Bolasie’s absence heightens need for reinforcements

Play 4-4-2, with Valencia up front with Rom.

Funes Mori is good enough to play centre-back, given the opportunity. I also think Holgate's up to the job, but I can't see Koeman playing him regularly.

More pressing is a striker. Sign Dolberg from Ajax. I don't want Gabbiadini unless it's a loan. I can't think of too many Italian strikers except the obvious names (Zola) that have taken to the rigors of the Premier League. The latest big name, Zaza looks absolutely awful. My gut feeling is that Gabbiadini will be the same.

I can't help thinking we should have signed Joe Hart. That boat's sailed, at least until the summer. Heaton and Forster are two other keepers we should aim to get. Again, I can't see their respective clubs doing anything until the summer.

Bring on Christmas and January starting with Watford. Koeman also needs to pull his socks up and get down to business because, right or wrong, people are losing patience.

Depay I'm not too fussed on. A mate of mine was giddy for him signing for the Mancs and he is unimpressed, albeit that he can't break through rather than him stinking the place out.

To answer the goalkeeper question, I would make a cheeky bid for Pickford, hes looked a good shot stopper to me. Or the usual suspects of Forster, Butland, Heaton.

Niklas Sule was linked with us and I'd like to see him come to us. Monster CB. Van Dijk (who by the way, I think is immense) is now out of our capability, given the competition both financially and 'reputation' wise that we would face.

It's really that creativity I struggle with, in terms of who is realistically available and would improve. The likes of Mata that we were 'linked with' are clearly beyond our reach at the moment. In the absence of getting a decent attacking centre-mid in, due to lack of options, I'd be tempted to push Seamus up to right mid and play Mason behind him at RB at 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1. Seamus knows how to get into the box, knows how to tackle and press, knows how to score (!) and would in my eyes be a perfect foil for Holgate to push on.

Centre-forward – I would try for Dembele at Celtic. This lad will be gold. Cant believe he ended up in the SPL. I also did like the look of that Dolberg from the YT vids recently. But then again, I liked the look of Valencia in the World Cup vids, did he score 4 or 5 in that tournament? So maybe those videos are shit, or maybe we already have a striking answer if we give him a chance???

Forster is a possibility and if we are too be believed time for Moshiri to force the move through with a heavy bid.

Long and Van Dijk are considerations also.

I will say, if Koeman doesn't find a way to keep us 6/7th come January, no one will be coming to Everton.

Winter is coming.

I wouldn't write Gabbiadini off as an option. He's good out wide and gets into good positions. Very different player to Zaza, who, you're right, does look absolutely hopeless at the moment.

We need to buy someone in. Whether January is a good time to do that, I don't know, but this is clearly a long term project – we're too shit to do anything other than aim for a mid-table position this season, keeping away from any relegation worries if possible. Summer clear out for sure.