Gibson's Reading loan confirmed

Can't be any worse than Yerry across the Mersey today.
Wow, it was particularly bad from a player I have always defended
I think a Centre half is even more urgent than 12.29pm today

He needs to be playing competitive football so this is a good opportunity for him to prove himself.

This must mean we have a centre-back lined up to come in over the next few days.

Good move for Gibson. Good standard at Reading. Just need a season long stop gap. Quite a good one.

Only worry with Reading is playing time. They've started well so they may be loath to change a winning team. But hopefully it works out for all parties

Should have been on the bench today. Arguably on the pitch even, after Mina's ghastly performance.

Hopefully works out better than it did for Virginia.

A full season in the Championship with a good, competitive team and he'll be ready for next season.

Get a loan for the first team.

I'm disappointed he hasn't figured in a competitive 1st team squad. He can cover centre-back and left-back, still another step up for him from Fleetwood last season.

No no no no no no!

If he's going there MUST be a cb incoming within the week.

I sincerely hope this a decision we will not later come to regret, only my humble opinion (btw), but I think, as promising as Branthwaite is, I believe Lewis Gibson is better at this stage of both of their respective careers.

I thought Mina today (hopefully he had a one-off bad day) was suspect/circumspect in doing the simple things, and was almost a liability in defence.

What is more frightening is that should he pick up an injury, which he is prone to, do we have a reliable centre-back to stand in capably?

What must Lewis be thinking? I have watched this lad in the U23s and, although it is a far way from the Premier League, but he looks to have it!

Carlo and Marcel must have a centre half coming in for sure if they are allowing Gibson to go on loan.
I also think there could be other activity for other positions too as I don't think we have finished in the transfer market yet

There has to be another centre back coming whether Gibson goes or not, Mina and Keane will be the downfall of any Everton revival, ones bad enough, to have the two of them, especially together will never do.

I think Keane is going to be a fixture and he has definitely improved, but he doesn't like fast tricky forwards and needs someone with pace alongside him. The loan deal for the guy from Chelsea?

Clive, agree Tomori would be ideal, but I keep reading that either Chelsea want to keep him, or he may go somewhere else (Rennes). However if there is a chance I would try to get an option to buy built in, otherwise we a Kurt Zouma situation (with the same Club).

There is also another Brazilian lad Gleison Bremer 6' 2", 23 years old currently at Torino who we may have a chance of getting. He's quick, muscular and improving, he would also fit in well with the Blue Brazil Contingent!

Clive & Derek - I can't see Chelsea doing a deal with us for Tomori. Why would they want to help us?

I may be getting cynical but I have formed the opinion that we should, nine times out of ten, do our business with non premier league clubs.

We need to be on guard here. It would delight Chelsea to string us along over Tomori and leave us high and dry. They know our season would suffer for it.

We must have a deadline this week so that allows us to pursue quality alternatives like Bremer in good time.

Mina stood off for the first goal but that apart he certainly did not have the stinker people are saying he had.

If Mina and Keane stay fit and play together they will improve. Thats what we need, and the same sort of patience the management showed with dcl. They will also improve with Allan in front of them.

Apart from that l would have liked to have seen Gibson on the bench at least for the midweek match. Carlo obviously doesnt think he's ready so hopefully he plays a lot of football and comes back stronger for it.

Injuries in key defensive positions could stop our progress in its tracks.

I am sure the powers that be are aware of this.

Otherwise if one of the centre backs is injured on Wednesday what is the plan? Re-register David Unsworth?

Someone must be coming. Will Digne fill in on Wednesday with Nkounkou at left back again ?

Good for Gibson as long as he plays.

I appreciate it would be good to give Gibson a good run at a Championship Club but the priority now should be Everton and what's best for us. Holgate and Branthwaite out. Mina has been injury prone.

No sign of a centre-half coming in on loan and looking at the Chelsea lad today, he seems quite a way off the pace. Surely we can keep Gibson until we get someone in? Or at least keep him until the last day of the window.

You'd hang on until after Wednesday's trip to Fleetwood if you had the choice.

I'd be inclined to start him in front of one of our starting CB's who need to be bubble wrapped until next Saturday.

Good as our latest three signings have been over two games, I suggest that Moshiri spunking a quarter billion nicker, minimum, since he bought us, to no effect at all in improving us, will now stymy our attempt to invade his promised intrusion, when he bought in, spouting his much-trumpeted 3-year project, into the top four.

That said, to me, this season has for once in decades indicated a basis for some confidence that professionalism has at last made its presence felt at Finch Farm. I'll therefore give it 3 years from now to achieve what he and we wanted and needed from the get-go.

This would be a very strange thing to happen if we haven't got another CB arriving from somewhere. Tomori doesn't seem likely as he played for Chelsea earlier so must play some part in their plans.
A case of wait and see what develops in the next week?

Tosin Adarabioyo, from Man City is another under consideration, and at 6' 5" is not only an imposing figure but is also English, so may appeal.

He lives in the Manchester area, so no issues about work permits or moving house so he may well get the vote if City are actually willing to let him go, haven't seen how long his contract is or how much any fee would be.

Si
I think Gibson is due to sign for Reading today and the Fleetwood game is Wednesday
I really think we should hold back on this one until the picture becomes clearer regarding bringing in centre half cover.
The Club is far more important than Reading and Gibson going right now

We send a very promising young player on loan to get some experience in a lower league and bring in another Premiership teams youngster in the same position to give him experience in the Premiership. Call me old fashioned but has common sense died in this country. Letting our own gain experience in a "home" environment may just not have him crucified for the least little mistake ie Branthwaite debut he made a mistake then got on with it with his OWN team mates around him.

Len, I would guess any loanee has to become accepted by their temporary teammates in any case.
Think it is a case of professional players wanting the team as a whole to be successful. Think of the likes of Landon Donovan who was cherished even though he wasn't due to stay.
I think the most important thing is where the player is in their development. Playing either too far below or too far above their current abilities is what is potentially damaging for their progression.

I hope Gibson stays and doesn't go to Reading of all places. We sent Virginia there last season and they played him twice, setting his development back. If he does go, there has to be a major financial hit for Reading if they choose not to play him when available.

Sending him on loan is reckless, given our recent injury record with centre backs. It reminds me of Koeman, loaning out Garbutt, Robinson, Galloway and having only one left back in the Europa squad, not counting Martina as a left back. We could have to play JonJoe or Digne there in PL matches if Mina gets an injury.

Derek@24, Adarabayio makes sense to me. Tall, quick and has been good in 2 seasons in the championship. Lots of City fans are loathe to let him go which bodes well. He'd probably cost between £6-11m which is doable.

It would be strange to let Gibson go when we are so short at the back. I can't see Tomori coming and both Holgate and Brainthwaite are 6 weeks away minimum. Perhaps you could play Digne there (he's surprisingly decent in the air) and use Nkoukou at LB but there don't seem alot of options.

Frank,

If you read the reports about Virginia's performances when he got to Reading, you will understand why he only played twice. They lost their first two games and he was at fault for at least one of the goals in each of them. Then they won a League Cup tie with the reserve goalie saving penalties and he was out of the team.

Reading didn't want to play him - for the reason they could not rely upon him.

Sam, I think Gibson must be deemed in need of some competitive games at Championship level before being ready. That's fair enough. No point exposing the kid before he's ready.

Shame that Holgate, Branthwaite and Gbamin are injured. We shouldn't really need a new centre half but the luck is against us.

Tomori or Adarabioyo look likeliest candidates but could honestly see something random like (don't hate me) David Luiz on a free just to get us through the injury crisis.

Ps. Final thought to Gylfi and family. Shocking news and he must be completely traumatised at a personal level.

Sam, Robert I agree Adarabioyo is the most likely now. That's if he is prepared to fight for his place, he may want a guaranteed starting berth at a lower club. The competition will be fierce once Mason and Jarrad are back in a month or two.

A name that keeps reoccurring is Nikola Maksimović of Napoli. He is entering the final year of his contract and Carlo knows him [which is a good pointer].

We could be after him now or on a free next summer with a January pre-contract. If that's the case then a mature stop gap for a year could be an option. There must be a few reliable defensive mercenaries that would love to come to us for a year.

It,s reported that Rudiger is unhappy at Chelsea where he has yet to be selected for the first team. Now there's an enforcer of a centre half. How much would he cost I wonder ?

Tony #32, interesting shout. Maksimović is another tall CB, almost as big as Mina. He's very good, but if we're looking for CBs with pace (and we are), he ain't it.

Robert #31, I don't hate you, just the suggestion.

Thoughts with Gylfi and family.

Tony,
I was thinking exactly the same thing. I watched Chelsea quite a bit over the last few seasons and to me Rudiger looks to be their best CB. I was thinking he was injured until I read an article this morning saying he wants out.

I think Lampard is leaning too far towards youth especially at CB where experience and a bit of nous is needed.

I also understand Tomori is available again although having watched him in a couple of Shalke games he does not inspire me with confidence.

The City lad is a good shout because he has had a couple of years in the championship and came away with good reports.

Dont know much about Bremer except he looks a beast of a man but didnt we say that about Yerry.

Maksimovic looks a bit lumbering to me. And will cost about £15 to £20m, I expect. That's a bit much for a presumably unbudgeted for stop gap.

There's Ezequiel Garay - 33 year old Argentinian with good credentials - and released from contract already.

Someone like that may be the answer.

Mike - if you hated the idea of David Luiz, then brace yourself for inevitable rumours of Phil Jones...

The difficulty in bringing in another C.B in, is most of the names mentioned seem to want a move for more playing time. At Everton they are looking for a back up to Keane, Mina and when they are fit, Holgate and Braithwaite. So unless who we sign is a lot better than the fore mentioned, they will not get the playing time in the first team that they seem to want, and they will be a squad member with no guarantees of regular playing time.

I'm not sure CB is any area where we need to spend big on. I'd be happy with Mina, Keane, Holgate and Branthwaite with Gibson on a call back clause. Gbamin to hopefully come back soon too!?

I'm with Drew I'd be wanting Gibson to play on Wednesday with Mina to give Keane a breather!

I think anybody that comes in will definitely have the opportunity to move above Mina in the pecking order, eepcially if they have a bit of pace.

If Carlo had got Gabriel over the summer he'd have been straight into the starting XI.

Gibson was always going out on loan to a Championship side this year. Branthwaite, when fit again, will probably go out on loan also.
Both these young lads need regular game time with a Championship club, then come back next year to challenge for a starting spot.
Holgate's injury put a spanner in the works somewhat. Adarabioyo on loan for a year with an option to buy would be ideal.
Barcelona still have to get players out either sold or on loan. Both Todibo & Wague are available so maybe nearer the end of the window Brands will again pull off a coup.

Robert 37 , Someone like him (Garay) on a free could well fit the bill as a quality experienced back up for a season and probably would accept the supporting role if he is paid well. He's South American too so it's a shoo in.

No takers for the Phil Jones suggestion then?

Chris Smalling is available, was apparently excellent last season at Roma, at 30 could still have 4-5 years at the top level. He'd be a good option on loan with an option to buy.

Or if we want to spend money, then Kristofer Ajer from Celtic would be a good option. Young, Big, already with european football and international experience. Ready to make the step up from SPL - similar to a certain fella across the park.

@44 Fran

I'd have Smalling, certainly on a loan deal as cover. Gets a bad press for some reason. Vastly experienced player, decent age. Will also have benefited from his experience in Italy I'm sure. Mightn't next as silky as a lot of other players but he's a lot more physical And uncompromising than Yerry and Keane.

Smalling is a good defender and suited the slow paced Italian game where he can read the game etc.

The thought of Keane and Smalling against pace makes me want to buy brown Y-fronts.

Bill (38) - it's a bit of a strange situation. It would be potentially suicidal not to bring in someone else at this stage... but once Holgate regains fitness, that means between him, Keane, Mina and new guy, one of them would almost certainly be out of the matchday squad altogether.

Good point that the 2 Bills make #38 #48.

Mina is on a big wage, and is a big personality. He should have done better for the first 30 mins at WBA, but I personally still really rate him. Keane has just signed a new contract, has improved, and will be looking to cement himself as a fixture and maybe even future captain. Holgate is amongst our best young players.

Ideally we'd get a player from a Championship or lower Premier League team who fancies a step up and could push for a place – like Jagielka 10 years ago.

I've always been against spending money on another centre-back.

Smalling on loan would be a good idea, because he really did have a great season at Roma, but I doubt it's going to happen. No reason for Man Utd to help us out with a loan if they can sell him to Conte at Inter for £21 million.

Bill #48

As you say, it would be potentially suicidal not to bring in another defensive midfielder and the only type of player that may be considered is a young player for the future, and that would be risky, or an older player at the end of his contract that will be given a chance to continue his career.

Another option would be to get a centre-back who will be good enough to replace either Keane or Mina. That will not surprise me as there is no sentiment in football at the playing level, just at the board level... ie, Bill Kenwright.

Hi guys just a quick question to all our fellow blues across the pond, I am currently holed up in a hotel in San Francisco.

What's going on with the football on TV here? Normally when I come to the States, it had great coverage on the Premier League; however, there is very little on NBC Sports now – and what is Peacock?

Colin,

Peacock has replaced NBC Sports Gold and it appears NBC is now streaming more games through Peacock than the regular NBC TV channels.

Having said that, Peacock is good value at $4.99 per month.

Jay#53 thanks I will try to sign up as I am in the states 2/3 times a month.

Colin,

If you want to watch the Carabao Cup, that is on ESPN+ – another streaming service and another $5 a month.

I'm not on commission BTW and I've just noticed the Palace game is on the main NBC channel, 10 am Eastern on Saturday.

@ 49 Fran

I'm with you. Why wait for someone to get promoted and have one good season in the Premier League and then sign them up?

Identify them now and bring them in. They'll have guaranteed resale value too I think if it doesn't completely work out. Why? Because they'll be proven at Championship level where decent fees are being spent.

I remember seeing Luke Ayling a few years back at Bristol City and thinking that he could definitely make a Premier League player. He is one now. And I expect him to perform well.

His team mate Liam Cooper has arguably been the best defender in the Championship for the last few seasons.

I see the Atletico manager has been quoted as saying we are in for Arias. Makes sense on a football and commercial level. (Man, we are going to be popular in Columbia!) However, surely if we are going to spend £10-12M, we should try Norwich's resolve and offer Kenny plus £12M for Aarons?

I can't believe I'm about to say this, since I ridiculed the links when they first surfaced, but maybe Branislav Ivanovic would have made sense on a one-year deal.

Basically a battle-tested veteran who could step in and do the job if need be, but wouldn't necessarily be looking for guaranteed playing time. Anyway, he's at West Brom now, so it's a moot point, but it would have been an option.

Steve #57,

Norwich turned down £20 million from Barcelona for Aarons (who reportedly had already agreed personal terms with Barca), so I very much doubt they'd accept Kenny plus £12 million. They really want some big cash for the kid.

Good luck, young man. Grow and mature into something great.

And for God's sake stay healthy!

Both Gibson and Davies have been found good clubs for their respective loans. It's a great opportunity to play more regularly and prove themselves. I am sure most of us will be closely following their progress. I wish them well.

This now makes getting the new centre-backin a bit more urgent. Who plays there tomorrow, Mina? It's a bit risky when we need him fighting fit and injury-free for Saturday and there's no back up at all.

Good luck to him. Though strange timing. Who will we play tomorrow night against Fleetwood? Maybe Callum Connolly may get a game?

Only Mina and a Keane as fit senior centre-backs now for next 6 weeks. Surely we'll bring someone else in? Adarabioyo? Todibo? Bremer?

As the window for loans extends well into October, I don't get the timing of this. At this rate, we'll have to get Rhino on a diet and re register him!

If Mina gets a knock tomorrow, the fee for any centre-back we want will double. Of course, by morning we may have announced a stealth signing...

Sam,

Bremer is an interesting one, I wonder how much we have scouted him. He's 23 and 6ft-2in, looks like a physical specimen that will cope with the rigours of the Premier League, and (in theory) give us an always available option and physically strong back-up.

He seems on an upward trajectory albeit with lowly Torino, but at 23 he is still young for a centre-back. At that age we could possibly develop him further into a better all-round defender and he could represent a sound investment.

Coming to Everton with his fellow Brazilians could really motivate him and bring him on too. He is (predominantly) right-footed so that may count against him.

I would like to know more about his tackling, his pace, positioning, reading of the game, if yourself or any other poster can give us more insight into this player.

An interesting gamble?

Difficult to fathom the reasoning here. Surely he could have been kept until the window closed. We are only another injury to Mina away from being short.

As per Phil's response at #32 above to my post at #30, we can assume that any Branthwaite-like debut error could result in Gibson being discarded to Reading reserves for the season. He won't have the benefit of Carlo's confidence-giving mentoring.

Long-term, we don't need to buy as they would block progress for Branthwaite and Gibson. Short-term loan should not have guaranteed game time in preference to our own players.

I find this amazing at this time. He should have been kept until the close of the window at least.

I hope to God we don't get an injury at centre-back this week.

Bill, I think you're spot on. I'd seriously consider Ivanovic right now.

Who was that big Greek lad who was released by Hamburg? he would do a job for a couple of months, he'd played Champions League for Leverkusen.

Mad. Especially considering the rate players and staff are going down with Covid-19. What happens if one of our centre-backs goes out?

Stephen #69, Ivanovic has signed for West Brom.

It'll be David Luiz. Just you wait. You heard it here first (unless you read the same suggestion from me yesterday).

I think we have to trust Carlo here. He wouldn't be letting him go if he thought he was ready. I also don't think he'd let him go if they didn't have people lined up or know that injury returning players are coming back quickly.

Surely Carlo has something pending!

With only the two we have fit at the moment, it would be walking a tightrope not to have a competent back-up – especially as Mina has had injury problems.

Martin @35, yes that may do.

I assume, large ass Rhino, has put on more since he has been in a coaching role, and even if he has a lost a furlong or two in pace, maybe the positioning of his posterior, could well stop a few going in! :-)

I think the idea of loaning Tomori and developing him for Chelsea, whilst Reading develop Gibson for us. Tomori has a lot of good qualities, particularly his pace. I think he could do well for us. Because we expect Gibson to do well and come back strong for next season, a loan move suits us. No point spending actual money on a centre-back if it then means Gibson comes back ready for the Premier League, but unable to actually play because we now have 4 ahead of him.

Branthwaite is not ready for a loan move. He's only just turned 18. On top of this, he only joined us 8 months ago. He's come through a lower league academy. He has a lot to learn. There is so much to like about the kid, but there is a lot of flaws to his game.

He needs knocking into shape, by proper coaching. He would benefit from 12 months of coaching in our first-team squad, games with the U23s, and sitting on the first-team bench. Sure, with a loan player, he's 5th choice, but as we can see with injuries at the moment we are having to risk our first choice players in the League Cup because there is no one else, so Branthwaite would be getting games.

For next season, Gibson would slot in as 4th choice, and then Branthwaite would go out on loan. With a plan for the season after for the 5 of them to be vying for a first-team place and one of the elder statesmen maybe even being moved on to make way.

Robert, stop it. You're going to push me to violence.

Steve, after watching Chelsea vs Liverpool, Tomori should be starter for them; I'd be shocked if they let him go.

Don't think Tomori will be leaving Chelsea now.

Tony @66, I know very little about Bremer. I've read that two years ago he was not well thought of but last season, when Torino struggled, he was one of their best players.

He's big and very strong with decent pace but not the best technically. Think he mainly played as part of a back 3 last season so not sure how good he'd be as one of two centre-backs. It would seem a risky move but we have to trust Brands and the scouting department.

What I can't understand is that, we will buy a 20-year-old from Barcelona, but loan out a 20-year-old on our books. It doesn't make sense.

Keep him at Everton and nurture him. If we have a problem in central-defence, play him (like Branthwaite); see how he goes... and then make a decision.

Longer term with Holgate and Branthwaite fit, Gibson is in the U23s again, which would be a step back. Reading is a step up from Fleetwood if he gets game time.

We need a loan of someone for half a season who can come in if Mina doesn't improve. If no loan then we can put Coleman at centre-back with Kenny at right-back for a few games if we have to. It's not a critical situation and with a need to get rid of deadwood I can't see us spending big on a centre-back.

We've still got Connolly and Ozoundis in the U23s who could even be tried out tonight?

I can't get my head around this. We are down to two fit centre-backs with one of them (Mina) being injury prone and the other (Keane) having already played three games in a little over a week.

Surely if Gibson is considered good enough to go and get a game at Reading, he should be good enough to play for us in games such as the League Cup this evening, FA Cup games against lower league teams, and have on the bench in the Premier League until Holgate and Branthwaite are fit again.

On the one hand, I understand the bewilderment of letting Gibson go out on loan now, when we have two centre-backs who played for the first XI last season long-term injured, leaving us with scant cover with just two fit first-team centre-backs going forward.

But on the other hand, as Steve Ferns carefully explains @ 76, I can understand the logic of doing so. Marcel Brands speaks frequently of mapping out a career path for academy players and having regular one-on-one discussions with such players as to what is best for both the individual and the club.

The long-term injuries to Holgate and Branthwaite are unfortunate, but I imagine the notion to loan out Gibson for the season was long intended and shouldn't be shelved because of a (hopefully) short-term situation.

The club has clearly been scouting for an additional centre-back all summer. I put my trust in them to land one – be it a loan or otherwise – whilst continuing to nurture two very talented academy centre-backs.

The Gibson loan leaves us exposed until centre-back cover comes in, I would agree. But does anybody really believe that Brands and Ancelotti are not aware of this or not working to find a good solution?

I have more faith in their awareness and abilities than others, I guess.

Mal, the 20-year-old from Barcelona has played Champions League football. The 20-year-old we already have has played for Fleetwood. The age is the same but there's a gulf in experience.

There's no point putting Gibson in the side if the management thinks he needs a season in the Championship to mature.

Todibo will be pushing hard for a starting spot. He's probably a better bet than Tomori or Adarabioyo.

But it'll still be David Luiz.

Brian, I think it makes it a cast iron certainty that they are getting a centre-back in before the deadline in 10 days time. We will find out in a few days time who it is.

The young loanee, Todibo, Adarabioyo, The old gnarled pro, Smalling, Garay, or similar. The gamble £8M fee, Bremer

Or a Brands finds us a rough diamond from somewhere and reveals his hand in the last 24 hrs to avoid the competition.

I think we're taking a massive gamble letting Gibson go before we sign another central defender. To me it has all the hallmarks of us not signing a forward after chasing Giroud all close season

We've currently got Mina and Keane fit with Digne/Kenny acting as understudies. Both Holgate and Branthwaite are fairly long term injuries so no guarantee when they can come back ( although Brands and Carlo might well no different). With Mina getting injuries just by stumbling last season that's dangerous

Just hope we don't regret this

Pete (81), I was thinking the same thing - worst case scenario, if one of Mina/Keane get injured, we put partner Keane (or Mina) and Coleman at CB, with Kenny and Digne as full backs. Or, Carlo may opt for a back 3 of Coleman, Keane and Digne with Nkoukou marauding up and down the left flank as a wing back, and perhaps Gordon as right-sided wing back. We have options, not exactly panic stations.

And to think, we let an international centre back who captained his country go for nothing. Is it true that Cucina has opened a sandwich shop with Oumar?

Some more rumours about Zouma today. I'd be surprised if we paid £30m for him but if we did then I feel though not top class he would well compliment either Keane or Mina and has a alot of experience for a 25 year old. Also some link to Ben Godfrey at Norwich who I like but would be costly.

Who will the new CB be? Todibo, Tomori, Bremer, Zouma, Adarabiayo, Godfrey.

Know next to nothing about Bremer but would be happy with most on that list.