Mampala signs professional forms with Everton

Obviously Silva and Brands are recognising that we may just have a few hidden gems in our own backyard.

Encouraging as it is, it nevertheless is addressing the future, which is a good thing, but I still think most fans would like to see a couple of senior additions too.

I appreciate we have to reduce numbers, and the ridiculous wage bill, in order to do so. However, I also think lessons should be learnt from the past, when negotiating contracts.

By this, I mean if a player is on x amount at his current Club, instead of just doubling that figure, or increasing in tens and fives (thousands) try lower increments.

When all said and done, a ٣,000 p/w increase is a quarter of a million per annum, on top of whatever x is.

The most annoying part of the astronomic salaries the Club are saddled with, is that the ones who offered/negotiated these are no longer with us.

I thought Boys Pen Bill was still with us & making decisions on contract negotiations.

Why was Mirallas given a contract extension by Koeman? He was hardly a top performer for us in Koemans last season. He isn't the only one who will be difficult to shift: Bolasie, Williams, and Klaassen are 3 more that won't be attracting him to many clubs.

I am not sure what Silva thinks of Schneiderlin, and if he doesn't fancy him he is another who won't be easy to shift. Then there is Besic who has no future here, and Sandro can Silva turn his form around.

So a real headache for Brands and Silva, before we get real quality into the side we need to quickly get these players moved out. I wouldn't even try and guess what their combined salaries are, but significantly high enough to make a massive difference to our wage bill.

Obviously even Allardyce mentioned reducing the squad before he left so I can only imagine that Moshiri has stated that was something he wants doing and quickly.

So for those fans suggesting we buy players, I think the days of us throwing huge sums for average players will hopefully have ended. So maybe this season is a transitional one –not something fans like to hear, but something that is necessary for the club to move forward over the next 3 years.

Let's not also forget that there is a new stadium to pay for and, with each passing day, the costs are rising.

Also, I wouldn't laud Brands and Silva, this was happening last season and the season before and as long as I can remember.

The player himself is a big unit. I can't believe he's still only 17. He might lack finesse but he's strong and quick. He reminds me of the young Anichebe but hopefully he has a much better career.

But I can't help but thinking this is beginning to smack of:

“We spent all our money last year. We're going to need to look at bringing through our kids.”

I don't have a problem with bringing kids through. As long as it's a choice.

Surely Kieran Dowell will be a first team feature this season?

When we had the outstanding year with the likes of Davies, Dowell, Connolly, Walsh etc Delial Brewster scored more goals for the U18s but subsequently never got a look in.

He's well worth giving a contract to, he could develop further, but personally I think he'll struggle to get into the U23s ahead of the likes of Hornby, Sambou, Josh Bowler and young Anthony Gordon. Hope he proves me wrong.