Byram deal in the balance as West Ham move in

Plus for the money that's being touted it's going to cost us and the fact it's another young English player – it's a win win for me.

Seriously, a big hairy-arsed, old-fashioned centre-half needed, who can jump and head a ball. Good as Jagielka can be on the ground, he never jumps and wins headers.

I can’t stop reading about yesterday, it’s driving me mad. I still feel sick – probably worst since the semi-final against the RS. Anyway, I missed MotD last night but probably wouldn’t have watched it though as it would have been too raw and painful.

My missus – who watched it and knows as much about footy as your average kopite – said that ’your goalie’ was to blame as was 'Jagyelky' (her pronunciation).

Also, his ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play is something that I think would suit our counter-attacking style of play. He is also out of favour at Man Utd at present and I think that he may be worth a cheeky bid. Given that United paid over the odds for him, though, I don't think they would sell him back to us on the cheap.

In terms of Byram, I hope he starts straight away. Young players that have had regular football at a lower level seem to be better able to adjust to the Premier League than academy players. Stones and Galloway are two perfect examples.

As for Martinez, I've not seen anything different from him other than his ramblings. I never wanted him from the start he's not Premier League manager material. At best, he hasn't a clue and is as stubborn as hell in the team he picks and the way he sets out the game-play.

As for Byram, looks like a bargain for the price and we definitely need back-up for Coleman. We also need back-up for Lukaku... and I'm gutted Southampton (not us) have got Charlie Austin for ٢ million. What a steal at that price!

Mark, very true about Fellaini's wages. It is also a very quick reason to stop the "Rooney back to Everton" nonsense developing into any serious gossip.

Without Lukaku, we would be in the bottom 3. We don't have another striker, Kone is a joke.

Martinez sold him because he didn't fit into his plans, Martinez doesn't do aerial work and this is what Fellaini's strength is.

I personally think we've never replaced him, Cahill or Arteta. Don't get me wrong: we've got some quality players but, at times, you need what the likes of Fellaini gave you; imagine the two Belgians, Fellaini and Lukaku up top!!!

I think he will be tough and savvy and great cover for Seamus but how much playing time he will initially get is dubious.

Meanwhile, in the real world, we are dropping points and slowly dropping down the league. At this rate, we will be facing relegation and the players will have to do what they did last season – fuck Martinez's system off, win some ugly points, and then cruise to the end of the season knowing they're safe again.

Oh yes, welcome aboard the only team that buys quality defenders but can't defend.

Nor is it his fault that our once solid defence has been turned into a replica of the Wigan defence under his stewardship. I'm sure we're great to watch to the neutral... but as a supporter it's painful watching us surrender leads time and time again, game after game.

All good sides are built with a solid defence... and until our frailties at the back are addressed, we will be a mid-table side and pretty to watch. That's not good enough for me and I can't see it changing while Martinez is in charge.

And our tactics are all over the place.

I think that you are the last to say that we need big old-fashioned centre-half, but first to describe him as "hairy-arsed". Others want him to be ugly.

Does anyone want a big, but good looking old-fashioned centre-half, or he must able to scare the opponent with his look as much as with his footballing skills?

Well done, RM!!! You are transforming the aging squad window by window... just keep going.

We do need to press the button on a goalkeeper this window as well as getting Yarmolenko in. We would look amazing for the rest of the season!

Yesterday's lost points were down to the players, a ref who couldn't tell the time, and a crap linesman.

I love the way we play... but boy do we need to learn to concentrate until the final whistle.

We're slowly heading towards being a really good side. Buying this lad from Leeds will only add to that. I really fancy us to lift a cup (or two) this season.

Not exactly sure what we are missing now – New goalkeeper? Left-midfielder? Striker?

Cech the difference for Arsenal this year. Gets them 10 points a year. Howard costs us 10 so that's a differential of 20.

I hear were looking at Hughes from Derby. Tidy player who would be useful to have in the squad.

Looks like Naismith has made his mind up. He needs replacing.

There's also some reports saying Sheffield Wednesday are willing to pay £4M for Aiden McGeady. I know it's hard to believe, but will be made up if true, and we offload. McGeady's fee would cover the purchase of Sam Byram.

There's also some reports saying Sheffield Wednesday are willing to pay 4m for Aiden McGeady. I know it's hard to believe, but will be made up if true, and we offload. McGeady's fee would cover the purchase of Sam Byram.

I must admit I do find it strange when posters on TW are critical of the team's spine as, 12 months ago, many were very complimentary of Stones, McCarthy, Barkley and Lukaku.

It may sound like a wild claim but I wholeheartedly mean it.

Have patience and have faith .

Great posts – the Martinez project will deliver – we owe it to the club to support his plans and show some patience.

Faith will be rewarded!

There's a horrible flaw in your thoughts about seeing a clearly very decent team grow and, with three more quality additions I'd say, be ready next season to deliver on all that potential... it's simply this: Martinez has made such a mess of the last 18 months that your team of young high quality talent won't be at Everton next season.

Contracts are worthless in this situation. Rom will not stay if he can't play in the Champions League, Stones will go for silly money if he has a few classy moments at the Euros and I think we could lose Mirallas and Coleman as well.

I'd love to see us build on the current squad and Bryam is a solid start but unless we do something amazing, like win a game for a change, I honestly think this squad will break up in the summer.

If they went we could rebuild an entire team and, despite what people say on here, most of Martinez's signings have been very good. There's still plenty of more good young kids to come through and a manager who isn't scared to play them.

Even Mirallas is under a long contract and will cost a fair bit to prize away. I think we've covered ourselves well, even with the older players. Hopefully we'll even get a few million when Howard goes to the MLS.

The goals against while at Wigan were shocking and he now has Everton moving that direction. He inherited a solid defense, one of the best in England. By the end of the first season the goals started leaking. Then last season it got worse. Year three of the Martinez project has us leaking almost 1.5 goals a game. We scored 3 at home and lost to Stoke. Scored 3 at Chelsea and draw.

Defense is what a champion is built around. Always has been. But Martinez has no clue and everything he says about his defensive philosophy, including his latest comments about not seeing out a game, show that he will never get it. So we'll score some goals, we'll lose the game, the best players will leave as we languish in the bottom half of the league for the second consecutive season, and people will apparently still accept this at Everton. It's shocking.

Duncan Mack would be the ideal No 10 that RM has talked about ...

Dave Barks ... have faith the project will deliver and the defensive talent we have brewing will create a champion defence ... just time to learn ..

I don't do faith. I look at his history and his history is of horrible defenses that only get worse. Our defense isn't young, it's made up of experienced internationals.

Jagielka, Baines and Coleman were all part of one of the best defenses in England before Martines arrived. They're all still playing together now, but under his terrible system. The players didn't change, the manager did, and so did the result.

It certainly seems to be working, and, based on his 2nd and 3rd years I believe his 4th year may well result in relegation !

We are becoming a complete clone of Wigan Athletic.

His ego and stubbornness is unbelievable. His absolute refusal to change his supposed football philosophy is appalling.

His own players question our game management yet he refuses to accept it needs to be questioned.

The neutrals may well like watching us but I bet the average Blue is appalled to see us getting these results.

If we do not get rid of this clown we will become the new Wigan.

Aston Villa have been flirting with the bottom for a couple of seasons, we will become their replacement when they go down this season.

Can't say things are perfect, because they are obviously not, but the only time I was appalled, truly dismayed, would be more appropriate, was this time last year.

Our attacking play, makes us well worth watching at the minute, and if that makes the neutrals happy, then they are not alone.

I'm well aware that football is a results business, and I'm also well aware, that we are terrible at defending, or staying in front. If this continues, then the manager would obviously have to leave. But at least he's giving us some very exciting football to watch, and although I think he might be flawed defensively, I'm prepared to give him a little bit longer, in the hope he finds a balance.

The reason being, that if the man can learn to get his team to defend, like they attack, then Martinez, might just become a top manager. And after waiting over twenty years for a cup, and watching some absolute shite during that period (especially last year), I'm sure I can wait a little bit longer. I like to watch good attacking football, but I also like a team that can defend. So it's 60-40 in Martinez favour at the minute, with a lot depending on the second leg at City for me.

We haven't won back to back games for 12 months nearly, and you suggest three consecutive wins!!

Whilst I agree that their are tweeks needed, certainly defensively, as I have bleated before we have the makings of a truely great side.

Look at what we have all over the pitch and tell me, other than Howard / KONE how many would struggle to get in a top 4 side.

Jagielka - Altgough nearing the latter stages of his career, how many in the EPL would you choose before him. He would certainly be in the top 8 centre backs would he not?

Stones- Enough said

Baines - again, probably the best left back in the league.

Coleman- one of the top 5 certainly in the league

Barkley - not many better

Lukaku - for me, the second best striker in the league behind only aguero.

Delefeou. 8 assists and 2 goals. Cost 4 million.

Besic - early days yes, but looks to be v v strong and composed with a forward threat. Can rattle teams with one tackle.

Mirallas- In his day (When played which I think he will now) a genuine match winner.

McCarthy- defensively v sound and a great workhorse

Cleverley- surprised us all but a very welcome addition to the squad.

All these, with baines and Jagielka aside are v young men gaining excellent experience.
Add in a couple of additions and I'm v much In the Yarmolenko camp ... Coupled with another striker and a GK and I think we are looking at a side that could genuinely contend.

Their are people on here that will say stones is gone, as is Lukaku etc.... But we have no idea what vision they have been sold. A three/four year plan to compete at the very top as a team, a unit that has learnt, progressed and developed together to achieve.
Imagine that compared to a move to an already assembled PSG side for instance where titles are bought.i know which I would go for that's for sure.

Have faith. Have belief.

Having this dream team you and a few others aspire too will only come about if we can retain them

If these guys are playing in a mid table team season after season they will want out ASAP

Pointless buying a fantastic young defender who plays in a team that doesn't showcase his talent cos we don't practise defending

Pointless buying a fantastic young goalie who will sit on the bench until Howard dies

And regards an attacker, well ther's Kone to displace.

We are a totally unfit team that can only play for 45 minutes.

Until we get fit, learn defending, set pieces, closing games out, you know just basics things, we will never be more than a mid table team flirting periodically with relegation.

The neutrals will always love us cos we give them a laugh shipping goals in left right and centre

http://statsbomb.com/2016/01/Everton-where-is-the-luck/#prettyPhoto

I saw an interesting stat the other day, there was one team in the Premiership who ranked 20th in the possession stats and ranked 18th in pass completion.
That team was Leicester, just shows you don't need to dominate possession to have a successful season.

The main difference between Moyes and Martinez is that we were inevitably chasing the game under Moyes having gone a goal behind and under Martinez we are inevitably ahead trying to hold on, but Moyes still lost leads and plenty of them.

In Moyes last season:

2-1, up against Newcastle only to draw.
1-0, away to Reading only to lose 2-1
1-0 home to Chelsea on to lose 2-1
2-1 away to Spurs only to draw 2-2

These are just a few, not forgetting the 3 nil humiliating defeat at home against Wigan in FA Cup.
Or taking the lead against the shite in the FA semi-final the year before, only to capitulate and lose.

If we were so great defensively under Moyes we would have won something or played Champions League football. We did neither.

It hurts more, when you are winning and the other team peg you back, but I'd rather the team keep on getting into winning positions than always chasing the game.

Defensively we are all over the show, 21 league games played and 32 goals conceded with 20 of those at home. It has to change quickly, if Lukaku had not had such a good season to date, we could be in deep trouble.

You can't blame Martinez's style for all of the goals conceded, and not praise the attacking football for the goals it creates.

Well, I guess you can...but it doesn't provide a balanced argument.

I'm on the patience side of the ledger for this young team. It usually takes a few years for a young team to be built and to come together as a unit - in any sport. These 20-23 year-olds are getting great experience and learning to play together. More steps to go.

This team is in a tricky place. They are young and need support to finish the season well. If they can do that, they will be set very well for next year. If this project goes bad this year then it will be a new manager and a another re-building job.

"Pointless buying a fantastic young goalie who will sit on the bench until Howard dies".

Unless he's cremated, I suspect Howard might still get chosen over Robles.

Good signing this lad from what I've seen and agree with some of the comments above that we are not far away from being a good side. Hopefully we can keep the nucleolus of the squad for 1 more season.

I for one enjoy watching us play, something I rarely said under Moyes.

What is obvious to all who watch Everton is that a. the goalkeeper needs replacing and the lack of faith in him turns the back 4 in to nervous wrecks and b. the defence is not drilled in any way in setting up against and defending set pieces. If the defence isn't sorted all of those excitiing attacking players will search for better things elsewhere.

Andrew @ 73 – We were supposedly well drilled under Moyes, yet we still let winning positions slip.

Didn't we take the lead in the 2009 FA Cup Final – Yet still lost!

We scored 3 times quite a few times under Moyes and still didn't win. Main difference we had already conceded 3 and we either managed to get an equaliser or not. Aston Villa and Manchester United games spring to mind.

How people have short or selective memories...

Austin to Southampton – first I knew of that was the announcement that he had joined.

Meanwhile... back at Finch Farm...

Link.

My mate is a STH at Leeds and says that Byram is way too lightweight for the Prem and needs many visits to the pie shop before he will be strong enough, he's 22, so I doubt if he is what we need right now.

Holgate anyone?

Leeds announced that they had accepted Everton's offer. That is why everyone in the press knew. Why would Leeds do this? To bring all the other interested clubs out into the market.

Since the announcement, he has been to Merseyside, passed a medical and agreed terms. Other than forcing his hand to sign on the dotted line, mafia style, or chaining him to the Finch Farm toilets, What more can the club do?

I would rather the lad go away and decide we are who he wants to play for. Rather than sign and be miserable, and become a waste of money.

If he goes to West Ham, then OK. We move on. Interestingly the article says £3.5 million is what West Ham's bid is. Can't see them accepting less than we have offered. Unless the long term add-ons is more.

Are you the same guy who defended Howard till the death? Yeah, thought so.

Good old 'arry knew how to close a deal – unlike the amateurs who run our club!

We're totally useless in the transfer market.

I defended Howard till the death? I've been saying he should have been dropped since Robles took his place last season? I'm not exactly sure what you're saying?

We had a defense of Baines, Jagielka and Coleman before Martinez arrived, with Stones a youngster. That defense was excellent.

We now have that same defense with the addition of an Argentinian International, and the defense is terrible. The difference is Martinez. He has no clue when it comes to defense. Never has, just look at his history. And judging by his public comments about defense, he never will.

So what exactly are you saying?

Oh and all quiet on Yarmolenko or is that the next bit of bullshit? More suckers than an octopus, us fans.

I know it's been a frustrating season for all supporters but my frustration and I felt that. I truly believe that we have something special happening not based on Martinez's tactics but in that I believe we are better than most the teams we have played. Not since we won the league having and individual mistakes are costing us, not only from the payers but also the officials. We are no longer gritty little Everton but entertainers and I believe once things click we could be unbeatable.

I also used to look forward to your spot on transfer window updates, again what happened?

Despite RM's critics, he does coach a certain confidence into our players (although we get a few cock ups every now and then). However, I would much rather see this style than the crap we saw with teams trying to play defence first and foremost... attack later, like the games we saw on Sunday.

No surprise if an Essex boy plumps for West Ham Cooment gap: with the free stadium and the like. So many of these deals seem to be down to agents hawking clients round for best deal available.

That is literally the agents job, to get his client to the best deal available.

No wonder the opposition fans take the piss. It started with Martinez and the way it's going it'll end in tiers... the Championship tier... possibly with a (League Cup?) trophy – Wiganesque to the max.