Transfer Deadline Day

There are a few qualifiers. I am very hopeful that Calvert-Lewin will regain full fitness for the rest of the season; Maupay will be a decent performer for us; a properly physical, competitive and creative midfield will emerge from the various permutations of Doucouré, Onana, Gana, Garner, and Allan which will allow the likes of Iwobi, Gordon, O'Neill, and Gray to concentrate more on their attacking roles.

Our generally weak and ineffective midfield has been the biggest problem area for me since the time of Carsley and his peers. I'm hopeful that DOGGA constitute a renaissance in that department for us.

Do you apply those principles to every worker or just to Everton players you want to go?

I think the two that went to Turkey were great business and we can't expect more outs now at the 11th hour.

Meanwhile, the two mentioned above plus a decent striker and I'm far happier than I was. Hopeful of a mid-table finish this season even given the start we've made.

What's the phrase? You are what you eat? Or you are where you play? 🦃

I have to agree with Si. His agent's only interest is money as that's how he gets paid.

As for Gomes, if someone offered you five times your salary for a job, then deemed you weren't up to it, would you walk away if your career had a max shelf life of another 5 or 6 years?

It's not Gomes fault that he has the contract that he has. The club signed him, and if we chose not to play or include him in our squad, that is not his fault. I suspect that he would love to play but it also requires for someone to offer him a role at a salary he is prepared to accepted.

We may not like it, but he is within his rights as long as he makes himself available to play. It's a shame, as I had hoped he would be a mainstay of our midfield for years before his injury he was head and shoulders above the rest of the midfield in terms of ability.

Probably not.

At least this year we've always done good business, including January we've got a whole new back five, plus Onana, McNeil, Maupay … and Obi-Wan in CM is like a whole new signing. Much more suited than that Iwobi fella who used to play on the wing, plus the real emergence of Gordon.

Who knows, maybe we can even get something out of the rest we carry forward … consistency and obduracy perhaps. I'm almost hopeful again after last season's traumas.

Let's hope this is addressed before the window closes

Gueye gives us good shape and stability in the midfield, Gordon is pushed out to the wing, McNeil and Gray have less pressure on them, Iwobi and Onana (and Garner and Doucoure) will have more freedom.

We will have to stay positive if we can't nab a few wins before the World Cup break, but there's no question we're more fun to watch and seem to have more heart and promise and organization than last season [says the guy who missed watching the last two matches]. We also need time to gel as a team.

Kieran, I'm with you on letting Gomes slip off into the darkness, other than that we'd all be deprived of those striking good looks and that great head of hair. That's gotta count for something.

Also, he's good for at least one half of football at some point in February or March when the rest of our midfield is laid up with a typical Everton muscle injury.

I still wish we actually understood what our financial limits actually were and what FFP actually means. Here in America, despite our various confusing pay structures and limits in different sports, at least there's full transparency.

The Premier League requirements make little to no sense. If they did, at least getting angry on a fan site when we don't spend another £30 million would feel like an educated kind of anger.

I do think we've done decent business. But it's decent business for a relegation-threatened team trying to climb to mid-table.

Onana is the one who gives me a bit of hope. Could be terrible, could be amazing. At least it's hope.

Gueye (if it is done) is a known quantity. I'm very comfortable with him in the side.

Maupay appears a smart signing. We don't have anyone; he's someone. He'll annoy defenders and get the crowd into it. He'll do for now.

The two centre-backs we signed are about the level we need (and can get). I can't see the other guys getting a look in but they're decent enough reserves. I do have a slight doubt about Coady playing in a back 4 (and huge doubts about playing a back 5).

Generally we seem to have already plugged the gaping hole that ran through the spine of our team. Can we really afford to add more players?

I don't understand that one?

With capable faster central midfielders around him, he might still have some role to play with the right set-up. If Iwobi can turn good, he might come good too.

I'm just sick and tired of the idiots giving out these contracts. We are only just getting over Tosun, Sigurdsson and Delph. Looks like It's a thing of the past now with Thelwell – as long as he's left to do his job properly.

Not sure I can really lay that one on Walsh and Koeman. The £45M maybe but not the sitting around.

Not that Sigurdsson was ever worth £45 million, he wasn't but you get my point.

I'm still concerned that, despite padding out the squad with some decent players, are we spending too much money on midfielders again that won't score more than 3 goals between them?

Outside Gordon, Gray and Maupay who'll probably combine to get a combined 18 to 20 if they have a good season and I do mean IF, then all we have is Calvert-Lewin and the hope he gets 9 or 10. (Again, that's perhaps a touch hopeful.)

So when you look at it, still looks well short of where we need to be.

It seems we have a phobia of signing attacking players.

Different rules apply to footballers - they have a short career (another 5 0or years is half of a normal career!). If he was a proper player, he should want to play regular football and take a pay cut if necessary (he would still be a rich bastard), but we've all seen that he's anything but.

He's a half-arsed waste of space who never got up to speed with the Premier League.

Gueye and Garner look to be done but where is the centre-forward we need?

I'm assuming that, because Rondon has been told he can leave, someone is lined up. However, I hope whoever it is doesn't have a change of heart at 10:59 tonight!!

Garner and Gueye announced around tea-time even though they've basically been signed since yesterday.

Last-minute scramble to get Broja on loan once Chelsea complete the Aubameyang deal late on, only for it not to come off so we end up with Hwang Hee Chan on loan from Wolves.

Day ends with Blue Bill announcing he worked so hard for the club and the supporters to keep Gordon and he's “like a new signing”.

We need as many options that can possibly chip in with 7 or 8 goals as we can get.

Maupay might be useful, but I wouldn't call him a target man, - we really need a chap to get on the end of things, that Maupay can play off.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin might find his mojo, if we are lucky, but last season, his return from his lay-off was hardly a fanfare and it was only after 5 or 6 games that he looked anything like that player of 18 months ago.

This team is looking tougher to beat, the work ethic is obvious and some of the forward play from Iwobi, Gordon and Gray is really crisp. We just have to find a striker.

If was still going to be earning millions and my career was heading towards the end, then most definitely.

You can't compare this with normal people whose quality of life is actually affected if their salary decreases.

I'm less bothered about Garner (we have numbers in midfield already) and Chukweuze (surely that's the position McNeil has been bought for).

But I think our collective anxiety about the striker situation is skewed by the fact we haven't yet seen Maupay. We have signed a striker. And Calvert-Lewin will be fit soon too.

If we do get a striker, he is likely to be third choice anyway.

With only Gray, Gordon and McNeil we are one more injury away from having a problem.

Yes 100%… in fact, I've turned down opportunities to earn much more than I currently do, because it would've negatively affected my life/work balance.

Life isn't all about money, especially if (like Gomes) you're already rich. If you've been told that you're to rot in the reserves and never play another first-team game.

I'd be surprised if we can't at least shift him on loan today, but I bet we'll be paying at least half his wages (much like Dele).

Yes, I would if I was already a multi-millionaire, where is his professional pride, I can't stand these greedy money-hungry bastards.

As usual, I wish we would have done our most important business first in recruiting the goal scorers that we desperately need, instead of last minute.com again.

I still think we need another striker, as relying on Calvert-Lewin to find form or avoid breaking down will cost us if we don't.

Not convinced on Brereton Diaz from Blackburn. Reminds me of many Championship lads that can't make the step up. Rhodes, Murray, McCormack, Lee Hughes, Sylvan Ebanks Blake, Nick Maynard, Ellington etc.

All the above could score, but missed a physical attribute to really crack the big league against top defenders.

Kenwright Out!

Before anyone comes on to defend him, he still insists on getting his horrible fat greasy fingers involved in most potential transfers, in the belief that he is Mr Everton, the Cool Negotiator!

Needless to say, most end up pear-shaped!

I simply can't believe anyone on here would rather sit on their arse being utterly of no use to anyone, when they could be playing professional football at a high level. Imagine what that would do to your mental health and self-esteem?

Gomes has always come across as a really decent guy. Imagine how he will feel at the end of his career – sure he'll have £15M in the bank instead of £12M or something, but he won't have kicked a ball except on the training pitch. Madness.

The closest we'll get is Brereton Diaz but he's been more successful playing from there left rather than as an out-and-out #9. However, even that one seems to have gone quiet.

I'd expect Gana, Garner and one more forward player. Probably Chukwueze on loan.

To cap it off I'd like to see us buy a more explosive winger who will be a more steady source of goals/assists than Grey. I'd love Gakpo but that's not happening, I like Chukwueze (so long as the fee is not more than £30M) and I really like Joao Pedro who could play anywhere across front 3.

That leaves us with a very decent-looking squad for 4-3-3:

GK – Pickford, Begovic
RB – Patterson, Coleman
CB – Tarkowski, Mina, Godfrey
CB – Coady, Holgate, Keane
LB – Mykolenko, Vinagre
CM (#6) – Gana, Garner, Davies
CM (#8) – Iwobi, Allan, (Kudus?)
CM (#8) – Onana, Doucouré
LW – Gordon, Gray
ST – Calvert-Lewin, Maupay
RW – (Chukwueze?), McNeil, Townsend

I'd be pretty chuffed with that. Especially if Kudus could force a move too though that sounds unlikely.

Is Maupay a striker or attacking midfielder?

Wasted years just sitting around waiting for your contract to expire may be regrettable when they look back. Nice money but you'll never get the chance of performing in front of big audience's again, and that why you became a footballer in the first place.

He was then cut down at his peak by that shithouse Son, who somehow, by dint of crying (and playing for a "big" club), received more sympathy than our player. Andre has never been what he was since that day, losing confidence and whatever pace he had.

He is reportedly on £140k a week. He will never get another wage that comes close to that deal.

There are some people criticising the guy for refusing to leave, when a) we don't even know if he's been asked to, and b) we don't know if he has any offers on the table.

Would you give up that kind of money, when you know you'll never come near that kind of deal again?

Blame the club, not Andre.

Some medical this he's having.

Why am I mentioning this? Well Andre Gomes did a similar thing, albeit on a football field, and I can assure you the ongoing issues that result from a big injury like that go well beyond the physical. Mentally it's a major struggle, and you never fully recover and you definitely lose the ability to perform at the level you did before. I still climb but I don't have the same amount of 'bottle' I used to have and think twice before trying certain moves. Same goes for Gomes (and yeah, I'm sticking up for him here).

Yeah he gets handsomely paid for his job, but it does go a very long way to explaining why he's never been the same player since. It really isn't his fault and to suggest he should take a pay cut for some bizarre reason is madness. Injury is part of the game - you don't discard human beings who get horribly injured in the line of duty - you back them and support them. I would have been fucked without support from my employer taxiing me to work and back for weeks on end and helping me do my job on a daily basis.

People's club my arse.

Gomes did come with a warning from Barca fans though. He was known as someone who would start the season well then taper off after a few games. A talented but lazy(?) player.

I have unashamedly stood up for Gomes throughout, he was my favourite player in his first few seasons and he can still play despite the bad injury. Unfortunately as you rightly point out James, the nature of the injury just means that he is not up to the rigours of the PL anymore. I feel for him, we know from his time at Barca that he struggles with confidence and mental health. That nasty shit-house Son has alot to answer for.

I hope for Andre that Benfica or Sporting come in for him and we just pay a wedge of his remaining contract. I hope in a slower league he regains some form and confidence and is happy with his football. A good lad and undeserving of the abuse he gets from some.

Gomes wasn’t very good before his injury and just as slow and weak after it. I understand why he won’t move, rich greedy people always want more,Everton, if they can’t negotiate a pay off deal with him should play him in the U21’s team as an over age player every game. He’s entitled to carry on with the contract he signed and play where and when he is told, Frank will have learned from the Crystal Palace game, how he picked him to play in that game was one huge mistake, one of the ball boys must have told Frank to get him off at half time, most fans in the crowd and everywhere else in the world knew it was a giant cock up.

What I'm saying is that, if I was capable of playing football, I would play football. If that meant going to a club on a lower salary I would do that, not that I would accept a pay cut from my current employer because I'd been injured. Is anyone actually suggesting he should do that?

Those criticizing Gomes and Allan for not looking for moves away, why on earth would they do that, Gomes is reportedly on £140,000 per week no other club will pay him that. So he will stay till the last day of his contract, and then be in a strong position when negotiating with another club. Same for Allan who I cant understand why Lampard has turned his back on our best defensive midfield player. He has 6 months left on his contract, so in Jan he can negotiate with a new club and no doubt will demand a high signing on fee. Those who are saying Thelwell has changed that culture, really then why has Mcneil been given a 5 year contract, why not the normal 2 or 3 year contract then if it goes well renegotiate the extra years. Where if it goes pear shaped like it has with Gomes and Allan he too will see out his very lucrative contract.

Have I got this right? OK good, at least now I understand where some of you are coming from. Nice one.

How dare they get paid all that lovely money - that money that means you get to stare into every aspect of their lives, watch every game they play in all its shiny glory on every TV channel all over the world any time you like. How dare they. It's entirely the players fault and has nothing to do with our ravenous consumption of sports.

Maybe we should take all the money away, and go back to listening to it on the radio, with an hour long episode of Match of the Day in black & white on a shitty telly you have to rig up a coat hanger to be able to watch. Yeah that would be great wouldn't it.

He sits on the bench because he doesn't get picked - because his injury destroyed him as a player (in my view). You & I don't get to choose who takes a pay cut and leaves - I certainly never considered such a thing when I was similarly injured in order to complete a role to the best of my ability.

Call me selfish, I've been called worse.

He's played plenty of games since his injury so the club has not left him in the lurch in any way at all.

Get a move on

If the choice was to sit at home doing fuck all on full pay, I'd leave, unless I put money above doing the job I loved. Of course, it's entirely his right to take the money and sit on his arse. It's just an incredible waste of a life.

I was listening to a top football agent a few years back and he said that most players have it in their contracts that they only play first team football, mad why clubs agree to this. So that's why we don't see players coming back from injury don't play any U23 games to get match fit,

I know Seamus did but because we picked him up for £60,000 he didn't have that in his contract and probably still hasn't and that's why he played in the U23s the other week.

Dave, you and I are of an age when players who were out of form were dropped to the reserve team to get their form and confidence back, as well as it being good for the young players to play with seasoned professionals.

But players have all the power now, I wonder if this is what Jimmy Hill and George Eastham envisaged this would happen when they led the campaign to scrap the £20 per week maximum wage.

Has he been told that? He was on the bench the other night.

Anyway, I never said the club has left him in the lurch, I've said the exact opposite. It's the fans who want to discard players that I'm irked by, not the club.

André has never shirked, never refused to train (I saw some fans on here applauding Kudus for doing just that), never spoken ill of the club or any managers.

As you say, it's staggering how quickly so many of our own fans spend their time bitching about our own players.

They're completely unable to keep any of the negotiations or deals under wraps, leading to speculation and concern. It feels like so many other clubs in the Premier League get their business done quickly and quietly, rather than allowing it to be dragged out, making us look like mugs.

James Garner was supposed to be a done deal. Why isn't he training with the rest of the players today, contract signed?

Idrissa Gueye was first referenced months ago, and repeatedly we have been told that the deal is imminent.

It makes us look like a rinky-dink small-time operation.

Everton could only offer him a 1 year contract because of his age at the time ( typical Everton ) but Liverpool were prepared to offer him 3 years.

His Dad, against his will since they were all Blues told Everton that if we could not match Liverpool's offer then he had to think of the boy's future and if Steve were to suffer a bad injury then at least he had more cover with Liverpool to look after him financially.

A player's career is only short and, as much as it disgusts me with the amount of money they get, it is justifiable in some way given the length of their careers.

But I'll take MotD in black and white along with Sam Leitch's lunchtime football preview. The added advantage – no Shearer, Murphy, Warnock or any of the other dimwits talking shit and telling us what we already know.

The lesson is; don't buy washed-up older players from so-called bigger clubs. We are seen as a step-down and pension pot-filler.

Besides the glaringly obvious lack of strikers, I think we have done well in the window this time around but goals win games and this will bite Lampard on the arse in a similar way it did for Silva when he didn't replace Zouma or Gana.

It's a results business and, without strength and depth up top, we will struggle, no matter who is playing in midfield.

He is still in the first-team squad and he'll have settled down here with his family. I saw him in New Brighton the other week with his kids, he looked happy enough to me.

The other point is, "Who'd take him?" if we don't rate him as good enough for our team. It's his decision to make, and how do any of us know how we would react, so I wouldn't blame him for staying.

As for the players who might come in, I remember Brian and Don telling me why we need a striker, and I was convinced we could make do without one. My thoughts were that it's up top the whole team to score goals (except the Goalie, maybe!)

But they are right. We need a man who can score around 20 a season. The last one we had who could do that regularly was shipped off to Man UTD for £80-odd million.

If you look at our goals for and our goals against, each season since he's left, no wonder we're down with the other strugglers. The figures are awful.

So this one man would make all the difference, if we can find him, a man who can score around 15, and equally, make chances for other attackers.

Out of the three, who do you think we should be targeting? £39M for Chuckwueze seems a hell of a lot looking at his more recent stats, the little that I have seen of him doesn't make me desperate for us to sign him.

Diaz or Joao Pedro a better bet ?

Also, I think we are even now still looking at what's happening with Aubameyang going to Chelsea. With a view to getting Broja in on loan or loan to buy.

He was on the bench because Gana and Garner hadn't signed yet and Doucouré is injured.

He's currently behind Onana, Gana*, Garner*, Iwobi, Davies and Doucouré, at least in the pecking order, his time is done.

Professional pride at least should convince him to move on.

I'm sure there are plenty of experts on here ready made for this role!

CV's at the ready everyone.

He's not the littlest Hobo Like..

Is that another way of putting it that we get twice as many injuries to everyone else and why the fuck is that? At least they are addressing it and dare say being professional.

I understand your sympathy for Gomes but the way you describe your injury, it was far worse than the one Gomes suffered. He was back playing quickly after the injury, and he looked no different in speed and thought, to me, than he was before the Spurs game.

He was still putting those snide tackles in and giving free-kicks away in dangerous positions, out of position and too lazy to get back. He certainly can't be blamed for being not good enough to be picked now. He could have a bit of class and be embarrassed about picking up these vast wages. To me, he's no better than a bum sponging drinks off his mates.

Rob (74),

You are praising a man for never shirking and not refusing to train, never speaking ill of the club or the managers... Why the fuck would he when he is picking up a lottery winning sum every week for doing nothing?

What about his home life? His partner? Family? Living situation etc? Does any of that ever enter into your considerations around footballers, or do you see them simply as exactly that, footballers?

I don't get why fans think they have the right to dictate to other human beings what they do with their lives based purely on what they do (or don't do) for 90 minutes (or less) on a football field. It's just weird thinking.

"Okay, André you don't play as much as you should so uproot your family, sell your house, go find another place to live on the planet because at the moment I don't like you sitting on the bench all the time."

When players agitate for moves, they get laid into for being a 'problem'. When they don't get picked, they're lazy and greedy. I don't really get it. This isn't Football Manager 2022.

Reality setting in there, finally?

Apologies for any ranty shite.

Have we signed anyone?

The key issue is we don't have Man City's or Chelsea's bucket for countless wages. We are a club that needs to shift £100k pw players on if they're not an integral part of the squad.

Brian I think even Jimmy Hill and George Eastham never imagined the obscene wages players and their agents are negotiating and receiving today, once upon a time players were treated like slaves now they are acting like slave masters, poachers turned game keepers.

But you can't just terminate players contracts or force them out, especially when he's on the bench every week when fit! If you start doing that you're going to cause disharmony in the ranks, which is about squad balancing (as Lampard puts it).

Anyway, shall we move on now?

I'm starting to wonder about the possibilities of songs to the tune of Club Tropicana that involve Gana, Garner and Onana.

No one else will pay him what he is on. I wish he could find a club in a league that suits him, but who would walk away from job security?

We need another striker. Two isn't enough. Calvert-Lewin hasn't touched the pitch this season so, until he actually makes it on and scores a goal, he doesn't count for me.

Maybe with Chelsea about to add Aubamayang to their squad, I wonder if Broja wants to sit on the bench all season.

Although maybe us not selling Gordon to them on the cheap may as you say have scuppered any Chelsea players ending up on loan at Goodison.

I've been thinking for a while that they are waiting to get Aubameyang in before allowing Broja to go out on loan. Frank will be on he phone asking for Broja on a loan-to-buy deal. Chelsea may be positive about it as they will see it as a foot in the door to signing Gordon in the future.

Things to consider, do we go for a loan-only deal if that's all they offer? Also he will want some guaranteed game time and will have other options that offer it , can Frank give that assurance?

He said that Everton needed to sort out their internal issues around who was making decisions on transfers first. His information was that Diaz was keen to move and that Blackburn would sell but that dealing with Everton was difficult with several people involved in negotiations and communications.

He may well have been winding me up and he actually works in the club shop but he sounded convincing!

David, did he offer you David Bentley or Damian Duff instead?

No but he said that they've got a player-manager we may be interested in.

Initials: HK.

It seems we just bid £30M for Pedro,and Watford won't sell this late in the window. Could we not have bid earlier in the window?

Perhaps spurs should take him on loan.

I reckon we’ll have another punt at Broja once Aubameyang completes and wouldn’t be surprised to see a younger player we’ve not heard much of bought in last minute.

If Gomes had anything about him he'd be badgering his agent constantly for a move. No, not the likes of him, he can sit on his arse and happily pick up his wedge and not have to worry about another thing.

Any footballer at no matter what level wants to play or at least be involved. I'll bet Richarlison is fuming about being on the bench every league game for Spurs, as he's got a hunger about him.

The likes of Gomes should be busting a gut in training to try and force Frank's hand.trLook at Iwobi I've never seen a transformation in a player like him since I've been going, he's the first name on the sheet.

I'll bet Frank and his staff have took a good look at the likes of Gomes and Co and thought no, sorry not for me. He's slowly but surely weeding all the crap out.

4 seasons Frank it's a long haul but I and quite a few others I know have said the same. As I was typing this got a message saying that Kudus has got a medical booked for today. Young hungry players, isn't that what we've been crying out for?

We urgently need a striker. Get it done! Why do we always end up hoping on the last day?

Guardiola is right when he says he judges a players character before signing them as he already knows about their talent.

Dwight MC Neil

Neal Maupay

James Garner

“James Garner move to Everton now agreed. Initial 9m rising to 15.5m with add-ons.

Includes sell-on clause. No buyback”

Very pleased with that if it’s true, the buy back part doesn’t sit well. It’s like a glorified loan deal where the player has one eye on the parent club and we can never fully commit long term . No good for any of the parties.

Has Gueye signed yet ??

Secretary - Telephone call Mr Kenwright.

BK Who is it ?

Sec - A football agent he says.

BK - Tell him I'm busy talking to Ross.

Sec - Ok.

Sec - Mr Kenwright he still wants to talk to you.

BK - Oh alright then put him through.

Agent - Hi Bill Its Super Agent Paulo Getoneoveronu here. we've done business before, remember Niasse and Rondon of course. Well I spoke to Frank and Kevin yesterday and they said have a word with you, to get the final ok on a deal for my client.

BK - Who is he ?

Agent - He's So So Alsoran. A South Korean wonder kid. 20 goals so far and he's only 19. Plays in Spanish La Liga.

BK - Does he have blue blood like me ?

Agent - Er no Bill, its red like everybody elses.

BK - Does he know who the Holy Trinity are ?

Agent - Er I doubt it, he's a buddhist.

BK - Sorry it's a no go. If he doesn't have blue blood and he doesn't know that Harvey Kendall and Ball are the real Holy Trinity, we are not interested. Goodbye.

BK - Now Ross, were, were we ? Ah yes, £200,000 a week and every other game time off to go clubbing in Ibiza. I'll sort the paper work out. Frank and Kevin will love it when I tell them you are coming back.

RB - Thats odd.

BK - Why is it odd.

RB - Well I spoke to Frank and Kevin yesterday and they said F*ck Off !!

Everton have received late transfer window interest in Andre Gomes.

The ECHO understands that the 29-year-old could be getting closer to securing a move away from Goodison Park late in the summer to an as-yet unnamed club, with the midfielder having left Finch Farm early on Thursday.

If we have DCL coming back and now Maupay to deputize, we're not bringing in another striker. Sorry to disappoint, it ain't happening.

He was 32 when we started negotiations, he's now just completing his ''well man '' medical with the NHS before he signs

😂😂😂
BK only sucks up too media coverage when it’s positive.
However, would he ever allow himself to be interviewed by the media in respect of all the (Moshiri) money he’s blown away, that’s put us where we are?

If we run our of wingers, we play 532, with no wingers at all. If we are down to one striker we play 451 / 433.

It would only now be an extreme injury list that puts us in real trouble.

Hopefully a striker of genuine ability, who can become better than DCL (a pretty nailed on 15 goal or more striker when fit) arrives in coming windows. No point robbing ourselves of the money by buying mediocre now.

We absolutely need Neal Maupay to hit the ground running and by that I mean chip in with goals.

Calvert-Lewin is not gonna be anywhere near match sharp until October (providing he stays fit anyway)

This team needs goals.

Nick, what happened before now is water under the bridge and can't be changed by the current coach. DoF. What They can only address things as they are today. Complaining about the last ten years won't change anything.

If we can bring a forward in be great, but overall I think we had had a decent window, there’s always the January window If needed, but for now we are in a much better place than for a while, give it time and let’s build it gradually rather than what we have done in the past, throwing silly money and wages like money was going out of fashion.

Seen being smuggled into FF in Dele Alis Rolls Royce, Watkins, Broja, Gallagher, Gilmour, Kudus, Chukueze, Diaz, Adams, James, Barkley and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all.

Brent / Brian 156 / 157, I think that has to be right. We now have a decent squad with much more depth than last season (albeit losing Richarlison is a real blow). Hopefully this means future windows means we just need to buy one or two key quality players (and some highly talented youngsters to develop over time). That's how we'll become competitive.

Chuckwueze rumour was an initial loan, Joao Pedro was too, both loan to buy enquiries. So maybe we’ve now ran out of money due to the rules , apart from small change ? We’ll be looking for a loan or loan to buy deal, they must have one or two targets.

The feeling was that he improved massively as the season went on, getting plenty of game time under a very good manager. By the end, all the fans were desperate to bring him back permanently.

If we do get him, we have to give him time on the pitch otherwise he'll go backwards.

5 hours to go. Judgement awaits.

Just a goalscorer before the window closes please and I'll be pretty happy, especially as we seem to have held on to Gordon.

Rondon has just tweeted in response "Sop pulling my leg, Colin!"

Still no striker – what the fuck are they talking about in that boardroom??

“Now Aubameyang is done, Chelsea trying to get Depay as well. Broja is open to an Everton loan deal.”

It will now be up to Frank to whip the squad he has into shape. No money on that one from me!

At this point, I don't care if it's Niasse... Okay, maybe not. Although he did better than Rondon - but that's not saying much.

I can only assume that Frank has given up on all the other options, which will hardly make this lad feel wanted, will it?

I believe that is so because Everton paid the money he was due in 'severance' from PSG!

Warrington out on loan until January, doesn't say where to.

We'd rather sign other clubs' cast-offS at inflated fees.

Shows he is thinking of his next move before he gets it, sign of quality. Looking forward to see how he gets on with his loan club.

I can't see Blackburn selling this late though with no time to sign a replacement –unless we send them the Venezuelan god in return.

Joao Pedro, a real talent with pace and energy, can play as a forward or on either wing. Come on, let's get it done, get in and negotiate!!

It's my opinion that, in order for a transfer to take place, both clubs and the player' should arrive at an agreement. We fans are not privy to the negotiations and, as frustrating as it is, we're not likely to learn the conversation leading to the signing of the transfer forms.

Whether we like it or not, we have no influence one way or another.

Calvert-Lewin is 1 or 2 weeks away from coming back. Maupay is now a more mobile, competitive and hungry option to the no-threat Rondon. Them 2 instantly give us more threat while taking pressure and defenders off Gordon and Gray etc.

Yes, we all want another option up front but I don't want them to panic-buy some fool at the last minute just for the bodies and we are stuck with them for 4 or 5 years... Remember Tosun do we?

Walcott anyone? Fat Sam wanted more "bodies"... well, Tosun was like a dead body. Walcott a waste!! These are the type you end up with.

I'd rather get the right people – even if I have to read a load of negativity about us going down at 11pm if they can't get the right forward option.

And I think we should prioritize him, he feels like the best attainable option out there to me.

Still nervous, would like to see him in the squad. Hopefully official announcement very soon.

Maybe, but it appears from reports that he's that rare thing in football, a decent bloke, wanting to help Watford get back up, not sulking, downing tools, going on strike etc.

I think it's dead in the water myself. I hope I'm wrong.

Everton won't pay the asking price for Diaz...

Aaaaarhg. Get it done.

So we'll manage with Maupay, who's not a prolific scorer, and Calvert-Lewin, who's made of glass?

Calvert-Lewin, even when fit, is limited to around the 6-yard box. We need strikers!

Sadly I think all of Frank's Chelsea connections have left the club following Abramovic selling the club I don't think we have any sway and we didn't sell them Gordon.

Everton fans should not be put in this situation at all. It's just bad management. Even a pub team secures strikers before their season begins. But not at Everton they don't. Crazy.

We dodged a bullet on a player who would rather sit on his arse protected by a long contract, go out on loan and have two clubs paying his wages than go to another club.

His favourite song apparently, Money, Money, Money! He is the type that ruin football, motivated purely by cash and nothing else. What's the betting that there are plenty of idiots wishing him all the best, unreal!

It looks like they wanted Broja or Joao Pedro but it was not to be. These are the right quality / potential. Others will emerge. That will be a priority for next season, I expect.

It has been a disappointing (but by no means disastrous) start. DCL should be fit soon and Maupay can start the next game.

against Arsenal in the FA Cup and terrify them ?

I reckon Garner deal on hold, incase we need some of the cash we're offering for him to get a CF across the line before 11. No wonder we bartered PSG down to £2m for Gueye. We're skint.

B Díaz, for me is the business but let’s see what happens in the next 90 minutes.

DCL is due back but I’m not convinced of his recent come back attempts, after major injuries, and Rondon would be better getting in the ring with George Forman, even though he’s shifted some timber from last season.

If, DCL gets crocked and with only Maupay, then it’s a massive ask to get the Everton midfield trio, quartet, scoring goals.

But all faith in Frank, he will get Everton playing with some flair again, but it may take a little longer, and there’s some positives to take in these early days of this season.

Hope eternal.

Sounds to me that the recruitment team know what they are doing.

Sometimes I just find Everton hard to fathom.

We've made some pretty decent signings, decent, but when it all comes down to it we still don't have the look of a team that will have enough firepower.

Garner looks like he has a decent long ball in him, and Onana can thread a pass, so we might score against the bigger teams who leave a bit of space at the back while they pound our defence.

Signing Maupay doesn't replace Richarlison, but that's who we could afford.

Would people rather we'd continued to piss money against the wall, as we have, leading us to where we are?

Your job, should you choose to accept it, Is to get Chelsea to sell him or loan him to us for a few beans and Rondon. Should you or any of your staff fail and be mentioned in the newspapers, the Board will disavow you and throw you to the Wolves.

Good Luck, Kevin.

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If you don't score goals you don't win games. Looking very bleak indeed.

Now for an additional striker?

Onana and Gueye will be first choice, then you've got the likes of Doucoure who probably still gets in ahead.

I can't quite work out why we've signed so many players in one particular area but not properly addressed the goals

If we have some improvement in midfield and defence then we don't need to score as many to win matches.
Which we clearly have compared to last year's midfield and seive like defence.

It's more than 1 window project to sort this squad. Was never going to all be rosy after sept 1st

We lacked depth and once the injuries kicked in, it hurt us.

We now have depth. Goals come from different areas. We have a lot of midfield options as well as players with goals in them from wide areas. Gordon, Gray, even Townsend and I would say Iwobi too. We have built a solid spine, have 2 young full backs brimming with potential and when Calvert-Lewin is back, along with Maupay, we have 2 senior strikers challenging each other not to mention a few youngsters knocking on the door.

For the first time in years, it feels like we're building a squad based on a plan based on foundations rather than trying to fix the roof first.

The future is blue. Here we go. Spirit of the blues.

27/35

For all the good work done in this window we have finished short of threat and goals. Everton always seem to take the till-the-deadline approach and it has backfired once more. If we’d made significant moves for the likes of Kudus or Pedro a few weeks ago we may have secured them, but such moves were harder to pull off with those teams having no time to replace.

Hope we change this approach in years to come.

Thank you for talking sense.

Year on year, I believe Everton's in a better place, could it have been much worse then, last season survival was the miracle achieved by Everton supporters, but hopefully fresh blood, will raise the improving fighting spirit in this squad, for this season.

Hopefully Everton, will keep their belief and fight, from the Leeds game, to take it to the Spawn of The Devil, this Saturday, and get the first win of this season.

Focus on us, and let the Satanic Rights be exercised and buried this Saturday.

UTFTs!

Down and out in August? I won't make blasphemous remarks. I just hope those of you stressing and worrying are celebrating with me in May.

Anyway.. we'll stay up with what we've got.. but don't expect too much excitement this season.

Onwards and upwards.

Otherwise, I hope like Kevin @284, but I worry like Sam @279.

OK… Where’s the fucking striker?

Assuming we play a 451.. our best eleven has to include Gueye, Iwobi and Onana in the middle.. with Gray and Gordon on the flanks and DCL up top.

That will hopefully leave us mid table.

Good news that AG, is staying and growing in stature every game.

So we will improvise, adapt and overcome on and off the park.

Everton have learnt to do, especially in the irony of these previous cash rich years, whereby hopefully the lessons are learned.

But some very good signings this window and line up B Díaz, for January and future planning.

Now to get set for them, and beat them.

UTFTs!

Would have liked another attacking option (and preferred to keep Richarlison obv), but I think we've improved the squad.

Then we get to the goalscorer, it is a side that is primarily designed to feed DCL. With him fit and firing we can really start to rapidly progress . With him out injured we are too light on the goal threat front. We have a loan slot still available, I’m surprised we didn’t use it. Was it retained for the unlikely chance of getting Broja?

Maupay, Gordon and Gray are capable of causing problems and grabbing a goal, so they will need to produce the goods if the main man is out. At least until January. The better quality of midfield will help them achieve that.

Rome wasn’t built in a day so we will have to persevere with what we have been given, Frank Lampard has been provided with a lot of improvement and kept the player he insisted he didn’t want to sell, let’s see if he utilise these players better than he did with, to be honest, a very poor squad but being honest again he didn’t do much better than the man most Everton fans didn’t want, Mr. Benitez,and Frank had the best backing any Everton manager ever had off the fans, while Benitez had very little from the moment he walked into Finch Farm.

Come on Frank the ball is now in your court, obviously we need more players but let’s see you prove that you can move us up the league, most fans will be happy if you move us to halfway up the table at the end of the season, including me. That’s how sad we are now as a club.

Overall there is much more pace, steel, power and it looks like the goals against will be a lot less this season, so it was very good overall. Goals wise it's a guess that Maupay is a straight swap for Richarlison. And Gordon looks like he's found the sweet spot distance from goal where he can finish.

With the World Cup break later on, Frank has time to assess if needs another player in the winter window too. So overall pleased.

Lampard mentioned the remit was some progress on last season, hopefully keeping things tight and compact at the back and in midfield whilst nicking the odd goal. Might not be pretty at times but if gets us to 14th/15th in the league come the end of the season then that is mission accomplished for the club.

Everyone needs to realise where we are right now as a club and the objective is to avoid relegation.

Gomes is on loan, not off the books. His contract runs to 2024.

The current squad is a huge improvement on last season. We have what is essentially a new back four and the midfield is much stronger. Gueye will provide defensive cover which will free up Onana and Iwobi. We still have Doucouré and Townsend to come back and cover in Davies and Allan. There's also Garner, too.

All in all not a bad window.

If we would of blown the whole budget on a couple of strikers, that wouldn't have helped if we are still fragile in midfield and letting in 3-4-5 goals every other week last last year.

We were crumbling in matches late on, when if we could stay in the match we have a chance.

I can't really complain since that's what I've been asking for: a re-build first into something tough and a bit nasty, and then a development into a competitive and attractive side over time.

The question still remains whether we have enough quality to score enough goals. I suspect not, and it's going to be a long season.

For what it's worth I think we'll like Maupay. He just won't score enough.

Pickford

Patterson Coady Tarkowski Mykolenko - solid mid table defence

Onana Gueye Iwobi - energetic midfield - lacking a bit of creativity and goals

Gray and Gordon - fine with that plus support options

DCL or Maupay - lacking fitness or goals

That's an improvement. But it's a lower mid table team. There's no denying it.

Edit: When did Gueye last play? Or train? Surely he can't make it into Saturday's team?

We have since the end of last season through transfers and either letting go or loaning out,moved about 16 players. Coming in we have strengthened the Midfield and Defense plus the Forwards with a stronger and experienced 8 players .

The loss of Richarlison was expected and I think he may have made a mistake in thinking it would help him in the National team at the World Cup.

It was a disappointment in not getting a back up striker for DCL who's Transfer Market value on June 15th 2022 was listed as 44m. A decent striker is a hard position to fill and usually expensive, and I don't now if other clubs managed to find one.

I think the DOF and the Manager done well in getting the players they wanted and the Board for backing them in keeping Gordon.

We're playing with fire.

The lack of goal threat across our front three is a real worry though.

My other concern is that I'm struggling to name three really bad teams in the division this year. We desperately need to start scoring goals and winning games very soon. And we've got Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs & Man Utd in our next 6!

We have a lot of players out of contract next summer so we seem to be building for the long term. These include both of Begovic and Lonergan, then also Mina, Coleman, Allan, Doucoure, Davies, Townsend and Rondon. Coady and Vinagre’s loans will also end. If we can be sensible about saving some money within FFP then I can see why we’d do that.

If we play with a back four from now on we should be aiming top ten and two proper cup runs, with the main objective being to build a stable system at the club and develop what is now a young, promising squad.

Anyone still desperate for a striker, there are a few out of contract. Standout names include:

Diego Costa (33)
Simone Zaza (31)
Oumar Niasse (32)
Marek Vydra (30)
Daniel Sturridge (33)
Andy Carroll (33)
Hal Robson-Kanu (33)

But then again, we kept hold of Rondon.

Frank needs to get positive results now with this squad. Another striker would have helped but Gordon has stayed!

Remember survival is success! Onward and upwards!

Gana’s, nous derived from PSG, playing with Messi, Neymar and more, could have a good mindset impact on this Everton squad.

Now it’s time to stand up and be counted in the EPL.

Focus on the positives of this transfer window, and Everton, can build and grow in stature this season.

It’s a rebuild and still in draft but it’s been, a good transfer window, but it’s a work in progress, but all said not too bad, ideally the extra striker for me, was key to the strength in depth plan, this squad has achieved in all departments, bar the attack.

UTFTs!

I’m sure that Frank, will in-still into his midfielders the desire, and necessity to score goals.

This season I think Evertons, midfield will start chipping in, with goals, and why not.

Desire, belief, play for the Everton shirt, it’s a no brainier.

These new signings, will help this drive to improve.

J Garner, looked very good at Forest, and for me at this early stage looks like a footballer, with the best blend of attack and defence skills.

But let’s see, how he does at Everton, but my hopes are high, for him, and I reckon he could start, and do well, right now.

More motivation for our current U21s, and U23s, competition is tough.

UTFTs!

Shame we never brought another striker in, but overall a decent window.

Let’s hope those Days of paying huge transfer fees and wages are a thing of the past.

To revamp the team from back to front, firming up the spine of the team already showed we are harder to be scored against. Result will come eventually.

COYB!

BUT we had ALL summer to strengthen our attack. All summer

And whilst I like Neal Maupay was he really the best we could get?

I understand that we need to pay within our budget but I think most fans would have sacrificed McNeill and 1 of Garner/Gana for a regular goalscorer

I can’t understand why that wasn’t a priority.

Surely Dennis from Watford could have been procured with a lower upfront payment? Surely one of our targets could have been procured

Clearly we put EVERYTHING on getting Broja last minute which was ridiculous folly

How do we not ever learn from our mistakes?

7/10 window for me…..relegation scrap is a real possibility/probability now

(We can’t keep clean sheets and we don’t score more than 1 goal a game…..do the maths)

He did have a couple of excellent games when he started out for us, including the Pickford derby, but he quickly slid off the pace, and the popular belief that the injury ruined him just doesn't measure up to the facts. At the time it happened he had given us one goal and one assist in 35 games. The injury also had no impact on his proclivity for defensive blunders, particularly committing foolish fouls deep in our end. In his 100 appearances, Everton gave up, I believe, 7 goals off Gomes brain cramps. At the other end, he scored or assisted on 9.

I too wish him all the best, because by every account he is one of the nicest guys on the planet, but I am unreservedly glad that I will not see him play for us again.

Too slow, too haphazard with his passing. He's been a disaster for some time. I fell in love with the idea of this strong midfielder gliding with the ball and fizzing balls out to wingers but it's not him. He strikes a ball well - that's about it.

Good luck to him. Seems a good guy. He's making a very good living for him and his family. Can't be too critical of that.

A great human being, I met him in the early days, at Goodison, the first half of the Pickford Derby aside, and his missed header point blanked from 3 yards, in the first half of that game, for me, was concerning.

An appalling critical in jury in the middle regular, weekly injuries and Everton had big plans, helped his recovery in scope behind the scenes with internal friendlies at FInch Farm,.

But alas, Barca’s academy isn’t soft; he will never br a decent footballer, and I use my words well.

For me he was a Friday morning call, type plater, the calf, thigh, hammy, stomach strain, grapes, injury, player and it showed on the Park for Everton, and history will testify during the first half of the Palace home game, last season.

He stunk the place out, in the first half, and made no positive impact to Everton’s cause. There were numerous games like Palace, over his time at Everton.

But I wish him all the best of health and good fortune in his loan at Lille, and Everton, are a step closer hopefully to off loading him, for good.

Regarding strikers, I can honestly say I wasn't excited about any of those we were connected to, including the five we reportedly made offers for and the one we signed. The simple fact is we couldn't afford a proven goalscorer unless we sold Gordon, and the past week made me glad we didn't.

Yes, goals will be harder to come by than we would like. But this is a much tougher and more competitive team than it was at the end of last season, and it's much closer to reflecting our manager's priorities and values. I like what we did. Very much.

I forgot about that clown

DCL = 10
Maupay = 10
Gray and Gordon = 10
All centre mids = 5
All defenders = 10

Pure speculation on my part, and I may be wrong. But I just don’t see much goal threat from most of our signings - even Maupay is not a goal scorer. I’ve seen nothing to suggest that McNeil, Garner, Gueye, Onana, Tarkowski, Coady and Vinagre will score many goals. Our season will probably hinge on DCL being fit, and the type of season he has. Fingers crossed it’s better than last year…

Shame. He's a talented player. I don't think he ever recovered from a bad injury. Certainly not from a mentality or confidence perspective. And another player who's Everton experience was characterised by a constantly changing and turbulent period.

We move on. I hope he does.

Worst player? I've seen some shockers in my life time. Much worse than Gomes.

Dave @313. I'm partly pleased that Warrington gets to play competitive football regularly to help his development. But partly sad he won't be closer to the Everton first team sooner than next year. I rate him, but guess with all the midfield signings, his chances this season will be limited. I understand Lampard spoke with him and explained that he is very much rated and has an Everton future.

We're marching. Not just down the Goodison Road, but on to Europe.

Now you've started me!

We tried to get Diaz but refused to pay Blackburns price, however with the World Cup in November, we have 13 games until the transfer window opens in January, with still 20 games remaining from the window opening.

Blackburn May rue not taking Evertons offer, because there is every chance in January, he will be able to sign a pre contract elsewhere, could be a smart move from Everton.

Calvert-Lewin will soon be close to a return and the November break will give him some rest in between.

With Chelsea getting Aubameyang so late in the window, there is every chance we can now go for Broja, loan from January with option to buy.

Come January we could bring in a striker, if we can somehow get Calvert -Lewin back for a few games before the break then we should be fine.

Everton can't survive another relegation scare without. . . . . . . . dramatically reducing its last season's GA of 66, I'd say.

Do that, and we need "enough goals" to avoid another relegation scare.

(on a side note, I noticed that many of the fans on social media who'd been castigating the club for financial mismanagement over the last several years were the same ones shrieking that we should just "suck it up" and pay whatever Rovers wanted for Diaz)

We succeeded in beefing up the defense and overhauling the midfield, which was no small feat. The new additions are a really nice blend of reliable veterans (Gueye, Coady, Tarkowski) and youngsters with potential (Onana, Garner, McNeil), all achieved within a much-needed framework of fiscal responsibility. There is, of course, a tremendous amount of pressure on keeping Calvert-Lewin fit moving forward, but otherwise I'm feeling pretty positive about the direction of things.

all the signings actually seem sensible and calculated.

We got a whole new midfield that immediately improves us as well as being exciting for the future.

we got a new backline that is immeasurably more solid than last season.

we lost Richy and have replaced with Maupay, which in terms of output is pretty much like for like, but with a lower bar in terms of potential.

Hopefully in January we will have targets lined up.

But after the horror or last season, this is as much of a first team turnover we could have expected.

Right back and 2 centre backs different from last season + a new back up/competition left back.

3 midfielders - two box-to-box no8s and a defensive midfield + a transformed Iwobi.

McNeil and Maupay and hopefully a fit DCL.

all of that should make the horror of last season a blip.

we now have a young squad, it won't work perfectly, but there is potential. If we are pacient things could actually start going on an upward trajectory.

A bunch out.

A striker would have made it better, but all in all, pretty good.

My other concern is whether Lampard has the ability to turn what is most certainly a better group of players into a winning side.

Onwards and upwards!

Delighted we have Coady and Tarkovski and Gana and Garner will hopefully give us some cover in midfield.

I too am puzzled by the signing of McNeil. Another winger was not a priority. However, the lad did a good job versus Leeds and showed tenacity that I didn't expect.

Maupay will help but much now depends on how the likes of Gray and Gordon, not to mention our new best player Iwobi link -up with him.

Like Jim above, I am still wondering where our goals will come from. DCL won't be up to speed for a month or so and we are scrapping for draws.

It is sure to be a slog unless we can find some goals.

I guess that we would have had to sell Gordon to fund a classy striker and Frank made his mind up that he would rather stick with our starlet than gamble.

The best window I can remember though.

Anybody know the situation with loans? Are they now closed also or is there still some chance from Europe or other overseas countries?

Burnley had the 9th best defensive record in the league last season but lack of goals on their side sent them down.

Coady: durable player but remains to be see how he does long term in a back 4. 7/10

McNeil: not the goalscoring winger I wanted but very solid defensively and looks after ball well. 7/10

Onana: Exciting signing and good chance he becomes a real star. 9/10

Vinagre: Practical signing to offer cover, could be a good alternative to Mykolenko. 7/10

Maupay: Snide and hard working presence who should bag 8-10 goals. 7/10

Gana Gueye: Very useful return to bolster midfield and for only £2M. 9/10

Garner- £8M up front for one of the best midfielders in the Championship is good business. Not sure how big an impact he has now but an interesting young talent. 7/10

Overall a 6.5/10 for me as we lack crucial goals. Huge pressure on DCL to stay fit but at least we shouldn't be getting overrun in midfield quite so easily this season.

It’s really poor not to have brought another striker in, after all we have had since June.

Gana, Coady, Vinagre and Tarkowski for an outlay of £2m is great business. Nearly all will add steel & leadership to the team, whilst Vinagre adds cover for the first time since Baines/Digne.

Maupay is a decent enough player for £15m. He's Premier league proven, and seems a safesh signing. Onana has the tools to be a top player too.

Don't know enough on Garner, but £2m each year for the next 5 years seems to be another safesh investment based on his championship performances. You'd expect some decent performances and your cash returned as a minimum. It also Frees the door further to out Davies, Allan, and Gomes - whilst Doucoure is going to need to turn his performances around to get ahead of Onana, Iwobi, Gana.

McNeil I don't rate, but he has time on his side I guess. He does have a dangerous left foot strike and can cross the ball well. Some will say he's versatile and can play left wing, wing back, centrally or right wing. My response is he's as slow as hell, and is equally rubbish in most. But happy to proven wrong like Kilbane etc.

So it least the elephant in the room. The squad looks so improved compared to what I saw last season. Stronger, more runners, more leaders.

But we haven't replaced the loss of goals from Richarlison, James, Sigurdsson, Digne, a fit DCL (from when we finished 10th). We needed another striker, an injury to Maupay and the continuation of injuries under Dom leave us in massive trouble.

Overall B grade. If the players hit the ground running and Dom returns, it will look great. If we lose strikers we are going to look pretty poor. As ever our season will depend on the injury room staying clear.

Though I think we're a bit slow at the back which means a low block for most games, and possible an over-reliance on the ball over the top for Gordon, Gray or Maupay to run on to, which seems to be our only source of goals until DCL returns.

Midfield looks strong now, plenty of options and a good mix of ages/experience. Surely we'll be playing four at the back from now on so we can have a midfield three?

I'm glad Gomes has found a club that should give him some game time, and in a league possibly better suited for his skill set. I'm also glad we've kept Tom Davies who I still think is a useful option at times.

Nice man nice hair very Everton. Not any more we have a nasty streak now and a Frank as we have seen stands up to that grinning twat over the park.

Shame we didn't get one of the linked attackers in.

We have some solid options in midfield at least and defence if they recover and stop having such bad luck with injuries.

How that works out remains to be seen.

Aw well, let's just hope our manager doesn't have us hanging on to one goal leads for the rest of the season.

Another long, hard season ahead. Relegation battle awaits.

How many players you starting.. 13?

Maupay gets a nod while DCLs out but Garner and McNeil are definitely bench warmers.

Forest already have Dean Henderson on loan from Man Utd. You're only allowed one loanee from another Premier League club so they couldn't loan Garner as well.

I wasn't suggesting Forest extend Garner's loan. I was asking why didn't they buy him seeing he played in the majority of their games last season, and at £12 million seemed a no-brainer for them.

I like the way Frank and Kevin have managed to ship out players on big wages and saved £10M on Dele, places in the squad that aren't being used and replacing them with young hungry players who will be.

It's probably only Rondon, Keane and Allan who he doesn't fancy in the squad, who are solid pro's who may need to be called upon.

As many have said, I am concerned also with the lack of goals in the side. I don't think Calvert-Lewin is the striker many think he is and a lot of pressure is on him when he returns. I can't understand why we didn't get a loan option.

Also disappointed Warrington went out on loan. With 5 subs I'd have liked to see him used more and in cups rather than another season in league 1. He's 19 and better on the ball than we already have.

Good news is though I think we have a really good base now to build on in the next few windows.

I haven't read every comment on here but there is a notable lack of interest in what the hell we are going to do with all these midfielders, Allan in particular. I was expecting him to go and he hasn't. I like him as a player but it seems for some reason Frank doesn't, never plays him, it's weird.

It has crossed my mind there is an agreement in place for a Saudi or Chinese team to take him as their window's are open longer, perhaps Turkey? If he stays that's a lot of midfielders to keep happy.

Pedro would have been the icing on the cake but it didn't come off, maybe we will identify our top target between now and then. We can assume the money is there because of our offer for Pedro.

Overall I am really pleased, too many midfielders but we certainly has a strong spine, some real tenacity. Allan to go for a fee (anything north of £5-6M) in next couple of weeks would be the icing on the cake.

As one ToffeeWeber said, with this midfield, we won't have to score many goals to win matches!

Ha ha, you couldn't make it up!

Maybe the player wanted to go somewhere other than Forest? He's from Birkenhead and been at Utd since he was about 6 or something, so perhaps it's as much a location issue as anything else.

Maybe he didn't want to play for a promoted team. There are so many reasons why he might not have wanted to stay at Forest - I don't think it's as simple as just Forest not wanting him. Nothing is ever that black & white.

Given the shit-show at the start of this season from Man Utd, they decided they needed to invest in Casemiro and couldn't give Garner the phased development into the team that they intended. They also needed funds in quickly given they invested more than intended in certain areas of the squad, therefore they sacrificed a young high potential squad member.

Basically, the sort of dismal recruitment approach that Evertonians have grown accustomed to over the last 6 years.

Gordon has stepped up this season, and looks like a much more threatening player than he did last season because he's being given confidence and responsibility by the manager. Gray looks in decent form and Iwobi moving to central midfield could be the making of him. He just gets lost out wide.

To say those 3 carry no attacking threat is simply not true and with Onana in behind we looked decent the other night, albeit without a striker. Football has evolved, Everton hasn't, but finally we look as though we have a management team who understand this, and are trying to put together a squad that can compete, play different formations, and actually be effective at all of them. Of course it doesn't happen overnight, but I see a massive difference in our play, our attitude and aptitude from last season's mess.

We also now have a team full of experience and leadership, plus a solid defence and midfield - the best teams don't always have all the best players. Look at Leicester a few years ago as a good example. It was about blend & balance.

Calvert-Lewin, Maupay and Rondon – okay, they aren't Messi, Mbappe and Neymar but there is a blend there, and when you look at the midfield as well, there are options - exactly what the manager wants.

I've never rated Maupay for what it's worth, but I'm willing to give him (and Lampard) the benefit of the doubt until I've at least seen him play a few games!

I do think Gordon steps up to his role and already has 2 for the season. I just think we are a good Number 9 from a very solid side who can comfortably sit in mid table. Newcastle have Isaak (who looks perfect), Wilson and Wood as options, guaranteed goals and attacking threat, we have Calvert-Lewin.

For what it's worth though I do rate Maupay (more of a 10) and will hopefully be a good addition.

Those deficiencies have been addressed in this window and we have Maupay to be a pain in the backside for opposition defences as well as score a few goals. I think we are in a much stronger position overall compared with where we were 12 months ago. It will take time for them to gel but the younger players we have acquired in this calendar year have the potential to develop into top players.

While they are doing so the experience of Coady, Tarkowski and Gana will make us much harder to beat. No longer will we be the soft touch we have been for several seasons. Onana and Garner will be exciting players to watch in midfield while Patterson and Mykolenko will offer attacking width as wingbacks. Patterson also showed at Elland Road he can perform the defensive role effectively.

While it would have been great to acquire a top class striker I think it made more sense to improve the squad as a whole. For the first time since 2013, there has been a coherence about the recruitment which leaves me feeling more optimistic than I expected to be two months ago.

COYBs!

Also his agent will have been well aware there was interest from bigger and better clubs than Notts Forest. So the strategy would have been, see what the opportunities are with the new manager at Manchester. If the path looks blocked, a move to a bigger, more established Premier League club than Forest is nailed on.

Garner said he was buzzing to be working with Frank Lampard and how he can improve his game with his help . So just maybe over the summer he has had one eye on this transfer being a possibility for him .

They’ve made the right decisions. I think we are lucky to have him.

I do agree but you are a bit harsh on twice European Cup winners Nottm Forest. Yes, not big recently, but neither are Everton.

They’ve just submitted plans to the local council to completely modernise and expand the stadium so things are looking up. No wonder they are trying everything to make this promotion stick.

The Everton midfield is looking so much better,I'll give Thelwall that!. Makes me wonder if negotiations could have been more "Levy" with PSG then we could have offered more for Brereton Diaz. Too late now, just wish the Derby was a few more weeks away.

Forest decided they could not afford to wait and looked elsewhere. Thelwell was more patient. Time will tell if he was right but Garner's career trajectory suggests he has the pedigree to develop into a successful Premier League player.

Makes me think Lampard is being more than a little arrogant to believe we can stay out of the relegation battle with only Calvert-Lewin as a genuine striker. I hardly think Brighton's cast-off fits that bill.

Fingers crossed the incomers can gel with other players and Lampard's ideas quickly. We need to start getting points on the board asap.

We basically overhauled the entire squad, strengthened defense with solid, hard-working veterans, bought 3 players under 21 who not only have huge upside, but also improved us immediately, and did it all relatively cheaply.

I think this was the second-best window Everton have had in my time, behind the Barry, McCarthy, Lukaku window under Martinez.

We did amazing business and Thelwell should be commended.

Really happy.

I am happy with the business done - honestly, I would have been happy with Tarkowski, Onana, Gueye and Maupay. But to add Coady, McNeil, Vinagre and Garner to that makes this quite a major overhaul with some shrewd financial jugglery to get around the FFP restrictions. Especially considering that we lost only one 1st team player in Richarlison. At the beginning of the window, I was resigned to losing 2 out of Pickford, Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Add to that, the growing emergence of Gordon and Patterson, and the revival of Iwobi and Holgate (before his injury) means that I am quite optimistic that we should be a competitive team that other teams in the league hate to play against. I won’t get carried away and predict our final position in the league, but I would be happy if we were to avoid relegation worries this season, and build from the squad that we have now.

Tarkowski - solid, low risk, free.
Coady - solid, low risk, only a loan fee.
Vinagre - good reputation, potential, only a loan fee.
Gueye - tried and tested, only a loan fee.
Garner - good pedigree, potential and price.
Onana - big money but has all the attributes to succeed here. Good reputation and potential.
McNeil - decent money and has decent potential, but the jury is out on this one.
Maupay - good squad player. Will chip in with goals without ever being the main man.

The concern is DCL, Maupay and Rondon up front, but then the rest of the squad is now fairly solid. I had a thought back to 95 when we won the cup, and our strikers were Big Dunc, Rideout, Amokachi and Stuart. None of them were particularly prolific and they all had their ups and downs at Everton. And then Rideout stepped up and scored something like 15/16 goals. Hopefully DCL or Maupay can get a similar figure this year, but there is no doubt we are a little bit light up front, especially if Maupay and DCL get knocks…

Thanks for the heads-up, Dave. Always good to check these things...

"Midfielder Lewis Warrington has joined Fleetwood Town on loan for the remainder of the 2022-23 season."

That's from the horse's mouth, aka official website. And they never get owt wrong,

Barry #398, way better than Gray? McNeil hasn't scored a goal in a year and a half. Has only seven in his entire career, one less than Gray has scored for us in 13 months. What I've seen of McNeil's passing so far has likewise not impressed me. His defensive workrate is absolutely brilliant, but I'm not sure that makes him a good buy.

Ajay #403, I think that's a very good point about the center backs and the transfer kitty.

DCL obviously not going to feature tomorrow and will take some time to get up to speed. If we can get 8 games or so out of him before the window I think we will be doing well. Much is going to depend on how well Maupay does for us.

He's behind Coady, Tarkowski, Godfrey, Mina, Holgate, Coleman, Mykolenko in the pecking order. I thought he would want out given Frank has little to no faith in him.

A Southampton type club would have taken him?

We did well. I will be raising a glass to Thelwell many times this season for assembling a squad I think I can get behind in a nostalgic way that will heal what we've been through.

I agree with both of you, for some reason there are some 'supporters'? who appear to crave for someone to criticise. There are some players I'm not particularly fond of but they receive my support. I believe that anyone who plays professional football at whatever level can do just that: "Play Football".

From my seat in the Park End, I hear cries of "Player X, you're crap" or words to that effect. I understand the frustrations that football can produce at the match, but what I don't understand is the vitriol of the written word some time after the event, when all it needs is "I think that Player X is not good enough."