Everton beat the deadline to secure Rondon

Welcome Rondon.

I don’t know if Serge Aurier fits that bill or not, but why has he been released on a free?

Looks like we were after Luiz but wanted to offload James as part of the deal, and Porto wanted straight cash (which we don't have).

With Maitland-Niles, nothing much we can do if Arsenal consider us a rival, and don't want to loan us their player. Rafa has improved a number of the players in the squad, and perhaps he can do the same with Kenny as well.

A big no to Aurier coming in. Flashes of brilliance, but always has a mistake up his sleeve. Not to mention he was on at least 70K/wk at Spurs. No thank you.

Till January at least, this is the squad we have to work with. Like others have mentioned above, now that James is staying, he needs to put in 100% effort for the team and consistently display the undoubted ability that he possesses.

Colin G @ 2, Who needs the Queen of Sheba, when we have Prince Iwobi ?

Say what???

Love the optimism... but... you guys must be remembering a different Rondon than I am.

In 140 Prem games, at his peak of youth and strength, Rondon scored 35 goals. Averaged a goal every 310 minutes of play. (Somewhat better than Victor Anichebe. Nowhere near as good as Cenk Tosun.)

And that was years ago. Now he's 32 and has spent the past three seasons in China and Russia -- making a grand total of 41 appearances -- and is no longer wanted there.

Hate to pee on your cornflakes, boys, but I'd say anything we get from this player... and I mean ANYTHING... is a gift from the gods.

OK, so he's free.

It's a shame someone compotent (Moyes) didnt have money to spend. Hopefully Rafa will have it next season. Ive got no expectations but, despite the doom and gloom on here, we do have some very good players and a solid first 11. With some luck and belief we can still have a good season. And we needed some creativity this window imo and maybe keeping James has answered that. He is a luxury player, he isn't a Rafa player, but he is an incredibly gifted player. Maybe we will see him behind the striker at some point, esp if there is any injury to Richarlison or DCL. At the very least, we should get some sub apps from him. His dismantling of Spurs last season illustrates what he can bring. It would be great to see him at Goodison and he could be important in tight games against deeper defences.

He certainly hasn't been going up against Prem-quality defenders in China. Plus I'll guarantee you he got quality service at CSKA, because his #10 was a gifted young playmaker named Nikola Vlasic.

However, I hope you're right and I'm wrong. I'll be absolutely thrilled if he even vaguely resembles what he was with the Barcodes, but I expect nothing.

The stats are a bit misleading. He played over 100 games for strugglers WBA. He had a ratio better than a goal every three games at Newcastle. Plus he’s not 32 … for two weeks. Lol

Funny you mention old Harold Matthews. I never met him but he was a good poster, level headed and seemed like a lovely man. Any time I see Roberto Martinez simply because any time someone would post something like “Martinez is a nice man but. . . ” Harold would jump in and say “he is NOT a nice man.” He never elaborated - being the gent that he was - but I’ve always viewed RM with suspicion since.

But it's not just the stats. We've all seen him a lot. I remember a guy who seemed unplayable but couldn't score to save his life. Climbing above an overmatched fullback and heading the ball high over the bar. Shrugging off a center-back like a child, turning past another in the box, and scuffing the shot wide from eight yards.

I do sorta remember one really good game he had at Goodison... I just hope he can summon some muscle memory of that performance and duplicate it once in a while this year.

Yeah Wayne Clarke no-name kid brother of Allan. I remember him ending Liverpool’s attempt to beat his brothers unbeaten run in the derby. Picked up a championship medal too.

Bill Gall,

To your point, I’d be annoyed if James gets the Bolasie treatment. If nothing else what a talent to have as a super sub.

Mike Gaynes

Sorry mate, they called me Which Tyler leader of the pedants revolt.

Ps. I should’ve been a Venezuelan — crap footballers surrounded by hot women. I could deal with that.

Benitez knows the player well and obviously wanted him so I'm optimistic this will turn out to be a decent signing. Shame Moise Kean didn't work out but give me someone who actually wants to play for us any day. Good luck to him.

Assuming we’ve got a fully fit squad, our match day team could be:
JP; Coleman, Mina, Godfrey, Digne; Townsend, Allan, Doucoure, Gray; DCL and Richarlison.
SUBS: Begovic; Kenny, Keane, Branthwait, Delph, Gbamin, Davies, Gomes, Iwobi, Gordon, James and Rondon.
Compared to last season I see we have a better squad and a team that goes out there with a better attitude.
COYB!

We have a back up striker. The manager has gone with what he knows and obviously trusts. Some would say signed his mates (Townsend & the Keeper). That's what managers do and to my comments on the other thread, what you get when you have the traditional English manager approach. On Brands, he's not being allowed to be a DoF as I understand and interpret it. I can only think he's content with his board room role and wage, because if I was him, I'd have walked. He doesn't seem to be being allowed to do his job.

We sneered at Demarai Gray. We baulked at Anros Townsend. We were underwhelmed by Tim Cahill and thought "what the f@*k" when we signed Paul Power.

Let's see how it goes. A good start. The season ends in May.

At Wembley.

As for James he will play, imo in a more forward role and will make a quality addition to the attack. If he wants to extend his career he will have to put in the effort this season. . He now knows to play international football and play football next season he will have to perform well throughout this season. He will have to get himself fitter.

As for Brands he is a Director in name only. On the Board, at Finch Farm and in the Transfermarket he is part of a team and is not a dominate figure. He is quite content with with that and can walk his dog when he likes. His main remit is to move on deadwood and he has been relatively successful at that. Benitez was the dominate figure in this Transfer window and the main part of his remit is to get Everton looking as they are trying to improve their FFP situation. He is only prepared to bring in what he wants at a set price and only if he can move on someone to make way for them.

It has been a successful transfer window with Townsend and Gray already showing great value. I expect Rondom will be the same. Everton have spent £1. 5 million to achieve this. Everton have a balanced squad and all available players will get playing time.

Glad to see Aaron Lennon back in the Premiership with Burnley.

For me the abject failure to secure a right back AGAIN is unbelievable, what a shit show. How many years have we been saying it? All i can hope is that Patterson is our man and we are prepared to wait for him. Hope Rafa can find a place for James in the starting line up but where? He doesn't do running!

We have the core of the team / squad that only just missed out on Europe last season plus an addition of pace that gives our beleaguered midfield more width and forward options.

Rondon is the only signing of this transfer window I disagree with.

A striker that I don't recall scoring many goals nor assisting many.

Brands.. I'm sorry but you should probably resign now. Another window, another failure to secure good young talent.

I know it's not the only thing he's responsible for but crikey, there's not much else to show for having him.

He kind of burnt the bridge when he mentioned in social media that he didn't know who our club was playing(Leeds) at the weekend.

For those who expect he will get involved,

hold your horse...I don't see James is playing any sooner. I would treat him 'gone' for the time being until January window.

That being said, the Kean situation had to be resolved; we simply couldn't have a 30 million pounds striker kicking his heels on the subs bench, so Rondon is an ideal back up.

But the squad isn't too bad, obviously it won't touch the top 4, but may run it close. In it there's flexibility; Rafa can play 4-4-2, or 4-2-3-1 with the 3 being gray, James & Richie. Or 4-3-3. We could even put out a decent team and give DCL or Richie bench time.

For the people worried about injuries, outside of the top 4 injuries have a major effect on any team.

Kept James and Richie, now get them playing.

Back to basics could be a good thing, buying expensive players with no interest in the club other than money has lost us our identity, maybe we can do it better next time. For now we’re alright with Rafa. One day we’ll sing his name. COYB

A Cup win this season, and the sky's the limit after.

We've done it before so why not again?

Rondon as others have said, is an old fashioned centre forward, if he plays as he can play he’ll be banging in a few for us.

Rondon is cover for Calvert-Lewin, and better cover than King was. He'll do alright for us as a cover player.

The only player we've lost who is likely to play, is the unnamed 31-year-old who will likely never play for us again anyway. Aside from that, the first team looks alright to me.

Having said that, he has never struck me as being an outstanding defender, maybe why he is on a free.

We moved seats at half-time but almost wished we hadn't – it was a wretched game memorable only for an unfortunately perfect view of James McCarthy's horrific freak leg break under a challenge from Rondon.

I'm glad he seems to have been forgiven and this incident forgotten. If our new signing can provide some muscle and occupy defenders within his physical presence, without necessarily breaking any more bones, it could well unlock some space for our wingers and midfield runners.

A different kind of player, but with luck this could be a Marcus Bent type signing, a forward whose unselfish work doesn't result in a hatful of goals, but keeps opponents on the backfoot and creates chinks for other players to exploit.

How we got into this financial mess is unbelievable, as is how Brands is still in a job.

Surely the most glaring position that needed filling was centre-forward; we have Calvert-Lewin and that's it. Tosun was never good enough.

If we hadn't signed Rondon and, with Calvert-Lewin likely to miss games with his injury, it would mean the only player who could play up front would be Richarlison, who is much more effective when played wide or in conjunction with Calvert-Lewin.

Spurs friends made up Aurier has left, that tells you all you need to know about him. Major deficiency being poor concentration and an inability to defend.

There's still life in the Donegal lad and we do have options to cover. Not just Holgate or Godfrey, but maybe even Jonjoe Kenny? I still have hope for that lad, even if it's misguided.

I think the right-back issue has been kicked into the long grass, so to speak, and we can wait on that. The manager obviously saw other priorities.

Strong, mean and a better eye for goal.

He went to Asia for the money, they offered him a king's ransom. Can't blame him for that as I'd've gone myself for the amount of cash offered.

Actually, for all those who complain have said, there don't seem to be that many names up there (above) that people think we should have acquired!

My gut feeling is that actually it's been good, in fact potentially very good, working within a straightjacket. We've got a couple of wingers who are already showing good to great potential. Given they've only had a short time we ought to hope for even more. Yesterday we've got a decent backup for Calvert-Lewin, certainly an improvement on what we had. And we've hardly spent anything.

Let's also not forget that at the start of the window there were many thinking we'd struggle to hold on to Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Some were suggesting (others from elsewhere wanting Digne. Some thought there would be teams after Pickford now. We've still got them all. Just as importantly (in my view, though to some it may be controversial!) we've still got Tom Davies who to my mind is progressing all the time, and with Nkounkou out on loan getting game time we may well get back a strong backup for Digne.

And we've cleared a fair few bit-part players off the books. Not quite all yet but who was ever going to take Tosun?

Another thing - it's not that long ago an awful lot of people were slagging off our new manager before a ball was kicked; not seeing much of that now. So we've acquired him and so far it's not looking too shabby. He's galvanised things and hell, even Iwobi is starting to show why we bought him (more than the odd glimpse we had before).

And let's remember that, just because we want someone, it doesn't mean we're getting them... we (a) have to have the money, (b) be allowed to spend it, (c) the player has to want to come and (d) the other team has to be happy to lose him. You don't just pop along and say "Hey Mr Other Manager, we'd rather like to take that amazing right back you've got there, you don't mind do you?" "Absolutely yes he's great isn't he? Of course you can have him with our blessing".

Hhhhmmm. All-in-all, I'm probably as happy as I hoped I might be. Things are going the right way. Now, if only Rafa could get James to play (foot)ball, we could actually be on to something guys!!!

I like the defensive discipline we're showing (barring Keane's mistakes, and I do like Michael Keane); I'm enjoying the battling spirit and the sound counter-attacking footie; I'm glad we're not pandering to talented self-centred twats like James who clearly doesn't give a toss about anything but himself; and I like the optimism I'm feeling about the club seemingly being in the care of a true professional.

The footie is easier on the eye than the back-stabber played. There seems to be a plan, belief, discipline and order.

And I haven't heard Rafa complain about the position his predecessors, the senior management, and owner have left him to deal with. A brave decision to come here at the best of times, truly courageous with sweet fuck-all to spend.

Defeats and disappointments to come, but a capable pair of hands to take us forward, I believe.

I didn't want him, but I'm glad he's here.

Respect, Mr B.

In a nutshell well said, a bit of common sense.

Rondon could be a goalscoring version of Stracqualursi and will provide good cover for Calvert-Lewin.

We are currently being strangled by FFP and I do wonder if the recent reshuffle in the boardroom is because someone took their eye off that particular ball and the new guy has a better grasp of it?

The squad looks decent to me. We have shifted a few now and brought in players who will graft and play as part of a team. Clearly we have to shift James at the end of the season and it will be interesting to see whether he has sufficient pride to buckle down and contribute.

I suspect Richarlison will go at the end of the season which, together with James's wages disappearing, will do wonders for our FFP status.

I am so pleased we have Rafa as he has the skills to guide us through this and I think we will have a decent season.

Well said lads. No more cringing watching us play boring pedestrian high risk football.

I was comfortable with us avoiding squad rotation players on high salaries to focus on signing a right back. Instead we contrived to do the exact opposite.

You cannot be a bad player if you have represented your country at so many different age groups whilst developing imo, (especially when not ever having relied on physicality?) but you do need to eventually find a team and become settled, which I don’t believe is something that Jonjoe Kenny has ever been allowed to do, since he turned professional, over 7 years ago?

I think Benitez likes to have a local heartbeat playing in his team, so if I was Davies or Kenny, I’d be waiting patiently for my chance to prove myself.

I also heard that other right fullbacks who were being mentioned, with regards to signing for Everton, when fully analyzed, had very similar stats to Jonjoe? Although I can’t remember where I heard this though, honestly!

I personally see James coming in off the bench, and that might be a good role for him. He'll not be the "team player" many of the other assembled players will be. He'll play "hard" for the limelight and for James. As long as that benefits Everton, fine.

My guess is James will be hurt for about 60% to 75% of the season. The other 25% to 40% of the time he's playing will be off the bench to change the game. I'm not looking for him to be in the starting 11 very often. What Rafa is building doesn't include James, or anyone with his Hollywood attitude. So use the fella for a year (or until January) and then part ways.

Overall pretty happy. But with a limited squad it will boil down to good fortune with injuries.

Holgate liked better in last game. And Godfrey can be key at the back.

Here’s to hoping Rafa can tease some more consistency out of players like Iwobi and Gomes. JJK will get his chances as Coleman doesn’t have 40 games in him anymore.

Allan and Doucouré have worked well so far. If JBG can get up to speed we have a decent couple of back ups along side Davies.

A lot of ifs this season. Rafa has experience on his side and a different approach to Carlo. I like the way we have played so far but worry that the teams with real quality may tear us apart!!

Still, there should be enough quality to be challenging for a European place given this squad wasn’t really that far away from top 6 last time out, even in finishing 10th last time out.

A more accurate measure is goals per minutes played.

For his Prem career, Dom has scored a goal every 227 minutes. For last season and the first three games of this one, the number is a Lukaku-esque one goal every 165 minutes.

During Rondon's four years in the Prem, he scored a goal every 310 minutes.

Not similar at all.

Can't see the point in having a Rolls Royce in the Garage and using the Honda Civic in preference, where the expenses still mount up, so get it used ! Plus there is the Commercial Factor our South American audience, and support, albeit temporary while James and Mina are still with us, but we may have a few Venezuelans on board as well now.

Peter #105, I devoutly hope that you and the other optimists here are right about Rondon and I'm wrong.

Peter describes the fact that Rondon's goal to game ratio is 1:4 as a 'blunt statistic' - it is simply a fact. On a another thread where posters were debating the comparative records of Lukaku v DCL, one poster tried to square away numbers they disliked by claiming that there were other 'underlying facts.'

When numbers are posted over a period of four seasons as was the case in both these discussions, there is no wider picture, broader context or underlying facts. They are factual, reliable and valid indicators of performance.

I think the fact that 2 of DCLs goals this season were penalties that slightly distorts the statistics. Although I accept they are goals scored by DCL, but if a certain player was still able to be selected then he may have taken both penalties not DCL.

Someone every player trusted to receive the ball in tight situations and be positive with it. It didn’t always work out but 9 times out of 10 it did.

We haven't had such a trusted player for a long time, Barkley probably being the last although a different type of player.

He can have runners around him in Gray and Townsend to attack any deliver crosses could prove very fruitful.

I think Dom may need a long rest to fully recover. He's carried a few niggling injuries since last season. We all know Ric needs a break but weather they get the rest is another's question.

Lastly, I don't understand how some players make the news for the wrong reasons and others (you know who) just have silence and a 'must not mention anything' tag. I know legal procedures can be very complicated but I don't understand the inconsistency.

Is the club not due compensation for being unavailable?

Not Lewandowski, but is an awful lot better than he is being portrayed by some. More than capable of coming off the bench and giving us a Kevin Davies like performance - he may not score top the scoring charts, but just his presence will mean team mates get more chances,

If he does that. He will worry the opposition more than he worries some blues.

We go with what we've got.

Peter #114, goals vs. games is an especially distorted statistic with Tosun, who made lots of his appearances off the bench, including a half-dozen late-game cameos of less than 5 minutes.

Tosun scored a goal in the Prem every 255 minutes, which is significantly better than Rondon. Not a better player, perhaps, but certainly a more efficient scorer even though he's smaller and slower.

Hopefully more successful than Straq, remember him? Good effort but never good enough.

Along with Mina, Doucoure, Keane, Dom, Ric and Godfrey we are probably on average half a foot taller than some teams.

I reckon Sam could get us top 6 and European football next season.

Sorry, I feel like I have accidently hit a rewind button, back to the 90's.. ( shudder..). Great music though..

Free transfer and a great aerial threat.

Steavey @ 130, has that changed then because I read in one article that he had already travelled.

He's hardly going to get a game and, when he does, if he can chip in with a few goals, what's the problem?

Or was everyone expecting Mbappé for a world record fee confirmed at midnight or something?

If Rondon turns out to be half the player!!!

As to the leg-break incident: I have a very clear memory of all the pundits saying that what happened was a freak accident; of Rondon being in tears on the pitch, and being consoled by players of both teams, and being so traumatised by events, that he was subbed a few minutes later.

As to the right-back problem: I could understand the clamour and desperation, if the 'cover' was some unproven teenager, or an old guy who was never good enough. However, Jonjoe Kenny may not be a world-beater, but he has recently completed an entire season in the Bundesliga, where he was first-choice, almost from beginning to end.

Now, it seems to me, that if you're a real 'duffer', then you're going to get found out against Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund... yet it seems that he wasn't. He doesn't need to excel... all he has to do, is be competent between now and next May. History suggests, he's perfectly capable of doing that.

As for James, I suspect Benitez will say to him: "I'll play you, if you're energetic and committed." If he is, fine; if he isn't, then it's his own fault.

Interesting opening paragraph, Nicholas. Just because it's a Newcastle link, a very good West Ham supporting friend of mine always maintains that, on his day and if he could have stayed fit, Andy Carroll was unplayable. The type of centre-forward a defender dreads.

Rondon's first Everton interview

He sounds fired up for it and determined to try and make a difference when he is called upon. As a back-up player and, with our current financial restrictions, this is more shrewd business.

Playing for a manager he knows and trusts and vice versa, I don't envisage a problem with commitment or attitude.

I didn't realise his nationally. Another addition to the Everton South American gang.

In his defence, he signed Gray who many pundits are claiming is the bargain of the season, he moved on Bernard, and he managed to do a deal for Kean which means we'll make a profit on a player whose stock has fallen (no longer in Italy squad, can't get a game for Everton).

There are gaps in our squad, Brands is far from blameless, but please post with perspective. Our squad is better now than this time last year; Brands has done than spending less than £2M.

If Rondon had spent a season being supplied by James and Digne, I'm pretty sure he'd have scored more goals than being in a relegated West Brom side. If you really want to base your argument on stats, use chance conversion or xG.

Looking at the matchday squad, with Rondon, James, Townsend, Begovic and some youth players included, around half a match day squad this season will have players where the initially transfer fee was £2 million or less, each.

However, Gray and James are the outliers in that they came in their prime ages normally for transfer value.

I hope we keep on signing more young players like Coleman, Calvert-Lewin, and Branthwaite etc. This is the best way to game the financial rules and has worked well. Maybe it's also easier in terms of getting young talented players who see Everton as a step up.

Won't be easy, but we can take more risk and sign a few more if the fees are really low. For example, 3 talented Championship players who are 18-year-olds at £6-7 million each vs 1 Moise Kean.