Ancelotti expecting big impact from Allan

Everybody does, of course, but this guy definitely cuts a particularly snazzy figure in our shirt.

Looking forward to seeing how a midfielder with energy and aggression plays. Who was the last player on our books to fit that description?

It wasn't that long ago, that South American players (especially from Brazil) are seen as not tough enough to handle the rumble and tumble of the Premier League.

Now, our best bet for a midfield enforcer, is from the land of Samba football... : )

Interesting, isn't it?

I will also try to find odds on Marco Silva being the next Barcelona boss as soon as he takes over the Portuguese national team.

Can't wait to see him in action, though, whatever he looks like.

He was the top tackler in Serie A the last 2 seasons I believe. He's basically Gana – see ball, get ball. The kid loves a tackle, he even celebrates them like he scored a goal.

Seriously, Allan will be a canny signing for that fee, the guy has been around the block and he's very much the type of player we have missed since Gana left, he may well prove to be a step-up again but let's wait and see first.

Every signing is a risk but there was no logical way that we could go again with that midfield from last season.

Nowadays, Everton has a distinctly South American feel – with 3 Brazilians and 2 Colombians (fingers crossed). It is high time Everton started making people sit up and take notice with our performances and results. We have underperformed for far too long.

By rights now, with the international talent we possess, we should be performing far better than we have done in recent years.

The time for being overly patient needs to stop and we need to start showing ourselves as a force that should be reckoned with.

No more fear of going away to the top six – take em' on! Other clubs like Southampton and Palace – go to these venues with the mentality that Everton Football Club should go there with but so often don't.

It's time to start rocking a few boats!

It may mean plenty of yellow cards until he learns and settles into Premier league life but he's definitely a quality player. A defensive minded energetic midfielder with a bit of pace and aggression.

Allan and James will probably take a bit of time to adapt to the Premier League but, on the face of it, they are clear improvements over the current players.

I'd love to get off to a flyer with the 3 new lads at the weekend but I would also quite happily accept steady improvement over the next 3 months. I'm realistic about the impact of a rip and replace on the midfield and the time it might take for players to gel.

What I am excited about is that Carlo has not only helped us move decisively to fix a massive problem but also clearly enabled us to engage a higher quality of signing already. Can you imagine us talking to players of the quality of these three at any time recently?

I never thought I'd see an Everton team line up with 50% of the team being South American. How times change hopefully for the better.

He's basically Gana – see ball, get ball.

Me and another TW 'Merican were impressed with Gana when there were a lot of naysayers. Me and another TW 'Merican were distraught when Gana left, and knew we had a big, big problem filling that hole. Being narcissistic as hell as it's all about me and another American's opinion being spot on about Gana in all respects, I'm hoping me and another TW 'Merican are two thumbs up on Allan when we see him play in Blue. He's filling a hole in our squad that your cousins across the pond have been screaming needs addressing.

Mike [said 'other American previously noted] can speak for himself, but I think he'd agree with the above.

We need, need, need this guy. No one in our midfield presently can do what this dude purportedly can do. He will instantaneously make us a better side.

Self-absorption dictates you ignore proper English and start sentences with "Me" and not "Person X and I". Thought I'd mention that, too.

The improvement I hope to see is better ball retention in midfield, especially when we move forward. Gana was top class at getting the ball back but he had far too much to do!

Will be interesting to see how that tactical approach and the new personnel translates to a style of football.

Also in the papers today I see Klopp is moaning that they are not like the clubs owned by countries and oligarchs. He seems to be saying that the lack of crowds is having a huge effect on what he can do in the transfer market, he says they cant change their model overnight. So if crowds arent allowed back till next March then it seems there spending will be greatly curtailed.