32-man squad flies out for USA visit

Hopefully it will give the younger players a boost thinking that the step up to the first team isn't too far away.
COYB

Would love to see all of them step up to first team football in the next year but I know that's a big ask.

My preference? They're all my favourite! Welch has been solid at the back for the U23s (as was). Mills a constant performer out wide. But there's something about Price I just love - butcher's pencil, meat and all that, but what an engine! And I wonder if what gets him some first team time is also his perception of "what's on" and his quick recycling of the ball and accurate long passing.

Dutch league is pretty good with Ajax, PSV and their version of the RS. So he will come back with a bag of experience and be far more ready to play 30 games in 2023-24 rather than the odd sub and in case of injury at Goodison Park.

Also implies, nobody wants Mina.

Onyango at 19 playing in League One will also be good experience. If nothing else, he will learn how to be kicked and bullied, something given his size he would not in the U21s.

But no mention of Tom Cannon, who seems to have missed his chance to step up. And I was hoping Ryan Astley would be showing signs of progressing, but he's been left behind too.

Still, 32 is a big squad for just 2 games, but there should be almost unlimited subs, so Frank can start to think about developing a more effective strategy for utilising them!

If anyone wants to meet up in Baltimore, reach out. My 13-year-old son and I will be going to the game. We leave Thursday and will arrive Friday evening in Annapolis.

Actually looking forward to seeing the Blues – unlike last year in Orlando under Benitez when I was just ‘meh' about the whole thing.

We play in blue, Blue should mean Everton. You know, people see Blue and think of Everton.

Our away kit should always be yellow, people see Yellow and think of Everton.

Constantly changing the kit/training gear just means that we have no recognisable features whatsoever. We could be any random sports team.

I don't even know why I'm still surprised by this sort of thing anymore.

It's basically a holiday and I am sure the dedicated ones will have kept themselves fit enough in readiness for the big start next month.

It is an opportunity as usual for some to impress the gaffer if they haven't already, especially the young academy players.

The main thing is that nobody gets injured.

Jamie #13, good luck with your flights, mate.

I just tested positive for Covid. 😳. So Baltimore is out. First time for everything! Stinks. I really wanted to go.

So, we have two tickets available. Whomever needs them - I will just give them to you, no charge. They are way, way up at the top (Crowley's are notoriously cheap) so expect nosebleeders. Section 528, Row 6, Seat 1 and 2.

Hit me up and my wife will transfer the tickets to you.

Gutted. Worse things could occur frankly though!

The ones I don't particularly like are Dulles and Tampa. Dulles is soulless. Tampa, for such a big hub, has little about it. These days I mostly use Dallas-Fort Worth (which I don't mind), connecting to San Antonio which is small regional airport, probably on a par with Liverpool in size and serves its purpose.

And as for US border guards. Don't try and do the Brit thing and engage with them or try to crack jokes after a few too many complimentary beverages on a transatlantic flight. Stay straight, look them in the eye and keep the answers to questions factual and to the point!!!

Interesting picture on the thread. Gordon and Alli joking and laughing together. They seem to get on. The scenes in the tunnel access video after the Palace match showed similar.

I might be reading too much into it, but maybe we are building some team spirit?

The last time I looked, we didn't have enough first-team players to play a match!

Bill must have done some secret deals while we weren't watching.

Hope you have a speedy recovery mate. The tix in Minnesota were kinda pricey for no name opposition against a well known team with few known players beyond Pickford. I think mine was like $90.

I'm hoping to see maybe some youngsters get a run out with our better players but knowing my luck it will be Gomes, Tom and Rondon.

Danny #16, at the moment there is no such thing as a functional US airport.

Kieran, it would be great to meet up in Minneapolis

Are you going in Minneapolis?

Lyndon has my email if you want to get in touch. I don't want to put it on here as I have a price on my head if I don't pay off Jabba The Hut.

A few years ago I went to Liverpool for a derby and the shite players were staying at the Marriott. Got to meet Bill and his wife and gave Gerard Houllier and company an earful.

Also would love to meet up with fellow Evertonians as I did in DC and Orlando last year.

Well it's training gear and the reason that they wear the Everton crest is so they are identifiable as Everton Football Club. They don't just need colours. If Chelsea and Everton were both at the airport wearing plain blue tops to fly in then it would be slightly confusing.

That's a real blow. I feel for you and hope you make a speedy recovery.

At least you can watch the live stream on Evertontv if they get their act together.

Having recently suffered the airport madness at Orlando, I decided not to go this year as I'm already getting depressed about the lack of improvement to the squad.

Anyway hope you and the family get through this thing okay.

Best wishes.

I sent you and email and heard from another attendee too so hopefully we can connect.

After 20 plus years on ToffeeWeb, the closest I've come to meeting anyone in here is a few phone calls with John McFarlane, Derek Knox and Lyndon. So it will be nice to meet people in person or find out that I'm like Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind and all of this is an elaborate fantasy.

Get well soon. Hopefully your symptoms will be mild. I got it myself, had to put the wife and daughter into accommodation on coming back from their holidays. I am finding getting negative a long wait. I was going to Baltimore myself, but not now. Another free ticket.

You were really looking forward going, so hopefully you will get to Minnesota.
Good Luck.

Fair enough point but I still think we would be better off with set colours. It means more than just yet another random training kit that will be half-price in a few months. Let Chelsea wear bright pink or whatever and we'll always be seen in Blue or Yellow, something that has actual links to the club.

You don't see Coca-Cola randomly changing their cans every year because they know the red can is instantly identifiable.

We've been linked with every man and his dog but no-one really wanting to come without a gazillion pounds a week and a 20-year contract. We will do what Everton always does and leave it till the last few hours and then bring in cra

Elsewhere, other clubs are doing quick business and finding cheap players who want a chance on the big stage with an average team...

Just over three weeks till the season starts, and there has been a minimal clearing of deadwood, however I do get that. Who is going to want to inherit highly paid underperformers? There is also the biggest sticking point of all, in that the alleged takeover doesn't seem to have progressed one iota.

Surely once that has been sorted, money will be available... but, as you and others have implied that may be too late, and the shelf only contains the less desirable players, possibly with inflated demands and greedy agents. Not looking that great at the moment, to be honest!

How and why would there be more money available following a takeover?

We'd still be beholden to the FFP rules that are currently in place. New ownership doesn't resolve that… unless I have it wrong??

It is being reported that the club is in a financial mess and our marketing is a well known disaster. Moshiri wants desperately to sell as he can see his fortune disappearing.

Now that Richarlison has departed and Sigurdsson, Tosun, Delph and Co have moved on too on expiry of contracts, the amount paid out in salaries is also a factor, as I understand.

If it were based on 'value for money paid for players', we would be well in credit, considering largely the misfits, and amount of overpriced, injury-prone players we have had.

Under the current FFP rules which are being replaced, clubs can only spend €5M more than they earn during a three-year period. But clubs are allowed to exceed this limit to a maximum of €30M if those losses are covered in full by a payment from the club's owners.

I know you're regurgitating commonly held wisdom here among the fan base, fed by incredibly irresponsible sites like Goodison News, but I feel I've got to take exception to some of these claims.

It is being reported that the club is in a financial mess

You'd have to define exactly what that means but I don't think we're on the brink of administration, for example. I think the club continues to pay its bills – we have not heard anything to the contrary. We don't have as much spare cash to splash around, perhaps, but that is more down to the well-documented losses in past years and the thresholds for FFP and P&S Rules that we are trying to stay within.

... and our marketing is a well-known disaster.

Without checking the Annual Reports, I believe they show increases in commercial income year on year, so again it becomes a question of how you define a disaster. Yea, no shirts in the airport... okay. I'll give you that one.

Moshiri wants desperately to sell

I know some have spun it this way but I remain unconvinced. Moshiri has been actively looking to finance the rest of the stadium build – that's how the Kenyon Klan got a sniff, but they were sent packing by Moshiri. So perhaps not that desperate, I would suggest? Yes, there are supposedly others sniffing around – and of course if they offer enough, then Moshiri will sell, of course he will.

... as he can see his fortune disappearing.

No, the truth is, in his position, the longer he hangs in there, the better the return on his investment will be. The club will only go up in value, especially with the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock growing by the day.

It is now the decisions going forward that will determine Everton's Financial future. With takeovers, a new manager, and Moshiri attempting restructuring, a lot is being done to address this. But it is frustrating when looking at the squad and what needs to come in for next season.

Actually as Michael says, Moshiri will make a substantial profit on his investment. He has not been sanctioned. Though I suspect all those that have will be quids in anyway in the future. That's the way the world works for Billionaires.

Maybe the way to look at things is last season was awful – this season is bound to be better.

Thank You all for the well wishes.

Doesnt fill me with optimism at all... moan, moan, moan.

I'm no expert but sustainability is a different world from actual profit which we can't grasp as a club. We have no problem with Moshiri staying to run the club but surely not in its present line-up?

He also talks up Tarkowski's leadership qualities and instant impact on the group.

Gordon going nowhere. Lampard's words, not mine.

A good and safe time for all Blues who travel Baltimore. Not sure if that is still the STD capital of the US so use good judgement out there.

Get better.

Is that Thursday early morning 1:00 am UK time? Any streams in the UK?