Lampard talks up Gordon's value to Everton as Chelsea speculation continues

Some may think good riddance but has our beloved board contemplated the utter chaos that would ensue.

His off-the-cuff remark about not being there at the end of the window was perhaps a little insight into his own frustration but he was being asked questions that he obviously couldn't answer.

His remarks regarding Dele were clearly suggesting that the lad just doesn't work hard enough.

I do hope Rondon starts and Onana too. Onana can always be subbed if he tires. Better to get a grip early than chase yet another game.

First he says he would be pretty naive to say Gordon will be here at the end of the transfer window, then says maybe even he (Lampard) won't be here at window's end.

Not exactly giving me confidence for this season.

Let's focus on today and any more hypothesise, be for the common good of Everton, winning the match today.

"I will always choose the football one as that is what I am judged on."

"I am ambitious and I want the best players here, in the team."

I guess he's now finding out what the internal politics of EFC truly are. Having been embroiled in a dog fight since he joined, he's been too busy until now to see the true side of people he has to deal with.

The following questions are bothering me:

1. Why did we buy McNeil?

2. Who sanctioned it?

3. How does McNeil fit a 3-4-3 system? (He's an out-and-out right-winger. He occupies the space that the left-wingback runs into...)

4. Was he bought because Burnley told someone at EFC, whilst we enquired about Cornet, that he was for sale? So whoever it was thought "Hey, that's a good idea, we'll have him!"

5. Why have we put up with PSG and the Gueye saga? Either he's available or he isn't. Are they pissed about Moise Kean not going to them?

6. Why have we waited around for Chelsea to make their minds up about Broja? Tell them what we are prepared to pay and, if they say No, then walk away.

7. Why was nobody already lined up to replace Richarlison? We knew we had to sell him at the end of last season. We've had months to source a replacement.

8. Does the board really want Everton to succeed? Giving the rest of the Premier League a few games start on us, looks like they don't give a fuck.

9. Do they want Frank to succeed? Not getting him a replacement for Richarlison suggests they do not.

10. Is there a contingency plan in place, if Frank walks out because he believes the job has become impossible?

11. Would there be money available to pay a new manager if it was needed?

12. Is Thelwell able to make his own decisions, without them being undermined – as happened with Brands?

13. Why is Rondon not fully fit?

14. Why is the Chairman still the Chairman, given last season's horror show and the absolute mess that is our financial situation? The same goes for the CEO.

15. Why does the board and owner make running a football club look so difficult?

My fear is that Frank will walk away. The club will be in turmoil. The Gordon money will be wasted on players such as Barkley, Adams et al or into the back of a sofa. Then in January, if he's fit, Calvert-Lewin will be sacrificed in an effort to keep us up with the money his sale, produces. It's not good, is it?

Did he expect to go the whole season with one striker and rely on Rondon? His words "saying that no-one foresaw Calvert-Lewin's injury three days before the season kicked off", does he think he will go all season without getting injured?

Yet we're about to land two more midfield players, how many midfield players do we need???

And the buck stops with Frank, not previous managers or boards. He has now bought in through loans and purchases 4 to 5 midfield players and how many strikers? Every year it's the same, we need two decent strikers.

I watched the presser last night and Frank certainly didn't look comfortable or happy, his body language was very closed and defensive.

His ad-lib thrown in reference to "l might not be here" in a couple of weeks certainly sounded like a red flag... one wonders if he cannot get what he thinks is needed in the transfer window, will he walk? If Gordon is sold, and not replaced, who could blame him?

But that's the reality of football management at this club, he has to fight to get and keep what he thinks he needs. He may need trade-offs to make it work, but ultimately, if he feels he cannot get the support from the board, how does he stay?

Definitely a warning to the decision-makers that, if they sell Gordon without his agreement, then he will reconsider his position.

But it was an odd throwaway comment that may well have been a subconscious slip because that's what he is thinking, or a pointed sharp stick in the eye of the board. Just an odd one for me...

From the outside, it looks like glaring incompetence making a last-minute bid for him after he has agreed terms with Nottingham Forest. It looks to me like the club trying to appease Frank by saying ‘look we tried for you "but he wanted to go to Forest instead". I think this is absolute rubbish.

Forest stole the lead from our recruitment and signed him whilst we were asleep at the wheel. I think Frank is seething about it. I'm guessing of course but that's my take on it. (㿅M + add-ons seems expensive; we will see whether it is good business).

Anyway, there is still time, these next 10 days are going to be pivotal for our season and for Frank Lampard's future at the club. The side needs goals, Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin were the scorers, two are gone. One has been largely out for over a year and counting and will he be 100% and reliable when he returns?

No goals = no wins.

Two quality forwards minimum are needed to compete, I stress, compete, for the bare basics. To me, for now, that is Top 8 and a cup. Anything less and people at the club are failing.

Being positive, there are still many options out there. We have been told to “Judge us at the end of the transfer window”. Judgement day approaches.

ps: A hard-fought win today against Forest would be a massive boost, but should in no way detract from what is needed for the season ahead.

As for Gibbs-White, how many of you have actually seen him play? I think I've seen him once or twice for Wolves and he was nothing to write home about. But we are egged on by media speculation and hype so we become frustrated when we “miss out” on a so-called target.

If Chelsea give us 㿞M upfront, then I'd be prepared to let the kid go. Not because I want to but because our dynamic duo have run us into the ground and, if we want a goal-scoring striker, we will need the money.

But all you body-language experts... give the armchair psychologist bullshit a rest. Frank is probably only getting a few hours kip what with all the footy problems and that statuesque wife of his. I get the impression that he's falling in love with Everton and wants to do his best but it's going to be a long, hard road ahead.

Too many people sit at their computers or phones spouting utter tripe about those whose experience in the game is so much greater than all of us here (ie, they actually *have* some).

Regardless of the signings we make, it's apparently the wrong strategy. How do you know they've not tried to sign players (such as Broja)? How do you know they haven't moved on due to the deals not being sensible (such as Broja)?

I like to think I understand football as well as the next supporter, but I'd be the first to admit that one of the greatest midfielders the Premier L eague has ever seen, and a guy who has spent his career developing clubs' infrastructure and development processes, might know a little more than me.

Ultimately, I don't think it could be levelled at Lampard and Thelwell that they're not trying their best. Try brushing the chip off your shoulder and support the team for Christ's sake.

Apologies to those (rare) few who do try and see the bright side and are supporting the team. Just feels like a lonely headspace on TW.

There's an element of unquestioned football knowledge so many possess that I can only think comes from far too many hours playing Football Manager or the latest FIFA iteration.

I mean the sheer unadulterated expectation for what should happen at the press of key, and how things should be done – from people who have virtually zero knowledge of how the industry actually works – is quite mind-blowing when you think about it.

But there's an entitlement that we are not only providing through these pages but are encouraging by indulging in hyper-critical evaluation of all things Everton that can look 'negative' simply because we want to know all we can about the club we love. Combine that with the "not knowing" and you get intense frustration.

It's a fine line but I don't think you should label this as showing a lack of support.

The damage caused by Moshiri and Kenwright will take years to heal. I'm looking at anything between 10th and 14th this season. Anything above that will be more than welcome.

The bloated, talent-lacking squad is gradually being trimmed but players like Rondon, Davies, Gomes, Keane, Kean, Iwobi (possibly) etc… will all try and see out their contracts to our detriment.

We have a young, ambitious team in charge now. Give them time to wheel and deal and I can see us being in the Top 10 next season and then challenging for Europe the following season. Patience will be key.

In his first full season, was it reasonable to expect him to be a fully formed attacking midfield winger into double-figures in goals and assists? DeBruyne had to wait a few years from Gordon's age to hit the ground running at Man City... having "failed" at Chelsea.

In a market where Gibbs-White goes for 㿖M, I reckon Chelsea see the long-term and a relative bargain. I hope we keep him for a while longer.

I wholeheartedly agree with you up to the last paragraph that is, you know, "But all you body-language experts... give the armchair psychologist bullshit a rest."

Well, that bullshit comes from interviewing so many people I have lost count, part of a job dealing with people for most of your life, you get to know the signs and Frank had them. Reading people isn't bullshit, it's experience.

Of course he may have had no sleep but that's speculation, all we know is what he said and his demeanour, so for me, I sure as hell want him to be there in 2 weeks time!

We're all moaners on here, to a lesser or greater extent. Yourself included.

I'd take the money and hope our management team invest it wisely in improving the squad. This involves keeping Moshiri and Kenwright well away from any negotiations of course!

There are many opinions regards this young man in terms of his ability and worth but right now we need Gordon's energy and drive. Can you imagine yesterday's match without his threat, it would have been a fucking stroll for Forest.

Who would replace him? – the team would definitely be worse without him. Do I think he is worth 㿞 million, right now? No, I do not. If he can add goals and get better all-round, he could be worth twice that come the end of the season.

I would much rather the club come out and say he's not for sale, end of story, and if Gordon is not happy with that, then tough. He is on a long-term contract and will be looking to go to the World Cup so he's not going to lie down.

On a different note. The club have had nearly two months to sign a striker – this was a RED FLAG priority – and once again they have shown why we are in such a fucking mess.

Everybody in the game knew we needed strikers; meanwhile, it's midfielder after midfielder we are being linked with... What is going on?

Why let Simms head out on loan when we are well short of strikers, even with Calvert-Lewin fit; whoever made that call messed up.

If this is another case of Kenwright leaving it to the last minute to save a few quid on wages, he should be ashamed.

But, despite counter claims, I don't see that Gordon has really improved all that much. He's still doing all the same things wrong in the same ways he always has. Why Chelsea would pay 㿞M for him has to be an abiding mystery.

As for Simms, I think we have to accept the judgement that was made: he needs more lower-league experience, he's just not ready for the Premier League this season.

I know that's hard to accept when you haven't personally seen him play and fail at the higher level, but someone had to made that call, and I'd like to believe it was based on more evidence and data than we are privileged to have in hand.

The whole Simms thing is moot anyway. He's at Sunderland for the season. We have to accept that rather than harp on about it day-in & day-out.

The worrying thing now with our youngsters is that none of the ones we still have at Finch Farm can make Frank's 9-man bench – not that he's showing any signs of using them if they did. Presumably that is all evidence-based too?

For now, it's about saving face as no way would he drop a new signing like McNeil for say, Stanley Mills. To be fair, not many managers want to take a chance or be brave with youth unless backed into a corner.

Might end up being his downfall because just like Benitez he can't or won't change his ways. So far anyway.

Furthermore, they also have Pulisic who is still only 23 and can't get a regular starting spot in their team. Both players are better than Gordon and probably always will be as their careers progress.

I would bite their hands off for 㿞 million and perhaps we could get Hudson Odoi, or Pulisic on loan (with the option to buy) as part of the deal, if Chelsea are stupid enough to sanction such a deal.

We are in desperate need of a couple of strikers as we are completely toothless upfront! 㿞 million would be a tidy sum to go towards 2 strikers such as Kalajdzic and Brenton Diaz.

That's purely 'fantasy football' on my part... but it's just an example of what needs to happen in this window, if we don't want to be involved in another relegation dogfight!

If the club are willing to sell, Gordon's price might just have gone up given the current score at Leeds.

Shit happens, and Calvert-Lewin got injured but, in retrospect, the club have made a mistake. Buying McNeil is possibly to cover Gordon's departure and just might have been done without Frank's say-so.

I notice Broja didn't play at the weekend. A bogus "injury" is always used to cover a possible transfer. I expect that he will come in near the end of the window.

Then Gordon will perhaps go to Chelsea at the end of the season (as part of the arrangement).

All will be revealed.

Everton will sell Anthony Gordon to the highest bidder, probably Chelsea but Spurs may hijack it.

Frank and Thelwell will not be allowed to spend all the money from the sale.

A forward will be loaned in – Broja.

Gueye will arrive, after we agree a price for him. ٣M, with ١M of add-ons.

Januzaj will arrive on a free.

Frank Lampard will walk, possibly at the end of the window or soon after, due to transfer targets he wanted, not arriving.

An interim manager will be appointed - possibly Duncan Ferguson.

Bobby Brown Shoes will be Everton's next full-time manager – appointed once Belgium are out of the World Cup.

Anthony Gordon drops major Chelsea transfer hint

Reports are that Chelsea have agreed a deal with Barcelona to sign Aubamayang, and seeing Broja was left out of their squad yesterday, maybe we may end up with a decent striker.

I certainly don't want Barkley, Gilmour or Batshuayi, we have enough bench warmers without adding to it.

Everything gone quiet on the Gueye transfer, so maybe Everton have pulled the plug on the deal and who can blame them? We were told by various people in the know the deal was done but obviously where money is involved, nothing is final till he signs.

Someone called Statto has just put a list of Everton's leading goal scorers since 2017-18

Calvert-Lewin 44 goals
Richarlison 43 goals
Sigurdsson 25 goals
Rooney 10 goals
Walcott 10 goals
Keane (M) 9 goals
Tosun 9 goals
Niasse 8 goals
Gray 6 goals
James 6 goals

Not the best player we've ever had by a country mile but sell him and you lose a piece of the current soul of the team. You lose an Evertonian, you lose a lot of effort, you lose a lot of speed, you lose enthusiasm, you lose a real prospect.

Seems to me a very sad moment if he's distancing himself from Everton. Not worth 㿞M but I wouldn't let him go for that. He offers more than his actual worth, does that make sense?

It always seems like the homegrown local lads are the ones to jump ship at the earliest opportunity. We've had fringe world level players at Everton like Lukaku, Richarlison and Gana and they have all given us at least a contract before they move on. No connection to the club beforehand, came to play, get game time, better themselves, and every one has been rewarded with big moves and illustrious careers.

I loved Gordon's performances last season; despite the end product lacking somewhat; he has great promise. Seeing him singing with the fans was a joy to watch.

But he has achieved nothing at Everton aside from promise, aside from a transfer fee, which we will have no time to spend wisely. I don't want to believe it and I probably shouldn't, but every club he has been linked with he has seemingly wanted to talk to and leave.

But if he wants to leave I think we should just take it on the chin, take the money and get rid of him. See how well he fares at Chelsea.

The player might not have a say in this. Agents and the club will possibly be dictating.

But the young player is hung out to dry as the scapegoat.

What would Anthony Gordon like to do? Probably play for Everton every week.

The club and agent get a sniff of a £50M deal.

Does he have a realistic say in it?

We need the money to buy players. Selling Gordon has to be done.

He has improved a lot since the start of last year but still has a long way to go. Does he win matches for us?
Does he set up goals?
Does he score goals?

It shows that if Chelsea come calling the player has a premium price.

The players hold all the cards, they don't have to sign for another club if they don't want to leave, if they decide to go they can still refuse the contract they are offered and negotiate a larger contract with Everton.

He will not receive any part of a decided fee as that goes to the selling club, less I think it is 5% that goes to the F.A.

I an not sure who has to pay the players agent but I doubt if it is the player.

Listening to my Dad's generation and interviews with the great man himself, the sale of Alan Ball.

Yes, I agree the player can turn it down. But as I once heard Alan Ball's Dad on a radio interview state; he told him that if the club doesn't want you, it's time to go. Alan Ball stated he didn't want to go.

The players often don't have a say. They are business commodities.

Unfortunately.

Having said all that, something inside me tells me that I would not be overly disappointed if he were to leave. If Chelsea want to spend north of £50M for him, then great, we can hopefully get one or two Chelsea players coming our way, but players we want (within reason) and not who Chelsea want to get rid of. I'm sure I read that Blackburn want £15M for Brereton Diaz, so maybe a few quid left over after any player valuation from Chelsea is taken into account, to buy Diaz.

DCL, Broja and Brereton Diaz, hopefully something to get us excited in the next few months.

P.S……..should AG move down to the smoke, I bet he's back within twelve months.

This decision is forced upon kids by most of us at a tender age before they can even walk or talk. My lad would have gladly followed all of his mates by being a fan of any Top 6 club but then he grew up in Australia. I forced him to support the Blues with threats of no presents for Xmas as well as the great Everton stories and football kits I put on him. He did not grow up with that Liverpool mindset.

I grew up going to Anfield with my sister before I started going to Goodison on my own around aged 8 as it was only a walk up Everton Valley. I don't ever recall actually supporting Liverpool and that was in their absolute prime. I don't hate them either as it's too strong a word for me – although the name 'Kenwright' does bring the word into my mind.

Knock Gordon if you want but then have a look back at all of those ex-reds who played for us and helped us win trophies.

Back to the running of the club. It's clear Frank Lampard has had the Kenwright arm around him and been told what can and can't be done. Like the other managers before him, he is hamstrung by the total malaise at the club and his frustration is there for all to see.

It was there at the end of last season with the stress clearly showing on his face and I hope he's big enough to come out and tell us all about it when he resigns which I feel he may just do given the striker situation and especially having to sell Gordon to bring one in.

Officially a professional player does not receive a percentage of a transfer fee as the sum is sent to the selling club. Players can receive a signing-on fee which is agreed between the player and both clubs.

As stated, the 5 % goes to the English Football Association.

Some contracts can state a sell-on clause that enables a percentage of the fee. That means If Everton included this clause if Gordon went to Chelsea, they would receive the agreed percentage if he was sold to another club.

I am not keen for him to move as it removes energy and commitment from a poor team. He was responsible for 5 of our 8 shots on target against Forest, and adds to a squad that has lost the goals/assists from James, Sigurdsson and Richarlison in the last year. The other negative factor in the deal is that Lampard evidently wants to keep him and does not look a happy figure right now.

That being said, Anthony is far from the finished article and this feels an unnecessary risk for Chelsea. It seems to be based more on the long-term strategic plan to invest in young talent than immediate squad needs. We should all be so lucky!

They are close to signing Aubameyang, which probably means that Everton are trying to tie in a loan to buy deal for Broja into the arrangement. He has exactly the right profile for us and would be an eventual successor for DCL if he moves on.

As for the “he was a red” so shall we tell Coady to do one and all? There's no doubting his commitment for us when he's on the field. None.

As for selling him? Sam and others have suggestions for spending the money wisely. But can we trust the club to do so?

Mark I was told he was ‘defo' a blue all his life, by the family of a fellow team mate of Gordon. And judging by his clear love for the club I believe it. People always trotting out this or that player was a red/blue to make some point but what does it matter?
Reid, Sheedy, Watson, Harper, and others, all reds. Owen, Rush, Fowler, Gerrard, all blues. Go figure.

's decision to leave that much easier albeit I'm aware that it tends to be about money these days anyway. I think people jumped on my comments without actually reading what I had written.

I was astonished and saddened to hear Anthony who I saw as a fanatic blue, appeared to be so easily swayed to leave.
My point was that if his family are red and that he is too then it makes his decision a little easier to make. That's all nothing more nothing less.

Would it bother me if we signed a Liverpool player, of course not. Do I have friends who are red, of course. Will I be sad to see him go whether he is red or blue, of course. Is he worth 㿞 mil, no.

If true, that would make the difference between Broja (struggle for double figures) and Terrier, goal machine. Not that I'm telling Thelwell how to do his job (ahem). Price difference.

This all comes down to the diabolical way the club as been run, we can't strengthen without selling our best players. It is disturbing and upsetting that we are in this position.

But there's no point in feeling sorry for ourselves we have to be pragmatic and make the best decisions to make the club and team stronger. Initially ,but not exclusively, in the short to medium term.

We simply cannot sleepwalk into a relegation fight with no goals in the side. 60m is fair compensation and providing it is spent wisely will see us mid table and competitive for the cups.

If Frank fails - and I hope he doesn't - it won't be for lack of effort. However if he isn't given whatever support he was promised when he signed on I could understand it if he chose to walk away.

I'd love all of your planned transfers to be completed but one player I'd really like Everton to sign is James of Leeds Utd, a fast aggressive player and not short of skill and a few goals. In fact, if I had a choice at the moment between Anthony Gordon and this lad, I'd take James.

I've nothing against Anthony he has vast potential but at the moment that potential is not being fully used and at possibly 㿞M I'd sell it, and James can play right across the forward line.

2 strikers - 1 of whom can play central or drift out wide (Broja or Terrier, I also really like the look of Goncalo Ramos of Benfica) and one on loan to bring on who can offer a presence in the air (Guirassy or Ajorque). Gana Gueye also (as Sam mentioned this small outlay excluding wages would enable us to spend more elsewhere).

Lastly a quality attacking midfielder, Gibbs-White would have been my choice but plenty of value out there. Maybe it's time for another scouting list from Sam, Robert or Tommy on quality no 10's who can also operate as an 8 when required?

Alternatively we go for a like-for-like replacement, Sarr from Watford would be good value at 㿅M and would immediately improve us and offer more going forward than our Anthony currently does. I'm not sure he would work as hard but as I mentioned earlier this decision would have to be driven by the idea of strengthening the squad and building a proper team.

I am hopeful we will see progress this season (personally I already see it) and Frank and our DOF need patience and time to put all the moving parts together. If selling Gordon does this then so be it, I wish him well and hope he becomes the player we hope he can. IF we do it, the reinvestment decisions are huge, I hope they know what they are doing.

Another Sky 6 cast-off and fuck me have we been done by them. He's done nothing.

We never ever learn.

Could be as simple as we played hardball to get an inflated fee and until then we can't get a replacement.

Another good option is the Ukranian beast Malinovski who plays for Atalanta, he's 28, experienced and strong as a bull. He is available for a reasonable fee apparently as he is in the last year of his contract. Basically at this stage I'd be happy with any of the above names along with Pedro, Terrier and also Ramos from Benfica. Lots to choose from, 1 x ready made star and one unpolished diamond up front, the rest of the dosh spent in other areas.

The only two people this deal suits are Kenwright and Moshiri. Bank 100m from Richy and Anthony spend half on a couple of new recruits amortized over 5 years so only 10m in this year's accounts.