Brazilian dynamo Allan promises to be Ancelotti's midfield linchpin

I also hope that Allan, Doucouré and Gomes play as three. They are all different and could complement each other superbly. Visions of Carsley, Tommy Gravesen and the Blue Kangaroo...

You put 'they' but for me in that situation 'they' is probably plural used for he/ she.

Lyndon, it seems like you are getting lost in this hysteria surrounding Carlo and perpetuating these myths that circle around Toffeeeweb. Allan played his best football under Sarri where he was given more licence and produced the best stats of his career with decent assists and goals to boot.

He was decent in his first season under Carlo but this season his form was poor long before the manager left the club, indeed he was having his worst season at the club under Carlo. Gattuso was just more ruthless and dropped the player.

It's not that he can't get back to his best under Carlo that I take umbrage with, it's the "likely" assumption which has no basis.

Really pleased about the signing. I think Allan will allow others the opportunity to shine. And take some of the often constant pressure off our backline. Hopefully, other players will take note of his work ethic and commitment.

You're confusing Gueye's name with his nationality. He is from Senegal, not Ghana.

As for "getting lost in this hysteria surrounding Carlo", I've had plenty of criticism for him since he arrived so don't have a blind faith in his abilities to turn us around but the basis of this piece is how he (Carlo), as someone they know, stands the best chance of improving the form of the likes of Allan and Rodriguez. Put bluntly, they wouldn't be joining us if they didn't think so themselves.

Kieran [7], thanks for catching that weird subconscious slip. I, of course, know Gueye is from Senegal. My brain must have made some strange connection based on his middle name, as you say!

I agree Allan was better for Sarri. He moved Allan ahead of the more attack-minded Jorginho. Sarri's idea was to have Jorginho in a position to get on the ball deeper and to initiate the attacks and for Fabian and Allan to defend higher up the pitch and win the ball in dangerous positions.

Allan is not a great passer, but he's competent and he kept the ball moving quickly for Sarri. By winning the ball in dangerous positions he was also able to get goals and assists.

My takeaway from this is the slow attack-minded Jorginho is not a million miles from André Gomes. If Allan plays the way he did for Sarri, then Gomes is behind him and Doucouré alongside him as they defend higher up the pitch.

Ancelotti kept things how Sarri left them, and changed things slowly. It was the early part of the first season that was better for Napoli, and where I believe Allan played well, even without Jorginho, who left with Sarri for Chelsea.

It remains to be seen what Carlo will do and If we will in fact confirm the other two imminent transfers. Allan is very keen to link up with Ancelotti and I think Carlo has spelled out a plan to him. But today's 4-4-2 does not fit in with the above. There's been no real signs of a shift to 4-3-3 in pre-season.

Allan was in the winning team only three times under Carlo in the league this season and continued to struggle under Gattuso like the rest of the team. Napoli have won 12 of their last 18 games since but I think that's as much to do with the mess Ancelotti left them in than a reflection of Gattuso not getting the best out of Allan.

As to your new assertion where you throw Rodriguez into the mix, I don't dispute that he played some of his best stuff under the Italian, my issue was your suggestion Allan did when this has been by all accounts his worst season since he came to Italy.

You now argue "they wouldn't be joining us if they didn't think so themselves". To me this is more conjecture. Of course the Brazilian would want to work with Ancelotti, a man who he likes and admires, he will be guaranteed football with little pressure, we are daft enough to give a 3-year contract even though he is 30 in January and he will be getting £100k a week which he wouldn't get in Italy.

I read today that Conte wanted him at Milan, but couldn't afford him and that Atletico Madrid was interested too. They may prove to be unsubstantiated rumours; however, until the player has at least worn an Everton jersey in battle. Wouldn't it be fairer to judge him on what he does, rather than on what we'll think he'll do?

I will support any player when he puts on the blue shirt regardless of previous thoughts but it doesn't mean if reports are correct that I will jump for joy at the club spending Seventy million which is most likely dead money, won't in my opinion further our ambitions, could mean we stockpile more deadwood, on essentially lame racehorses that need rejuvenating.

With those funds we could have cornered the market for someone like Jack Grealish, had a player who would transform us, a guaranteed success who would perform straight away and possibly for the next decade were we able to match his ambitions.

So far everything that I was worried about in appointing Carlo has come to fruition but until now there were no long term consequences. However with these types of signings I can only see damage to the club.

I'm trying, hard, to stay positive, but money is a big persuader!!

What would you have offered him, month-to-month? Brands got him far cheaper – and on a shorter deal – than any of us were initially anticipating. But why let that get in the way of the rant you clearly had lined up and ready to go?

He's 29, which will make him 32 in 3 years time... the same age as Gareth Barry when he first came here on loan. Personally, I would have liked the option to extend to a fourth year written into the contract.

Do you honestly think (if the rumours are true) that Atletico Madrid or Inter Milan (or any other buying club for that matter) would've offered Allan less than a 3-year contract?

If anyone truly believes he refused Juventus and Inter Milan, considering he has won nothing in his club career, in order to be with Carlo, then that's their prerogative.

We could moan at his age, sell-on value etc etc. But he will bring something that has been sorely lacking from our midfield: presence, courage, and energy.

All year players could essentially waltz through our midfield without the slightest of problems. We couldn't press, we couldn't tackle, we couldn't close down... nothing. And this destroyed the whole team, we dropped ever deeper, the wide players were drawn inwards because the midfielders just couldn't give us a chance to hold any shape.

Allen will provide energy, impetuous, and dynamism to our midfield. He may not create a million chances, nor score, but his being there will give the other players a better chance of doing so.

Doucouré should complete that transformation. I feel we'll then play with a 3, and the battle will commence between Davies, Gomes and Iwobi to get that 3rd starting place.

I don't expect any huge leaps into Champions League just yet, but a competent team performance would be a huge improvement on recent seasons.

If we end up wanting to sell somebody before their contract ends (and once the contract ends, he's a free agent), it's either because they've been a complete failure or conversely they've been a massive success.

If they've been a failure, then there isn't going to be much sell-on value. If they've been a massive success, I wouldn't want to get rid.

But of course it's your prerogative if you believe teams like Juventus or Inter Milan etc are just not interested in this crap Brazilian international.

I'm not going to get carried away by any of these three however they do, on paper, improve our midfield considerably. Seeing is believing though I'll leave it until I've watched a few games before judging.

Rome, nor success was'nt built over night, but some would want instant success, over night, and some can't see any hope, if instant success is not achieved.

You earn the right to play on the Park, and this where EFC, are starting from, now.

As we've had no midfield of effect for years, albeit a couple of individual midfield success, but as a unit, nothing.

Success isn't instant anywhere unless your very lucky. Please give some realism, to what's expected and could be achieved, but EFC, will at least have a proper squad, this season, led by a proven, player, and manager.

So let's consider, who, where we are, and want to go.

Reality check, but the club is trying to rebuild.

Seriously, when your in that Creek, we've all been in, in the course of life, you don't wait for meals from Harrods, and Pennies from Heaven. You dig in.

Fair play to Marcel, and The EFC Board, if these transfers all come off.

Talk about resale value in context is interesting, as it will be proven, if the team is successful. So play and support for success now.

All to their own values and views, which are respected, but we want a successful team on the Park, the commercial and player resale values, would follow.

Time to get behind EFC, and support, like as ever, as this is gonna be our next time, else God knows, when.

But I guess after months of going laughing at fans who suggested Carlo could attract better players than Duncan Ferguson, I guess you need something to moan about.

There are no guarantees in football, but a 3 year contract for a 29 year old seems very reasonable. Fernandinho, Silva, Barry, Milner are just a few examples of central midfielders who thrive well into their thirties.

Yes, Allen has been bought for the here and now, and at 29 is in the prime of his career.

Our midfield was easily walked through last season, time and time again and it badly needs 2 reinforcements. Carlo seems to have identified that issue, and gone for 2 players to solve that issue.

Where would Grealish come in? He is an attacking midfielder. A winger. Maybe a no10. He ain't a box to.box. he ain't a ball winner. He ain't anything that we desperately need, especially at his 60+ million price.

Grit, fight, and proven flair, rather, than potential, to the enquired, as EFC, is in a very tough street fight, in context of staying in the mix in EPL, terms.

On to a result at Spurs, fekk, the rest.

I hope by him leading by example it will rub off on the people around him.

If Doucoure signs our midfield starts to look a bit gnarly all of sudden. We have lacked a combative aggressive midfielder for a while now and as a result we've been a soft touch and often get overrun in midfield.

P.S. the French press at the time, said that PSG were proposing to sell Julian Draxler to Spurs for £40m to fund the purchase of Allan.

Guyere was a good player at Everton in comparison to those around him at that time, which included defensive players. His strength was his high tackle rate without injury , but his one obvious weakness was to try unsuccessful long passes, which I though was because he had to defend so deep and being unsupported playing for Everton.

There was often a chorus on ToffeeWeb who wanted him gone, but others who thought that if he were gone that the midfield would collapse, which it did.

I personally though that when he went to PSG his passing would come into focus and would say he has had problems as PSG as a result.

In the meantime Evertons defence has improved and the collapsed midfield is being partly sorted, hopefully starting with PSG first choice Allan who is better at passing the ball, than Guyere

Thank you for letting me know about PSG interest at that time, which I was unaware of. Guyere won't be coming back to Everton.

"With those funds we could have cornered the market for someone like Jack Grealish, had a player who would transform us... "

Just like he transformed Villa? Grealish is a 'luxury' player and exactly what we don't need at the moment.

I don't recall even arguing with anyone whether Carlo would attract players or not, let alone laugh at them. My opposition to him was about his methods improving us and whether he would bring success with his outdated approach.

Fran, the word 'transform' may have been wrong but my point was only that, for the money we are paying, that's the quality we could sign who would massively improve us. I find it rich of you to be critiquing me about the impact Grealish would make in terms of balance of the team when, after selling Gana and not retaining Zouma and signing the likes of Delph and Iwobi, you were confidently predicting a top six finish this season.

I hope that everyone in this thread will be right and he will be an amazing player for us and I will happily eat humble pie.

Personally, having watched him over the years, I still don't know what he is; much like Iwobi or Bernard, he is certainly not a defensive midfielder. Those jumping on the Brazilian International boast, well he has 9 caps so we aren't exactly signing Dunga. Our own Jo has 20 in a more competitive team.

When PSG wanted the player, Napoli had finished 2nd in their league for the previous two seasons; this season, he has had a poor campaign... so I doubt any of these big clubs have been competing against us after he has been struggling in a mid-table team in a mediocre Italian League.

Also, the claim that he only joined us because of the offer of a 3-year contract – evidence? He did turn down interest from Dortmund and Atletico Madrid to join us. Also, as Nicholas @ 44, he was the focus of interest from PSG who only switched to Gueye because of Allan's valuation by Napoli. But, let's not allow facts to get in the way of someone's own internal narrative.

Ancelotti might not be successful at Everton and Allan might prove to be a poor signing, but I suggest those who are determined to argue they will fail before they are given a chance perhaps wait and see. Results will decide.

Update: Oops, sorry, was reading from top to bottom and didn't see that Conor had already refuted that charge. No intent to pile on.

Take Martin's real fears about what we were promised under Brands. Your immediate response was to theorise that we need experience to back up Ancelotti's wishes to go against the policy outlined for the club and that our failures last season were because of signing prospects rather than ready-made players.

Firstly we struggled due to the two players we let go and the experience and quality brought in not being up to scratch. Only Kean was a signing that wasn't ready-made and Delph was bought for that purpose.

Now we clearly struggled because of a poor window; we had to rely on inexperienced players like Holgate, Davies and Gordon yet they coped admirably. However, if you look at the predicted starting line-up without the three amigos for this season:

Pickford 26, Coleman 31, Keane 27, Holgate turning 24, Digne 27, Gomes 26, Richarlison 23, Calvert-Lewin 23.

The youngest player in that line up is the Brazilian who was 23 in May and these players have plenty of Premier League experience with the exception of Holgate.

To emphasise the point, of Leipzig's regular outfield starting line up which reached the Champions League semi-final only Sabitzer, Klostermann and Werner (26, 24, 24) are older than our youngest Richarlison.

In my opinion, our team is lacking quality, balance, intensity and leadership – not experience and I'm not sure more aged players will address any of these deficiencies. I do agree Allan will indeed bring presence and Rodriguez certainly doesn't lack quality... but whether he will still able to produce it is anyone's guess.

As for them being 'aged' players, James is 29 years old), Allan is 29 years old and Doucoure is 27 years old so I don't think that they are too old. I also don't honestly think Jack Grealish is the answer to any question we have about the squad.

But, I always find your posts patient, calm and measured even when I don't agree with most of them. So let's see how it plays out.

I have seen a lot of this guy. He is a good tenacious player but I'm slightly underwhelmed. Anybody expecting the "new Peter Reid" is in for a major disappointment. He's not in that class.

Signing players who have their best days behind them may see us climb a couple of places, but it will not see us trouble the top group. Not even in the short term if they are not from the very top draw.

If Jack Grealish went up for sale, he would fetch about four times as much. Not just because he's younger, but because he has far more talent.

A decent signing but one I would welcome with an outstretched hand rather than a blast of the trumpet.

While I dare say the wages are part of it, surely also a significant factor now is the pulling power of Carlo himself.

Jack Grealish will not get bought by a top 6 team because he is just another Fancy Dan. He will stay at Aston Villa forever.

It seems we have bought a player with some versatility that can sit back as a 6 or play box to box. Regardless, welcome, my man, I am with you all the way. Now let's get those other targets. I'm really hoping for outgoings too.

I'm not sure I ever said Allan was necessarily a defensive midfielder strictly speaking but I did disagree with Steve Ferns when he said he wasn't much of a tackler!

Allan has played a lot as a box-to-box player but he's always put a lot of tackles in and was used by Ancelloti in a slightly less-advanced role than under Sarri.

Allan will not necessarily sit and screen the back 4 (though I think he could) but he will go out and hunt the ball, which is what I remember Gueye doing for us; though Steve (and I think Conor McCourt) rejected this comparison.

Hopefully, Allan's dynamism and versatility will mean Carlo can play him in a couple of roles, with either 3 in the middle or 2.

I don't think we need to replace Gana if we are playing these systems. Doucoure, Allan (and maybe Gbamin) can fortify the midfield slightly further up the pitch well I hope so anyway.

I think we will go in for a new right-back, I'm less sure we will now be after a centre-back and a right-midfielder. I wouldn't be surprised if we only signed one more after our new Holy Trinity, maybe that will be a loan.

Yet also bringing in a couple of youngsters who have shown glimpses they may become top class in to the first team set up. Brands has brought in Gibson, Branthwaite and the new French lad who seems to have something about him. How much did they cost combined? £6M?

As for Grealish, there's a reason he's still at Aston Villa and Man Utd bought a player from a far inferior league for £40M thinking he was a better bet.

The lad is not easy to knock off the ball. Nice little YouTube link, I hope he works like this for us.

Allan is a good signing. I've been really puzzled by people saying in recent days that he is not a good tackler, is technically limited and, of course, ‘old'.

Conor in particular seems all over the shop in his assessment of the player, bracketing him as someone who ‘won't further our ambitions', making a bizarre comparison to Jo on the number of Brazilian caps won, whilst also saying he doesn't watch much Italian Serie A football but emboldened enough to say ‘having watched him over the years, I still don't know what he is.'

Well, this is what he is. And if he brings his ‘A' game to Everton, I am confident he will become a crowd favourite.

He is not an out-and-out defensive midfielder, but can drop in there as the game situation demands. There is more to his game than that. He is high energy. Plays between the two boxes well. Tactically astute. He reads the game well. He can seek-and-destroy and put out fires before they start.

His short game is excellent. He is an absolute terrier in competing for the ball. Think Bobby Collins and Alan Ball. In winning the ball or retaining it, seemingly surrounded in tight areas, it is astonishing how many times he comes out with the ball.

Medium height and stocky, he has a particular technique that helps him first win then retain the ball. Somehow, he gets between the player and the ball and with his hip, thigh or backside; he makes it difficult for the opponent to retain or win the ball back from him.

Once he gets the ball, his International manager Tite describes him well as having ‘rodinha no pé' – ‘wheels on his feet'. That is, he is very nimble on the ball. Tite also described Allan as ‘dynamic'. Carlo spoke in the same terms after the Preston game yesterday.

He will get in and around the opposition penalty area much more than Gana Gueye ever did and – as already mentioned – his short game is excellent. Expect to see him slide in some really telling passes, even Ronaldinho-like, with blind ‘look-the-other-way' passes a defence doesn't expect.

But the biggest reason I anticipate him becoming a Goodison favourite is his commitment. He only plays with one thing in mind. To win. Not just the game, but every tackle, header, throw-in, corner, free-kick.

He will be better with supporters in attendance and we will be better with him in the team.

As for Conor's throwaway line about how few Brazilian caps he has won as opposed to Jo, a couple of points:

1) In his entire career, he has been competing for a place in the Brazilian team with the likes of Real Madrid's Casimiro and Man City's Fernandinho. As good as Allan is, who would be your first picks of those 3 players?

2) Jo plays an entirely different position to Allan. Yes, he won 20 caps to Allan's 9. And…? 17 of those 20 caps came in two years, 2013-14, under former Brazilian manager Felipe Scolari. He featured in the Confederation Cup in 2013 then in the Brazilian World Cup of the following year.

Of course, all the attention and hope was on the Wunderkind, Neymar Jr, to carry Brazil to success. But wiser judges were concerned that Brazil fielded arguably their weakest strike force ever at a World Cup in Jo and the waning Fred. The pair got one goal between them at Brazil 2014.

Jo was never again selected for Brazil by any manager since 2014.

Finally, like other posters, I can't agree with Conor's idea that we could benefit more from spending the £70 million budget he quotes on landing the three well-publicised targets by going for the single ‘transformational' signing of Jack Grealish.

That smacks of Fantasy Football Manager to me.

If we didn't offer more than anyone else was prepared to, they would not have sold him to us.

Allan is on the back of some really poor performances. At this stage of his career, he was not expecting somebody to come along and offer him a big pay rise. Of course he was going to sign.

I'm a big fan of Carlo, but "Pulling power"? In today's game? Too much money involved, mate.

Sorry but, in my opinion, Dave Abraham's argument is far more convincing than yours. This is a decent player, but not a top one.

Once Carlo has us in a more prominent position, we may not be held to ransom as easily as we are now. In the meantime, we will continue to pay well over what other clubs are prepared to pay. The only pulling power we have these days is Moshiri"s wallet.

He was actually dropped for 'walking in training'. This after not being happy that Carlo was sacked in the first place, leading a player strike and being refused a transfer to PSG and then Milan.

Given we have then signed him for a third of what PSG offered and only €4M more than we offered in January (having been quoted €40M), I'm not sure in this instance it was money that was the attraction. Playing, being wanted by his manager and club and the Premier League were probably the biggest attraction. I think our bargaining power was that the player clearly said it was Everton or nowhere and left Napoli with no real bargaining power as they wanted him off the books.

You only have to listen to the Lille owner talking about having to sell players to Arsenal for less money than offered elsewhere (because the players, Pepe and Gabriel, were adamant they wanted to go there and nowhere else) to see that player power is absolute.

I genuinely think this guy is going to become a cult hero for us pretty quickly.

I didn't mention Allan being dropped. In fact I don't believe he was. I think he suffered several niggling injuries.

I don't go for sensational newspaper rumours, certainly not ones that suggest PSG offered 60m for him. Napoli would have snatched their hand off.
I do hope you are right though and he becomes an Instant cult hero. Heaven knows we need one. If he grabs the winner against Liverpool, the fee we paid would suddenly look chicken feed.
I May even have a couple of quid on him to bag a debut goal.

Brent

I do take your point. I just feel we could sign players without Carlo, but we couldn't do it without the money