Onana bowled over by fans' welcome

I didn't expect much from this past transfer window, and with him, I've got a different kind of belief, in a good way that is!

Roll on Sunday – Birthday (38) of mine that is!

It wasn't 40 that seemed to come fast for me, nor 50. It was 60. Was 52, 53... then BOOM – 60.

Start applying the brakes now...

I think Franky boy has a plan to gently blood in young Garner this season and have him and Onana bombing on as 8s in front of the sitting Gueye.

I see the vision, Frank, let's go!

I'm 51 tomorrow, Minik. Neville Southall will be 64.

The win is coming on Sunday. Obana to get the winner.

Blue boys on the rise.

Onana came with a hefty price tag, it's early days but I am loving what I'm seeing. We have signed an absolute diamond of a midfielder. Sounds like he has totally embraced the club too.

Steve, I'm seeing it too, Gana holding with Onana and Garner more licence to drive forward either side. It's got the makings of a midfield we've not seen for years.

Iwobi cannot be left out, but that's a good problem for Frank to have, and Doucoure will perform better in a stable midfield. It feels like we've well and truly addressed the midfield this time with options and genuine strength in depth.

Feeling confident and optimistic about Sunday.

Exciting though, isn't he ? As they say in horse racing "He could be anything".

If he was here for easy money, St Virgil has given him the perfect excuse to sit out a few games. He's clearly having none of that. I look forward to him returning the compliment at Anfield.

Really liking the cut of this fella's jib.

Will, same here, mate, my fear is that 70 will arrive even quicker!

I think Iwobi will eventually play in Gray's place and have licence to drift a little to centre behind the striker.

Our next signing should absolutely be a Pedro, Gapko type who can play anywhere across the forward line giving us further options and a chance to let go of Rondon and perhaps Townsend.

5 mins after coming on in his first game he got caught in possession & gave away a goal to Villa. 5 mins after that he as good as scored himself to make up for his mistake.

Shows great character for a 21-year-old. He'll never hide in games, that's for sure.

Oh yeah, this is about Onana. He and Coady add a real, very real, physical quality to the side. That warrior look doesn't come cheap and he wears it well. Durability will be the most valuable characteristic but his quality will show as he learns to use his body to fend off challenges.

As someone said on the Live Forum, "Onana for Everyone!"

Oh and Many Happy returns to Minik, Danny, Nev and my brother in Scotland!

Son Heung-min's tackle on Gomes deprived us of a very good player. Instead of prison, he walked free, it cost us £40M.

Onana could get a target on his back, but I think he is well equipped to defend himself.

Congratzioni to all the TWrs with their birthdays these next few days, and all make the best of your day and have a ball.

West Ham will be a tough nut to crack, but can be beaten, as long as Everton can convert the chances they make.

Focus on Everton and build on the derby performance.

Diamonds on the soles of his shoes

Some may argue he goes down too easy looking for the foul.
But me, he is starting to be targeted and if he played for any of the obvious suspects, their managers would be claiming he isn't being protected by the officials.

I hope I'm wrong, but it won't surprise me if Gordon gets injured eventually as a result of the treatment he's getting. I know injuries happen and it's an occupational hazard of football but, as I say, he seems to be getting singled out for attention.

A compliment to his ability, but a concern from Everton's perspective.

Martin #19. Monte Python - Always look on the bright side of life! Listen to it.

He did the same to Rodriguez as well. Too easily for our players to become a target and not get the protection from referees.

Mind you, I think Onana is a daunting young man and I think Van Dijk will steer clear of him in the next game, snidey get!

Looks like he's getting more up to speed with the Premier League every week and now, with Gueye sitting behind/next to him, I think it'll give him much more freedom to play, seems to have a great attitude too.

Only downside I see is him being at Madrid in a couple of years as Modric's long-term replacement under Uncle Carlo.

And thanks for the early congratulations, Danny, it's yours today, I hope you get one of your best presents on Sunday!

But we now have Tarkowski and Coady to deal with any attempted nastiness as well. Real steel at Everton at long last not seen since the cup winning Dogs of War in the 1990s.

He will only get better as he adjusts to the speed of the Premier League and getting more used to the players around him. We finally seem to have something to look forward to other than dodging the relegation bullet.

ps: To Will and Co:- I long ago adopted the Donald Trump strategy in terms of birthdays. I stopped the count.

That nice guy St Virgil, adored by the adoring media, is sly and deceitful. He's put in more than a few shocking tackles in his time. There is aggression and then there is just dirty. Until Pickford clumsily took him out, he was trying his best to injure Rodriguez rather than tackle him.

The leg breaker on Onana, the ankle cruncher on the Napoli player. I guess he follows in the footsteps of Gerrard. That two-footer on Naismith that required respective action rather than the referee actually dealing with the blatant assault on the day if I recall?

It's my Birthday and I'm supposed to be on the calming pills.

The only things that calm me in life are the dogs at 6 am every morning and Everton.

Although I do think a business model of buy reasonable and sell high should be adopted on certain investments after the financial mess we've let happen over the past 5 years... but that's a whole different conversation for another time.

Let's hope in 2 years we'll be in Europe under Super Frank with Onana captain and Gueye still pulling the strings at 45.

I like the optimism, Minik. 👍🏻 Don't know if Vini Jr would get in the squad over Maupay though tbh.

A bit on the lines of our mid-'80s team and I think we're only a few pieces short. I'm not saying title challengers or even regular Top 6. yet.

But Onana is a massive (in all senses!) addition to our midfield, as is Gana. And I hope Allan can contribute as well as it's a long season.

To get Onana, at such a young age, is brilliant recruiting from Frank and Kevin. In fact, they've massively improved our team without spending a fortune. I think we'll give any team a hard game now. I'm made up as well that young Davies showed a massive improvement in the Derby.

All in all, a good team, and the emphasis is on team, and I'm chuffed to bits that Onana's in it!

We're going next summer.

I feel he understands the physical aspects of this league and knows it's going to be hard on his body. I mean look at some of the challenges or assaults he's already had to cope with in his first couple of outings.

Some of the midfielders we've had in recent years would've been stretchered off, not to be seen in blue shirt for months. This lad gets up, grits his teeth, and continues to play like a man beyond his years.

I'm excited to see just how good he could be. Like a few of the players in this team now.

Let's get that win Sunday with hopefully Onana and Tarkowski on the score sheet as they are my 2 bets every week now!

COYB

That'll be awesome and a decent payback... lol!

I can understand the dogs being a calming influence at 06:00 when you are in control but how you can say that Everton is a calming influence defies belief.

A fan since 1966, those early years were typical of a top club – winning a league now and then. Then came the '80s and we were in heaven. However, for me, since Cup Final win in '95 it has been a roller-coaster ride. Nothing calming in that.

Hopefully we will get another Adrian Heath moment next Sunday.

Coady and Tarkowski staying strong in a backline 4 instead of 5 at the back.

Just need to make sure we stiffle Declan Rice out of the game, stop him and it is half the battle won.