Everton receive ratification of Zouma loan

So many positive rumours turning out to be be true - most unlike Everton.

Marcel Brands ha splayed a blinder this summer, one of the best back room appointments ever made. Well done to Mr Moshiri for getting him.

UTFT

One thing's for certain: we are going to be better to watch than we were last season. I just hope, if results don't go our way early on, the fans don't get on the manager's back. This is going to take time so let's give him it — and plenty of it.

Now we have 3 excellent young defenders, and Keane. One wonders whether Jagielka will stay or look for either a loan to a championship club or move to the US or something.

Pickford
Coleman - Zouma - Mina - Digne
Gana - Sigurdsson - Gomes
Walcott - Tosun - Richarlison

Bench: Stek, Keane, Baines, Shneiderlin, DLC, Niasse, Lookman.

Looks like a side to me.

I'd guess
Pickford
Coleman Zouma Mina Digne
Schneid Siggy Bernard
Walcott Tosun Richarlison

bench: Stek, Gomes, Keane, Baines, Gana, Lookman, Niasse

Don't worry, I too am still reeling after today's excitement.

The title above says 'Everton look to sneak' it doesn't say we got him

Exciting times. I wonder if there'll be an option to buy with Zouma deal. Hope so but I doubt it.

For me,

Digne Mina Zouma Coleman
Schneiderlin (the only downside was not replacing him)
Siggy Gomes
Bernard Walcott Richarilson

Other possibility
Zouma Mina Holgate
Digne Coleman
Gueye Gomes
Bernard Tosun Richarilson

Subs: Stek, Baines, Holgate, gueye, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin

Coleman
Mina
Zouma
Digne

Gueye
Bernard
Gomes

Walcott
Tosun
Richarldson

We've bought for depth as well as first 11, and the Zouma deal, if it comes off before 7pm, really sets us up for the season!

This is the rules. It has to be agreed. The details have to be written on a sheet of A4 in a prescribed form and faxed over.

Negotiations need to have been concluded and just the paperwork needs to be signed.

Pickford

Coleman Zouma Mina Digne
Schneiderlin
Sigurdsson Bernard
Walcott. Tosun. Richarlison

Where does Gana fit in?

With this squad now I expect us to compete the to toe with the likes of Man Utd , Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham and maybe gets results against Man City and the RS too. They all have Euro football to contend with and they won't fancy facing us full on 3 days after a long away trip or a tough home match.

I fully expect to see Jags involved for a big part of the campaign because these two have a lot to learn but great to have young, talented athletes to come in and improve us and themselves.

Tosun will have a role giving us different options and different playing styles. I too hope DCL can grow and stake a claim. It is exciting to have many options.

Niasse, though, last minute sub at most.

A day of wakening for Evertonians, as it seems the mould of mediocrity in terms transfer dealing has been broken, these last few weeks.

???

Get Zouma please.

Pickford
Coleman Zouma Mina Digne
Gana Gomes
Bernard Sigurdsson Richarlison
Tosun

No place for Walcott, sadly.

James M I think there may be sonmething in that. Mou won't last past Christmas.

Why join a team about to go into upheaval??

I'm stunned. We pipped some very big clubs for 3-4 players this window.

What's the word on Zouma?? Past deadline now.

Thus far, it has only confirmed Bernard today.

If all get confirmed, it constitutes one helluva transfer window by Brands and Silva.

Oh! And Bernard's 'welcome' interview now makes 3 big summer deals - add Richarlison and Digne - who have not uttered a single word in reference to BK and his role in the deal as we have come to expect from incoming players down the years.

I'm encouraged by that small detail.

Woodward (sp?) surely will get the axe now?

What a complete disaster of a window for ManU.

Hahahaha. 😀

Jeez I hope there are some official announcements very soon!

😬

There is always a danger new players wont fit in or fail but these players all look to have talent and technique, Zouma would be a added bonus, but why didn't we move for him earlier?

Lets make sure we remain hard to beat at Goodison, opposing teams never used to like coming lets get back to that.

Like Carlsberg I don't usually do formations but if I did:-

Pickford
Coleman Zouma Mina Digne
Gana
Bernard Walcott Sigurðsson Richarlison
Tosun

Gomes on the bench.

Walcott has been good for us. Better than I expected. His link up play with Tosun has also been good. He is faster, better at creating space for others and more influential than Sigurðsson.

However until Gomes can show that he can handle the pace of the Premiership I think the above team (with Silva's high intensity style) will be a thing of beauty.

Wolves in 46 hours. Are you ready?

Bernard especially will be used to fluid rather than fixed positions, as Fonseca played exactly that way in order to confuse opposition defences when attacking, as they didn't know who to pick up and who to track.

With the pace of Richarlison and Walcott, it will be very exciting to watch, and hopefully be successful. If Cenk is, as he says, up to speed for the Prem, he should be getting loads of chances.

I think that the defence is now sorted.

This is a debate that I don't mind getting drawn into... Isn't it nice having so many quality formations and options.

Beaming right now. Optimistic Evertonians... Long may it continue.

Only the Premier League can confirm the deal past 5pm/7pm.

I would think Silva will assess them over the next week and look at maybe introducing them over the next week or so.

I'm not sure what to make of all that.

For those bemoaning the appointment of Marco Silva, I think you should now be thankful we have him. Marco has played a massive part in persuading these players to come to Everton yet some crediting Brands with all the good work?? Just listen to what Bernard and Richarlison had to say about Marco Silva before you push him aside.

I think Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal could be vulnerable this season for different reasons so maybe there is a slim chance of the fight for 4th place involving us!!!

Let's get it on.

There is alot of patience required to blend them all together and get used to the new system.

I don't think we will fly out of the blocks, but by the second half of the season we should be starting to look like a team. We certainly have all the pieces.

Chelsea refused to let him go to United as they were a rival.

I wonder whether now they have seen who else we have picked up they realised we may also be a rival and so pulling the plug?

Tony Byrne at 64 - keep those positive vibes flowing!

I can't get over this all. What a window!

Pundits over here being very level-headed and objective with all things Everton. Most saying we've spent a lot and we're committed, but they caution a "wait and see" attitude.

In an honest moment I don't blame them a bit. After last season and our frivolous spending, I think it's more than reasonable to adopt that stance.

TWers preach patience, but realize this window is a different thing all together. We've actually addressed areas of need.

And we've not bought one hundred and eighty-six #10s!

Exactly one of the 10 has been officially announced so far (Ings).

We don't know what has yet to be done, but it might be the morning before these are signed off.

If there's anything we should have learned today, it's to be patient and trust in Brands.

Come to think of it, so am I.

He would have gone home if he didn't think something could still happen...

6'3" 212 lbs.

Dude is a TANK! Holy shit. Ripped like a Greek god!

Sign this guy!

I have everything crossed for this one to come off.

But at least now we look so much stronger than last season & hopefully can go into games believing we can win against anyone home or away in both League games and Cup ties.

Well played, Mr Brands.

Stream a baseball game later - basically the same damn thing.

Get down to FF! TW needs eyes on this! ;0)

(Head shaking.)

Mina's not as "thick" as this dude. This guy is a tank. And by all accounts a very talented tank at that.

Jeezuz. Someone must have read Elizabeth France's advice on us opening an office there.

That's impressive if we got this over the line in London. Impressive to me at any rate.

He did. ;0)

Good luck tomorrow as I believe you mentioned that's when the funeral is. Celebrate a life. Channel your Irish and drink plenty with good cheer and memories.

Surely the time is right for Coleman to be appointed?

You'll be sort of dazed all day and it will help you preserve conversations you'll want to recall later.

The day after my dad's funeral I could remember bits of the nice things people said, but couldn't remember who said them.

And even years later when people complimented me on my "eloquent" eulogy, all I could do was nod and say thanks, because I have never been able to recall a word I said.

Hang in there tomorrow.

Coleman to be Captain. Has to be in my opinion. It's time for Jags to step down.

Starting lineup Saturday:

Pickford
Capt.Coleman Zouma Jags Baines
Gueye (sorry Ferns we can hope)
Siggy Davies
Walcott Tosun Richarlison

Bernard will come in at 70 minutes for Davies. Mina and Digne on bench. They'll start the following week.

So I suppose it can take any amount of time to process the deal sheet, once it's been received by the FA. Considering there were ten submitted, it could take hours to process them all.

I wouldn't be heartbroken if it didnt, We've have had worse windows

I don't get that.

Rob says we would have heard by now if the deal was off.

Darren says we would have heard by now if the deal was on.

Love you guys.

I don't know the process - can you have a situation where the deal is done prior to the deadline pending a medical?

Why can't deals be done in plenty of time?

Pretty much every issue that we as supporters have thought for so long have been addressed, apart from maybe a top quality striker.

Finally, maybe a manager that connects with the view from the stands.

Schneiderlin's position in the starting 11 will be the final test I guess. Although I still have the feeling there is a player in there, just waiting to find the right balance around him

With previously just Jags. Baines and Seamus back there apart from Keane it was looking a little lacking in inches especially after Funes departed.

This little lad Bernard can play a bit and alongside maybe Gomes and what we already have the attacking format could get a big boost.

However, like any other new formation and personnel availability it may take a little time for it to impact results and so we have to be patient a little longer but as long as the impact comes then we can be happy.

Far better than I imagined. Some serious dealing been done here, in such a short time..

Now for Saturday and reality check for this season. Great to see TWs in genuine good spirits, and long may it last, as very, very well earned compared to many transfer windows.

6 quality signings that can go straight into the team, and part of the dead wood moved on. Young lads fixed up decent loan clubs too. Massive credit to Brands, Moshiri, and Silva.

A bit more work to move on Vlasic, Bolasie, Besic, Sandro and Martina. Hopefully some decent money raised here plus other loan lads, we can turn those loan signings to perm if they impress. The side looks like it just needs a top striker.

Many were complaining when we were 'missing out' on apparent targets: Maddison, Wilshire, Mawson, Gibson, Yarmolenko among others.

Many thought we should have thrown in the towel in regards to Mina and Digne when they 'played us around', but Brands and Silva remained firm and got who they wanted.

Indeed, they got players who in general, who you would expect to go to teams offering European football. Bernard, Mina, Digne, and Gomes certainly could expect European football. Zouma, as a highly talented youngster, also. Therefore yes, we had to wait a little longer, we had to make sure some high salaries like Mirallas and Williams got off the books to guarantee our wage structure was not destroyed.

All in all, there isn't a negative word about our management duo in Brands and Silva. They have gone about business in a professional and highly confident manner that seems foreign to Everton.

Of course there will be some problems still, the team needs to gel after such high turnover, and key positions like defensive midfield and striker may mean a true challenge to the top-6 may still be a step to far, and maybe one or two players will not meet expectations.

But the first transfer window has guaranteed that we go into 2018/19 with a heck more optimism than we expected when 2017/18 finished. We can all be confident of an exciting and unpredictable matchday experience. We can be confident of posting more times than ever 'goaaaallllll' and 'get in there', on the matchday forum. And at the end of the day, that is what it is all about.

Lancashire beating the Yorkies with ease! Been listening to Radio Lancashire here in Brazil. Bit of a daft wobble, losing two wickets with just 20-odd to get, but a breeze in the end.

Makes up for the soft buggers losing 3 wickets and scoring 1 run in the final over against Durham when needing just six from the over, earlier in the week.

Much else happen sporting wise today..?

Nothing much else today, as the test match at Lord's was washed out!!

I can see it now. LFC lodge an official complaint against EFC for not getting this done before the deadline and request that we are deducted 10 points at the start of the season, and we are not allowed to spend more than 10 million on a player in future windows because we 'break' football and the transfer window!

It doesn't work like that. At least not straight away.

The fear was that with such a bloated, aged and high-salaried staff, together with a presumed tightening of the purse strings by Moshiri, it would prove a nigh impossible task to revamp the squad.

Not only has the median age of the squad drastically reduced - we now have just 3 players 30+ - we have also managed to move on a number of rapidly fading and high-earning players WITHOUT first having to generate transfer funds to start buying new recruits.

In this respect, Moshiri has been as good as his word at the AGM: don't worry about the finances; leave that to me.

The five confirmed recruits are all in their low to mid-20s. Four of them are full internationals. Three of them have been recruited from Barcelona. BARCE-FRIGGING-LONA!!! All but Richarlison are title winners. All of them have something to prove. All have the best years of the playing career in front of them.

In recent seasons, physically, Everton has been a soft touch, easily shrugged off the ball. Three of the five new recruits have real bulk, strength and height, Digne marginally less so, Bernard offers a different skill set.

Mina, Gomes and Digne are already familiar to each other from their shared time at Barcelona. Richarlison and Bernard share a common heritage. This will help accelerate their 'bedding in' period. Within that group - and the existing squad - you can already envisage exciting combinations throughout the team.

The beauty of the recruitments for me is, you are hard pushed to name a best starting XI. Silva now has real options to shuffle the pack, depending on the opposition and how he wants to play.

The recruitment also challenges the existing squad, young and old alike. No more coasting. If you want to be a part of the match day XI, earn it!

If Zouma is confirmed, then - WOW!

Well played Brands and Silva, AND Moshiri for financing it.

I frigging did listen to THAT final over vs Durham.

The missus and Toffee the dawg learnt some new Anglo-Saxon phrases with each passing ball.

It's not just Everton that can get to me!!!

Love me cricket, me.

1. Silva spent a lot of time with all of the squad, he worked hard and tried to imprint on them all his methods. He trained them hard and they played 6 pre-season games against decent opposition.
2. Not only were results poor, but performances were poor. The players were clearly unable to respond to his methods, which required a higher level of technical ability than most can produce.
3. Moshiri was told this at length, by Brands and Silva. Silva explained what he needed, Brands explained who he can bring in, and how much it would cost, Moshiri accepted that for the Silva gamble to work he would need new players and so sanctioned the spending

It was a clear shift in policy and late in the window, and whilst we clearly tracked a number of these guys for a while, perhaps it was only after making it clear to Moshiri how hard it would be, that he authorised the spending.

Great additions to the squad.
Also I feel bad besic and bolasie didn't get their moves but they could come in handy at some point during the season if they don't get loaned out.

I'd imagine they could 'loan'besic and bolasie to Boro with a pre agreed contract signed contract that comes into effect on Jan 1st 2019. so technically they can still buy them now but only with a loan agreement added to the beginning.

Good window can't wait now too see Everton, after last season the football life was sucked out of me.

COYB

also can't believe spurs didn't sign a single player.

Rob #154, because three other factors figured in -- the player, the other club, and the fact that Silva really didn't know until recently exactly what he needed.

And regarding this:

"Bit of a daft wobble, losing two wickets with just 20-odd to get, but a breeze in the end. Makes up for the soft buggers losing 3 wickets and scoring 1 run in the final over against Durham when needing just six from the over, earlier in the week."

All I understood from that was "earlier in the week" but it sounds enthralling.

Off topic I know - but can anyone think of a formation we can't play with the players we now have ?

Can't wait for the season to start and the team to take shape and hopefully gel. Not expecting miracles but very optimistic.

As others have said, huge credit to Marcel and Marco for putting together a plan and sticking to it. I think Mr Moshiri deserves a special thanks for making it all happen.

Now back down to earth and hoping the optimism is not misplaced, we will need to be patient though.

Finally, last word to Steve Ferns, we don't know each other but I hope tomorrow goes as well as can be expected. Stay positive and remember all the good times with your dad.

They sing a song about conquering Europe, I have got my own version, of how they got us banned from Europe.

Driving past Goodison today, and I saw a big advertisement on one of the billboards outside, with a picture of Gareth Bale, doing a scissor kick. I just need to get some paint and a big set of ladders now, and write “GET IN YER FUCKING BEAUTY” right in the middle of it, and see how many smug Liverpudlians, would see the funny side of that?

Once you give me a time then Michael or Lyndon can delete these posts, because they can be bad snitches these kopites.

Sure they have got a good team, but this window has given us hope, and especially since the news the other day regarding Usmanov? Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but there seems to be something different in the air right now at Everton FC?

The next home game, the person I know met Thompson, expecting to be given a signed shirt. To his horror Thompson said "go to the club shop and buy a shirt, and I'll get it signed for you".

Thompson was told to "Fuck right off"

Too bad we didn't get Rojo too. He would have been an excellent backup to both LB and CB.

in what way would spending 30 million pounds on Rojo to be a back up be a good idea, given that we already have Baines to back up at LB and will have Holgate, Keane and Jagielka in reserve for CB? The point with every purchase this window was to buy first team quality, not wasted numbers.

Hopefully Keane will improve under Silva too, there is a decent player there.

In what world does it make sense to spend 㿊 million on a reserve player at the end of his prime with no sell on value? You buy players that you intend to be in the starting 11, pushing those around them to fight for their place. Not someone with the thought of being a reserve player.

We bought Mina to be in the starting 11 and have presumably bought Zouma to fight for a spot in the starting 11. Keane and Holgate will now have to fight to try to claim one of those spots once the new guys get settled into the team. Why would you add Rojo to those in the second team for 㿊 million?

That was defo me.

I honestly thought it was a very, very good window with the three signings of Rich, Digne, and Mina. I mean seriously that's a damn good window. It's not an easy thing (I imagine having never been in the position myself) to sign quality players in three key positions.

To get in Zouma I'll be absolutely flummoxed and over the moon.

And... you forgot the best signing – Bernard! I think that kid is going to light it up.

It's been a great, great window. Things may go south – that's life. But at this snapshot in time I'm not sure what the hell else Sir Marcel Brands and Co could have done?

I think time will show this was the best transfer window for Everton possibly ever. It pips the Barry - McCarthy - Lukaku window on the surface!

Again time will tell. Let's get Zouma across the line and dream of dizzying heights again.

Good freaking day to be Blue! I am hyper right now. We've hit a home run this window. The future is looking very bright.

Over to Mr Silva. We're about to see how good a manager he is. He's got talent, and an exciting team on paper. But the games aren't played on paper, as the saying goes.

I loved watching Roberto's team in the first season attack. Oviedo netting that goal at Old Trafford - a LB would have NEVER been in that position under Moyes. We attacked. We were an offensive team with skill.

We have here, now, the makings of a really, really fun exciting team that will break at pace and look to barnstorm the opposition.

The great thing about it, and this is admittedly hope personified, is we have a coach who wants to play a brand of football I thoroughly enjoy and attack, without seemingly neglecting the defensive side of the game.

This is a big moment for Everton. We have the makings of something special brewing.

I ask once again — Who is going to score the fecking goals???

Rich, Theo, Tosun, Bernard, Siggy.

I don't think goals will be our problem. The system of bombing forward and leaving our CBs completely exposed at times might be.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe you'll see a flaccid Everton in 2018-19.

We might see a bit of retro-Martinez "we leak too many goals" however.

It's a project. We've taken a big step forward to gel a team that can compete. Patience. We might need to improve our goal scoring ability. But we're moving in the right direction.

Look at it this way, it's not an Allardyce team! We'll create chances! We may need a talented finisher in the future admittedly, but we're taking the proper steps currently to improve.

How is us signing two CBs to replace the departed Williams and past it Jagielka, an unnecessary obsession? That positions was a massive need, along with LB. we addressed all of them. Whether that all succeed is never a guarantee. But it has no resemblance to last year.

As Jamie says, we have an abundance of attacking players that should make us a threat. This is not to compare Richarlison to Ronaldo, but Christiano Ronaldo has never been a striker. Hasn't hurt his goals.

It's not about having a single goal threat up top, you need full team. I would imagine that the management will be spending this year scouting for a top quality striker for next year while seeing how these attacking players work together. But to ask where the goals are going to come from? All over, including Tosun, I would imagine.

Another way of looking at the goal scoring conundrum.

We have two speedy, tricky fuckers in Bernard and Rich. They will draw more free kicks after being hacked down than you or I can imagine.

Up steps Sigurdsson for the free kick, finding Mina's or Zouma's head.

That's a viable goal scoring threat and I think that scenario will happen a lot.

It helps to have a prolific striker. To argue against that statement is asinine. But goals can be scored in other ways.

And we have a formula for that with this squad. We'll draw a lot of free kicks I think. With Zouma on board we'll have two gigantic CBs forward for free kicks and corners.

Bernard and Theo are not going to score goals very often. You are much closer to the mark when you point to our CBs scoring off the free kicks Bernard and Richarlison will earn. And the goals will come.

Eventually.

However, I expect Derek's concern to be borne out in the early games. With a new manager, a new system and so many new parts to integrate, I don't think we'll score much for the first few weeks. And I expect to hear lots and lots of wailing from the impatient.

The good thing is that only one of our first nine league games will be against a Top 6 side (Arsenal away on 23 Sept). That'll give us time to get our shit sorted out before we start punching with the big boys. And I think it'll take every one of those nine games to sort it.

I will say Theo and Bernard will create chances.

And it is fortuitous we have no top 6 sides to get our shit together!

But it's still very exciting and very positive at the moment.

Check this out, it's pretty spot on:

https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2018/8/9/17671018/premier-league-transfer-deadline-day-winners-and-losers

10 goals this season would be splendid. I do not expect it.

Anyway I've got loads of white paint in the shed, and I'm free from eleven, so if anyone has got ladders and is prepared to help me with my project, just give me a time and I will see you by the Bullens Road ticket office.

The creativity and craft will come from the likes of Sigurdsson, Bernard and Gomes. The overall impact of this transfer window is a more positive attacking one but if Zouma does come in it will go a long way to fixing the issues at the back too.

The club should be congratulated for the organisation to have 3 sets of deals on the go at the same time in 3 different locations – Finch Farm, Barcelona and London. If Zouma doesn't go through, it is not for the want of trying.

What a transfer window! Looks great to me. As Tony Curtis said to Sydney Poitier in The Defiant Ones, "I'm going to be Charlie Potatoes" meaning the top dog. This is just the start; when Usmanov puts his money into the club – and he will, one way or the other – us Evertonians are all going to be walking round like "Charlie Potatoes".

Those red bastards won't know what has hit them. Fergie made them paranoid; this will drive them right over the top. Rainhill will be full to the doors with them.

Pssss, anyone else is welcome but don't tell Dave, just keep it quiet, and he won't hear you cos he's going deaf..!

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/first-team

Spot on mate. Good to see the professioanlism

"I'm sorry Agnes if you could just - "
"I didn't make exceptions for that rude young Mr. Busby, and I won't for you"

Forget Big Nose, he's always been an alpha hotel. I recall when he lived near the Valentine in Aintree, years ago. Total head up his own arse.

Time hasn't changed the smug xxxx.. Ask the Tommy Smith what he thinks of Big Nose.

Now let's forget the rest and focus in GP, FF and all matters Everton.

Tomorrow is a new dawn of hope for Everton.

Gerald Sinstadt interviewed Peter Taylor, the Notts Forest co-manager, after the match and told him the cameras showed the foul to be outside the box. Taylor replied “Well the cameras will also show who's got the Cup, won't they?”.

Wonderful stuff, on a par with looking at Thompson's mug on Sky after Jags scored his last minute screamer at Anfield.

Please note that some deals may still be subject to international clearance and the completion of regulatory processes.

I wish Agnes would pull her bloody finger out.

He's not on the first team page, he's on there loans page. But he has been on it for a while, way before yesterday, I looked at him on there site when we were first rumoured to be interested him.

1. The interest in bringing youth forward is still there, but only if they are good enough. Nothing romantic. Opportunities are there and they can be taken or not. If there is a star player available who can be brought in and is better than the home grown player, then that is just tough shit. No room for sentiment. Keane will be under some pressure to wake up and perform as I believe he can
2.
Kenny, Connolly (I think he is the best of the bunch), Holgate, Davies, Dowell will have opportunities to shine. If they are not bright enough then they will have supporting cast roles for a time and then move on to pastures new.
3.
Given the position we were in just before Allardyce left, whisperings of Wilshire and a comprehensive development plan in place to go forward under his control, compared to where we stand now, no wonder his pundit mutterings are an embarrassment. I can't think why he is even given airtime. Thankyou Mr. M.
4.
The media's shockingly patronizing, no, lets be more honest . . . . . bloody insulting comments regarding buying our way out of trouble and living beyond our means are an indication of the seriously good business we might have done., and how it might upset their cosy aspirations for a top 6 tournament at the expense of everyone else.
5.
All teams with the exception of the Spuds, have strengthened considerably from where they stood last season. If Mourihno mind games don't work, I can see Manure and Spuds falling down the pecking order, with City, Chelski, Arsenal and ( the Redshites) consoliating the top 4.
6.
We will be knocking on the door of the Big Six together with Wolves (absolutely terrific manager), Leicester, and possibly West Ham. They have been thinking big and Pelligrino replacing Moyes was a hard decision for them, but they took it.
7.
I think the game plans for the next few seasons will be performance related, quality incoming and targets achieved or not. But I suspect we will be seen as upwardly mobile by most rational unbiased observers.
8. Last point for me is what is the scenario around Lookman? I think he will move on considering the Point 2 above . . . . . But who knows? It might be that MM are trying to play hard ball and see where it gets them, at least up until Christmas. He might see the sudden uplift in quality of playing personnel as a motivation or be intimidated / frustrated by the challenge.

Footnote; Superbly well done M+M+M. If we don't progress this season we have no -one to blame but ourselves. COYB!

Correction to William`s closing statement in post above. It should read :-

`If we don`t move on we have no one to blame but M+M+M `. WE had nothing to do with it !

The problem is where her finger is!!!

Last season has taught me not to get too carried away though. We've all seen promising signings turn out to be flops at Goodison. I remember thinking Keane, Klaasen and Sandro would be superb signings. How wrong can you be? A few fellow Blues are saying "bring on the derby" but, unfortunately, they are in a different league to us still. I seriously think that lot are in with a good chance of winning the Premier League this season. Let's hope not.

Honestly not sure what I would call a successful season for us. We need to be top 7 with some good cup runs and playing some entertaining football. That would do me. I still think the usual top 6 will be better than us and teams like West Ham, Leicester and Burnley will be around us. I think the weaker teams will be stronger this season e.g. Fulham and Wolves and we will need to vastly improve our away record if we want to have a good season. I'm not confident about tomorrow's game but then think we'll start to pick up points.

Re the Cricket this link is funny https://www.ebid.net/forums/showthread.php?151386-The-rules-of-Cricket-Explained-to-a-foreinger-(Funny)

I did hear that Agnes retired last week, and her younger cousin (by two months) had nepotistically taken her job, maybe that is where the 'hold up' is, in releasing the news.

I for one am excited.

I think Spurs will not be quite as good as last season. Okay, they have the same players but everyone else, including us, have improved their squads. And they'll have a new stadium to get used to. That didn't do West Ham any good, did it?

Burnley have the added distraction of Europa League and are hardly any stronger than last season and West Ham have a lot of players who need to gel, just like us. Same goes for Fulham and the stronger Wolves side.

It'll be a new deal for these two teams and, after the initial euphoria, we may see them brought down to Earth, who knows? Southampton are treading water and look weaker than last season. Are Arsenal a shoo-in for top 4? I don't think so. All to play for, as they say.

Surely can't be worse than what we already have, but I'm putting my optimism on hold until we're top of the Premier League at Christmas.

Of the other top teams:

Man Utd: Bad transfer window, signs of player unrest and the loose cannon that is Mourinho who seems increasingly isolated from his executive. Potential for an implosion.

Spurs: No business at all. Stability might sound appealing but if you're not improving, you're falling backwards. Also have had quite a few players involved in the World Cup which can hurt a club's chances in the following season.

Chelsea: Jorginho is a good signing but they've changed a proven, class goalie for an unproven one, have a big weakness at cetre-forward, a couple of unsettled big players, and they have an owner facing some difficulties around the clampdown on Russian billionaires.

Arsenal: Probably have done best out of this group, some astute signings, a good manager but first season after a legend may be a challenge.

It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that we could seriously challenge at least two of the above. Problem is, our own position as next best is also threatened. There's still Burnley, though I believe they will slide down a bit this year, you have West Ham spending big, Leicester adding some quality and the newly promoted teams like Fulham and Wolves looking less like cannon fodder, more like legitimate contenders for 'best of the rest'. I wouldn't be surprised if there is quite a competitive battle for places between say 4 and 10.

We've had a good window, though I think the battle is always to try and integrate so many new players. I hope we get Zouma. Keane and Holgate will do as back up but we have lost two centre-backs so we need two in.

On a separate note. I was in the new offices at the Liver Building last night. Wow. What a statement of intent. There is genuine cause for optimism at Everton. No other club probably in world football can boast a facility quite like it. The views are incredible and the imagination and ambition of the build is awesome.

Add Bramley-Moore Dock stadium and the statement of intent of the last day of the transfer window and I think there is definite cause for optimism. It won't happen overnight but there seems a genuine (and achievable) ambition to make Everton a force again. If the offices are anything to go by it doesn't look like money will be an issue either-read into that what you will.

The building blocks are being laid now to take this club forward in a way that Kenwright and Elstone could never have imagined.

Think that would be a yes for me, I did quite like Funes Mori though.

Which means everything, obviously.

I'd swap Williams and Funes Mori for one of them...

Meanwhile, the FA have also allocated the Road Runner to investigate any suspected wrongdoings by Everton this year, taking over from Speedy Gonzales (no relation to me). Beep Beep

Finally I'd swap Williams and Funes Mori for a sweet cigarette card of Terry Darracot and some ollies. Yes I'm that age.

Maybe, just maybe, we sort this after the deadline and, considering other players we got, that seem to fill the gaps most of us identified, then just maybe we are taking a big step forward?

Live the dream mate and worry about disappointment another day... maybe tomorrow!

There you go. A negative spin for you.

Many years ago I remember a Bolton fan expressing disbelief that we'd paid a fee to take "once good – but now crocked" Peter Reid.

More recently, a couple of Chelsea fans I work with asking what possessed Klopp to spend 㿏m+ on their bang average squad player, Mo Salah.

However the professional scouts on ToffeeWeb (there's loads of em) have decided they're not good enough for ‘Eighth place, no Europe Everton'. You couldn't make it up.

You're right. Haters gonna hate, as the kidz say these days.

To be fair though, Gomes himself admits he's had a 'mare at Barca. There are plenty of interviews online with the fella himself saying as much. He may well come good at Everton, let's hope so, but you won't find a Barca fan who is sad to see him go.

And I think there are enough posts on here about how people would carry Barkley, Klaassen or Mirallas on their shoulders to get rid of them to another club for us to know that footballers, even expensive ones, can be a bit shit but still manage to get a transfer to a decent club.

All the players signed have pedigree; let's hope Silva can bring their best out and get us moving in the right direction whilst playing some good stuff.

'Just because they played for xxxxxx doesn't mean' etc.

13:57
'Everybody knows our goal'
Wolves v Everton (Sat, 15:00 BST)
Everton

I just woke and logged on - still no word.

This is comical now.

How many bureaucrats at the League Office does it take to ratify a loan?

"I don't want to talk only about him because the market is the market. When you start to bring in some new players you want to strengthen the squad.

"Of course at his moment it looks stronger but we have to work with all of them and gel everything and put them in our way to adapt them as soon as possible."

They'll have to get in Anfield to get the cockroaches to make the cochineal ink, also they need a plume of a Dodo to make the quill.

I've also just heard that the FA are waiting for the unicorn to cry so they can use the tears to dilute the cochineal ink, as Agnes has an allergy to cockroach-related products apparently.

Agnnnnnesssss!

------------------Pickford---------------------
Coleman---Zouma--Mina---Baines
------------------Gomez----------------------
---Lookman---Barnard---Richarlison
------------ Walcott----Tosun--------------

The 'if we need to be more defensive' team:

------------------Pickford---------------------
Holgate----Zouma----Mina----Digne
------------Gana-------Gomez--------------
Walcott---------Siggy--------Richarlison
--------------------Tosun----------------------

Going to be fun season! Off to play fifa….

I wasn't going to buy FIFA 19 this year. Seemed to be a waste of money.

But after Brands' quality signings, the new kit, and the thought of Silva on the touchline punching the air after Bernard scores the Champions League final winner, it looks like EA (for the 3rd year running) are going to make some money out of me!

Link

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2018/08/10/zouma

# 5 shirt for Zouma. There's some heritage in that shirt, Kurt. Wear it with pride and give us performances to match.

By contrast, hasn't Keane himself and Jags his skipper spoken that Keane is simply not the vocal type? I like my CBs with a bit of cussedness about them!

Gomes is injured, Mina was still in Spain as of yesterday, Zouma signed today but not met his new teammates, but hopefully at least on the bench, Bernard,again at least on the bench, Digne, who knows,.. probably bench.

Richarlison is the only definite for me, so a probably a draw to start, then properly start the season next week against Saints.

I wish we had the option to buy, at the end of the loan, I am not nit-picking but if he is a success with us, we are at the mercy of Chelsea's ransom demands, as what basically happened with Lukaku not so long ago.

I am a lot happier landing him than some of the others we were being allegedly linked with, Rojo, Jones, Smalling and Vida.

He can now put his feet up for a couple of weeks before he gets the feelers out again, as no doubt we will need to start searching for another centre-back with Zouma only being a loan deal.

At least we've got 6 to 12 months to find a potential replacement for him.

For me I would have stayed clear of him, another player who has experienced relegation, my personal bogeyman. Also no right to buy option if he has a great season. We possibly improve a Chelsea player and then lose him next May. Or the chavs say he's yours at 㿔m plus.

Ah well let's hope we all have a great season and get 6 points off the RS.

But it will be nice if Zouma can also tackle, pass and play proper position. Anybody know if he can?

We hope that those who wear the shirt tomorrow will see that their places are indeed up for grabs, and they play better than their best game.

Check out a couple of videos and make your own assessment Mike.

First, highlights from Stoke's relegation season where he was on loan:

Link

Second, a reel from his Chelsea games:

Link

He looked a tremendous player when he first played for Chelsea, so I don't know why he hasn't cemented his place in the side and keeps getting sent out on loan AFTER they tied him down to a 6-year contract.

The videos for me show the following:

* similar to Mina, a towering presence in the air at both ends of the pitch
* again like Mina, no one is going to easily shrug or bully him off the ball as we've seen with Keane
* he has very good pace. He gives some attackers a yard or two head start and easily reels them back in
* he loves a sliding tackle! His timing of tackles, even in precarious situations in the penalty area, looks very good
* he isn't without guile or technique on the ball, but Mina possibly has the edge on him in this regard
* he also loves - and appears very good at - hitting long crossfield right to left passes which, I fancy, slots in very nicely with how Silva wants to rapidly switch from defence to attack

Finally, in interviews he comes across as a really good lad.

I'm hugely optimistic about all our signings and what Silva can ahieve with them.

WHAT A WINDOW!!!!

Thank you God.

We are now absolutely beastly in the back. Two gigantic fucking men who can defend and play.

It'll take a few games, but if we can get our best 11 out on the pitch in 3-4 weeks time, we will scare the bajeezuz out of any opponent.

Roll on tomorrow. This year is gonna be fun.

Exceeded all expectations, by far.. Now to start playing and winning with style. Hopefully Seamus is made captain, and the new players are eased in.

Tough one tomorrow, as they'll be steaming into us.. but we can get a result, and the Adrenalin of the last few days should see some zip, in those that start.

Happy Days.

I think Brands will spend much of what's left of August sorting out similar moves for 'the unwanted'!

That's why I was hoping for a scouting report from someone who has actually seen him play in London or Stoke, or at least on TV. I've only seen him once that I can recall, and aside from his size he didn't make much of a dent on my memory. He certainly didn't make me say "Wow, I'd love to get that guy in" as Mina did at the World Cup.

I believe in recent years Everton and Barcelona have built a good relationship. This pre-dates Martinez loaning Deulofeu, then signing him, as Barcelona looked at Everton's Former Players' Foundation and used it as a model for their own lookalike foundation. I think I'm correct in saying that ALL Barcelona players have a clause stating that 1% of their salary must be given to the fund.

My contemporary question on the Everton-Barcelona relationship is more to do with Brands, given we have recruited 3 players from Barcelona this summer.

I know he is hugely respected on the European circuit, but I was wondering if you (or anyone...) is aware if Brands previously established a good working relationship between PSV and Barcelona, and that is now something that Everton can and is benefiting from?

I expect it will take time for the team to gel but after 8 or 10 games I would hope that things will start to fall into place.

I never like to predict where we will finish but would expect that we will acquire more points than the tally achieved by Keoman in year 1 which should guarantee European football.

In some ways the preseason results may prove to be a blessing as it underlined the need for decisive action.

Hopefully it's the end of Gueye and Davies in midfield (at least after Wolves). Simply not good enough. They maybe ok for the odd game as backup or sub, but not first choice.

We now have a FULL team of half decent players for the first time in about 5 years. Bring it on.

Great for competition, and can only improve the team.

Do we dare dream?

I still say 7th, but Hope just entered the room.

I'm giddy.

Obviously it will take a while to gel everyone in so I don't expect too much in the short term.

As important now is to get rid, hopefully permanently, or on loan in the short term, the dross and deadwood we still have on the books. A few more youngsters out on good loans would round off a good period for the Club.

Now Mr Silva it's over to you to show the confidence Mr Moshiri has shown to you and show us what you can do.

I know the montages only contain the best bits but the basics look fine, i.e. he can tackle, head, shield, chase, turn quickly, intercept and distribute. These used to be on every defender's CV.

I assume that if Barca Nation has warm feelings for Brands, they're based on his outspoken loyalty to Cocu. And that combined with his professional reputation and Everton's existing relationship to Barca are no doubt all factors in Barca's brilliant new role as our feeder club. ;-)

It may take a few games to see any impact these new signings may have so let's not start cheering just yet but it does show a lot of determination by the club and new manager to turn things around finally.

I think Keane will come good with someone good by his side.

All credit goes to a Danish bicycle brand named Everton – my brother had a beautiful black one and I was very jealous. One day I discovered that the number 1 English football side had the same name as my brothers bike (how cool is that!!!) – I‘ ve been madly in love ever since!

COYB! COYB! COYB!

I thought Sylvain, at his peak, was one of the best defenders ever to pull on a blue jersey. I wished we had signed him a couple of years earlier. I recall at Newcastle when he was a young 'un he did not look totally convincing.

I'd expect Vlasic, Martina, Besic, Bolasie, Dowell and Sandro (is he still with us?) to leave or go out on loan. Otherwise, the squad is unmanageable.

It's alright I already have my coat on.

I know we have to make do with mostly the 'old' team for a while, but knowing these new guys are ready to gently (?) guide the shirkers and the happy-to-be-in-the-team guys across the side line soonish, might actually put a spark in the plodders left...

And PLEASE make Coleman our new team captain!!! We need someone willing and able to both be vocal, and to at least SEEM willing to physically kick the lardasses that need to be kicked during a match!

As unfortunate as that was, him being the owner of the only casey in the area meant that further misfortune befell him. Someone accidentally kicked his casey into the road and it was destroyed (not just burst) by a bin lorry. It looked like Tarzan's undies as it lay there in the road.

Further events, such as me melting a load of his plastic soldiers with match heads and a magnifying glass, and in adult life screaming "GET IIIIIINNNNNN!!!" as Sharpy scored against Watford in the middle of my Best Man's speech at his wedding, means that we are not in touch any more. And no, I'm not a jinx.

I got 3 in the Upper Bullens away section on 26 July. They went on sale to Evertonians that day as Soton haven't taken their allocation.

We bought 500 number tens last season and bought in several new faces and it went tits up but we still finished okay.

Don't forget that lads and lasses.

Other sign of the coin could be we've got the right signings and make a FA cup and League cup assault whilst finishing in European places.

Happy days thank feck. Loving the window and can't wait for tomorrow man. Get in there Blues.

These signings should be a massive kick up the arse to the current squad.

Moshiri seems to have learned nothing from his previous 'Spendfest'with only the identities of those identifying the beneficiaries of his profligacy having changed.

Merely from reading these columns,I learn several of these so-called super-stars have had anything but a settled past but are widely expected to respond immediately to the so-called superior coaching now available to them.

Accepting that the Premier is now a global stage, it would be normal for the majority of signings to be foreigners but wholesale recruitment of non-Brits may well be overkill. Indeed, being brought up in the British Leagues is now a distinct handicap. So much for Unsworth and his charges when it only costs the odd 㿀M to qualify a player for the roster.

Let's all hope that my natural cynicism is mis-placed but don't bet on it. Indeed a shilling or two in the opposite direction may again be called for.

I have high hopes that Father Christmanov will bring us even more good cheer in the New Year.

'Moshiri seems to have learned nothing from his previous 'spendfest'...

What exactly do you think he should have done, sat on his hands and done nothing!!! Let's get one thing clear, without Moshiri, this club would be in deep SHIT. Sure he's made mistakes, but he has actually 'put HIS money where his mouth is, nobody else was queing up to buy us that's for sure.

Perhaps you would prefer Boys Pen Bill still to be in charge and continue to hock us up in debt with the aid of his 'pals' in the British Virgin Isles.

God forbid..

Hopefully we'll score goals. I'm going to say Bernard is going to be a fucking beast although a lil man.

We have depended on are 2 fullbacks as a attacking threat for far to long so hopefully both Baines and Coleman will thrive and I wouldn't swap either for many in the Prem.

This is a springboard for Silva to demonstrate just what his perceived potential can deliver. Whether he can do that or not obviously remains to be seen. But I admire Moshiri's faith in the M&M combo and his willingness to bankroll a vision which is neither in the muddled, incoherent, 'I couldn't care less about Everton as this is just a stepping stone to the Barca job' Koeman vein, or the turgid, soul-destroying uninspiring crap which Fat Sam served up.

Yes, this has indeed been another 'spendfest'. But surely rather that than the no funds, no hope, no idea what's going on ethos of so, so many previous years.

You have to remember that Marco Silva has 'inherited' a 'train crash' by virtue of Koeman/Walsh's illogical forays into the Transfer Market.

Rather than possibly be escaping relegation come the end of the season, he had to re-enforce the squad.

As for our own youngsters, it cannot be said that he didn't give them every chance to show their worth in pre-season, only Connolly and to a lesser degree Dowell, showed brief glimpses of their potential, but at the same time showing they are not ready for a Prem season.

Last year we got foreign rubbish -what's to say it's not the same again !

It is true of any incoming player or manager that, no matter their age, ability, potential or previous history, no one - no one at all - comes with gilt-edged guarantees that they can be a success on arrival at Everton.

Conversely, because previous trumpeted signings failed to live up to their hype doesn't mean you can derive from that with any degree of certainty as both of you attempt to imply that THIS year's recruits will follow a similar path.

Feel free to be as curmudgeonly as you like.

Me? I'll enjoy the very fine work the recruitment team achieved in a very short time and in extremely challenging conditions. Such enjoyment may well be misplaced. However, I have no intention of suppressing my current joy until evidence suggests otherwise.

The season kicks off tomorrow with all teams equal. If you can't indulge in romantic optimism now before a ball is kicked in anger, when can you..?

As true as it is that we've yet to see whether or not these new signings are the new Arteta or new Klaasen, surely there is little debate about whether or not we are far stronger after this window than before. At least we KNOW that the players Silva inherited cannot perform so why shouldn't there be grounds for optimism?

Whether all or none of these players gel, only the most curmudgeonly curmudgeon wouldn't want to applaud the work Marcel Brands has done. He appears to be Everton's best signing in a long while.

I'm expecting Bernard to be our star performer this year as he's absolute class. Richarlson will cause havoc on the left and Bernard will make great use of the space created, as I can see teams doubling up on Richarlson. It will be very interesting to see the team chosen by Silva tomorrow because it will bear little resemblance to the team line up in October, unless they start to pull their tripe out, which is something they've failed to do for us, never mind 3 managers and a caretaker manager over the past three seasons.

So please EFC players make us proud and put Wolves to the sword.

Is it a brood?

Club spend 㿙M and they are just going to sell him on for a massive loss? No Chance!

And apart from that, he is an excellent player who I, for one, want him in the starting eleven every week.

Jeff - I know Tom Davies has been frankly awful of late but I'd not write him off entirely. He has the ingredients, just needs the coaching.

Have missed your clear bright pales of reason. If it is not too 'happy clappy' please reveal the formidable powers of logic in your assessments of what Brands and Silva should have done this short transfer window?

Or is it just people having renewed hope that irritates you?

We do seem to be in the minority with Zouma and Keane but I really do think Keane will come good.

As much as I'd love a fellow scouser to make it at Everton, I, and I believe a lot of fellow blues, think he is just not good enough at Premier League level. Sorry but I have written him off.

I think the collective noun is 'former-Liverpool-defender-turned-pundit'.

(See: Thompson, Hansen, Lawrenson, Beglin plus a bonus couple of midfielders in Souness and Danny Murphy)

Bolasie, Sandro, Mirallas, Williams, Besic, Martina, Vlasic, Galloway are all finished. And I'd think Jagielka, Baines, Keane, Niasse, McCarthy, and Schneiderlin can't be far behind.

Now for a winning start.

I could almost forgive those who struggled to spell Deleofufu no Delefefou wait er Deulofeu... fuck it.

A knew a lovely champion curmudgeon moaner. A great lad, and an Olympic standard moaner. People loved him for his moaning as they knew they would never hear moaning like it again, it was savoured. Come to think of it it was probably his heroin addiction that sharpened it.

Moaners with exceptional talent are Teflon coated to any sort of criticism and carry on regardless. They are like a freight train carrying a hundred trucks of gripe. Nothing is going to stop it reaching its destination. The moans must be delivered, the moanmentum is unstoppable.

It's 'Fella' not 'Fellah', unless you are talking about a farmer from the Middle East or North Africa. (Had to google it to be sure)

I agree with your remarks about Bollasie but strongly disagree with your opinion of Bolasie.

Sorry, Derek T, but if you think that is a valid point you must believe that Brands and Silva are not only absolute idiots but bone idle as well. Their livelihoods rely on the fact that they know far more about players like these than 99.9% of the footballing community.

Scouting players is the be all and end all for Brands. Of course he knows about fringe players at clubs like Barcelona, or Bernard looking to step up his career having earned his fortune already in the Ukraine. Silva brought Richarlison to England in the first place and being Portuguese is likely to know a lot about Gomes.

Sorry, of course you are right and they've just gratefully grabbed any old player the agents have shoved in front of them.

That aside, this blinkered muppet Lawrenson usually ‘punts' against the Blues. I'd love to see some analysis of it, but I reckon since he started predicting Premier League results as ‘fun' piece with some celeb or other, we would be in the Vanerama League by now based on his insights.

What a prick! Next time I see him in Waitrose in Formby, he's getting my free coffee over his head.

What a pair of gobshites they are!

(Do cricketers wear caps? Beanies? Helmets?)

By the way, the best comment I've heard about [Test] cricket, was from an American friend, who said: 'Only the English could invent a game, where 11 men stand in a field for a week, and don't get a result'!!

Everyone was crying out for centre backs, a left back, a winger or two and we got them, for a fairly reasonable net spend. This after years of "we need six" but get two crocked midfielders, or in OFFFM's case, some odd little foreign chap for buttons and a bloke he found kicking tins in Oldham whilst out shopping.

Bernard is a player who has attracted a lot of interest for years, Brands knows exactly who they all are, its his job and he is by all accounts good at it. I know that optimism is anathema on TW, but maybe, just maybe, these guys actually know what they are doing.

Oh, and I would think its a curdle of curmudgeons.

That is from a nation who invent a game that to actually get a hit they increase the number of innings so much so they don't get a hit all day or evening and then have to have to invent something called an 8th innings stretch .

Moronic game enough said of the Trump Nation .

I have an ex wife like that

She has even perfected the art of saying something ridiculous and then later making it out that I have said it . taking the species to another level .

;-)

Yes it will take time - as it did for Pep and Klopp - a season at least for each but the signs are there . just some patience and support especially from the TW Brood .