After weeks of speculation, the worst kept secret of the transfer window has now been confirmed. Everton’s former Brazilian forward Richarlison is now part of Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur revolution.

A chance for Richarlison to regularly show the rest of Europe, on the biggest stage, what he is capable of. Evertonians, and those who follow the Brazil national side, already know well the attributes of ‘O Pombo’. Fearless, determined, full of energy, no shortage of skill and perhaps most importantly a win at all costs mentality. Everton’s loss is most certainly Spurs gain, and most Everton supporters do not begrudge him his move.

What of Everton though? The club he leaves behind. It is also no secret that the club has been poorly ran for a number of years now. The narrow escape from relegation on the penultimate game of last season was the culmination of years of mismanagement, seemingly ever worse since majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri became involved with the club in 2016.

Over the past six years, Everton have spent hundreds of millions of pounds to go backwards.

An apparent interference from the very top has lead to a scattergun approach to recruitment, from board level to directors of football, through coaching staff and, most damagingly perhaps, the playing staff. Surely though, this has to be the turning point. The lessons of recent seasons must have been learnt. Evertonians though could certainly be forgiven for raising a rye smile at these suggestions, as the same mistakes have been repeated over and over in recent years.

During December a strategic review of the football structure at the club was announced. This followed the departure of Marcel Brands as Director of Football, and was soon followed by the sacking of Rafa Benitez, perhaps the most ill-advised managerial appointment in the club’s history.

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Following on from these events, the latter part of last season did see some signs of change for the better. The appointment of Frank Lampard as manager appears to have re-connected the players and coaching staff with the supporters. Demonstrated by some of the remarkable scenes in and around both Goodison Park and Finch Farm, Everton’s training facilities. This positive connection played a significant part in keeping the club in the Premier League.

Away from the pitch, Kevin Thelwell was appointed as the club’s new Director of Football. Thelwell is highly regarded for his work in a similar role with Wolverhampton Wanderers. During his time in this position, Wolves went from League One to the Premier League, winning the Championship on the way. Thelwell is credited with being directly involved in all footballing areas of the club during his time at Wolves. Having responsibility for recruitment, academy, sports science, performance analysis, medical and coaching.

Wolves would go on to finish an impressive seventh in their first season in the Premier League, qualifying for the Europa League, and eventually making the quarter finals of the competition. After the failures of both Steve Walsh and Marcel Brands as Director of Football, perhaps the appointment of Kevin Thelwell will be third time lucky for Farhad Moshiri in this regard.

This summer also gives the club the opportunity to make some changes to the playing squad. Alongside the departure of Richarlison (for a fee reported to be around £60 million), the sizeable contracts of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Fabian Delph and Cenk Tosun have come to an end. Shedding these salaries will have a significant impact on the club’s capability to bring in new talent. If perhaps one or two other fringe players on similar salaries, such as Andre Gomes or Jean-Philippe Gbamin, can be moved on then the make up of Everton’s squad could be altered significantly.

Frank Lampard made particular reference for the need to recruit more ‘robust’ players to the club. The imminent arrival of James Tarkowski from Burnley should provide a good example of this. Tarkowski can be seen as a potential like for like replacement for the effective, but enigmatic, Yerry Mina. Both players have demonstrated their significant influence on their respective sides over recent seasons, however Tarkowski rarely misses a game. Some would argue that Mina rarely makes a game! Everton need to find more players in this mould, players who can be relied upon for the majority of the season. Consistency, or a lack of, is often cited as Everton’s biggest problem.

The strategic review has lead to a new Director of Football at the club and a new manager, along with several new coaches. There has also already been changes to the staff and structure of the academy. The movement out of a number of high earners will also free up wages for incoming players into the first team squad. This does feel like a genuine possibility to get things right at Everton. The recruitment of any new players is key, however. The club must do everything possible to get this right. No more high profile, high wages on long contracts. More players with similar characteristics to the now departed Richarlison. Young, hungry, determined, energetic, with a desire to win at all costs.

If Kevin Thelwell and Frank Lampard can find these types of players, then perhaps this summer can be the Great Everton Reset.

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Robert Tressell
1 Posted 02/07/2022 at
Good article, Kevin. Hopefully some lessons have now been learned and this new, apparently very professional set-up gives us an upturn in fortunes.

After a very iffy start, I think Lampard matured a lot as a manager in the final part of last season. That should stand us in good stead.

Let's see what Thelwell can deliver.

Brendan McLaughlin
2 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Well argued article, Kevin #OP,

I was going to say I admire your optimism but... but actually I just admire your optimism.

David Hamilton
3 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Mina is our most competent centre-back and, in my view, Delph was arguably our most competent midfielder. Ironic that replacing them both has become such a priority.
Paul Kernot
4 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Agreed, nice post, Kevin.

Robert #1,

I'd agree Lampard matured in a big hurry and all credit to him for being man enough to accept that his team weren't capable of playing an expansive game. I'd say he had no choice really. "Shit or bust" as my dad used to say.

Regarding Kevin's main point; yes, we can only hope this is the backroom team and the time to eventually change tack. Once again, circumstances have conspired to force a more considered recruitment process on us. Hopefully we will slowly start to see the benefit.

Dupont Koo
5 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Spot on, Kevin.

In the short term, we have Lampard developed exponentially as a coach in front of us after having gone through his first 4½ months of baptism under fire. Even with minimal improvements in the first team, I am quietly optimistic in our climb back to at least a mid-table finish next season.

For the long term, we need to re-establish the Talent conveyor belt from the aged teams to first team. I have a lot of faith in Thelwell and Prosser to accomplish what Brands was compromised from achieving, ie:

1) Making sure a single playing style and approach (dictated by Lampard) is to be implemented from first team all the way down to Under-8s.

Rhino was the big elephant in the house that has been preventing that from happening because he valued winning games (as if winning Premier League 2 games has any significance) over development of players. Glad that he is no longer around Finch Farm.

Some argued that Paul Tait has been a fellow culprit, but I'm keeping fingers crossed that Thelwell will be able to keep Tait (and others of Kenwright's entourage within the academy) in check to comply with the overall approach.

2) Setting a set of reasonable pay scales for the U18 and U21 players that are closer to market rate.

This is so that the players can be affordable for Football League clubs (and Scottish clubs) when they are either loaned out (imagine we loan out 10 youngsters like the Chelsea Loan Army and don't have to subsidize any of their wages. If all the landlords in the world can enjoy having tenants paying their back-breaking mortgages, why can't we have other clubs paying us to develop our tenants?) or have to be sold after being deemed not good enough for the first team.

(Cautionary Tales: why couldn't the likes of Pennington, Williams, Dowell be sold earlier and provide the club with better financial returns? The Red Shite sold Jordan Ibe for 10 bloody Million Pounds, for fuck's sake!)

3) Hardware and Software development over winning games.

Yes, one of the approaches in developing youngsters might be to get them dominating each of the age groups during their progressions. But what if we have some late-boomers or eaw prospects (Ellis Simms comes to mind immediately)? We need to build them up on both the Hardware side (ie, skills & physical growth) and the Software side (ie, Professionalism, Work Ethics, Football IQ, Maturity off the field to handle pressures).

To do that, the youngsters would need minutes and opportunities to go through a baptism under fire on the field (hence Brands tried fast-tracking U18 players on to U23 to test their resolve, like he consistently did at PSV with great success). If a starting 11 is to be kept to play the majority of the minutes at both U18 & U21 levels, how can we see other youngsters grow?

In short, the real and exponential improvements for us will come from the youngsters' development, in terms of how many players like Anthony Gordon the Academy can generate and how many like Jarrad Branthwaite we can acquire from other parts of the country and bring them up to the First Team.

Porto and Benfica did it with great applomb, so can we.

Paul Birmingham
6 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Good article, Kevin, and a reality check.

The smelling salts the Everton board use, have never cleared the consistent incompetence and poor organisation of the Everton board.

Granted the new stadium has started and hopefully will be completed, but the peace of mind for Evertonians is never there in terms of matters on the park and in the boardroom.

Let's see if this pre-season can become a starting point. The squad needs some proven players to come in ASAP, as the time to tell and avoid the general mess of last season, must be avoided.

As it stands with the squad now, Frank and his coaches are going to have to be very creative and look outside the box, to be able to start this season in shape.

Whose coming in, in terms of transfers, who knows, but hope eternal, and if nothing else the smell of the Blue Smoke lit Goodison and masses of partisan Evertonians is very special. But this season the squad must take responsibility and play for the Everton shirt, every game.

Hope eternal all matters Everton.

Stu Darlington
7 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Well put, Kevin.Your last paragraph sums it up nicely. I too thought I could detect some evidence for optimism with the changes that have been made at the club over the last few months, but felt I was way out on my own.

Dupont @5,

Good shout. If we can implement some joined-up thinking at the club with an agreed formula running from the youngest age groups up to the first team, we will benefit greatly from our youth development programme.

The challenge for the club is to get such a programme agreed, accepted and in place and that is going to take time even if the powers that be decided to go down that route.

Robert Tressell
8 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Brilliant comments, Dupont. Proper organisation and innovation around the academy and recruitment are the way forward.

Successful clubs around Europe show us the way.

Trevor Powell
9 Posted 03/07/2022 at
"Rafa Benitez, perhaps the most ill-advised managerial appointment in the club's history."

I was going to say that this should exclude the "perhaps" before I had awful flashbacks to Mike Walker, Fat Sam and Walter Smith!

Niall McIlhone
10 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Interesting article, Kevin, with some additional points added by Dupont which are also indicative if the way forward for the club: investment will be important right through the ranks, and I have a feeling that Thelwell may be the right man to effect the changes needed.

Looking at some of the reactions on the UK media sites to the sale of Richarlison and signing of Tarkowski, fans of other clubs (or perhaps just pathetic trolls?) seem to think we are nailed on for another relegation fight this coming season, and that Lampard is out of his depth?

The last four or five seasons have clearly had a hugely damaging effect on the standing of the club as a Premier League institution, but then, as we have learned from the experiences of Newcastle and Leicester in recent years, things can be turned around with better recruitment and good leadership.

I share your hope, Kevin, and think next season will see steps forward at Everton FC, both on and off the field of play.

Robert Tressell
11 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Niall # 10. I thought Lampard was out of his depth initially. What impressed me is that, unlike Silva who was in a similar position previously, Lampard learned on the job, matured and became pragmatic.

He also instilled an excellent team spirit.

Perhaps, as he found as a player, Lampard isn't a natural - but he works hard to make the best of what he's got and finds a way to be effective.

I'm encouraged and optimistic about him. I just hope he gives up on 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 etc because the players we've got struggle with it.

Brian Murray
12 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Robert. I hope you're right about frank wising up as he went along because that's a sign of a potentially really good manager. I still say the reaction of our fans left the players nowhere to hide near the end. Even at away games, where they had time and again wilted, but hope lessons learned.
Brian Murray
13 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Trevor @9. Whose watch were they on, eh? David Blunkett without his dog can see it.
Andy Crooks
14 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Some good points, Dupont @5. However, I'm not sure about your comments on David Unsworth. Is not installing a winning mentality in young players not just as important as trying to make silk purses from sows' ears? Genius cannot be taught; hard work, commitment and hatred of losing can.

Peter Fearon
15 Posted 03/07/2022 at
What reset?

The question is: Have any of the problems that brought us within a hair of being relegated been solved?

Well, we sold our best player and so far there is no indication of how or if he will be replaced.

We signed a defender who led his side into the lower depths last season and who nobody else wanted.

We are now looking at another defender but so far we have not moved on any of our posse of misfiring defenders.

So the answer to that question, days before the players report for training, is No. Unless we can bring in at least two creative forces in the next month, we can expect much of the same next season. Why would it be any different?

Barry Rathbone
16 Posted 03/07/2022 at
The last time we were in similar straits – no money and a close brush with the drop – was the conclusion of Walter's reign.

Appointing the untried Moyes was tacit acceptance of no longer being at the top table with a "reset" involving temporary acceptance of simply avoiding relegation. Moyes delivered but rode the donkey of mediocrity for a mind-numbing 11 years… making a fortune for himself in the process.

It won't happen again. Why?

Because Martinez appeared and worked a minor miracle in the loan market, giving opportunities to players not trusted by Moyes from the stiffs. A resultant fabulous first season reignited the real Everton… but it was amidst mass delusion

Without real mone,y could the ascent continue? Could the loanee market really provide more players like Lukaku each year? No. And the accompanying descent was inevitable.

But the point is Martinez let the cat out of the bag – every manager since has had that first season as the gauge. The tacit plodding contract with Moyes had been ripped up and the arrival of Moshiri and Usmanov compounded the matter (illusory as it was).

Frank's issue is the same as all his predecessors: he has to produce a miracle akin to the Martinez first season… then pray the new owners have real money to keep it going. That is his "reset".

Some will talk wistfully about consolidation but previous incumbents will tell you that game is no longer welcome at Goodison Park.

Chris Leyland
17 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Barry, Martinez benefitted in his first season from inheriting that ‘mediocrity' from Moyes, as you call it… or, as most people would recognise it: stability. He had a platform to build on which no other manager has had since. He took over a stable side that hadn't finished outside the top 8 in the previous seven seasons and incrementally improved them.

Every other manager since has taken over an in-crisis situation following a sacking or a moonlight flit when Ancelotti left us at the altar. We've been on a downward spiral,lurching from manager to manager since Moyes walked out.

No-one had been given the chance to build anything and we've ended up with a mishmash of a squad as a result. We can only hope that Lampard is given time.

Robert Tressell
18 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Barry, I agree – without real money, we cannot win the Premier League. That much is clear. Getting into the Top 4 should also be nigh-on impossible because at least 7 clubs will now have better squads (or should do).

However, we should be able to operate as a club that is generally there or thereabouts for the Europa League, has occasional successful tilts at the Top 4, and wins cups. That is realistic I expect Lampard to go for that.

I also think the loan market still has plenty to offer – especially with Man City, Chelsea and others home and abroad managing very swollen squads. We won't get a Lukaku each year but there will be really good options.

Tony Hill
19 Posted 03/07/2022 at
You just never know. The boring old adage about getting your defence right first seems to be what Lampard is heeding and he's well on the way. I think we'll see a restored Godfrey, a more mature Holgate (at long last) and developing full backs; all with a very good goalkeeper behind

Midfield and attack need work (and have done for years) but, if we don't concede too many (Tarkowski's Burnley conceded fewer than most below 7th last season, and fewer than Man Utd in 6th; 13 fewer than us), then we have a sound chance in most games.

It's not merely about the big names and wealth – though, of course, it significantly is – it's about the indefinable things of blend and toughness and luck. Three or four more astute signings may well make us interesting.

We were going pretty well, of course, under Benitez until Calvert-Lewin got injured and the players stopped doing their best for him.

All is by no means lost.

Danny O’Neill
20 Posted 03/07/2022 at
After last season and the sale of Richarlison, I could easily get laughed at for suggesting that European qualification is a possibility. But it is. Outside of the Top 3, that is how wide-open the Premier League is in my opinion.

If the outcome of the strategic review is that Brands went, quickly followed by the Manager, then it wasn't a strategic review. It was a crisis meeting with a couple of knee-jerk reactions based on crowd reactions and Sky Sports News pressure.

On the positive. I do actually have optimism with the new manager, the DoF and their staff. Providing they are given time and patience to do their job. Which hasn't been the case under this ownership.

I do wish we would drop this "young hungry" phrase. A football squad is a balance. Peter Reid and Andy Gray were hardly young and hungry when we signed them. Our first confirmed signing is a 29-year-old seasoned centre-back on a 4-year contract. But he will add much-needed experience and leadership.

On the academy, hopefully the DoF will be allowed to restructure and connect Finch Farm better with the local and regional grassroots football scene. It should be more about development rather than winning. I know that sounds odd because we want to win football matches. But youth coaching shouldn't be about winning at all costs. Yes, winning mentality is part of the development, but the emphasis should be on the development, not the result.

Tony Hill
21 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Further to mine @19, I should note that Graham Fylde pointed out the Burnley goals against on another thread yesterday.

I think it's a telling statistic for a relegation side.

Barry Rathbone
22 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Chris Leyland @17,

I think you miss the point. Moyes's "stability" equated to consistently unchallenging "little Everton". Martinez showed it need not be that way, albeit with something akin to a miracle in the loan market.

On the basis of aiming high meaning you have further to fall, Martinez's first season standard killed him as it has each following manager. Remember Allardyce got 8th – equating to the Moyes average finish over 10 years – but was chased out.

Evertonians will not accept "little Everton" anymore.

Robert Tressel @18,

I see no evidence to back your opinion beyond blind optimism. I didn't rate Richarlison as highly as some but he was one of our better players and he's gone with little or nothing as replacement.

I hope you're right as a bare minimum but, as it stands with the ownership farrago still in full swing, I can see us in another relegation scrap again and Frank gone by Xmas.

Oliver Molloy
23 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Everton will in my opinion finish in the bottom half and, unless the manager can work some type of magic, it is probable we could be in for another rollercoaster with avoiding relegation being the main priority.

Lampard and Everton got very lucky last season, and although I hope he proves me wrong, I do not believe Everton will set the world alight this season.

With all that is going on behind the scenes, it is hardly ideal preparation for a squad who have also just lost their best player.

Big season for Calvert-Lewin, we must all hope he concentrates on the football – he has a lot to prove to himself and others!

Definitely new and hungry players required all over the park, how we do this is another matter. 14th is my prediction!

Jerome Shields
24 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Kevin, a good analysis, but Everton have been into cosmetic changes for some time now, which has not delivered the required results to progress on the pitch. Until there are performance targets and accountability, I don't think there will be much change.

A lot of decisions are firefighting against various weaknesses and adhering to the demands of the Premier League Profit and Sustainability Committee. Until we see people of the necessary management ability coming in, it may be more of the same.

Lampard, though he avoided relegation, has still to be tested as an Everton Manager and on the skills to deal with the Everton structure and those that are part of it.

The right takeover parties may change this scenario.


David Currie
25 Posted 03/07/2022 at
Danny 20,

I agree that the balance is the key to any squad. Reidy and Andy were not young when we signed them but were both incredibly hungry and hated losing!

Robert Williams
26 Posted 03/07/2022 at
What I particularly like about Lampard is not just the way he wised up as matters progressed to shits-ville but his nous at selecting his backroom team.

As we all know, football is a team game, not just on the field but also in the day-to-day running, planning and training. I believe that Lampard has had the benefit of all that back-up experience to fall back on – let's hope it continue and there are no bust-ups on the way.

What has really surprised me though is why the fuck did he bring Dele Alli to the club? He must know something that I don't.

Having said all that perhaps the fella is a miracle maker, à la staying in the Premier League, so Alli might be the rabbit that he pulls out of the hat this season – somehow, I doubt it!

Robert Tressell
27 Posted 04/07/2022 at
Barry # 22, I don't believe we will, all of a sudden, start operating as a 5th to 8th side. But I believe we can achieve that with good management on and off the pitch. That will take time. I think Europa League is realistic in 2 to 3 seasons if we build well.

Lampard's best chance of getting us up the table next season is through continuing with the tactics he belatedly deployed when his attempts at expansive football failed. Ancelotti showed the way and you could argue Allardyce did too - Moyes and Royle too in different ways. They all found a way to be effective with flawed and limited squads.

Martinez tried and nearly succeeded in doing it a different way. He had the luxury of inheriting a good settled squad. Lampard has inherited a bag of shite so it calls for pragmatism.

Beyond next season, it all comes down to the quality of the players we can bring in via the academy and transfers. That's up to Thelwell more than Lampard. So we shall see what he delivers.

In the meantime I think the fans will tolerate mid-table finishes provided they can see what we're building, get creditable results in the derby and have a good go in the cups.

Barry Rathbone
28 Posted 04/07/2022 at
Robert 29

I hope with all my heart you are right and perhaps Frank's communication skills will placate the fans when losses associated with mid table arise but from past evidence I fear not.

Bob Parrington
29 Posted 04/07/2022 at
El Bilal Toure as replacement --- anybody???? 20-year-old with excellent stats. Trust Echo to blab to raise the price, of course!
Brian Harrison
30 Posted 04/07/2022 at
I would hope that any new additions are brought in quickly and will be able to integrate into whatever system Lampard is going to employ this coming season.

I think this is a big season for Lampard; yes, he galvanised the side into getting enough points to stay in the Premier League, but for me the fans played the greatest part of all.

Some say he failed at Derby in not even reaching the playoff and at Chelsea, despite a very good start, it all sort of fell apart for him. Yes the expectations at Chelsea are at present on a different scale to the expectations at Everton. But I am surer he has hopes of managing a Champions League club, and maybe he has his sights one day on the England job.

What he does with us will I believe define Lampard as a manager – can he take a struggling team with little money to spend because of FFP back towards the top half of the table, which will constitute a successful season? Or will it be another year of fighting relegation?

If it’s the later, I think Lampard can wave goodbye to any prospect of a Champions League job or the England job.

Paul Burns
31 Posted 06/07/2022 at
I don't see any reset at all – never mind a 'great' one. The same people are still in the same positions, ruining the club. If anyone thinks selling our best player and signing one from a relegated club is progress, then God help us.

It seems like the great escape and the disgraceful managerial appointments have already been conveniently forgotten. Everyone knows who the people to blame for the disgraceful mismanagement of Everton are and if they are allowed to continue, disaster beckons. It's as simple as that… and I don't see any effort to remove them.

Brian Murray
32 Posted 06/07/2022 at
I think what’s obvious that no matter how much money we keep on losing year after year because we can’t generate any or no matter what state we are on the pitch. The present people will fight tooth and nail to hold on to their positions whether we get a takeover or not. It really needs taking out of their hands and I know the likes of kam sports don’t look convincing ( defaulting on past payments) but i’d take the chance if no one else steps forward. That’s how desperate I or we have become.
Simon Jones
33 Posted 08/07/2022 at
Every season, since what feels like forever, but really post the Moyes era, I start a new season with the attitude that perhaps this may be the year we turn a corner, but most seasons other than the first Martinez year have ended with some form of disappointment or a feeling of what could have been.

So what do I expect this coming season? A great reset? Maybe, but also realism that the squad is unlikely to be as strong or as deep in the last few years, because, IMO, the squads of the last few seasons have massively under-performed, giving the illusion that the squads have been poor.

So the reset might make us like a Moyes side again. We were (generally) better when we didn't have a pot to piss in and certainly more consistent. If indeed, "In Frank We Trust" then this is his opportunity to give the side an identity, something we have lacked for a few years. The latter part of the recent campaign saw that re-connection with the fans, so if he can build on that, we might just get somewhere.

Laurie Hartley
34 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Very good OP Kevin and well argued posts following in the thread. I agree with you that Thelwell and Lampard can find the players we need to rebuild our squad. However, for me, the key to any reset is - has Farhad Moshiri learnt his lesson.

By that I mean can he have enough faith and confidence in these two football men to leave them to do their job - and make sure “nobody” else interferes? I actually thing the main man in this is Thelwell.

I remember when we drew 2-2 at Wolves in their promotion season commenting on here that I thought they would win more games than they would loose. They have gone on to take our spot and going by Kevin’s comments Thelwell played no small part in that.

In my opinion Farhad Moshiri should learn a lesson from the one thing he has got right since he bought us - the appointment of Colin Chong as the Project Director for the new stadium. That project is coming along in leaps and bounds because Colin Chong is a proven expert in the construction industry.

Actually, as I am typing this the though has occurred to me that he has actually done the same thing in appointing Thelwell. Proven track record. Maybe he has learnt?

As far as the playing squad is concerned the thing I will be looking for in any new player is “have they got character”? In our current situation that has to be a major consideration when spending what little funds we appear to have available. In that regard I am happy with the signing of Tarkowski - he will definitely strengthen us in that respect.

It’s 9 days since your original post Kevin and no new signings as yet. I am hoping we sign Broja and a defensive midfielder. I would be content with that.


Alan J Thompson
35 Posted 11/07/2022 at
I don't expect anything better than finishing in the bottom half of the table but without ever really being involved in any relegation battle. I also think that everything we need to be better has been covered on here at some time.

We won't be out of difficulties with financial regulations the season after never mind anytime this season so the scouting and finding of unpolished gems will be even more important and accordingly, I don't expect this season anything better than a decent home record and trying to be difficult to beat away from home.

I'd be made up though if we could attract James back for a season, on reasonable wages, so that we have somebody who might release Gordon, Gray and Calvert-Lewin but don't see anyone of high midfield quality coming this season so, backs to the wall it is.

Danny O’Neill
36 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Bottom half? Wash your mouth out with last night's dishwater and say 10 Hail Marys, Alan!!

The sun is shining. Tickets go on sale today.

Where is that midfielder?

Mike Gaynes
37 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Speaking of resets, here's one I didn't see coming -- Rooney is going to MLS as a manager. Taking over at DC United, where he played. Worst team in MLS at the moment.
Tony Abrahams
38 Posted 11/07/2022 at
The great reset is never going to happen until we have got proper hungry professional people at the top of our football club. I think we have got a young manager who is hungry, I think he's got a very good backroom squad, but the top of Everton, is like a boys club, and until this changes, that flag on the kop is just going to get another number added to it each year, as the bastards continue to laugh at us.

It's all about desire, and unless the fans find enough desire to let the owner and his chairman know that they are not wanted (if Moshiri sells, minority shareholders will be able to keep their shares – well played Mr 1.3%) and that he should sell up, to the right people, as soon as possible.

Kunal Desai
39 Posted 11/07/2022 at
The fans played their part last season, the manager played his part. Did the current board do their part and clear off? Ofcourse not.

Bill Kenwright will maintain our motto of Laughing Stock FC. Nothing will change.

The fans need to re-group and get these people out – the only way it changes.

Laurie Hartley
40 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Tony @ 38 - I have a feeling their days are numbered. Just a hunch.
Alan J Thompson
41 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Danny (#36);

Sorry but you've got the wrong leg there, where did the sandstone come from? And the dishwater will be the white.

I can't see many new members to the squad turning this around in the short time before the season starts, if any arrive at all.


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How to get rid of these ads and support TW


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