear) but on every thread for incomings people are expressing their wish that some are shipped out, pretty much ASAP
I'm apparently a grump but unless it's clearly a case of sell to buy, I've never been vexed by the rate at which we get rid of players. Seems like ulcer territory.
On the subject of the genuinely stressful, best wishes to Albert and his states-people. Guess you are okay even if the wind shifts Mike? I've been fearing the worst since the orange one became leader of the free world!😬

Three quality signings for less than (last year's) asking price for Zaha. Well done to all involved.

Thanks a lot, Dave.

Only one more obvious “must buy” left to complete a great transfer window. We need a solid, stable and confident goalkeeper who can command the 6 yard area, hold the ball rather than parry/punch, be able to reach a team mate with a pass or a kick out and take responsibility for organising the players in front of him.

This is great news. an experienced midfield should liberate the younger players. Richarlison, DCL and Kean should thrive as will the defence. Time to free your minds and play some football.

Everton should have a strong midfield now, at last. Below par performances from other usual players will not be acceptable at last and they will know it.

I few more players in and quite a cracking the other way in the immediate future.

I am sure those players that sat comfortably during previous transfer windows , will know now things have unexpectedly changed and being comfortable is out the window.

It worked out well in the end with Hojbjerg , it flushed out Tottenham and cleared a competitor out of the way for us to sign our main targets without getting into an auction situation.

I was thinking the same Tony. Hojbjerg isn't in the same class as our Three Musketeers. He's good but that's it.

Living the dream. Long time since I felt this way.

Watching the international TAA seems to have given numerous poor passes and I'm pretty sure he did similar against Iceland. The commentators never seem to notice. So the legend grows!

Well guys we said for a long time that the midfield of Everton's was very weak in many games, tackling poorly, giving too many poor passes and generally being second best even against lower opposition.

Finally some new blood has arrived and all we need now is for them to get some time together under their belts so we can see what we have. Perhaps also that will stir up the other midfield contenders into a group that will be competitive in a lot more games than last season. Well done Carlo & Co.

He's some player that kid Si, but it wouldn't surprise me if his very high standards drop this season, with a large proportion of his game being built on energy.

Liverpool have expanded a massive amount of energy over the last few seasons, and it wouldn't surprise me if they struggle to stay with City and Chelsea this season.

Si #121, watching the same and yes I agree. England have been poor overall. Pickford has had a decent game though, maybe it is the squad competition which sees him raise his game for the internationals. It's a pity that Lössl didn't get a game for Denmark, would have been interesting to see how he would perform.

I don't think I've ever seen us address an obvious weakness so well!

I'll get excited for a minute.

Unfortunately I'll then remember that we have quite a few other weaknesses. But you can't replace the whole team in one go...

Will be very interesting to see what the starting eleven will be on Sunday.

You know Gomes will probably not be fit and Holgate but I am glad Keane didn't get a start for Southgate's bums today.

Wouldn't be really nice to start the season on a positive note away at Spurs.

Tony (123) I have predicted the same thing elsewhere. As well as the expended energy they have been miraculously spared form major injuries to key players, but, that surely can't last, particularly with the "gegenpress" game plan.

I cannot see this season being the same "walk in the park" for them as last season was - although clearly, many of their supporters think it will be.

It might be wishful thinking Hugh, but that's also how I see it. The consistency they have shown over the last few years has been outstanding, but teams need freshening up, especially teams that rely on intensity, although I'm much more interested in Everton now, because it looks like Ancelotti is taking his job very seriously.

Tony read a very interesting article on “cycling” and how Liverpool cannot possibly sustain their fitness levels for this season. They need reinforcements and haven't signed any. This could be a year they really dip.

I did say to my Liverpool supporting mates that I would hate for them to have an open top bus tour to show off their first premier league title in November, whilst they have had a nightmare start and are struggling in the league. That might just happen!

Tony / Hugh, for the past two seasons a RS in our local has bet a few blues £20 that they will finish so many points ahead of us. Needless to say he's won the bet and raked in £200 each season. He's given the same bet for this coming season (though he might reconsider after our buys this past few days), and just to cover the bet, I said they wouldn't finish the same number of points ahead of city again. He didn't want to know so I'm not taking on his bet.

Hugh, they are already saying just because they lost the community shield last season and went onto win the league, they think the same will happen again this season. Next time I see them in our local, I will just remind them the last time we started with spurs then West Brom, we also went onto win the league!!

I agree he's another good player and offers us something different. Pace, energy and aggression. A proper box to box midfielder. He's a faster, stronger Tom Davies

I think he'll be asked to stay a bit deeper and protect because he's not the best passer of the ball, leave Allan and James to link and create.

My concern would be he's a little unpredictable and along with Allan will rack up some yellow cards.

I can't see any of them starting on Sunday and certainly not lasting 90 mins so let's not jettison the squad players until it's clear we don't need them.

Remember the injuries we have and will continue to get throughout the season. Also FFP is a farce and covid-19 is exceptional circumstances which can be used as an excuse.

Build build build, worry about fines and missing out on European football when we are good enough to qualify then take it to court.

Tony, I think he has some very strong qualities but I still think he is a little overblown and his weaknesses get completely overlooked at times.
Reminds me a bit of Beckham. The one that really puzzled me was David Platt. Could be anonymous for 99% of a game, do one good thing and yet he seemed to be undroppable.

Out of interest, I've just looked at our outright odds on PaddyPower and we are 10th at 250/1 (behind Leeds and Leicester).

Might have £5 e/w

We're certainly looking up now.
What a great week and it's only Tuesday!

Rob#130, I hope the results are better though in our first 2 games.

All the RS supporters I meet are 110% convinced they will win it again. Some ‘concede' that the gap to City will be less though! They dismiss Chelsea as also rans and the rest of us may as well not bother.

Si#132, the only thing I remember Platt for is the winning goal against Belgium at the end of extra time. Agree that he seemed innocuous for most of the games he played and overrated IMO.

Doucoure is a yaya toure type player for me. He's not an attacking player in any sense of the word. That he can burst from deep and score and create is part of skill set but it's not at the core of his game and I think if you tried to rely on him in a number 10 role he would struggle.

Doucoure is best when he can run hard from deep, gliding past opponents before they can turn and carrying the ball 30/40 yards before the opponents can recover shape. Incidentally, Allan can also do this.

The difference is Allan is more like Gueye in that he will close down and snap at players and get them to cough up the ball, tackle them or they give it away. Doucoure isn't as good at tackling, but he gets back, blocks passing lanes, stops dribbles, and intercepts the ball brilliantly.

Because they both play like this they have a tendency to vacate position. So, yeah, they form a good partnership and learn to cover each other. Or better still you put a defensive midfielder behind them as an insurance policy. Doing this is not such a good idea as you then end up with too many defensive minded midfielders.

However, if you had a Pirlo type player, and pace up top, then you can get these guys to win the ball, knock it back and Pirlo can launch devastating attacks with his accurate passing. Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Kean and Walcott have such pace. If you balance having three deep midfielders by pushing James right up top, then he can receive the ball and cause problems.

Now, André Gomes is a long, long way off being Pirlo, but he can hit a great long pass. His defensive qualities aren't the best, but Doucoure and Allan will do the tackling for him. He just needs to be able to hit it Long to a quick player or to James and start catching teams with their pants down.

Allan can also win the ball very high up the pitch, find James, who will have slipped his marker who's drifted forwards as his team looked to attack, and he can create.

If you go 4231, and Doucoure and Allan both sit deep, and James is in the Gylfi role and Richarlison is left, then we could sign someone like Chucky or Neres to play wide right and really make a move on the top 4. I still like Thomas Lamar, he's not a flying winger but he's a great passer from wide. He might be interested but we'd need to find some cash for him.

I'm excited about all 3 but I have a feeling this guy could be the pick

Steve, Pirlo is one if the finest players I have ever seen and, yes, Gomes is not him by quite a way. But, in my view Pirlo was assisted by players with incredible movement who were confident that their runs were going to be rewarded.

I like DCL and Kean but they will need to refine their movement. They have no experience of the subtlety they will have supporting them. I must disagree with your earlier post. Liverpool will find the fitness levels required. They really will.

Anybody else notice how good kalvin Phillips was on the ball tonight and how composed and assured he looks. A few of us were calling for him in Jan. Next summer maybe!

Brilliant brilliant news

Starting to fall back in love with my football club again

Andy Crooks

I think DCL might actually do well with James not as a receiver but a creator. He uses the ball well and makes clever layoffs that currently go to waste. But the pressure will be on him to finish when James returns the favor

Zaha linked again with Bolasie and Tosun +£ going the other way. Now that would be an interesting move.

Mike Gaynes. thanks for the concern. We are on alert to leave. You have a couple of smaller fires near you. At least you can jump in a dingy and take out to sea. Finally getting a team together and the world is going mad. Ha. It is giving me a distraction. COYB.

Joe@83 Nice one mate! Great piccy!

This is a great week to be an Evertonian! When Carlo has the team tuned-up it will be even better. A win vs the RS early on and the double over them this season would certainly have the blood flowing, eh?

Some of us are worrying about the FFP but I'm thinking this season the covid is causing so much disruption that UEFA will probably give us a pass if we overspend, or maybe a fine, which will be fine for me. Also, we are unhappy with the performances of the Iwobi's, Bernard's, Walcott's, etc. but put them in a supportive team that gives them space and opportunities to express themselves and we may be surprised with the outcome. If the team is winning games and enjoying themselves the supporting cast might step up. Oh, the expectation. Love it.

I wouldn't be surprised if Hirving Lozano (Chucky) doesn't end up with us. Why?

Well he is another player both Carlo and Brands know extremely well, has not featured regularly for Napoli, and I don't think is in Gattuso's plans for his dream future. Think he could possibly be that icing on that cake that Masterchefs Carlo and Marcelo are making!

Great news! Hilarious Colin #63 and spot on.

Albert, hope you don't have to evacuate. Eugene, Oregon wasn't Animal House filmed there? My oldest daughter's boyfriend went to the University of Oregon for Grad School

Here in the SF Bay Area we've had 3 major fires, and for several days the worst air quality in the world. Over a million acres have burned. Yesterday was 111 degrees and the power went off at 3 pm for 3 hours.

Stay safe Mike and Albert. I am in Southern Cal about 6 miles from one of the fires and the smoke and ash is thick. Burning away from my house at the moment🤞. Great window so far by Carlo and Brands. We may have our 2nd best midfield since the gold standard of Harvey, Kendall & Ball.

Derek (145) - I'd still love to get Lozano, even though it's gone sideways for him in Serie A. I heard earlier that Napoli didn't want to sell him, even though Gattuso doesn't seem to rate him, though they might be open to a loan move. No idea if it's true.

I believe Doucoure could be the pick of our 3 New Musketeers who have been purchased to improve our league standing in 20/21. These are all swashbuckling players that certainly excite me which I must admit has not happened for a considerable time for a supporter of over 50 years. We certainly cannot complain about Moshari not putting his hand in his pocket. Given how previous managers and coaches have flushed his money down the toilet, it is clear he is truly committed to getting us some silver ware and into Europe. So with 3 new players of significant pedigree although maybe being slightly longer in the tooth than we would have preferred, we can now step up the effort to get rid of at least 3 of the donkeys.
We know that Besic, Bolasie and Sandro have no future and so will be practically out of the door but we can now hopefully also get shot of Delph, Sigurdsson and Iwobi. I think it is worth keeping Bernard, Walcott and Davis to serve as backup and potential bench warmers. Delph and Sigurdsson are well past their sell by date whereas we still maybe able to get some resale value for Iwobi. I believe that Davis has potential which hopefully can now be realized and I think Bernard can be an understudy for Rodriguez.

As the saying goes “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. This is a great signing.

Albert #142, I'll be thinking of you, sir. You're welcome to come on down here and camp on my beach... the fires won't get close to us. (We do have a bit of ash falling on our cars, but that's it.)

Pete #147, I'm rooting for you too. I have friends and family down your way. And you've got more than fires to deal with... it's about 110 degrees down there, isn't it? Hang in there.

Bill and Derek, I've been promoting Chucky Lozano here on TW since I first saw him play as a kid in Liga MX. I think I would have a full brain meltdown if we actually got that kid.

Ron #146, not only was Animal House filmed at the University of Oregon, but I was a student there and an extra in the homecoming parade scene. What's more, they filmed the ROTC horse scene on our soccer field and didn't clean up after the horses. We had a game that afternoon and had to dribble around the piles. No sliding tackles that day, I can tell ya. I pushed a pass through one pile and horse turds sprayed all over the defender. He almost cried. Had to come off.

Steve @ 129, I saw the same article on 'cycling' and was particularly interested about Liverpool - "According to a source close to the club, of 35 players 22 are asthmatic – 63% of the squad, over five times higher than the 12% UK average."

Link

Lance Armstrong FC

Back to the Blues after slagging off the dodgy bastards.

I am stunned we managed to get these three key deals done before the start of the season. I was honestly expecting to struggle through the first month of the season until a final push near the transfer deadline. It also gives us time to carefully rehabilitate Gbamin from his horrendous injuries. Gomes was rushed back and it affected his performances significantly.

Bill Gienapp all the way back at 35 -

You're feeling like the hunchback in 300? I feel like King Leonidas!

Remember this day men. For it will be yours for all time.

Link

Lukaku, Barry, and McCarthy was a great transfer window. This one eclipses that by a mile.

Ron Marr and others, thanks for your good wishes. The world is going through some serious changes, hopefully for the better, and that goes for our beloved Blues. Yes, Animal House was filmed in Eugene, and sometimes it feels like we haven't moved on. I'm 6,000 miles from my birth city, Liverpool, but as long as I can see the game I'm OK.

My dad was a sailor and he said when his ships sailed up the Mersey after a long time away from home there would not be a dry eye onboard as the Three Graces came into view. Soon there will be four Graces and when I'm next in Liverpool for a game at the new stadium I'm certain there will be a tear in my eye.

Mike #151, that's awesome. Hope you were able to take out Kevin Bacon and Greg Marmalard in the parade or on the field.

Talking about watching the games on TV I believe the Spurs game is on the Peacock Premium channel. It appears that Peacock is not available on my Roku device, so I guess I can only watch on my laptop, or iPad.

Jamie (154) - ha ha, I'm glad my 300 reference didn't go completely unnoticed. Having Allan or James address the squad in the Anfield dressing room with a little "Tonight, we dine... IN HELL" would do quite nicely.

Ron (156) - if you (or anyone else) figures out how to watch the match on Peacock Premium, please let me know. Last I checked, the only thing they had listed in the "Live & Upcoming" section was Tour De France, but maybe they simply haven't put this weekend's Premier League action up yet.

Bill, I only see Tour De France in the "Live and Upcoming"

I don't think they have, Bill. I'm just gonna tune in Saturday morning and try to click on whatever games are being played that day.

I think we have a wealth of youth talent in our arsenal.

We should concentrate on them instead

Mike G, and all others in US, try LJ's Sat Football on Internet, then click on US Flag, it should have all the listings of all the matches and which Media Sources are covering them.

This works every time in UK, for me so presume it would everywhere!

To catch a game on the laptop I usually use :

livetv.sx

or a new one that is quite good and doesn't need much refreshing although it is mostly Vietnamese commentary, although there are a lot of channels to choose and one or two might be in English. I often prefer to mute anyway:

PhatGoc TV

I always need more options online, so if you have any please share.

Well, I'm paying for Peacock, specifically for Premier League, even though I *didn't* want to add yet another streaming service to my slate (seriously - I already have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney Plus, Shudder, HBO Max and CBS All-Access)... so it dang well better work, or I'm going to be one angry panda this weekend!

Steve, I don't think Lemar on loan is out of the realms of possibility, if we brought a right-back too we'd look amazing on paper. Madrid paid a lot for Lemar so an opportunity to play for someone like us and showcase his talents might do some good for his plummeting transfer value?

I just watched his interview and he comes across as a nice guy. This lad is going to be immense. I can't wait for Sunday now.

Good signing and still time to have a midfield clear out and get some in who want to play for us.

This influx of talent is much welcome although I think it might be too much to hope for them all to gel in time for Spurs on Sunday. However, the likes of Gordon, Sigurdsson or Davies will also benefit from any of the new lads alongside them.

The defence will be under less pressure and the attack should have more service, in fact, I'm salivating thinking of Richie playing off James.

Annika and Brent – stop it now!

Thanks for those links, Albert. I see that the delightful Sky Broadband block livetv.sx by court order for me here in the UK.

Never ever got a website blocked by the ISP when living in the USA... them lawless Yanks!

Agree with that, Si @132, with the moral of the story being that it's all about playing to your strengths.

4-3-3:

Pickford or Lössl
Coleman or Kenny, Mina or Keane, Holgate or Branthwaite, Digne or Nkounkou
Doucouré or Gomes, Allan or Davies, James or Sigurdsson
Walcott or Bernard, Calvert-Lewin or Kean, Richarlison or Iwobi

Interesting article, Steve B. I was thinking along these lines before I read that article, but knowing the “Devil's Club” lockdown might have given them the rest they needed considering they had already won the Premier League.

Football has moved on so much, I didn't agree with the equally skilled players, whilst using Molby and Le Tissier as the examples, because it's pace and power that usually wins the day in England but this doesn't mean that Rodríguez can't be a success, especially when Ancelotti gets his team hopefully playing to our strengths.

I remember Martin O'Neill telling me how they prepared for a European Cup Final with a few days on the ale in Spain, but that was in the days when the best teams were a mixture between a Grand National and a Gold Cup winner, whereas nowadays it's all about the sprint, the squad and the recovery.

Well we can't complain about the business done in this window. The midfield sector needed improvements and the acquisitions will certainly improve things. Hopefully, a stronger midfield will result in less pressure on the back four and more opportunities for the guys up front.

If we get the guy from Chelsea in on loan then that would be a bonus. Pickford is getting one more chance to prove himself but come the summer of 2021 expect a new goalkeeper if he does not take it.

With the squad we have we should be aiming for a 60-point season.

Great news and wonderful times.

I can't agree with this 'last chance saloon' rhetoric; money is there obviously and the proprietors (Moshiri and his mates) intend to spend like a drunken sailor to get results. Surely this time we must gel as a team and, without playing the victim card, we are due some good fortune.

Let us hope this new heart of the team works well together as it will be quite the baptism at Spurs, barely a week of training together. 10 games in will be a better time to tell if we are and improved team out on the pitch. Pressure on the attack to deliver.

I think as far as our neighbours are concerned, they won't be far off the top but there were significant signs that it won't be one way traffic this season, they faltered many times after Christmas. Man City and Man Utd will be up there, Arsenal and ourselves much improved.

Great to have such a dramatically improved midfield. And I still have high hopes for Gbamin too if he ever gets fit.

Imagine playing away with a three of Gbamin, Doucouré and Allan in the middle. Not sure many teams would fancy that battle if they were all fit and on form.

Will be interesting to see which formations Carlo opts for and how quickly he can get these new players to gel. I still think we may end up with a new centre-back and a right-back too!

Bill @163, if it's any consolation, mate, I have checked the site I mentioned before for our game, and tagged the US Flag. Peacock Premium is listed as being one of the sources covering our match, along with beIN Sports, Sky, Dazn (Canada) and a host of others (mostly foreign).

Hopefully that's the midfield sorted!

I just hope we don't have a problem scoring goals. Theoretically, the extra class in the middle should provide us with more chances, but we lack a clinical finisher unless Carlo can sign one before the deadline.

It should be a more entertaining season than the last two or three, whatever happens, and that will be great for all Evertonians.

Paul @174, indeed but the spending actually seems very circumspect this time round.

I know times have changed but, when you consider how much for example Tosun cost (£27M), not to mention Sigurdsson, Walcott etc, these new toys do look better value.

Moshiri has learned the hard way.

Carlo needs us to stop playing the ball from the back and start jumbling it up.

All the talents in the world would render us useless if we become predictable

Anyone think the Lozano link has any legs?

Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. All the need now is a right back, left centre defender, decent back-up/challenging keeper and, most important, a grizzled centre forward, hard, mean, rushless, nasty. Not the Everton way of recent years, I admit, but will had steel to the midfield silk we have just acquired. We need to score more goals.

I firmly believe this could be the bargain buy of the season.

I am seeing reports now, no fee for Rodriguez, just a percentage sell on clause when sold in future.

Madrid just wanted him off their books. Don't know if I'd believe it.

Overall really happy with the business done. Listening to dacoure it looks like he was told at dinner himself and allan will be box to box midfielders, I think both will play sunday

Paul@174, as a sailor myself and currently at sea, I must protest at your suggestion that all sailors are heavy drinkers!! Then again.

Alan @ 181 - I'm not sure I could cope with signing Lozano as well! Can we wait till next week maybe! :-) To be honest, I've only really seen anything of him at the world cup so rely on YouTube clips for more evidence but all I hear is he is an outstanding wide player.

But I know that Carlo brought him to Napoli, so he must of rated the player. The player is not happy with the new manager who kicked him out of a training session and is now a serial bench warmer.

With that in mind it's sounds to me like it is obviously just bound to happen right?

Given what has transpired this week so far, I would not be at all surprised if it is announced in a joint press conference along with Gareth Bale who suddenly remembered his deeply burried, long lasting affection for Carlo and took a 80% paycut to join him again!

It's been that kind of week really.

Great reply Graham.

I still fear that all these signings will be to no avail unless we sign an experienced proven keeper and goalscorer. I'd be quite happy to secure the services of Ben Foster from Watford and Llorente of Napoli. Far from being backward thinking with regard to their age, we could easily get two seasons out of both, they would cost next to nothing and their influence on the team as a whole could prove invaluable.

Phil (187) When Carlo first came to Everyone he was soon extolling the virtues of DCL and said he was one of the best young strikers in the country.

It seems he rates him very highly, as he also does Moise Kean.

So, I don't think we will be seeing any incoming strikers in the near future.

Hopefully, with a better service from midfield, the two named above and Richarlison, will be banging them in for fun.

Fingers crossed.

Please fellow Americans, keep posting about the Peacock channel. I'm joining / paying for it, as I did for the Premier League Pass the last two years. If you see listed games / sign up, maybe post an update?

Also, as good as things are, I have to poo poo on this Lozano idea. I've never liked the player. Overrated by a country mile. Cuts in and blasts over the bar like every time. He'd be an excellent field goal kicker in the NFL.

Pointing out for fairness, as a red-blooded American, I detest anything El Tri. So I generally have a negative view of anything having to do with the football arch-enemy from the south. But honestly I do not like Chucky as a player at all. There's plenty of less expensive options for the same return.

Annika being ex Royal Navy It's said from lived experience.

Hugh#188
Point taken Hugh. I'm a big fan of DLC, I believe he will be as revered as Graeme Sharp was in years to come. The point I'm trying to make is that given we've spent a lot of money already, it makes financial sense as well as football sense to make a short term investment in these two crucial areas where we've been clearly lacking, with two experienced proven players albeit who may be reaching the end of their careers. The two players I named were really examples, although both I believe would fit the bill. Let's not forget that Andy Gray was an unwanted old 'crock' when we signed him, yet he proved to be the catalyst for a footballing revolution at Everton in the 80's.

I have just updated my subscription to DAZN had no problems with it last year and they picked up on the premier when it restarted. With me being English I was surprised when they showed Darts, Snooker and Cricket. They show every premier game and their contract for the premier is for the next 2 years. Cant wait for Sunday hope at least 2 out of the 3 new signings are in the team, and the other on the bench.

Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Allan, Gomes, Doucouré, Richarlison; James and Calvert-Lewin would be our best team in my opinion.

I have seen videos from Allan and he looks pretty much able to play wide although I read he is a defensive midfielder.

And I believe with these additions we can get the best of André Gomes. That midflied would never loose the ball and create so much trouble to any opposition, I believe. COYB!

A bit disappointing that we haven't signed anyone today.

Annika@184&Paul@190, on the crest of a wave here being ex-RN myself, mind you that was over 45 years since I left. Good to know ex-mariners and current mariners and Blues as well!

Alan@180, I do indeed, it seems to be gathering apace, now whether that is the rumour, or the move itself, is another matter. I certainly hope it's the latter.

Whether it has been based on the premise that Marcel Brands brought him to Netherlands from Mexico and played a large part in his development, coupled with the fact that Carlo took him to Napoli from PSV, or is there more to it than that?

Mind you we have been linked with him before he even moved to Napoli, which apparently hasn't gone to plan, and he doesn't exactly gel with Gattuso, so there could be, and I hope there is, mileage in this.

We could also use him as a striker, or on either wing, he knows Allan well (not to be confused with Allan Wells, the Scottish sprinter :-) ) so bring it on. Doo-dee-doo-dee-doo-dee, fasten your seat belts we are now entering the Twilight Zone!

Derek, according to the red echo, Zaha has told Palace he wants to leave and join "The Everton Project". Everton have "approached" Napoli about signing Lozano. Moise Kean wants to return to juventus, and finally we are closing in on Tomari from Chelsea after he loses his squad number to Havertz.

So make of all that what you will!!

Pete

It's only half four , plenty of time yet..

Zaha is the one that will get me excited. Quality player alone at Palace but here he could be exceptional with all of our other additions, would love it to come to pass. Can't see it mind.

Rob#190
Do you really believe the Echo that much?
I envy you, after all we have spent so far...

Nicolas, I wouldn't want me fish and chips wrapped up in the red echo, so no I don't believe a word it says.

If Brands can negotiate a players (Bolaise & Tosun? )plus a bit of cash deal for Zaha it could be a goer.

He wants out and there probably is some truth that he wants to come here, who wouldn't? At the same time Bolaise and Tosun need to play and could do a job for them.

I read a bunch of comments that current players will up their game. I think not. The likes of Sigurdsson, Delph, Walcott didn't up their game when we were struggling and facing relegation did they? I would argue that now its payback time, maybe they could but I wouldn't take it. I would also say that that lot will at some point get frustrated and start minning the environment of the team.

As a DoF these kind of things should be considered - the character of the these players has been shown before... so they have to go for the sake of the team, manager and club. Don't keep the apples rotting.

Rob#202
Hahaha LOL as I'm from Argentina I'm getting still used to the irony some of you use here.
Here at my place it ain't so normal
Cheers mate

Gotcha Nicolas. It's something you'll have to get used too with a lot of us on here!! 👍👍👍

Bill #163, you need an intervention for your "streamaholism." We're gonna lock you in a room with a lot of books.

Nicolas #205, welcome, I think you're our first Argentinian! And as it happens I'm wearing my old Argentina national team shirt today.

Nicolas...a sense of humour is essential to being a true blue. In my sixty years I generally vere between sardonic, sarcastic, ironic even gallows. Every decade or so, pure joy.
Welcome aboard, compadre !

Nicolas, welcome. Wow, our third South American teammate of the summer!

Nicolas@205, hope you become a regular on here mate, don't take things too seriously and you'll be okay as Rob says, welcome aboard again.

Hahaha Thanks people! 👍🏻👍🏻
Wow Mike, thats a surprise for me! 🤣
I have on my wall a gigantic picture of Goodison with the Stanley Park autumn trees, hope the new stadium never comes!
Here thanks to James signing Everton are getting much more on the news (as usually happens) so maybe there might appear new Evertonians soon haha

Nicolas, good to have you on board. I think Piñon translates into English as a pine nut. Plenty of nuts on ToffeeWeb so you'll feel at home. I suspect we've got more Brazil nuts on board now, given one of our latest signings.

Nicolas @ 205 -

Here's what you do:

** Grab an American Flag. Why? Because. Buy some guns. Tilt your head back and yell, "Fuck it!" Start posting constantly, with guns blazing. That'll do the trick. Self-absorption, narcissism, and faux-confidence mixed with bullshit bravado are your friends.

** disclaimer - the above may have your internet ass ripped. Proceed with caution.

Welcome Nicolas,

I was hoping we were going to sign the Argentine Emi Buendia, but that is unlikely. I can forget about that now though, as the signings we have made have been a revelation.

Just read a piece by tosun there, said ancelloti wants to keep him, and if he was to move it would not be until he is fully recovered.

I think he is lying about ancelloti lol, but if he stays we will hardly get a striker in.

Would palace or insurance be responsible for wages as it happened on loan??

Hi Nicolas

Welcome to the house of fun - LOl.

Hopefully we will all enjoy the coming season and will have some good and exciting football to celebrate.

It will certainly make a change from recent seasons.

welcome Nicolas. Like all on here I am chuffed about the signings in the last few days. James has to play as a 10 it has been said and looking at youtube footage of his best goals he is dynamite from the edge of the box with shots, 1 2s and slipping others in. if thats the case I'm sure Carlo will oblige and play him there. we need to build the team around him and make him feel special. real shame he wont run out into a full house on his home debut the old lady would be rocking.

Mike (207) - And everyone's telling me I need to get Apple TV as well, so I can watch Ted Lasso.

Tony (203) - Zaha is interesting. At the start of the window, I would have said no way. The guy's a mercenary and I *know* he'd check out mentally in five seconds flat if things went south. I also thought it was pretty pathetic he only managed one goal more than Bernard last season.

That being said, the talent is undeniable. And if he was motivated and playing in a functional side with the likes of James, Allan, Richarlison, Doucoure, etc... it could be very interesting. But it would have to be similar to the other deals (20-25 million, three years max) and I'm not sure Crystal Palace would be willing to swallow that.

Welcome Nicolas, story is that you/we might even have some Mexican friends joining us shortly. !!

Robert@219, so it's a Mexican stand-off till then is it? :-)

Hirving Lozano next!?

Hirving Lozano is to much like Bernard, think I would swerve this one.

Bernard? His best return is a goal every 6 games. Lozano for 17-18 and 18-19 was averaging 1 goal every other game. He was at 4 in 10 until Carlo got sacked I think at Napoli and then was sub after that and didn't score again I don't think.

Way more of an attacking threat than any of our wide players.

Hahaha, piñon translates to pine nuts 🥜 LOL. That's true!

Any results ahead of the weekend game? Hope it won't be as tough as always in Tottenham! I'd go for a draw considering that.

Nicolas, I never like predicting away results, especially when I don't really know what the team could/will be; however, if any scant consolation can be derived, it is from the last time we played them away.

We managed to secure a 2-2 draw, and Gomes had one of his best games in an Everton shirt. Assuming that we are playing most, or all of our new boys, we are on paper, capable of improving on the last away encounter.

Proviso is that, Spurs will have strengthened too, and will they be firing on all cylinders? Hope you join the Live Forum on Matchday, the only thing is depending by which media you are watching, sometimes the remarks can be ahead of your stream, which can be a spoiler.

I am worried about Carlo insisting we play from the back all the time.

It makes us predictable.

As a result, all the talents we have acquired may be rendered ineffective.

We have to stop this.

Did you guys hear that we signed James for free? Maybe we do have more funds left over for Zaha or Lozano?

Derek
Here in Argentina the match will be shown on TV live I think.
So Having the phone at that moment could be complicated, I'll be on my nerves I guess haha
I'll see if I can do it!

Derek, my recollection is that we didn't do quite as well as a 2-2 draw last time we played them away. I would settle for that on Sunday though!