Green shoots of recovery in the transfer business

Keeping Branthwaite would be a massive bonus, which is (fingers crossed) starting to look possible.

Giving Coleman and Young a contract, suggests to me that Dyche doesn't rate Patterson, so possibly a position we'll look at.

I wonder at what stage (if ever) will Masters and Co at the Premier League realise the sheer stupidity of their actions?

In the meantime, Ratcliffe, the new industrial guru at Man Utd is advocating the 'Top 6' be allowed even more control, and a bigger share of the revenue, at the expense of the 14 mere minnows who happen to make up the rest of the Premier League clubs. Absolutely shameful.

In some ways, it's a little sad that – 7 years on from Moshiri taking control of our club – we are only now acting sensibly when it comes to recruiting players, and looking at sustainable growth and progress, rather than the Hollywood style signings of the last 5 years, which caused us long term damage, and almost seen us relegated.

I'm more optimistic now, albeit cautiously, than I have been for a number of years.

With the advent of new owners on the horizon, and what seems at last, an organisation who know how to run and manage a football club in a professional manner, the sky seems less grey, and more bright blue.

I think many of us feared Branthwaite would be first out the door but hopefully the shrewd sales of Godfrey and Dobbin prevent that. I am concerned about replacing Calvert-Lewin if he goes. I don't think our other three strikers are up to snuff.

I'm also hoping Ndiaye's goal involvement stats at Sheffield Utd are more indicative of his talent than his year at Marseille.

But when you consider the absolute chaos behind the scenes: point deductions, 777 charlatans and all their drama, Moshiri's incompetence etc, Thelwell and Dyche have acted remarkably quickly and decisively in this window.

I'm used to nothing happening until deadline day. So credit to those two for tuning out the noise and things they can't control and getting on with the hard work as quickly as they can. Hopefully they got it right.

Surely McNeil must be added to that list – I've never seen a professional footballer so one-footed. He seems to go round in circles while trying to keep the ball on his left foot.

It looks like Onana's value has crystalised by performances in the Euros. So when he is sold on it means Thelwell has the buy-potential/sell-high factory now in full flow. He's now cranking up the machine.

I'm expecting one more season of endurance. If Dyche evolves the team to have some touches of flair with the steel, it will be fantastic. The hint of some flair coming in on top of the very good platform of steel in every performance, is a good sign.

Especially when you consider in a season's time, the Everton stadium has a bigger capacity than that of the main French destination club Paris Saint-Germain; so the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock needs to have some flair and entertainment to match its grandeur as a venue for football.

Looking much more positive!

Gotta get rid of Keane and Holgate even for very modest fees, these 2 alone will cost us 7.5m in wages this year and that's frankly unsustainable for players not in the first team.

Likewise Maupay, gotta get rid, would be nice to get £10M for him but can see us having to take a haircut on him.

Calvert-Lewin is on a decent wedge as well so if he does go for a half-decent fee we should be able to replace him with someone on a more modest wage around the £50-60k per week mark.

The Pickford, Tarkowski, Branthwaite triumvirate is so important to us right now, that we must keep hold of all three.

As for the full-backs, we really need to sell Patterson or loan him out, if Dyche doesn't fancy him. I've advocated Coufal on a free from West Ham Utd. Although 31, he's as fit as a butcher's dog and just as tenacious. Compared to Coleman and Young, he's a kid! Plenty of experience and would improve us in that position.

We need another left-back, preferably one who can also play centre-back, to make up for the loss of Godfrey. Having to play Young there for more than a couple of games next season would be a mistake in my humble opinion.

Considering that last season we were on the brink of relegation and our very future as a club was in peril, within the space of a few weeks, we have miraculously not only been trading players, but looking like, at long last, we have strategy for next season.

I have said in previous posts, keep the bulk of our present squad, tweak it a little, keeping our better players, and next season we can build upon a solid foundation to show even more progress.

Ndiaye hasn't signed yet but, if he does, hopefully will be an upgrade on Danjuma.

We survived last season as the three promoted teams were terrible. I expect us to still be struggling near the bottom again next season unless we add more goals into the team.

Calvert-Lewin, if he is still here, McNeil and Doucoure may get to 7 or 8 goals to fight it out for top goal scorer next season.

We need a right-back, right-midfielder and striker. We shouldn't have extended Young's contract. He made some terrible mistakes last season and won't be getting any better.

Thelwell has a tough job on his hands; if he keeps Calvert-Lewin and Branthwaite this summer, he will have done as well as expected.

Dyche kept the ship afloat when sinking was a distinct possibility.

Thelwell has kept the portholes closed and the seams sealed tightly to prevent further leaks while slowly reshaping the crew.

And a new captain waits on the dock with big, bright new sails.

The good ship Everton is slowly being equipped to maintain stability and hopefully catch the wind again.

I think Thelwell and Dyche have worked wonders keeping this shit-show shipshape and Bristol fashion.

Onwards.

But, as the clock is ticking towards midnight tonight (30 June), I do feel more confident that if he does go later in the transfer window, then at least we'll get a better price for him as we're not being forced to sell for the 2023-24 accounts deadline.

With regard to team age, last season's average was the oldest since the 16-17 season and the most over 30 players (3.8 per match) since 2013-14. Mind you - Pickford is now 30, Tarkowski and Doucouré 31, Gana soon to be 35, while Coleman will be 36 in October and Young 39 next wee,k so not so surprising. Like to drop any of the first 4??

It would appear that the lost decades under the mismanagement of Kenwright and Moshiri are coming to an end. New ownership with a clear mind and a cold heart might just be able to steer this sinking ship to a safe harbour.

Thelwell is finally doing what his predecessors so miserably failed to do, albeit thanks to Farhad's and Bill's meddling, and that is streamline the squad, cut the wage bill, and change the mentality of the players.

It's far too early to tell but maybe, just maybe, this club is finally waking up and starting to smell the coffee. As long, as others have said, we keep the core of the team, ie, Pickford, Tarkowski, Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin. The rest are trimmings and gravy.

Hopefully a new era for Everton is starting.

UTFTs!

But the initial remit of respectability pre BMD should be relatively straightforward if the new guys can stump up a few bob for some robust steady eddies. If Dyche cuts adrift the non contributors like Dele Ali we should plod along in mid table quite safely.

Just don't expect fans to accept 10yrs of it as per Moyes, that ship has long sailed.

However, we're still rated as having the 16th best squad in the Premier League (Transfermarkt valuations) - ahead only of Fulham and the three promoted clubs - and materially adrift of even the likes of Palace and Brentford.

With some big departures still very likely, it's hard to know what sort of shape we'll be in when the window closes.

The likeliest departure is Onana, and honestly, we can live without him, great player though he is (and I do believe that, even if others don't), with the fee we're likely to recoup, and some careful dealing, we stand to come out of the window stronger (at least in centre mid) than we entered it.

But as good as some of the components of the squad are though, our current right flank (RB + Harrison) is definitely one of the three worst in the division from an attacking point of view (possibly the weakest if Ipswich re-sign Hutchison on loan) and we have no pace in attacking wide positions at all. We should address that but other clubs are all trying to address their weaknesses too - so when the dust settles it's still likely that we'll have what is very much a bottom half quality squad.

What we're doing this summer is sowing the seeds for the green shoots to come. In fact our most important signings could be Loney and Graham for the u18s.

But as good as some of the components of the squad are though, our current right flank (RB + Harrison) is definitely one of the three worst in the division from an attacking point of view (possibly the weakest if Ipswich re-sign Hutchison on loan) and we have no pace in attacking wide positions at all. We should address that but other clubs are all trying to address their weaknesses too - so when the dust settles it's still likely that we'll have what is very much a bottom half quality squad.

What we're doing this summer is sowing the seeds for the green shoots to come. In fact our most important signings could be Loney and Graham for the u18s.

But as good as some of the components of the squad are, our current right flank (RB + Harrison) is definitely one of the three worst in the division from an attacking point of view (possibly the weakest if Ipswich re-sign Hutchison on loan) and we have no pace in attacking wide positions at all. We should address that but other clubs are all trying to address their weaknesses too - so when the dust settles it's still likely that we'll have what is very much a bottom half quality squad.

What we're doing this summer is sowing the seeds for the green shoots to come. In fact our most important signings could be Loney and Graham for the u18s.

Very best wishes George if you are reading this thread.

There may be a mutual respect developing between the DoF and manager that is underrated. Dyche can get an unbalanced, light and old squad out of relegation trouble. This gives Thelwell the time to take advantage of what each window offers best for our needs and range. In return, Dyche can get players moved out by a rather solid deadwood specialist like Thelwell.

There may be a mutual respect developing between the DoF and manager that is underrated. Dyche can get an unbalanced, light and old squad out of relegation trouble. This gives Thelwell the time to take advantage of what each window offers best for our needs and range. In return, Dyche can get players moved out by a rather solid deadwood specialist like Thelwell.

Survival this year will do, even if the football is ugly. 2025/6 should then see a change of equation on revenues, PSR and costs, unless Friedkin loads us up with too much high yielding debt. In which case, it will be rinse and repeat

Or missing a plethora of chances our flying wingers create for him?

I'm genuinely intrigued.

Iwobi and Maupay have certainly not set the world on fire since they left! I agree about D C-L reverting to his habit of playing wide but Dyche's tactic appears to be for him to go wide to receive long punts from Pickford.

We really need a right back and a forward with a bit of pace and who knows where the goal is.

It's where he plays best, he'd have a superb target man in front of him, and he's a horrible little shit (which we do need, by the way, we're still far too nice to play against).

Your goodness wafted across The Cosmic Universe and helped me on my path to (hopeful) recovery. More soon when I am stronger. Thank you dearest friends - It Is A Bluetiful World.

Calvert-Lewin's main bad habit is drifting right and left looking for the ball like some schoolboy forward in a pick-up game.

His role is in the centre. Carlo insisted he stay there and he had his best season. Admittedly Carlo also got him better service.

It's understandable that he does what he does when Dyche plays the defensive tactics that is his signature but unless he becomes more single minded, he will never be the striker he can be.

Very best wishes George.

Beyond that, I'll wait and see what is going to be done about Dyche; contract extended or cut loose by the new owner. One of those 2 things will happen.

We NEED stability. Nobody else could have gotten from this squad what he has.

I agree and I am or was a big Dyche critic. But we have to swallow the medicine for now.

We must just reach the heady heights of a midtable finish, balance the finances and get into BMD.

The Hollywood stuff can follow after.

Off topic but I always wondered if you're related to the late great ToffeeWeb contributor Dick Fearon RIP. Sadly missed.

George

Welcome back mate. We need more sensible posters on here like yourself. We are down to Colin Glassar, Dave Abraham's and Robert Tressell so your return is welcome and overdue. No offence everyone else but I include myself in the non sensible group too.

But I would like to echo the sentiments towards your improved health.

Hopefully, soon you will be strong enough to make it to your favourite haunts.

And get back on here to separate the cats and dogs and put sense into emotional idiots like me!!

Keep going mate.

Do you want to continue paying him £110K a week for the unlikely possibility he may play 4-8 games for us next season?

He's had 1 (massively overrated) good half for us against Palace….and that's it!

He's not the Dele of 8 years ago: he's a washed up footballer with (understandable) demons that will never play 30 games + again at the top level. Let's not pay top wage for sub standard output

Its hard to know what Friedkin will do, he would be a very foolish man to get rid of Dyche, I'd extend his contract.
Stating the obvious, the last thing he will want is relegation so its very chancy to sell any or all of Branthewaite, CL or Onana. I'm not as bothered about Onana but I'd keep if possible.

Moshiri found to his cost thats its not easy to buy top class players, he spent fortunes on good ones that wern't quite good enough.

Hi Christine [31] I'm doing quite well for a mid 80's 'old man', the reason for my recent absence is that that I know a little about football and Everton in particular, and absolutely nothing about business.

I'm sure that your Uncle Tommy would be on my side concerning my disinterest in off the field activities, I attend games with an open mind, because 'anything can happen in a game of football' and although I sometimes feel disappointed I don't pick on individual players who may have been below form, it's my opinion that we win or lose as a team.

I trust that you are in good health and that you understand my 'take on life'.

I know Maupay already has a deal but Brentford were paying his wages up to the end of June, so now Everton are paying his wages.
Dont know why you include Michael Keane as he hasnt been on loan so he has always been getting paid by Everton.

We still have several players who have limited or no chance of staying, Holgate, Keane, Maupay all look unlikely to cement a deal.

Clear now Brian?

Onana looks the obvious player to exit between now and the start of the new season. Move him on and I would hope that would be it as regards the younger talented players leaving the club.

Keane and Holgate have one year to go. Keep Keane as cover in the middle of our back four and either loan or payoff Holgate.

Come this time next year, we will be moving into our new stadium as a Premier League club with a huge amount of work done as regards the trimming of the squad and bringing our wage bill into line.

One more year of relative pain and then we should be competitive in the transfer market once again.

Given what we have come through in the 2023/24 season, the 2024/25 one should be a lot less painless.

But if we sell Maupay, Keane and Holgate along with Onana, we're officially out of deadwood but also out of players.

Clearing out the deadwood? It is just a stage we are going through.
🤦‍♂️

I have just received an email from one of our sponsors, Christopher Ward, advertising their latest watch. It's called
The Red One!
Oh the irony 😁