Three to miss Brighton clash as Moyes makes “difficult” transfer window admission

Let's hope we get a few nice surprises?

Leeds, Sunderland, Forest, Bournemouth etc seem to do it quite simply.

Once Everton has touched you, hey…

The likes of Gallagher, Fofana & Diaz would not consider us as an option – far from it and please don't mention Grealish as he would have gone anywhere to get out of City if anyone else had been interested.

Go and have a punt on Van Ewijk, Hackney & Fellows.

Finally figured it out eh? Surprised it took this long. Chasing after players who wouldn't sign for us in a month of Sundays is a waste of time. 20-year-old wonder kids don't sign for Everton. Looks like BDM wasn't the lure the club thought it was going to be. Top players are used to playing in big stadiums. All they are really interested in are big salaries and European football. Something we are nowhere near offering.

Time to try for more realistic targets who are looking to step up. As long as Vardy isn't one of them. Signing him would just be a desperation move.

So we are wasting time trying the Koeman - Walsh approach but with limited funds instead of trying to get realistic targets? Nice work, everyone.

And we face all the same challenges now shaping up v Brighton as we did against a limited Leeds side.

I read a few compliments here for Garner at left-back, but I saw nothing of merit in that shape, so we will now be treated to another tactical venture v Brighton, oh boy...

And when we buy a load of shite, you'll ask "Why didn't we try and buy better players instead of bringing this load of shite in?"

Yer can't fuckin win whichever way yer go…

Laudable ambition but unrealistic, which makes me wonder at the suitability of the management team to run our football club if they haven't considered our position and our recent history.

Despite Moyes's lament at the failure to sign targets, that's no excuse for the team he put out on Monday or the game plan (assuming we had one). I would have liked an explanation for that in the presser.

He's in a difficult situation. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. I'm not sure if the players we will now target appreciate him saying they are well down his ladder.

At least he didn't tell the world his transfer budget like he did the season we pre-qualified for the Champions League, ie “I've been given £20M to spend on new players”.

Brightons wingers are like lightning.

I'd give McNeil a go there as a natural left-footer which means Garner can replace Iroegbunam who disjoints our midfield axis of Garner and Gana. Barry up top just as an alternative to Beto, Grealish in too maybe to replace Alcaraz across the midfield.

Things could turn sour quite quick if we are served up that sado-masochistic tripe again. Not what you want for a first proper game at the shiny new stadium.

If you were a player, is this the kind of situation you'd prefer if there were other options?

Could he not just have said "like other Clubs, we still expect to sign more players". No need to make us look a complete basket case.

At least Dyche just babbled nonsense rather than giving up the fucking position we were in.

That's what exasperation (and a dose of reality) does to you.

The only problem is, the Vardy family might bump into the Rooney clan at BMD.

The Northern Irishman has spoken about his frustration at not being able to more comprehensively bolster his squad for an assault on Champions League qualification as well as retain their domestic dominance.

Any chance to Everton? Would we want him, as an ex red, that would make nice book ends on managers of Everton wall, him with Beneathuz.

Rodgers or Santos as next manager?

Would they do a better job than D M? That's debatable.

I actually won a bet with my son how many times he would do that in a press conference, I think it was five times. Snot true? It is!

Go for quality players and, if we can't get enough of them, fill the gaps with loans who will be gone in a year if they can't meet our standards.

Don't panic and don't settle.

This club has been fighting relegation for a number of years, so there is no immediate prospect that is going to change very soon. Moyes is now saying we are going to have to lower our expectations and that it's going to be a challenging season, does that mean another relegation battle?

I said a few weeks back that there seemed to be a lot of optimism about us going forward. We had just had a good finish to the season and, with moving to a new stadium, with some new players, everybody was getting excited.

But, with a very poor pre-season, a failure to land most of our transfer targets, and injuries to 2 of our regular back 4 and defeat to Leeds, the optimism has evaporated and we are being told after 1 game it's going to be a challenging season.

Let's hope our players recover quickly from their injuries and we still manage to get some decent additions despite not having European competition to offer them.

Seeing Spurs were willing to sell Richarlison as part of their Eze bid, would we be better spending most of the money earmarked for Dibling on bringing Richarlison back? My mantra is always never go back but I think signing him would give the fans a massive lift and we would have a striker who knows where the net is.

Get someone on loan as a right-back. Doesn't have to be the world's greatest but just someone who understands the role at a decent level.

I know I wouldn't

We need to be smarter with where we look for players, not cast-offs from the Sky Six or overpriced players from relegated sides trying to cash in so they can make a tilt at promotion again. It isn't what Brighton or Brentford did.

Either look at up-and-coming players from the lower leagues or spread the net to Europe. Otherwise, we'll end up splurging more hundreds of millions with ridiculous wages on the book.

And forget the Richarlison hopes.

As for the transfers, it's obviously frustrating but going after good players is the right approach. Having said that, there are a lot of decent players out there and not all of them will be demanding Europe.

Leeds got Anton Stach and Bijol, Sunderland got Habib Diarra and Talbi; Burnley got Ugochukwu; Bournemouth got Adli and Doak; Brighton got Yalcouye and De Cuyper, Brentford got Outarra and Kayode; West Ham got El Hadji Diouf.

All decent players who would have been in the starting XI against Leeds and went to teams not in Europe.

Go about your business in private, for fuck's sake. The knife-to-gunfight attitude still lingers.

Pace on the wing? Ziyech needs a job. Want to loan out Harrison Armstrong? Bring in Brownhill. Fullbacks? Maybe Reguilon, or an autumn move for Tomiyasu if his knee has healed.

Wait. Be patient. No reason for panic. Get it right.

I was saying a few weeks ago that we would finish 12th to 14th, now I'm not that confident at all.

Once again we have to finish above 3 teams thats the number one priority, I wasn't expecting a glory season, but I wasn't expecting to be biting my nails already either.

If it takes more money to get good players here, pay it.

Injuries always happen you need to also have decent players to fill in.

Maybe I/we are panicking too soon, but we do have big holes in our squad that need filling.

Apart from Burnley (at a push), no other Premier League club would even entertain the notion of signing him.

Think thats part of the problem mate. After years of mismanagement, it will be a long, long while until the majority of Everton fans have any faith in the manager/powers to get it right.

Hence the panic and impatience.

It's just all so disappointing. This club continuously lets the fanbase down.

Good list of examples. We surely would have been of a similar attraction to them as the clubs they joined. Were we only trying for the stars?

And yes, any players approached now know they are part of the B list, not exactly inspiring for them is it?

24 African teams are going to the Afcon, so bringing in current international players, from those teams is a no.

So its up and coming players, which given our circumstances would be unwise That leaves us with those out of contract in 2026, plus arl arses of 30 plus, loans and free agents. We can forget the arl arses as TFG won't waste money on them, So free agents and next summers out of contract players.

Midfield:
Given what's going on, especially in midfield, Josh Brownhill is starting to look good again as he's on a free and lets face it, he's better than Tim and Harrison at this stage. His stats for last season were as good as KDH. 18 goals / 6 assts, primarily from DM / CM. He captained Burnley last season and had no injury concerns. He played 44 games and was the Players' Player of the Season.

Out of contract 2026 midfielders.
Mykola Shaparenko, 26, Ukraine International CM. Last season 7 goals / 10 assts. 42 Caps and for Dynamo Kyiv has clocked up 1 goal and 4 assts in 8 games so far this season.

Yacine Adli, 25, was on loan at Fiorentina last season from AC Milan, where he scored 5 goals, with 7 assts from 35 games. Possible loan this season ?

Delap chose Chelsea and Fofana said from the outset he wanted a Champions League club or he was staying where he was.

Dibling is a potentially top quality player. Pay the money or move on.

Maitland-Niles on a free is a no-brainer, or Kellen Fisher a top quality right-vack

Jamie Vardy on a free, a proven goal scorer who could coach the young lads.

Offer £40M for Richarlison, he is better than any forward we currently have.

These are just off the top of my head. I don't have the luxury of an "Elite" recruitment team to identify players.

I am sure if we had one or two ToffeeWeb contributors on this elite team we would have had the "right" players in for preseason.

All this judge us on September 2nd smacks of bullshit.

You were right about the Managers demeanour, as he must have known the Dibling deal was close.

Pickford gk
Garner rb
McNeil lb
Tarkowski cb
O'Brien cb
Gana dm
Dewsbury-Hall dm
Grealish am
Alcaraz rw
Ndiaye lw
Barry s

It will take a couple of years of good ownership before players will trust Everton as a good playing option.

Even so, even at Lidl, there must be a halfway decent right-back and right-wing we could sign. Acquiring luxury players like Grealish seems like an affectation when we don't have a whole right side of a team. You can't get away with that in the Premier League. If teams know you pose next to zero threat, they just shuffle over to their right and block that side. Then shuffle back and attack down that side.

I said Leeds would be a marker of where we stand and I wasn't optimistic, and was proven to be correct. Brighton are one of the few teams who are not stronger than last season, some very good players have left but I still aspire to no more than a draw on Sunday, if that.

That it has come to this, playing Brighton at home and fearing them…

Get your ass in gear, you bastards.

The next two games are about getting results while we strengthen the squad. We don't want to repeat previous seasons where we lost the first 4-5 games.

On a less flippant note, I really hope the lad becomes a good player as I think he has the potential but just doesn't believe in himself.

Maybe Dyche slapped him for a reason?

Unfit > can't get a run of games > low on confidence > poor display > injury.

All are linked to him not being able to handle being a Premier League player.

Bought on physical attributes and stats, rather than with the eye. The dud is on the recruitment team.

He needs to move on for all concerned, and rebuild his career in a more forgiving place technically and physically.

Looks a good prospect. Might be worth a shot.

I think there is a case to be made to play 3-4-3. We need 2 very hard-working players as wing-backs – McNeil and Garner fit that bill. Of course, they will tire early, and this is where Moyes has to get smart and sub them off around the 70-minute mark for Aznou and Armstrong.

Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Keane
Garner Dewsbury-Hall Gueye McNeil
Grealish Beto Ndiaye

Subs: Travers, Aznou, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, Alcaraz, Barry, Chermiti

Ndiaye got the last goal to be scored at Goodison Park. I tip him to get the first goal at the Hill-Dickinson.

The defence will probably remain the same unless some of the three injured are available. They did okay against Leeds.

Your midfield has not got a partner for Gueye in the defensive midfield pivot to ensure ball progression forward. Alcaraz fits the bill for this role, unless Iroegbunam is fit enough, which I doubt.

Moyes will play wingers unless he has a first choice right- and left-back, not three at the back, as against Leeds. He is more likely to have an attacking midfield pairing of Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish.

Ndiaye is more likely to tuck in with the pairing and I expect Beto to start and receive better ball supply due to better ball progression by a better organised and more proactive midfield. I expect an attempted low block when Everton do not have possession.

If so, we've been linked with him before.

Alcaraz was not comfortable on the right on Monday and Ndiaye isn't a winger. He never gets a cross in. He needs to be more central.

Glenn, I can see where you are coming from. The main problem with Moyes's Leeds selection was the midfield was more reactive than proactive, reflecting Moyes trying to play safe and setting up shop for his makeshift defence.

He sees midfield as more defencive and spoiling than creative. I don't think a team can get away with that in the Premier League unless lucky. More often, the luck will be against them.

But Moyes will adapt for the Brighton game.