Speculation over Dele Alli future as Besiktas loan stalls

The Echo are suggesting that Everton will offer him as a free transfer in the summer. I would ask a couple of questions to that idea:

Firstly what happens to our deal with Spurs, are we allowed to cancel that agreement if we can off-load Alli.

Also, who in the right mind would take Alli on a free given that he is on 𧴜,000+ a week?

Dele must be one lazy, uninterested or incapable flop in training. What a waste. The guy seems to have problems for which he can't be blamed.

Thing is, it's not the clubs' fault and he shouldn't be taking sizeable sums of money this way on a promise of which he can't deliver. He should be stepping out and getting sorted, if he wants to be sorted. Doubt his agent would suggest that.

I wonder at what point could the club potentially claim he is unfit for purpose as a player?

I don't know if we can cancel; If not, we're stuck paying him to not play 'til the deal ends (another year), less what we could offset with another loan deal out: unlikely.

Another expensive mess.

Point being, is he better than what we have creatively (Iwobi)? Could he contribute without triggering the Spurs pay-out clause? I think he had another 10 appearances before that would be triggered?

What have we got to lose? An ex-England international playing for his survival in English football? Could Dyche get something out of him? I would rather have him as the option on the bench than... er... er...

When the book is written about the decline and fall of Everton, the Dele deal will get its own chapter.

Absolute kudos to Daniel Levy for rinsing us. It's not his fault that we are run by the kind of morons who would buy London Bridge off a stranger in a pub.

My understanding is that he's their player until that loan ends, which unless we recall him, is the end of the current season. Is that correct?

The point was that Levy was more interested in getting Alli's wages off the Spurs pay list and saving Spurs cash rather than wasting it, while Kenwright was adding to Everton's wage bill without thinking the deal through or the consequences of it. Dele Alli hasn't been the same player he once was for about 2
years.

I'm almost sure we are stuck with Dele Alli for another season after this one, ٣M or ٤M for the privilege and little hope of getting anything back in return.

Send him on a pilgrimage to Lourdes – just might get a miraculous turn in his nature and form. I'll go with him if Everton pay for the two of us!!

We simply cannot afford triggering the transfer fee clause. It is bad enough having to pay his wages. In any event, Dyche has enough on his hands without having to rehabilitate a lost talent.

Jose was telling his training team how lazy he was, indeed, he was asking if it was Dele's brother!

Total incompetence from all concerned at EFC.

There are many things that we can castigate Kenwright for, but this is solely down to Lampard and his Uncle Harry. They were the ones who were the movers in this deal.

Yes, after Lampard identified Alli as his main target, then Kenwright being the Chairman would have completed the deal.

Mourhino knew Alli was finished, as did Conte, as does the manager at Besiktas. Only the idiot Lampard thought he could get a tune out of him and that has failed spectacularly for Everton.

I think you're right that Alli still has 12 months left on his contract come the summer, so we either keep him and carry on paying his 𧴜,000 per week or try and offload him for nothing plus make a payment to the buying club towards his salary.

But who would be mad enough to take on someone who has no interest in getting back to the player he was? He is probably set up for life financially so he can see out the last 12 months of his contract and retire.

Bring that dude into the locker room just as we're turning it around, yeah.

I beg to differ that Harry Redknapp was the prime mover of this deal. He has said though, to be honest, that he suggested to Frank that Alli might be a solution if he could get him motivated.

Kenwright was praised on here for the great deal he had negotiated with Levy to bring Alli to Everton. I won't mention who praised Kenwright over this deal. He was praised by the Glasgow Rangers Chairman about the way he negotiated the deal for Patterson. If he did, I think he did a great job as well as getting 㿨M for Richarlison and possibly he did the deal for Gordon.

As for Kenwright signing deals off, he has been spoken of for refusing to sign off some deals, so can't take the praise but not the criticism for other deals.

It was common knowledge that Alli's best days were long gone by those in the game and certainly by the majority of Spurs fans, who had idolised him previously. How come the man who is supposed to know these things, didn't?

We're not talking about just anyone. He was brilliant. And he was nasty with it. I wouldn't have said he lacked bottle. It's only a few years ago that he was playing for England in a World Cup semi-final.

It can't just be form. There's got to be more going on with this lad.

We have had and still do have players like him at Everton. It is a difficult phenomenon to explain, but it seems to arise when someone 'authoritative' asserts that someone is good then it is accepted as such, despite all evidence to the contrary.

There is probably a name for it, but if not, might I suggest it be called 'The Undertones' syndrome?

When he comes back and, if no one wants him, send him on loan to Southport FC.

Because it wasn't Stan Kroenke, nor Shiekh Mansour. Certainly wasn't John Henry. Highly doubt it was Joel Glazer and it can't have been Abramovic.

He will be interesting to see in the Summer, when he comes back to us with only one more year's free money due him.

You never know. Even our years-long, laziest of pay-check collectors, Luke Garbutt, buckled down, tried hard and played to his potential when he realized his annual scratch ticket winner was about to run out.

I wouldn't bet on it, though. Alli is 27 next month. All he was ever going to be happened several years ago.

I'd add in some little defense of Dele: his manager in Turkey is a fucking dick and pretend tough guy. This is the second time he put Dele down to the press.

It's not like Alli is walking around the pitch checking his cell phone. He's still, and clearly, the most talented attacking player at Besiktas.

Dyche will certainly not want any slackers during this crucial run-in period and spoil the atmosphere in the dressing room.

Sadly, Dele Alli's career is over as a professional footballer – honestly, I do not want his career to end this way, because what he had as a footballer was fantastic; to see it all shrivel away is very sad to see. Hope he recovers from whatever he is afflicted with and has a good life ahead.

I thought he was contracted for another season after this, so he won't be a free agent. He will be allowed to leave for free but will likely want a payoff to go.

If another club wanted him and they would only be prepared to pay 㿊k pw, he could decide to sit his contract out at Everton and earn the full 𧴜k. He'd likely want agreed compensation for the disparity.

I agree with the posters above: Levy has taken Kenwright to the cleaners. Very poor decision from Frank and his Uncle 'Arry too.

Reminds me of the old story, talking of Lourdes. This lady, a very devout and religious person, was very badly disabled and confined to a wheelchair, but she never gave up and tried almost everything but to no avail. It was then suggested that she and a companion should go to Lourdes.

The day of the visit, they couldn't figure out the best way to get her into the water. So it was decided that four ropes would be attached to the wheelchair, two at the front and two at the back. They said a few prayers before, then put the plan into motion.

When she appeared on the other side, she was still severely disabled but the wheelchair had a respray and two new tyres! Miraculous.

You may blame Lampard but it was Kenwright yet again who was fooled by Levy, the same as the Patterson deal – 㾼M for a player who had hardly kicked a ball for Rangers.

If he were to come back, in 3 or 4 games we would be liable to pay Spurs the first instalment of, I think 㾶M. Given our current finances and what he has shown in his time with us and Besiktas on the pitch, I can't see any justification or financial reason why he should play for us again.

Come the summer, I would either pack him off to another club or, in the worst case, offer him a deal, eg, ٠.5M of his remaining salary, and rip up his contract.

I witnessed a miracle myself one day along with quite a few other people, this fella went into a church not far from town, he went into the church with his wooden leg and came out with a bundle of firewood.

I won't name the church or there will be hundreds of people flocking to it for a cure!!

I used to love watching the Clones Cyclone but, once he beat Eusebio Pedroza at Loftus-Cheek Rd, then I don't think he ever had the same drive after this.

Tony,

from what I found, Besiktas paid a ٠.2M sum for the loan, plus 8 grand-odd of his weekly 𧴜k wage. Another source said they were paying 㿏k per week, so somewhere in there.

It's about halved what it would have cost us if he'd stayed here in the loan period. Still another ٣M to go for next season...

Spurs had a fullback, Ekotto or something – had a fro, who outright told the press he really didn't like the game – it was a job. Andre Agassi was another athlete of that sort.

Then, from June, we are on the hook for another ٣M for the final year's wages, unless we can move him on.

Whoever takes him would surely not pay more than 㿞k pw even on a free transfer. So we would have to pay him off… yes, you guessed it: ٠.5M, or more for his final year.

All-in-all this ridiculously ill-judged episode sounds like it will cost us ٥.5M at best, possibly more.

I bet Levy didn't at all mind paying for that Michelin-starred meal he had with Kenwright last year.

They should fuck agents off for a start, put them (players) all on a basic wage plus a win bonus – you would start to see the hunger come back and the wanting to win.

You get teenagers picking up a damn sight more than a time-served qualified married man with a family, doing about 50 hours a week just to survive.

Kieran @45, go on, mate, give us a clue? No names, no pack drill, but point us in the right direction. :-)

Yet another bizarre signing joining our embarrassingly long line of has-beens and never-weres. We sure know how to pick ‘em.

I guess the only thing I will remember him for was that second half against Palace. His shot that came off the defender and fell to Richarlison and sent us into delirium and almost lifted the roofs of the four stands and even had many of the Palace fans smiling.

I have to admit to not really taking too much notice of player contracts. Are we stuck with him? Can we terminate? But then I guess there would be a payoff?

At 26, I can see him following the path of the likes of Jamie Redknapp, Michael Owen, and retiring early.

Only I don't think he has their confidence to make a career in television and not sure of his jockey credentials.

We got an amazing 45 minutes from him at home to Palace. Without that, we would have 36 points... and still not been relegated.

But just think. If that 45 minutes kept us up... that was worth a lot more than ٥.5M.

Seems like another Norman Whiteside. Done it all before 25 – why bother? Never have to think about where money is coming from ever again – unless he drinks it, smokes it or gambles it away.

Wonder what odd you could get a stake for him being bankrupt before he is 50?

That's a bit unfair on big Norman...

He was knackered physically; I couldn't think of two more different players.

Brilliant comment, LOL

He thought Sheedy was lazy, I idolised him.

I couldn't look beyond my childish resentment of that FA Cup Final goal that stopped us doing the treble, so never really accepted him as an Everton player. Not his fault, I know, but a young Danny was a bit less rational than older Danny is… although I don't think the wife and family see it that way.

Apparently I'm still 7 years old at the grand old age of 51 when it comes to all things Everton.

Dele Alli was a top player.

Lots of players peak early, some are able to sustain their careers on a lower performance level but it's clear that Dele can't. The most important factor in the success of Alli's career was Christian Eriksen: when he left Spurs is when the rot set in.

The great dilemma here is that the tactics that Dyche is using now are ideal for a young Dele Alli – he'd get 10-15 goals in this set-up easily.

Problem is, his performance levels have dropped and if he isn't training at the right level, then there's no point flogging a dead horse. I've seen footage from Turkey and, regardless of the tactics, he just looks out of sorts.

For me, it's really sad. Nobody apart from Dele knows the real reasons, it's easy to judge. But if he was anywhere near the player he should have been, he wouldn't be anywhere near Everton.

He was a top-class Premier League player. Just a shame his head isn't in the game anymore.

A good sports psychologist might be able to turn him around. The Mourihno clip of him trying to get him to understand his ability should have been enough to switch him back on.

Give it a few years and he will be writing a book about his missed opportunity.

We have wasted a lot more money over the years on a lot worse players. Tosun and Walcott spring to mind; no doubt there will be countless others… Maupay!

The Whiteside analogy is well off the mark. He had a tremendous appetite for the game – just a shame he picked up so many injuries.

However, Alli looks finished. Enner Valencia's goalscoring in Turkey says a lot about the standard and bits of footage of Alli suggest he's well off the pace even there. Looks completely unfit and his touch has deserted him, probably as a consequence.

With Dyche at the helm and money tight, I can't see us wasting our time on faded, downward-trajectory types anymore. Which is a very good thing.

Alli could live out three lives in comfort on what he's made from the game.

Whiteside's career was ended by injury... he then had to forge a new career to put beer on the table — did he become a podiatrist (?) and then a sports physio?

For what it's worth, I thought it was worth a gamble given the structure of the deal and his previous form.

If he'd just been a 6-10 goal a season midfielder then that would be a massive increase on what we've had lately.

I don't agree with those saying he was never that good. He was that good. He seemingly had a real killer instinct / nasty streak to go with it. I remember people talking about wishing Barkley had the cockiness that Alli had. Ironically they both fizzled out at a similar rate.

I would never do business with the Sky 6, and least of all a ruthless twat like Levy. But Kenwright never learned cos he always thought he was being smart and keeping his mates happy at the same time.

It highlighted from the off that Lampard wasn't cut out for this level of football.

I am sure these two have history together in the days of Green and Earl and like.

A couple of besties – what's the betting Pickford gets sold to Spurs with Richarlison coming the other way?

"Have I got a deal for you, my son..."

Not sure what though…

He obviously fluked his way to a World Cup semifinal and a Champions League Final.

Nobody's arguing he wasn't a fantastic footballer... just why he no longer is?

I've thought for a while that Pickford to Spurs with Richarlison coming back the other way is this summer's transfer saga.

I suspect they it will be a permanent move for Pickford and a loan for Richarlison with an option or commitment to buy for an undisclosed fee.

One thing is for sure: we know who out of Levy or Kenwright will strike the better deal for their club in any negotiation.

I never quite understood the comparisons to Bryan Robson but nonetheless...

Then the rise of Son at Spurs seemed to squeeze him out of his best position and meanwhile for England he was distinctly average. He just hadn't developed into a ball carrying forward driving into the area on his own.

When we got him, I had been advocating it for ages and was delighted although a little surprised as (it now becomes clear) it seemed surreal someone once linked with Real Madrid was coming to us in a relegation battle. I should have known...

I'd hoped Frank would get more out of him but he's been absent for the most part and he needs to severely change his mindset if he wants to feature under Dyche.

Such a shame but is another English player who the media and pundits overhyped.

He's just another in a long line going back to Henry Newton – and probably beyond – we bought either 5 years too late, after a good loan, playing for the contract, or on the strength of a good performance against us.

I seem to recall Sandy Brown deputising for him in 1969-70.

Heads he'd rediscover his love for the game and we'd have a mainstay midfielder. Tails he was mentally finished and we'd strike out.

It came up tails. He's Bjorn Borg, not Roger Federer. So be it.

But I still say it was an excellent move.

I'm struggling to think of any examples of anyone rediscovering their love for the game once lost.

Other clubs have done much better about gambling on players on upward trajectories, rather than players who are on the slide.

That was one of the best nights at Goodison, if not the best, since beating Bayern Munich in 1985.

UTFTs!

Dele Alli did more for the club in 1 game vs Palace than 㾻M Neil Maupay has ever done for the club. It was a gamble worth taking for minimal financial outlay. It didn't work out, but I'd rather a free transfer not work out than a 㾻M player.

Michael Jordan.

George Foreman.

And among footballers, Zico and Scholes to name two.

It's rare, but it does happen.

Just how many basket case players has Kenwright sanctioned in his time? Kroldrup, Nyarko and Shandy Andy being just three of a list of dozens.

Put another way, just how many players has he sold for good money who DIDN'T go on to significant achievement, to mirror Dele Alli instead? Hardly any.

We mostly all now know that his self-proclaimed absurd bombast as a football genius has found its true home in the bottom of a derelict canal. The wider football world realised that decades ago and played us accordingly, to their gain and our further cost.

Shame it took thirty barren years for the penny to drop for way too many of us.

I think Dyche would have a go but he's got way too much on his mind ATM. Maybe if he got him in August.

He might be worth 45 minutes against weak opposition if fit and in the right frame of mind.But then that might trigger the full 㿔M transfer.

Up front we have Simms or Maupay. Which really, means we have nothing. Someone you have to mark but really you don't have to worry about too much.

Too hard basket for me. I was calling for a youth player or a repurposed centre back last week. So how is this more preposterous than that?

Kevin #80, just imagine Maupay's brain transplanted into Dele. What a player he'd be. (Of course, we couldn't afford him.)

Hope he can make sense of it all one day and get back to a reasonable level that he is comfortable playing at.

On paper, it was a good deal for us. Worth a go.

It's all fuel to the theory that Catterick never made a decent signing after Kendall in March 1967 – Ernie coming in September and Tommy Jackson being the exception that proves the rule.

1) We find another loan for him and at least avoid part of the last year of wages

2) We negotiate a settlement of his wages.

3) He floats through a year of watching us from the stand whilst pocketing ٣M more from us.

With a 㾶M payment hanging over our heads after a few more games for us, there are no other options.

they were not impressionable youngsters – they were already good professional footballers who, as I said, chose their lifestyles when they got here.

We can't always blame the club for buying bad players. The players themselves are to blame. If they were not good players, they would not have played in professional leagues.

He played 12 league games and 1 cup game.

Although 'covered' in this case covered a multitude of sins.

Round about late October / early November, the mid week programme 'Sports Night with Coleman' did an in depth piece on Everton the rampant League Leaders, part of this was a extremely, nay unique, interview with the ever reticent Harry Catterick...it was not in his nature, he left all that malarky to Shankly, who was a natural.

Anyway Coleman got Harry talking, he show a clip and then say - talk us through this, explain it to viewers at home etc. He couldn't come up with an instant quote on almost anything like Shankly - but he certainly could talk about what he knew - football and Everton and thus gave them chapter and verse, the good and the bad...

I don't know if they used the old trick of...keeping the tape running and saying...now we're off camera Mr Catterick...anyway, key point here - He inadvertently ended up severely 'Damning Sandy with faint Praise'

This lead to him being targeted, struggling, with the 'icing on the lack of confidence cake' being their famous O.G.

The very next game Tommy Wright took a knock and was subbed off (Darcy being the replacement, it was only minor and Tommy was back next week)

Newton was quickly signed and the struggling Sandy was pulled out of the firing line.

He came back 13 games later when Newton took a knock and stayed in for the last 7 of the run in.

That's not what gambling is.

We couldn't afford anyone and took a punt on a mid-twenties, free transfer who, if he could recover anywhere near his previous form, would be worth tens of millions.

That's a worthwhile gamble. And sorry but I don't buy that you didn't think he was ever any good. You either didn't watch him, or you're on the wind-up. His talent and performance level were obvious to anyone who watched him play.

Probably best to leave it there.

Dyche didn't seem too interested in him in the press conference.

Dyche: "Dele, we are monitoring fitness levels so start by running to the cones on the right before the first beep, then turn and run over to the cones on the left before the next beep! And keep going to see if you can beat the record of 16."

Dele: "Fuck that!"

Horrible horrible deal for Everton. Pants well and truly pulled down by Mr Levy. But that's what you get when the club is run by half-wits and sycophants.

And IMHO, he was average anyway. One season wonder – usual media hype over some Spurs player who'll never win anything. I don't think Tony Bloom would have taken that bet.

Of the missed opportunities, Ouatarra looks near the top of the list. He's looking like a very good buy, and investment, for Bournemouth. Disappointing that our financial situation means we couldn't compete with them for this level of young talent.

You are saying the gamble on Alli was even money on being a success or failure. When you gamble, you weigh everything up – especially when the outlay is millions of pounds.

Looking at Alli's output over the preceding two or three seasons, the betting was a lot less than the even money you quote. 1/20 were more appropriate odds considering the cost up to now with another season to come – not to mention a possible signing-on fee when he first arrived.

I'd never bet on a horse at those odds, never mind on a footballer going through such a bad spell that experienced managers had tried to remedy but failed completely.

Apart from his cameo against Palace, didn't he knock the Leicester defender off the ball and set up the equaliser for Richarlison in the last few minutes, in the 1-1 draw, a vital point?

Yes, he looks a player, that Ouattara. If we stay up and Bournemouth go down, maybe we could try again... Or, he'll rattle in a hat-trick on the final day and doom us!

That Alcaraz midfielder at Southampton looks decent too.

This wasn't a player who was coming back from a bad injury or a player who had fallen out with his manager. This was a player who for 3 seasons has had little or no desire to try and turn his form around

He played under a couple of managers who knew and understand the game and had won leagues here and elsewhere, and neither could get a tune out of Alli.

He came here on a 𧴜,000 per week and an agreement to pay Spurs 㾶 million for every 20 games he played; also, if we sell him, Spurs get a percentage of the sale.

The idiot who signed him for Everton had completely ignored all the evidence that was out there, including Mourhino telling him when he was manager at Spurs that, when he gets older, he will regret how he is destroying what could have been a brilliant career.

But Lampard decided that, despite that, he could turn him around, but within weeks realised what a dreadful mistake he had made, and we were told he wasn't playing as we needed to get him match fit. But after 4 weeks at the club he still wasn't fit enough to start a game, and that continued for most of the season.

Even the clueless Lampard realized what a mistake he made and sent him on loan to Besiktas, with us still paying the lion's share of his salary. Now the Besiktas manager has told him he will play no further part in matches for them and instead he will sit in the stands and watch the games.

Does he care? I doubt it, he still has 12 months of his Everton contract to go so whether some other club take him on loan or not, he is guaranteed to earn 𧴜,000 plus a week for another 12 months.

I think we signed them just to try to show we were still a "big club" that could attract the supposedly top players. We found out through bitter experience exactly why the clubs they were with let them go. Lazy, injury-prone prima donnas.

Now, they're all gone, although Alli and Gomes could be making a comeback in the summer. But not to worry – Tom Davies is still here. He's not a lazy, injury-prone prima donna. He's just not very good.

Swap deal for Unsworth, as I remember, who we then bought back for ١M. A mate who is a West Ham fan raised an eyebrow when we took Williamson. He knew we'd been shafted.

Many of these buys were lauded by the fans when they were made. All buys are a risk and our risk management is awful.

Sigurdsson was overpriced because Swansea saw they had a fish on the hook, negotiating with Kenwright. Not Siggy's fault.

He was not overhyped or overpaid. He was a fine attacking midfielder. We could have used him last season.

But I'll stand by my assessment that getting one of the world's most talented midfielders at age 25 -- young enough to mature and refocus if he wanted to -- was a gamble well worth taking.

Whether it was a flip of the coin or 1/20 that he would get straight, the potential payoff was mind-blowing. A club in our position has to go for that longshot. Has to.

Frank #101, James and Sigurdsson didn't underperform. If we'd had either of them last season or this, we wouldn't have been stressing as much over relegation.

Say what you like about him but he was responsible for a lot of our goals that season and he was flying until Van Dijk crocked him. He was brilliant for us.

As for Gylfi, we would not be near the bottom if he was available. He was a guaranteed double figures for goals and assists and I've noticed what a cracking player he really is since he went missing.

I wish we had those two now… we definitely wouldn't be fighting relegation.

Absolutely fucking clueless bunch of amateurs and yet another enormous fuck up by the diabolical Kenwright mafia.

However, on Dele, I'm with Mike Gaynes. He was a fine player and, in my view, Frank was the arm round the shoulder sort of guy who might have revived him.

Our finances required, and still do, that we strike lucky with such a gamble. Not this time... yet, but to me it was worth ago.

Who knows, Dyche and Dele, the dream team? Not many stranger things have happened but sometimes great things come from hopelessness.

Unfortunately, your assessment at the time was well out of date. He had been a very good midfielder two or three years before that time.

When Everton signed him, he was a footballer not only hopelessly out of form, not fully fit and hadn't made the effort to try and shape up for experienced managers who were trying very hard to help him on and off the field.

Only Dele could have helped himself at that time and since but hasn't remotely even tried to.

In fact, I know he was that good, because I remember everyone on here wailing about how he was everything we wished Ross Barkley could be, LOL.

Either way, we lashed three goals in after the interval that ensured our safety for another season.

٣ Million-plus Base Salary from July 1st this year till June 30th next year

vs

㾶 Million Payment to Spurs (if he plays 7 more games) + the salary above

If Thelwell can't find a club who's willing to pay a portion of his ٣ Million-plus Salary for next season, (no matter how small that amount will be, any penny saved will be a good one!) the remaining plan for Dyche & Thelwell will likely be:

1) Evaluate him through Pre-Season & Training Camp and see whether there might be any changes in his attitude (Not likely, IMHO)

2) Test him through the 6 games (likely 5 League Games & 1 Carabao Cup Game) and see if there is anything worth salvaging (Not likely, IMHO)

3) Bid Adieu to him with a parting gift/golden handshake that is the rest of his ٣ Million-plus Salary

Out of all the head-shaking, depressing chapters of his tenure, we finally reach the Final Chapter that will at least provide us with nothing but Cost Certainty!

If anybody's interested, Gomes has a goal and two assists in 20 appearances for Lille, mostly as a starter. He must not be a complete disaster, however, because they're having a really good season in 6th.

I for one am extremely interested in the recent form of Andre Gomes for Lille. He has been getting glowing reports from his manager and fans alike. After sterling performances against the top sides in France, it seems he has regained the form which made him a first class midfielder and automatic choice for us at one point in his career.

I never completely lost faith in Gomes, although I had to concede that his displays were dreadful towards the end of his time with us.

I believe that he never fully recovered from that awful injury sustained against Spurs. Even if physically healed, there were evidently the legacy of mental scars apparent and it was obvious that he was half a yard slower, that which makes the difference between success and failure in the Premier League.

Gomes is still only 29. If he is back to anywhere near his best, that would make him far superior to our current crop of central midfielders.

I would be delighted to see him return in the summer, when his loan period expires, and rekindle the dynamic partnership with Idrissa Gueye, which blossomed to such good effect several years ago.

Dele Alli is a mystery, but an entirely different proposition to Gomes. I simply cannot see him finding the form of his youth ever again. Sadl,y his career I believe is over.

Similarly Gbamin is unlikely to ever fulfil his early promise. His injuries have taken their toll. Another who falls into that category is Townsend.

Garner is an unknown quantity. He should be given his opportunity to shine.

As for our current midfield underachievers? I would listen to any offers for Doucouré, Davies, Iwobi. Onana for me is not suited to the pace and physicality of the Premier League. He is young and may improve, but personally I'd accept any realistic offer for him.

We have players in other areas of the team that I would happily see leave, but fees secured from the midfield players alone that I've mentioned could be used to strengthen us significantly, for whatever awaits us next season.

When we signed Dele Alli, most declared it a great low-risk deal for us. A former world class player (who Frank wanted) on a free transfer: only wages to pay.

We took a chance and it didn't work out. I think we've all seen far more expensive risks taken by this administration that's worked out worse.

I'm no Bill supporter but let's not rewrite history either.

The injury has however certainly robbed him of any pace, and leaves a player unable to get away from an opponent and susceptible to be dribbled past.

The horrific tackle by Son was pure petulance and retaliation for feeling aggrieved Gomes had fouled him 30 seconds earlier.

That's cost us a 㿅m player and about the same in wages.

Gomes will not play significantly again for us because he is not suited to the physicality of the Premier League. He's a decent player in France with time on the ball and will stay there or similar, hopefully we can get a little fee for him.

Gylfi will not play for us again.

Doucouré will have his contract extended if we stay up and not if we go down.

Gueye is fine but will need replacing.

Iwobi is fine.

Onana will be fine but will be sold in next few years.

Davies is a squad player at best. And Garner is untested at this level so far.

Buying effective midfield players has long been an issue and it's probably not since Barry, McCarthy and Barkley that we've been strong in the middle.

It will be interesting to see who we target this summer and how big a priority it is for Dyche given the lack of forward options.

It is said that Iwobi has been offered a new contract but is waiting to see how the season pans out before signing. It is probably the same for anyone else whose contract is due for renewal loyalty only goes so far in football as in life.

The midfield is very interesting as it will depend on what Garner can bring to the table between now and the end of the season, and whether Chelsea or Arsenal etc make a premium offer for Onana and he wants to go for Champions League football.

I'm still disappointed we didn't get Ouatarra, he looks like he will make an impact in the Premier League. We may go back for Beto as the target man option. Dyche will want one as one of his priorities in the summer.

I haven't seen enough of him to take an educated guess on whether he would be a success. As you say everything will depend upon staying in the league.

There are areas to strengthen all over the pitch but these are the priorities.

Whether the budget will stretch to Beto (㿅M?) I'm not sure. Might be hunting for lower cost and free and loan options – which need not be too bad a thing. Especially if we keep Branthwaite who could be real star (like Onana who just needs more time to settle).

The key is, of course, staying up – which allows us to build longer term around a core of Pickford, Patterson, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Godfrey, Garner, Onana, McNeil and maybe Calvert-Lewin.

Quite right to remember that Son challenge and the impact it had. I'm in the Main Stand and clearly saw Son was pumped up and looking for trouble. Yet the media absolved him of all blame, this clearing of his good name had already started on the radio as we headed home.

Compare that with the treatment of Pickford and St Virgil.

For example if Patterson is the long-term right back, then having someone like Iwobi is suited as he can play in the overlapping right back and a bombing forward midfielder. Basically Pienaar on the right, not someone who puts in the crosses and goes past people. Is that what Dyche wants?

The forwards situation is a difficult one. Hopefully Dyche is clear by the summer exactly the type of forward he needs and who to keep - if any, and who he wants. If we are after new forwards as soon as the summer transfer window opens, that says a lot in terms of clarity for a while that Dyche knows what will be better and targets identified. The current forwards still have lots of time and the team are at least scoring in games, so it's less of a problem as well now. Still a problem but less magnified.

Pickford is 29. Young-ish for a keeper and approaching his prime, having recently signed a new contract.

Patterson aged 21.

Mykolenko aged 23.

Godfrey aged 25. Still young for a centre-back.

Onana aged 21. Still raw. Frustrates some, but young and has plenty of potential as well as desire.

McNeil aged 23. Took time to settle but growing in confidence. He is no Kevin Sheedy, no-one ever can be. Liam Brady maybe came close. But McNeil has a sweet left foot.

Calvert-Lewin. Still only 26. If we can just sort out what ever is wrong, he can still be our point man.

Blend that with the experience and leadership of Tarkowski and Coleman as well as the seemingly timeless energy of Gueye and there is a nice balance of experience and potential to that list.

But we still need strength in depth and as you mention the glaringly obvious lack of options up front.

Having a blend of experience and young players is key in my opinion.

Interestingly, when I was looking up the players' ages, I noticed that Jordan's original surname was Logan. Not my business and I guess it was a family thing.

Everton have been scalped many times with other teams' cast-offs and we have hoped they could do something positive but many have just been duds.

Alex Iwobi has been an exception and we all hope he continues to help the Blues in this struggle.

A blend of youth and experience is good. Pickford, Coleman, Gueye, Tarkowski, Coady and to some extent Calvert-Lewin and Iwobi now have that. The younger players just need games in a consistent system.

The key for me really is having players who can occupy their positions for 3 to 5 years, become the experienced core in the process, and form partnerships around the pitch.

That's how Dyche ran Burnley and I'm sure he'll do it with us.

There came a point maybe after about 2000 when his name was mentioned to local kids at open days and none of them knew who he was. Fame is fleeting even for Old Trafford Legends.

Maupay scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over West Ham earlier in the season, therefore ensuring us 3 very valuable points.

There's your argument between him and Alli blown completely out the water. Only a clown like bloated Bill could sanction a deal like that. A complete waste of space, and let's get this notion of he was brilliant against Palace in the 2nd half out of everyone's heads, he wasn't. He did okay, end of.

Anyone saying this was a gamble worth taking is talking absolute nonsense.

From SkySports:

“Delle Alli's time with Besiktas reached a new low when his manager questioned the England midfielder's commitment after he missed training on Wednesday and was reportedly not answering his phone.”

Yes one hopes that he is okay and somehow finds his purpose in life whether it be on the football pitch or off it. A real lesson for everyone that in life you can't take anything for granted.

However Alli responded:.. And hours after the initial speculation emerged, Dele took to his Instagram stories to deny the story. He wrote:

"Hey guys just had loads of messages so wanted to clear something up. The club gave me permission to attend a doctor's appointment today. I'm due back in training tomorrow as normal."

Not gone AWOL, had permission to go to Doctors in London, due back at training tomorrow. Somebody from the club should have told the coach, or is it a case of just wanting to get rid of Alli? (sarcastic bar steward, "Its raining thats why he didn't attend training"..)

I've said all I can on this, but I did pick up on your post @26 Nick. To your quote: “What would Everton do in this situation, they always get it right”

Maybe it came from Mike Bassett, England Manager?

Levy and Kenwright thought they were both being clever, but all they've done is created a player who's unplayable and unsellable at his apparently permanent home.

It's another loan or sit on his arse in our stands for him from here. Not much of a way up for him after his Turkey failure, maybe his best hope is a promoted club takes a chance next season in the Premier League.

Four managers in a row have failed to motivate him and now Dyche will get his chance in pre-season. If Deli is able to pick himself up, a long shot, I know, then we could probably renegotiate the deal with Spurs. As things stand they will not get another penny for him.

1. He must have been match fit.

2. The talent is still in there somewhere.

3. What motivated him to put that effort in?

Maybe the answer to question 3 is that he thought we were worth fighting for.

I have seen plenty of people come good in their lives so, despite the fact that he looks like a lost cause, I haven't written him off yet. He is only 26.

EDIT: Just spotted this in the Mirror. He looks very different from the lad who turned up at Goodison.