Transfer Deadline Day

And I am not worried about Allan getting injured anymore cause we have Davies.

What we really need now is a cover for Calvert-Lewin. Big mistake for us not to get Lookman back. The commentators were saying Fulham grabbed the initiative when Lookman came on.

We spent £25 mil on a talent that is inferior to Lookman when Lookman was already in our arsenal for free.

Also, how about getting Deulofeu back as cover?

Unfortunately I don't think he's got the quality we need.

Deulofeu is injured until November, he struggled to see out 90 minutes before his injury. It would be a risk taking him back now.

Lookman is another show pony who's not as good as he thinks he is. Football is full of them these days.

When is he back from injury?

Having said I'd take Josh King happily. He's quick strong and can play in any of the forward three positions. He gets goals too.

I expect it will be just Godfrey in today.

Have been reading that we may be interested in a Goalkeeper, possibly initially a loan deal, Pau Lopez. Also Milik and Llorente, who we are being constantly linked with recently.

Still harbour remote hopes that Romero and Lozano, could surprisingly appear before the Window closes. Still it will be exciting over the next few hours to see what does actually happen.

Re Championship players, doesn't the internal market close on 16th? Maybe King et al later on as back up if one of the above doesn't come off today.

The alternative is to look for another winger / striker type who can either fill in or allow Richarlison to fill in.

I don't think we can expect Dom to carry the load all season on his own. Nor James and Richarlison for that matter. Iwobi and Bernard can fill in, and Gordon should get some minutes, but I stillthink we're one light in the attacking areas.

Honestly, whatever happens I can't complain about this window. But we always want a bit more right?!

Tosun isn't a bad player, he's just limited. If faster, more mobile players are delivering the ball into dangerous areas then he will score goals.

As for Walcott, he doesn't look interested anymore. Can't imagine he's the answer (unless the question is who is our next departure?)

From BBC...

The window officially closes at 23:00 BST on Monday, 5 October - though a domestic-only window will continue to run until 17:00 BST on 16 October.

The likes of Walcott and Sandro should leave today. The others will probably drop into the championship.

In terms.of backup striker. If Ancelotti is content with Iwobi, Gordon, and Bernard as back up for Richarlison, then Richarlison can act as back up to DCL.

I honestly think that getting rid is the hardest part.
Walcott and Bolasie have already accepted that they are retired and are just ekeing out the pension.

Only Besic needs to go somewhere for the sake of a career.
Sandro? Nuff said.

We have the chance to sell our panic buys and deadwood to the desperate.

However the rest of the season goes this, is the most I have enjoyed watching Everton and the Premier League for many a season.

Roll on the 17th!!!!
COYB

We can buy from, or sell to, Championship clubs after today's window (wait for it)... slams shut!

The main thing is to get rid of the deadwood. If we could get rid of Besic, Bolasie, Walcott and Sandro, that would be massive progress in just one transfer window.

I'm not getting carried away, yet but the excitement comes from what Carlo could do with two or three transfer windows and a bit or momentum. When players see the likes of James and the new stadium plans with Ancelotti at the helm, they'll want to come to Goodison. It's a far cry from us being excited because we've bought some big 6 cast-offs or over-the-hill has-beens.

Exciting times.

Godfrey I think will be a great signing and provides some versatility as can also play in central midfield. Can see him being a good backup to Allan or Doucoure.

Pickford is my only concern and needs decent competition.

Before the season started by concern was the left-back position but Nkounkou looks class!

We still need a striker though. Zaha, King (or maybe hijack the Cavanni to Man Utd deal?)

Over to you, Mr Brands...

As for Cenk, once he is match-fit then the coaches will have a good look at him, but that won't be much before Christmas.

Tears of joy and laughter, you weren't the only one mate. :-)

I hope we get a keeper and a forward in. This Lopez sounds OK and Llornte has been mentioned a lot. If we don't get anyone, we'll be light in two important areas. Fingers crossed!

By the way, how you feeling mate?

He's a Richarlison type player. Good energy, pace, team work, strong, creates and scores goals. Proven in the Premier League and can play all across the forward positions.

Perfect back up / replacement to cover injuries, rotate the forwards, provide competition to keep everyone on their toes.

Far better and more reliable than Kean, Walcott or Bernard who have all failed in the winger / forward roles.

It's already been a fantastic window I think. A sensible loan or £10m for King would top it off but I suspect we may be done for the day.

Napoli will want to sell Milik rather than him going on a free so that's possible.

Llorente would only be a stop gap for a year, for back up and sub. 35 but he has some quality and scores. Probably the most likely to sign him for a year then maybe Milik on a free, pre contract signed in Jan. Would be cheeky business.

Josh King would surely jump at the chance, great to have that pace as an option for us starting or from the bench.

Lozano I think would love to come here too, so you can't rule out a loan with an option to buy next summer.

Walcott Bolaise and Tosun to Palace as makeweight for Zaha. Can't see Palace going for it though and we won't want to be spending too big. What about a loan for Zaha for a year with an obligation to buy? With one or two of our lads going the other way on similar arrangements.

Should be an exciting deadline day. It's fantastic we are in a strong position for a change and players will see Everton as a great move.

The Nurses were brilliant but the Doctors didn't seem to be singing from the same hymn sheets, and definitely NOT liaising with each other.

Talking of diversity, there are some words that creep into our posts that, in my opinion, we should stop now:

Why do some people use the words 'rape' or 'rapist' in football comments? Very poor use of word...

And can we desist with the 'Woy' crap – I abhor skitting.

Let's just have "posso" comments on such times as these for Blues.

I disagree on dismissing Lookman. I think he is a game changer and he is a good understudy for James.

Walcott, Besic, and Bolasie, along with three or four U23 players out, permanently or on loan.

I hope it is a very busy day for Marcel.

Is Simms ready to step into the first team squad? If not, we need to bring someone in to help up top.

I don't see any of our competitors helping our cause by selling or loaning out players to us. That is why talk of Sergio Romero coming in on loan is fanciful, IMO. I think that is what happened with Tomori – Lampard sees us a direct competitor, and decided he would not loan him to us.

So, Brands, having learnt lessons from the Zouma fiasco last summer, acted decisively and brought in Godfrey. If we don't sign anybody else, I would still be very happy with the business. We all want more – a cover for striker, a right-sided midfielder, a right-back backup, a goalkeeper to provide competition to Pickford, but we got to remember – Rome was not built in a day. It will take 2-3 more transfer windows to whittle down the squad.

As Jose Mourinho says, he is happy to work with a squad of 22-23 outfield players. Right now, I believe we are at 31-32, way too high for our own good. Plus, we are not playing in Europe this season.

I predict a lot of exits happening in the next 2 weeks to Championship or League One teams – players like Baningime, Onyango, Adeniran, Pennington, Connolly, perhaps Simms as well, and a couple of others.

Llorente for the season seems to be more logical, 35 but experience crucial and would offer some quality off the bench.

Most likely we will see the Roma keeper on loan to challenge the juggler in goal and maybe a year away for Walcott at Southampton.

Let's wait and see.

An old-timer for a one-year deal would be fine as cover up front. Same in goal... a Pat Jennings like signing (in the '80s) would do the trick whilst we look for a long term solution to the Pickford conundrum.

But I'm uncomfortable going after a player that would demand a big fee, big wages and has many question marks over his attitude, maturity and work rate for the good of a team.

I would prefer King who has proven to be a team player but appears to have a better attitude and decision making using his ability and skills on the ball at the right time.

There are other players out there of course. Olly Watkins has proven good young players from the Championship can adapt quickly to the Premier League. He reminds me of Calvert-Lewin only a better dribbler of the ball.

Agree that Josh King is unlikely but would make more sense than Llorente who is just a slower, older version of Calvert-Lewin. King would at least give us a change of style off the bench.

I don't think Jennings ever played for us. Wasn't he just cover, if needed, for the Cup game?

I'm expecting/hoping/praying for FWD, GK & RW.

Maybe Llorente on a 12 month deal with 1 year option as Carlo thinks he could do a job. He has Prem experience, just his age is the issue but as back up/impact forward he might be a short term solution.

Romero on loan has been muted for sometime.

RW - I'm hoping this is the deadline day joyful surprise.

We seem to have suddenly got very smart in negotiating good prices!

I think it comes under the heading of ‘creative accountancy'.

Anyone got any crazy links? I can see us getting a keeper on loan and walcott, bolasie, sandro and besic all being loaned.

And George, with regards the use of the word ‘rape' I wholeheartedly agree. Often people are searching for an expression but I think this is a word that cannot be used in any old descriptive way.

Player recruitment should be a like Sean Connery's hair piece in "the hunt for red october" ie you can't see the join. In this case betwixt DOF and manager

The relationship appears seamless the signing of James being a stand out example of a manager knowing a player and the DOF getting it done.

Long may it continue.

Doesn't quite feel like that kind of Everton Deadline Day but they've been pleasantly surprising me of late.

He goes down a lot under tackling and Everton don't have any real class back up. Cannot see Tosun doing much when he is fit and Walcott just doesn't have it anymore.
Unless Carlo get's someone in on loan sooner than later then it may compromise the season.

Tosun is injured (and rubbish), Walcott is likely to go to Southampton by the looks of it so who do we have to play in our forward 3 in the event of injury? Have I forgotten someone? The lesser spotted Sandro!?

I do think that leaves us light. Hudson Odoi on loan would give us extra pace on the bench, there must be a striker out there we could get hold of cheaply or on loan, I wouldn't like Llorente. Its a nothing transfer

If Kean had stayed, he was at least cover for DCl/Richarlison, even if my opinion on him was that he wasn't likely to do that well - better him as cover than nobody I would suggest but that ship has sailed so who covers if one of our first choice 2 gets injured? Richarlison is already injured!

He's not top class for sure but works hard and adds pace and crucially could play any of the front three positions.

Don't think its gonna happen today but would be a really useful addition if it did I think.

Llorente looks like he is off to Sampdoria so that's one less to speculate about .

If Walcott and Kean go without replacement then I think Gordon and Simms can see that as a big vote of confidence.

I'm not encouraged by either. They are simply not good enough and Pickford would only need to raise his game slightly to see them off. And I don't mean raise it from his best, just from where he is now.

Palace are playing a blinder, they know they have a player that will keep them in the Prem and continually string him along then price him out of a move.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted a new keeper was not a priority last week but Pickford's latest error in an injury-riddled spell, which cost a goal in the 4-2 win against Brighton on Saturday, has prompted a re-think.

Romero, 33, is third choice at Manchester United behind David de Gea and Dean Henderson and would welcome a move to Everton while Gazzaniga has been pushed down the pecking order by Joe Hart's arrival at Spurs."

If we get really bad luck and lose them both then we have to give Simms some time maybe though Gordon is also capable of playing up front potentially or Iwobi at a push.

Losing them both would be terrible luck but I'd back Simms to acquit himself well over a few games. If we lost them both long term then we'd be in trouble.

It may have been a while since Romero was a regular keeper but he has a 100 caps for Argentina and has done alright most of the time that he has played for United.

I think he could be very handy for us. We just need someone who can do the basics soundly and make a few more saves than Jordan manages. If the arrival of Romero or Gazzaniga causes JP to raise his performance levels even a little then that would surely be a good thing? Marginal gains and all that? Currently it seems like he can get away with error after error due to the paucity of competition.

Romero has always looked pretty steady to me which is all I want. Just a calm keeper who you don't ever talk about. Even if he comes in as back up, at least there's a bit of a wake up call for Jordan. Some think that's all he needs but I think the problems are deeper that that with him.

You only need to look at players like Davies and Sigurdsson to see the effect that healthy competition can have on a players form and level of effort. At the moment the alternatives to Pickford aren't worthy of the name

I would have thought some kind of GK signing will have to happen, it's not beyond possible the Pickford will mentally unravel given his pysche. That said, he was not alone in the goalie howler stakes this weekend.

Of course one always wants more but we did good business this window and let's not panic buy any more duds. The hard bit is shifting on the aforementioned duds. I suggested a week ago we'll probably end up buying Sandro out of his contract and that looks likely now. Realising anything for the likes of Walcott or Bolasie is unrealistic. Loan spells at best, no doubt with us picking up some of the inflated wages. Our CM also needs a re-look but I think that depends somewhat on whether Gbamin is ever going to play again at a high level, so that will have to wait.

Going into this weekend, I'd have said it depends where Carlo's head is with Pickford and whether his assessment has changed. Both in terms of Pickford's performances and the objectives given the start to the season by us and others.

Phil McNulty reporting we will go for a keeper today. He's normally very well read in and connected. If accurate, I wonder if it will be cover to put pressure through competition on Pickford or a replacement number 1?

Right now I think we'd be a little bit foolish not to bring in some cover.

Doesn't need to be a world beater, just an experienced player who could handle reduced game time in order to take a step up to us. From the names listed on this thread I'd say Llorente, Deeney or King would fit the bill. Even without injuries they'd get a fair bit of game time. Not exciting but I think necessary - unless we really think Simms is ready, despite there not really having been any signs of that faith in him to date.

We've already got reserve keepers. There's not exactly much bang for buck in adding another, even if they're better than what we have. In fact you probably just put Pickford in the spotlight in a bad way. I don't think that's really what we would want to achieve. And certainly not what I want ahead of a Derby.

Romero was a second tier goalkeeper at Sampdoria. When they got promoted they signed a better keeper who got injured, so he played that season too. Then after getting demoted before the end of the season, he was loaned to Monaco to be their number 2 keeper. Then he went back to Sampdoria to be backup again, and then he joined Man Utd to be backup for the last 5 seasons. United fans will tell you how bad he is. This is not the lad we want in goal long term and he is not the lad to push Pickford on. He's just someone happy to sit on the bench and collect a wage.

Or Niederlechner in Ausburg

If we can improve then great. But 'acceptable'? It's just about the only position on the pitch where that kind of mindset exists in fans.

If he made errors that never cost us points, and in fact made us points on occasions (as he did v Spurs), then I'd find that acceptable.

I'm not talking about a serious starting XI option. I'm talking backup. And it's hard to get backup when you're not guaranteeing regular game time. You either go young, old, or unproven. In this situation I'd go for a proven older player to step in if needed.

If, and it is an if, we wanted Josh King, we would probably save £5m by buying him today rather than tomorrow.

On the whole though, I would refer back to Carlo's comments previously that he wants a smaller squad than we currently have. Since then we have added Ben Godfrey but still have 5 or 6 players who will not figure for the team. Walcott may leave today. That leaves Bolasie, Sandro, Besic, Tosun (who can't go until January due to injury) and possibly, given the resurgence of Iwobi, Bernard who are surplus to requirements. Only the latter would be anybody's 'must have' list.

What this leaves us a couple of months where we hope for no injuries and start again in January to do some shifting and honing.

Anything else is a huge win.

Conclusion, money has ruined football - £30k to £100k per week for squad players. It gives players no incentive to play when they can earn millions just so long as they stay fit. How is any team supposed to move an aging / unwanted player on once their contribution falls far below their wage? How is a team, desperate to get reinforcements in, able to entice anyone away?

Yes I'm delighted we are top of the league, but we've spunked some serious money getting there.

I really hope there's a rabbit out of the hat on the striker front, but I think we're stuck with calamity JP between the sticks. Maybe we need a new goalkeeping coach!

I'm a Romero fan, it will add to the South America vibe too. Romeo is steady, and no more, and sadly that's all we need. I think the problem is urgent, after his blunder on Saturday Pickford looked ashen. This isn't his usual response to a faux pas. He was puffing his cheeks out, looked visibly agitated and wasn't falsely berating his defenders for his mistake! He's usually pretty good at shaking things off in games. It bore all the signs of man who had been told to ship up or face the consequences. It's so important we get a keeper in.

If any player keeps performing below a certain level, then it's unacceptable.

If DCL kept finishing like he used to finish then I think he'd be discarded at some stage, as an example. Same with every other player with regards to what they're supposed to do.

Romero was first choice at Sampdoria. They did not sign a new keeper when they got promoted. In fact the second choice keeper Costa Junior (signed before Romero) played some time when Romero was injured and away and on international duty. But Romero soon re-took the gloves and Costa got injured. He played the vast majority of that season being dropped just for the last few games, some speculate because he'd already said he wanted to move.

After that he was backup at Monaco and United but I know a few United fans who speak very well of him and wish he'd played more instead of De Gea.

Not sure how you can know whether he'd rather play or just collect a wage but personally the fact he is agitating for a move suggests he wants some game time.

I don't know how good he'd be but his stats for the time he has played are pretty good and i'm certain he's an upgrade on Lossl. I don't think he's necessarily a long term solution but he's probably the best option available at the moment.

I think Romero on loan for a season is just common sense. Hopefully Pickford can up his game and he'll(Romero) not be required but I just think it's a good plan.

I think we are being objective. We're not even talking about Pickford in his current downgraded 'form' but the very obvious possibility of a total melt down given what appears to be a very fragile mental state. I don't see how we can take such a risk with such a vital position, it has the potential to render all the good we do further up the pitch irrelevant. So the bar is set not at Pickford's current reduced level but at the quality of our current back up. Anything better than that is perfectly sensible insurance, ideally on a loan and looking at that back up, it strikes me as an easy bar to clear.

Most top keepers are already spoken for and others are not as good as JP even with his mistakes..

All I will say is we cant expect to keep leaking goals and expect the forwards to bail us out.

Joe Hart, who has been beyond woeful for years, has replaced Gazzaniga. While Romero has played how many games in the last 7 years? How can anyone say if he's any good?

A loan as an improvement on Lossl, ok. But that is all we'll be getting.

Our hope if for Brands and his team to identify a truly top class keeper who we can sign - but that will be January at the earliest.

For now, we must hope that Pickford can regain his best form.

His level last season (and this season so far) is well below average. It has not cost us this season yet (mainly thanks to some inspired attacking play) but it will at some point if it continues. Therefore signing even an average keeper could be a step towards improvement and stability.

Or maybe Carlo has faith that he can cut out the aberrations? Not sure I do.

I will agree with him on that one.

This rumour has been bandied around before because his old manager Fonseca is in charge there, so there may be a bit of truth in it.

Not saying it doesn't help to have a steady-eddy behind you, but worth a thought.

Boris Johnson is to fine Liverpool FC for breaking Covid rules for letting more than 6 in at once!

How Sandro can sit on his behind and make that much money, after the Club clearly want to cut ties, is beyond me.

There should be some type of buyout clause to terminate a contract. Does such a thing exist in English football?

You can excuse the one at Fleetwood because a few keepers overelaborate and get caught but to consistently refuse to catch the ball and palm it straight back to the other team is bordering on insanity and catching a ball in the air and holding it are goalkeeping basics.

They are not errors they are bad practice.

As Tim Howard commented at the weekend the first rule of goalkeeping is safety. If youre in any doubt push it over the bar and argue whether that was the best course of action later.

They were criticised because they weren't good enough. Howard was an excellent 'keeper for us and he starred for the USA in the World Cup but the following season, for us, he was awful.

I've always defended Pickford, mainly because he's an excellent shot stopper, but enough is enough. The big problem is he just doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes. His gaffes haven't cost us any points...so far... but you're always waiting for the next schoolboy error.

RBM also reports our interest in Roma keeper Robin Olsen. Swedish national keeper who, I seem to remember, flopped in Serie A. Anybody seen him play recently?

Frank #179, great post.

Jamie #183, buyout of any contract is possible, but both parties have to agree to it. Sandro's incentive to agree is what, exactly?

When I saw Bernard make his debut at Leicester I thought we had a real player on our hands but I fear I was wrong.

He's a great footballer to watch but he flatters to deceive. There is rarely any end product, either in goals, assists or second assists.

If we could get a fee, or even a loan fee, for him it would constitute good business.

The Brighton error was another elementary blooper to swell an already burgeoning collection this time an unopposed dolly drop manufactured into a goal for the opposition!!

Stone cold basic fuck ups have been his signature piece since he arrived from mackem central he is like an outfield player playing emergency goalie stopping the odd shot but knowimg nothing about the basic tenets of goal keeping.

Guaranteed money to be had betting on him throwing another one in the next 2 games

I can't' offer any names for a keeper as I don't watch every team that plays so I am not aware if they make mistakes. Anyone who recommends a keeper must now if they are faultless, or he just doesn't make as many mistakes as Pickford.

My hope for this transfer window is we can get as many of the players that are not in Ancelotti's plans out, and off the finances. We cant get coverage for every position unless it is on loan.

We have done well so far and I think there may be one more incoming but I prefer we get more outgoing.

All of a sudden, we've lost Kean, Walcott and possibly Bolasie and Bernard and I'd say we're a little short!!

Keep Bernard!

Isn't it the responsibility of the keeper coaches to coach bad habits of of him? It would appear they are falling down on the job.

@ Bill 187

Didn't Pickford star for England in the last world cup also and isn't he England's current number one?

You all have taught me the complexities and context that a Yank needs before speaking up about football and through the love of Everton football I've been able to see things with a determined optimism that comes from doing things the right way.

Living in Felton CA and damn proud to support this club!

Walcott I'm fine with going, good move... but am really surprised we've let Kean go with the only striker sbeing Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Even then, we lose a lot of threat on the left moving Richarlison central.

Not been keeping up but are there any other incomings at this stage lads?

Mina, despite Saturday's heroics, is totally erratic. He needs to find consistency. I always feel his next poor game is always just around the corner.

Talking of centre-backs, who didn't enjoy watching the Villa players take turns to rip the arse out of St Virgil?

When Grealish nutmegged him, it was the best non-Everton moment of the weekend for me. I actually clapped in my living room.

They are still doing so. Gaziantep's football club just signed Kevin Mirallas.

We have to get a keeper in. It's been going on for about 2 years and he looks shot to bits mentally. At least if Calvert-Lewin gets injured we have Richarlison to play up there and then I imagine Iwobi fills in.

Yes, I agree and obviously. I think what I'm saying is that football, as an industry, but Everton in particular, need to insist on buyout clauses at the inception of the negotiation.

I'm only using Sandro as an example of why. Clearly in his interest, he should sit on his ass and collect the dosh!

Would have preferred Romero but too expensive perhaps.

Hope you came through the fires OK... I heard Felton was evacuated. My wife and I mourned the news of Big Basin's destruction -- we were frequent visitors.

Glad you're here!

Romero is on £70k/week so I honestly never expected that to happen.

Knowing our luck Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison will get crocked it always seems to happen at Everton, the question then is who would lead the line?

Mentions of Iwobi up top is just berserk, its got to be a little concerning if we don't sign a short term stopgap, knowing we are one or two injuries away from being in the shit.

We signed Bernard on a free, hence his high wages. Any loan fee and share of his wages goes straight to our bottom line.

Not sure about Robin Olsen. That sounds more like a modest upgrade on Lossl than someone who'd legitimately challenge Pickford. Would much prefer Romero, if there's a way to make the deal work.

They're sponsoring two Prem clubs this season and they're 1-2 in the table and both perfect records. The guy can really pick 'em.

We need a situation similar to when Tim Howard was coming to the end, Joel Robles came in and had a long spell in the side and his performance levels were on an even keel with Howard's at that stage in his career.

The signing of Lossl seemed absolutely pointless and I doubt he'll ever play a league game for Everton, whilst Virginia is unlikely to either in the next few seasons.

I was a season ticket holder of the previous Quakes franchise before it moved to Houston.

So we're signing the Swedish Pickford?

This fella has been 15 minutes quicker than Sky Sports all day with his tweets. He posts every few minutes.

We need someone who is as least good as Pickford when he's playing okay. Neither Romero or Gazzaniga are on that level, nevermind as good as Pickford when he's at his best.

As for Olsen, seen him a couple of times and he's crap. Another one that's not good enough.

We need better, we need a keeper who'd get into a top 6 side.

Not sure any of the keepers being mentioned are that much of an upgrade on Lössl?!

Pleased Walcott is off but still paying him £50k a week to play for Southampton is a bit off!

I'm being a bit ungrateful I know!! I'd love a late statement signing!!

I don't know enough about Olson to judge him, but I'll trust Ancelloti's judgement as he probably knows more about him from his understanding of the Italian football scene.

Still wouldn't feel like a replacement, more someone to genuinely be snapping at Pickford's heels. No more mistakes and up your game as I now have a replacement I trust Jordan.

“Sergio Romero worked hard for his club. Last trophy they won, they lifted it with him. He helped the team reach 4 finals / semifinals and then he was left on the bench only to lose them all. It is time for them to return the opportunity and let him go. RESPECT FOR ONCE!!!!”

Shows our interest is genuine.

James Rodriguez, how's that for a statement signing?

If James gets injured there's little creativity at all, madness!

On the pubs, me dad used to get me a bottle of lemo and a pie outside The Castle and I would stand there for hours while he got rat-arsed hahaha and Danksters is crap now, a few students get in there... it's Cons that is the Kopite pub.

Where are you from, mate?

If he was not already a Blue, but we were scrambling to get his signature before the deadline, a la Moyes's Fellaini dash a few years ago, how much angst we'd be feeling!

I would love a class keeper and a class striker too, but if not I am still thoroughly made up with the way Carlo Magnifico has addressed our shortcomings and has the whole outfield squad performing magnificently. The Professor indeed.

I expect we'll go for Josh King and that will be more expense on top of Godfrey and all the other acquisitions.

I meant today! I know I'm being greedy but why not?!
James statement signing - absolutely!!!

Jim 246
I couldn't agree more, we need to keep Bernard as he can produce that something special especially if James needs a break!

Bernard doesn't fit into Carlo's 4-3-3. He's too attacking to compete with Gomes or Sigurdsson. Iwobi or Gordon is a better Richarlison alternative. I'd agree if James is injured, he'd be the one you'd look to, but I'd hope to add someone next summer of quality.

Still hoping we sign Josh King for £10M to back up Calvert-Lewin and he can also play wide in a 4-3-3.

If Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin are not available, and they will be because it's a long season, there are absolutely no alternatives:

Tosun is not good enough and he will be unavailable until January. He should be sold then.
Simms has never played first-team football.
Walcott goes to Southampton and he was almost useless anyway.

The window has been good, we have excellent new players but you need proper attackers, most goals are still scored by them. Calvert-Lewin is scoring for fun now but what if he hits a barren run like last season or is injured?

Simms isn't going to play for the first team this side of Christmas, unless something dramatic happens. He's got a lot of developing left to do. He can't score the goals he scores in the top flight. No-one gives you the space he loves to run into. Well aside from Liverpool.

What's the point of finally having strength and depth if we immediately revert to weakening the squad?

Get rid - offload 'em!

Keep some of 'em!

‘Old' Everton's total incomings for the season would have been chasing Tomori right through the window and then panic buying Smalling for £30m today, probably also getting in Wilshire, who promises his injuries are behind him.

RODRIGUEZ THE WINDOW HIGHLIGHT'

South American football expert Tim Vickery:

"Shall we look at the league table? A few weeks ago, people were trying to write off James Rodriguez based on what had happened at Real Madrid but I'd followed him for Colombia and it was obvious to me that the player that had lit up the World Cup in 2014 hadn't gone away. He was still there.

"He just needed the right circumstances and he's had everything that he wants at Everton. A coach who knows him and admires him, as well as a tactical position that suits him. We're all winning from this. No one was winning from him kicking his heels at Real Madrid.

"Everton have done not only themselves a favour, but they've done football a favour, and I'm delighted it's working out."

I know we'd love to ship out Besic, Delph, Bolasie and Sandro, but does anyone really want them and to pay their wages? So you have to sell players you don't really want to. Which means Bernard.

Looks like FFP has us by the balls. But if Bernard leaves as well as Walcott and we've just saved £10m in wages, can we use that to buy King?

Meanwhile, Bolasie is finding himself closer and closer to the first team!

Update: just confirmed that is definitely the case.

I didn't realise until today about the international v domestic window.

So depending on who we're looking at, we have until before the next fixture to bring in the right players.

Only slight issue is if United don't get Sancho we might have a fight on our hands.

Not sure about Olsen either. Can't see him displacing Pickford so like you say, not sure what the point is.

What about a championship keeper? Daniel Bentley of Bristol City. 3 clean sheets in 4 league games and in the game he did concede in, against forest, he was man of the match.

Ben Foster of Watford has started well, but he's 37 now.

Reading's keeper, Rafael, is Brazilian and played in Italy and Carlo might know him well.

They ain't good enough mate. We need to find someone better not a keeper who ain't good enough elsewhere.

Watford want £40m all upfront in ready money.

King's a United fan and schoolboy.

But it's certainly not urgent that we bring in the Swede today. We have other options, likewise for a reserve striker.

And Steve at #272, in answer to your question, under those unfortunate circumstances I would definitely be comfortable with Romero. Not the other two. But I have relentlessly advocated that if we do ship Pickford at some point, he must be replaced by a young, quality keeper -- not somebody else's leftovers.

Looks like it's Olsen according to twitter. #FreeRomero is trending on twitter though!

I expect Lossl is departing on loan again. He's clearly a bad signing.

As for a young quality keeper, by next summer Virginia will be 21 and I still have high hopes for him.

Presumably Lossl is a dead weight now.

‘Imagine Pickford was playing well'

Why should we? He hasn't played well in a long time. I want the best keeper possible but if this bloke Olsen can put on a pair of gloves and catch a football then he sounds like a step up.

Romero has been blocked and it looks like Olsen on loan.

Don't expect Olsen to replace Pickford but hopeful he'll get a kick up the arse.

And Pickford hasn't been at or near his best for a long while now. Olsen will come in and I expect the GK issue will be re-vI sited next summer; when coincidentally Donnarruma will be out of contract!

I just hope Pickford improves and returns to his previous, better form.

I thought Lossl has looked decent but he must be terrible in training not to get a chance over the last season and a bit.

Rafa from Brentford, no thanks. He makes Pickford look calm and consistent.

As much as I worry abbot Pickford, an extra top class winger/ forward is me crucially for me.

It will interesting to see who comes in and who goes out, on loan, else for good.

A ma8 whose a Rangers fan told me last Thursday that Besic was in Glasgow, but we shall see.

Hopefully the rebirth of the squad will be aided by any new incomings tonight, and the squad is bolstered ready for Old Nick.

Amazing but a couple I spoke with today, gave EFC, some credit and said EFC, will start as favourites.

No doubt they'll be doing extra diving lessons during the break.

Play like we have been, and taking note from Villa, there's no reason why we can't beat them.

Quote from the story:

"The Swede faced and saved more shots than Pickford last season and his 73.9 save percentage is 11 points higher than his English counterpart."

Todibo's joined Benfica on loan.

Everton got screwed by Arsenal on that deal for sure.

Sam, Pickford will improve. He cannot get any worse. The question is can he get through the Derby unscathed and then settle down. I think the England games (Wales, Belgium and Denmark) are good ones for him. Belgium will be tough but the others are games where you expect a clean sheet without facing any shots and Belgium will have him busy, like he prefers, and an opportunity to showcase the best of himself.

I think Carlo will ship him out next summer. He's never going to be reliable enough, and signing a keeper will be a priority next summer. I'd love Donnarumma, but i'd just be weary that he is slightly overhyped, and prone to an error or two himself. Don't know if it's the modern balls, but even the "world's best" like Neur, De Gea, Courtois and Ter Stegen can have a terrible period where their form goes off a cliff.

CDT - "Olsen is and has been definitively on the chopping block for nearly 18 months now, while Lopez is currently in a state of limbo. But, to be honest, they're both there for the same reason: they're passive and error-prone keepers, both of whom lost their jobs to Antonio Mirante, who is really nothing more than a solid journeyman type of keeper. Olsen cuts a much larger figure and uses his massive limbs/reach pretty well, but was just too slow off his line and not really quick enough in distribution. Couple that with a few glaring errors in critical matches and you have Roma's current predicament: two decidedly average keepers that have been incredibly difficult to offload."

"[Olsen] started off well enough in 2018 and even got a cleansheet on his debut, but the wheels fell off almost immediately: he conceded 15 goals over his next six matches and finished with 58 goals conceded in 35 appearances in 2018-2019. He really does use his massive frame to his advantage, but in the end, he's just too passive and slow to suit Roma's build-from-the-back approach."

"He is a massive, massive keeper but, at least based on advanced metrics, he's decidedly middling when it comes to shot-stopping and even claiming crosses. It's possible that he might find more success in a different league, but he wasn't up to snuff in Serie A for some reason. And leadership... eh, not so much in Rome; he struggled to communicate with Roma's defenders, who were largely Italian, so perhaps if his English is stronger than his Italian he'll have better luck."

Olsen is as tall as Asgard and has a physique like Thor, but it seems he plays like Ingrid Bergman.

As for his ability, not studied him, but every time I watched him play for Roma, he was picking the ball out of the net several times a game. He's 6'5" and plays like it. He's in slow motion around the goal. If he's got distribution issues in Italy, then they'd be amplified in England, as they don't press like they do here or in Germany. That would be a big worry.

Mina was one of our best players on Saturday, showing himself to be the player we thought we'd bought. Now he just needs to show consistency, which hopefully surrounded by better players and a more positive attitude, he can.

Also consider this, Niels Nkounkou looks a great prospect. What about him being an option as a left winger from the bench?

Also, we have two weeks to get Sarr or King from a Championship club.

Best for player and Everton that the loan deal has worked out.

Yes, Nkounkou ahead of Digne is a real prospect and I'd love to see it. His disciplined performance against West Ham showed that he has mental toughness allied to his obvious footballing gifts.

Think our business is done now for this one. Looks like our striker will come from the domestic market, which will be intriguing.

Must suck knowing you can stay in the league, yes. Still make good money, for a year or two more, yes. But the days of being on a first-rate team are over.

Dont know much about olsen being honest havent seen him play! Anyone watched him in action?

There's still another 2 years on Gylfi Sigurdsson and Cenk Tosun's contracts though.

Funny to see Tomori shafted Moyes with 10 minutes to go. I bet he's going mental in his Covid isolation room.

I suppose we go with Carlo's judgement here and I guess he knows the Italian league. But it feels more like bringing someone in who can genuinely keep Pickford on his toes rather than an immediate replacement.

No more mistakes Jordan or you break my heart and sleep with the fishes!!

Sky came up with a really good point. The well run clubs had already done their main business and don't leave it until deadline. Singled out United for scrambling around and praised those who had already done completed their major signings.

I say singled out; they praised Tottenham and Chelsea but couldn't quite bring themselves to include Everton in that company.

I'm being bitter and paranoid, we have actually been praised throughout the day, but this unfashionable Everton thing is clearly going to take time to shake off!!

We won the league that season.

Onwards and upwards blues!

OK, that's long enough.

Last time we won our first 4 was 1969; won the league.

We opened the season against Tottenham and West Brom in 1984; won the league.

I know it's silly to get carried away, but isn't it great to feel optimistic again? It's not just the results, it's what we're seeing happen on the pitch.

Alas far too many supporters have been used to having to make do without a plan or the means to carry one out.
It actually feels good to have a manager who knows what is required to play as a team and goes out and gets whats needed. It lifts the club, supporters and yes, even those players written off as useless.. Funny that..

It's amazing Everton haven't produced a first team goalie from their own ranks since Andy Rankin in the mid 1960s (and at around the same time Geoff Barnett who only made a few appearances before being tx to Arsenal) That's more than half a century ago!

Andy was brilliant when he came in for the injured Gordon West and kept him out of the side for a good while. Who will ever forget his save in the first ever penalty shoot out v Mönchengladbach? He received an England call up but never actually got a cap.

As far as I can recall the RS haven't produced a local goalkeeper either and I can't recall any other Scouser having a top division career, elsewhere.

Is that really the best the city has produced in the last 20 years?

And how would you assess our goalkeeper coach role in all this. He seems unable to do anything to calm Pickford down. So what does he actually do?

I know we've bought well and that is to be commended... but we've let a highly promising striker go and not replaced him.

Given what's happened so far this season, I'd have thought we'd have grasped the bull by the horns... this is our best chance to break the top four. I hope our lack of striking options isn't our Achilles heel.

Olsen looks like a pointless buy.

Carlo will no doubt add to squad in the winter transfer market.

I'm slightly baffled that we have a plethora of goalies, four central defenders who could all make a decent case for being a starter, but only one out-and-out striker. No pressure on Dominic, but I hope he's fit enough to play every game in every competition this season.

Moise Kean clearly wanted away and won't be missed, Jordan will be in no doubt that Carlo thinks he's a bit shit and needs to improve.

Sandro gone, Walcott gone. Godfrey in. Fantastico!

I must admit the Kean one is the only doubt for me. Not sure he's going to get that much more game time at PSG and, whilst he's not ready for the Premier League yet, I think it would have been better to have an option than no option. Maybe Josh King is in the wings... in which case, this would make a lot more sense.

I really don't trust our luck with injuries. Every season, we seem to have one position that is threadbare, then the inevitable injury happens. Fingers crossed. I still think we had the best window of the Premier League teams... Villa a close second – they have drastically upped their levels also.

As to a plethora of goalies? On paper we have.

As to Kean, he didn't want to be at Everton, Carlo was right to get shut.

Ernie #347
Tony Warner never actually played a first team game for the RS. He had a few games for Fulham and then drifted around a plethora of lower league clubs

Stephen #348
Drew Brand played just two first team games for us.

Josh King is still available and seems destined to move on, I'm sure there is much more below us just waiting to be given a chance. I don't go along with this mindset of a striker not willing to come to us to sit on the bench either, there will be loads off opportunity in both cup games and the league plenty.

Richard Keys is being quoted as saying Everton should have gone for Deeney before Rodriguez a ridiculous idea clearly but.

Maybe he was on to something inadvertently. Would anyone like to see Deeney on our bench? I would, I love his "fuck you" attitude. Would Deeney like to finish his career at Everton? hmmm. I think he would.

Would also have been happy to see a bit of flair (Lozano) or quality (Perisic) come in on loan but guess finances are limited, considering we've made very little on outgoings. Small fee for Schneiderlin and probably no more than that for Walcott. Maybe £5m loan fee for Kean, at best? Probably a net spend of approx. £50-55m, assuming no fee for James? Thankfully we've shifted some wages off the books and hopefully more to follow with Besic and Bolasie.

I guess with Mane testing positive for Covid a lot of clubs will be holding their breath when their players come back from international duty, hoping they will still return negative test results when back at their clubs.

Dowell out for 3 months at Norwich. Never seems to get a run of good luck that lad.

I was hoping we'd go for Deeney. Maybe we will. What a beast to have on the bench!

Imagine the thoughts of a centre back, after having to cope with Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison for 70 mins, then seeing Deeney limbering up on the touchline.

Yes, a stop-gap, short term, fix but it would give time for Simms to develop.

Personally I'd like us to sign David Brooks from Bournemouth. Left-footed right-winger (which we need), and can double as a second striker if required.

He's only 23 and from the North West as well (Warrington). Shouldn't be overly pricey and we could always offer them one or both of Besic or Bolasie in part exchange.

As for Chamionship strikers I think King would be better than Deeney for our tactics as he's more mobile and can play other positions.

We need a short term back up for our strikers and someone who also has proven Premier League experience. Both King and Deeney fit that bill.

Last derby that was cancelled was when Benitez had the pitch watered at Anfield during a spell of heavy rain to flood it.

They had a few injuries then and where on a bad run.

I don't know the answer to your question about the possibility of a specific game being cancelled because of player COVID infections but I would have thought the usual cancellation provisions (whatever they are) would apply should enough players in a club be ill – regardless of cause. So a handful of illnesses wouldn't be an issue??

Clubs agreed to fulfil fixtures on the following basis:

Unless they have fewer than 14 players available, including professionals in their U21 squads, their scheduled fixtures will go ahead as planned.

That said, it is the shite, so the rules will probably be retrospectively changed

As I said earlier with there being an international break many players will be staying in different hotels and a totally different environment than they have been in since they returned from lockdown. Have Mina and Rodriguez joined up with the Columbian team as I they think they have internationals planned?

Knowing our luck after a terrific start we have a few key players struggling to recover from injury, with 2 tough games coming up we can ill afford any going down with Covid-19.

Back to transfers in, I think we all see a big risk if either Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison gets an injury. If we get all the deadwood gone then we might have room in the wage structure for another striker. On that basis getting a backup striker in would make sense.

However, Tosun is hopefully on his way back to fitness, Keane is only on loan and we can only look at the Championship or free agents for signings now. Therefore, Brands and Don Carlo could act now or wait until January.

I'd rather they acted now, but the finances might not be there or they might not like their options. As usual we'll just have to wait and hope for the best. Can't deny it's been a great window though.

King or Deeney will do a job as they will be in a team creating plenty of chances.

It's bad enough having players taking the huge risk of travelling to Fifa's internationals without the added danger of taking on half a dozen Trumps in football boots in our first domestic fixture after the break.

● 3 experienced quality, ready made players in

● Hit the ground running well, but Rodriguez we know has a patchy injury record. Bit of a risk, but looks like the talent is worth the risk.

● Olsen – about as good as we could hope as a stop-gap. He's not Manuel Neuer but he's not Lossl either. Genuine competition.

● Godfrey – lot to like. Interesting comparison as season progresses with Salisu and even Gabriel. Get the feeling he'll be a good asset longer term.

● Nkounkou – excellent.

● Jagne – who knows?

● Outgoings – fair chunk of wages gone in Ramirez and Walcott, plus deadwood in Schneiderlin. Stuck with some still (eg Bolasie) but may go to Championship clubs.

● Issues – light on strikers but could, I suppose, still get some cover in like Danny Welbeck etc.

● Right-back – Coleman is rejuvenated. Kenny is good competition. Godfrey can be a stand-in.

Overall, I'd give Brands an 8 out of 10 given financial constraints. If we can get some decent striker cover in, then I don't think we can have many complaints at all.

I wasn't advocating paying £30 million for Deeney and giving him a 5-year contract!! We are talking about a 1- or 2-year option off the bench or cover for injuries, suspensions etc.

If we draw lower league teams in the FA Cup would you not like that option.

Out of interest, who would you go for? Only out-of-contract and Championship players down to choose from, remember?

Good shout for King and Sarr.

If we can move on Besic and Bolaise, and get a loan fee for Branthwaite, a better bargaining position opens up for us.

Most desperate fills in my opinion are back-up penalty box striker and a good 25+ year old international right back as Coleman can't play at maximum over the season, even if we all know he is still brilliant when 100% fit.

However, what a transfer window by the club. Ins and Outs. I think on paper we are better balanced than Man Utd which is Champions League music level.

Anyone who considers Deeney as possible back up to Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison and good enough for Everton needs to think again.

He can coach him to catch the ball first time and not try to pat it forward catch it so he can get an attack going quicker. But he can't stop him being erratic.

I wonder if those that are positive are on the club doctor's books as being asthmatic?

Same question I asked Grant: Who would you go for out of the pool of championship and out of contract players?

Glad you have nothing to do with selection.

Good shout, would he be happy to be a bit part player? Coming off the bench, playing cup games? If so, I would be happy to see him definitely.

1. Sturridge
2. Welbeck
3. Pato
4. Mandzukic
5. Niasse

Interesting...

I'm not sure I'd necessarily dip into that pool but, if forced, I think the King option may be worth a look... but only if Carlo thinks we need another striker. As a southern Blue, I know a few Cherries fans and they all speak highly of him in terms of both attitude and ability.

I'm more inclined however to give the youngsters a chance at filling in (if required) and reassess things again in January. After all, with James in the team, we'll create chances that are easier to convert. Also, I believe that, if we do challenge for honours this season, then it's going to require luck on the injury front.

As Evertonians, and having suffered so much terrible football for so long, we all naturally worry about the next disaster and are all waiting for this tiny bubble of hope to be burst.

I've decided for the time being to go against my natural ‘Everton that' instinct and will keep believing that this squad can stay fit and do something special this season.

After all, the footballing Gods have already smiled upon us once when they created James and sent him to Goodison. Who's to say they won't keep smiling!

COYB

- Josh King
- Dominic Solanke
- Teemu Pukki
- Andre Gray
- Troy Deeney

Also interesting...

If these are the best the Championship has to offer then we are better off finding another barrel to scrape the bottom of.

Solanke is a waste of space and Cherries fans cannot believe they spunked nearly £20 million on him.

Pukki's, Gray's and Deeney's races are run. They've had their purple patches but are all destined to grace the lower leagues with their limited talent.

They are definitely not tens of millions of pounds (which they would likely cost) better than our reserves. Many of whom would love the chance to pull on the blue shirt, even if it's just to sit on the bench.

Why are so many keen to refill the ‘deadwood' basket when it's not even completely empty yet???

We most definitely need a back-up striker with experience, surely that is evident.

I understand all the reasons given for and against but I think we have to dip our toe in that murky water. I don't hear of anyone bursting out from the Under-23s, like Jeffers or Rooney did (from the reserves).

It's surprising how better some players can get when given a swansong in elevated company. Clearly Sturridge and Welbeck are technically far better than Deeney and King but would possibly bring baggage.

I'm an optimist, almost deluded when it comes to strikers, and I could see all of them contributing, Mandzukic would bring something different again.

I would have to draw the line at that Niasse fella though... I have a gut instinct he's not that good.

Can anyone tell me what he actually did on the pitch? Apart from nearly do something and end up frustrating the passage of play. The idea of singing a burnt out Championship thug, or burnt out mercenary, is laughable.

The quality that now makes us a formidable unit is now the standard and yet, regardless of the upgrades, most TWers look to the very level of deadwood (as they put it) that occupies too many sqaud numbers.

You can hear it now, the uproar if it actually happened: "Kenwright has done us again." Carlo etc know what they are doing. Wait and see and enjoy the ride.

If Everton really did sign James on a free, then it means we signed him, Allan and Doucouré for roughly the same price as Arsenal's Partey.

Now that's what I call real transfer business! Yet those arseholes at Sky never even mentioned us when the subject of the teams doing the best deals was discussed on their Deadline Day programme..

A burnt-out injury-prone has-been...

Just what loads on here were saying about James.

Out of the players mentioned I would go for....

None of them.

So what are you suggesting? Our front three will go through the whole campaign, without an injury suspension or needing a rest. We are trying to replace a "ghost" because we need support in that position.

Is there some brilliant striker at our club, working as the groundsman or something I haven't heard of...? Because a few posters' refusal to even consider our options is totally perplexing.

It's quite straight forward, not 'perplexing' at all.

Signing someone who is a load of bollocks won't solve any problems relating to injuries, suspensions or fatigue.

Niasse, Schneiderlin, Martina, Garbutt, Stekelenburg, Sandro, Walcott.

That is one hell of a cull and some nightmare blasts from the past from all recent managers since Moyes. Dread to think what the weekly sum of the wage bill was for just these 7. Probably about £500k/week!

The mood at Finch Farm must be completely different now compared to just 3 months ago with all these gone and serious quality coming in since then.

Just Bolasie, Besic and Tosun left I think. First two in the last year of their contracts so I imagine they'll be off soon as well. Never know, maybe Carlo can even get Tosun to find the net if he just stays around the box, as back up for Calvert-Lewin.

I think we will look to offload in January, then and only then do I see Everton making a move for a striker.

If need be Richarlison can play as a striker, we have Ellis Simms who could probs cover if needed for the short term.

I would keep our powder dry for now.

Not many will be looking to buy January, so we may find a disgruntled striker nearing the end of his contract.

Or we could still be near the top and attract Eduard, if we can offer European football.

As one or two have already alluded to what is the point in bringing in another Tosun. None of us can be unhappy with the squad enhancement there has been this window and we are in a much better place than I'm sure the majority of us expected.

Personally speaking I would sooner take a chance on the existing squad and bring some quality in as and when available rather than get another Tosun right now.

Calvert-Lewin: I Never Stopped Believing

Always a pleasure to listen to Dom. Very eloquent, very well-grounded young man. He is destined for media work if so inclined when his playing days are over, I'm sure.

Same thing with respect to the quality of chances we are getting now. Calvert-Lewin has grown into something many of us never thought he could (would). It goes to show what I have always believed: quality players raise the game of the people around them.

You think we'll be fine and don't need cover as all the options are a load of bollocks.

I think we will need cover and, amongst all our options, there are definitely players who can contribute and aren't all bollocks.

Time will tell, I suppose, if no-one is brought in these next 10 days, Ancelotti feels the same as yourself.

I know where you're coming from with Tosun, of all the players we want to move on, Cenk is the one that you could argue a case for. He does have some qualities, a predatory instinct and would improve for a sustained run of games and confidence.

On balance though, even if he returns fully fit, I don't think he is a top 4 or 6 forward. He doesn't offer enough pace or aerial threat to be an effective impact sub either. His days as an Everton player are numbered.

With Kean gone I was expecting a back up forward to come in, Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison won't play 50 games for club and country , they will need some respite.

Carlo and Brands must have someone in mind, we will need him .

I think he went to China after bombing in a big move, was it too Milan? He had a lot of potential – maybe Jay Wood can offer us insight?

Poor Jay, anything Brazil related and you get wheeled out and questioned like a roving reporter. Shame for you we now like Brazilians a lot here at Everton!! :)

Systems can suit individuals and bring the best out in them but when the debate is about them needing space to perform the debate is over for me, it's an admission they're just not that good imo.

Ringo was a shit drummer but became a legend in that group... if only football was like pop music.

Spent the last 7 years in South America other than a short unsuccessful spell at Villarreal. Hasn't played for Brazil for seven years.

Not a chance we would go in for him.

Some of the early season scorelines throughout the Premier league have been mind-boggling to say the least so maybe we should wait until things settle down before we can really assess the bigger picture.

Everton did well in atrocious conditions against a much improved Brighton but they had spells when they allowed Brighton too much possession – especially after Richarlison went off and the last 15 minutes when basically the game was won.

It would have been nice to have seen another experienced striker brought in. That wasn't to be but the bolstering of the defence was so important. Nkoukou looks a steal.

Hopefully Pickford will come back to his best after the break but I still think Tom Davies is a little slow at times for a young guy.

You might know about football but you know nothing about drumming.

Also, if he is that good why have a nation like Algeria only capped him once in the past 5 years?

More detail to follow but @Everton's incoming transfer activity will see £18.4m added to amortisation costs plus £17.25m to wages; total annual cost £35.65m. Outgoing annual savings total £28.25m. Net cost £7.4m p.a. – a truly remarkable summer. Congratulations to all involved!

Remarkable indeed. Moshiri, Brands, Carlo going great guns at the moment.

Now I know Tosun's stock is more or less in the crapper, but the guy knows how to finish at least. If he was receiving James-level service, he could probably bag more than a couple goals this season.

Add to that some very well timed contract extensions for Keane, Holgate, Calvert-Lewin and Gordon and the acquisition of Nkounkou for less than a million.

Dare I say we are starting to look like a well run club?

Yet one of Koeman's cheapest buys is currently setting the Premier League on fire. None other than Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Not to mention Michael Keane isn't doing too badly either.

I think sometimes managers buy the right players but just at the wrong time.

Premier League transfers: Spending breakdown after Deadline Day

Everton have moved out 20 players (permanently or on loan) while bringing in only 6 for a net spend of approx £63M (I say approximately because it made no mention of a fee received from Reims for Fraser Hornby). In anyone's book that's a great window both in terms of quality added to the squad and wages reduced.

I am most definitely not in your league, fellah!

They also did something titled, "Premier League Club Power Rankings 2020-21, Vol. I". Again, Everton came out #1.

What was interesting and a pleasant surprise, when reading the ratings, was something said about the RS (Who were rated #4). This:

"Joel Matip is better than most people think and certainly more impactful than Joe Gomez. Even with him possibly fit after the break, there's reason to believe that Richarlison, James Rodriguez, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin isn't the best way to merge back into the PL highway."

Enjoyed that.

I think he's a little bit of a late bloomer. He moved to Nice at 18 but never really settled, suffered from injuries.

He's been at Brentford for two seasons where he's been excellent. He got into the PFA team last year and has been recalled into the national side.

Of course whether he can do it at the highest level is a gamble and someone like Josh King is a safer bet but he's definitely got excellent technique and an eye for goal.

Don't forget Mahrez was a similar age when he established himself as a Premier League player.

It is worth noting that our main, critical transfer business was, this window, premeditated and done in advance. This was due to excellent groundwork by Brands and Ancelotti. Doing things in a professional way in good time has helped in a big way to get us started on the front foot.

More of the same please, next summer.

Is this the same agent who inserted a £40 million buyout clause in Bernard's contract when he joined Everton? If so, is he going to cough up the difference?