It's at the other end of the pitch that I worry. Pickford will cost us points (ten?) if his former doesn't improve dramatically (in both concentration and distribution) and we need a settled back four that can get organised and on the same wavelength to avoid more sloppy goals and generally panicky defending that gives the opposition encouragement to attack.

Having said all that, whilst I think top six will be a struggle (hope I'm proved wrong) I think we have a better chance of maybe lifting a cup (finally break our luck in the Carabao?) and getting into Europe that way. Most of all, I hope I can get back in my seat in the Balcony and enjoy watching James Rodriguez in the flesh! COYB's !

Simply put, we need to hit the ground running, stay free from injuries to key players, and have a shit load of lady luck... and there lays the problem...

I will not get my hopes up simply because Carlo got a few new players in.

He failed to motivate the shit heads that wore the famous blue shirt.

So good luck, Carlo...

With Everton, more than most things, seeing is believing.

I'm getting a bit greedy now, first I want Tomori in on loan preferably with a buy option.

Then if it's true Moise Kean wants to return to Juve, Carlo can use his charms and magic wand to bring in the Polish striker Ardcasz Milik from Napoli. This would transform us into no-nonsense top 6 plus material straight away. Look at the difference Aubameyang makes to a sub-par Arsenal team, Milik would bring some of that to a resurgent quality Everton team.

Tell Allan to text him and to jib Mourinho and Tottenham and come here instead.

I know it's greedy to want more, considering the amazing week we've had, but if Moise is intent on going back to Italy some business will have to be done.

Here's hoping for a good season, with plenty of smiles amongst us blues.

COYBs – let start well against Spurs and keep it going.

Obviously the excitement of the new midfield has people focusing on the attack, but at the risk of boring the hell out of everybody with this repetition, I want to emphasize that I think these three signings will help our defense tremendously.

We have given up far too many goals the past couple of years that were not from defensive mistakes but from turnovers in the middle of the park. Our midfielders have been far too easy to hustle or bump off the ball (Bernard, Sigurdsson, Davies) or far too prone to dumb passes to the opposition in bad positions (Davies, Iwobi) that produce instant counterattacks or desperate fouls (Delph, Gomes) resulting in goals.

Allan and James will not lose the ball. They are superbly accurate passers who simply will not allow possession to be taken off them in bad positions. When they're on the ball, there will be no idiotic turnovers becoming 4-on-3 counterattacks against our backpedaling defenders. That alone could save us six or eight goals a season. And with Doucouré to clean up behind them and carry the ball forward with his trademark aggression, the pressure will ease even further. So our center-backs should be much, much happier people right now.

I think 6th is a bit too optimistic, because after all we have currently upgraded only three of the 8 positions in the side that needed upgrading. And while I would have hoped that Chelsea could be one of the clubs we could leapfrog this season, their superb recruiting has bagged that hope -- plus bypassing Leicester and Wolves will be challenging.

But let's see who else arrives in this window -- and who of our holdovers decides to step up their game. Maybe the optimism isn't unjustified.

If we do struggle to break into the top six because the new players don't bed in as well as we'd like, I do hope we see a more entertaining and enterprising style of football on a more regular basis, this coming season, we cannot afford another 'wasted' season, financially or for the sake of our collective sanity.

I’m holding cautious optimism until 10 games in. Then we’ll know what the season holds.

All the talk is naturally around the new boys, rightly so, but much rests upon Calvert-Lewin.

I was very disappointed in his performances post lock-down. The vast improvement he had shown earlier in the season seemed to go out of the window. Every team needs its strikers scoring goals in order to flourish.

If he wants to be a Premier League striker, now would be a good time to stake his claim. He may not get another chance like this.

Better players will demand more, so whoever plays out of Richarlison, Kean and Calvert-Lewin will definitely have to improve on their ball retention, something very few Everton players have been good at for a long time now.

On the unexpectedly strong starts, with all the buzz around James it reminds me a bit of when Ravanelli joined Boro. He began with a hattrick, ended with two cup finals then relegation. I don't see the latter happening to us but sometimes the great start can be a platform (e.g. Leicester 3 years ago) sometimes it peters out e.g. Tony Cottee after his debut, or the Joe Royle team in his last season. We also had Kendall two's last year where we began with 3 wins and ended with 3 dodgy goals to survive against Wimbledon.

That being said, I think we need at least a solid if not spectacular start otherwise the nerves will kick in. There was excitement after Koeman's big summer spend, likewise after Silva's, but it quickly turned to panic. I really hope that this time we hold our nerve have at least a decent first month then kick into a higher gear.

What has struck me most, is whilst there’s been hype and buzz that hasn’t permeated the noggins of many of the broadsheet podcasts. Whilst I’m all for the pinch of salt when they offer an opinion on a club like ours who they barely watch, not one thinks we will be a mover or a shaker and are doomed to finish middle of the pack. In some instances even the current strategy is seen as Everton still buying fading stars, lacking identity. Even in my current giddiness perhaps that’s fair.

The truth as always is somewhere in between. However I was surprised no one thought we might spring a surprise, have we massively over egged the pudding?

As long as we didn't "ruin the transfer window" the media should leave us alone this time.

The competition in the Premier League has never been so strong. Liverpool and Man City have to be a bit beyond us in an honest moment. I'm not sold on Chelsea, but do appreciate and enjoy Frank's approach and style of football. So you have:

Chelsea, Man Utd, Leicester, Arsenal, Wolves, Spurs, and Everton in my opinion battling for 3rd through 9th place! That's insane, and it will be insanely competitive, the likes of which I have never personally witnessed. Couple that with:

Burnley, Leeds, Southhampton, and Sheffield Utd and you've basically set a "second table" of eleven teams vying for 4-5 European spots. Insanity!

So what to make of all of this? Same thing I think I've said for now near 14 years there or thereabouts.

We absolutely must win the games we "should". No exceptions, no excuses.

If zero heart, know our place in the world, feather-strong constitution Everton starts to rear it's ugly head, we're fucked.

A lot of this will be mental fortitude. The will to win, and not just coast through and take a paycheck.

These boys better come ready to play, week in and week out. Ownership and management have 100% done their part in setting up a winning landscape. If the players don't live up to their end of the bargain, I'd ship every single one of them out. Especially the weak of heart – I've had enough of excusing shitting out of tackles and going through the motions to last me a lifetime.

It's time for the players to put up or shut up / get the fuck out of Everton Football Club.

After Spurs, there's three very winnable games. If we're on anything from 7 to 10 points after the first 4 games, we're onto something. Anything less, and I'll fear the worst.

Sir John, I am in total agreement with you, but I have to defend the pundits on this one.

Everton, in the Premier League era, have just been like that nice person who never ruffles feathers. Plods along with the "in" crowd but isn't the center of attention. Never takes a stand on any issue and knows their place.

Frankly, until Everton turn the corner and start to upset the spoiled Princes of English football, the pundits are right to discount us. As far as they are concerned, we have and will always be a non-factor.

They think, "Show me something." And I don't blame them.

It's down to the players now to show the pundits and honestly the world they mean business.

Might turn a few heads, that result.

The one time we ruffled feathers was the year we came forth and barring HKIII that was probably the time everyone had the bleakest outlook for us. I remember as a kid though watching the Saint and Greavsie show and the latter saying Iit's so boring every year either Everton or Liverpool win the league.” That was in1988. I've never forgiven Greavsie for jinxing us.

Same is true for us of course. Fact is a new season is a new season and it can be quite different from the previous season. I think we will be a lot stronger as we had a specific problem area that we have signed two players to fix. If only one of Doucouré or Allen works out we will be much better. 6th is a realistic target for me. If James gets going maybe 5th, but 7th would be a decent interim point to reach – it would be nice to win the "Everton Cup" again (7th).

The glass half empty says it will take time for the new boys to settle into Premier League intensity and we still need a more clinical finisher up top and quality replacements for an aging right-back and two lumbering center-backs backed up by a nervous erratic wreck between the posts.

We could and should finish anywhere between 4th and 8th.

4th will need more additions and a Carlo miracle and 8th will be a disappointment but progress nonetheless.

I have predicted 5th behind Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd but Spurs, Arsenal and Wolves may have something to say about that.

I believe Leicester City will start to fall away as Vardy slows up and Maddison gets sussed and can't see Sheff Utd nor Burnley continuing to show the energy and desire of last season..

Who knows.

I challenge anyone to accurately predict the bottom 3. What a season in prospect.

I don't know where we are going to end up. Nor what kind of start we'll have. But I'm sure it will be more entertaining, and give me more reasons to be positive than last season. We will be far more competitive. If we can get someone like Maxi Gomez, I think we could really make a dent in the top 6.
COYBs!

Would quite like to see Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean up front together with Richarlison dropping back into a midfield 4, but I doubt that will happen.

The defence still looks to have problems and we will almost certainly have to score at least 2 to win. For the first time in a long time we look capable of that.

Agree with Jay that 5th is possible. Looking forward a great season for the first time since I can't remember when.

Fair play to Carlo for giving Davies, Walcott, Iwobi and the rest a chance to impress but it's been clear to us for ages and now he's seen they're not up to it.

Can't wait for Sunday

Leeds will come flying out of the box, get a few injuries, the pressing game of Bielsa will take it's toll around Christmas, and they'll fade.

That's my prediction. But my Lord they will be fun to watch.

Jay Harris @31 here's my stab at the relegated teams:

West Brom
West Ham
Brighton

It's the hope that kills you.

Light a candle for me in your living room grotto to Roberto Martinez.

1. Liverpool
2. City
3. Man Utd / Chelsea
5. Spurs / Arsenal / Everton / Wolves

Though I think 5th is quite optimistic, given that Spurs and Arsenal does have stronger mentality when it comes to performing and closing down games.
Wolves seem to have gone from strength to strength, having developed an appetite and the experience of facing up to the big teams. Also, they have a fluency under Esposito.

Leceister is likely to fall away, as they have lost another key player in Chilwell. As mentioned by others, Vardy is only gonna lose pace.

Sheff Utd has bought a whole host of players too, so I can imagine there is quite some adjustments to the team. Also, the second season after promotion is only gonna get more challenging.

I've got Fulham as certs, Brighton likely and Palace particularly if they lose Zaha and don't get a goalscorer in.

But it could be anyone.

To finish top 8, we will have to do our bit and then hope that Sheff United fall away, and that Spurs or Leicester have a worse season than last time. It’s going to be a tough league this year. Fingers crossed DCL, Richarlison (and Kean?) can get enough goals to keep us in the mix for top 8/top 6...

On paper, we have a strong team with a couple of weaknesses. But the midfield and attack could potentially be awesome.

I expect some high scoring games, peppered with frustrating results. Top 6 is a possibility, and we have a manager who will certainly be staining for that (no more, 'get to 40 points then we'll talk').

I'm gonna go for 2-2 in the first game.

In terms of the rest, Title race won't be the same run away, but one of City or Liverpool. Chelsea and Utd for 3rd4th is most likely, but someone may surprise.

Relegation: West Brom, Villa, and probably Fulham.

Good analysis but I cannot agree with your evaluation of Jordan. I agree with him being excellent at one-on-one situations but top-notch distribution? I must be watching different games.

How many times in a game does he either put his own defenders under horrendous pressure with short passes or overhit the ball out of play with longer passes? It is well know that I have never rated him from Day 1 and, until this position is sorted, I fear our optimism needs to be curtailed.

All three midfielders may not be a success but I think we will be able to build a much stronger, quicker and more aggressive midfield which I believe will vastly improve two areas of team. The defence will be better protected by the new midfield, the forwards will get the ball quicker and they should be able to do their job and score goals instead of feeding off scraps.

The one thing that's impressed me about Carlo, is his statement that he only wanted to sign players who expressed a desire to play for Everton. On that basis I have a feeling Højbjerg may live to regret going to Tottenham who are not so far ahead of the 'old' Everton. With Allan, Rodriguez and Doucoure enlisted to the cause, we might just see a wholly different Everton this season.

Ancelotti is nobody's fool and he knows what he wants and anyone not wanting to play for him and for Everton will hopefully never get a look in, in the future.

Ditto if all three of our new recruits play, on paper we look very tidy going forward; however, with Pickford and Keane in the side, there is always a chance of a soft goal. I certainly hope a new keeper is on Carlo's wish list.

Let’s see.

We have been in similar positions in the past and fallen completely flat on our face so I'm going to withhold any expectations until I see how the first ten or twelve games develop.

We can't afford any excuse and we can't sit here having another poor slow start again and blame the fact that the new players haven't settled, I'm talking about the players that finished last season in dreadful form

It is likely that all three new boys won't start on Sunday so that means the likes of Gomes, Sigurdsson, Davies may play a part and for this trio of players it's almost reaching last chance saloon for their Everton careers.

Then there is the likes of Bernard, Iwobi and Walcott who will surely be replaced before much longer and you'd think they would need to play out of their skins when they do get opportunities for now on, the comfort zone has gone.

For me we still need better competition for Pickford, a player that terribly underperforms wearing an Everton shirt an is far too comfortable in his unchallenged position.

The right back area worries me with Coleman only regressing every season now.

The lack of a clinical striker also will be a downfall in games where chances are few and far between, is DCL good enough to take us up a level, I don't think so really and then the jury remains out both on and off the pitch with this erratic Moise Kean.

It will be an intriguing season but let's hold our fire before we get too carried away with things I think.

A few of our current players I think will show improved form because of the stability, and class the new recruits will bring. They will also inspire some current players to be better.

The clinical finisher point. It’s already been partially discussed on a few threads. A massive season for a DCL, can he step it up with his finishing? With the new stability in midfield and the boost in creativity that will undoubtedly come, all eyes will be on our ability to kill games off when we are in the ascendancy.

Above all things , this will probably be the no1 talking point all season , as to celebrating our successful finishing or lamenting it is a weakness that is holding us back.

I’m backing DCL to deliver, but I think there will be much bigger competition for him this season. From Moise Kean who is a player at some point that will ‘catch fire’ or his replacement (Edouard, Milik, Maxi Gomez ? ) if he returns to Juve.

'... I played with Juan Cadrado, his Columbia team-mate at Fiorentina, and he used to rave about James...'

I still think he could be worth a shot for another season, but if his heart really is set on leaving, then away he must go.

I think I feel the same level of optimism now as the first summer when Martinez took over and we signed Lukaku on the loan initially.

That was the last time I thought we were heading in the right direction finally.

The revamped midfield should provide a better outlet for the defence and more chances for the strikers and look to have more goals in them than the pathetic midfield return of last season. It's a make or break season for DCL

I can see no further than Man City to finish top. Liverpool were running out of steam before the lockdown, losing three of their last four games and only struggling past Bournemouth with the aid of VAR. After the resumption they look jaded so, hopefully, with no new blood added (to date) this will continue.

The bottom three is harder to predict but I expect Brighton, West Ham and Fulham to be there, or thereabouts, and West Brom, Burnley, Sheff Utd and Leeds to also struggle.

I share your concern over the right back slot, but Seamus is a determined character and he will be delighted too with the better defensive midfield. He isn’t the player he was, but he still has plenty to give.

It looks like they are trying to engineer a move for Jonjoe and get a Carlo/ Brands targeted right back in. (Arias, Emerson? ) So I think Seamus will be an able back up and cup game player in the main this season.

As you mention, so many goals against have originated by defensive midfield turnovers. Some, in the case of Gomes, have come because others (most of the team) were like statues, too lazy to move in to position, that Gomes had nobody to pass to.

With the new signings I think we will see a completely different Everton this season.

I suppose it all depends on what you call a successful season, there can be no excuses this time on paper we have a squad that measures up to and beyond the bottom 14 clubs.

With the players we have I'm expecting 7th plus and I'm a proven serial pessimist.

Bill, contrary to many others I, like you, have a feeling Leeds may find it hard going.

It's an increasingly competitive league and though the first team is looking better the squad as a whole still has quite a few weak links.

I have a fear we may start the season slowly. It will take time for the new signings to reach top speed and if there is one lesson we learnt from last year its that rushing in a new signing to compensate for no midfield can end extremely badly; poor Gbamin!

Losing Holgat for a month or two is a blow and I don't think we can expect too much from Gibson/Branthwaite. Still some deficiencies in defense and the the goalkeeping department that make me suspect we will not be keeping too many clean sheets.

To those who think James won't start on Sunday, I will say that I'd be very, very surprised. I think Carlo will want to start the bedding-in process from the first minute.

Can’t argue with any of that however I would just add that better players play better with better players.

So while, for all their undoubted quality, our new acquisitions will undoubtedly improve our team, we should temper our expectations that James isn’t surrounded by Robben, Ronaldo or Benzema.

Conversely, talented individuals like Sigurdsson, for example, may be ushered back in from the cold by players who destroy or make space for sharp-shooters.

I am, as ever at this time of year, completely open-minded, wide-eyedly optimistic, bent over with my trousers round my ankles, ready to be “Everton that’d”.

COYB FTRS NSNO

In an honest moment, Fulham is a great shout to go back down. I just can’t do it. I have a big soft spot in my heart for Fulham, as their owner also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars (I’m sure you knew this...).

Also, I love Craven Cottage at Christmas. I honestly can’t wait to see it lit up with the holiday lights and decked out. It’s one of the coolest things in sport, it’s just gorgeous. When they’ve gone down, I’ve really missed seeing it during the Christmas season.

Odd and admittedly quirky, but whatever. I want them to stay up, so I can’t tip them to go down.

Not sure if Jimmy Hill ever caught any attention across the pond but whenever I think of Fulham I always think of that poor old duffer back in the day with Des and Trev on MOTD. Or more recently Mohammed Al Fayed's bizarre shrine to Dodi and Diana plus his accompanying conspiracy theories. But yeah it's a nice old fashioned little ground. Regardless of their manager they usually play good football too.

Arsenal and Spurs are better but it's more marginal - and an injury to Aubameyang or Kane would be a real leveller.

We would have to be very, very mean defensively to catch them otherwise, I expect.

Leicester, Saints and Wolves have good teams and managers. Not better overall though.

The rest are inferior by some margin. Leeds have a very patchy team. Rodrigo was a good buy but he's not consistently prolific. They're also without Ben White this season. Big miss.

So, we are chasing 6th. But could be anywhere between about 6th and 9th.

Last season we had no midfield, looked largely demotivated and still finished 12th. With more quality in midfield, giving the chance for some existing players to improve, I think we have reasons to be optimistic.

Whatever happens on Sunday, we need to make sure we don't over-react.

They are also without LoCelso and Vertonghen has gone. my only worry is the pace of Son and Maura if he plays.

They also wont have the advantage of a partisan crowd but they will have Martin Atkinson to allow them to get away with stuff.

We haven't beaten them since 2010. Our time is coming.

Really miss it when they are not in the prem.

I expect Allan to be a more streetwise campaigner but we can only be sure that Doucoure, of our new arrivals, really knows what he’s in for.

The biggest concern for me is the goal keeper, but let’s see if His focus and concentration has improved.

Hopefully we’ll be shooting more this season from outside the box, but also we must convert the chances made in the box and be ruthless.

Hopefully DCL can step up and become a reliable finisher, and who knows, but we’ll need as always, luck with injuries.

Our defence still not great, Digne disappointed last season, hopefully he can return to his first season form. Keane on a 5-year contract was strange decision for me, slow and error-prone.

Coleman can do a job some games, need Kenny to step up and solve a problem there. Pickford needs cut errors out, gets too pumped up and emotional. Let's get a trophy.

Midfield should improve, defence is okay, but needs to keep fit. Kenny is okay as back-up, with younger players as cover. I agree the improvement in midfield will help playing out from the back.

With the improvement on the previous frailties of midfield, we will now see the kick-on effect on the attacking players, if any. It also will be interesting to see the effect that the new competition will have on existing stereotype players we know and 'love'. Maybe a few surprising additions may cement progress in the coming weeks.

I would have liked to have seen more activity regarding moving on deadwood and reducing the wages percentage as stated as future policy, which could still happen. But maybe Moshiri may want to take advantage of the relaxation in FFP rules. In my opinion, it would be better to continue moving forward in terms of Everton's finances, in case expectations on the field are not realised.

Pickford does concern me, I would like to see a replacement backup in place.

Good Luck, Everton.

And on a similar note - until I can take my seat at Goodison, it's all a bit meh for me. I'll watch the games on my laptop but without the crowds and without being able to welcome the new signings to Goodison, it's not really football.

I am not sure if I am offended by this or surprised; they obviously don't share the optimism we have as supporters. Is it a dose of reality or complacency on their part? Past signings have failed to inspire or perform and the end of last season could not have come soon enough.

There is no doubt the midfield will be a vastly different battleground for opposing teams than last season: more bite, more defensive cover, more attacking prowess, we hope!

In my opinion, I am mildly optimistic that Europe will be achieved and 3 players don't make a team but they do win games.

Further to this, James will be pronounced 'Jammez'. Reminds me of the Goodness, Gracious Me sketch of the Indians going for a 'Friday night English'. I am sure you know the rest!

"We have a top-class keeper. Our full-backs are superb, our central defenders are seasoned internationals. We have bought a world-class midfield. We have two of the most promising forwards in football. Oh, and we have a world-class manager overseeing all that talent."

So where do you think we will finish in what is really a very ordinary league?

"Sixth... Hopefully"

Expectation managing bravado. Our target should be to win it and our hat should have long since been thrown into the ring.