We're a Hopeful Bunch, We Evertonians

After the Kenwright/Martinez experiment I am delighted to have Moshiri/Koeman and Walsh running the show.

More professional setup. training and organisation will make a huge difference.

I do feel however that goalscoring and holding the ball up front is a weakness that needs addressing urgently.

Whether Lukaku stays or goes is not relevant to the fact Naismith has gone, Kone has never really been here and Niasse aquisition is a total embarassment.

Gerri is too erratic and inconsistent to be considered part of the solution. We really need a goalscoring MF player and a top drawer number 10. Ross also looks as if he needs a good shake.

People from previous seasons like Barkley and Deulofeu have not cemented their places in my opinion and therefore opportunities are there for new faces such as Tom Davies and Mason Holgate. I thought both showed real confidence in the game yesterday albeit a testimonial but one could see they want to play regular.

Those who didn't figure – Browning, Galloway and Dowell etc – are also ready to play a part.

Whilst it seems certain Koeman will start the same eleven and formation as yesterday against Spurs, I have no doubt he will ring the changes thereafter if there are any slackers in that game.

Based on what we have seen so far, Koeman is sorting out the Martinez inspired 'leaky rear' but I don't think he can be expected to teach so-called forwards like Kone to find the goal with any regularity.

My fear is that we shall get to the end of the window with a better trained defence and a veritable army of midfielders/wingers, none of whom can shoot straight.

Eighth at best is my prediction.

One agent acting for a player recently approached by Everton told Squawka: “There has been a major change at the club. It is clear.

“Everton are competing in the market for players previously out of their reach financially. There is an attractive project there. There is ambition. “Partly this is the new reality of the money in the Premier League at the moment, but there is also a funding commitment there from the ownership that many other clubs cannot match.

Lukaku talks and 3 more signings

Wednesday's game at United has convinced me we are in fact better off than last season, if only for fitness and organisation. The new keeper is a definite upgrade on Howard and Robles.

The glaring weakness we have is obviously up front. Lukaku has been on holiday for what feels like all summer, and his back up consists of Niasse and Koné. I'm hopeful we will bring in at least 1 striker, hopefully a bit of a whippet, who can offer us some decent movement.

We are obviously late in bringing in a striker, but at least because of the change of ownership, I am confident work is being done behind the scenes to get this done. The new owner appears to have been busy building up our structure - new manager, new director of football, plus we seem to be making real progress on the stadium. Our business so far has been solid if not spectacular. Hopefully there will be another couple of signings in the next week or two so that there is no doubt we are stronger than last season anyway.

I'm impatient, true. But RK should have made GK and striker his number 1 priority as he signed on the dotted line. Every man and his dog within 500 miles of Goodison knew it, so why wasn't he told or made aware of it is beyond me. I'm frustrated as it was so obvious and we appear no where near getting anyone in for either of these positions ... and that's if Lukaku stays!

And a busy week? One signing wish my busy week was that busy ....

Keep the faith.

Transfer deals are very complex and normally very long chains of falling bones are set in motion when one domino falls. We must also not just rush out and buy rubbish or anything that doesn't improve the squad. I'll say one word to illustrate this - Niasse!!

We get frustrated sure but our lot is to let the board get on with it, none of us know a tiny fraction of what is going on, none of us can influence the events so best just chill out over it

My problem is I can't get my head round the fact we still haven't sorted out the biggest problem areas (GK and Striker for me) 1 week from kick off. Pre-Mosh I would have expected it, accepted it, hell even resigned to it. But in this new era surely something should have happened apart from getting the Fulham reserve goalkeeper in who looks like starting the season as our number 1 and a defensive midfielder in who was relegated with his last team?!?

I know I'm in the spoilt brat section of fans who "want it now" but I'm feeling rather deflated in the same way as I have been for the last 10 years + as the season approaches ... and for me that isn't good enough anymore.

It sends a shudder down my spine that we look like we'll be starting our first game of the season with virtually the same team that has been no where good enough for the last 2 and bit seasons - plus the two I mention above.

I dunno, perhaps I just expected too much and got caught in the post-Mosh hype ... but I guess it's time for a beer, a cigar and get my wife to do a strip tease for me to take my mind off all things Everton ... for an hour or two anyway :)

Without significant additions to last year's squad, merely paying the centre forward double money will not get us much higher than say 8th next season, surely ?

I think it is going to take some time for Koeman to get the discipline back into the players that was knocked out of them over the last 3 years and until the Stones/Lukaku situation is sorted we will not get the harmony back in the dressing room.

I don't see many defeats but I think we will draw too many to challenge the top of the table.

This is a transitional season but I'd gladly take a top 5 which I can't see happening.

The manager is the most important wheel in the cog, not media splash signings. We have started to put everything in place for long term success, signings will come over time but the initial impact on our existing squad of Koeman being our manager is being overlooked by many I think.

Doesn't mention that anywhere on the fancy "baby blue" poncy paraphernalia containing my new Season Ticket/Card (why from Stockport? WTF?).

What's happened to Baines taking them? And his free kicks – has he lost his bottle? We need new experienced players to help our young lads out... I'm not looking forward to Spurs.

So the deadline isn't this Saturday its the 31st August. Frustrating I know but thats where we are. I think EFC are dead right not to be throwing silly money at players just to get them in early. If we haven't got a full squad by 1st September – that's when we can start moaning.

Be that as it may, I am still worried about out lack of signings and apparent quality. The so-called bigger clubs have done most of their shopping, their players are getting used to their system and will be off and running come next week.

Getting 'one or two in' before the window shuts isn't good enough. Before you know it the dreaded autumn international fixtures are breaking up the rhythm of early season and come November we find ourselves 15 points behind the leaders.

I am all for patience (you have to have it as an Evertonian) and Koeman and his staff need time but I was expecting more at this stage of pre-season to be honest.

Whoever we bring in, I want them to have pride in playing for our beloved Everton and not ponce around sulking because they haven't been sold.

Can't wait for next week. Nil satis...

Who do you think we'll be able to get rid of – even if it means paying their wages for the season?

For years and years we have cried out for an owner who would give us cash to spend. Now we have one and money to spend nobody will sign.

Are we still chasing Witsel, Mata or any of the other names on the tracker? I don't know. But I still see their names on a fantasy list telling us how far we have fallen.

We need to stop this chasing after hopeless targets who will only sign if we bribe them with humongous wages. We have spent months getting a director of football so what's he doing? He managed to get a bunch of bargains in for Leicester so he needs to start producing for us. And he needs to do it now!