New deals on the table for Coleman, Davies and Lonergan

Che Adams another bang average centre forward who doesn't score goals. Better invest in youth.

I can understand your sceptism, however, Davies isn't on mega wages so he's a useful squad player.

For fuck's sake, the one positive this season was believing the deadwood would be felled this summer. Davies is now officially the new Stuart Barlow.

I remember one time on the radio Alan Green saying "Everton's promising youngster Stuart Barlow is on the subs bench." At the time he was 26 years old.

Surely one of our under-21s could have easily filled Tom's boots as there is no requirement to score, pass, dribble, tackle, run. You just sort of stand around with your socks rolled down and occasionally an opponent brushes past you and you fall to the ground.

We aren't going out and buying 10 or more players this summer and keeping Davies stops us from putting 3 goal-keepers on the bench next season.

He is not "always fit" — he missed 233 days the season before the one we just finished due to injury and he was injured again this past season for the crucial run-in. Also, I've never seen him run quickly.

I said 'run around a bit'. I never said run quickly. Has he really missed that much through injury? Fair enough. I stand corrected on that point. Still, if he leaves that's another body we need in and I doubt we have any money to do so adequately.

If he accepts what will be,I believe,a similar or lesser contract, it say’s a lot about him and his ambitions.

Jack Rodwell's contract is almost up at Sydney. Bring him back too. Good times are here again.

So surely he must know he will be bench warming again so he would not accept the contract?

If he does then he obviously has no ambition to play football at all

Not a bad career for him earning money doing nothing except sitting on a bench for another 4 years

Alternatively, Dyche has been told the transfer budget is zero and he reckons it's better to have Tom in the squad than one of the U21s. He's reckoned to be on £25k a week, so he's not taking up too many resources?

Assume they'll loan out or sell Virginia now that Lonergan is staying. Going to need a decent Number 2.

This could be for a variety of reasons but the bottom line is that they are not worth the risk of investing in.

Ross Barkley, Tom Davies, Darron Gibson, the list goes on as far as Everton are concerned.

Consistently high performers is what every club wants especially in the middle of the park where most games are won or lost.

Last season Everton suffered because our midfielders were all at sea in many games and we all sincerely hope that next season barring injuries they all do a lot better.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tom-davies/leistungsdaten/spieler/314210

Tom Davies made the squad in 34 out of 38 games last season. It doesn't mention any injuries for the times he wasn't in the squad.

So a serious knee injury aside he is generally available most of the time.

I liked him years back and thought there was potential to be realized. This was proven not to be the case some while ago. He also has a narrow range as a backup utility player. Perhaps it reinforces the seriousness of the financial reality.

If anyone was willing to pay a fee for Tom, surely they'd have done it in January when his contract only had 6 months left. Moreover, if anyone wanted him, they could have signed him now for free.

The idea that having passed on those opportunities someone will suddenly decide to pay a fee for him come January seems a bit far-fetched. If he signs the new contract, he will be here for life.

Why not go and sign Maitland-Niles? He's on a free. Lots of experience for a 24-year-old. He Can play RB, LB, CD, DM, CM, RM and LM. He can also paint the white lines for the pitch!!

He's on a free transfer and in my opinion he's better than Davies and more useful as he covers so many positions.

I think we all hoped that Seamus would be offered an extended contract but as for the others???

Two of the players who interest me are Virginia and Gibson. Virginia seems to have disappointed whilst on loan, but whenever I saw him playing, he looked a fine prospect.

Gibson has of course had a torrid time with injuries but he is a rare breed ball-playing, left-sided centre-back. It would be great if he could stay fit but that would be more than a surprise. In summary, not too inspiring.

Or even the under U16s.

But, it's not his fault that the club keep him around. Hopefully Dyche can get a tune out of him.

There are pitch invaders who have spent more time running around on the Goodison pitch than he has.

The only basis for keeping Davies was if we had been relegated. He might make it in the Championship.

Meanwhile, Davies is cheap and experienced. There's a bigger strategy (finally) than just giving a player a deal for sentimental reasons.

They spoke really well about this situation on the View from the Bullens podcast the other day.

We're potentially letting 7/8 or more players go. All will need replacing so keeping some squad players on low wages with no transfer fee makes sense.

Yet are those two not as good as the 'crap' Tom Davies now – but magically will be in another year? Let's hope so.

Expect Jack Cork and Ashley Barnes on deadline day.

I am amazed we let Coady go and kept Davies. I'll wait to see our transfer plan, it is still early, but till now I am not excited at all!

Not surprised either though, we are by far the worst-managed club in the premier league.

Our squad season after season is becoming depleted of Premier League quality. Eventually relegation will happen.

Since having a Director of Football, our recruitment has not been up to standard. Realistically, we have 2/3 players other clubs want at this level and with reasonable offers, they will go.

Our standards have slipped at this club on recruitment of players. Retaining quality to challenge for honours has never been part of the plan.

Our history has been used as a smokescreen and this club has never gone forward from those years. Incredibly, Davies may be our saviour with Barkley next to him!

Just get to 40 points next season, Mr Dyche! That's all we ask!!

If we sell everyone now then we would receive some ridiculous offers for even the low-end pursuits. We have to signal a ‘get by' ability to prevent getting fucked in the transfer market. It may not convince but to do otherwise is not tenable.

I think we all knew he was linked with Rangers; if they were an option as well as us, then for the sake of his career he should move there. Certainly more chance of a trophy in a two-team league.

I'd prefer Mills on the bench over Tom any day of the week.

I still believe there is a decent footballer in there somewhere and that this might be revealed with proper coaching.

He also (unlike some others), can't be faulted on effort. So bollocks to the naysayers, I think he deserves another contract.

I guess on a positive, his £1M/year salary is not on the high side (relatively speaking) and we have a threadbare squad. He'll at best be a bench warmer next season so it's disappointing we couldn't use the £1M/year to get another player who may be quicker, a better passer, better shooter, better tackler etc. We know exactly what Davies offers and it's not enough to play regularly in the first team so this is quite an expensive bench warmer for next season.

Article doesn't say how long the new contract is. Hopefully not more than a year.

I think if we had a young midfielder really knocking on the first-team door, then perhaps they'd let him go. But to replace a 5th-choice Premier League central midfielder still probably costs £5-10M and that's money we need to spend elsewhere so I can see how it makes sense even if it feels a bit uninspiring.

Fair to say he wouldn't be getting it if Dyche did not feel he was a pro behind the scenes and a positive dressing room influence. I'm happy to have a local lad who will always give his all and be ready to play wherever and however asked by his manager. He's on minimal wages and hopefully will be ready to step up when required.

I agree, he needs to move on for his own career. The irony is, with all his critics on here, he would probably go to a team that finishes above us!!!!

Oh nevermind. I'll just avoid that hole but let's do thank Dyche for the luxury of having this decision to make.

Getting a bit nervous about what our first team will be for the off with the hope we won't be starting with no real striker, again. Calvert-Lewin currently injured and not certain he'll be fit for a run of games in any case. Fixtures released next week.

9 weeks to get at least 3-4 signings in and integrate them into the squad let's see if Thelwell can pull something out of the hat on the striker front.

Tom has 7 year's experience and over 150 games in the Premier League. His £30,000 a week is the least of our problems. Every manager since Koeman has played him, so he must offer something.

Let's not get annoyed at the wrong target.

He also played a part in Everton sides much higher up in the table, so he can't be as bad as some on here make out.

Everton made him a contract offer but he rejected it.

Neal Maupay for £15 million? I doubt Thelwell could pull his head out of a hat. He's an incompetent moron.

What happened to good old sentiment? He should have been given a 5-year deal based on his Dad's record. Wonder if he is paying the price for his Dad's advice on appointing Frank?

Link

But when they put that shirt on and cross the line of departure, I don't care who they are or what my opinion is.

They are playing for Everton and, regardless of what I think of the board, I am supporting those players for 90 minutes plus, whoever they are.

I am as frustrated as everyone and waiting for change to happen where it needs to.

It is coming.

But next is Prenton Park next month.

Branthwaite for £750k,
Mitoma for £3M
Ivan Toney for £6M
Mac Allister £6M
Evan Ferguson £buttons
Etc
Etc

Buying up-and-coming talent like Calvert-Lewin, Coleman, Branthwaite etc is probably more important than spending your £30M on players that inevitably fail.

Also agree that letting Coady go doesn't make sense but I suspect it was an easy out for Dyche having his old Burnley centre-backs to fall back on and save the club £4.5 million,

I got the impression from his post-match interview that he would have loved to have stayed on at Goodison.

Coady was obvious because of the wages surely?

Voices of sanity swimming in a sea of histrionics.

Cheap player. Capable back-up. We're skint. He's English. We have to do things on the cheap to get that new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock done.

This is actually an astute signing and decision under the circumstances.

"Ya, but he's shit! Shit, shit, shit I tell ya! Why is my mouth frothing??!!"

Calm down and look at the bigger picture. Like, for once please.

Are we all disappointed – especially myself who lauded Davies for eons – at the potential not realized? Yes, of course.

Do we need to trim the squad, get rid of the half-ass effort types, and keep players under Dyche who will at least play non-stop for the cause? Yes.

Are there injuries sustained throughout a season where you need to plug holes with capable back-ups? Yes.

So, at £25k/week, how the actual fuck is this a bad thing? Or if we don't sign Haaland will you bitch and be disappointed and act outraged?

We have no money, we're building a cathedral, we all want improvement, but we need players like Tom in the fold right now, people!

I'm glad they signed him. Smart decision, good business decision.

We are in a state!

I agree. This is a time for pragmatism and togetherness.
I don't believe there will be any incoming before July so they can get this year's accounts to look reasonable.

I would hope we then go for the likes of Gyökeres or Akprom whose clubs both missed out on promotion.

Branthwaite has also had a fine season, in a better league, and has sampled Champions League as well as Europa League football as well as the Dutch League. The Athletic reckon he will be valued at a minimum of £15M if Everton were willing to sell. Jarrad is of course 6ft-5in and two-footed. Not yet 21.

An embarrassment of riches for Dyche or will he favour someone with more miles under his belt?

And good close, this is a decent business decision. We will get to the better choices soon.

This isn't football manager. Also, he's probably been offered less than the £25-30k he's on now.

The reason Davies never kicked on is because he sat on the bench when he should have been loaned.

This will allow us to loan Warrington etc for another season but keep cheap back-up.

No one is saying he should be starting games but all this "I'd rather see the kids play…" is mental. Dyche and Thelwell have seen them play and think they're not as good as Tom Davies is yet. Hence a sensible decision.

"So, at £25K/week, how the actual fuck is this a bad thing?"

Because we have Under-21s on about £5k a week who could do just as much (little?) as he does. Since money is so tight, why waste another million? Just imagine if it's his paycheck that becomes the straw and breaks the financial camel's back?

Anyway, whatever, if he stays, he stays – at least I won't be left wondering if Whitaker, McAllister, Warrington etc are as bad as him if he remains the go-to option of last resort.

And it probably makes sense. If Davies had just ended his contract with another Premier League club, we might view this as quite a low-cost, shrewd way to bulk out the midfield. He is, after all, exactly the sort of player you could imagine Dyche signing for Burnley and getting a decent tune out of.

Obviously we are Everton and set our sights higher, but even so, we might have released him only to find ourselves paying a fee and higher wages for someone of his ilk anyway. For example, Harry Winks might be available for a low cost but, in the grand scheme of things, is he much better?

For those touting Warrington as the better solution, we're talking about a player who (aged 20) has managed 38 games with no goals and one assist in the third tier with Fleetwood. He has no England youth recognition at any level. I wish him very well but it's pretty unusual for an academy prospect at any club to make it with that sort of track record.

There are dozens and dozens of academy players at this level across the country – unfortunately, as the likes of Walsh, Williams, Forshaw, Schumacher, Dowell, Lundstram, Ledson etc etc all discovered, the standard in the Premier League is extraordinarily high.

Quite a list but it's so easy to see those players after they've managed to become regulars. If only somebody at Goodison had the forward vision to see all of these players when they were available at rock-bottom prices and no other clubs were competing for them.

That's an assumption I'm not willing to make.

I don't think stating that younger players could come in and do an equal or better job is true. If they could, they'd have broken into the first team by now.

Also, on the brink of relegation the last two seasons, I'd not be willing to risk our fortunes on younger players and this point. Yes, development is paramount and the overall business model I adore. But we simply can't, at this time, put any cards on the table with younger prospects. We're too close to disaster with our flirtations with relegation.

And if Tom Davies's salary is the straw that breaks the camel's back, we were fucked to begin with!

My ancestry is Kilkeel from the early 1800s (McCrinks) before the green lobby kick off.

Seamus was solid as oak when he played last season, never mind his career. Patterson is a great young right-back, but he gets hurt – and often it would appear.

How is signing Seamus to I believe a 1-year contract, a "financially fooked notion"?

Again, he'll play admirably and well, based upon last season to be sure he was excellent, when called upon. And he doesn't cost a bazillion dollars / pounds we simply don't have at the moment.

We're trimming as much as we can, as intelligently as we can with the squad we currently have. And we're keeping players in positions where we clearly need a bit of depth and capable back-ups. I see absolutely nothing wrong with Davies or Coleman signing contracts at this snapshot in time, under the circumstances.

And, just to throw in the emotional argument to stir the shit pot – Does anyone actually have a problem with Seamus Coleman who we signed at £60k and who's been as loyal a servant and solid player and man as you will ever find, or Tom Davies who is a true Blue and local "lad" and came up through our system, playing in the final year at Goodison? All the while busting their guts for club and cause when called upon to do so?

I don't have any problems with this. Zero. Nada. Zilch. Zip.

Seamus is or was injured.

On one hand, Jamie and the gang @61 are correct – experienced cover for peanuts is sensible.

On the other, we still have Gana, Doucouré, Iwobi, Garner, Onana, Gomes, Gbamin and maybe even Dele Alli too as central midfielders. As others have said, there's Warrington too coming through.

Sure, I can't see Gbamin or Warrington not being sent out again, and Dele Alli won't get a sniff unless the vampire that's Daniel Levi got reasonable on a renegotiation of fees….but still leave 6 for 2-3 positions max. Given we're gonna pay most of the wages anyway, surely Gomes is a better answer for a swansong year.

Maybe the logic is we can now say to hawk Onana and/or Iwobi about for some fund generation, knowing Gana, Doucouré, Garner, Gomes and Davies are at least reasonable depth. If we generate enough for a striker and someone like Dewsbury-Hall or McTominay to come in too, then maybe that's enough to let Gomes move on too.

Ultimately we're going to have another season or two of having to shop at Neto. After that austerity allowed 3-year losses, and the new stadium, may make us attractive to the real next Billionaire.

Isaac Price left Everton a couple of days ago to go to Standard Liege.

Sean Dyche will get a tune out of the squad at his disposal, and if and how transfer funds are generated for new incoming players remains to be seen.

But this is the reality of where Everton are and so let's stay positive and hopefully no Houdini acts will be needed next season.

UTFTs!

Everyone is different but I would regret it in my retired years if I didn't play competitive football regularly in my prime through my own choice. I'm pretty sure he could get a contract in the Championship for a bit less or similar to what Everton are offering. He needs to go and prove himself and have a proper career before it's too late.

By the way, Tom Davies's old contract was £39,000/ week: Link.

No mention of his new salary though.

Davies is needed to offer cover at a cheap rate and there are factors such as the quota of homegrown players a club needs that he also fufils.

Doubt he will if he reads ToffeeWeb.

The good thing at least is that his $39,000 a week is that, while it's described as his "base", it's unlikely he will earn any more through performance-related bonuses as those typical involve contributing on the pitch.

But hey, as Jamie points out, the big thing is that we can remember the last year at Goodison Park as being about Tom Davies being in the team. I know in years to come, fans will look back on the old stadium and think of Tom strutting his stuff before the place was knocked down.

I just can't see any other club in this league and in the same financial situation as we are in, would keep a player like Tom Davies for so long, let alone extending his contract!

At least £2M down the drain each year.

Hey, this is Everton. This is ToffeeWeb. It will always be the worst.

I used to tolerate your posts, but you haven't a clue:

Seamus "tries his best, has a few handy games each season"?

Are you for real. Do you watch the same team as me?? Unreal!

Every online thingy I checked had him at $25k/week. Your link at $39k/week.

I trust your link, because I'm no expert in looking up salaries.

Still is "Premier League cheap" and the signing makes perfect sense. And being upset at a £2M salary in the modern day is a bit silly.

This from 888sport I found:

The average salary for a Premier League player moved to over £3 million per year according to the Global Sports Salary Survey in late 2019.

The average weekly pay for a first-team Premier League squad player is up over £60,000 per week, an increase of over £10,000 in just a couple of seasons.

Tom's a bargain m'man. You may be disappointed in his lack of progression as a player, but he's still a bargain.

Andros was unlucky. I liked his attitude.

Davies isn't a starter. He's a last resort. He's not costing much. Think of him as a saving. A quatrer of a Gbamin with £20M saving. A quarter of a Gomes with £25M saving. This is why, unless we are buying real quality, I'd play the young lads.

There have been so many expensive mistakes in last few years: Bolasie, Klaassen, Dele Alli, Rondon, Walcott, Tosun, Ramirez, Gbamin… These are players that our young lads are better than.

If Onana is going, I'd expect 2 midfielders of a better quality than Tom to arrive.

How do we keep hold of Dyche? No money in the pot, but Dyche will prevail given the limited budget he had to work with!
I hope he stays, but wouldn't be surprised if he stuck 2 fingers up at Kenwright et al.

Please go, Kenwright, before we descend to the depths of I don't know where!!!

The 2/3 players we hopefully will sign need to be better quality than we have. Dyche will be working day and night to plan how to keep us up and move us on. Only so much any manager can do when quality players are being sold and not replaced.

You seem under the illusion that having a different opinion means we watch different teams - that's not how real life works

How we could do with another Cahill at present.

Doubt Tim will be taking a position with the club anytime soon.

But I do think he gives decent depth for a reasonable weekly cost. And, despite being blamed on here on every occasion he put his little shin pads in, I thought he actually did well off the bench this past season. Always committed and helped to see some games through. Surprisingly he featured 19 times too.

My main feeling with this though is that I hope he rejects the offer and moves. He's the sort of player who, at the right club and level, is going to be a fan favourite. Maybe even a club captain. There's a great career out there for him when he goes and gets it.

Has anyone seen young Cahill, he didn't play many games, was he injured a lot or did his name get him the time with Everton?

Jamie, all ‘average salaries' comments should factor in the fact that the likes of Haaland, basic £400k a week, boosted to £900k a WEEK(!) with bonuses , as well as all the other badge kissing, pants wetting, whinging, play acting, worthless pieces of shit trousering ludicrous amounts of coin for average performances, will obviously skew the ‘average salary' figures.

Unless it's escaped you, I am less than enamoured by the mercenary shit bags who, weekly, harvest three or four times the ‘average salary' of Joe Public in return for, in some cases, two minutes of substituted performance when their kit won't even need washing…… er… sorry mate… red wine has this effect on me.

Something to do with waking up to reality.

And…… breathe….. that's better.

While Liverpool are signing up a young World Cup Winning midfielder, we are renewing lower end to relegation from Premier League standard players' contracts.

The MSP announcement needs to be made pronto and funds released urgently afterwards. Otherwise we all know what will happen. Best New Stadium in the Championship? Please God, no!

NSNO must start to mean something that is recognisable at Everton first team level again ASAP, else we are destined to go down if this turns into a summer of great disappointment again.

Sean Dyche deserves better, as do we. This shithouse board needs to be gone and replaced ASAP. UTFT.

I'm sure Moshiri would finance new players if only to protect his assets. A Championship club is obviously worth less than a Premier League club. Keeping us in the top flight is the priority.

He's been offered the new 1-year contract to fill out the squad, but he should go and rescue his career if he gets an offer from a decent Championship club.

That £60k was the average annual salary for a top-tier footballer in the late '80s.

Inflation... what inflation?

Astana FC it is then

Tom Davies will want to stay I think. Isn't it a fact that there will be very little cash to spend unless we sell an asset and even then the club would have to ask the Premier League for permission to spend any money?

I am not expecting any so-called "marquee" signing – but surely we will sign a fucking striker!

I smile when I see us being linked with likes of Brennan Johnson for £40 million – where do these stories come from? Why would that young fella want to come to Everton given the state we are in? Another tough campaign awaits all Evertonians!

...as well as all the other badge kissing, pants wetting, whinging, play acting, worthless pieces of shit trousering ludicrous amounts of coin for average performances, will obviously skew the ‘average salary' figures. Unless it's escaped you, I am less than enamoured by the mercenary shit bags who, weekly, harvest three or four times the ‘average salary' of Joe Public in return for, in some cases, two minutes of substituted performance when their kit won't even need washing……er…sorry mate…red wine has this effect on me.

That got me laughing. Very funny!

Yes, it's obscene.

Regarding the average salary stat, Will Mabon is right in part - it was from 2019 and didn't include Haaland therefore, nor inflation!

Of course the average will be skewed higher due to superstars. But I highly doubt Tom's £39k per week would escalate £21k per week equalling the 2019 average of £60k if you pulled out the top 10 to 20 earners. There's just too many players in the league to make that ground up vis-à-vis the overall average?

Your point is taken. But my point remains solid in my opinion, Tom Davies is a bargain by any metric in today's footy world for what he'll give Everton.

I think so many just don't like him as a player and are disappointed in his progress and potential, they emotionally react and aren't looking at this through a sane prism.

Don't kid yourself, the amount of times I've gone apoplectic on TW about one thing or another is through the roof. I'm not sinless in this vein. I'm just saying Tom Davies signing on is a good business move for Everton at this point in time.

Can he play left-back? He might well be our back-up in that position next season. Maybe he (and we) can finally strike gold.

The median is the number at which 50% of players are paid more and 50% of players are paid less. It would be considerably lower than the average.

In the NFL for example, the average is well over $2 million but the median is around $860,000. In the NBA, the average is $10M but the median is around $2.5M.

It's hard to imagine he's part of Dyche's plans, he had a decent season in League One but it's a massive jump up. Still only 22 though so he's young for a centre-back.

My bet is he goes on loan to a team like Rotherham, Huddersfield, Cardiff etc to see if he can make an impression in the Championship. Same with Ryan Astley. Neither really stood out in League One, unlike Eiran Cashin who was probably the best young centre-backs in the league.

My fifth line / paragraph hints at the median. You encapsulated my overall point better.

Not the first time, won't be the last.

My brain is foggy. My damn dog started barking at ghosts around 6 am this morning. On a normal day, I don't rise until 8 am. That two hours of lost sleep is kicking my ass today, and clearly my brain. ;0)

I thought he was going to break through until Branthwaite and Godfrey pushed him down the pecking order.

Tom Davies should be allowed to leave the club. We already have players that can fill that role. He would be 6th choice to play centre-midfield.

If Townsend has fully recovered, I would have given him a new deal. The lad has quality and can score a few goals. I wish him all the best, he is a model pro.

When I first saw him play he reminded me of Alan Whittle and I loved him. I hope Tom can get some games under Dyche. I know I'm in the minority here but I like Tom. He's not Maradonna, I get that, but he's not Schneiderlin either, he gives his best and I like that in a player.

You'd think by the reactions of some on here we have just spent £20M on him. It's complete nonsense, and as others have said, he will give his all when selected, even if he is a limited footballer.

The stark fact is that we don't have money to spend on players to round out the squad, and given that point, there is a 0% chace we could have gotten an adequate replacement (again, we're talking perhaps a 5th midfielder here) without spending a few million pounds. Let's take that money and put it towards a forward and we'll be all the better.

To add some snark, I'm glad for the youth player whose slot Tom will be filling. I can only imagine the amount of shit that people here would be spewing at that person if they were to be thrown in the deep end and were anything short of a world beater.

George Long. Played for Millwall last season. Played 37 games and conceded just 38, with 12 clean sheets. He's 29 and 1.93 m tall. He might like the idea of working with Pickford on a 2-year contract.

If anyone out there knows a Millwall supporter out there, let us know what they thought of him.

Funny you should say that, I believe Tom Davies is Alan Whittle's nephew!

"You are not playing rugby or American Football. You are legally allowed to pass the ball forward towards the opponent's goal."

UTFT! XD

Otherwise, agreed with a lot of you that someone from the U21 can fill Tom Davies's boots admirably (how about Price who, under an utter, collective asset mis-management by Brands, Bentiez & Thelwell, is leaving the club for a paltry £400k?)

All the amazing scouts on here – name me a player with more than five seasons of Premier League experience, no transfer fee, no mad signing-on fee that you get with free agents, a good injury record, is content to sit on the bench, did well last season at a Premier League team when called upon, is young etc, etc.

Even Man City have squad players. Get over it.

Reading we're 100% getting relegated before a ball is kicked is depressing. Go and support Bayern if you want a guarantee of success. If not - buckle in and enjoy the ride!!!!

Why are you assuming he'd get paid less? I mean other than the fact he's been crap for 5 years? I can't think of many guys in their mid-twenties with 150 Premier League appearances getting paid less than the deal they were on when they were unproven. So I would assume he's likely getting paid more.

But as to the “better than nothing” argument. Is he? If someone offers you mushrooms for dinner is that better than nothing? Or would you rather go hungry for a bit and save your money for something worth eating? Given the infrequency of his appearances and his poor performances, we could easily manage without him and save some money.

Lonergan has the experience to cover for Pickford and a fully fit Seamus could easily carry on for two more seasons. We may as well face the fact that there will not be any big-name signings. We haven't the money. Those days are gone. I'd go for Che Adams up front for a realistic fee. He's a strong lad who knows where the net is.

Admittedly not very inspiring, but nonetheless these are pragmatic short-term contracts which would act as insurance in the event of injuries to first-team players.

Andrew #120, you are correct, and judging by the photos I've seen, there is a considerable physical resemblance.

Jamie #113, if your neighbors have similar predilections to yours, I hope your dog is fitted out with Kevlar!

We are now fucked for years to come as a result of the gross mismanagement of those self-serving shysters so favoured by Moshiri.

We will never own the new stadium, or anything else of the long-since hawked-off Everton estate, and nor will we ever be able to sign a player of already proven talent due to the hideous ineptitude of a near-criminal chairman, and a very dubious alleged owner.

Kenwright for decades (Chris Samuelson in 2004 for instance – it's on YouTube) has sought out sharks to invest in us and sharks always get their necessary sustenance regardless of who pays the price.

We're fucked folks – for years to come.

NSNO my arse – for decades as far those in charge have been involved.

I have never been a critic of Davies. I find that he is able in midfield and can push play forward. He does lose possession sometimes as he does, but can carry the ball and does have the engine to get up and down the park.

He does come deep and tackles to retrieve the ball and can get into position to score. At 24, he is an established Premier League player and can improve.

I want to believe that we do business early and get some quality players in, but we will probably bluster and scrimp and scrape to bring in more average players.

It may be a change of faces, but the inherent problems in our club remain. We are treading water for a good few seasons yet, unless there are big changes at the top.

It's time for Everton and Tom to move on, Everton needs to find new blood from somewhere in the Championship or Europe to fill his place in the squad.

Our network of scouts should be bringing in a hungry young midfielder who has big potential to kick on after we sign him into a young, quality, valuable midfielder for the team and for our financial well-being. There's got to be a few young midfielder's out there, French league, Championship, wherever! who would jump at the chance to prove themselves at Everton. Where are our scouts?

The “he's cheap as chips, and only on £25k pw” argument totally misses the point; we need to be more progressive as a club. It seems to me that we are still not doing the hard miles required in finding decent young players before they have £30M valuations.

I see the retention of Tom as a wasted opportunity and comfort zone laziness in our forward thinking. We should expect much, much better from our recruitment, starting now .

Seamus has looked after himself and can still do a job when needed. At 34, he is fit and still has a bit of pace in him. Consider he came back from a dreadful injury after his leg was literally snapped in half. Remember that lung-busting run along the Enclosure in his first game back? No fear, when others would have been hesitant and cautious. And his presence will be welcome around the squad.

As for Tom. We've all praised and criticised, just as we do with most players. Even before the turbulence of the past two seasons, I was of the opinion that he was a useful player to have in the squad.

Tom is a classic case study of a young player who many had high hopes pinned on him and was thrown in to the lion's den of this mismanaged club and the revolving door of manager after manager. I would imagine he, like others, wouldn't have known if he was coming or going. Not a stable environment for a young footballer.

Let's see what the transfer window brings. If and when the investment is announced, we may be pleasantly surprised and things may change.

Both upstairs and on the pitch.

Tom Davies is an experienced and fairly cheap option. He has played 155 times for Everton, and as someone said above, many of those games were in teams that did better than last season's car crash.

There won't be a magic wand suddenly turning our unbalanced squad into battlers for the Top 7. Any money we have will be spent on a striker.

I said rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
Rip and start again.

After starting my day feeling positive after reading a lot of Sean Dyche's thoughts about Everton, I then started reading this thread backwards, meaning it didn't take me long to get to Don's post which has brought me straight back down to the ground.

Bill Kenwright built his Everton reign on survival – and it looks like this is our number one objective once again, right now… But, there's always a but, and hopefully soon we will hit the bottom of the well, and slowly start bouncing back up again.

Hurry up and sell or make the necessary changes, Farhad Moshiri – just rip it up and start again! 🤞

However, one of the bigger problems for me would be that if we had a scouting team worth their salt, they would have spent the season out looking for young, talented, cheap players that could've replaced Tom Davies.

Tom isn't the problem, the club is.

If it's only a 1-year contract, as someone has indicated, then it could be great for Tom. If the club is showing signs of new ownership or investment and perhaps a possible period of stability with Sean Dyche, he might just want to see what happens.

Also, however, none of us know his personal circumstances. He might like living in the Liverpool area and not see any options at other 'local' clubs.

Kieran, you've been busy on here fuming about Tom, but I see that you chose not to respond to Grant Rorrison (all the way back at 18) who provided some information that made a couple of your earlier posts a tad redundant if not misleading.

I would also like to know where we can get a Premier League centre back to replace Coady for £4.5m. I’d have kept him as well.
At this rate the oft mentioned tea lady must be being put through her paces ready for a place in the starting line up.

The issue, I'm guessing, is our relationship with agents and our strategy (or lack of one) when it comes to buying players. Trying to turn it around now is going to be hard after many years of mis-management and our financial handcuffs.

But really, we should still be reasonably confident that there will more interesting deals to come. If say, we end up signing the likes of Joel Piroe, Ryan Kent, Ryan Manning etc then the Davies deal pales into insignificance. And who knows, Dyche might really see a player there that he wants to work with.

His priority is to develop a team that is hard to beat, scrap for every point and keep us above the relegation zone. If he can do that in the 2023-24 season, it will be a springboard for the future.

It is going to be a long hard couple of years.

I reckon it will be a damming assessment of the state of Everton FC.

UTFTs!

New faces are needed but not just for the sake of it. If there's a few million spare or via swap deals, I think Rodrigo of Leeds is worth a bid but he's the wrong side of 30.

But I'm confident despite the odds Dyche will get Everton ready and will be aiming for a good start.

Scary looking back how far adrift Everton went early doors last season after the Palace home win.

Remarkable how Dyche and his coaches kept Everton in the Pemier League but they only did that galvanised and inspired by Evertonian supporters home and away and from across the world. There's no comparable force of nature in football Terms.

Get the operating structure of Everton FC sorted (new board in place, chairman, CEO) and managed hourly every day like a proper football club in the next few weeks, and from a new start, the new Everton can build steadily this season, without fear.

But hope eternal.

UTFTs!

Probably Jordan Pickford would obviously be the most saleable and, if Calvert-Lewin could prove his injuries troubles were behind him, but it's hard to see how selling either would make us stronger for next season.

Also, the independent commission is due to report in October on whether we have transgressed any financial rules, and what possible sanctions would be imposed, probably a fine or a points deduction. Although I am sure if it was a points deduction then we would follow City's lead and challenge the judgement.

So it could be another difficult season, with Dyche having to wheel and deal and probably buy players who wouldn't have been his first choice. Given those facts, I am sure he will come in for a lot of stick from some parts of the fanbase.

But I think we have to swallow a huge slice of reality and realise that the club isn't where any of us would want in terms of finance. I just hope that Dyche can improve the squad enough to make sure we are not in another relegation battle for a third season running, as if we are, maybe we wouldn't escape the drop.

I think we both know about as much as each other in terms of Tom Davies's new deal. I expect it may be lower because he's firmly a back-up player so his ‘profile' within the squad has changed since he last put pen to paper and so he will not be offered terms to reflect this. Or sign an extension on the same terms. I'd be astonished if he gets a pay rise.

As I said, though, we just don't know.

And everyone saying we should scour the Championship for players – you're right. We should. And we almost certainly are! But most will have a fee and we will need about 6-8 players. We would probably look to bring a few in alongside not instead of Tom Davies.

We just can't realistically release every player the ToffeeWeb community deem not good enough. A year extension makes sense; he played well off the bench.

6-8 players is a minimum. The idea we will find that many players in 8 weeks (who will all be good enough) is madness.

Any Championship player good enough who's available will have been scouted and courted by multiple clubs and have a fee reflective. If they're free agents or their contract is running out, they will likely go to the club that offers the best terms.

Hopefully we will get a couple but it's highly competitive and a relegation scrap with us isn't exactly exciting to a player from the Championship who is about to make the most important decision of their career, when they most likely have the likes of Brentford or West Ham circling.

That's our reality.

Didn't we have several players in the England squad a few years back that won the U-20s (I think) World Cup and few got anywhere near a spot on the bench – never mind an actual game – although Calvert-Lewin may be an exception.

While I'd like to think we may sign players for the future, we seem to have difficulty signing anyone who helps today. It might help if we ever got a manager who had a record of playing and improving youngsters.

Indeed, wasn't it said that Koeman was dragged almost screaming to a youth game at Prenton Park? I mean, they must know where Finch Farm is.

I sent mine in last week and the results are conclusive and damming to the CEO, chairmen and board.

If they had any sense of reasoning and integrity, they would resign now. Hopefully plans are in place to be executed very soon.

The weather is exceptional but the fucking grey cloud over Goodison Park and Finch Farm looms permanently and will do until the stop and change happens.

Any take over in full or partial, that may be or will be in the offing, must consider the damage this board has done in bringing the club to its knees.

The world knows and so the board, and chairman must now go. The CEO may oversee this transition and in time will and should go.

UTFTs!

I am not sure what difference he provides to a team winning or getting a draw in matches as a 6th- or 7th-choice central midfielder. If he can't contribute or improve, get rid.

We've paid him £8M on his career earnings to date, and are fine to offer another £1M plus next season.

Our scouts are being told we told don't have money to sign up-and-coming talent. But are fine to 'burn' money on duffers. This squad needs gutting, and it needs being ruthless and shifting a shocking squad.

Two relegation scraps… when will the penny drop that this squad is shocking?

As with so many other player, lacks minutes, played in the wrong position had injuries etc. He's one of our few players who tried to take responsibility and looks to move the ball forward, doesn't shirk and always 100%.

He is not a defensive midfield player – he needs licence to go forward. Useful squad player, not a starter, but a player in there. Yet he gets dog's abuse; I don't understand it!

Those who say he's a bargain might wonder why, in that case, there have been no other suitors, neither in January or now.

I have some faith in our current manager and can well believe he can't see anything that has come out of our youth set up recently, that is any better than Davies. Which means it is abjectly failing to bring on Premier League level players. I suggest that is more a cause of our current problems than Davies himself.

It is also true he is far from our biggest problem. In fact, he isn't a problem because we had the choice of letting him go, a luxury denied to us with the invisible trio of Gomes, Dele and Gbamin. That's £20M of financial resource consumed for no gain. But even though that is true, it does not in turn make my comments about Davies false – at least in my opinion.

Everton Fan Survey Results 2022-23

So we're saving him for the season after next...

For those moaning that he is picked on, I would say that the comments I have read have been largely fair. He earns a salary that everyone on here can only dream of.

Criticism (not abuse) is what they all should expect when they don't add enough. In his case, I would question both his ability and his application. Like Holgate, he carries himself with an unjustified air of someone who has reached the pinnacle of his sport.

He offers very little; he can't defend, he has little pace, little vision and has poor judgement. See write-up of the Leicester game away in 2019 for the sort of contribution he often provides.

I don't know the ins and outs of what goes on at Everton. Maybe he is a stopgap until we sort our finances out. If, however, they still hope he can make it, then I think that should set alarm bells ringing.

I would argue that a player who offers nothing is not cheap on any level of contract!

I agree with others that he is not the problem, he is a symptom. If the symptom is still there… so is the problem!

However, the market for high-potential youth is pretty much our only route to top-class players. We just don't have the money for ready-made top class.

Unfortunately, this summer we're in such a mess, we do need ready-made players – and they probably won't be top class (eg, Che Adams etc). Once the squad has settled down a bit, then we can look again to high-potential youth – and hopefully give them a decent route to the first team.

(It was maybe a missed opportunity with Lookman, one of the U20 World Cup Winners you mention, who, now 25, has just had a storming season in Serie A.)

Because this squad, with no money spent will – mark my words – be in another relegation scrap, barring a miracle. We need goals, desperately. But where can we get them for free?

It's kind of like Martinez's first season in reverse; where we finished 5th and needed to push on but instead just signed the loans up. And Leicester City won the Premier League – the most open in years, when we could have actually qualified for the Champions League.

Typical lack of foresight and guts from Chairman Kenwright. I'd like to lynch that…. I'll stop there.

Sounds like the kitty is bare so look for some freebies and loans to do us over, until the goose is fat and ready again to go.

If MSP coming in means we have a significant restructuring and new sponsorships to follow, here's hoping that can happen ASAP. I fear the first team squad needs major surgery – not just tinkering on a shoestring.

If there is to be a transfer ban for any P&S breaches, we need to get the squad revamped and positioned for the future before the ban comes in. They can't do it retrospectively can they, so if it's a few months away, we need to make the few months count.

I said he missed 233 days, which he did, and he was injured during the run-in which he was. How's that misleading?

Those are actual facts. Sorry if the actual facts don't support your narrative.

I just can't see it. I love the kid, and he gave me one of biggest thrills of my entire life, but for the life of me I just don't understand.

It would be better for all concerned if he could find a club but they aren't knocking the door down. Harsh I know but this "lets survive" mindset has to change. we are called the "people's club" (bollocks) it's more like the sofa club.

If you didn't get a start regularly under either manager last season then they should be sent packing or want to go themselves.

One may say now that Dyche has plans for next season and if money is a problem then he will have to keep some who we don't agree with in the hope they can be of better service next season.

However, you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear and I think Tom Davies fit's that bill but I hope he proves me wrong if he is given a chance.

Injuries obviously hindered some players and one has to wonder if those players will stay healthier this time around.

After the near relegation under Frank the previous season we all hoped that would spark a new beginning last season but they continued in the same vein and in fact got worse.

Once again we are faced with a new season and new optimism.

Without quality offence we will struggle as most do in the same boat. Let's hope Dyche can get that fixed.

I believe Isaac Price was offered a new contract but declined it.

Slightly surprised by the 96% support for Dyche, would have thought there might be more dissenters.

Not surprised by the board's performance going down like a cup of cold sick

Less than a fortnight ago, most fans were worried about relegation and the damage that might do to our club, with the possibility that it might be the end of the club as a going concern.

There is a metaphorical mountain to climb in the next few months and perhaps years, if supporters are going to throw their toys out of the pram every time a decision is made, that they feel is a bad one, we will be lucky to get out of the foothills never mind start climbing the mountain.

We will likely face another excruciating season next time out, therefore, it is probably better for our collective health to show some understanding about where we find ourselves, and to thank the lord that at least we have another opportunity to fix some of the core issues.

Hopefully a new board and ownership will lead us into calmer waters and we can once again enjoy supporting our club rather than treating it as a chore.

Without any slanging matches, I would just like to hear what still makes them feel that way, just anyone to come with an explanation and reasoning, so that I can try to understand their logic or reasoning.

For those who posit that he has suffered from our managerial instability, I would counter-argue that he has had the chance and failed to sufficiently impress six or seven successive managers.

Even Dyche, who favours hard workers, has not seen fit to include him in regular starting elevens. That must say something.

As a low-cost squad player, I can see the argument for keeping him but I can't for the life of me understand why he would be happy to continually warm the bench.

His biggest weakness is he tries to carry the ball and often runs into trouble. That can be coached out of his game by Dyche.

But fair enough, you don't like the lad. Who would you have as back-up to Gueye then?

Blaming the players alone oversimplifies the situation and disregards the larger structural problems that need to be addressed. It's crucial for us to channel our frustrations towards holding the board accountable and advocating for better decision-making processes to avoid such mistakes in the future.

Absolutely! It's essential to acknowledge that fixating on the contract of a single player will not resolve the larger issue of limited financial resources. Attracting new players to a struggling team becomes increasingly challenging when they see a lack of stability and potential relegation looming.

If we resort to offering exorbitant wages just to entice players, we risk turning our team into a mere mercenary force rather than a cohesive unit with shared goals and values.

We must learn from past experiences and recognize that our long-term success depends on a more comprehensive approach that addresses the board's mismanagement, fosters a positive team culture, and strategically invests in talented players who align with our vision.

I would have Gueye as back-up to a better defensive midfielder.

Having said that, I believe Tom is a useful squad member – just as good as the likes of Harry Winks etc.

Three of them will be short of energy during Ramadan and we will lose a couple for the Africa Cup of Nations. I expect that Tom Davies will get another chance under Dyche if he decides to stay.

I don't know Tom Davies, probably like 99% of posters on here. To me, he seems a likeable lad, flashes of skill, grit and determination. Gives the ball away too often, flies into tackles unnecessarily sometimes.

He doesn't stink the place out but obviously now Osman, Jonjoe Kenny, Hibbert and Gordon have gone, he's a convenient scapegoat.

What I do know is he is living every scouse boyhood Evertonian's dream and I for one hope he gets a decent run in the team in a position he can make his own.

I'm aware we had to sign somebody to play up front, but wonder how far down the list Maupay must have been, and how desperate we must have been to sign him – and this is before you get to the nitty-gritty of who sanctioned this deal?

Dyche is talking about pragmatism, so let's hope him and Thelwell are on the same page. I'd rather sign nobody than just taking whoever is available, but desperate men make desperate decisions, especially if they are only allowed to sign players, that nobody else really wants, and can only sign them on a very long drip because of this.

The longer there are no changes at the top of our club, the more chance we have of being in the same position at both the start and end of next season, imo. Change cannot come soon enough.

To clarify any possible doubt, from what I've seen of Tom in interviews (particularly in the way he intervened in the case of the lad with mental problems), I have no doubt that he is a thoroughly decent human being.

I'd absolutely love him to nail down a regular slot in the first team and I do not scapegoat him at matches. It's just, setting sentiment aside, I don't believe he's good enough. An opinion that I would love to be proved wrong.

Davies has shown flashes. The occasional swashbuckling dribble to find a vital opportunity in the box with a knowing pass, chasing down the danger man to prevent a move on goal or even getting into position to unfairly miss, Tom doesn't hide. This leadup is to make the point that he has never had a reliable partner and we all know his physical skills need that support.

I believe he possesses some useful football IQ that could get functional with Garner and McNeil around him. A different style of play would be required to make it work but Tom can contribute.

I actually felt for him more when he featured in those last few games and we were pumping balls up to him.

Whatever happens next, don't buy for the sake of it. How you spend, not what you spend.

And change at the top. That is needed and soon.

Regardless of all of our opinions we agree with that and the survey, which I completed, reflects the mood of the majority of the fanbase.

On matchdays, I'll support that team no matter what.

But at the top of this club, time to go. Time for change.

Do it now. The silence is deafening.

He needs a tall striker (Weghorst?) alongside him.

If we cannot offload him, then play him with a partner, but apparently 4-4-2 is out of fashion these days, if we play with a lone striker then the likes of Maupay and Weghorst are no use to us and this is where Dyche and Thelwell need to connect.

The ones who should be going are sitting nervously waiting for the transfer window to open. Keane, Holgate, Godfrey, Maupay… will they be sold? They should be – but will they?

Can we hope to do a Forest reset and bring in 6 or 7 players?

As of now, we expect to keep the following:

Pickford
Coleman
Patterson
Mykolenko
Tarkowski
Branthwaite
Gana
Garner
Iwobi
Doucouré
Onana
Davies
McNeil
Gray
Calvert-Lewin
Simms

Add in a possible Gomes, but not Alli or Gbamin – that's about 16 or 17 players – nowhere near enough cover anywhere. That's why Tom Davies got a contract, why Conor Coady didn't.

And add to that what it would actually cost to improve on Tom Davies. You'd be talking, what, maybe £10-15 million? Plus someone wanting at least double his wages. Plus signing fees etc. At that kind of money, you're not even guaranteed improvement on someone who was fairly solid when called on last season.

If we're looking for where our limited spend can have most impact, then the centre of midfield is probably the last place I'd be looking.

Just keep him and let Gomes and Gbamin farmed out. Dele Alli is a headache but the focus has to shift.

The serial Gravy Train Stowaway Davies adds nothing in my book, either off the bench or anywhere for that matter. Don't this club ever learn from mistakes and observations?

Why?

Well look at all the other clubs in our league who were signing players before the window opened and those engaged in deals already.

Everton's modus operandi hasn't changed, Kenwright's way (carried out implicitly by the useless dreadful Thelwell) is to not reveal what is available funds-wise. He has them earmarked for an altogether different venture.

Leak out names we have no intention of buying. Worse still bidding less for a player than other interested and better clubs (like What the Fuck?).

The club does not give a shit about you or other Blues.
There is no plan. They will stretch the bluster and facade of player purchases and squad strengthening until the last few seconds before feeding the manager to the baying press with the statement:

"I was there in Bill's Shrine. I heard them and saw them on the phones to players and agents… just wasn't to be".

Bullshit. Kenwright was sorting his latest production out. (Joke. kind of)

Right now, no-one has a clue as to the investment funding that is or might or has been forthcoming from MSP. Or its impact and possible release of transfer funds. Nothing is gonna happen until that debacle has been signed off.

What a godsend for Moshiri and the board of Tossers.
String that out long enough and they can totally miss this transfer window.

So we have lost an entire defence but strengthened it by retaining a true legend literally on his last leg. A goalkeeper no one else would want. And a surfer boy who stands at Southport's infamous riptide beach to ride those barrel waves. Davies makes Gomez look like Speedy Gonzalez and Roy Keane rolled into one.

Moral of this story:

Don't get stressed — it's Everton.

Look at the machine and chose "Repeat & gets worse cycle".

I know I've said this before and was shot down but would any decent players with any common sense want to come to Everton in the state we're in? Happy to be shot down again and be proved wrong.

I live in hope.

No one is running the club. When questioned about it, and asked who is, they all denied it and name-dropped someone who occupies a lower (untenable) position than themselves (and get swathes of cash for). By that calculus, it is some kid on a corner selling snide memorabilia.

One player who wanted to stay, they got rid of. I'm guessing Dyche was told to stop further releases as there is no one gonna be coming in. Hence the Davies contract. Look at it logically.

After Dyche gave this season's final post-match statement of concern, the board failed to show at their own Fan Advisory Board meeting.

They have failed to announce how they plan to prevent any reoccurrence of the forlorn hope we won't face hell again in the forthcoming season. They have done nothing whatsoever.

Even to come out and say: "This is the situation. We are not allowed to spend further money in the transfer market due to (a) a possible takeover, (b) the forthcoming hearing into our alleged P&S Rule breaches." But they can't even be arsed to do that.

Wheres the halfwit Thelwell? Why isn't he squeaking up?

Sadly it's only gonna get worse. Kenwright's child-like letter is a clue to his mindset.

Moshiri (the genius accountant) who can't work out what P&S minus buying players equals (furthering his genius by making spending promises of strikers he then failed to deliver).

That is their best!

So you draw the right conclusion. No player on the correct side of lunacy would set foot in this mushroom factory.

The transfer window hasn't even opened yet so it is very early days. I know a few big deals have been announced but they were probably sorted out ages ago and just made public now.

The real horse trading is yet to commence - and without decent finances, agents and selling clubs will be holding out for more than we are currently offering. I guess we will have to judge it come the start of the season and then by the end of the window.

I guarantee there will be disappointment (as is already evident with Davies).

But, despite the finances, I expect us to bring in a minimum of 3 new players – and maybe as many as 7. I also think Dyche will coach performances out of average players and could conceivably be a turning point for the likes of Davies, Holgate, Godfrey and one or two others.

The other good news, you might say, is that Bournemouth, Burnley and Sheff Utd are all in a pickle too – because they've lost a lot of players to the Bosman rule and end of loans. They are all going to find it difficult to build their squads back up in both quality and numbers.

Luton are a whole other kettle of fish - astonishing to get promotion with such a low-quality squad. Wouldn't surprise me if Brighton begin to struggle without Mac Allister and Caiceido too (certainly we gave their 2nd string an absolute pasting).

So, although we're highly unlikely to bring in any sexy names, we could still be quite good next season.

To a large extent, you are right. Really the financing at this stage is to maintain the status quo, in that it appears to be related to the stadium development. As it stands, there has been no change in the management of the club.

Everton seem to be going through the same transfer process as other seasons. Offload players, offer new contracts to existing players, try to realise the value of players with value, with swap players attached, and then, in August, try to buy in the remaining players needed.

Those offered contracts at least are within Dyche's remit. I don't agree regarding Pickford and Davies. They play in a poor team.

I know it is frustrating, since this is the second time that Everton have escaped relegation. Dyche and the fans seem to be the only ones acknowledging the urgency of the situation, backed by all the media. I am sure Dyche is working hard on solutions.

The club really needs to get its act together, though confidence is nil in most of those who are dealing with it. The independent commission still has to sit. It's another distraction, with possible consequences. MSP up and running is something, though their impact on the actual club management is unclear.

Surely Davies wants to play regularly at this stage of his career and would be better off leaving when there's no fee required.

From the club's point of view, it'd be great to get a few for him if he did sign on but I just can't see the benefit to Tom in staying unless he's the exception to the rule in that he only wants to play for his boyhood club. Even I'm not naive enough to think that anymore.

And therein lies part of the problem. When we did have the money in place, there was no plan in place to build a solid foundation for the future.

At the time, we still couldn't eat at the top table with the likes of Man City, Chelsea & Arsenal, we wanted to barge in, spending over the odds.

Newcastle Utd have shown how it should be done, they've just recruited a top team to discover talent in South America which will bear fruit.

Mind you, one of the reasons Brands was appointed was because of his connections in Latin America, What happened there?

USA is another market. .I realise it may be looking for a needle in haystack but players have a great work ethic and good team players (McBride & Donovan were very good for us). There have been successful American players in European leagues.

Far East players have also been successful: Japan, South Korea; if you've witnessed their efforts in World Cups, you will also recognise their hard work and skills.

Brighton have shown how it's done and we should be looking at their set-up… otherwise, it will be same old, same old.

This is the annoying time of year when we are linked with just about every (primarily average) player who may be available. The reality though, is one we all recognise. We have no money to spend. Unless Onana or Pickford is sold we will not be buying anyone of note.

However, as many have said, there are a wealth of good players who will be available cheap or for free. Love him or hate him, Dyche is probably the best man to mould a team who can be competitive. Presumably Tom Davies fits his remit. I can understand why.

Ultimately, whoever starts the first and successive games, we must get right behind them. My wish, as I have posted before, is for a well organised and competitive team capable of winning any game and giving us suffering supporters something to cheer, week-in & week-out, and not to be gloom-laden and fearful as we have been.

Onward to BMD and hopefully some proper investment which will make a difference. In the meantime, all talk of £35M players on our radar is pure fantasy. Maybe our £35M man is lurking amongst the youngsters. Ever the optimist.

It saddens me to see what BK has turned Everton into.
Like all buoyant megalomaniacs he comes with the unreinforced rhetoric of DENIABILITY.
The club cat (if we had one) is the only one or thing he hasnt blamed.

Season 23/24
Roll up, roll up Bills circus is back in town.

I've never been 100% amused by your 'humorous'(?) posts, but I think that you have exceeded yourself by referring to Tom Davies as "Dog Shit Davies". I'm sure that there could have been ways for you to express your dislike in a more acceptable manner.

There have been (down the years) many players who I thought were not of the standard required by Everton, but it's never been my style to vilify them. I suppose I could be in the "Do as you would be done by" brigade but I can live with that.

His name is Tom Cannon, oh wait ………….

I'm sure he'll jump at that offer then! Unless he finds a horses head in bed with him.

Lonergan,
Coleman, Keane, Holgate, Godfrey
Davies, U21 kid, Loan In Player.
Gray, Simms, Maupay.

Let's hope we don't get Bournemouth.

Let's be realistic, Davies is not up to standard and would struggle in the Championship if not even further down the Football League.

If I have to see his and Holgate's grinning faces staining the Everton bench again next season, I will blow a fucking gasket, they are not fit to wear the shirt!

Seamus Coleman agrees new one-year deal to stay at Everton

I am from South Africa, are you telling me that just taking a quick drive around the great city of Liverpool you can't find boys in the streets playing better football than Davies or Holgate? Those two are not footballers.

The scouts needs to take a drive.