One month to go: what's left?

Moshiri has told the fans to sit tight because we will be bringing in players before deadline day. Who these players are, of what quality and whether they are buys or loans, who knows?

Rondon isn't up to the quality we require and if Calvert-Lewin is injured, you are right! We are up the creek.

If Lampard and his backroom staff can't see what the fans can see, then we are in trouble, and even if the striker situation is sorted, we need more creativity in midfield, as was evident from last season.

Personally, I would sell some of our dross and bring fresh faces in. There are some quality players in the bargain basement and loan market that we could benefit from. So, the owner and the board have a responsibility to keep the fans informed after last season's debacle.

I think we're limited to two loan signings and maybe we'll get a couple in from Chelsea. I think Frank is hoping that a fit Dele, with a reignited love of the game, will fill the role left by Gylfi and James. Here's hoping, he has the talent.

The potshot years will take a long toll on Everton, so I'm set for a grinding season, but an improvement on last season, intermission of commitment and character in the Everton squad.

Hope eternal.

Moshiri's letter should have been titled Don't Panic, but it's too late anyway, I'm panicking.

I have been enviously looking at Leeds getting their central midfield sorted with Roca and Adams brought in rather efficiently. I can't help thinking – why weren't we on the case? We can only hope we have other irons in the fire.

Ethan Ampadu has not featured on the Rumour Mill but I think this is a player Frank will be looking at. I think he could be another one of those young Chelsea players who can have a breakout season after getting in his experience out on a couple of useful loans with essential game time. Frank is ideal to bring him on and help his development. Maybe possible on a loan-to-buy too, and we must have the option to buy, allowing more funds for elsewhere.

I think Morgan Gibbs-White will come in and I haven't given up on Zinchenko just yet as he may just prefer the North West rather than London as his young family is here.

Surely we can find some cash for them two, especially with the Richarlison and Kean money that may be coming.

At the Norwich home game last season, Rondon was fat, in fact I remarked to Derek Knox and Danny O'Neill that he looked like one of the band of heavyweights (Tubbs, Pinklon Thomas, Wetherspoon) who came out of retirement after the dragon Tyson was slain by James Douglas. Think big elasticated shorts. However, think back to our hour of need when a not-fat Rondon was seen, along with Delph, as a possible positive.

I admit it's a long shot, Robert, but while you and the admirable Sam Hoare search for bargains, hidden gems, unearthed treasure; our own gem might just be with the squad as we speak.

Slimline Rondon, our new talisman. You heard it here first!

Paul B, first paragraph, that's got to be the most important aspect when bringing in any players, imo mate.

I

Get 2 decent midfielders in and I think we could surprise a few people.

As long as Lampard starts to implement your 'Golden Rules', Robert!

There is no guarantee they will be ‘bargains' either. Got to negotiate with agents, clubs and the players themselves to determine the price. Even at 㿞k per week, a few extra ‘wastes of space' will soak up money we can't afford to waste.

The season starts in August but the transfer deadline is September isn't it? I'd rather Thelwell and Lampard use every minute to ensure they get exactly what we need.

I'll start imagining them as the next Everton legends after they've signed, not before.

Gibbs-White – 㿅M, Broja – 㿊M, Cornet – 㾽½M? I suspect we have nowhere near these sorts of sums to spend. I think we will make one moderate splash in the market for 㾻-㿀M and the rest will be loans, structured deals and maybe another free?

I am still hoping we go in for Grillitsch, free transfer and would fill the No 6 role nicely IMO. Frank really needs to call in a Chelsea favour or two.

With Bill still involved it'll be Winks on a “Dele deal” and a last-minute loan of Benteke.

I think we've missed out on Zinchenko as he is on is way to or already at Arsenal? Sorry to cross threads, but to those who were disappointed at the Branthwaite to PSV loan, I did note that as soon as City signed Zinchenko, they pretty much sent him straight out on loan. Where? To PSV and the Dutch League for 2 seasons. I think it's going to be a great experience for our young centre back.

I don't know enough about Broja who many are talking about. But Gallagher caught the eye last season. Maybe our manager can pull some Chelsea strings and levers to make something happen. As I've been typing, I had a message pop up and read that Lampard still wants Gallagher, but it seems Chelsea don't want to sell, so a loan deal is more likely.

I am well documented as being a fan of Allan, but having already got him in the twighlight of his career and now 2 years further on, he's not playing every game and will be used sparingly. I also don't think we should ever have thought of him as a holding midfielder. He and Doucoure go hunting the ball. Doucoure not so much because his end product is erratic, but I feel that had Allan had better options in front of him, he could have been more effective as he does actually have an eye for a pass. And he's a good leader on the pitch.

Both would have been or will be better with that true defensive midfielder you mention. We definitely need that. Both for what I've just mentioned and also protection for our deep sitting defence if that is how we're going play with the players we have.

But a true defensive midfielder is what we've needed for a few seasons now. Someone who can do a similar job to what I thought Gareth Barry done for us.

I think we've both agreed and taken the stance to look outside the Premier League. There will be talent out there and it won't come at a premium that clubs slap on English players in particular.

I was going up to the ground today with a mate; and we were just talking about Everton's history of buying players recently, and comparing it to Howard' team that he built with Liverpool reserves, two past it senior player (Andy and Peter, forgive me my ignorance) A lad from Tranmere, Trev Steven and Pat van den Howe and therest of the lads. It can be done

so I'm interested in your articles, Robert. Most of the players you mention, I've never heard of; but I think you really study the performance of each and every one of them. I hope that our new Director of Footbal (I think he probably does) and our Manager are given a free hand in choosing the incoming player.

I hope to the Gods that we have stopped buying players of the same ilk as the too long a list of current ones.

Enjoyable and informative. Thanks Robert

With Richie gone we cannot rely on DCL in and around the 6 yard box, and we can't afford the kind of striker we require.

So those days of wondering whether we will get a work permit and not playing too many from South America needs to change.

It is now not playing too many from outside of the UK and every player from somewhere will need a work permit and that normally means players with a number of caps. So some Germany/French/Spanish/Italian holding midfielder at £15m is unlikely as he will not get a sniff of a cap with the national team.

Please correct me if I am wrong

Post Brexit, clubs will not be able to sign players freely from the EU. Players from EU countries who want to play in the Premier League or EFL will be required to gain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE), like all other overseas players without the right to work in the UK.

The GBE will operate a points-based system, where points are scored for senior and talented young players based on:

• Senior and youth international appearances
• Quality of the selling club, based on the league they are in, league position and progression in continental competition
• Club appearances, based on domestic league and continental competition minutes

Players accumulating the requisite amount of points will earn a GBE automatically, while players just below the threshold may be considered for a GBE by an Exceptions Panel.

In the Premier League, the number of overseas U21 players a club can sign will be limited to three in the January transfer window and six per season moving forwards. This enables the recruitment of the best players from around the world to train and play together with homegrown talent.

The UK's exit from the EU will also mean that clubs will not be able to sign players from overseas until they are 18.

I love reading some of your thoughts on players around the world and often wonder what Everton's recruitment team are doing.

One would hope they have better information available to them but it does not seem so given some of the players we have brought in over the last few years.

Moshiri says we have learned lessons but I don't think leopards change their spots and Bill the almighty still controls the negotiations and not Thelwell.

Why we are hawking round the begging bowl for loans or donations other teams are snapping up all the available talent so despite Thelwell and Frank the same symptoms of Everton transfer modus operandi remain.

I am desparately hopeful that we get the CDM we need together with a goalscoring mid but hope springs eternal. This is Everton after all.

I don't see it as a problem. It will be figured out. I'll use a simplistic example. Like passport control at airports in EU countries, I just have to stand in a different queue. It's no hassle and I can still enter the country and move freely. I used to have to anyway as in some airports it was different for non-Schengen countries.

Ironically, once I'm in the EU, if I jump in a car, I can move around unchallenged just as much as I did pre-Brexit. The media may make a fuss of these things but the reality is often different. It's just a case of following a different set of rules and policies.

Anyway, football, hopefully that foreign player restriction will see clubs take more responsibility and invest in local teams and grass roots to feed the academies. I also like the idea of not taking foreign players from their home countries and environments before they are even considered adults.

It might close the door on some of the weakest EU signings - like Cuco Martino.

But it may open the door to higher quality from the Americas, Asia and Africa.

There will be ways to exploit this development. I hope we are trying.

There won't be any cut-price saviours available, so only hope is that Lampard is going to produce a motivational miracle and save us. But hard facts indicate this is going to be our last season in Premier League, hopefully it will be a fight giving us some good times to remember.

We need a couple of quality players to help turn the club's fortunes around, what we don't have is what quality players want and that is media exposure in Europe especially with the World Cup coming up.

What we can offer is a big club with a great history and the most loyal fans in the Premier League, and a respected manager who a number of players say is helping their improvement. On the downside, we have a club that has fallen down the league to fighting against relegation until nearly the last game of the season, and close observation under the Premier League financial rules.

We have a number of players who we wish to sell but it will depend on the contracts they will be offered. We do have a new stadium being built but is not due until 2024-25.

It does not make nice reading but, on the plus side, there are thousands of supporters like me – I have been a supporter since 1954-55 – that believe we have the greatest team in the Premier League who I will support to my last breath, and that we will get back on top where we belong.

When I read that we are pitching for Broja, Gibbs-White and Cornet, it shows that we are still trying to push through the evolution phase too quickly by paying top prices for players simply because they have some Premier League experience.

To put it into context, we would spend 㿴.5 million to buy 3 Premier League players with a grand total of 105 Premier League games. That values their experience at 𧽪k per game. We have tried this approach since 2016 and we all know the results.

Like Sam, Robert shows that there are players in the market that we can afford who will have resale value. I would prefer us to spend 㾶-15 million on 3 players and accelerate the development of Welch, Mills and Warrington. It will be a more difficult road and will not immediate success, but we have all seen what trying to take short-cuts on our way to success has resulted in.

Thelwell is also known for staying tight-lipped about his targets. That's why I've been a bit skeptical of some of these rumours.

Thelwell tight-lipped? That will never do… but then, if our owner, or just majority shareholder, says that the Chairman is handling transfers, what has he to be tight-lipped about? And if he knows our history,y he should be out there broadcasting that we wouldn't sell our kid for even 㿞Mill!

Unless, of course, you mean he won't tell Bill, Moshiri or even Bill's mum until after the deal's been done which is probably more the Everton way of recent years.

Anyone remember when we supposedly couldn't pay massive transfer fees or any fees until after 1 August when the banks had been satisfied? The good times eh, Bill.

The GBE requirements are quite complex, and restrictive now that Brexit is in place. Senior players (over 21) have to have an established history of playing at higher-ranked clubs in the better leagues to accumulate the 15 points across six criteria.

Good link below explains the system but it will be far harder to bring in any fringe overseas player with potential.

GBE criteria for senior players

The impact is likely to snowball with domestic players being the prime target for the mid to lower Premier League clubs, while the money-rich top clubs will continue to feed at the top table of Europe and the gap between the clubs is likely to increase. It's even worse outside of the Premier League and it's not only closed the door on lower leagues developing overseas talent, thus a future revenue potential, but increased the reliance on academy players from larger clubs. It will undoubtedly mean more opportunities for those younger domestic players going out to lower league clubs, but its impact is detrimental to the teams outside of the Top 6 too, reducing the pool of talent available.

A good overview from Analytics FC last year seems to highlight this:

Brexitball: The effects of GBE restrictions on the English football market

Don't you love Brexit?

Fof fuck's sake, depressing enough on here without this political shite adding too.

The South American market is a fascinating one. Benfica got Enzo Fernandez who could be a really top class DMC for only ٧M initially. Definitely bargains to be had and Menino looks a good player who could cover at right-back too.

The truth is that none of us really know who are targets are. Lampard made it clear after Baltimore that he wants a No 6 with defensive abilities and clearly we need to replace Richarlison's goals.

There is time left but whoever comes in now will have missed most of, if not all of pre-season. Leeds moved quickly to sign dynamic and exciting replacements for Phillips and Raphinha, giving them time to bed in during pre-season. Not sure why we can't do the same. But I'll suspend judgement till end of the window.

But as to your last point, yes, I do love Brexit. Boris was right: Make Britain Great Again. Without delving too deep (and I might well be missing something here), I think discouraging foreign imports has to be a good thing for young English-born Academy players.

Now there may be details that the Anaytics article teases out which seem significant but I think they overplay some of the impacts. The most interesting one for me, though, is this statement and the accompanying graph:

"There is a clear reduction in the total number of players being signed by clubs over the last few seasons. From a high of 752 in 2017-18, the number of players signed in 20-21 is down to 558, a reduction of 26%:"

That is an incredible and very consistent trend – completely the opposite of what I had assumed or been led to believe – and also completely nothing to do with Brexit!

But thanks so much again for finding and posting these links.

There will be ways to exploit this and it will be easier for clubs with money (not us) and clubs with a track record of innovation (not us).

Maybe Thelwell can bring a bit of the Red Bull spirit to our operations.

Gary: we should be developing our own talent too, of course, but we cannot rely on that alone.

Only a few weeks back it was rumoured we were in for Gallagher, Broja, Zinchenko and Linguard, so seems like none of these will end up at Goodison.
I have to say I think Spurs have done brilliantly so far in this window and I can see them challenging Chelsea for 3rd place. To think Conte was not contracted to anyone when we moved for Pererai and Lampard, but knowing we had no money to give him I guess thats why we didnt bother approaching him. But you do wonder why Man Utd would not employ a serial winner like Conte, but thats their problem.

I really do worry given the massive emotions that us fans produced towards the end of last season whether we will be able to muster the same emotions should things start badly this season.

I'd be pleased with Gilmour, he ran the show against us not so long ago... One of a few standout performances! If anyone can revive his fortunes, it'll be Lampard.

I expect overseas feeder clubs, increased scouting in the Americas etc will be put in place (although some clubs like Brighton have a version of this already).

Sadly I doubt it will mean clubs suddenly prioritise their own academies and development of local players.

Unless the arse falls out of the UK market altogether and we become an exporter of talent instead of an importer.

There's been no barrier to that previously so not sure why the new rules change things.one

Anyway, it's a football site...

Having sold arguably the best outfield player and hacked out a thicket of deadwood, with an inability to sign new players which we need, we are headed for relegation this season.

If that happens linked with another whopping great loss and huge point deduction at the start of the Championship season, League One is a possibility.

Escaping relegation last season wasn't a success — it was escaping the drop by the skin of our teeth. Of course we may simply be skint and unable to flash the cash to buy any players. I wonder what odds I could get on Everton's relegation?

I'd even take a punt on Puki as a stop gap Striker,as currently our attacking threat is fucking completely non existent!