Onana confirmed as an Everton player

Assuming that’s on the cards given we’ve let three go out on loan, with Calvert-Lewin injured and Rondon the only one available… 🤷

I hope that he is a player for the first team now and not shoved into the background as a player for the future. We’ve had enough of them in the past.

Amado-do-do – beat the redshite and score three,

Amado-do-do – beat the shite and home for tea.

Welcome Amadou, hopefully a better chant will emerge. Welcome to EFC UTFT

Seems like we're doing a more considered 2016 here. To repeat Martyn above, and others, time for the forward line now. Nothing crazy, mind...

On a side-note, I just watched his first interview and how does a 20-year-old, born in Senegal, who has lived in Belgium, France and Germany, speak such good English? Impressive.

Forget spoonerisms, look up Oananism.

Can’t believe he’s only 20 – if the interview is anything to go by, then he comes across as very mature, grounded and will be another leader on the pitch which we need.

Looking forward to seeing him play. Let’s not judge him too early, it will take time for him to get up to the pace of the Premier League.

Let’s hope he’s more Peter Reid than Gbamin!

Just got Sky News on and the main discussion is Man Utd decide not to sign 34-year-old has-been... FFS, fookin Sky darlings hey!

However, the old git in me is trying to recall the reaction to when we signed Gbamin.

I said on a WhatsApp group about the way Sky Sports News goes on about these so-called Big 6 clubs makes you want to vomit. I just wish they would all sod off and join their European Super League.

Just be patient with him to settle in. I remember Fellaini looked dreadful at first.

while the undoubted destruction of education in much of the western world plays out apace, there seems to be something going on in Africa and other parts.

I don't know what's happening but there are many very multilingual younger people around. Many similar young foreign footballers are like this. Impressive.

John @ 17 - Moshiri said it, but if it works out, Bill will claim it.

But he is raw and there will be mistakes. He may not make the starting XI for some time especially if Gueye comes (who will slot straight in). Must be patient.

The good thing about these types of signings is even if he flops you can usually shift young players with potential fairly easily (we managed to make profit on Moise Kean somehow). But if all goes well he’ll be a £50m player in 3-5 years. time.

Apologies to the oldies who might not know this tune!

Made up with this signing!

Welcome to Everton, Amadou — make yourself a legend!

Onana, welcome to the club!!!

Then the spectre of Alex Nyarko creeps into my head and brings me back down to earth. Does look a great signing though (Onana, not Nyarko).

Only played 11 games last season. He'll fit right in. We'll lose 20% to Lille when sold on, so this is a gamble he increases in value as we're paying potentially €40M.

I'd prefer we were paying this for a decent striker. But then we can now sell Gordon as reportedly Newcastle want him for £35M, and trade up for a goalscorer.

Of course that last part is easier said than done. Let's hope he can do some business in that area by the weekend. If not, we can always go with Rondon. Not the quickest but he's no shrinking violet either.

That's a much better shout than my Agadoo reference.

You talking China McClain? A much better shout than Black Lace and Agadoo – and he'd probably prefer it/ but only just, ha ha!

Sounding like clever stuff. And not finished yet.

Still very young so will grow into the team and the league as the season progresses, but I think he will be influential from the off, especially next to Gana.

A goalscorer is essential next and then we will give any team a game.

It’s Rihanna: https://youtu.be/U0CGsw6h60k

If we can get Gana across the Channel and (please God) a striker by Friday to keep Rondon out of harm's way, then we will have done some very astute business for a change. We're beginning to look like a professional outfit – are Blue Bill and Moshiri away on holiday?

I can then turn on Sky 6 news, put my feet up and watch Man Utd go into complete meltdown and Herr Klopp whingeing about the grass being too dry. A new fiercely competitive Everton will really give them something to worry about. Dogs of War 2 is about to be released.

Didn't we spend £15M, potentially rising to £20M, on McNeil? And maybe a loan fee for Coady?

Sell Gordon!?!?!

One of only a few who put a shift in every game last season... really???

Oh-Na na na nananana, nananana, Amadou.

Oh-Na na na nananana, nananana, Amadou.

Coyb – giz a striker or two.

He seems a really bright kid, super athletic and he can play a bit too. He could be a really great signing for us, despite his height!

Gordon puts a shift in but he has no end product. I'd sell him now while we can cash in and invest in a goal getter.

I just now saw this. This kid is going to be great. He's also the exact, Thelwell-type signing we need.

Absolutely thrilled. Haven't been this excited about a signing since we go Lukaku.

Speaking of which, if we sign Sasa this will be our best window since the Lukaku - McCarthy - Barry window under Roberto.

Great business. Really happy with Thelwell and Frank.

Hopefully our luck will turn for the better with this signing, we are due a good one.

I see you're still running that fever. Hope it passes soon.

Julian #48, or a bit of Ringo:

Oh-na-na-, oh-na-na, he can tackle, he can fly....

He actually played 40 games for Lille last season; he started 11 league games. Get your facts right or, even better, give the young man a chance.

Please, please, please let this be the change in tides we’ve been yearning for since 1986.

He's coming to England to play with Gana.

We've got no money so we paid with Klarna.

Amadou Onana!

McNeill, Gordon and Gray will not add sufficient goalscoring to the team. Hopefully Doucouré will become more prolific with the new boys in place.

Heard that one at the weekend. Not so sure about the Gana part now.

I wonder whether the club were using the chase for Gana as a distraction ploy?

The article above says "a player who only made 11 senior appearances last season".

Hopefully he'll make more starts for Everton this season.

So many options but Doucoure, Onana, Iwobi and any other one player from a dozen gives Frank plenty to think about.

No matter what – if they don't have that class finisher, it will still be a struggle to win games.

Onana na, Onana na, hey hey Everton.

We are steaming now!👮

Based on our 'istory, Frank could be out by Xmas too but I think he has what it takes. We have a fairly big hurdle to clear and getting into a losing rut again could be a very easy thing to do.

So far it seems so, but my heart tells me he deserves one last chance now he has gone many months without injury. He was good once.

Just hope we have better luck with our latest recruit. Surprised we've got him because he was actually on the radar of numerous other clubs and recently, because of FFP, we've tended to rely on cheap cast-offs...

Glad to see us targeting not only proper solid pros with character for a change but also the best young upcoming talent in football.

Looks like Frank is building a decent team so his end product may increase.

Thanks to Thelwell and Lampard for getting this one done. Hopefully Gueye and a class forward (or two) are not far behind.

Stuff Villa and the ball will be rolling.

I think we all hope that they are all successful but we will need at least half of them to be otherwise.

And somebody correct me if I'm wrong: under P&S rules, we will again have to sell one of our better players each year to either raise transfer funds or just balance the books so that losses for the latest 3 years are less than £105M.

Also, write-downs owing to Covid must be ending soon if not already.

If we can't put the ball in the back of the net at the other end, these signings are going to be under tremendous pressure to get us a point every game, which still may not secure survival.

I don't believe for one minute that we won't end up with further attacking options.

Sorry mate. Just thinking of the worst case and I guess what has happened with our recent transfer history.

I'm actually really positive and think the window has gone amazingly well. There has to be a bedding-in period but I see a late surge after the New Year for a Top 10 position and a great future.

How many players have I been excited about in the past (Sigurdsson, Kean, Rooney coming back, James Rodriguez, Allan, Doucoure etc etc). As others have said, we need options up front because the spine of the team is looking good.

I was in the minority who thought Benitez did well to get rid of Digne when he did and bring in Patterson and Mykolenko (possibly one of two good things he did in his time, the other being the signing of Demarai Gray for less than £2M).

I will be glad when we get our first win because I never fancy us away at Villa and you're only ever 2 or 3 bad results from a crisis at Everton.

Makes perfect sense. Better than the other two... but only just!

But – and it's a big 'but' – I'm not sure why we're after Gueye as well. Worried that two defensive midfielders on top of a 5-man defence leaves little room for attacking options.

Anyway, we'll see how it plays out.

I also liked the fact he brought up his family. We need good people and hard workers, not kids that think their shit doesn't stink and possibly locker room cancers. I can't emphasize how thrilled I am with this kid signing.

For all the people who understandably are on the "wait and see" approach, just let yourself go for a day and be happy we've signed such a talented young player.

We've measurably improved with our signings. It might take a bit of time to start firing on all 4 cylinders, but it'll come. And please, please God, keep the boys healthy and injury-free.

In the last year, I've gone from despondent under Rafa and completely lacking any hope or excitement, to now being utterly thrilled, excited for the future, and hopeful under Frank and Kev. God it's a great feeling.

The absolute low going into the season last year, to now, is like night and day. I feel like Everton are running well under good people. I hope this feeling lasts for years.

Get your dictionary out, James Crowley, shame on you.

Ma-do-do-do Ona-na-na, he’s 6-feet-10 and plays in blue!

Americanism. "Locker room cancer" is a very common phase here in The States that I've never seen anyone take offense to.

Didn't think twice about typing it. But I'll grab the dictionary and try to expand my vocabulary nonetheless.

'Shame' is a bit strong, by the way, for a simple expression. As you're giving out advice, I'll do the same. Try decaf, Paul.

It's entirely acceptable and well-used parlance. Why anyone would find it shameful is beyond me. Language is nuanced and shouldn't be diluted. There's no shame in it at all.

No shame on you in my book, mate, keep posting as normal.

Thelwell looks like he is developing a good reputation for transfers and that may open the door to moving a few eventually. For now, we are one striker from having a squad that could compete for top-half and, if they find some chemistry, who knows. This is Everton after all.

I certainly don't find your use of the word remotely shameful, but it does bother me when applied to a specific person, as in "he's a locker room cancer" -- because it's usually just a rumor and an extreme overstatement (unless it's Ryan Leaf or Latrell Sprewell).

I'm just touchy about the word, and I have requested before that people find another expression to use. Just me.

Getting new players doesn't always mean getting a better team but one hopes this time it will.

I appreciate your comment and understand your viewpoint. You obviously have every right to not even want to read the word.

I think the expression frankly isn't offensive in the least. If I were to contract that awful disease, malady or whatever the heck the correct medical term is, I'd not take offense to the saying. It's an expression, and I'd view it as having absolutely nothing to do with the malady itself. By using the expression, it's not as if you're wishing that situation upon someone!

It's also very applicable and analogous. Cancer infects and then spreads. This you know all too well. A poor teammate – and I'm sure we both have seen this on teams we've played for growing up and even into adult league stuff – can literally sow the seeds of negativity, and subsequently spread discontent through a team. Much the way cancer unfortunately spreads through the body after contraction.

More to be said that I will keep to myself and the societal trends of verbal policing. You're intelligent and can fill in the blanks – not that difficult. As you, someone I respect, has exceedingly politely pointed out they'd prefer individuals find another expression, I will try to do so moving forward. I can't say I'll forget to do so in the future, and would ask you follow suit with your post and request me to find a different phraseology.

I will say, I will not cut the phrase out of my vocabulary, only out of posts on TW per your preference for another phrase.

Cheers.

I think your assessment is close to the truth. There was some earlier speculation about him as an attacking midfielder; none of his stats or goal tally supports this.

Over the years, we have seen various poxy players turn the heads of Everton youngsters (Rooney, Calvert-Lewin) and others who just seem to have a terrible attitude (Lukaku) which is infectious and has a shocking effect on the club. I suspect that there are players whose attitude is not deliberately destructive, but whose general demeanour, approach and air of defeatism is destructive and, if there are enough of these, the atmosphere will become toxic.

Once they infect others, the others will themselves become vectors of infection. I wonder if this wasn't what has happened to Demarai Grey, Holgate and Godfrey.

Certainly it's useful having a term for players who may have individual talent, but cause the internal destruction of teams and clubs.

In many ways, I think Frank Lampard has recognised exactly this as the main problem at Goodison and is seeking to overwhelm the negativity by bringing in an almost complete replacement team with the emphasis on character rather than skill.

Either way, the focus on recruitment must now turn to goals.

Jamie, having met you and your lovely family I can honestly say there is not an ounce of malice in you and I for one do not take any offence at the use of the word, in fact if more people speak about it in whatever context then we have more chance of dealing with it.

Tom #100 having removed James, Sigurdsson, Tosun, Richarlison, and Digne from the wage bill, we have saved about £25M from the wage bill so there is a fair bit of wiggle room there and none of the new recruits is coming in at over £100k a week.

I'm just touchy about the word, and I have requested before that people find another expression to use. Just me.

Not just you mate. Me too to be honest. When I see it used out of context (shall we say), it makes me wince, sometimes more than others, and you know why, mate.

I wouldn't have a right go at someone for using it but like you may request 'em respectfully to use another term if possible. Touchy fuckers, us survivors, aren't we? :-)

Welcome to the Everton Family, Amadou, and the very best of luck and success.

Now for a striker!

UTFT!

It seems to happen when you edit a post.

It's like a fucking diptheria on the site (picked a rare one but no doubt someone will pull me on it). :-)

Onana, that’s his name,

Onana plays the game,

Onana he’s insane,

He’s Everton, midfield master of the game...

Careful with the phrase 'pull'' by the way, some yanks read these.

Read the rumours about Gueye, disappointed if he's looking at better alternatives before the window closes, especially as it seemed to be a done deal. Silva reluctantly allowed him to join PSG, even after signing an improved contract, wouldn't stand in his way, you'd think he'd remember loyalty?

I see Vlasic has gone to Torino on loan, to buy for £15M. Moyes signed him last year for £30M + add ons on a 5-year contract. So does anyone still think it was a mistake, selling him?

Happy days ahead.

“O nana what’s his name,

O nana what’s his name … “

Yes? No? Okay, I’ll get my coat.

Thanks Will, will do.

The consensus amongst the blue cognoscenti in the Black Lion on Welsh Row just now is that he's signing. Hmmmm, right... 🙄

I may even make it there one night for a pint!

Try this for size – to the tune of The Macarena.

He's six foot four, he's Amadou Onana,

He looks even bigger when he's playing next to Gana,

He loves the music of Bananarama.

Aaaaaamadou Onana.

Ah thangyouuu.

Have yet to see anything about Gueye's return hitting a snag from a reputable source, but it would be very disappointing if true, since I thought bringing him and Onana in together was extremely shrewd.

As Christy mentioned, looks like West Ham is on the brink of unloading Vlasic after just one season. I always thought we cut bait on him too early, but doesn't seem like anyone should be losing sleep over it now.

Good players but a good lesson for the likes of Gordon to stay grounded.

Gana could be our secret weapon, none off the opposition team will notice him hiding behind Onana until it’s too late.

It's a wonder Tawkowski decided to sign after some derogatory Americanism about his ears. Oh I nearly forgot, was Coady described as a dirty Red?

So let me join in the fun, stuff Vlasic and Lukaku as far up where the sun don't shine.

Expect with this and possibly Gana it will be the end of the road for a few such as Gomes, Davies, Allan and maybe Gbamin, especially if we are also looking to give the likes of Mills and Warrington a route to the first team.

Not sure of his injury history but seems like the others we have got in are more robust and injury-free over the recent years.

Just hope we can now pull a decent striker out of the lucky bag and then put a few games together without any injuries.

COYB

I seem to recall that when we signed another tall Belgian midfielder, the 1.94-metre Marouane Fellaini, who was 21 at the time, Moyes pleaded patience as we wouldn't see the best of him for 5 years.

Thus after 6 years we sold him to Man Utd and, if our new lad does well, you can visualise the big sharks moving in unless we are a Champions League team by then.

As somebody who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer (of the prostate kind – old men’s design fault), I have to say that I didn’t find it the least offensive. Now, if Jamie had said, “like a dressing room Rob Williamson“ that would have been different!

Oh, and I think that Onana is a great buy and it’s good to see us following the trend of buying Irishmen - O’ nana, Myk O’Lenko.

Yeh, yeh I’m getting me coat!

That didn't work out too well for Dean Smith. Would love to see El Slippo step in it by overestimating his influence when Mings expresses displeasure.

A- Ma- Dou-dou-dou, not pineapple, Onana,

A- Ma- Dou-dou-dou, his dong's like a banana!

Ill get me coat before the purists launch!!

Hopefully Gueye falls through as he's crap. And 3 years older and crap.

Anyway, this is a Champions League quality player who now needs looking after. Not the finished article by any stretch – but the finished article could be absolutely exceptional.

Can't wait to see him play. Most exciting signing for years. Probably since we bought Richarlison.

Secondly, I've just watched Amadou Onana's interview, and like Conor Coady I do think the fact that Frank Lampard is not only known in Europe but also well respected, is a huge bonus for Everton.

Wasn't Vlasic's sister really vociferous at the time? I think she was an athlete of some description.

That made me laugh, his name is tailor-made for the terraces.

Now, enough! You’ll have me crying into the phone, and I’d rather save my tears (of both joy and sorrow) for this team of ours. But thanks again.

Lille must be laughing all the way to the bank. What was it £6M 12 months ago turns into a possible £40M in 5 years.

I hope the lad gets up to speed quickly. Even if him and Gana are playing. where are the goals coming from?

I'd be very surprised if Onana started v Villa. I think he's more likely to be introduced quite gradually.

Good to see we're signing players with good fitness records and leadership qualities. Hopefully, we'll see the end of the side giving up when they go a goal down.

Amadou Onana turned into a monster in Lille!

I will say he is gonna give away a lot of fouls. He seems to love the left-footed slide tackle (he's predominantly right-footed – though clearly comfortable on both feet) which, once the more seasoned Premier League players take a look at how he operates (fast, strong and prepared to go to ground with a slide), will scream like they've been shot as soon as he goes near them.

I think we need to be prepared for a number of Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester Cty, and without doubt Liverpoo lplayers rolling around like they've been assassinated. And be ready to live with the inevitable yellows and reds from our unbiased officials whimpering over the welfare of the Sky 6 darlings.

He is an imposing figure, but he's raw (at 20, weren't we all) and they will exploit that. And he has Salah and Co to deal with in a matter of weeks. We need to be patient, and give him time to adapt.

However, the Premier League is the toughest league there is and I think we all need to see him play games before proclaiming this young player the real deal. I hope so… but been there before – have we not!

We need goals, folks, that should now be the priority.

You wrote: "Lille must be laughing all the way to the bank. What was it £6M 12 months ago turns into a possible £40M in 5 years. Why do we not pick up these players earlier."

Actually Lille bought Onana after he played in the Bundesliga 2 for Hamburger SV for $11.5M That would have been too much money for Everton to pay last year for a midfielder who scored 2 goals and had 0 assists in 25 Bundesliga 2 appearances (only 14 starts).

The answers to the questions we ask are usually out there. We only need find them.

Lukaku, and Martinez have possibly pitched in their backing for him, via the Belgium squad, to recommend Everton.

Happy Days.

Just looked at the TW this morning after a nights sleep, so can I offer belated Best Wishes with your treatment? I am still awaiting results of medical tests, so feeling rather nervous.

The nrws of all these new signings is keeping me cheerful though!

Thanks for the link! Dude's an absolute tacking machine!!! Good Lord, it's like 150 perfectly timed, crunching tackles. Love it. Seems we're getting a bit more nasty down the spine of the squad under Frank.

Some welcome new faces but they’ll take some time to settle. Until then need to eek out any points we can anyhow.

Still don’t know where the goals are coming from….

Onana, Oh-Na na na, he's got Diamonds on the soles of he shoes

Keith #145, Not sure about Vlasic's sister, but his father was very outspoken during his time here, probably ran in the family.

Where he is raw, according to the scouting reports again, is in the attack. The one I read described his passing as "recurrently disappointing", which implies a whole lot of work to do. That's why I strongly doubt he will start right away, although he might certainly see minutes off the bench when we're defending a lead.

Nothing wrong with any of them tackles, mate, ball won clean every time. VAR my arse!

There were a few clickbait sites earlier today suggesting it wasn't going to happen.

Conflicting rumors that he’s still negotiating a PSG payoff or that he’s realized there may be other options beyond Everton so is hiding his time

They are announcing a new player each day. Coady yesterday, Onana today. Gana tomorrow. The Coventry kid on Thursday and, probably, Benzema by Friday.

No Friday for old times sake Bill we get a deal. Expect Rodwell & Victor on player coach deals

All the impatient posters now seeing progress, seeing that kev and Frank are not sitting on their arses. Broadhead going on loan is the biggest sign they are confident of getting strikers in.

A couple would be nice.

Business done so far makes me excited for the next couple of windows now as the players coming seem to be targeted for exactly what's needed in the short term but with an eye to the mid-long term too.

It's weird to say but it looks like we have a cohesive plan to make positive improvements without mortgaging the family silver.

Onwards & Upwards

IMHO, his floor as a player is Fellaini 2.0 while his ceiling could be peak Patrick Vieira, a critical spinal player that can expedite the rebuilding of the team.

Now, once we have secured Gana, if we can find new homes for Gomes, Davies & Allan before the end of the month, then we shall have great relief on salaries that can be used on somebody else (a striker perhaps?).

Maybe Riquelme as ambassador of Narnia for Everton or some other fantasy recruiting ground?

It is a bit embarrassing as an Englishman who went to a pretty good school and a top 20 college that I can basically exchange greetings and order food in French and a lot of my mates are well behind me. Whereas our counterparts overseas, Lukaku for example, are proficient in half a dozen languages.

Is it just that we are lazy and assume everyone else speaks English? Or are “Johnny Foreigner” types maybe … smarter than us?

I can get by in German but can't speak French.

Some years ago I was in a French village shop with a relative who was trying to ask the girl on the till if they stocked something.

I remarked that the assistant obviously couldn't understand English whereupon my relative replied, "Wouldn't you'd think they'd learn".

"Ohhh, you're German. I'm sorry, I thought there was something wrong with you."

Lol – sounds only too typical. The way I see it we were cavemen and the Romans then the French civilized us. So yeah let’s rely on our betters to learn our mongrel tongue.

I remember on an earlier thread regarding his transfer, someone who had read a Senegalese Newspaper stating that Gueye wanted to stay at PSG and was not interested in a move to Everton. But enormous hype built around his impending transfer.

The problem now is that medicals at Finch Farm and at PSG have now come and gone. I actually thought that Onana was an understudy to Gueye, but now we are being told he is the real thing, with even scoring potiential, which there is no proof off. Sam earlier imo gives a realistic assessment of him. More Kean than Gueye.

I will be very disappointed if Gueye's transfer proves false.

Interesting to see him in another interview talk about Nkounkou personally influencing his decision to go to Everton.

Finally, we look to be building a solid spine. I won't say 'nasty'; Frank Lampard wasn't that type of player. But he played in a solid team with ability. I would use the words 'commitment' and 'desire'.

Slowly but surely, the depth we've been craving seems to be being put in place. None of this first 11 with an okay 14 and little behind it. That's not the modern game. You need depth and better quality in a larger squad.

On the language thing, yes, stereotypically when it comes to languages, we English speakers are lazy. Because generally, we can be.

I used to speak German to a good standard and can still get by with having decent conversations about football and politics. But it has deteriorated as I don't use it as much. I still read well, can write okay and watch the news. But speaking goes if you don't practice in my experience.

A high percentage of the Dutch speakers of Belgium and Netherlands speak great English. The Germans are okay depending on the region – still a lot of areas with the legacy of the British and US militaries being there for the best part of 60 years after World War 2.

The Scandics are great. But in these countries, they start English at 6 years old. I don't know what it's like now but it was the 3rd year (old speak) of senior school before we chose between German, French or Spanish?? By that point, they are practically fluent in English. Whereas we were just starting the basics.

Anyway, pleased to have him with us from what I read. And he chose Everton; a good sign. But like others have said, remember he's 20 years old and still developing. So be patient with him.

And with the other players regardless of age and experience. Sometimes adding lots of new players at once can be initially disruptive until they gel and understand each other.

Anyway. Welkom, Wilkommen and Bienvenue a Everton, young man. Please introduce yourself to Henderson in a few weeks time.

I think the Romans civilised a few chieftains; the rest were left alone or whizzed off to Rome or the galleys, mines, farms etc as slaves; or used as Gladiators if hard enough.

As for the French, they took most of the common land and turned it into great estates or royal forests. They certainly didn't educate the serfs or freemen... just took their land and many of their freedoms, and first dibs at their daughters!

As for now, I think the elite still get the best chance at Universities; and many kids are given an education that keeps them happy doing the mundane jobs in Mcdonald's, or supermarkets etc.

There's obviously a decent proportion who get a decent education; both at home and at school; the rest; it's the comps and get what jobs they can but don't get educated as to who really pulls the strings in the western world... y'know; they meet at Davos each year.

As for the question mark over Gana Gueye, I read somewhere, that the problem was getting a visa; but who knows. He's a top midfielder, by all accounts; and if he wants to come and that problem is solved, then I'd be made up; but if he's waiting for a better offer, then I hope we wish him good luck; and find players who want to come to EFC.

We've still got 3 weeks, so we've got time to look for alternatives; and if we've learnt anything from our past mistakes, we won't be held to ransom by any player, no matter how good he is, especially when he's 33.

If you were a 33-year-old player transferred to a top Club which added to your game and had kept you fit to play at the highest level. Would you want to go back to a Club that you know has questions over the ability of Medical Services, training and attitude in the dressing room? None of which have changed.

If Gueye does not arrive imo this would be the reason rather than terms, if he wants to continue to play at the highest level consistently.

I read Forest offered him a 3-year deal which he rejected as he doesn’t want to go there. So perhaps the sticking point is we’ve offered 2 years and he is adamant he wants 3 years?

Other reports saying it’s about the amount of severance money from PSG.

No coincidence our two full-back / wingbacks are revelling in the coaching they are getting. As for Gueye, if it’s an either/or scenario, we need at least one striker so let him stay where he is, not wanted but made for life, like most of our headaches we can’t get rid of.

I know my 8-year-old kids learn a little bit of Spanish in school, so things are getting a little bit better, but they had sports day the other week, and I don’t think anything has changed since I was a little kid. If it’s not broke, don’t try and fix it maybe? No wonder I sometimes think there are so many lazy people in society!

With the introduction of EBacc (an arbitrary range of subjects including passes in English, Maths, a science, a language and a humanity eg, History, Geography or RE), a number of schools make languages compulsory to most but the numbers are still low nationally.

A-Level uptake is even worse – many schools don’t offer them, or have to collaborate with other local schools to offer classes. So, the picture isn’t great but I love my job! Oh, and delighted with our signings – just need a striker or two to make this a very good window!

I don't use social media but players seem to use it to express their feelings & intentions these days so there might be something in it.

If we can get one more in the door before the window shuts then it has to be a striker and one of sufficient quality that he is not just a back-up to Calvert-Lewin but a viable alternative.

No interference from Moshiri via his agent friends, just proper football decisions being taken by the manager and his DoF who also seem to be on the same page which is the way it should be.

I have been critical of Lampard and Thelwell for not bringing in an attacker before now, but apart from that if they can get the Gueye deal over the line and bring in a striker I think it will have been a very good window. Moshiri did say judge us at the end of the window not in the middle of it, and it looks like being a very good window.

Lampard spoke at the end of last season of building a more robust squad and that's exactly what they are doing. Bringing in Coady, a captain of Wolves and a current England player, as well as Tarkowski who has already given us glimpses of his ability, and both bought for no transfer fee.

I think if all football decisions are left to Lampard and Thelwell, then I believe the club will be on a sounder footing than it's been for quite some time.

Finally, I don't know if it's been mentioned on any threads but a huge pat on the back for Ashley Cole who has now taken over from Paul Clement our dead ball plays both for and against. Not so long back, if a team had come to Goodison and had about 16 corners, we would have conceded at least twice, but on Saturday they posed little or no threat.

Three weeks left and I'm hoping regarding strikers also.

My daughter has a joint honours degree, part of which is French, she has a teaching qualification with a French specialism. She teaches in Australia, but avoids French. In her Erasmus Year, she taught in a French Secondary School.

The Je Suis Charlie movement took off. She was quite fluid in French, but was appalled by the level of right-wing racists on Facebook and in conversations. I am trying to get her to attend French Conversation classes at the moment.

Like Tony, I left school without a foreign language. I had to give up French because the teacher was a political opponent of my father and singled me out for special treatment.

I was playing for the same team as him. When he was surrounded by other players, I stuck my boot in him. He thought it was an opposition player and got a hiding for his mistake. The rough-looking opposition player came over to me at the end of the game and said, 'Hey boy'.

I was in France twice during the 1998 World Cup, and because most of my time was spent in pubs, talking shite on the ale, I was amazed at how much I could converse with the locals, and made me badly regret wasting so much of my education, when in school.

Too many kids waste their education, and it’s why I think that every top football academy in the country needs to spend more time educating their younger players.

We do a lot of good things in this country, but like Everton on Saturday, we could do so much better with a little bit of thought and more care!

"There is particular satisfaction at Goodison Park at the way the club has been able to box clever in spite of financial fair play restrictions.

One of the conditions of the deal that took Richarlison to Tottenham was that Spurs paid the £50m fee up front, giving Everton room to re-invest in their squad.

They have supplemented this by working on loan deals and transfers that have been structured in the club’s favour.

The deal for Onana involves a small down payment and the rest of the £33m is structured to be paid over five years. Everton were able to gazump West Ham, who believed they had agreed a deal for the Lille man last week.

Amadou Onana has signed for Everton in a move that the club consider is a real coup. Similarly, the Coady deal was initially proposed as a permanent transfer but is instead a loan switch with an option to convert it into a permanent deal at the end of the season, which again affords the club room to manoeuvre in the transfer window.

Director of football Kevin Thelwell paid tribute to chairman Bill Kenwright’s contribution to the deal and I understand he has taken a more front-line role in negotiations, pushing hard to extract good value. While the Richarlison fee was widely regarded as a decent return on the Brazilian, he had been pushing for closer to a £90m valuation."

I’m aware it’s the only way the club can currently operate, but I’m also sure that this is the proper way to run a football club!

You wrote "The answers to the questions we ask are usually out there. We only need find them."

I did find a kind of answer by asking the question.

Sorry to hear about your daughter’s experience, Jerome - funny story after though. I was an assistant in a lycée in France as part of my French degree, taken at Liverpool University. Made some Moroccan friends at the residence I was at.

Learnt some expressions which still stand me in good stead to this day. Was very handy getting regular discounted or free kebabs and pizzas on Lawrence Road, Wavertree, in my final year!

Knowing some expressions and making an effort is appreciated wherever one goes, I find.

As you say a lot of people have regrets regarding speaking a foreign language and wish the French League was better than it is, outside the top teams, as can be seen in the hopes of this thread.

And then it will be one or two forwards coming. Supposed ITKs claim the players we are talking with include Gyokeres, Broja, Batshuayi, Terrier, Boadu, Doku and Ajorque.

I would love Terrier, Broja or Doku but all 3 would be expensive. Quite like Ajorque as a hard-working option and Che Adams and Moussa Dembele are both available on the cheap and could probably do a job.

I’d also have Hudson-Odoi on loan in a shot as he beats players for fun. If we got him on loan and Broja on a permanent I’d be pretty excited.

Bobby Two Shoes said Onana is a “unique player”. He didn’t say phenomenal but unique. That’ll do for me.

Kenwright negotiated the Dele Alli deal with Spurs, let’s see how that works out.

And if he was pushing for £90M for the Richarlison dea,l he would have been talking to himself… although he did well getting £50M for him.

May not count for much on the pitch but sounds like one hell of an impressive guy. Got a good feeling about him.

I take your point; but I said that if he wants to come. Now form what the papers are telling us (well, they tell us all kinds for this clikbait thing!) he's a fit, able top class player and I'd love to see him back with us.

However, if he's delaying things looking for another club to come in, and not the visa delaying things, I'd back the club if they said "Thanks very much but, no thanks!" I'll say that, if I was a 33-year-old, top-class player, and Everton's manager and DoF talked to me, I'd come.

As for our Adamau, I've just been listening to Roberto Martinez talk about him. If we get 2 years with Gana in our engine room, I'll be chuffed to bits! Any more and that's a massive bonus. Amadau will learn form, him and I think we'll have the midfield we've been crying out for, for years,

Pete (208),

Thanks for that good informative post: and Tony (209) I agree with your view of Kenwright's miraculous conversion to something approaching the "sensible"!

Give it time...

Well, in our case half a billion smackaroos!

Your comment: "Give it time."

Sounds like you will take great delight if the club get the present set-up wrong with their appointments.

Onana learning for Gana would be what most of us are hoping for. Everton appear to be negotiating better than before and appear to be achieving their objectives, but they still have to overcome reticence regarding Everton being a career destination.

No because I’m an Evertonian, not a masochist – although the lines sometimes become blurred between the two.

I worked in Germany in the early '80s and was thrown in the deep end of learning German, when by virtue of being a decent footballer, I was promoted to being a "neutral" referee in a match.

I soon learnt 'arschloch', 'ecky', 'frei stoss' and all the other German, slang and Bayerisch phrases I needed. I spent long parts of the next 3 years in Germany and still speak it quite well but mostly this is due to daily immersion in the language and a willingness and necessity to learn. Not every school child has or indeed wants this.

We also have to deal with the very English attitude of not needing to speak foreign languages and a "servants and masters" approach from the upper classes to anyone wanting to better themselves.

BTW, my German came in very useful in '84 in Bratislava, where I was the official food and drinks translator for our group during our time there and in Vienna. Although when I ordered "Zehn bier bitte" in a Czech bar, one of the lads said "Can I have lager, I don't drink bitter..."

I’ve heard a couple of times that the Dele transfer fee was written off as part of the Richarlison deal. This was in addition to the £50M. As ever with such rumours, no idea if it’s true.

Nonetheless, I am very pleased at the business we have been able to do with pocket money.

Let's just hope we get Gueye over the line for Villa and get the best striker we can asap.

I take the same standpoint. We've got a long road ahead and on top of that, we've got players who are not good enough; but we can't get shut yet. We do appear to be negotiating better than before. As I think Kenwright has been told to make every penny count... or else!

I also think we've got a really good team in Frank and Kevin, who are attracting players to us and attracting them by their vision (not quite Golden yet, but give it time!)

If we have some smattering of good luck for a change, then I see us climbing away from where we are. In a couple of years, I think we'll be challenging regularly for the top eight; and possibly higher.

Yes, I totally agree with players' reticence. But I think that will come as we begin to see better football at Goodison, combined with the pulling power of Frank and Kevin. And, of course, how much money we have available for both transfers; and also wages.

Still, we are where we are and I think we have got and will continue to get players who want to come here, within our budget.

As I understand it, Everton were a bit late to the party so he's not going to sing our praises if we're not, at that time, interested.

The emphasis seems to be not to concede, which will do for me. Now to get in a goalscorer.

Read Paul Traill's last match report.

The guys got more skill at 34 or whatever than all our midfield put together.

Which is why you have to ignore all those positive and gushing interviews on the OS. Why did Onana sign for us? Was it really because Everton are a big, big club, Lampard was a top player, and watching the fans against Crystal Palace gave him goosebumps? No, it was because he wanted to play every week and get into the Belgium World Cup squad.

Why did Coady sign for us? He gave pretty much the same reasons as Onana in his interview, but of course it was really because – just like him – he was guaranteed a start every week so he could fight for a World Cup place.

Those interviews are a joke. The truth is always blindingly obvious.

However, someone like him, for half or even a full season, would give us a bit of a breathing space to get a more long-term target in, and possibly help us with FFP.

Can you also see the benefit to the youngsters having someone with his skill around Finch Farm?

Are you suggesting we shouldn't believe everything we see on the Internet!? Or that news outlets and football clubs like to bend the truth!?

I'm glad I'm sitting down.

Okay, the chorus does sound more like "Danananana" than "Onananana", but I really think it would work.

"Onana na na, he's got diamonds on the soles of his boots!"

Well he will cost over £30million. That is a lot of diamonds!

I think that's an unfairly solitary reading of the situation. There are lots of motivating (and demotivating) factors for footballers signing for new clubs.

The fact that Coady and Onana will undoubtedly be wanting to be playing first-team football in order to get selected for their respective national squads for the World Cup is fair enough. But the football club, the city, the league, the fans, the manager, the other players, the contract terms, the bonuses, the perks, and any number of other factors are all going to be part of the equation – and no player is guaranteed a starting spot as per their contract. Football just does not work that way.

A player can be told by the manager that they are in pole position to play, but ultimately performances on the pitch and in training will always dictate who starts games of football – not a verbal promise prior to signing a contract.

And I should stop drinking early in the day. Would be interesting though! Full blast, would be immense!!! 😁

I'm meeting up in my local for a few cold ones later. To be honest, I'd prefer to be tucked up with Kylie Minogue but we can't agree on a time and date. I'm sure I'll enjoy myself anyway.

Gimme hope O'nana
Gimme hope O'nana
Hope O'nana
Fore the season come!

Gimme luck O'nana
Win a cup O'nana
Win it fore the seasons done.