Digne completes Everton transfer from Barcelona

Pickford
Colman Keane [New Centre Back] Digne
Gueye Davies Sigurdsson
Lookman Tuson Richarlison

Baines will probably play fewer games this season now, the body can’t take a toll of 30-38 games anymore.

Now we just need to hurry up and conclude the Mina deal.

Why are these transfers taking so long is a mystery, but that's Everton, I suppose.

Pickford
Coleman Mina Keane Digne
Gueye Sigurdsson
Walcott Lookman Richarlison
Tosun

Subs:

Stekelenberg
Kenny
Holgate
Davies
Vlasic
Calvert-Lewin
Niasse

The fact is he had no vision beyond a defensive setup and working on set pieces. Silva has a style and philosophy that will improve the players but will require some time and patience so please lets not have any more "come back Sam all is forgiven" shite.

The size of the task of sorting out this foul shambles left behind from Koeman and Allardyce is epic and moving on Klaassen swiftly and at not too much of a loss smacks of competence, very much a stranger to these parts in recent times. If they can now get rid of Williams and Schneiderlin, I will be delighted.

In the darkest days of Allardyce's tenure, when we shipping 5 in London and gifting points to Burnley after getting out foxed by Dyche, many of the more sage TWs were desperate for better and realised the scale of the problem: it is obviously going to take time, money and savvy.

Allardyce would have delivered a team that would survive the premier league: of this I have no doubt. It would however have been an embarrassment playing anti-football with a team full of expensive mercenaries with a manager with zero respect for the fans or club.

Before the start of the Premier League era Everton were more successful than Man Utd. I remember Everton winning everything and being feared, regularly winning derbies in style. To get anywhere near that again will take a near perfect storm of fortunes and hard work.

We've had so many false dawns of late but two quality signings is a good way to start. More to come please.

By the way, does anybody know why Holgate hasn't been playing?

Mina and Zouma next would be nice, then a Loftus-Cheek as the cherry on the top.

As painful as it was, Allardyce did what was asked of him got paid off and is gone. But his observations on the squad were spot on.. it was the legacy of Koeman that Silva is dealing with, Allardyce just worked with what he had. Silva is planning for a squad in his vision rather than a disaster recovery plan!

Truth is, both Allardyce and Silva inherited a shambles of a squad but its Silva who is rebuilding a team. Thank goodness because whilst Allardyce can be called pragmatic (dour) Silva is more charismatic and adventurous..

To those calling for Allardyce to return? No.. sorry.. he did what he does best because we were in the worst state I have ever scene my club on the pitch, but once out of danger we move on.. so should everyone.

And no, he is not a central midfielder either, let's stop bending over backwards to accommodate him shall we? Phase him out.

Jagielka for the knacker's too please. Imagine if we had had Gerrard and not Liverpool – he'd be a 40-year-old goalkeeper.

If Baines doesn’t exit there is no guarantee Digne won’t be playing second fiddle HERE or fitting in somewhere else.

I hope Brands is working on a plan B and C for centre back if this Yerry Mina thing doesn’t come off because we cannot go in to the season without more pace and agility in the centre.

I just wonder if we can’t complete big money signings, the kind which operate on a short negotiation cycle because we blow away competition with a big cheque, yet so they don’t light up the eyes of agents and chairmen negotiating the more delicately balanced signings of players like Digne who we’ve managed to get for reasonable money.

There will be a well thought out strategy which Brands will be working to and paying over the odds probably comes las - I hope so anyway cos we’re still short.

I have seen both get stuck and suggestions they should be shown the door but I think they could be valuable as Silva builds his team and both have been great for the club, age had caught up but they deserve a bit of loyalty back.

I think we need that No 8 where you've put Sigurdsson as a priority signing, but I've no idea where we're going to get one from of the requisite quality. Any name I can think of as good enough is unlikely to come.

Prepare for both to be in the match day squad v Wolves!

Strap yourselves in and be prepared to be bottom half of the table at least till the next window opens and we can who we need, coz if we have to rely on Keane, Schneiderlin, Bolasie, and sandro being around our 1st team then we are well and truly fucked people.

We should be chasing victory right from the start. Imagine them 3 all with pace, interchanging positions and Sigurdsson just behind them setting them off in attack, Gueye and the defence breaking up attacks and getting it to Sigurdsson.

Are attack has been too slow and predictable for a while now, I'm sick of sideways and backwards passing whilst defences reorganize and then break with ease.

I agree that we need reinforcements in the way of a proper box to box midfielder. But I think Silva's already been told that he will only be allowed the LB and one CB. You never know though, if there's enough going out before window shuts, they might allow a 4th, i'd even take a decent player on loan for year if their wasn't enough in the kitty to buy.

Definitely get shot of Mirallass and Schneiderlin aside from their dismal performances on the pitch I would say in the dressing room their influence is corrosive, would be a good marker for Silva also to send out a message that we have no room for the these types.

I was a bit unhappy with the selection process (or seeming lack of) in appointing Silva, however,I am right behind him and no matter who came in this is a mammoth job, And after watching the pre-seasons I almost feel sorry for him, I will do my level best to back him and review at seasons end some of the utter dross in the squad is breathtaking on review

Some good football and a Europa League place would be a great season for me. I would love to see some youth blooded too (Holgate, Kenny, Baningime etc)

Baines is intelligent, has a decent pass, and can put a tackle in. That range of attributes immediately gives him more to offer than most of our MFs. If you think otherwise that's no problem. I don't think I could trust my foresight enough to call your opinion ridiculous though. Takes all sorts though.

Think back to when Baines was signed. He was clearly the best left back at the club but it took some time to take Lescott's place (even if that was more about Lescott struggling to establish himself at centre back).

I'd still start with Baines and take the view that Digne needs to take his place.

I fear you are correct. We are such an unattractive proposition that ppl just don’t wanna come

‘Agent, tell me about Everton’?

‘Well they’re a mid table club that have flirted with relegation and gotten into Europe in equal measure. They’ve had 5 managers in 3 years but they have some money to spend. Basically, go there, get yourself a fat wage packet and move on in a couple of years if you do well. If not then you’ll be on a massive salary anyway. Let’s put it this way, if you have any other decent options then steer clear but if not then go for a year or 2 and then move on’

In any case, does any player look beyond the next couple of years?

I hope this lad can play centreback as imo there are far poorer players in the team that need replacing before Baines.

He has never been the best defender Baines and the goals conceded cannot just be put at the defenders door. Your supposed to defend as a team and the cover given from 2 defensive midfielders and the wide players over the past couple of seasons has been shocking at times.

That is all very well put. Silva and Brands have joined an utter shambles of a club with a disinterested and lazy bunch of donkeys in the team.

Richarlison may have cost a ransom but he has already shown glimpses of what we saw at Watford, most importantly a hunger to impress. I could not give a tinker's cuss if we match the 'achievement' of 8th this season so long as the never-achievers in the side (we all know who they are) are shipped out at whatever loss and replaced with more players like Richarlison who actually desire to play.

It will take time, work and a stupid amount of good fortune but we need to get on with thinking long-term. The perfect storm may get worse before it gets better but for the first time in a long time I'm seeing shades of a plan.

Replacing him has to be done.

However it is a sad indictment of our MF that he would be better than any of them.

Our most pressing need is for some strength and goals from MF.

Davies has gone backwards and always looks as if hes been out all night. scneiderlin has improved but is far too slow and Gueye has a great engine and tackles well but questions about his passing and goalscoring let him down.

As for CBs we don't have any synergy there. Keane is used to a deep well organised back 4 that doesnt open up. Under Silva his lack of awareness is very exposed as we open up play. Williams has never looked like the CB he was for Wales and wansea and along with Jags is now too old for the prem.
Personally I would have retained Funes Mori until we get the quality CBs we need.
Holgate is the only one that gives me hope but he is too inexperienced without a quality partner.

Just one problem, Lucas; it's a family that doesn't want you in it!

2. Baines in midfield? I will go out on a limb and say yes, what a fantastic idea. I do not think he could do a Philip Lahm, as he is too one footed, but on the left of a midfield 3, in a 4-3-3 or 5-3-2, he has enough skill and vision to make us hugely potent on that side of the pitch. Also, I would rather have Baines in a midfield 3 then Gana and Schneiderlin in a 4-2-3-1 any day of the week, and twice on a Sunday. Find a spot for him I say, if we have no better options than a Gana-Schneiderlin axis.

3. I hope we take a leaf out of England's book and look at the importance of set pieces, especially if there is a concern over a lack of goals from general play. Baines and Siggy could alternate duties, just as Baines and Arteta did, as set-piece takers, and we were a tough side to defend set-pieces against. It was also the way we used to get results against the top 4: KITAP1 worked perfectly in those games if you had a set-piece routine that works. I would not have Baines in the side purely for set-pieces, but if we find a spot for him in the team, say in midfield, then I hope we go back to using his dead ball delivery, which is still amongst the best in the league.

I remember when a professional footballer would roughly earn about 3-4 times that of a Tradesman. In many cases they are 'earning' (?) 3-4 times the Tradesman's Annual income equivalent, in a week as opposed to a year.

Let's face it, there is no such thing as loyalty anymore, and contracts only work in favour of the player, oh, and of course his agent.

I do despair at times, yet I still love watching football. I'm not sure that anything can or will change, but football is changing, and not for the better.

Williams, Mirallas and Schneiderlin have to go as their attitude and application stinks, Jagielka needs to move over to the coaching staff and Pennington, Bolasie, Browning and Galloway just aren't good enough. Scary who we have left with the transfer window closing soon.

Colin (#1), yes, I'm certain that's part of the plan. Digne played that role often at Barca with Jordi moving up the touchline.

Paul (#47), couldn't have said it better.

Paul (#50), yes he is.

Brian (#58), good sense as always.

Nicholas (#62), you're wrong. Barca would be happy to have him stay as a reserve, he's done well in the role. Digne's missing out on a World Cup winner's medal is what has pushed him, reluctantly, to depart in order to revive his international career.

Amit (#64), thoroughly agree.

The athletes, with their short careers, have every right to claim their share of what they are producing for club ownership. And the loyalty thing cuts both ways, because I don't see much club loyalty to players most of the time either.

If we end up with replacing Lookman with Richarlison at a net cost of around £25m and presumably far higher wages, I'm not inclined to think that is good business, however well the latter has started.

As we all know, a first choice CB is mission critical, without which we will leak goals like there's no tomorrow or alternatively be forced to play 10 in defence as we did under Allardyce.

In an ideal world, we would also buy a midfielder able to operate alongside Gana.

Sorry but, for me, there's not enough goals in our team as is – adding the goal scoring prowess of Solomon Rondon, who is known for bringing others into play rather than scoring goals, is the opposite of what we need. Also, it sends out an awful statement of intent. I'd hope he is not the calibre of player we will sign.

Pickford
Coleman Holgate [new CB] Digne
Baningime Besic Sigurdsson
Walcott Tosun Richarlison

Bench: Stekelenburg, Kenny, Baines, Davies, Gana, Lookman, Niasse, Dowell

Besic actually showed some promising signs in the first two pre-season games, unlike any of our other central midfielders; however, the quality still isn't there and a signing is needed.

Keane, Williams, Scheniderlin and Sandro all need to go, as there is no future for them.

Digne is a great signing and will replace Baines effective immediately. Now we just need to get more of these quality signings so we can challenge for a top 6 spot.

[Now stop typing on ToffeeWeb and get to bed!!!]

And Besic instead of Gana??? No thank you!

Surely one of the youngsters should be considered back up for Tosun

It is a damning inditment of both

Its like any fucker but them will do thanks, And to be honest I tend to agree with it, I will be sad to see Lookman go but a new CB (who can actually run) and shipping Schneiderlin ( at any cost ) and Mirallas will outweigh the disappointment

I think Brands and Silva are working hard in the backround but as i stated this week getting rid of some of the deadbeats will be as much a challenge as adding to the squad

But Richarlison and Digne will be the first attacking minded players into Finch Farm as we begin our building process. It was a necessity to play as many of our squad in pre season, but I'm sure Silva already knows that there are 6-12 players that physically or mentally unable to play the game he demands. Richarlison and Digne are grafters as well as creative, the more like that two the better.

Most new managers won't come in with preconceived notions about the players available to them. They'll say "past is past, show me what you've got" and give them a clean shot at a squad place.

We all want to see the backs of Mirallas and Schneiderlin, but during our last purple patch in Feb-March-April 2017, they were two of the best players in the side. And Silva is obviously willing to write off last season and wipe the slate clean.

Let's see what he decides.

I am sure Silva is aware of their awful performances last year not to mention their lack of discipline when the Club was really struggling for form

I would make it a point of running both out (or through) the door to lay down a marker to the rest and show that there is no place for their likes about the place

Saying that with the new breed of managers/players it is all about making them feel loved !! So whos to say, Either way I think if he does show faith in either or both it will be misplaced and he wil have missed an opportunity to send out the right signals

He may also be sending a signal that he thinks he's a better manager than our last few and can get performances out of these players that they couldn't.

And he has clearly shown already that any player who doesn't measure up will be speedily dispatched (good luck Davy). We all expect Williams, Schneids and Stupor Kev to follow eventually, but the latter two at least appear to have a place in Silva's picture for the moment.

Although I still think we already may have the pacy, passing CB we need in Mason Holgate. I would love to see him get a full shot.

He’s got to be one of our smartest footballers and that left foot is usually pretty accurate in distribution both short and long.

Probably the juice is not worth the squeeze as they say but I’d try almost anything to get Schneiderlin out of the first XI!

Anything just to get Schneiderlin out of the team

No, I do believe we should allow Leighton to enjoy his last few years at a far less demanding set-up probably in the States and reap the benefit of a final big salary before he hangs up his boots. The lad deserves no less.

When that incident happened and Jags didn't tell Mirallas to fuck off and Martinez acted so weakly towards Mirallas, I reckon Baines thought "Fuck this for a game of soldiers".

He's lived off his reputation for a few seasons now. A good squad player for Season 18-19 but a whole new left side is required and with Richarlison and Digne we now have that. If they are half as good as Baines and Pienaar in their pomp we will be well served. Let's hope so. The left sorted and the right sorted (Walcott / Coleman) - slowly, in my opinion, it's coming together.

We should certainly not rewrite history:-
"The fact is he had no vision beyond a defensive setup and working on set pieces".

How does that stack up with the fact that at the first opportunity he had to strengthen the squad he bought two forwards - Walcott and Tosun.

And no, I am not calling for him back because I saw how strongly some of the TWrs I respect the most felt about him. I just think he deserves a fair go now that he is gone.

Precious time is being wasted.

C'mon lad, join us if you want to and don't if you don't.

I also agree with you that Mirallas could be tried at centre-forward, mix things up a bit.

Midfield is still the big concern for me. Both Gana and Schneiderlin can go as both are very average and useless with the ball and have never been able to play together. Both Koeman and Allardyce kept pairing them to no avail. Nobody has mentioned Joe Williams recently. I read Silva rated him but I believe he has been injured? maybe he will get a chance against Valencia. We definitely need a Loftus-Cheek type of player and I would blow all of the funds to bring him into the team in place of Sigurdson. Again, I think Sigurdson was a total waste of money and I just don’t see him providing that creative role we so desperately need and my god is he slow. Scores the odd great goal but does bugger all else. Walcot and Richarlison will also be 2 of the first names on the team sheet and with this pace maybe we don’t need Tosun starting. Klopp doesn’t play with a dedicated front man and it works for him.

At the end of the day we need at least another 3 quality players through the spine of the team, I just hope we can find them in time before transfer deadline day and move a lot of the dead wood out.

Great question.

Perhaps my paranoia but the way this transfer is dragging it really does make me question whether he actually wants to join us.

Here we go again. It doesn't even get a mention on Sky Sports News.

There are now 9 days left, and that's how long he has to blend in. Actually, 8 days because he probably hasn't had his medical yet. An update on Digne wouldn't go amiss. I shouldn't be surprised but this is supposed to be a new era.

I'm sure Brands is working hard to get deals done, but from the outside, ‘same old Everton'.

If I'm right, a lot of this is down to Kenwright!!!!

The clubs agree a fee, the agents agree their cuts on the deal, the law people do all the paperwork, the kid agree personal terms, then has a medical, then they shoot a video, then the video has to be edited.

All of this takes fucking ages. End of story.

Are we able to sign players from foreign clubs after the 9th or not able to buy at all?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6011503/Lucas-Digne-arrives-Merseyside-Everton-medical-ahead-18m-Barcelona.html

Ray Smith- "Come on Brian that's ridiculous."

Me-"You started it."

I'll get me coat.

Firstly a translator was required and hard to find due to holidays and then to add to it, Andrew Lloyd Webber was busy so the soundtrack was delayed.

Anyway, thankfully Ken Loach was on hand to make the video and all seems ready now to announce the signing of a defender.

I'll follow James out.

I'm not going to blame him for holding this one up.

Need a CB fucking desperately.

They won't be the players we hear from tabloid bs.

I just hope this new fella is better than Nuno Valente.

The transfer window has both clubs and players wound tight as a drum this year and the last week, perhaps last hours are likely to be manic. More than usual due to the circumstances created by the World Cup and early closing.

A few years ago we had an outstanding left flank combo with Baines & Pienaar. We've never really replaced Peanuts & Baines is sadly past his best. With Digne-Richarlison we now have pace, power & trickery down that flank once again.

The right wing should be solid with Coleman & Walcott who will make us balanced on both flanks. Hopefully we can keep hold of Lookman as a regular option & Vlasic, Calvert-Lewin & Bolasie give us plenty of wide cover, though I expect one or two of them to be moved on.

Looking at our current lineup the two glaring areas that require strengthening are centre-back and a more mobile & creative central midfielder. It looks like the CB will be following soon, but I have no idea who we''re going to get into CM. Is N'Zonzi still being linked?

If we can offload Martina, Williams, Mirallas & Sandro I think we'll be just about there for this window. A squad of 26, including the two additions for the positions I mentioned. 25 if we can find a buyer for Bolasie.

This window has not been easy due to it's truncated duration after the Worldcup and the necessity to offload several players on large contracts. I think the policy of moving out the deadwood is sound for the long-term future of the club. It's all well and good to keep signing players, but the team has to be managed sensibly or we'll end up in a financial mess.

Cut our losses where necessary and get a manageable squad size made up of committed players. There's still a few I'm not convinced about, but you can't realistically get it all sorted out in a single window. It's been a frustrating process, but necessary work so far by Brands & Silva. No square pegs thus far.

Might of been Deeney, Jones, Rojo and Billy fucknuts.

Nobody knows at the moment, sit tight and see who puts up the shirt then moan regardless. Richarlison was a great buy, keeping Lookman would be great, Re structure Jordans contract in decent terms, sign Digne, use Holgate with a new CB or Digne in lcb, fuck off Schneiderbin and Mirralas, Williams etc. Box to box forward passing midfielder may be a problem but doable if we do have actual decent new backroom staff considered they've had plenty of time.

Or moan we're shite and assume that the next ten days will be bollocks.

As they have so far hardly shipped anyone out they will have a large contingent to choose the final first team squad from.

Obviously none of us can be satisfied with the pre-season performances and we can but hope at least that the fitness levels will be 100% after the Valencia game.

Wolves will be a hell of a test in the first game and Everton need to come out with a confident and positive attitude to get anything from the game.

The clock is ticking on the transfer window so I hope Silva can finaigle a couple more before it runs out.

Darren, Digne at LCB may be better than one of our other numpties but he looks terribly short for a CB and he doesn't have Ratcliffe type pace to counter that either. Still, at least (we hope) he's not another statue and can turn quicker than Jags/Keane/Williams so maybe it would work if we cant get any other option in. I wonder if he has ever played there before? I read LB and LMF.

You're about right man. It's another long job thanks to the idiots previous, a shorter window, just had the WC so obviously it's a little bit different and hard pressed to conclude things...even though for us we could have three months left and still have not the quality we lack and the shite ones still here.

I'll back Silva and Brands...not my preferred choice but here we are so not much choice till results come in and decent given time.

I'm not very patient but I feel I and we have to be or we'll end up being Chavski and the rest regards management etc. It doesn't look good nor do I think it works.

We'll be fine, just not top 6 like we'd of liked in the next few years.

But concerned about Silva linked with finaigle as fear this may be silly spending continuing!

Link

Gor blimey I stand corrected governor!!!

£15M for him is decent value!

Whilst no world beater (and I feel somewhat overrated), he's still got to be better than our centre-backs with the exception of Holgate.

But if you're expecting trickery in attack from him, you'll be disappointed. He's not creative at all – doesn't dribble past people or make cutting passes like Bainesy.

And Darren (#150) and Lee (#145), he's not a centre-back in a back four, but he does very well as a left centre-back in a back 3.

I couldn't agree with you more. Money has utterly destroyed the game. Gone are the days of real passionate grafters (there are a few exceptions, we have one at right-back) that play for nothing more than love and passion for the game, club and fans. What we get most of the time are posing, diving, overpaid mercenaries with no loyalty or pride in anything other than their agent and bank accounts.

Rant over, be delighted to see this lad playing for us, just want to see what else M&M have up their sleeves. I agree with the (pretty much general consensus) that 2-1 centre-back, a central midfielder and another striker/creative attacking player would be great to bring in... that might be asking a bit much in this window. Who knows though, we might uncover a gem or two. As I said before I don't particularly care for a 'name'...all I want is someone with a bit of quality and a bucket load of fight and pride... and, as someone earlier said – team spirit!

I also don't feel he could be a long term CB because of his height BUT he's surely quicker, able to react and turn better than our current CB's who look so slow and ungainly these days that almost anyone would be an improvement.

In an ideal world of course, we would sign this fast, agile, man mountain CB (TBD), Holgate would get fit again and kick on whilst Coleman would start the year like we know he is capable off leaving Digne and Baines to duke it out.

Pickford
Keane (Holgate or Jagielka?), New Tall Tough Fast Guy, Digne
Coleman, Gana, Sigurdsson, Baines (and later Robinson?)
Walcott, Tosun, Richarlison?

I know it's a bit strange with Gylfi as CM, but the former Icelandic manager Lagerbäck (who were in charge until Euro 2016) said in an interview here in Norway during the World Cup that he preferred to let Gylfi play box to box. As for Baines, he is deffo on his way out, but I liked some of his linkplay with Richarlison. Just a thought, and it's without Schneiderlin and Williams.

Hope this one has some mileage in it, and represents the sorts of players we should be going for.

Soren (#158), he certainly auditioned well by tearing us apart Saturday – not that we're difficult to rip apart right now – and he wouldn't be the first player we've signed after they looked good against us (Vlasic, Richarlison, Bolasie, Sigurdsson, Kone, Saha among others).

Besides, how do you know it's not been completed? We know he's in Liverpool, and we know he's been for a medical. If it's not announced tonight, then no doubt it will be first thing in the morning.

As has been pointed out on this thread several times, there are lots of 'media' items to take care off before the unveiling. My thoughts would be that the deal is officially concluded and he will be unveiled in the morning.

I can't see it being a double announcement unfortunately, surely there would have been snaps of the other one heading to Finch Farm? Unless it's a contract extension for Willia... sorry, I can't even say that, haha!

At least the youngsters know they have some future here or elsewhere, those three are finished professionally. They just stink the place out. McCarthy is close due to injuries and Besic needs to convert every game now, or walk.

I agree with your list, although is Martina worth having as back up (played in the right position?) The others can go... Jagielka and Baines I think are done too, although it's damning that Jagielka is still our best centre-back. :O

The squad has too many mercenaries lifting astronomical wages for doing less than I did in kickabouts when I was 14.

In any event, we all know that just getting new players will not suddenly make them a top six team unless Silva and his crew can get a tightly knit strategy to build on.

All the possession in the world is useless if you cough it up cheaply in the final third and then are all over the place defensively trying to keep the opposition out which basically happened in many games last season.

Everton's back line was far too often exposed because the players in front of them failed to close opponents down effectively usually by inept tackling or poor marking.

As has been mentioned a good few times, the squad isn't going to be fixed in one window, it's going to take at least 3 to really make inroads to a solid top six team.

Calls for patience... maybe that's what the media team are trying to teach us... haha!

We need Baines to stick around for another season as back up left-back and then maybe Jedi will be ready to step up.

However, who knows, maybe he'll bring a little extra Barca with him.

From flying to USA, flying to Spain, flying to England, going for medical and so on, every single step takes longer than usual.

He may end up signing with us but I believe he takes it as the last available option.

Pure bollocks.

Come on over to the US and run for President.

He may just have popped home to tell the wife and pick up some clean undies and a shirt.

Has Lookman signed for Leipzig yet? How long has that taken to be completed? It works both ways.

Still think we need a Loftus-Cheek there, but surely worth a try?

You can’t blame us, after years of Moyes’s angry little face in August saying through gritted teeth “We’d have liked a few more faces for sure, but we’ll get on with it” after yet another late deal falls through.

These are different times though.

We have the seventh best set of players in the division before we sign anyone. Burnley finished above us but player for player were stronger and they will be likely to have the distraction of the Europa League, which did for us last year. Our biggest enemy is panic and negativity.

I fear we’re going to be repeating last year’s mistakes, although the two actual signings so far look like good ones. I’d rather we got rid of players who won’t contribute than brought new ones in. A smaller, tighter squad where people need to take more responsibility and there are no disgruntled unselected players knocking around can make a big difference.

No, no thts not what I'm saying. I'm saying neither are really up for being first team choices. Both are decent back ups, at least for this trasnitional season we have. I memtioned keeping Martina specifically because its unfair to write him off considering 90% of what we've seen of him has been when he's been played in entirely the wrong position. As I say, neither are cloee to being regular first team starters anymore, for very different reasons.

I hope I'm wrong but the lack of an announcement / length of time his Digne deal is taking, is making me nervous that he's had a change of mind. I know there's loads to do to finalise a deal but we seem to take 24 hours longer than any other club. I hope I'm just sufferig nerves from a lck of caffiene an the deal will confirmed in the next hour or so!

If we go into the season with our existing central defenders we will struggle to finish 7/8th. We are paying the price for years of poor recruitment in the position. We cannot get the next one wrong.

In fact, despite the millions of pounds spent, the spine of the side lacks pace, physicality and verve. It needs legs, especially up top and at the back.

What a shambolic, joke of a club Fulham are.

I'll lay money you'd read exactly the same stuff on the message board of any other Premier League club.

Fulham really are a joke.

He says this though:

"...The Club has brought in a lot of players and we are building to bring some success in the Premier League..."

Have we? I hope he wasn't confused like when Robinho signed with Man City.

The announcement video looks like we launched a camera into space, and then it landed back at Finch Farm at the feet of young Lucas.

So I guess the delay was because we were waiting for clearance from air traffic control.

Bloody aviation authorities. Couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery that lot!

Silva is turning into a transfer mastermind. Keep up the good work, a few more needed yet.

Yes I would say that will be the case. Maybe its a done deal with Lookman.

Hope its true as he was wonderful at the World Cup.

Hope he's a good un.

Pickford has been a pleasant exception to the rule

As some have alluded above this may not necessarily be a bad thing for Baines - Silva may have a different role in mind for him in midfield.

Now we need that left side centre back which I feel confident is going to happen in the next few days.

That would be the whole left side strengthened and would make me feel much more hopeful going into the new season.

I think we are nearly there.

It's just a hunch, but I have a feeling these two are not only under performing on the pitch, but also have a negative effect in the dressing room.

I can't stand the pair of them.

Digneamite.

Still, glad it's done. Hopefully more to follow. I actually think we'll get Mina once Barcelona come to their senses and drop their ridiculous asking price. Man Utd are unlikely to be interested. Mourinho will want someone proven.

Where did you see this large punctuation mark?

What’s the delay? Typical Everton.

A) massive wage demands
B) massive signing on fee

Bosman transfers can often be more expensive.

Also a good chance that he has demanded a 'lowish' release fee in his contract, meaning if he does fulfil his potential, he will soon be off to a bigger club. If not, Palace will have an expensive flop on their books.

For certain, Tuson, CL and Niasse won't solve that problem . All look Championship fodder to me !

I had the pleasure of meeting Ashley Williams and I would suggest your ‘hunch’, at least as far as he is concerned, is based on your misinterpretation of his body language and frustrated outbursts on the pitch.

The man is humble, polite and full of integrity.

When things aren’t going right for you it’s very difficult to show emotion, especially to a baying crown, and have it interpreted as anything but bad attitude.

I myself was ‘a narc’ as a player and I got narcier the worse I got as the years caught up on me.

If your hunches are based on nothing, keep them to yourself because otherwise they are just divisive and negative and god knows we have enough of that around already.

The lack of transfer activity in the last hour?

Also, I always thought Geri lacked real pace. He needed to get distance between himself and the man he had just got past to make himself more effective. Too slight to protect the ball in close quarters.

Lack of top-end pace is my worry for Lookman's future as well, although if he operates well enough in and around the box then he will only really need explosive 5-10 yard bursts anyway.

Digne looks like a great addition but if there were to be 2 to 3 others of similar pedigree in central defence / defensive mid and striker then I will be much happier.

Hope Schneiderlin moves on as I think the whole unit is thrown out of kilter with him any where near the team.

Is it goodbye to Leighton, I wonder?

Speed and awareness are the two things that wane first and on defence it cannot be entertained.

Everton's old brigade have been consistent performers for a long time (Jags, Baines and Williams with Swansea) but sadly they can only play bit parts this coming season.

It is apparent that the Blues do need another central defender and midfielder as I do believe they are still vulnerable especially in tackling roles but I am sure Silva is fully aware of that.

If they can fill those roles quickly then we can feel a lot better for the new season but if not, I fear the two new signings may not compensate for the deficiencies in other areas.

With a little over a week left I do worry that we only seem to be looking at CB options. Need to get Mina wrapped up quickly but worry that Utd are going to take him.

In midfield, I’m surprised that there are no rumours about Danny Drinkwater. Doesn’t get any game time and I think he would be a great loan signing for someone.

Striker however is the real issue, no one of real quality out there that really springs to mind. Let’s hope Brands & Silva have some surprises in store.

If we did get 3 new people in then surely
It would be the end of Williams, Schneiderlin, and Niasse

There's a void in the middle of our defense with or without a left-footed CB!

I like the idea of Baines being tested the last preseason game next to Gana. That might work and it's worth giving it a look.

We're not going to get in Silva's mark of 6 new players. Just bring in a CB next week please and I'll be ok with this transfer window. We need a CB desperately and Keane simply isn't performing well in this system. He's left too exposed and doesn't have the pace.

Last summer business - get a CB pronto.

No need for a left footed defender really.

Stoke taking Williams on loan with the potential to then sign him on a free next summer, may be our way of sweetening the deal.

It's only a Guardian reporter claiming we're interested on his Twitter feed anyway.

This is how wars start.

He would be a certain upgrade on what we have though doubt Newcastle would let him go cheap. £30-40m?

SSN reporting that Alfie Mawson has not actually signed for Fulham yet, but is expected to for £15M, why, why, why haven't we been even interested, yet £28M for Rojo seems to be okay, not by us but allegedly by those in the know.

I think Newcastle could be persuaded as they want the cash, possibly a player or two thrown in, as has been suggested.

A fee that could rise to £18m according to the Grauniad. £18m! Throwing money away left right and centre. Why can't we complete deals before season's start! At a reasonable price! Typical Everton, that.

If your idea of a sweetner is curdled milk (which probably turns faster than Jags), sure, go for it.

LD Phone Home...

Digne told evertontv: “Everton is a big club with a great history. I want to play games, win games and excite the fans with the quality of our football "

I really wish they wouldn't just trawl this line out all the time.

We definitely need two center backs before the season starts if just to replace Funes-Mori and Williams.

Schneiderlin I could probably live with for a while, not the perfect fit but with faster players now on both wings it will mask both his and Sigurdssons lack of pace. It's no coincidence that Schneid's form really picked up last year after Coleman and Walcott were in the side.

I am appreciating the cautious approach that Brands and Silva are taking. We are not going to become an elite club overnight but if you take the squad that Koeman inherited compared it the one we have this morning, all the missteps along the way and the gaps that still need to be filled notwithstanding we might be not that far away from where we could have expected to be on that original 5 year plan. Looking forward to this pivotal season.

A couple of tweaks here and there and we might just have a surprisingly good side.

Mike, I didn't notice any improvements!

Due to him being French, does this mean that we don't pronounce the 's' at the end of his name?

At least with Digne's deal done, our gray-skies chorus (Victor, Chris Watts, Andy Bone, Lee Paige et al) can stop wailing about how long it's taking, and how Digne must be stalling for a better offer, and how we can't close a deal... argh.

Welcome, Lucas, I've seen you play and I'm delighted you're here!

Always wondered why Trump never walks around with a pair to hide is un-naturally small hands.

I have a feeling it's going to be a very interesting runup to the end of the transfer window.

We also need a clear out to make intentions clear to the fans.

However, as the club's new defender revealed after signing for the Blues, he had been in contact over this potential move for around two months.

Digne said in his first Everton interview: "Two months ago they called my agent and when they asked if I was interested or not I said: 'Yes, I am interested'.

"After I spoke with the coach the feeling was very good and I said I wanted to come to the Premier League and to Everton."

That shows, even though on the face of things the club look like they have had a quiet transfer window so far, there has been work going on behind-the-scenes to try and get deals over the line.

There had been some fears recently that the Blues had not done enough with their time in the transfer window so far, with only two signings coming through the door.

However, with a new director of football and new manager to assess the squad - plus the added distraction of a World Cup - there were always going to be roadblocks in the way of potential deals.

With just a few days left to go of the transfer window and a number of areas still in desperate need of additions, there were Blues supporters admitting their concern on whether more transfers would take place.

Knowing that the club has been in touch with Digne long before his move eventually came to light shows that Brands is working hard to bring in the targets he and Silva want.

The club's director of football has been clear from his first press conference that he has been hard at work in contact with agents over potential moves.

And it's surely not beyond the realms of possibilty that the next few days will bring to light even more behind-the-scenes work as more new faces are brought into the club.

With eight days left of the transfer window to go, it will be interesting to see who is brought in next.

So far we've added two first-teamers in positions that needed urgent attention. We've cleared got a couple more irons in the fire in the two other positions we are weakest (central defence and central midfield).

And we've made progress on the other side of the ledger with Rooney, Klaassen, Robles, Funes Mori all gone and talk of Williams and Pennington likely to follow.

9 days to go and this is coming together.

Oh dear.

He will always have my utmost respect as a genuine human being for his actions after the Barcelona terrorist attack last year. He rushed out of his apartment, near to the attack, with towels, water and generally helped people, who were terrified and disoriented. Even if he hadn't of signed for us, he was always a few notches up on my perception of a spoilt millionaire footballer.

Welcome to Everton, I'm sure you'll fit in.

Just seen the Drinkwater link in the rumours section. Think he’d be a great addition for us on loan. Let’s hope we get it done. Still need a CB and Striker though. Tosun et al does not fill me with confidence. Look at the difference in our performances in the league with and without Lukaku. Having a 20 goal a season striker is the difference between relegation and challenging.

Would love us to go for Vardy - pace upfront and scores goals. Him, Richarlison and Walcott would terrify defences!

Also just seen the tweet from Paul Joyce that Williams, Mirallas, Vlasic and Martina have been told to train away from the main squad. Disappointed in Vlasic if that’s the case but the other 3 I’ll happily drive them to their next club!!