Moshiri "anxious" to invest more in Everton squad

Glad I'm gonna be back in Liverpool for some of this season. Can't wait to be apart of the goodison roar again!

Go get 'em, Bill. Ignore the doubters who seem to forget the mire you pulled us out of and that you also brought in Mr M. COYB

He will be spending the profit from Lukaku before he dips into his own pocket I think.

Nothing in his statement to say he is staying ( yes I know there is nothing in there to say he is going - obviously ) , but I will be surprised if he is still with us come the end of the transfer window , hope I'm wrong.

I wouldn't be surprised if he got a new contract and went next summer, a la Rat Face.

But Farhad has employed a top class coach and a top class DOF in Walsh. Now he is prepared to back their judgement with the finances that will make the transition to a top club happen.
As well as adding to the playing staff I hear there are big changes planned for Finch Farm.

Already liking the feel of our squad but another striker seems key unless RK sees Bolasie or Deulofeu as long term options there. Kone certainly ain't.

A playmaker with vision and precision is needed. I also worry about CM and feel that Witsel was targeted for a reason, to replace the effective but ageing Barry.

Also possibly another CB (though I do like the look of Holgate) and GK depending on how much Stek can be relied on ( if he were always as good as he was on Saturday then I don't see how he could have been 2nd choice at Fulham!)

How bout:

Kone/Abdennour
Ziyech/Ghazzel
Slimani/Austin (on loan)
William Carvalho
Joe Hart (on loan)

Is that greedy?

4 more needed: GK, CB, CM (creative), ST.

Butland (Definitely first choice for me... Even though he's injured now - Steklenberg can fill in. With Hart/Ryan as other options that will still improve our side).

L Kone (don't want to settle for anyone else - except maybe Tah. He can also act as cover for Coleman, having played in France as a RB).

Ziyech (also don't really want anyone else - Mata is a big name, but I don't think he suits our new approach... Too small and too slow, very weak on the ball too).

Chicarito (I have been thinking a lot about this, I think Hernandez is exactly what we need! Team player, works hard, gets into good positions and is a lot different to Lukaku).

Keep Lukaku!!!

Sell A Kone, McGeady & Robles👌🏼 Loan out Galloway and maybe a few others. Keep Holgate in the first team set up for this season!

I am not at all satisfied with McGeady, Cleverley, Gibson, Kone and one or two others.None of the players mentioned would bring any sort of fee. They are not good enough to be in a squad that seriously hopes for a top six place and they could take up valuable bench room that could be utilized by decent youngsters with careers ahead. In the meantime they are costing salaries for doing very little.

He has the same ambition for Everton that we have!

Am I brave enough to dream ??

Well given that RK was disappointed we didn't have new faces by Saturday I'd say he's bungled a lot. No striker, no number 10, no proper goalie. Williams took two weeks to sign for a marginal difference in the transfer fee. Bolasie didn't get over the line until today after it seemed all parties were set on the move last week.

I'm thinking he knows a few Evertonians are getting impatient with transfer business so this was his way to get across to the fans there's more to come.

It was funny watching the presenter almost creaming his pants because Sky had direct contact with the main man lol.

Onwards and upwards. COYBB.

Is Mosh courting SKY by giving them info direct ? Wouldn't have expected him to speak with them at all, intesting though, get them on side and more 50/50 decisions might start going our way.

Overall it is clearly really positive. Warming to the idea of Bolasie in fairness. I think it is too much, but after years of scrimping and looking for bargains, I feel this approach with regards to Everton is ingrained in me and will take a bit to shift. Seen Bravo is set to join City according to some Spanish sources on Twitter. Think Joe Hart, regardless of him being a bit of an irritant, being a real statement of intent. Would love to see him on loan for twelve with view to permanent (just to see how he settles in and how much of his 'heart' would be in Everton at this stage in his career. Could be forgiven for thinking it is a step down after all).

Heard rumors of a Lukaku contract extension for piles more money. Any truth in it?

I seem to be in a minority here, I'm not impressed at all.

Thus far we have bought a Besic clone, a vastly overrated winger who makes Kevin Mirallas look consistent, a bargain basement keeper and a guy who you'd be hard pressed to decide whether to hand the captains armband or a zimmer frame.

are we still not in the black in this transfer window ?

Patience ? where does one acquire that ?

- Gana showed more in the Spurs game than Besic has done in his career for us to date (as much as I love Besic).
- Bolaise, granted I'm not that keen on him but he does bring another dimension to our team and am trusting Ronnie to get the best out of him.
- Stelk already showed his worth with saving us a point with two world class saves. Not my choice for number 1 going forward but is good enough for now.
- Williams ... are you kidding?!?

Cheer up you grumpy bugger. This is only the beginning.

It's not a patience thing, it's a reality thing.

VIC Reeves IMO.
With BK appearing on "Novelty Island" as "The Singing Mound".
(For the record my all time favorite was Lister's "Laughs with Lard", he had friends who were Doctors and Dentists).

Completely disagree. The way you can break that glass ceiling is how Chelsea and more recently City did. You have to be willing to spend big on some marquee players to set the tone that you fully intend to be a "destination club".

Right now we've sold one player and basically spent what we received, not much else. And so far we haven't shown that we intend to be one of those destination clubs that the top talent would consider. If you take what you can get, that's just another way of settling. And some of us are sick to death of settling at Everton.

I did expect actual investment at Everton this Summer, to spend big to bring in some top talent and marquee names. Not in the belief that we would win the league this season with those players. But with the mindset that we would have sent a signal to the footballing world that we are willing to spend what it takes to get top level talent.

WTF ?
Probably in the emporium next door to where you purchased your monocle, your straw boater and your extra large hamper of pomposity Ole bean !

I'll tell you what is idiotic. All this happy clapping about Moshiri being "anxious to buy" . . we are still in the black in case you didnt notice.

I'll tell you what else is "idiotic" You thinking Ganna showed more in the Spurs game than Besic has ever shown. Take it you didnt see the City game last season ? the reaction to Besic's performance was identical to the reaction to Ganna's on Saturday - even though it was better

As for Williams. Yes I'm deadly serious. those who think we wont see errors from this modern day Micky Lyons are in for a very rude awakening. Mark my words.

The biggest problem we have as a club is how easily pleased our fans are . .some of you start clapping before you are even happy

If the top talent doesn't want come for the wages we can offer? What then?

Have to say though Darren, and I spelt your name correct btw, why are you so down on Williams?

The whole point is we need to change what we're willing to offer. That's how City got players like Robinho to sign on, same with Tevez and players like Toure. They also were willing to pay what it took to get players out of the Arsenal team and sign on with them. Signing those players sent the notice to all players that City is a destination they should consider, allowing them to attract better and better players, and now the man most recognize as the best manager.

I will reserve judgment until big Ben chimes over the man in the yellow
tie.

I wanted a winner, we all did, but I want 25-26 year old winners, payers we can build a team around

That you've deduced that Gueye is a "Besic clone" from one game is massively premature. If we're forming opinions on players based on 90 minutes (more, I suppose, if you want to include the Espanyol friendly) then I would've guessed the majority of Blues would go the other way – towards hyperbolic admiration rather than writing him off.

As for Williams, with the likes of Holgate (raw) and Funes Mori (still adapting) in the squad you need a mix of experience in a team and if Koeman's primary goal is to shore up the defence, he is exactly the kind of player we need – a player in the unspectacular but defensively determined mould of a Jagielka who can't be relied upon to play 30-plus games.

Get a 32-year-old in to come in and do an outstanding job for 3 seasons and make us hard to beat, then add that top-class "25-26 year old winner" (Koulibaly?) when you've got a high enough profile to land them.

I have a feeling we'll look back in nine months' time and marvel at just how influential Gueye and Williams have been to our season.

Koeman has probably decided to be pragmatic and sign players who can get us back into Europe. If he can achieve that this season then I'm sure he'll be able to recruit a higher quality player next season.

This so-called "best squad in a generation" was mostly signed by him, with the help of some skilful negotiations when it came to rinsing the most out of other clubs for players who often didn't go on to accomplish very much (Rodwell, Fellaini spring to mind).

Obviously, the big exception is the Niasse deal which was a massive aberration on Everton's dealings over the past decade, although it's not Bill's job to scout the players – he was surely guilty of putting too much faith in Martinez's judgement and those of his scouts.

I think your rant is totally misplaced. We simply are not going to sign massive names, we don't have the money. Despite the potential investment from the Mosh. We've seen how ridiculous the market is price wise. I may not agree with a signing or two either but we have to trust Ronnie on who he is bringing in.

What we are doing is building a team that can challenge. The guys who have been signed add more to our squad, give us options as well as improving our first 11.

It's been frustrating, yes, but this IS a new era but it isn't going to transform us over night. If we are still in this position next year then you will be totally vindicated, but right now, you really do look silly.

The Mackams don't want to lose this one.

Some even saying how Sunderland are a much bigger club that Everton.

I have seen Gueye before he came to this club. I'm not against his signing as such, but I think ( in Besic) we already have a very similar player,

I know we need winners, but we are crying out for somebody who can put his foot on the ball. Jagielka, Williams, Mori, Macca, Besic, Cleverly and now Gueye . . We are in danger of becoming a tackling machine. We are screaming out for a bit of guile, a bit of craft. That elusive number 10 seems further away than ever.

I have no doubt you are right, I too expect Williams and Gueye to have good seasons, but will they bring the success we crave ? I doubt it. Surely we would be better served looking longer term than Williams ? buying a 32 year old is a massive gamble, when they get injured they tend to stay injured.

I'm not yet passing judgement on Moshiri, as you quite rightly point out, the window is still wide open, but until we spend more than we have paid out, I cant bring myself to rejoice about promises of splashing the cash..

I am cynical, I am grumpy and I am impatient. I heard all of this optimism when Moyes was in charge, I despaired as people rejoiced over Martinez's empty promises. I've had a belly full of Kenwright telling me my ship is coming in.

Like everyone else on here I need to see our club successful again. I don't want any more promises.

To be honest Lyndon, I lost patience about fifteen years ago

With all the talk of big money signings he most definitely is one for the future. I would love to see this kid in a blue shirt.

I am no stranger to "looking silly"

According to some on here, I looked very silly when I was telling them Martinez would never deliver on his promises.

Players like Negredo have been up for grabs and we are starting at home without a recognised striker. Proven winners could have been bought. All over Europe clubs are desperate to part with their prize assets in exchange for a slice of the EPL fortune.

We are still in the black and you are happily clapping . . and you think I look silly ?

Whether we are still seen as a selling club or one actually willing to invest will surely be determined by our willingness to accept or refuse the inevitable deadline day offer for Lukaku from Chelsea. I'm optimistic that at the end of the window, we will be seen as an investing club with overall expenditure considerably exceeding revenue from sales.

Please take into account the contracts of Hibbert, Pienaar and Osman and then think about how the calculation works regarding the sale of Stones covering the player additions to date.

Oh, we've been used to that, Far, for close on twenty years - 24/7.

Seriously, though, it is indeed refreshing. Likewise, he is sparing of words, which means we all sit up and listen when he has something to say. And it's been worth it.

We are all entitled to our opinion of course. Hell, when I first heard about Yannick I was mortified. But I can see the bigger picture of what is trying to be achieved.

I saw through Martinez early, like you, and wanted him gone half way through his second season but that didn't happen.

From what I am seeing, I'm far more optimistic than I ever was under Moyes or Martinez.

Hang in there. It's still early doors! It'll come good. But if it doesn't, I'll come drown my sorrows and curse Mosh, Ronnie et al with you. But for now just tweak the nose of Mr Optimistic and let things pan out for the next few months and see where we are. After all, what else can we do?

At the end of the transfer window I'll guarantee most Evertonians will be a lot happier than they were at the end of last season, I know I certainly will be.

All tenuous on the surface of things, but why not dream big? If (and its an admittedly HUGE if) we pull this one off, it would be the 'marquee' signing everyone has been clamoring for, and it could also be a case of 'taxi' for Romelu!

Lewandowski is a fantastic player and made for the Premier League in my opinion. Great touch, a physical specimen and scores all sorts of goals. I'd swap him for Rom in a heartbeat. I don't think Romelu fits Koeman's style to be honest - he doesn't work hard enough, simple as that.

I can only think of one 'if' more ludicrous Link

Would the upper tier of mid-priced players (Hart, Arnoutavic, Witsel i.e. not superstars but regular strong performers in their prime) not be more likely to join us if there was a big marquee signing on the books to prove our ambition and improve our image as a serious contender?

Would you sign for a club that brought on Kone in times of need if it were up to you... "Maybe for a 60%salary increase and a huge signing bonus."

What about a team with Draxler, Lewandowski and Lukaku tied down on a new 5 year contract?

"Forget the haggling over bonuses, where do I sign!?"

If we have the opportunity and resource we would benefit in so many ways from a big statement of intent like a huge name coming in.

The arrival of Higuain at Juve probably mean he's likely to want regular first-team football somewhere. He's not the quickest, good in the air, neat and tidy, probably a decent squad acquisition, but hardly first name on the team sheet. Struggling to see any way in which the Lewandowski/James Rodriguez hopes are possible.

Cannot believe I've joined in the guessing games...

And if you want to know what others think of Ash Williams, just look on twitter at the disgusted Arsenal fans, who thought Wenger should have gone for him. Please get some Prozac and stay calm until RK has his team up and running: it's hard to undo 3 years of stagnation in 3 weeks

Anyway, why does Danny Gabbidon have any inside info on the transfer dealings at Everton?

The only thing i'll say is that I expect 3/4 players to come in. As with all the players we have signed so far (and in previous seasons too), it is rare for us to be linked with a player that we sign. Usually it is only after the club makes a bid for a player that our interest becomes known.

So I won't make any predictions, other than we will sign someone who nobody on here will have mentioned.

And what was City's chance of signing Robinho and Tevez? If we are supposed to have money, and supposed to be taking the next step, we shouldn't be dismissing that type of a signing but demanding it.

We can't follow their path to success - if we tried it would be more like Leeds Utd. And the first "marquee" signing City made was a complete waste of money (by which I mean Robinho who just landed in the squad without any knowledge of Mark Hughes).

You are impressively delusional. We need to take solid steps forward not attempt giant leaps - we have the resources for the former (at last and thank God) but not the latter (alas...but there it is).

One of the best strikers in world football, playing for the best team in Germany, and probably the best team in the world, is going to swap that for a team that finished in the bottom half of the league last season?! And in the process, all the other top teams who need a striker are just going to sit back and watch?

There is absurd, and then there is the notion of Lewandowksi to Everton.

Our limits in this market are well represented by paying 22.5mil for Bolassie. We need to concentrate on getting in a back up right back, an attacking midfielder and a striker. It wont be easy, because teams will be increasingly reticent to sell now. We should look abroad, and we should not expect big names.

As for Negredo - talk about sensationalism. He scored one goal in an average performance, but what about the past 2 and a half years? He has dropped off massively and is turning 31 this week. We need to aim somewhere between a Lewandowski and Negredo! Bony would be my pick, if Lukaku is to leave.

One of the best strikers in world football, playing for the best team in Germany, and probably the best team in the world, is going to swap that for a team that finished in the bottom half of the league last season?! And in the process, all the other top teams who need a striker are just going to sit back and watch?

There is absurd, and then there is the notion of Lewandowksi to Everton.

Our limits in this market are well represented by paying 22.5mil for Bolassie. We need to concentrate on getting in a back up right back, an attacking midfielder and a striker. It wont be easy, because teams will be increasingly reticent to sell now. We should look abroad, and we should not expect big names.

As for Negredo - talk about sensationalism. He scored one goal in an average performance, but what about the past 2 and a half years? He has dropped off massively and is turning 31 this week. We need to aim somewhere between a Lewandowski and Negredo! Bony would be my pick, if Lukaku is to leave.

I may be in a minority here, but I don't want Everton to just go out and buy success. I would like them to develop the team, that way there would be more a sense of achievement. I for one would not want to go the way of City or Chelsea. However, I expect I am in the minority here.

Also, to call people happy clappers for supporting what has gone on at the moment is not only polarising, but damn right patronising!

Not deluded, simply pointing to past examples. We have a billionaire owner and the national along with local press has repeatedly said he promised 100 million to spend. And now we've sold a player for nearly 50 million, so that's nearly 150 million in my eyes.

So we've spent the Stones money, now I want the marquee with the money Moshiri is saying he's looking forward to spending. What I want is marquee, to go big. It sets the tone, creates a brand, puts the footballing world on notice. Leeds was pre-Sky windfall, a different time. I'm not saying spend 100 million on one player. I am saying that we as a fan base should not be discouraging the club from spending top money for top players, if we want to finally move away from being viewed as plucky Everton fighting away in mid table mediocrity.

"It creates a brand" – it sure does, a brand of desperation, of putting appearance above function. Do you think Leicester fans cared about their brand, and how others view them when they were lifting the trophy with a grand total of zero marquee players?

If we're realistic, I'm sure Moshiri's net worth is in the £1.2bn (can't recall where I saw that but I think it's ballpark). His liquidity is likely to be 20% of that, so he ain't going to be bankrolling us at all - especially if the reported figure was pre his investment in shares.

But if he's got the acumen and contacts to move us forward - particularly on the stadium front - then I will give him all the credit BK doesn't deserve.

You're joking right? Eto'o a marquee? He was a cast off old player from Chelsea signed for nothing. And please God, enough of the Leicester crap. It was once in a lifetime, it's done. You don't build a strategy around a statistical outlier for God's sake.

There is no chance in hell Leicester even sniff qualifying for the champions league next year. They'll be lucky to be top 8. City, Chelsea, United, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal will all finish above them, as talent will once again win out like it does 4999 times out of 5000.

It is nonsense, this talk of wanting a bit expensive signing. What we need are signings which improve the side. Gueye being a prime example of this surely.

They are pretty good gets. No crazy buys like Man U or other clubs with bottomless wallets.

Thumbs up from me for Mr Moshiri.

Having given this some more thought, I think Draxler may be a little more realistic (also very unlikely, but maybe a little more attainable). Everton have the money, and Moshiri wants to make 'a statement of intent.'

As for this whole 'marquee signing' issue, I was never a fan of signing a player ONLY based on name and status within the game. But there is a difference between that and signing a big name player who will fit into the dynamic of the team. If we were to sign Draxler, say, for 65m plus, he'd be a sort of 'marquee' signing, but at the same time would be the 'number 10' we've all been crying out for.

Who knows, maybe that's why Rom has changed his twitter handle to '9' from '10' :)

To add fuel to this 'fire', someone offered the name "Draxler" to Danny Gabbidon's tweet and he said 'hot' :) This of course assumes that Gabbidon has any inside info at all (this too is debatable). But its nice to speculate!

Link
He still had it at 33.

For whatever reason, the privilege of seeing him pull on an Everton shirt was short lived. I have never quite gotten over it. But I will savour the memory.

A marquee signing may have a short term impact on our media profile and for some fans this may be very important, providing an opportunity for them to brag to other fans about it, as if the signing in itself is some kind of important achievement. What it won't do is help build the foundations for the long term development of our club, if anything it would destabilise such plans as we'd loose a significant amount of liquidity.

We need a long term plan to build our club: manager, director of football, new players yes - but clever recruitment rather than just throwing money at them, a new stadium, marketing, internal recruitment, further changes in the boardroom and equity holdings. We have started on the road. It's all going to come but it must take time, it would be reckless otherwise.

Turning our club into a long term, leading EPL club will take time and so it should otherwise it's just a big gamble.

I don't think we need another central defender, give the young players games if Williams, Mori or Jags are injured.

Another goalie would be nice as cover for Stek and Robles, are our young goalkeepers up to first team ability as I haven't a clue?

Any of those would seem very unlikely but be very welcome.

Perhaps Real may have interest in loaning either Rodriguez or Isco for a high fee and to see if they play themselves back into form...can't imagine we would be the only club interested though.

Reckon this transfer window could yet see us all singing the blues. Imagine if we spent another £100m

Signings must be targeted and effective ones, like Stekelenburg, Gana, Williams and Bolasie, not ones to aimed at spending dosh for the sake of it and bringing in 'big' names.

I think you win the prize for most off the wall conclusion based on the most flimsy and tenuous evidence ("then he refers to it being someone with a BIG name (ie many letters)" - seriously???)

You didn't used to write the clues for seminal 1970's game-show-cum-quiz 3-2-1, featuring Ted Rogers by any chance did you?

I don't think its a bad policy to be bringing in proven players like Gana, Stek, Williams and Bolasie now to steady the ship. I'm sure in following windows Koeman & Walsh will bring in lesser known (& cheaper) prospects from the continent, but for now it seems like a solid plan to buy in experience. We already have plenty of potential with the likes of Deulofeu, Besic, Davies, Holgate, Dowell & Galloway who can fight for opportunities to impress this season.

However I confess to irrational excitement at the moment

Gana, Barkley, Barry

Deulofeu, Lukaku, Bolasie

I still think that the Moshiri Monster Machine has a big punch still winding up. Convinced there will be a record shattering transfer in the pipeline.

Great statement from him, decisive, direct but still with enough passion to let us know the Everton bug has bitten him.

Bill Kenwright was not the worst person to run Everton, but not the best either. He went with his heart, not his head far to often and he always had the blue tinted glasses. Lack of proper advisors maybe contributed to his bad luck and bad judgement

Put yourself in the boots of your 'marquee' signing. Would you want Champions League football or the chance to play against Yeovil in the EFL? Things take time. Get real lad!

With regards to his time at Liverpool. I don't like the idea of taking hand me downs, but surely it would be sweet to take a 'failed' player off their hands at a knock down price and see them thrive in a blue shirt.

I'm not particularly fussed about Austin other than as backup for Lukaku. Bony would only be a backup option too. Benteke was a real force for Villa and I'm sure he could rediscover that kind of form.

The latter approach, which always looks tacky and which the media love, is for the likes of Chelsea and Man City. Anyone can spend cash on 'big' names, but it takes expertise to identify real needs and recruit accordingly. Koeman & Walsh seem to be demonstrating that expertise.

He was a ridiculous signing by Liverpool, another striker that was totally unsuited to the way Rogers liked to do things, and it was never going to work. I was made up when they blew £32 million on him, he was way overpriced and the wrong fit for the manager. Then Klopp came in and just didn't fancy him. That happens.

He has shown at Villa that if you play to his strengths he can be very, very effective. Width and crosses. Looking at the players we have we would be well placed to provide that service. He would be available at a somewhat sensible price this time as well.

You can't have it both ways; Ashley Williams is too old but we should be signed Negredo!!!

Negredo is 31 next week. And Ashley Williams is just turning 32. Centre Halves almost always have longer careers at the top as do Goalkeepers. Negredo didn't have a host of clubs after him and he went to Middlesbrough.

I understand you're impatient but I think we can see that & hear that we at least trying to bring in decent talent. We have been linked with a lot of top players.

Moussa Sissoko?? Really??

Am I missing something here?

I was struggling to understand the Bolasie for £25m thing, but now all the media is pointing to Sissoko?

Bolasie with an awful goals / assists ratio and this is supposed to be a great addition?? I just don't get it?

It appears that, Idrissa Gana aside, as long as you are 16+ stone and over 6ft 2 you will be signed regardless of ability. Is Koeman constructing a Rugby squad here?

Never mind Sissoko sounding out Real Madrid as a preferred destination, this guy shouldn't be cutting it any higher than a Burnley or Watford. He has one good game against the French and suddenly he is worth £35m??? Mike Ashley will be rubbing his hands with glee at that price tag.

What a joke

We have a problem moving the ball forwards quickly enough for the last few seasons. So the players we have that can exploit space wouldn't have any space left by the time it got upfield.

Bolasie will be one method to get the ball moving quicker. He'll also have the affect of drawing in opposing defenders and, hopefully, helping create space for the likes of Lukaku, Mirallas and Deulofeu to operate in. Its not subtle but on paper it looks like a solid plan at least!!!.

As for the fee everyones rich now. Jordan Ibe just sold for the same money we brought Fellaini in for!. Is Bolasie worth 2 Jordan Ibe's .yup no question of that!. No comparisons with other leagues or earlier seasons make any sense any more.

We've signed in Williams a model pro who will absolutely strengthen the team and in Gueye a player with Premier League experience who will again strengthen the team if his stats are anything like what they were last season.

I don't know what some people are expecting... we finished 11th for the last 2 seasons, we need to build and get the players in to push us back in to the top 6 which is what it looks like we are doing!

Yet again I do agree that we need pace and power to get us up the pitch quick, but wouldn't the end product of that be snuffed out by the poor assist ratio of both Bolasie and Sissoko? Surely they have to play between the lines and provide the assists for the likes of Barkley and whoever will be our attackers this season? If they power with pace up the pitch and their passes are not good enough to find our attack, isn't that a flaw in why we want the pair of them in the first place?

For me and the prices being quoted, in order to do the above we have to forget about Sissoko and try to be adding players in the mould of Delli Alli, David Silva, Dimitri Payet, Aaron Ramsey, Bastian Shweinsteiger etc.

Am I going crazy!?

Is this actually happening!?

What next!?

Am I dreaming!?

For flip's sake, is this la-la land!?

I mean, come ON.

Hell-OH!!

Every name linked with Everton sets off loads of TWers who, though not involved in professional football or coaching or scouting (and who spend all their time in their bills, eating crisps and looking at two-bob rumours on news now) tell us not only who we should and shouldn't buy, but what the fee should be.

I mean...am I going insane?

Is this actually happ...

(etc blah)

To me this is just a crazy view and would send out to all and sundry that the club have more money than sense, à la Man City or Chelsea.

Building a house without solid foundations is what this approach would amount to.

The club should be given the full support of all supporters during this transitional phase of new ownership and management team to get the foundations right for the here and now and the long term.

COYB the future looks blue!

Keep the faith.

Sissoko is a non-starter for me, but, thats still a very fresh rumour so lets see if it sticks before we get too skittish?.

Bolasie is a different story of course. I guess if we expect him to tear up the pitch then drop a pin-point ball on Lukaku's head we might be disappointed but if he can get up the field and reliably complete a simple pass to Geri or Mirallas and let them do the rest maybe thats enough?.

When I've seen him, admittedly not to any huge depth of effort, I've seen him being extremely effective certainly to the point that he can pass a ball to a basic standard!.

He got off at Eton Street and she could not hear the rest of the conversation.

She asked me if I had any idea what this meant.

I don't understand the whole 'send out a message of intent' line. It's just a media phrase that fans have latched onto. It's meaningless.

Football is a game played by 11 blokes v 11 other blokes. What we need is good players that fit the system - unlike the last regime where we had some decent players and no system to speak of.

We could buy Messi tomorrow and still lose to West Brom at the weekend.

I don't doubt for one minute we are better off than we have been for a generation, but even Bournemouth have spent 㿑m this summer. Bournemouth, FFS!

It did seem to many we were waiting until the Stones deal was done before we made any serious moves in the transfer market – but could this be down to Bill reverting back to his MO? The reason we always left our signings to the last minute is because the chairman likes to save wages during the close season. He's had to count the pennies for 16 years, so I imagine he's sharing with Moshiri his experience of making savings wherever possible.

I do have a little sympathy for Darren H; he's right in saying we are nowhere near the promised land – we've just got money available to sign some players. A luxury we have had to forego during the Kenwright years unless we made a big sale. Great chairman though! I read a fantastic line on here a few weeks ago: "Thanking Kenwright for bringing on board Moshiri is like thanking an arsonist for calling the fire brigade." Brilliant.

It all lined up perfectly for BK & Sir Greedy to finally agree to a sale. TV revenues went through the roof, Sir Greedy is cashing in all over the place, Bill finally became a very rich man, plus Earl & Woods were happy with the wedge they walked away with. I don't begrudge them all making a fortune out of EFC, but I certainly won't thank them, as some would like to on here.

I'll save my praise for Moshiri and his stewardship of the club, because I believe he will deliver a new ground and invest his own money beyond his purchase of shares. Hopefully, he won't bring anyone like Earl or Green near the place either.

Here's to good times and a bright blue future, but I'd like to forget about the past 20 years – nothing but heartache. (I can feel a song coming on...)

After we sign Marquee Mark, we should immediately move onto other means of letting teams know we mean business, because...y'know, otherwise, they might feel less awed and intimidated as the fear factor from the last message fades.

Maybe get our players to make their way out on to the pitch whilst munching down on a human heart, or have them break planks of wood in half with sychronised headbutts before pointing menacingly at the oppositions main man, gyrating their hips and growling "guess what your gran's been getting her gums around during the pre-match build up?" [The correct answer, of course, would be "...a fucking Everton mint"].

Or, maybe we could just start stringing a few wins together and let our football do the talking? I'm pretty sure people would get the message.

Yeh, I was dreaming of Rodriguez standing there with an Everton scarf!!!

But paint job seems for realistic.

Whoever we eventually buy let's have some confidence in the new set up please.

But .. You never know😂

A few weeks later after giving Graham even more money, when Sugar took his seat in the stands a fan shouted at him "why don't you spend some money you tight Jewish bastard" his words not mine.

Which just shows nothing has changed as for investors pumping their money into clubs fans will always want more.

We're playing west brom away and at the minute we have a kit clash.

As for Mr Moshiri, imagine if he hadn't have come on board, would we think for one minute that the previous regime would be able to re-locate the club in a shiny new stadium? Would we all be moaning because we weren't seeing world stars in the Blue of Everton? Would season ticket sales be as high as they currently are? I'm pretty sure we'd mostly be in a state of deep depression.

Mind you, even having the new guy in charge doesn't seem to have altered the negative psychology that has built up over the last couple of decades.

If the people who own and run the club believe they are doing their best to improve Everton's fortunes both on and off the pitch and they are willing to do what they can to help, what more can we ask for?

Did you not read the TW memo that if we are not flinging huge wads of cash out of the door then we aren't showing ambition?

Ambition is 'Statement of Intent' by another name. You do not display your ambition if you aren't signing players doesn't matter whether the manager wants them or not...

Ambition – that's all it takes...

Song in that somewhere.

I didn't mention the savings on Hibbert, Osman and Pienaar's wages because they were likely to be on far less money than the incoming players. Bolasie has been signed for 5 years, presumably on megabucks wages. That's an additional commitment for 5 years on Bolasie alone.

Lukaku has reputedly been offered a massive increase in wages. I don't believe that the argument that sale of Stones has covered the costs of the incoming players even allowing for the release of the three players mentioned above and the fact that the actual transfers appear to net off. I'm sure the economics of signing players is far more complicated than just looking at the transfer fees.

Link

Swansea conceded three less goals than we did last year, and that was with our defense being keystone cops level incompetent. No wonder Swansea were content to let Williams go, especially for that wedge. Gueye looks okay, but to me seems in the Tom Cleverley mold... Premier League player but no star. We've still sold to buy regardless of the chairman's words.

Yes, I understand the whole "consolidation" "building from the base" "crawl before we walk, walk before we run" philosophy. But to my ears – and yours Darren? – that's basically a concession that this will be another lost year, another year to add to the now longest run without a trophy this club has had in it's history.

Like Darren, I'd had enough fifteen years ago and I'm very skeptical and cynical. The rivers of cash flowing into the league are what got Moshiri in; if he'd waited he wouldn't have deep enough pockets to get a seat in the game. I've had my pants pulled down that many times by Everton that I'm really loathe to let them do it again.

At least me and Darren are still here; still posting. The number of what were regular names on this site that have disappeared is a long one. A club of our size needs all it's support on board, pulling the same way. For Everton in many ways, it's make or break time.

I'm not expecting marquee signings right now. I'm expecting a team that's fit and does the basics. I'm expecting the manager to sort out the spine of the team and then go for a No 10 type player. When we start doing that and look like we're going somewhere, the marquee signings might come.

The way I things things right now, we've brought in three players who will improve the team. Better keeper, strong centre back and the midfielder who does what people want Besic to do. He's the calculated nous to Besic's headless chicken.

Why the obsession with Koeman staying? Do managers stay for years these days? If he moves to a better club in 2 years it'll mean he's done a good job and another decent manager will want the job. That's what happens when you get talented people. If you improve they stay, if you don't they leave.

Ecstatic? No. Satisfied? Not yet.
Cautiously optimistic? Yes

For me, Gueye on Saturday showed more promise than Cleverley has ever shown for us. Arguably man of the match on Saturday, which I can't remember Clevs ever being with us.

I'm not sure Clevs will be with us that much longer. Started on the bench on Saturday and that will be his starting position at best at the weekend.

Whether he's here for two years or ten years, nobody knows, and maybe it doesn't matter at this stage. It's all a question of probabilities, and the chance of a staged improvement is higher than the chance of a step-wise large improvement. We can hope for the latter, but Koeman has to do more than hope, he has to manage and produce results fairly quickly. That's why he's being paid ٤M/year.

Ultimately, I expect Everton to win everything (having been raised on high expectations, from Alex Young, to Alan Ball, to Peter Reid et al), but I'm not going to have unrealistic expectations at this moment. Attention to detail is the key to expertise, and it looks to me like our new management is getting the detail right.

So you want success, right now, even though Koeman has had exactly 1 league match under his belt with a team that's not his and, last season, had an open conflict with their prior, failing, manager?.

Its rational to have an expectation of silverware this season is it?.

Let me just remind the satisfied and the contented. We opened the season without a recognised striker. Did you get that? US! Everton, flush with a £100 million war chest. kicked off after a three-month layoff and we didn't have a striker! We didn't have a right back either, we played a defensive midfield player as a wing back. Happy and content??? Are you sure about that?

I have to chuckle at these experts who turn their noses up at the possibility of getting a 30-year-old Negredo in on loan... yet they are satisfied with the current situation of having Kone and Niasse as backup. Unless he has a leg amputated he will score more for a poor Boro side than these two put together next season. he will score more than Deulofeu and Mirallas too . .and when he isn't scoring he will be make fucking sure the defenders know they have been in a battle. He's a warrior.

Loans are short term solutions but if you are looking to buy time and bring in the right kind of player, they offer a perfect solution. A much better solution than paying £9m for a 32-year-old stop gap.

Nobody is expecting miracles (the claim of the happy clapper every time they notice some one who isn't clapping quite as happily as they are) but we are entitled to expect the bare minimum, Since when did expecting your team to be able to open the season with a serious goal threat constitute having unrealistic expectations?

Ground hog day. Evertonians are fawning all over new management before they have even chalked up a win.

How about we wait until we have an team capable of challenging for honours before we start handing out the bouquets?

Apparently the likes of you and me should just sit back and be content year after year with so many sides moving past us, including our neighbors. I had to watch them go to Arsenal and go up 4-1, hanging on for an away win at the Emirates after their concentration dropped. Meanwhile on here you would have thought we just advanced to the knockout stages of the Champions League after holding off Spurs for a draw, in our home opener.

This window so far has been slow and uninspiring for Everton. Plenty of our competition got players in early. Yet we, as you stated, started our home opener without a striker and without a RB. But apparently we should just be cheering periodic soundbites about the money we might spend.

Can't understand neither 'happy clappy' nor 'miserable'. Get em fit, sort out the spine, make us hard to be is all good stuff. Good strikers are the difference between a well- organised eighth and pushing top four or higher.

But then I'm just another wanker like the rest of us, who profess to know what is best (without having any known skills or experience):

Manager
DoF
Another talent scout today
A solid but boring GK
A solid leading CB
A Solid CM
A Winger with pace to burn

And links to players who may not make us Champions but fit in with the new managers ideas and look to improve the squad is a a step in the right direction.

It would seem though that step might not be big enough, or media driven enough for some But surely it's an improvement on the last two years of shite weather we sign a Marquee or not?

Where was anyone celebrating a home draw with Spurs with such fervour? I've seen people say that they were satisfied with the result under the circumstances, that there were elements of the performance that offered signs of promise for the season ahead, that there was a greater work ethic and tempo on display, that the two new signings had decent debuts. Nothing much more than that.

Not feeling despondent because everything hasn't clicked into place by the time the final whistle blows in the opening fixture isn't the same as stripping down to the buff, bouncing down the street with your hamsters handbag and hairbrush hanging out (surely, you've got to have a Danny Devito sized dong if you don't demand a win against Spurs?) and high fiving random passers by in the street for having the rare good fortune to be at Goodison on such a remarkable and momentous day.

It's just recognising that a hard earned point in the very first game of a new season is just an acceptable fucking start not a foreboding portent of how things will invariably play out under a new regime.

I still believe Lukaku will be sold come the end of August. Providing we replace him with a 20-goal striker it won't be so bad, even better would be to keep him and get the above to partner him.

Perhaps those who have come to this judgement could provide some actual evidence, otherwise it just looks like deliberately emotive rubbish to me.

What some of us have is a sense of realistic optimism – and why not?

As for being short of a decent additional striker etc... that's self evident, but down to the previous management's ineptitude.

I've said before – the current management set up has only been in place for a matter of weeks FSS – give the man a break another few weeks or months won't be the worst thing we've ever had to endure if RK and Co continue to build on these very early but quietly efficient steps.

Let's enjoy the hope for a change and be patient.

When did I say I expected success this season? What I didn't expect was to get from my teens to damn near my fucken forties without seeing this club win anything. After twenty years of fruitlessness – and as I said basically a concession that this year will be no different – the bank of excitement about Everton has zero funds.

We can't and won't compete financially with the big boys, so buying success is obviously out of the question. We tried the alternate route, the build from the base thing with Moyes and Martinez and that's crapped out too. Now our model seems to be Steve Walsh identifying unknown diamonds and then a competent manager working with what he's given.

Yeah it worked for Leicester – once, in a very strange year for the league – but you'd have to think the odds of lightning striking twice are pretty slim. The rest of the league saw what Leicester did last year as well, which is the problem with the "Moneyball" approach. Once the genie is out the lamp, there's no putting him back in there.

I'm suspicious of Moshiri also. For me, the best thing going for him is that he's not Bill Kenwright. But we have still sold to buy - and we didn't get enough for Stones in this market. And the silence and inaction as Martinez bottled the end of last season has my alarm bells ringing. It's over and done with now, but letting Martinez remain in charge for the semi final lost year cost us a cup final appearance. As dozens of TWebbers, past and present recognised at the time, leaving him in charge was folly. Like the semi final with the RS, that will hurt for a long time.

Moshiri is a brilliant businessman, but I suspect he only bought into us because the game has entered the hyper-inflation stage. The rivers – oceans really – of gold coming into the game have already had their affect on the market and on player wages. Moshiri knew and knows that a seat in this league is only becoming exponentially more valuable. That's where my suspicious nature kicks in... yeah he might have bought in now to avoid paying more later and it's always been his dream to own a football club. Or he might have recognised that the football bubble has just hit over drive, and if he puts some lipstick on our pig of a club, he'll be able to flip us for a massive profit. With the tv revenues growing so quickly, do you know how much a spot in this league will be worth in three or four years?

I'm with Darren Hind. A chairman who says nice things but we've still sold to buy. A DOF who – being realistic – may have already reached his apogee. A manager who'll be in China or Qatar for more wonga by the time the Tokyo Olympics roll around.

I've gone off on one there, a reflection of what Everton are doing to me these days. But Steve (#199), no, there is no rational reason to expect success this season. And I'm writing that in August. Jesus, how far we have fallen.

Come on fella, at least we're no longer hoping to get to 40 points – publicly, under the dour one, and secretly, under the phenomenal one.

We started the Koeman reign with 5 strikers. Lukaku, Kone, Niasse, Rodriguez and Henan. It is not his fault that he rates only one of them. Again, it takes time to assess and rate them all. Lukaku got injured, therefore bad timing showed we need cover, but finding the right guys long or short term is obviously not easy because if they are any good clubs tend not to want to sell them, particularly strikers. Also, good strikers don't particularly want to be understudies I guess, with Lukaku there they would be!

Right back has been a problem area for a number of years from when we went from having 3rbs (Coleman, Neville, Hibbert) to 1 fit one. Again Coleman got injured and it highlighted this. Yes, we should have had cover, but as Liverpool have demonstrated (with a manager in place for a lot longer than ours) in their failed pursuit of a left back, good replacements just don't grow on trees, especially if they know they won't be considered first choice, which with Coleman in the squad, they won't! So we have to make do with Kenny (is he loaned out), McCarthy, Lennon or Holgate at the moment (depending on the system). Again, not ideal but manageable until the right player can be brought in!

Also, just a point to note, I have no idea how Moshiri will pan out, but he didn't just appear into the Premier League at Everton, he was at Arsenal for a long time , something that seems to have been forgotten by some posters. He is an established guy within the Premier League and we don't truly know his motivations, again we just have to see how it pans out over time (not one transfer window that is still open for another 2 weeks or so).

You seem to want the house without going through the design or build stages?.

I'm disappointed we haven't won the league every season since our mid-80's heyday. I'm disappointed we haven't lifted a trophy in two decades. That has absolutely zero bearing on what Koeman does with the team right now and going forward though.

You're right in that we haven't bought a striker yet and thats poor. Strikers, at the quality level we need, are a premium find though. Apart, perhaps, from Ayew I haven't seen one move club, this window, that we could get who would be a good fit. Who knows why we didn't try for Ayew maybe we did its at least as likely that the player wasn't interested in a move to Merseyside as any other reason.

A few good names are still linked the likes of Slimani .but these players will always have other offers and agents up for wringing every penny out of a deal. Until we get into the brinkmanship stage of things at the end of the window we aren't going to see what the buying strategy is.

Koeman and Walsh clearly have targets. Maybe we wouldn't have moved for Bolasie and Williams if it wasn't for the Stones money. So what looks like sell-to-buy is just really 'bonus buy' and the original targets, funded, are still there waiting to see what offer they get before deadline day.

At the moment we have seen 4 signings come in and they are all quality. We've done it on a zero net spend thanks to Stones' departure...which, if you have faith, means the original transfer kitty we started with is still there ready to be used. We have seen the witless, gutless, passionless dross played under Martinez replaced by effort, enthusiasm and application. There is reason to be confident that the club has changed trajectory and I, for one, am made up for that.

I have hope for this season where, under Martinez, I wouldn't have had any. That is 'hope' David it means something is possible. Its different from stamping your feet making demands that the unlikely will be delivered for you out of some sense of entitlement.

http://www.101greatgoals.com/news/rumour-arsenals-alisher-usmanov-may-sell-shareholding-invest-everton-instead/

Pure guesswork. Just as plausible – "being realistic" – to say that so far the DoF may have only achieved a fraction of what he can achieve. Who fecking knows?!

Can we become the Arsenal of the North? Albeit the board will hopefully be more willing to provide the transfer funds that are currently on offer to Wenger!

"Sense of entitlement."

That's just the phrase I've been looking for with regard to some of the doom mongers on here who behave as if we're the only club who hasn't won a trophy in 20 years or so. The one's who think we should be up there shoulder to shoulder with the likes of City.

Some people refuse to accept that times have changed and it's (ALL ABOUT THE MONEY), Leicester being the exception of course. We'd all love to return to the success of the mid 80's but it's an almost impossible task, not that we shouldn't still aspire to it (before I'm accused of accepting mid table mediocrity).

I wonder, if Usmanov came in and turned us into the next big thing, what the whingers would moan about?

They'd probably whinge about selling out and forgetting our roots.

Some people just want to have something to moan about.

I do remember though, in August 1983, for most of us there was no rational reason to expect success v in fact I can remember a lot of blues not expecting Howard to see the season out.

The rest is history – and Jesus, how far did we rise?

Come on, man! Time to dust the dour dust from your stooped shoulders and believe again – after all, it's the belief that keeps us coming back isn't it?

If it wasn't, most clubs wouldn't have a support at all.

http://news.arseblog.com/2016/08/alisher-usmanov-could-sell-arsenal-stake-to-take-over-at-everton/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

That would change everything!!!

Recently potless but still at the top table; proud and always optimistic.

Perhaps the senior man is waiting to see what Moshiri's minimal investment brings in the way of progress for Everton. But one thing is for certain: the Russian will never be underwriting investments just because a player is playing in his (Usmanov's) homeland!

The last two decades has been 'relative' mediocrity, the kind of mediocrity that many other sides would gladly accept. I believe we'll be back to winning ways very soon, perhaps even this season. We don't necessarily expect that, but we won't be surprised if it happens either.

We will reach the heights again, we always do. It will take time, and we have to more pre-empative in future, we are very similar to Arsenal in an historic sense. For Chelsea and Man City, they never had a history until they got bank-rolled by super rich chairmen.

How you can say Gueye is a Cleverley clone is one of the most ridiculous comments I've seen on here ever.

Get a grip man, the cold hard facts are that we are having to rebuild from what Martinez did to the squad whether you or anyone else likes it or not. It's not an overnight fix as much as we would want it to be.

You want everyone pulling in the same direction well I hope to god there aren't too many pulling in yours with your outlook!

Reid was about 26 when he joined us and Gray was 28. Gray was ushered out when he was two years younger than Williams is now. They cost a combined total of just over £300,000. So neither signing was a massive gamble.

You either pass a medical or you don't. They both passed.