Everton confirm deal for Rodriguez

Yarmolenko and.... Messi.

Yes, I do sound cynical but this club can do that to you...

My money is on these 2 unknown South Americans and Lennon on loan. Come on life doesn't get sweeter than this.......

Every team that finished ahead last season has added ready-to-go players to get stronger and RM counters with "future talent".

I'm sure that David Marshall from Cardiff went to WBA for 4m. He would have been a great signing!

Should we complete these deals today we will have just passed 1% off that total... quite embarrassing if you ask me.

There's gotta be a 1st team shoe-in Name on the way.... just hope that isn't Lennon. Nothing against the guy, but that would leave me a little deflated!

Sorry to pick on you but, if you are not sure, then why the bias to negativity?

Plus Martinez just said in a press conference that Rodriguez is being signed as a you player and that he will bring in an additional two attacking players. If that's Lennon and Yarmolenko, or De Guzman then we will have to find something else to moan about, which I'm sure wont be hard.

Obviously being only 5 foot nothing he couldn't see over the seat in front hence it looked empty.

Does anyone else still feel like we need an extra body at the back, even if just on loan till Baines gets fit?

Would love to see Yarmalenko and Austin join.

I know we'll give these new lads a chance even though I was hoping we'd get Lennon even if it was only for the commentator to be able to say again Lennon to McCarthy, it's much better than City saying Sterling to Silva. That spurs chairman Levy is probably asking for £20 million plus bonus kick backs to spurs like, extra money if Aaron wears blue or he plays in a day that ends in 'y'.

After Roberto's stance with Stones he's in my good books at the moment, I truly believe he is trying his hardest to build a great team. I also think if Stones did get sold it's possible Roberto could walk and may even has threatened it to BK, wreck my team and I'm off Bill. I know it would mean RM being a hypocrite breaking his contract, but it would also probably mean Blue Bill breaking his promise to back Robbie to the hilt.

I have followed the other threads and indeed contributed to them

There was mixed feelings about Mori and citations of centre backs from South America not being solid. Of course I'd love Mori to do well. I'd be made up if we plucked a bargain AND he had the bonus of scoring goals. But with only 1 senior centre back on the books and our other centre back having his head turned, you'll excuse me for wanting someone reliable, dependable and with EPL experience. I'd rather have Evans who's tough and knows the league

As for Rodriguez, his scoring record is poor (something like 19 in 80 game) in a league more renowned for attacking than defending. Also, the level he's playing at doesn't make me believe that he's going to take the EPL by storm. Okay, if he's one for the future. But until we get a striker that can put Lukaku under pressure and/or support him up top as a genuine goal threat, then I'm disappointed

I'd like to be positive and I enjoyed our attacking display on Wednesday. But as far as this transfer window has developed so far, I'm feeling more negative

Apologies if that displeases you but hopefully you at least see where I'm coming from even if you don't agree?

Also that he felt the youth team had enough coming through to cover defence, and so he would sign a further 2 attacking players for the senior squad.

He said two more 'attacking options' on top of these two signings, but didn't specify positions.

When we signed Stones and Coleman what was your gut feeling at that time. I accept in advance that my argument is unbalanced as for every Stones there are many less successful outcomes.

I suspect it is a natural thing to be drawn to a negative view where one is uncertain. Even as a well worn and scarred Evertonian I prefer to hope he will be the next Suarez all be it without certain cannibalistic traits.

Fingers crossed and sorry if I came across as arsey.

Spot on, agree completely. A goalkeeper was the priority for me as Howard is definitely far from the peak of his powers but is still much better than what Robles will ever be.

I was one of the many fans who was very disappointed that Martinez reinstated Tim straight away last season even though Robles had 3 clean sheets in a row. Still I do agree Tim is a massively better goalkeeper.

Both our keepers are no were near good enough, so one or both should have been moved on and a good keeper with experience should have been our first investment. I can't help but feel we have a good defence, consisting of some of the best individuals in the league, but yet we are very poor defensively. If I'm honest I put a lot of it down to Roberto having poor tactics but if you look at Tim's stats they are worrying.

It is clear we need other positions filling too but I feel some of the current squad can compete in a competitive way to keep players on there toes, but this is not the case in goal.

Centre half is a must but we only need an experienced back up player (maybe a Johnny Evans style - ideally on loan) as Browning, Galloway and Holgate will probably only need a season out on loan before one of them can step up to become the back up defender.

Obviously a striker would also be nice, but if we are honest, Roberto mostly plays one up top on his own so what top quality striker wants to sit on our bench. Rodriguez on the cheap may be a viable option.

A play maker is also a position we need but again we have Barkley and Mirallas who can be inventive in this roll.

Do not get me wrong, if we had £50m I would argue that we need 4-5 top quality signings but in my opinion we will be lucky to spend £20m.
If I'm right I'd have still got Cleverley and Deulofeu, a cheap centre-half or a loan signing and a £10m goalkeeper.

That's a good bit of analysis from Sky, makes me more confident in him. Says his mentality and his heading is his strongest assets, which to be honest, is what we're missing in that defence.

Happy that Rodriguez is not one of the other two first team signings either. We've been linked with about 20 players, so will be very interesting who we'll get.

That's how I think we will feel about this guy. Like a slap in the eye. But I hope that I am wrong. But I reckon that Mori will fare no better than Alcaraz.

Why can Martinez not just go for a good solid no nonsense British CB. There are a few out there. Scott Dann was available. Ashley Williams. Jonny Evans. Shawcross. Reid. Even Lescott as cover.

Or the Dutch Celtic CB Van Dijk. But no, no. No. We go for a player that could be anything. Incredible.

Osman, Pienaar, Barkley, McGeady, Deulofeu, Mirallas, Naismith, Cleverley, Kone, Lukaku.

That's a lot of attacking players to fill in 4 spots. If we want 2 more, surely we have to sell some of them right. I know it's argued some of them aren't fit enough or some of them play a bit deeper, but McGeady is the one I can see leaving. I'll be surprised if he stayed.

Go to the RUMOURS page. Scroll down to the Uruguay Striker thread and read posts 99, 100 and 101 by Martin Tanco, our blue from Uruguay.

Amazing stuff. Pity the editors didn't put it on the top of this page.

His first matches in River were as left-back and usually when the starter left-back was injured or suspended the first option was to move Funes Mori to the left and start with the Mori substitute as CB (Balanta).

Would like to see us bid for David Marshall off Cardiff. Very good keeper. I just don't have faith in Howard or Robles. Too many goalkeeping errors between them. We need someone reliable between the sticks. Can't see Martinez going there though.

Now Stones is set to stay and we have Mori in with Holgate, Galloway and Browning as backup we need an extra striker and either a top class left winger or the fabled number 10, or both. I can't see us having the money for three acquisitions, so with Barkley looking back to his best I would invest in a striker and left-winger as we have plenty on the right. With Heung-Min Son going to the Spuds for £22m there can't be too many suitors left for Austin.

Deadline day is going to be very interesting. Thankfully we don't have to wait until gone midnight for answers!

Basically Spanish convention is that you have two surnames, hence Funes AND Mori. (Funes his father's side, Mori his mother's). Basically women don't take their husband's name, they keep their own name including two surnames and the first (paternal) passed on to their children, the father's being the first of the two.

So if you use just one surname, you use that of the father and hence Funes.

So before you run out to get Mori on your shirt because it's one letter cheaper, just check because you might need Funes and you might even need Funes Mori (more expensive still!)

:-)

Tottenham's new striker looks like an awkward first year foreign student in the pictures of him signing.

Hopefully Mori brings a bit of steel and toughness to our back line though I don't see him playing that much unless Jags or Stones get injured.

"Koreans are obliged to serve a two-year conscription by the age of 28 and the law only exempts athletes who win a medal at an Olympics event or finish first in competition at the Asian Games. Son is yet to achieve either."

Spurs better hope he doesn't get his call up papers anytime soon. He's 23 now so those two years will be in the next five.

Hakah Calhanoglu, midfield playmaker supreme and ace dead-ball specialist. Watched him several times, including the Champions League game against Lazio where he scored a great goal and ran the show.

They're out there if you look hard enough. Unfortunately, I've since read that the mob across the park have enquired about the lad.

Some didn't want Cleverley; he's not too bad, is he?

Seriously we have to be pleased with this business. I just hope we tie up a CB and a LB and then we will look a decent squad.

Welcome Leandro!

We still seem to be waiting on the striker, Number 10, central defender, goalie we are desperately in need of.

He's horrified that Stonesy and Berahino won't go to bigger, and better, clubs. I only read half of it before I puked. Who's next? Michael Owen? Alan Shearer? Lawro?

We are in need of players that will improve the team and, for me, this doesn't do that. An untested, bargain-basement, player.

The manager and board need to show some intent by going out and getting somebody we know improves on what we've got because, in a few positions, what we've got simply isn't good enough.

The environment these lads grow up in makes them hungry and ambitious, I'll bet this boy will hit the ground running.

Throughout this Stones saga, I've noticed that 99% of pundits who are ex-professional footballers believe he should move. Basically, they all believe in following the money.

It struck me that us fans might value opinion from ex-managers, or even owners, because their opinions would better reflect fans interests. Ex-players opinions could be restricted to on field issues.

How do you know how this lad is gonna perform?

If he's shite..... He's shite but let's give him a go first eh, before we writ the kid off.

Hope the guy turns out decent, if not he didn't cost much.

Any chance of signing someone who isn't 'one for the future'?

Also presume that's the end of McAleny.

Good luck to the latest recruit, but the impression I got from RM's comments above are he's ready for the main squad now?

I think he is a another one that can make it in the Premier League ... if not easily Championship ..

How many players rated at £500k do you know who have set the premiership alight? They usually have a much higher price tag.

I'll be very happy if he comes in and proves he should have cost even £5m

Yes, he may well turn out like Joao Silva or Vellios but who knows, this kid might have a bit more about him and be a useful player for us?!

The one thing you do know with Uruguayans is that their usually grafters and put themselves about and who knows, he may make an impact with us.

Martinez says he's one for the future but also feels he can help the team out this season aswell so he could be our third choice striker for the season. Martinez also says apart from Leandro & Mori, he wants another 2 attacking players. Now I don't know if he wants another striker or a winger to go with a No.10 but he says he wants 2 attack minded players before the shut of the window.

I'd of loved us to of got Yarmolenko sorted but it's looking very unlikely. I've got a feeling we're gonna end up with Lennon permanently and de Guzman on loan. I don't mind de Guzman, he's decent I think and on loan it's a no brainer, but I don't rate Lennon and never did even when we signed him on loan. He's got decent pace and works hard, but in terms of goals and creativity, I don't think he brings enough to the party in that sense and I think we can do better!

Let's not forget, McCarthy and Mirallas have re-signed and two months ago it looked like they were going.

How much of the transfer budget has gone on a signing-on bonus and their increased wages? Money well spent and well done RM and BK.

The manager always blows smoke up players' arse's to make them feel good but from what I saw I wouldn't want to rely on Pennington in the league if the worst happened to Coleman!

Just sounds like a cheap hopeful buy from a man that is nothing but a mouthpiece for the board and that we are being sold down the river with cheapskate buys instead investing properly in players!!!

Scored some good goals against the top teams in Uruguay Nacional and Penarol. Some nice assists too at the end of the clip. A striker with a deft touch and an eye for goal. I know YouTube can be misleading but...

Good luck young Rodriguez, seize your chance with both hands.

Oh, and don't bother with cynical bullshit answers, they won't be clever or funny, I want to know what is the actual context of the use of that phrase?

Right now, without any of the so-called big name signings, this team is the most exciting to watch, they attack in numbers, defend in numbers, and are the best team in the MLS right now.

Now I know the MLS is not on the same level, but these players are players. They are hungry to succeed, have great skills, are tough as they play in countries were poverty is the norm for most. We may have stumbled on a gem here, and if we have there seems to be a boat load of them down there.

Also check out the damn keeper for the Whitecaps, he makes ours look like the crap they are. Why not come over here and sign him away. He stated he would love to play for a big European team. And on a final note I do love the milkman sketch as well.

I'm all for signing youngsters with potential for a low fee. The obscurity of the team and division he plays for means our scouting system must be pretty extensive & you'd imagine he's been watched a fair bit.

As others have mentioned low risk, high reward. Coleman being a previous example of this model working brilliantly, but of course it doesn't always.

Of course this doesn't always work out for every Coleman there'll be a Gosling.

I have no problem with the younger players Roberto has targeted, in fact they've predominately been players with big potential and tend to be in the skilful, classy, composed and athletic mould from what I've seen from them.

The players I predominately haven't been impressed with have been the older ones he's brought in to give more experience - A A, Mcgeady and Barry etc.

All this said, we really need to be strengthen the first team squad, I've excepted we won't be replacing the keeper this year as we hoped, but I am happy to hear that hopefully we'll be bringing in a striker and number 10, reading between the lines of Roberto comments, it will be the quality of these signings though that will matter.

Yarm will Come to EFC.

RM has had a conversation with him - got into his head!

Yarm is now posturing that he will run down contract and elave on a free - message to their owners.

Martinez, as per ROM from Chavski, is biding his time, has buit a bond with Yarm and whether it is before DD Monday, or in Jan on a -pre-nuptial, or next Summer - Yarm will come.

Knowing Ukrainians first hand they play hard ball and then turn mercenary once they are between rock and hard place.

You heard it first hear - He will be an Everton player come Tuesday morning!

My guess is Lennon plus Yarmolenko.

Leandro has had plenty of experience in a competitive league which has produced Cavani, Suarez, Forlan and many others. He'll probably need building up a bit but I'm very hopeful.

The Everton scouting network is a complete mystery. Sunderland nicked our Head of Academy Recruitment in November but we must have shadowy scouts weighing up senior players all over the globe. Hence Funes Mori and Rodriguez.

Didn't Moyes join some sort of Football Manager game network which kept him up to date on 350,000 players worldwide? Anybody got more info on this?

Of course, we do know that Martinez had dealings with S America while at Wigan and I'll bet he gained a few new friends on his World Cup stint. Intriguing stuff.

As for the Yarmolenko deal, I think that is dead in the water. Both the player and the Kyiv chairman have come out and said that he will be staying at the club until the winter to help them get out of the UCL group stages. Who knows who will be coming in, if anybody.

They also mentioned that they regarded Moyes as extremely thorough in his scouting/player research methods. They also had the view he watched players too much, possibly due to budget and cautiousness.

Maybe Michael or Lyndon recall this?

Correct; just search "Collyer Database" on the site and you'll see a fair few links in the past. Maybe that was Moyes's secret!

On another note, I was reading the Echo's online match report from yesterday's game where Phil Kirkbride waxed lyrical about how a nil-nil draw with Spurs is some sort of massive turning point for Martinez! That was odd enough but he also said, and I will directly quote now:

"The Catalan has altered the club's thinking, changed the way the team play and attracted a type of player a lot of Evertonians thought of out their reach."

I was wondering if anyone else found this a very strange statement? For me, we have not signed anyone I would have considered out of our reach at all!!! More like we have signed the sort of players, misfits and potentials, we always sign — only not as many of them have been any good as the ones Moyes used to unearth.