Reports: Everton deal for Walcott close

Now for a left back

Oh well, off load one overly-hyped English player who has yet to rise to expectation or predictions and in with another. And £5m out of pocket at the same time!!

I mean over-hyped in the sense both were predicted to be "world" class in some quarters.

Hopefully I am wrong and forced to eat the humblest of pies.

Deal Close ,
The Hitch,
Imminent ,
The greedy agent standoff delay,
The late West Ham swoop link ,
Face to face crisis meeting with Billy,
Extortion fee £2m extra ,
Signed.

Goal threat and pace.
Should hit the ground running.
Better than Bolasie, Mirallas and Lennon.

Negative

Career going backwards.
Big wages.
No resale value.
Iffy injury record.
Iffy end product.
Not going to get better.
How much hunger does he have when things go shit?

He's an Everton signing. No top 6 team want him, for the limitations listed. Wilf Zaha is the better long term option, but we aren't capable of attracting genuine top 6 players. I wonder why we don't beat the top 6 teams, win trophies or make the champions league????

He is young , stays relatively injury free ,a investment with resale, and improving. Could we attract him though?

The one ex Man Utd player we should have got !

Walcott improves us and is a bargain at that price in today's market where Troy Deeney was being mooted as a £35 million player just a few months ago.

He is not as injury prone as you think, he has just had Sanchez and Giroud in front of him.

Comparing Sanchez and Walcott is pointless just as comparing ANY top, top player with one that just isn't anywhere near as good is pointless.

One would laugh if he was asked about coming to Everton, the other one (it would appear) may consider it.

Likewise we have a collection of so called midfield players but no balance in the team.

I think we are like the rabbit in the headlamps and buying for the sake of it..You wonder when the cash flow will stop. If any players are sold in this window I sense we will make a significant loss.

Sums up this mess the club has built for itself.

Players like Zaha, Mahrez, Sánchez etc , they are not in the shop we go to , those players aren’t leaving their respective clubs to join Everton in the current climate , that’s a simple FACT!

With Tosun, Walcot, Nzonzi and Shaw on board I think we could even get to that magical 7th spot again.

But don't be surprised if Theo ends up on the south coast ;-)

On the other hand we do need an instant fix. We're defending a lot deeper under Sam and need some speed to get us up the field on counter attacks. Walcott could also be played as a centre forward but I don't see that happening under a manager who tends to like bigger centre forwards leading the line.

I'm generally in favour of this signing. Walcott's a bit of a sick note but he has decent goal/assist stats whenever he plays, even though some of his decision making can be dubious. I hope this signing means Sigurdsson will be moved into the centre. My first 11 would be :-

Pickford

Kenny, Holgate, Keane, new left back,

Gana,

Rooney, Sigurdsson

Walcott, Tosun, Bolasie

Yes he progressed well last season but the second season was always going to be much tougher for him and so it’s proved as the team has suffered so has Davies , he prospered in a team playing with comfort this time last year but in a team struggling he’s suffered bad.

Though reading about Garbutt maybe salvaging his Everton career; I'd be surprised if we do sign a new LB.

I can't say I'd be too disappointed either, we are most likely safe for this season so why not see if Luke still is a player until the end of the season.

Some players have struggled on loan in the Championship but done well at Premier League level - it's a different style of football.

So who do we realistically go for, Dick? Somebody who is a regular in the Arsenal side or a side above them? What are our chances of that? There are bench-warmers in those teams that wouldn't look twice at us, even if they were available.

As for Zaha I think you'd be able to hear the laughter from here if Everton tried to sign him, surely he would probably like to improve himself although money does strange things to peoples ambition.

Leaving aside the 3 number 10s, no left back or striker-oh and no pace of the summer debacle, the season starts and obviously Baines is off the pace and of course the realisation that if he gets injured there’s no backup. Me, you and just about everyone that has even the slightest interest in football come to the same conclusion.

Everyone that is except for Steve ‘I discovered Mahrez’ Walsh and his band of merry scouts. WTF have they been doing since August, if we could recruit the 3rd choice right back from Southampton as a backup can’t we have a left back ready to be paraded just as Hotenany is finishing.

Can’t get a left back as our Steve searches the globe then why not look at left side midfielders a la Moses/Delph. It’s enough to go up to our Steve and the chaps and break into “hello, is there anybody in there” except I maybe numb, but I certainly ain’t comfortable.

Sure, he can have a pass on Barkley, although I will always wonder if he could have done more. I will accept Walsh leaving if there is a watertight clause that can turn the transfer into more of a loan deal. But I cannot accept selling off Davies either. As for loaning him, no. He needs to stay here, to play, and to develop.

We have no need for journeyman pros like Nzonzi. Big yard-dogs who will achieve Allardyce's dream of turning us into Stoke. He needs to develop and use the young players, and forgo his selfish ambitions of short term goals, as we cannot make the top 4, are very unlikely to make the top 6, and so have little left to play for. Developing the team now, for next season, should be the priority. So that means no to older players.

Even though you give him a pass you question whether he could have done more.

Come on Steve you're better than that.

As for Lookman and Vlasic, up to them to prove they are good enough to start ahead of Walcott.

I believe that the terms were only finalised after the window opened, which is why it wasn't a new years day transfer. Therefore, Allardyce should have told the board to make Barkley our best paid player, to give him whatever we can to keep him.

The supposed amazing contract Barkley was offered wouldn't have even had him in the top 4 wage earners. And that is not doing enough. Allardyce coul have been sweet talking Barkley from day one. I would have. I'd have been on at him, telling him how things were improving dramatically now (as they were) and that we just need more creativity, and that's where he fits in, and once he's back playing, then we will be putting a run together to get top 6. That he, Barkley, is a top 4 player, and so he can drag us there.

I would not have let Barkley leave, and I would have told Chelsea to stick their £15m where the sun doesn't shine. But that's me.

Anyway, he's gone. But if Allardyce thinks he can sell off another local lad on the cheap to finance signing some ex-stoke yard dog, then I will be paying for the plane myself.

There are very few wide players in the world with a consistent end product, and we're Everton, not a top club so Walcott is great business for us.

Using players stats alone only tells half the story - he creates space for others, makes good runs (so does Tosun I noticed at Wembley) and Walcott has more of a football brain than many of our current players.

It's a no-brainer for me - sign him.

I wish to see more of a 433. The front three with the present players will be:
Tosun / Calvert-Lewin - central striker
Bolasie / Lookman - left inside forward
Lennon / Bolasie / Vlasic - right wing

By signing Walcott for big money, he has to play, and in playing he knocks Lookman and Vlasic down the pecking order, and reduces their chances of getting on the pitch, and for me that is negligent. It effectively stunts their development at a critical age where they need playing time.

I would also be looking to get Sandro involved both as a left inside forward and as a centre-forward. The arrival of Walcott will surely mean the departure of Sandro, as he won't stick around to be in the reserves waiting to get on the bench when Tosun or Calvert-Lewin is injured. It definitely means the end of Niasse.

So whilst Walcott is better than what we have right now, I think that margin is not enough to stunt the development of Lookman, Vlasic, and Sandro. And more importantly it is money that we could spend in a more important position like left back.

Already no Davies benni, or Vlasic in the squad, against spurs. Allardyce is a footballing dinosaur.

Also Dowell wouldn’t have a cat in hells chance of getting into an Allardyce squad.

Playing the youngster and getting beat will do nothing for Allardyce personally.

Walks into our side and stays there. Instant first eleven upgrade.

Left back an absolute must. If we don’t get one Walsh must be held to account and sacked. We all knew what would happen if Baines got injured. We could see it as fans.

Then when you add to the mix the most defensive manager we have ever had its no surprise that our goal record is so poor. So while we are still looking for a left back then on his past record Walcott might help us score goals. Although in this set up I wouldn't bet too much money on that outcome.

I hope, if as is being reported by reliable sources, the Walcott deal is just about done that we get him signed in time for him to play on Saturday. Team I'd like to see play against West Brom would be:

Pickford
Kenny, Holgate, Williams, a garden chair.
McCarthy, Sigurdsson, Gueye.
Walcott, Tosun, Lookman.

Your team is one I would like to see, but Sigurdsson must not play as a no10, he needs to sit deep to get on the ball quickly. He needs to be the first pass, not the second, and he needs to be hitting his pass forwards within 5 seconds of the ball being won. This means McCarthy and Gueye being close to him and finding him fast.

Lookman and Walcott need to be covering into our own half, both for defensive solidity, and also so that they can suck the opposition forwards, and then on winning the ball, turn and use their pace to get in behind the fullbacks. Tosun of course needs to be showing for the ball, or looking to get in behind himself.

This is a marked difference from McCarthy and Gueye having to take the ball to the edge of the West Brom penalty area, and looking to find Sigurdsson who, by the time they get the ball to him, is now marked heavily, and unable to get on the ball.

In the case of the garden chair, I believe the Premier League will allow it due to "special circumstances." :-)

This club couldn't run the proverbial piss up!!

I've just found out that they have failed to register The Garden Chair in the Premier League squad of 25!!

Back to the drawing board, mate, I believe Martina is fit if that helps!!

The way this crazy window is going, £20M in comparison is small beer for Theo Walcott; but seriously the whole wage and fee structure is surely heading for meltdown.

Alexis Sanchez, great player by the way; but is no spring chicken either; £350,000 per week, there are families who could live off that for a lifetime; it is immoral above all else.

Ultimately, the costs get passed down to the fans; raised ticket prices; or revenue via Sky Customers; who never put their prices down; but make you believe they have, but you must take out a contract minimum etc.

Looks like this going to happen. Fingers crossed. We need pace and experience.

And a left back.

Talking of West Broom, I'm still gutted over the death of Cyril Regis.

I don't know if it was the case, but he seemed frail to me. He was supposedly very fit for his age, but he didn't look like he had any of the bulk that he had had in his playing days. Maybe it was that he was fit, or perhaps it was a symptom of his battles with illness. His brother (or is it his cousin) John Regis (the Olympic runner) is still a man mountain.

He seemed a great guy. A hero to so many players, Dion Dublin and Brian Deane, and particularly his nephew Jason Roberts. Roberts was a good player and didn't quite get the career I thought he was going to have, he almost came here a couple of times.

I don't recall if we were ever linked with Regis, but I'm sure he would have been a good signing.

Allardyce has said he has considered playing the garden chair but thinks he is a bit wooden and is in his opinion is less mobile than Martina.

He may well be an incremental improvement for a year or two (though Lennon works far harder) but is that worth £20m?

I fear that we continue to waste money with very little clear plan of how to develop a balanced team for the future.

I was a bit young too really have a handle of the changing attitudes on the terraces, but I recall Amokachi being a turning point, where there was still racist language used about him, but it was amongst genuine affection, and then by time Super Kev had swooped in to rescue us, it seemed to be all but gone.

What's your take on it all?

The transfer fee, if particularly large, can usually be justified on the basis that you can subtract a fee for what you expect to get if you sell him in a couple of years, and then the difference plus the wages is the cost.

£20m fee, and wages of £150k on a 3-year deal, give a cost of the transfer at £45m. So the question is, is Walcott worth that kind of expenditure. The answer for me is no. But the question, does he improve the squad right now, then the answer is yes. But the improvement is not worth £45m.

I really thought that was the start of something, but how wrong I was. Anyway, that massive change of players was bound to be difficult, but I never thought it would be this painful.

It's essential to get Gylfi involved central, as was obvious in the 2nd half of the derby, and to have more bodies pressing higher up. I'd like to see:

Pickford - Kenny, Holgate, Jagielka or Williams, left footed defender or Garbutt - Gana or Baningame - Walcott, Sigurdsson, Davies or McCarthy or Klaassen, Lookman or Vlasic - Tosun. Or even two strikers against West Brom. Sandro or Rooney in for a midfielder.

Get real. Martina is not the problem. If you look to the other side of the Defence you will find the problem. Ladies and gentleman I give you Jonjoe Kenny.

Kenny at fault for goals against Leicester, Southampton, Man Utd, Spurs and Bournemouth but for some reason some scapegoating blues decide to pick on Martina.

I hope Martina has an alibi for the Kennedy assassination.

Robles
Holgate Williams Funes Mori
Coleman Davies Barry Baines
Barkley Lukaku Mirallas

Then Holgate was dropped in favour of Schneiderlin, and a switch to 4-2-3-1. Then Gueye came in for Barry. Then Jagielka came in for the injured Funes Mori.

As already stated on this thread we cannot afford nor can we attract the top players.

However we should be targeting the players we really need like a left back and a midfield general.

If we get them as well then great but if we only get Walcott then we will have failed again.

As January reaches its halfway point we still seem to have no interest in addressing the key areas - is Walcott really any better than what we have, or what we just loaned to Olympiakos? Certainly not £20M (+ silly wages) better.

And if we can't work out what to do with Gylfi (hint for the management: watch his goal against the RS), what role will Walcott take? Stood out on the other touchline, I guess, where twice a game he can whip it in so Tosun can beat three defenders in the air for the knockdown which Gylfi can then slam in... oh, hang on, he's in the next postcode, hugging the other touchline. But wait – the cavalry might arrive in the form of Rooney – alas, he's still in the centre circle, trying to hail a taxi. Guess the opposition will just have to leisurely mop up the "attack", then, as, Tosun aside, there are no blue shirts within 20 yards of the opposition penalty area.

That trip to Wembley on Saturday is still stinging, and this news isn't much help. But, despite the above rant, I hope you prove me wrong, Theo, and become a useful member of the squad...

Regarding blaming Allardyce with Barkley leaving – absolutely ridiculous. Now he's getting slagged with young Tom's departure – which so far hasn't actually happened, I believe. You couldn't make half this stuff up!

We have to hope a new club will re-ignite him.

Have to agree though the defensive side of thing is a mess and since Coleman went and more recently Baines, things have been getting worse.
Jonjo was half decent in his first few games but has gone the way of the rest.

It's an overall malaise and they need a couple more solid performers on the defensive side.

8 stages of an Everton transfer.

1 Deal close.
2 Deal 99% done.
3 Tottenham bid because Levy is sick of playing solitaire.
4 Greedy agent standoff.
5 Seen at Finch Farm..
6 Press conference called, delayed mysteriously.
7 Kenwright the tells us how he and Walsh tried everything to persuade him.
8 We sign G. Chair who was surplus to Man U U23 dressing room as he's a bit broken. Same agent gets paid.

I think he's a snip at the current market value and undervalued as he has fallen out of favour at Arsenal. If he signs (and let's not count our chickens yet), he will be a big player for us. Proven to show up on the big stage, just needs the consistency that volume of games will give him.

Wonder if they can get this signing done before the WBA game or will it be the Leicester game on the 31st.

"Fucking feel sorry for you. The cunt was born offside with the ball caught up in his feet, but I do think he needs to leave Arsenal and should do a good job for you".

Hahaha!

I think we are best when you take the middle of the 3, the number 10, and push him deep into the 2. When this man is Rooney, it means he is covered by the other two who can make up for his indiscipline. Regardless of whether it is Rooney or Sigurdsson, by being this deep, it means their lack of pace is not a problem as they are onto the ball quicker and so we can get the ball moving quicker, and more importantly travelling forwards or wide quicker, and so onto the attack.

But yes we need pace wide, as well as up top. Walcott adds that. But Calvert-Lewin, Lennon, Bolasie, and Lookman all have a decent turn of pace. Vlasic is quicker over 10 yards. It's about getting Sigurdsson off the wing and into midfield.

But there is absolutely no way he and Rooney can play together in a midfield three. They are too slow, not good enough defensively, and in the case of Rooney too positionally undisciplined. Also, the likes of Gueye, if forced to protect them, lose most of their game if handcuffed behind them. He needs to be free to run and tackle and intercept the ball. Which he can only do if he works in tandem with a like-minded player (Davies / McCarthy) or someone who will just sit and not get about the pitch (Schneiderlin).

Of course the same applies to Saints or any other club who may gazump us at the eleventh hour.

In fact I'd go so far as to say he's probably the highest profile player we've signed in years. Rooney aside.

"I give you Jonjoe Kenny". Ian, I'll take him and if you've got a couple more like him, I'll take them as well.

Martina? Well, God loves a trier, and he tries to be like a footballer... but sadly he fails badly.

Now Gibson was an injury-prone has-been but, then again, so were Reid and Gray.

Hope he turns out to be half as influential as them. Welcome, Theo.

Walcott and Tosun are better than any strikers we have. We will be improved.

He has missed 116 games due to injury during his Arsenal career.

Maybe we should just sign Messi instead but he would likely be regarded as too short.

Getting the right players and the right chemistry is difficult, as we saw in the summer. Although, we assembled a team with one missing part and deeply unbalanced.

The other way is to grow a team by developing from within the academy and purchasing in the positions where the players lack the quality.

The first method is very expensive and is not guaranteed to work, the second is a lot cheaper but needs patience and time. You can also direct funds to purchase players of top quality, and ensure you keep your players by diverting transfer funds into wages (something Tottenham should have done but did not do).

As for the sell on value, I’m sick of hearing that tired old argument. The same people who moan that we are a sell to buy club (which we are) are the same ones who moan that we won’t make a profit when we buy experienced players.

Like any player who signs for Everton I welcome Theo and wish him all the best. Only time will tell. Left back next please. I have a spare deckchair just in case.

I can’t remember if it was Shankley or Paisley who’s pregame team talk in the dressing room was to ask who they were playing

Regardless he’d just say aye well just watch them and that’d be it

Now we have the tacticians spouting all the shit of the day Fact is if a player can’t make a ten foot pass or run then we’re deep in the shit

Gaitan of Athletico Madrid

Seeing as he is being linked to Swansea I'd say he would come here and he would be cheaper.

I think he is better than the OX who the RS signed for twice the price. Agreed we have made some lousy signings of late. However they had all been playing regularly as so called super stars in low level teams. He has not been playing much and hopefully will want to prove that he is very capable of giving us much needed speed and skill.

Rodwell, 26, asked to leave the club and Sunderland have offered to cancel his £60,000-a-week contract, the Press Association reported on Monday.

His deal, which has 18 months left, does not include Sunderland's usual 40% wage reduction clause in the event of relegation.

"There was no safety valve in that contract whatsoever," said Gabbiadini.

"They took a punt on a player but the contract he had, there was no real contingency in it, was there?

Gabbiadini said Rodwell's contract is "a massive liability that they've got to somehow get him out of".

Sunderland signed Rodwell from Manchester City in August 2014 for £10m.

The former Everton midfielder, capped three times by England, has made only 53 starts for the Black Cats, with only three league appearances coming this season.
Grass is not always greener!

If we spend £20m on one player (that has no resale value) then that is £20m that is not there to spend on another player. An opportunity lost.

For example if we hadnt spent £25m on Davy Klaassen then we might have spent £8m on Andy Robertson and £17m on Harry Maguire and actually have a defence!!

You're all moaning about him, but if we sign him you'll all sing his praises when he does good things, then slag him off when he makes mistakes, then demand he's sold like every other player that goes through the doors due to the fickle nature of football support.

We change our minds & opinions like we change our bloody pants.

IMO it's extremely short sighted not to see how his signing will help us. Both defensively and in attack. He scores more goals and has played at a much higher level than the players he is replacing and £20m for a player in his prime and with his experience in the PL in today's market is a snip. Remember, how much did Keane and Klassen cost?

Great signing . exactly what we need

He seems a bit injury prone, but there don't seem to be many players who aren't these days. Let's hope that, if he signs, we don't make him look shite, which is easily done with our current disarray.

If he then joins and does well, what else would this poster do but cheer him for doing so and give out when he does something wrong?

Would you have us cheer his poor play and recommend we keep him because he seems like a nice chap?

None of this applies to me however as my perceptions of our potential signings always turn out to be 100% accurate.

Unfortunately there was a bit of loose carpet in the office where he signed, which he tripped on on the way out to the photoshoot.

He's expected to be out for two to three months.

I think the opposite may be true. Walcott will very likely improve us in the short term but people objections are more to do with his use after a season or two when his pace/novelty/hunger starts to fade? I see a player whose very quick but lacking technical prowess and a sharp technical brain.

I hope i'm wrong but I predict a decent year or so of Theo before his limitations become more obvious and we are stuck with a gradually slowing 30 year old on high wages.

I was one of the fans not bothered when he left, felt he lacked heart and his career has gone where I thought it would

Apparently its called having an opinion

The whole concept of 'giving it out' when a player does something wrong is something I don't subscribe to - the term 'supporter' or 'fan' does not lend itself to abusing our own players when they, as human beings, make mistakes.

They don't play badly on purpose!

You may be right, but we need him now. If we get 2 or 3 years out of him at his best then it would be worth it.

Look when Utd bought Van Persie, they didn't care whether he would be good in 2 or 3 years. They needed him at that moment and with him they won the league. I'm not saying we will win the league because of him but I hope you get what I mean

However, coming on ToffeeWeb and stating an opinion along the lines of "that player's performances have been terrible and I therefore feel he should be moved on and replaced" is surely fair enough?

John, again, if people think a player is a bad signing before the arrive then I don't see why they shouldn't say so, once it doesn't get nasty. I'm most posters would be happy to admit they're pleasantly surprised if the player turned out to be a good buy.

If any of you want a chuckle, and some of you might want to cringe! We really did think he would be a great player.

But think back to that goal against Man Utd. Young Jack had talent, forget the perceived potential, but the actual talent he did have, he was immense.

The issues for me are threefold. Firstly, injuries, how much have they taken their toll, secondly, hunger, having earned a fortune already, how hungr is he, and thirdly, confidence if he's now injury free, and can rediscover the hunger to do the hard work, can he regain his confidence and recapture the early talent he did have, and maybe just maybe unlock some of that potential.

I can foresee Moyes taking a punt on him if the wages are right. It wouldn't shock me if at least reached Dan Gosling levels.

My point wasn't about telling anyone they can't have an opinion - god knows that's what this site is all about, and the only reason it exists!

If I was to guess why they don't take him, then it would be that with less time on the ball, he can forced to give the ball away a little too much (evidence being Euro 16), that he is lacking defensively for someone who sits deep and passes.

He does remind me of Joa Moutinho who I have loved ever since watching him and di Maria destroy us for Sporting in the EL.

But, as above, do we really need him? He'd come in, in place of Rooney / Sigurdsson and keep Sigurdsson marooned on the left wing, as a £45m player cannot be sub.

He rarely used his physique and athleticism like he did in that goal against United.

Whether it's desire, confidence or a bit of both I don't know but I reckon Moyes smelled it.

As far as I can remember we've always had to have someone to moan about even before social media. I remember in the 60s for some reason Derek Temple got pelters every game regardless. I mentioned this to him a few years ago and he just shrugged and said it was he pulled out of a 50-50 once and it was never forgotten.

I'm not sure I care enough to complain myself.

Hopefully Walcott signs and is a complete success .and then Wenger exercises a buy-back clause.

As for the mental side, I would say it's down to hunger. The big problem I see for all English players is the wages. Just look a Foden of Man City, he was a u17 World Cup winner, had a massive contract, fame, and he was still only 16. You could see that going wrong. Brewster of Liverpool is similar.

Too many seem to think they've made it once they play for the team just once, get the first big contract, and then seem to just stop. It's not just the English though, there's examples from South America and the rest of Europe.

I think more work needs to be done with these kids, to prevent them going the way of Billy Kenny. We need them to maintain that hunger, and strive to get to the top, no time to smell the roses just because they made the first team, drive a sports car and have a gorgeous girl on their arm.

Mosh is a very lucky man...but NEVER cross your bosses...the Royal Blue faithful !!!.

No disrespect to them but have we really sunk that low, now our peers are Bournemouth?

Gweedo: Forget Sanchez the big story is Theo. 12 years we waited for him to be good. Thank you, thank you Everton. We’ll miss his wayward shots, his runs down blind alleys and his yearly injuries.

SA carrying on the RK curse for poor signings in my opinion. It will be whether or not we can hoof the ball so far up the pitch to send Walcott scampering after it.

Walcott’s arrival and recent players fitness returning looks like time for those younger players will be limited.

Based on his selections to date Davies is falling away, Vlasic was given a bizarre start versus United, only Kenny out of necessity and Holgate any have had any regular time.

Once Coleman is fit you feel Allardyce will take JJK out of the side to give him a rest and then not get a look in.

If anything it’s the measure of Kenny that proves why a consistent run in the side can be a definitive in deciding if the player is truly good enough. Kenny still has work to do but the portents are good, he will be to my eye.

This is not what I believe Everton are about, more so in light of a season gone tits up and despite the clamour for relegation we won’t go down. With only three of the top 6 left to play, and the rest of the league as poor or poorer than us the mathematical chances are but a mere glint.

If the DoF thing is done correctly then the manager, whoever that be is told that selections must reflect the nature of the squad for the remainder of the season. It might be longest pre season on record but already Everton have zero excuses to be as pathetic and disorganized as they were this year.

With weeks between games, often more because erm we are out of the cup, playing the younger players is a no brained, and if the likes of Lookman, Vlasic & Davies are not up to it then moves them on. The club will have been thorough and the players no comeback.

The dismal state we are in still I say offers an opportunity to get things right for next year. Walcaott and all he offers looks like Sam saying this is my player I want to sign him, fuck the rest of you, I’m in charge. I’ll do what’s best for me cos I have short contract and I’m not having my reputation sullied.

But that’s the choice the board made right?

Meanwhile reports suggest Roberto Carlos is being tapped up for a sensational return to the game, fuck me stick Joel in goals and play Jordan there.

Looked long and hard at Carvalho, quite honestly, he was very ordinary for pretty much the whole of the game.

He was large and cumbersome, not very mobile, against a team who I think were bottom of the league.

He just didn't catch the eye.

Maybe, I just caught him on a bad night.?

I personally think that his injuries don't seem to have robbed him of much of his pace - and some of the criticisms of his ability and positional nous are a tad overstated. I don't know whether the fact that he has proved to be very good in certain respects (counter attack/running at defenders) and not so good in others (basic ball retention/decision making) make him something of a luxury player for us, but if we are going for one luxury right now then out and out pace would be a good one to have - and I think Walcott still has it.

Sam is at least is looking to give the attack more bite, if we sign him that makes two forwards bought! It still comes back to is he an improvement on Lennon and Bolasie? I don't really don't see much myself!

I know we desperately need a left back but I think G Chair would just be a bench warmer. Ok I’ll get me coat.

Reading the above posts the “The Cunt was born offside” comment is a classic.

Still laughing at that one.

A big welcome to Theo , give us 100% , some goals some assists , you will be loved here.

I remember when we bought Lennon there was a good wedge of Spurs fans sorry to see him leave. Less so with gooners and Theo

a. Kanchelskis.

b, Walcott

The answer sums up the state of Everton in my humble opinion.

Don’t want him to sign , play 30 mins , and come off injured.

He needs to be 100% .

Any player that would truly excite me now is not coming to Everton until we are able to offer them a shot at CL football or at least knocking on the door and that is with us now being a six figure per week salary payer.

As Jim Bennings said, if this was some foreign player, we'd have people on here telling us how they've followed him for ages and exclaiming Get it Done !

Put an England international wide man with pace and a 1 in 4 goal record in front of us and we are taking the word of Gweedo the Gooner that hes a gobshite.

Does he know he's been signing as a defensive right winger? I knew of no such position until I saw Aaron Lennon play under Allardyce.

The potential front 4 of GF, GT, YB & TW look okay but not if we have no transition in midfield, Rooney might beable to supply to ammuniction if he's protected.

Last time a midfielder got in the oppo's box, probably Gana at Bournemeouth, blue moon that night I bet. One mobile, decent passing midfielder please...

Not only that, we'll give them upwards of £20m towards their purchase of a quality player who will enhance their long-term prospects and maintain the divide between them and us.

Why do we continually fall for this con-trick?

Worse, we don't need him. We already have Bolasie there, with Lennon behind him and also Lookman and Vlasic eager for a place. The latter two are the future, not someone who has flattered to deceive throughout his career at Arsenal, punctuated by regular lengthy spells on the treatment table.

The board seem determined to shape the team in their own image: six players all vying for the same role and - none where they are most needed.

Sadly, my opinion will have no bearing whatsoever on what looks like a done deal. I can only hope that Southampton want him more and he sees that as a better option (please).

But as long as we set our sights so relatively low, we will never achieve the heights we aspire to.

How can a team comprising inferior talents and players in the twilight of their careers hope to form a unit capable of challenging those above us?

It's fanciful and completely unfeasible.

We have become a club that is more concerned with being nice and giving ridiculous long-term contracts to numerous players who are either simply not good enough, injury-prone or fourth choice in an overloaded position - instead of buying that player 'we can't get' and making a statement. Let's try doing that for a change, then, others will come.

Until that time, if ever it arrives, this is as good as it gets. And it is not good enough.

PS: is it worth letting Allardyce, Walsh, Kenwright and Moshiri know that we need a left back, as I don't think they have quite got it yet?

Not to worry, a few weeks with big Dunk working on his heading and Walcott will be the new Andy Carroll...

Glad to see someone with pace and who can score in the Prem, Champions league, and for his Country.

Lets get behind him and make him feel special Maybe just maybe the fans will make him feel like he belongs at Everton and he will play at the top of his game.

If you don't score a hat - trick in each of your first 10 games then you may want to stay away from ToffeeWeb.

Sure not having the ball might play to his counter-attacking strength but really the lad with find it tough without the ball. Theo lad you will need to track back? Theo: “whats that boss?”

Given the fact those goals and assists have come from a plethora of chances, not known for being mister clinical, how do you think the lad will thrive under 0-1 chances a game?

He aint the solution, a creative midfielder is.

Seriously, fuck Allardyce.

Better than any of our current 'strollers' who can't wait to pass it sideways. He'll look to get forward. Amazing what you can achieve when you know which way you're kicking.

I may be in the minority but it feels like something of a marquee signing for a club like ours.

Feel free to shoot me down.

But I think it reflects how difficult our position is. We are the best of the rest. 7th last season and probably richest of the rest as well. But to move on from 7th spot requires top 6 level players. And they don’t fancy to move to number 7. Unless they are paid a premium.
When City found their oil they had a few seasons where they had finances to buy the very best. But the very best did not go there. So they had to settle for the second best and paid a premium. When they eventually became a top 4 club they could attract the very best with their fortunes.
We do not have that kind of finances but which makes our situation in the market very difficult.

In the summer we bought Sandro, Klassen and Keane and most people saw that is smart buys of players ready for the next step. It just demonstrates how difficult it is to find the players who can make us progress. Some will argue that Leicester did it which is right. But for each Mahrez or Vardy you will have 50 flops.

I also like Garbutt and would be more than happy if we register the guy.

Everton are embarking on a dry January of their own, but not the good kind.

In the two Premier League games played since the turn of the year, the Toffees have picked up no points, scored no goals and not even managed a single shot on target.

Sam Allardyce's solution to his side's attacking woes? Become more boring...
Everton have also had four Premier League games so far this season in which they have failed to manage a single shot on target - no side has failed to do so in more games.

None of that bodes particularly well when it comes to Everton's hopes of ending their January goal drought.

But Allardyce knows that.

He has brought in Cenk Tosun and Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has also been linked with the club. The former Crystal Palace boss has tightened up the Toffees since replacing Ronald Koeman and while that has come at the expense of more adventurous football, they have been a touch more clinical with the opportunities they have had.

The addition of some better finishers might just be the final part of the jigsaw. Here is hoping!

By the way, Sam, I am always thoroughly impressed with your knowledge of other leagues and players. I say get shot of Walsh and Ferguson.. Bring in Hoare and Ferns!

If you want Kenny and another two like him you must enjoy Championship football. Worst Right Back I’ve seen at the club and I go back to mid 70’s.

I’ll happily take Martina. He’s not been at fault for any goal conceded. The scapegoating of him shames the club.

Firstly, Wenger is a manager who coaches his players to use their own intelligence. He is very hands off in terms of attacking game plans. Yes they work on technique and passing in training, but out on the pitch it's over to them. Clever players like Sanchez and Ozil can flourish. Players lacking mentally will struggle.

Allardyce is the opposite. Football for dummies. Players are given specific instructions of where to run and what to do.

Theo will get wide and get crosses in or come inside and shoot. There will be less fancy passing, and less reliance on his intelligence.

We're stuck in a league with 6 clubs ahead of us in terms of playing staff, wealth, infrastructure, planning, scouting, marketing, prestige, etc., which is why players like, say, Aubameyang, won't be coming anywhere near us for a while.

Sure, we can aspire to get in among and eventually rise to the top of that cluster of current elites, but it's not going to happen overnight.

In the meantime, therefore, I'll take anyone better than what we have. Meaning, I welcome Walcott.

Bearing in mind our record, can we have a rule not to sign any more Dutchmen?

Ray Atteveld, Andy Van Der Meyde, Royston Drenthe, Johnny Heitinga, Martin Stekelenberg, Cuco Martina (Dutch born), and Ronald Koeman. Not all of them where terrible, but none were a success (well except Heitinga for a season or so).

I'm actually not as opposed to this signing as I have seemed on this thread. I think he will be fine, he will almost definitely improves us when fit and I will certainly be pleased if it means that Allardyce plays with two wingers as opposed to Sigurdsson who's clearly better suited to the middle.

I just feel that we have spent a rather huge amount of money building a relatively average team and I'm not convinced Walcott breaks that trend.

Okay, Theo, who loves yer baby? A blue heaven awaits if you can bring a sense of style and class back to the grand old team, starting with a tour de force against the Neanderthals from Allardyce's homeland on Saturday.

Out of contract in the Summer so would be cheap. I think he will be the one to make way in the team for Sanchez and he is exactly the type of player we are missing - although I can't see him being part of Sam's style of play unfortunately.

Offer them 10 million, or 15 million along with Schneiderlin

Walcott has signed as he knows that with a run in the team he will be on the plane to Russia. The 2 strikers that we have are probably the best we could have got given the fact that we have been shite this season.

We now need a left footed defender wing back.

So lets hope finally Allardyce ditches the 9 men behind the ball football. Surely Bristol City gave everyone a lesson when playing the best team in the league. Yes you have to defend properly but when you get the ball have the courage to attack and not just with a one player attack.

Theo picking his favourite corner of the treatment room then?

Whilst I dismayed at Allardyce's "too adventurous/ must be more boring" comments (feel sick where was the alleged adventure?), I get your "he knows it" argument in terms of the woeful attempts on target ratio.

I would however contest he's sured us up at the back. We've just shifted 10 goals in 4 games; rather easily as well. Basically the plan of trying not to concede only works if you well don't concede as there is no other apparent plan. Fingers crossed hope for the best. That's about as technical as the tactics seem to be.

This season another 8 points should be job done then he can go ,,,,,hopefully.

I fecking dispair.

Means we are being thorough.

Or maybe they’ve found something they need a second opinion on.

Electric on his day and his goal record speaks for itself. I think most of us feel our arses have been superglued to our seat. Would be nice to have somebody who is capable of getting us out of it.

We need to be patient with a coach and I think that should extend to Sam. Of course I and others will put the boot in after an abject display. But, he deserves no less time than anyone else.

We are going to have to take a risk with a coach unless we get incredibly lucky. Unsworth would have been my gamble. However, it's Sam. Forty points and sack him would, in my view, be totally unfair.

Pull your keks up and give your head a wobble .

In a home game when we might expect to have some more of the ball i'd love to see:

Pickford
Kenny Holgate William AnewLB!
Klaassen Gueye Siggurdsson
Walcott Tosun Bolasie

Quite apart from the fact that Kenny is a young kid making his way in a very poor side and has stacks of promise to anyone who has really watched him we have had far worse right backs.

Try John Barton, Mark Hottiger, Terry Darracott, John O' Kane, Ray Atteveld, Neil MC Donald, Neil Robinson, Paul Holmes,Tony Thomas – that's just off the top of my head and there must be more.

Kenny will be a very good player provided we don't get on his back.

To cheer myself up I sometimes assemble our worst team since 1963 and my god it shows how well off we are now!

Walcott will be another one who'll spend more time on the Finch Farm treatment table than on the pitch.

Arsenal aren't satisfied with taking six easy points off Everton most seasons, there now taking the club's money and offloading their surplus shite as well.

Good old Everton, mugs on the pitch and off.

I've been going to Goodison Park since the 1969-70 season but you don't have to go back too far to find a worse right back than Kenny and you only have to go to the local park on Sunday to find a better right back than Martina. He would be in Everton's all-time worst 11 at left- or right-back: he was Southampton's third-choice for a reason...

And you would sign ?????

No one??

Why aren't we giving young Lookman a chance, a lad with a future and not a player that Wenger (a manager with a top pedigree and trophies to back it up) seems to think is surplus to Arsenal's rebuilding?

Pathetic

The RS paid £35M for Chamberlain; okay, he's 3 years younger but was in the last year of his contract and had – and still does have – similar bench-warming attributes plus his injury problems (total of 513 days since 12-13). His career path has mirrored Walcott's (478 days due to injury during the same period).

Perhaps Boy's Pen Bill can get Barcelona or Real Madrid or Bayern Munich or PSG to change their name to Everton then you doubters can really get behind your/our/their team – you obviously really do not want Everton to do well in their current guise.

Glory Hunters are ten a penny, that shithole across the park is full of them.

Not training with the U-23s. Not out injured. Not a hint of a rumor in this Window.

I mean, where the fuck is he?

It's one thing to move up a league and not get as much game time. Nothing unusual there. Happens all the time. Routine.

But, for the linchpin of a team went to the Europa League Final to disappear completely, months later, is odd.

Can we get an APB sent out on the Evertonian Davy Klaassen. I'm worried.

Christ, he can't be THAT bad.

I have to say I'm glad ToffeeWeb is not representative of the lad's welcome to Everton committee.

I don't know how the fuck he has managed to score 117 goals and play for England 47 times seeing as he has been permanently on the treatment table, offside or miskicked in front of goal according to most posts.

Oh I know the Arsenal supporters all moan about him and are glad to see him go. Well I can tell you the Arsenal supporters I know are worse moaners than some on ToffeeWeb. They would be glad to see the back of anyone including Sanchez and Ozil.

No wonder players don't perform to their potential when there are so many moaning fuckers just wanting them to fail.

Walcott will score in the double figures if he's given 20+ games a season, I'm personally looking forward to seeing him running down the right wing for us rather than against us.

I'd love to see both Lookman & Walcott either side of Gylfi with Tosun up top. I'd partner Davies with Gana too.

As soon as we hit 40 points of course.

Gave me a smile.

Well done.

Not interested in what he has done for Arsenal, more interested in what he can do for Everton, if anything.

Looks like we'll soon find out.

Good luck to him.

They also still can't believe that Koeman was sacked for such poor results!

He picked up the reputation as a crock in 2013-14 when he missed two months with a torn abdominal muscle and then blew out his knee and was out ten months after surgery. He came back in 2015 and promptly pulled a groin muscle.

But since returning to the lineup in December 2015, he has missed only 16 games in three years to injury. Considering how many hacking fouls he draws, that's pretty good.

But the absolute worst I ever saw was the 4th-choice RB that Moyes stuck in the lineup when his first three choices went down injured. Little chap just back from a loan to Blackpool. I've never seen a more fundamentally inept headless chicken than Seamus was then. But he didn't turn out too badly.

And Kenny is in every way more defensively developed at 20 than Seamus was as 22 -- positionally, man-marking, everything. Anybody who doesn't see great potential there (Ian #221) is out of his tree IMO.

At 28 or 29 this is a good deal for us. I believe we are missing the understanding of what a supporter means. Once Theo has a blue shirt on, he gets my backing .

Klaassen is looking to get back to Holland; Sandro is looking to get back to Spain; Mirallas got his wish. Lookman isn't happy... nor is Vlasic.

I heard on Monday that Martina had a meeting with Allardyce on Sunday, arguing he was taking the brunt of criticism playing at left-back and wants Sam to play him in his correct position!

I don't believe for a minute that Allardyce is buying these new players – it's all Walsh and this will be his last window if he has got it wrong again!

I bet some of them sit behind me in the main stand you hear them shouting abuse at our players at every home game.

In only 4 of his 11 seasons at Arsenal has Walcott played in over 50% of their league fixtures. In those years, his attacking returns were pretty decent:

10-11 Goals 9 Assists 8
11-12 Goals 8 Assist 11
12-13 Goals 14 Assists 13
16-17 Goals 10 Assists 3

Total Goals 41 Assists 35

In these four seasons he still only managed to appear in an average of 24 games.

Quick calculation based on goals and assists per minute shows that across 38 games, he would average 16 goals and 14 assists per season.

Now obviously we won't get him playing every minute for the rest of the season. Nor will he be playing in a side that can pass the ball like Arsenal.

But it shows that he potentially has far greater goal threat than any other wide player we currently have in the team. He adds pace that we so desperately lack. He will be fighting for a place on the plane to Russia. All these factors make this deal, in my mind, a risk worth taking.

Is he better than what we have got? Yes.

Is he better than what we have let go? Arguably yes.

Is he expensive? (ridiculously) no! (20,000,000, the game has gone mad!).

Is he at his peak? Arguably yes!

Does he have a point to prove? Yes

If he signs, we are a pacy striker and a forward better off than we were last week. That is quite significant me thinks!

Over the top remarks/abuse are hardly likely to endear them to our club.
Seems like some compete to be the most vehement critic.

We know his pedigree and he can score goals but will he play behind Tosun and Bolasie? As nobody's place is guaranteed these days given the pathetic attempts on goal in recent weeks one would think he will get some time against Albion.

Everton have a surplus of players out of favour and some may be considered for that game also. Even Allardyce couldn't pick the same woeful team as last Saturday or will he.

Defensively they are all at sea and teams like Spurs are always likely to take them to the cleaners barring the odd game when they make a lucky survival and get a point like the RS game.

Without any immediate influx of reinforcements in that area it's difficult to see them being capable of winning games even with Walcott and Tosun.

I am ready to admit that I thought after the return of Macca and Bolasie that they would be a better team but the malaise from earlier in the season just drags on.

Albion are not much so this may be an opportunity for 3 points but they need the attacking intensity from the start and much better control in the middle third.

After very questionable summer signings, I think the last three, Vlasic, Tosun and Walcott could all prove to be good buys. I would like to see all three play on Saturday. At the present moment Walcott still hasn't signed and with Everton and you can never be sure until he is photographed smiling next to Allardyce.

Kanchelskis anyone...? 72 career goals versus 65 for Theo and still counting ?

This is a dream signing for me . we could only get near someone like this with an idiot Wenger not using a great talent . We are lucky getting a roll of the dice for a winger who scored 19 goals last season .

This is the cutting edge we need

Deffo an up side but what do we know about Vlasic & Lookman? Two players he will likely displace. Again little.

And thats the point, he will play minutes which should be given to those lads above. If after significant playing time neither are up to it then in the summer buy Theo. As it stands we gain nothing from buying him now and stunt potential, both players gave a much higher ceiling than Walcott.

This is a short term measure from a manager just thinking about himself. The move has absolutely no consideration for the medium term plans for the club. It’s selfish and myopic.

Nzonzi and van Arnholt rumours are just the same, just a short termism with players who take on Allardyce’s scripted plays and have no imagination other than that.

Add to that Allardyce pushing we need to be more boring and buying a centre forward and attacking winger in the same week. Mixed messages! The left hand certainly don’t know what the right hand is doing.

Hopefully his impact will be up there with the likes of Limpar and Beardsley who both came to Everton with plenty left to give, though I would hope for a longer term fruitful association.

We have an opportunity to get our preseason started now. Walcott offers no insight, if the lads above get used to playing in the prem this is the best way to acclimate them.

We need to start playing Lookman up with the other new guy and use what little pace we have in the side. Rooney + Gilfi or Klaassen = death by Pedestrianism!

I don't post very often, moreover enjoy reading the various arguements, contradictions, tactical nouse and spoutings of my fellow Evertonians. This may well be my last post in fact (it's 2:55 am currently!).

Walcott is erratic, pacey, ineffective, dynamic, potentially great, often flatters to deceive, what he is though is the perfect model of a modern footballer. Unwilling to over stretch himself that much at risk of injury, god forbid a strained thigh whilst trying to keep the ball in which could have potentially sent you flying down the wing to whip in a driving low cross which Tosun just managed to get a toe on to divert nicely into the far corner, winning the game 2-1 at the death against an average Watford.

He knows where he stands, he's all too aware of his social media profile (is this move good for my profile? #doireallycareaboutfootball/efcinparticular) in reality does he care, his bank balance I'm sure will remedy any real thoughts on the matter.

He'll be well versed in the elite sports facility on offer, the nutritionists and backroom staff all on hand to polish his bollocks should he need it and when it comes round to 3pm he'll run around in his little world and might do some nice things, but will he care, I mean really care? No, no he won't. Our modern players are either too dumb or too intelligent, either way they win personally.

When was the last time we saw 'a footballer' get his knees dirty, play on with a strained calf, skid into the hoardings, get up and shake a fans hand and trudge on, 1993?

Whether we sign Walcott or not, his arrival I will support, but I can't love him like I loved Mark Ward (I actually only think I liked him because he wore the Number 7) as an awe inspired 10-year-old. The game has become too clean, too elitist and too damn boring for me to be that bothered, we will only ever be able to compete if we have the billions upon billions of the other big clubs but at that point, if we ever get there, the game will be a shadow of what it once was, a pale imitation of the game, that game that when I play every now and then and come home with a shredded left shin because I had to make that tackle on a crappy pitch (3G - so modern!!) and my wife says "why'd you do it luv?" I say, because I had to, they would've scored???

Our current squad wouldn't have risked it, you can't make that sort of tackle, football now barely allows it. Theo may prosper and good luck to the multi millionaire 28-year-old who has never achieved his 'potential'. It's not his fault, it's the games fault and the people who run it, but give me Mark Ward any day, or well at least maybe once he's served his sentence .

Why else would a player sign for Everton right now? A year ago we had a 'project' to sell. That 'project' looks like an absolute shambles now. We even managed to provoke a former player into telling the media that was the case (before suing us).

If he's the best we can do then so be it.

Now I await our incompetent management team realising that we don't have a left back.

The problem at the moment is confidence, hopefully the arrival of Walcott will instill some.

Welcome Theo.

The best teams still work very hard though it seems, despite their wealth. Character so important.

If we were still in Europe and the cups, and pathetically by early January we are out of 3 competitions, they'd be getting more game time but, as it stands, Walcott signing will mean two things I reckon:

1. Less game time for the two aforementioned young players.

2. Chances for them to develop without the pressure of being considered the main providers in a very under-performing team/squad.

The signing may also mean that Bolasie's rehabilitation can be taken at a slower pace. It will also mean a premier league ready speedy attacker coming into the a team that can't score/get a shot in target. A team that has a new forward that'll need someone to supply him regularly, I don't think Lookman/Vlasic are that yet and Bolasie is way off full fitness and Lennon is often played for his defensive input. Adding Tosun and Walcott to a shot shy team can't be a bad thing, can it?

I know many on here have lamented Allardyce's reputation for not playing youngsters, and I can't argue against that as I don't have enough knowledge about the man's previous exploits. I judge what he has done at Everton thus far only.

Calvert-Lewin has been picked ahead of the more experienced Niasse and Sandro. Holgate has been put in his proper position ahead of Williams, Keane and Jagielka at times. Davies has had run-outs, I think his inconsistency has made his appearances less so recently (he is only 19 after all). Kenny has been given loads of game time, maybe a necessity, but a more senior pro could have been shoehorned into the right-back position, but hasn't. Lookman has been given chances and Vlasic less so. The recent team against Liverpool had 5 inexperienced youngsters involved all told.

Walcott isn't being signed to warm the bench, thus we could actually see Sigurdsson in his correct position. Now that is a good thing, isn't it?

The sport has become less physical, has more cheats and divers/unfair decisions given to the 'top 6 clubs' and the players not so likable! Why do I still watch!!??? Actually, I only watch Everton's games and that is enough!

1. We will muck up this transfer as usual – he's had a medical yesterday and this move had already been rumoured for 5 days!! So why don't we do things quickly?

2. And more importantly, the left-back slot we need to either sign someone or register Garbutt or recall Galloway, even if Baines comes back, as we have no cover. Cuco Martina is garbage – the 1st goal against Spurs showed yet again the story of his season everytime he's played.

Great work in the transfer window so far. If we could pick up a left back, as we clearly don't have one at the club who is either fit or able to fill the role adequately, it would be a faultless window (Barkley was already gone).

Sam & Walsh probably deserve a bit of credit, but they won't get it from many on here.

As a footnote, I'd like to see Calvert-Lewin go out on loan next season. He has the potential to be a fantastic forward, but he's a long way off it right now. He needs a full season in the Championship.

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeext!

And just to put a different perspective on Walcott's signing. Read the comments. Seems we're not the only moaning, negative fuckers around.

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/01/16/southampton-fans-react-on-twitter-as-everton-sign-theo-walcott/

Obviously there's no chance of us seeing the best out of him whilst Sam "I think we need to be even more boring" Allardyce is dictating the tactics. We may as well have just set £20m on fire near a corner flag as a distraction for the opposition.

Non-contact football is here to stay and makes boring games even more boring. Maybe football will kill itself and non-league football will take it's place. At least then we can see honest triers who love the game instead of the players you described in your excellent article.

Post more, Andrew, as my son Tony asked you to.

On the subject of Walcott's coming, maybe we will see more of Lookman and Vlasic with Bolasie playing all out one half before being replaced, or coming on for one of the younger players. My interest is now fully focussed on staying up, that is all that matters to me this season.

It's a bit like the kid in class who shouts out "finished" and sits back smugly in his chair.

Oh, and I've just read there's a last minute hitch. He won't be signing.

BTW we're now linked with a very promising young Brazilian left back, Gardeno Chairo.

Been left out all summer seemingly, and keen to get back to playing full tme.

Walcott looks like he wants to play on a regular basis and isn't getting that at Arsenal. He's an upgrade on Lennon and can finish. 19 goals last season is not to be sneezed at. Could feasibly play through the centre up front or on the right side.

We still need someone who is able to put their foot on the ball and can get us stringing together some passes. With Seamus back, this will improve, but I'd be worried that playing Rooney in the midfield takes away our balance. Apart from the obvious requirement of a left back, that needs to be addressed.

The players have never earned so much money, but seem to have such little empathy, even more contradictions?

They say they are trying to eradicate diving in the box, but still give penalties, when it should really be an indirect free kick. Another contradiction, maybe?

How can Everton's players, pick up their wages this week, and genuinely not feel any shame, which is perhaps the biggest contradiction of them all?

At one time players got the ball and headed for their opponent's goal and they scored, missed or had the ball taken off them. Then their opponents did the same. Then someone came up with the game changer: Passing and the head down and run players were replaced by players who could pick a gap to one of their own in a better position.

Then someone decided the 6'-6" winger lobbing the ball over for the 4'-11" centre forward wasn't working so he switched the light on and swapped them around. Then once they stopped the giant in the middle crossing to the winger and they put the wingers boots on the last and hammered down the stud nails that were hampering his style the game took off.

A good big un will always beat a good little un was put to bed and players like Collins, Giles, Ball, Morrissey, Young & Stiles who would kick the crap out of any sized knuckle-dragger (except Young, he'd just skip over the desperate lunges).

So can we please go back to the simple game, instead of the deputy assistant coach showing the sub a diagram with a myriad of geometric lines, can he just point him towards the goal he needs to score in?

Players don't become bad players overnight (except if they sign for Everton obviously) so can it not be made simple once again....

Please!

Anyway, there's an age thing here. Most youngsters don't care about the money players get, all they care about are their heroes on the field. My main hero was Alan Ball. Last season, the likes of Lukaku and Barkley were heroes to young Evertonians, although you wouldn't conclude that from many of the posts on ToffeeWeb, which are of course from an older demographic.

If someone like Walcott scores a lot of goals and plays well, he'll be a hero, regardless of his attitudes and lifestyle. If he doesn't, he won't. I think it's as simple as that.

The negativity on here reminds me of so many older people who just get into the habit of complaining all the time. I just wonder do they actually enjoy having something to whinge about.

This so called "slow window" we've brought in a decent looking striker who played well on Saturday despite feck-all support and now we're bringing in a top England international who needs a new lease of life.

Pace is one of the top things we are lacking in my eyes and look how much pace the RS have and how many goal chances they create just with pace. With Rooney, Sigurdsson etc all quite slow but now Walcott will add huge pace along with Bolasie and Lookman, Lennon and Vlasic. You could see on Saturday, Tosun was winning headers but there was nobody feeding off him.

It takes time to build a new team and get them to play as you wish. We've basically a whole new team now from Bobby Brown Shoes' team. Of course that will mean a downturn in results for a while.

I think Walcott could really flourish being a big fish in a small pond with us the same way it benefited Rom. I bet you he will be first choice in the England team come the World Cup.

A very funny read.

Still not sure if is meant as a Ron Manager 'Jumpers for goal posts' parody, or penned as a sincere serious comment about the modern game.

Maybe a hybrid of both..?

If we have a better attack, with fast mobile ball players, it takes the pressure off the defence. It allows the midfield to operate further forward, because they're not needing to cover the defence so much. You still need a good defence, but at least taking the pressure off eases things, or it should do. Having players like Lookman, Vlasic, Bolasie and Walcott should enable this to happen.

Often the complaint last season was that the forward players weren't mobile enough, and the midfield too deep. This season, the midfield is still too deep, but the forward players have been more mobile, but still not effective enough. If you have more effective mobile forward players, it can solve a number of problems.

After all, the object of the game is to score more goals than the opponent.

With regard to the moaning, I fully agree. This place has got worse and worse for moaning, negativity and abuse to other TWers It's as though people have lost their sense of humour and just can't wait to have a go at others after slating the club, the manger, and the players.

There are a few of us left that try to lighten the mood now and again but I really have noticed a huge deterioration in people's ability to laugh and see the funny side of some things.

His talent and ability for me is not in doubt. I'm excited by the prospect of an injury free, fit, Theo. His signing will be a massive leap in the right direction, for a manager who has a long way to go, before convincing me that he is the right man to create an attractive successful team.

His injury record is fine – someone posted it in full higher up the thread.

He scored 1 goal in 4 for Arsenal, mostly from the wing – that's a great record, and I think he'll be a really good player for us.

The fact we have allowed Sam to spend £46m in this window suggests to me the club see him as being here beyond May. Cue a heap of moaning on this site.

The thing is; as was the case against Spurs at the weekend; I felt a bit for Tosun, making his debut, as he hardly ever got a ball fed to him; but must add, when he did he looked to be okay; the same will be the case with Theo, they have got to be supplied.

If we are spending freely, as seems the case; a Left Back is essential, but furthermore, we need a midfield general; Schneiderlin, has to be the biggest waste of money (alongside Klaassen) to date; he does nothing to link attack, is too slow and negative.

I just hope we get a win against West Brom for starters; then make a few more signings, balanced with outgoings before the window slams shut.

This will give us some vital pace and goal threat. Now for a decent left-back, even on loan if need be.

Christ, I don't know what would satisfy some people on here. We're absolute shite at the moment, more likely to be relegated than pushing for top 6, so we should be on our knees begging the likes of Theo to get his skinny arse down here. He must be the closest we could get to signing a world-class player at the moment, and for just £20m.

I'm warming to the idea of signing a garden chair at left back too. As long as it's a proven garden chair with strong legs and maybe some wheels to get down the line quickly and put some crosses in.

Feel free to join the Martina Scapegoating. Yes..he's not the best Defender in the world but he's certainly not been the worst Everton Player recently.

Kenny is at fault for about 6 goals and Martina possibly 1 at Spurs.

The anti Martina bandwagon is really unpleasant and does our fan base no favours. Tim Howard received the same.

If you think Tosun and Wallcott are Allardyce signings and that Sam will be at Everton beyond the end of this season, you may be going crazy.

Sam Allardyce is a temporary measure due to the incompetence of Moshiri and Kenwright.

He has had some poor games. He has had some poor moments in games. But overall, he has not come close to being 'the worst full back in my x years of watching Everton' some are claiming. He has also had some good games and some very good moments.

Martina is not to blame that, due to injuries, a negligent transfer policy and a brainless loaning out of a number of left-sided defenders, he is the 'last man standing' at the club who can fill in at left-back.

Those particular bucks should stop with any number of suspects, either departed or still at the club.

Jonjoe Kenny is also starting to get some stick, but the situation with Kenny is similar to that of Martina; there are no other options currently available.

Sam Allardyce himself made this very point in interview just last week: we have no cover for either full-back position, other than sticking one of the centre-backs there or 'hiding' the problem and playing 3 centre-backs and pushing the full-backs further up the pitch as wing-backs, as has already happened on occasion this season.

The only other current alternative I see available is to have Kenny and Martina switch flanks, but the enduring problem remains: at least on one of our full-back flanks, we currently have no 'specialist' to fill the role.

Don't worry – I went crazy a long, long time ago. That's what following Everton every game home and away does to you. I know many sane and sensible supporters who think Sam will be on his way with his bundle of cash at the end of the season. I am just not so certain.

Sam is a safe bet to keep us in the Premier League. The Board may see that as a better option than risking the appointment of another foreign coach so soon after the mess created by Koeman.

WTF is Steve Walsh doing or rather what has he been doing since the season started-playing poker? Going round the world on ‘scouting' missions? I can honesty say that in the 55 years I've been watching football, I've never seen incompetence on this scale-and that's saying something because we are talking about Everton.

I can't even enjoy the Walcott deal because all that's going round my head is a Tibetan chant “left-back left-back left-back left-back”

BTW, Brian Williams (#327), I watched some YouTube clips of Gardeno Chairo – can't say I was that impressed. I prefer the player that took his place, Mesa e Guarda-Sol. Better allrounder

Alright, Stekelenburg was only a hire car at SAFC, Martina a showroom demonstrator (sold as seen) but I do hope Mr Walcott's engine gets a good thrashing when he signs on the dotted – unlike Morgan who still seems yet to have gone above 3000 revs.

As for the negligence of people responsible for squad formation incorporating adequate positional cover – they need never turn up again!!!

Tosun said Sam was a big reason he came to Goodison, and I've read that Theo is saying the same.

It might be bollocks of course, but if it's true then you can't really say they're not his men.

The fat fella has done well to get those two, now let's get that garden chair sorted.

The 28-year-old underwent a medical at the Toffees' Finch Farm training ground on Tuesday afternoon and is set to be unveiled as an Everton player later today.

He is expected to cost Everton an initial £20m with a further £5m subject to add-ons and will become manager Sam Allardyce's second signing of the January transfer window after the arrival of Cenk Tosun from Besiktas for a reported £27m.

Walcott has been Arsenal's longest-serving player, having joined the club as a 16-year-old in January 2006, and is one of only 19 men to have scored over 100 goals for the Gunners.

Evening Standard news... Apparently.

Play the right players in the right positions – it's beyond me that manager after manager fails to do this. I know Martina is filling in at left-back but Sigurdsson is not a wide player. Why it's only us that see this I have no idea.

Anyway, where the hell is Walcott??

Anyway, it's about 22.5 hours since Colin Glassar told us that he'd signed. How long before the "typical fucking Everton" posts start?

Yes, he's a top class player. And compared to the rest of our squad, he's a world class player. It's definitely a step down for him, so let's hope he gives it everything and doesn't just go through the motions.

It's either him or unknowns from the lower leagues or Turkey.

At least everyone has heard of Walcott!

Not for me this one.

I really do.

I'll tempt him with the benefits of a lucrative £5m a year salary, the chance to watch Everton week-in week-out home and away, plus the numerous foreign trips at the club's expense. Knowledge of the lower leagues or overseas players is a bonus.

The only crucial skill required is the ability to shuffle your Match Attax cards from last year and then throw them. The nearest ones to the wall are your transfer targets: "Let's try. Rooney, Martina, Pickford, Sigurdsson, Keane, Giroud, Walcott then."

Nice work if you can get it.

Good comments, Steve.

I am no fan of Cuco Martina, but he has certainly 'turned up' for every game he has played in, often out of position and done so against a biased backdrop of negative support because he was brought in by Koeman under common 'manager's favorite'' inauspicious circumstances.

I thought his turning away from the Spur's full back's cross was unacceptable to say the least, and not the first time he has performed below requirements, but he is a genuine footballer and probably a sincere human being.

Is he suitable for EVerton? I don't think so... but that is not really his fault. I'm not good enough but I would play when and wherever if asked, and for nothing too!

He should be let go with good grace and we move on; ideally with a good proper left back in place.

Link

Going back to the seventies, we signed an England international right back, a proven class act, in Keith Newton. He was asked to play left back for us, he flopped in that role and didn't look anything like the same player.

For one of the goals against Spurs, Martina received a deluge of criticism. While he rightly deserved partial responsibility, when I saw that goal on TV, my first reaction was, 'What the hell was Sigurdsson doing, why wasn't he backtracking, covering for his full back?' Am I the only person to notice that, or is everyone more obsessed with hammering Martina?

Let's remember, the man was brought to the club as a stop gap, no more than a temporary replacement. I think it is grossly unfair to make him the number one scapegoat for our present woes.

I might be wrong, but I feel like we are signing a higher profile Aaron Lennon.

We need goals not sure an overpriced Theo is the answer.

Walsh out... next out to be Davies to WHU??

What is going on???

I would say it's bollocks, both are hardly going to say anything negative about our present manager are they now .

Reports from Turkey are that Tuson's family haven't stopped shopping and partying since he signed on the dotted line – "rich beyond our wildest dreams".

Amazing what people will say if you give them £100+ grand a week (tongue-in-cheek of course) but you get my drift.

It's all about the money as we know, it's why Allardyce is here!

The team needs to click. We do have a very talented squad, comfortably the 7th best in the league – they just aren't playing very well. I think Allardyce can fix this and we can finish 7 again