Tantalising transfer sagas and deals that never materialised

He missed a home game to do so, such was his determination to sign a top class centre forward, as young Joe Royle was struggling for goals.

Joe played a blinder that day, and the signing never materialised. In later years it was suggested that Harry never went to Scotland, he stayed at home all day, but Joe got the message.

I recall the Liverpool Echo's Michael Charters producing an article urging the fans to get behind young Joe after a couple of frustrating goalless draws early in the 1968-69 season. Possibly Mr Catterick sowed the seeds of that article although he was never renowned for making positive use of the media.

Possibly the game in which Joe turned the tide in his favour was the 3-0 win in September ‘68 against Sheffield Wednesday. He capped off a fine performance with his first penalty in the second half at the Street End. He drilled his kick low and hard to the right of keeper Peter Springett, much to the delight of those of us standing behind that goal.

Thereafter, Joe shared the principal penalty-taking responsibility with Alan Ball. Both scored and missed a few in the next couple of years but the successful conversions boosted Joe's goals tally and probably his confidence as our main striker.

I stand to be corrected but did not Gerry Humphreys, in a rare outing, score an absolute pearler from the corner of the penalty area in that game?

Ranks alongside Vargas's goal for Hungary against Brazil as one of best goals ever at Goodison!

A couple of days later, the papers ran the story that Stein had decided to join Everton, but Catterick said "You don't get a second chance to sign for this club" and killed the move immediately.

Wasn't Muller's case a matter of him not realising his wages would be taxed? So he thought he was being quoted a wage net of taxes versus gross?

In hindsight, I don't think we missed much — he was over hyped, like his buddy Mirandinha.

Turns out he didn't realise he had to pay his own tax and the move fell through. It would have been interesting to see him play for Joe Royle a few months later and the famous Dogs of War!

The one signing we did make, after years of rumours, was John Collins. He was a decent player, but because we'd been linked with him for so long, I think we'd built him up in our minds to be some sort of World Beater who would dominate and create from midfield.

The reality was somewhat different.

Gerry's goal was also at the Street End. He was deputising for Johnny Morrissey which raises an interesting point about the penalty. If Morrissey had been playing, would Joe have been entrusted with the spot kick?

In the semi-final earlier that year at Old Trafford, it was the winger who, in the absence of Alan Ball, was handed the task just before half-time. Huge pressure but he squeezed it home, just!

It's interesting that most of the successful 80s team were unheard of signings or a couple that came through the youth system.

Different times, but they don't always have to be high profile.

One of our best in recent times has been Seamus Coleman. No-one saw that one coming.

Talking of which, and this is off track, but I keep my links and it is the 125th anniversary of the formation of the Irish Guards this year.

Their Regimental Mascot, an Irish Wolfhound, is called Seamus and they have just made a statue of him.

Always immaculate on parade, get him and the "Micks" to parade us and the two Seamus' onto the pitch. Liverpool, the city, has strong connections with the Irish Guards.

Manny Fernandes practically done, and then signed for Valencia.

Story of Everton not getting players over the line.

We then finally agreed a £5M deal with Fulham — only for him to fail his medical.

We did the same when he moved from Southampton to Blackburn.

That Gerry Humphreys goal was an absolute gem. I remember on ToffeeWeb when the posts were about the best goal fans had seen at Goodison. I put that Gerry Humphreys goal as one of the best I had seen at Goodison, and four or five fans also named that goal as a top-notch effort.

We had a bunch of those phantom bids under Kenwright when we offered less than other teams had already agreed.

Barry Ferguson to Blackburn, Kuyt to the RS, Owen to Newcastle.

Like night followed day, Kenwright would offer 40% less pay in increments over 10 years, then say "What can I do? I keep trying to spend the Arteta money but no one accepts our offers."

At the time I felt we were neck and neck with Spurs but that was (in my mind) when they pulled ahead. Great player.

Was Dembele the one we thought we had tied down then he refused to take Ronald Koeman's calls? I remember Spurs did similar with Kyle Naughton.

I thought it was just down to what Moyes said at his pressers recently.

My god this list could go on forever.

But possibly Zouma and Gbamin are two really significant ones. Had Zouma been secured and Gbamin (a quality player) stayed fit the wheels would have stayed on longer for Silva and Moshiri. We might now all be on here calling for him to be sacked after failing to get us above 8th place … what might have been.

I loved Hagi too … but only when he played for Romania. He seemed to earn a big money move after every international tournament then did nothing until the next one. The one club he finally delivered for was Galatassary of all teams. Not sure if he was a Romanian nationalist or a lazy git but his club careeer was woeful compared with his international performances.