Everton set to sign free-agent Ashley Young

If he signs at least we have initial back up for Mykolenko. Not the worst stop gap I guess. We're shopping at Poundland these days.

Apparently he's 38 today.

One for the future.

This would be no marquee signing! You can and must do better than this Everton!

I would rather struggle playing attacking football with all under-26s than fucking struggle defending with old over-the-hill players.

Stop signing old pros!!

As Ernie said at post 5 they must be selling everything so I am going to put a bid in for Kenwright's sofa in case the Arteta money is down the back.

I was hoping we could get Kieran Tierney on loan. There must be left-backs available for loan as good as Mykolenko, and are better bet than a soon-to-be 38-year-old.

He played 2000 minutes last season for a team that finished above us, playing at both right- and left-back. Most Villa fans seem to think he did well.

For £50k p/w on a 1-year deal, he wouldn't be the worst back-up full-back. I actually think he could challenge Mykolenko for starting spot!

Not glamorous but we'll have to be canny this summer and I think this is a better option than you'd think at first glance. Even if it would give our full-backs a combined age of 72!

Get a grip!

Who drinks tea on a Saturday night?

I can see the logic of getting someone in like him who is still playing so well. It's without a doubt a desperate, ‘stay in the league' mindset, rather than a progressive one. In so far as choosing proven experience, rather than scouting a young promising full back full of potential.

Can't our scouts come up with a player from Europe, the Americas or even the Championship? If not, why not?

Simms and Smith are 38 between them so we replace them with one 38-year-old.

Smart business, don't you think ?

I just want to cry!!!

Sam, I agree with much of what you say. Young must still be performing at a highish level to get all those minutes last season. £50k a week though?! No way I'd offer those wages. I don't think he'll be inundated with offers at his age.

Brendan – me.

If that's true, it has to be testimony to his numbers at Villa. I guess he could do a job next season, but it's very depressing and magnifies just where we are right now as a club.

Should be decent cover short term.

Fuck off, Kenwright, and take Usmanov's bagman with you.

Our one aim this season is to stay in the Premier League — no more, no less.

There's always one!

Some come on here to post the most hilariously passive-aggressive teenager-sounding thing they can think of. Reminds me of an emo kid screaming ‘Your not my real mom…..' and storming out of the house.

We should be signing Cancelo obviously. It's so simple.

Having said that, we're desperately short of bodies, options and cash, so if he did come in, then it gives a bit of depth to the squad – but as a full-back and even potentially as an advanced wide-player as per his younger days. Not exciting, but sensible.

If we are to go forward, we need to start a new momentum. Forget taking in old players looking for a last payday and bring in 'Young" people on the way up. For Christ's sake, will we never learn, let's move forward...

I think reality at Everton is beginning to bite. The coming season is about survival starting now.

What message does it send selling two young left-footed players and hiring someone old enough to be their dad?

Another imbecilic move.

I've no issues if he signs, it's a short-term fix, but a depleted squad in terms of numbers and the reality of the mess at Everton is very real.

I hope a few more players, arrive ASAP, to allow them chance to gel.

UTFTs!

This transfer makes zero sense. If he plays a minute for us he'll be ahead of some young lad (either existing or signed) who we could be developing.

And it sends a huge signal that we are screwed if we're selling young players and signing free 38-year-olds. It says we need money and no-one under 35 wants to join us.

And for what benefit? He's not going to offer much.

For what it's worth, I quite like Ashley Young. I'm just baffled about any kind of strategy that would involve us signing him.

It might be more about keeping the descent smooth and softening the landing.

38-year-olds with limited competition and 1-year contracts scream it out.

Let's be realistic. The squad is nowhere near good enough and it was a minor miracle or fluke that we stayed up last season. What will improve this season?

We got a bounce from Lampard followed by a deflating few months. We got a bounce from Dyche. What happens next?

We're going into another season saying 'we might be alright if Calvert-Lewin is fit'. We already know he won't play every game. But, realistically, the over/under is probably at 50%.

Thought not – but there'll be one bent, dickhead voice saying that "our" Ashley is destined to add to our "good times".

Our squad last season had two keepers on the bench for some of our last games, so doesn't lead to much confidence that we have a great deal of youth options available.

Unless we have some exceptional cavalry on the horizon the signs aren't great for the new season ahead. Ideally, we would have some (one!) in by now to generate some enthusiasm.

Normally at this time of year, I like to speculate on incoming transfers and look at Skybet where we have numerous players odds on to join us. Although most never come off, it spends time in the close season.

Worryingly, we are not favourites to sign anyone right now. Our best chance is 6/1 for Harry Maguire. Let that sink in. Third favourites to sign a Man Utd reject is our best potential chance of signing a named player.

Admittedly, we may have irons in the fire to sign players unreported but it hasn't looked this bad for as long as I can remember.

Let's hope our 'new board' can square the circle and bring in players to fill out the squad so our season isn't as painful as the last two.

Dyche has a hell of a job, I can only wish him well, and wish he has the backing to at least make us competitive, which is the least you can expect after spunking £500M+ on garbage recently.

Looking for some rosary beads right now, and wondering why we employ a DoF if they don't have any exceptional talents lined up from their 'exceptional contacts'.

All say he was their “unsung” hero last season, playing over 20 games and playing well in all of them, barely ever injured and keeps himself super fit for his age.

Kind of makes me think, on a 1-year deal, he'd be a clever acquisition, could have a Barry effect on the side. Dyche loves him anyway so I'd say this is almost certainly happening.

UTFT.

Wow, what a statement of intent, what a grand old team to play for.

Young meets two critical needs. One is quality cover at left-back (he'll be better than Godfrey there if he's in a wheelchair). The other is veteran leadership. He could be Gareth Barry Mk II.

Yeah, it absolutely sucks that we can't start moving forward into the future yet. But the fact is, we can't. Period.

So we gotta do what we can. This is the art of the possible. I'm for it.

Hell Fire. Thought he'd retired. Just when you thought you'd seen it all…

We have mature leaders in Coleman, Tarkowski, Gana, etc. and don't need another. We tried it with Coady and it just causes disruption. What we need is week-in & week-out competition for Mykolenko. Surely the £4M we just got for a development player can fund a decent bet from fringes of Premier League teams, Belgium, France or other.

The way to survive is having 22 players capable of playing all season.

Why do we need a DoF for this and is it seriously the best he can do?

What we "need" and what we can afford are two different things right now. As to the £4M, you and I have no idea if the club can actually spend it. We have zero visibility into the financial situation, the lawsuit situation, and the ownership situation. It may well be that, at this particular moment, free transfers are all we can do.

I saw Young play a half-dozen times last season, and there was not one single minute when he looked "past it" to me. He looked better than our old buddy Digne.

And we wonder why we are in financial trouble.

Just to add salt to the wounds it seems we did not get £8M for Ellis Simms — it was £3.5M plus add-ons.

Get in there, Bill — you're playing a blinder.

Whilst you are right, we both know nothing about the financial situation, it's utterly bizarre you then use that fact as an argument. Bournemouth, Brighton, Burnley, Forest, etc. already net spenders. The league is awash with cash… if we have none, we need to ask why not, not settle for past-it OAP sticky plasters.

If we really have none (time will tell), go loan a young future star from Barca, Man City, Real, whoever… because if we have to give them back, who gives a fook cos with Young it's dead money too. At least that sets a bar that players can come here to take a step towards something other than a free bus pass.

On Young, he's done well for Aston Villa and Man Utd well into his 30s. I remember us signing the veteran Paul Power as back-up for the injured Van den Hauwe. Okay, 34 (I think), but that was nearly 40 years ago. Most footballers look after themselves a lot better now and their careers are prolonged.

For some, their legs go early (think Rooney). Others, they keep going and can do a job if used appropriately.

We have two young promising full-backs now backed up by two experienced full-backs. Makes sense to me.

Tarkowski, Keane (I know), Godfrey who may find his mojo again and Branthwaite hopefully coming back. Holgate may still be in the mix. If either Holgate or Keane go, I am sure the manager will bring someone in.

Long story short, given where we are, the defence seems okay, especially under this manager.

Doucoure pushing further forward worked towards the end of last season and we got a goals return out of him. Hopefully, in my opinion, Onana stays raw and young, but potential. Iwobi can do his Iwobi thing. McNeil showed the player he can be once he settled and obviously is comfortable with this manager. His confidence grew. Plenty of goals and assists there. Gray, on his day, can put defences under pressure with his pace and directness.

Calvert-Lewin, just stay fit and get your confidence back.

In my opinion, a midfielder to help Gueye out is needed. A wide player and back-up striker.

Get Warrington and Mills involved with the first-team squad. I don't know enough about Cannon, but many seem to rate him.

It's where we are, but that gives us a balance of youth, young players and experience.

I never heard the Arkles appreciation society complain about the now 37-year-old Milner playing regularly. And the much admired Brighton seemed to have no hesitation securing his services.

The manager, like all managers, will want players that fit his system and who he can trust. It's his watch. He may get some calls right, he may get some wrong.

That's football. Well, it's life really. None of us can predict the future. Some had us relegated the past two seasons. We weren't. Some are predicting it next season before a ball is kicked. We won't be.

We can opine and have different views all day long, which is natural and healthy. But we can only trust the manager's judgement whilst he's in the hot seat.

I didn't want to mention the K word, but I trust Dyche more than him. Last season, he walked into a shit show, ignored the noise around him, and focussed on what needed to be done. I think that may have gone some way to building belief into a demoralised squad.

Could the Premier League have said "We won't punish you and embarrass ourselves regarding the integrity of the league, but you aren't showing any cash for a couple of years"?

P&S can't possibly still be a concern. This rolling 3-year period must be comfortably positive.

The alternative is that we're preparing for the soft landing I mentioned earlier.

If we were to spend all of our budget (whatever it is) on 2 younger players with more quality in the forward positions, then a couple of frees or loans and a bit of experience as back-up isn't such a bad idea.

My personal opinion is that we need at the very least, 4 first-team-ready players and 2 or 3 squad additions. If these squad additions were Young, Rodrigo and maybe someone like Tom Heaton, then all the budget can be concentrated on the younger players, ready now but with sell-on value etc.

We may as well have offered Tom Davies a better contract to play anywhere in defence or midfield. A stupid decision that should be shelved immediately.

What I would like to say is I love reading the comments by the eternal optimists, god bless their souls. They find glints of light in the darkest places. Smell roses where I smell shit. See rays of sunlight where I can only see dark clouds etc…

This is not a criticism. On the contrary, I think I would've thrown the towel in by now but these people keep me hoping against all the odds, evidence and clear dysfunction that Everton might once again become a proper club.

Now all together, always look on the bright side of life…….

The reality is we have quite a few positions to fill and a limited budget. By bringing in a cheap experienced player who can ably provide cover for at least 2 positions it enables us to spend any real cash we have on the more exciting younger players (Gnonto, El Bilal etc) that you're talking about.

A move like this should not be judged individually but in the context of our entire summer transfer business once it's done.

And it's not only ‘Everton who would do this' as some people cry! The rightly lauded Brighton recruitment team have just bought in Milner, who is a few months younger than Young, to provide a similar cover.

I suspect he won't play for Chelsea anytime soon. Maybe a League Cup appearance or two. They may cash in on him as they have done with the likes of De Bruyne, Lukaku and most recently Mason Mount's £55M move to Manchester United (plus potential add-ons). It tends to be their model.

Different scale and indicative of how the club has been run and the standard of output from our academy under the Unsworth years, who rather than being the Director of the Academy, was more interested in standing in the U23s dugout.

To realise the output takes years. We are seeing that output now and it is below par in comparison to others. Whether that is to feed the first team, which is always rare, always has been. Or to make money.

Given the fees we are commanding for academy products, it suggests that generally, our academy produces decent footballers, but I don't see clubs banging our door down.

We keep going, Colin. We always will. It starts again in a few weeks.

Of course the transfer of Ashley Young almost seems a comical Everton-like signing but so far Thelwell seems to have done okay and Dyche will know exactly what he wants and needs.

The three points I would make here:

1) I don't think Young is coming as back-up. Mykolenko was dumped for Godfrey last season which I think is an indictment of how Dyche views the player. I was hoping for a new left-back and thought we should have gone to Chelsea for a loan of their plus one, whether that be Cucurella or Hall, depending on how Pochettino sees it.

2) We need a left-back, centre-back, attacking midfielder, about three widemen and a centre-forward. We are brassick so Ashley Young's versatility will be important. He can play in both full-back and wide positions without seeing a massive drop-off in ability. Currently, we have three widemen at the club. One Dyche seems to rate, one he seems lukewarm and the other he clearly doesn't fancy. This signing will give Dyche the option of playing Young in front of a full-back with 20 minutes left when shutting up shop, which he likes to do.

3) Linked to his versatility is our limited budget. Dyche may only seek one wideman in this window to replace Gray or go as is depending on how much he has to spend and what he sees as his priority. Should we bring in Gnonto to replace Gray, that would look like great business long term but the Leeds player is still very raw so Dyche will know that we need to be pragmatic rather than projective and the option of Young could be important. Having just two widemen and a prospect may be harmful to our plight.

I thought everyone on here thought Brighton were the best run club in the country, making the smartest signings year after year?

If Ashley Young spends a year at Goodison, I really won't have a problem with it. I doubt if all our signings will be this age, and, while we need to build for the future, we also need to avoid another relegation battle. Young would definitely help.

And if we have, in Coleman and Young, two of the oldest full backs in the league, we also have two of the best.

If you wake up in the morning looking for another reason to bash the club, you'll readily take this opportunity.

If you think about our financial position, the number of players not good enough, the number of gaps in the squad, this good be an astute signing particularly if there's more to come, which I think there will be.

Not relevant now but just saying.

Godfrey was a centre-back but played at left-back somehow worked quite well in a short period of time. If Young can cover both flanks on a free, injury-free, then it seems a sensible deal.

Looks like there will be no signing till the last 24 hours before the window closes.

Typical of our recruitment over the Moshiri years. One extreme to another.

We are the worst-run club in league football.

Pure laziness from Thelwell and team.

You're not telling me there isn't a left-back in the pyramid or from abroad on a free that can provide cover.

The Barry and Power comparisons are well off the mark. Both were brought in to help top younger players around them. Young is a lazy panic buy.

Another season where we hope there are 3 worse teams than us.

The big picture at the end of the window is what will matter, this signing will just add more strength in depth in two areas we got caught cold on last season, It's an insurance policy, squad depth, at relatively low cost, to make sure that doesn't happen again.

Another reason that I want some depth at full-back cover is I do not want James Garner to become a utility player going forward. He's too good a player to be used like that, even though he can, and is 100% willing to, like against Bournemouth.

Similarly McNeil, too good to be used as a defender, he was our best attacker, improving incrementally as the season went on, he needs to be allowed to get on with his day job.

Any finances this window need to be focused on goals; a striker and then on goals from right midfield and attack. The crystal clear priorities have to be adhered to.

The rest is secondary and can be funded by whatever is left in the pot after the goalscoring players have been acquired.

Anyway, after all this huff and puff he'll probably go to Luton where he will play more.

He might just want to progress his football development by playing in a competitive league on a more regular basis rather than warming a bench.

Jack Grealish held his nerve and stayed with Villa when they went down and waited until the right move came along. I follow Villa because of the family, so I am aware of how he was thought of and listening to their supporters how he was thought of.

I don't really care about other clubs, whatever league they are in.

We have sold a striker when we don't have any competition in that area. We have sold a promising full-back.

Our 38-year-old goalie has signed for another year!

Another 38-year-old is about to join us.

Dele Alli is back but we can't play him as we don't have the money to pay for him.

There are far too many negatives around us at the moment that won't shift anytime soon.

Moshiri needs to go and take Kenwright with him.

Oh and this website is getting slower and slower with the adverts. It's killing my phone.

Garner is a footballer. Comfortable on the ball. A ball-playing number 6 who will look to play forward as long as he has options.

McNeil has great delivery in his arsenal as well as chipping in with goals. His performance at Brighton away had me travelling home with a smile all the way.

Don't waste them as makeshift defenders unless in extremis. They are more effective putting us on the front foot.

It does however send out the wrong message of selling academy players to fund wages of players who are finished. £4M for the kid; £2.5M plus to Young? Madness financially.

Villa were happy to see him go, when they've European football. That is a worry. Why were they happy for him to go?

Family connections.

Ashley Young looks like he has looked after himself regards to fitness and will be a good signing for various positions.

We all know most of the signings will consist of loans and out-of-contract players, get used to it and we could be surprised in a pleasant way with a lot of them and two or three financial signings to go with them.

Anything to take breather from Everton!

I think that is ridiculous and obscene. You may well disagree claiming it is what the market demands. Doesn't stop it being ridiculous and obscene.

One of my neighbours is a keen Villa fan and tells me Young played very well last season.

Found this lamp in the attic, gave it a rub, and a hard of hearing genie granted me three wishes. In shock, I stuttered ‘we… desperately need… A. Young…full back'.

On an unrelated matter, anyone need a 12-inch pianist or want to go on a Dennis Van outing?

I would hope that, if Thelwell is doing his job he would be asking his academy coaches why they don't produce more quality in all positions. I am not asking them to produce future internationals – just young players able to progress to play first-team football when required.

We need good players, we've very little money, we're having to sell players we might not ordinarily want to; but that's the way it is and Ashley Young is a good player, who can cover several positions. If we want to stay in the Premier League, then this few weeks is vital.

Unless Calvet-Lewin is fit from the start, we will need a goalscorer before the season starts. (I'd hope we could get James Vardy, if we could afford him... and he was willing to come!) But, whoever it is, we need one. We'll hopefully be saving all our money for a goalscorer and possibly a right winger. That is maybe all we could afford.

How are the mighty fallen. Everton have got the job of rising again, and it's not going to be easy!

Age catches up with us all, and as much as I admire older sportsmen and women who can still compete at the highest level, modern top-level sport is so so physically demanding (that's why they get paid so much, right?). So I'm happy to be proved wrong on this one if goes ahead.

As mentioned above, the money now is staggering, so I'm not sure how much longer it can go on before a Premier League club goes under. Just hope it's not Everton.

Actions speak louder than words. The club is skint, and have got problems with P&S because of the constant mismanagement since Moshiri, came in. But looking on the bright side, Ashley Young, must be the consummate professional to still be playing at this level after having the career that he has had?

We're back to the good ol' days of Bill scrabbling around in the dirt, looking for a few pennies to tempt “past their sell-by date” players, to have one more playing season before they settle into retirement.

Despite being fully aware of our “up Shit Creek” predicament… this kind of stuff makes me feel ill.

But Ashley Young is too far over the hill for us to benefit from that experience. He's too slow.

While £55 million in sales of players that came through the academy looks great, but £40 million of that was for Gordon.

Now you could say that £55 million pays for the coaches and all those involved in our academy for many years, so financially the academy is working. But maybe we were lucky in having naturally talented lads like Gordon, Barkley, Rooney and Jeffers who didn't need much coaching they just had natural talent.

But as for an academy producing players good enough to play Premier League football, then that's a different case completely.

Meanwhile, Onana is being linked with West Ham, who we apparently stole a march on last year when we purchased the Belgian.

Whichever way we view it our Academy is preventing the club's finances from being even more in the mire. I don't understand why people assert it should be scrapped.

Livermancho or something his name is, and there is now talk of Chelsea coming back in for him but The Saints will want around £40 million for him?

The pathway to get into the ultra physical EPL, is unbelievably hard for young kids nowadays, and I've often asked Liverpool fans what they think of Curtis Jones. He's not good enough is usually the standard answer, but Klopp seems to have faith in him and wants he really develops then a lot of those same people might have a different answer?

I agree with you Brian, I personally think something is wrong with the way young Everton players are coached (although it's not like I'm an expert) but I do believe more young players would have come through and made the grade, if the club had been more stable with regards not having so many managers over the last seven seasons?

Tom Cannon looks like he could be next but I'm not sure Everton will sanction another deal, I might be wrong?

In the game when we lost to Liverpool's second string at Anfield a few years ago, I thought their cause was helped when Milner was taken off injured because he had already been caught trying to play a high line on a couple of occasions, and I think defenders only do this when they haven't got enough faith in their ability to get back in?

If Ashley Young has retained enough pace then I think he will be fine, because he's got a big heart and only lasted at Manchester United by reinventing himself as a fullback, after going to the club as an attacking wide player. Football though, is obviously all about opinions.

Every signing is a risk whether young or old, I'd take that risk on Ashley Young even if it costs us £2M or so, Alli could cost us £10mif he plays a few more games!!

Obviously it would be great to be going for the likes of Livramento or Thomas from relegated Saints and Leicester, but the reality is we cannot afford them.

And it would have been great to keep Samuels-Smith because he's the stand out star of the academy (and only English player to have been included in team of the tournament for the recent U17 Euros). But even if he stayed it's unlikely he'd have got much (if any?) playing time this season.

I did wonder whether we might try to get Manning (Swansea LB, free) or Doherty (the former Wolves RB who is also free) but I guess Young can cover both FB positions and is available.

Link

The vast majority of Villa fans want him to stay and are disappointed he's leaving. And they finished comfortably higher than us last season. So long as we're not paying him ridiculous wages it's a sensible move that allows us to address other more urgent areas.

A year!

He won't be our last signing so a good interim step forward to get us through the coming season.

Don't agree with selling Samuels-Smith and he won't get any game time at the Chavs.

Another Garner, meaning, proven at Championship level so even if he flops for us we'd still get back most of our outlay. And his wages won't be massive, by today's standards.

Yes, Young is reliable and often not hurt. Yes, he'd make a capable back up.

But this club should not be signing 38-year-olds as it lacks any sell-on and we have no money. Save the dough. We'll be fine with Mykolenko and any one of our back-ups who would be played slightly out of position if Mykolenko is hurt.

This just isn't good business. Save da money.

Besides, Young is a diving little shit, and cheering the guy on curdles my stomach.

Patterson, Coleman, Mykolenko, Young and Godfrey covering the full-back positions for a club who need to use their scarce funds further up the pitch makes perfect sense to me.

Hopefully it gets done.

I remember Mike and I saying it was a mistake. Having to possibly sign Young a few years later really hammers home how big a mistake it was.

We sold him for what? Two million to Wigan?

Imagine him and Mykolenko competing for a starting spot, pushing one another to be better players.

This signing kinda makes me sick if it happens.

I do appreciate the pragmatic posts about decent back-up and playing time last season (etc), but a part of me has my hands up in the air in despair that we have been put in a position by blabber droopy blubber jowls (and co) that we turn to someone Ashley's age.

Sorry, can't help it, it's how I feel.

Think of Tosun, Walcott, Allen, The Viking, Mina, Bernard, Gbamin, Delph. The list goes on.

I totally agree about Antonee Robinson.

If Young does half as well as Paul Power, it will be okay. If not Dyche and Thelwell will be in the dock. The one next door to the new stadium.

I realise that money is a major factor and that the club is a business, but that's the responsibility of the board and finance guys in the office, and a fine job they've made of that in recent times.

I'm starting to believe that Bill, is having his revenge on all of us, he won't be watching - at least not at Goodison - whatever squad is cobbled together come the first game of the season, so why should he care about the quality or age of the squad.

But in true Everton fashion, our attacking targets are signing for other clubs and we're celebrating Seamus Coleman signing a 1-year extension for the second week in a row.

The club simply cannot read the damn room.

Get some belief or get a drink, this is our transfer season form. For now, working on that. Believe.

Conor #78, Mykolenko was NEVER dumped for Godfrey. When Mykolenko was healthy, he started every game.

Jamie, dammit, why did you have to bring up Robinson? Every time that giveaway is mentioned, I grit my teeth so hard, I lose a filling. By now I look like Walter Brennan.

Sean #117, yep, a top caliber player.

We are probably not seen as such an attractive destination just now, so thats another complication when we are trying to sign anyone.

Whilst Ashley Youngs age may be against him, we will get him for nothing, providing the rumours are true of course, whilst also banking £4M for the sale of Samuels-Smith. Stability is essential for the next two years, and remaining in the premier league is of paramount importance. If Ashley Young is only going to be a back up, then he will be more than a very reliable back up, and if he plays regularly then we might all be surprised.

I remember asking him who was the best player he ever worked with, his answer was Young and went onto say that his work ethic and the way he looks after himself will take him right to the top and that he will have a long career.

He has been and still is a model professional and Aidy was spot on about him.

We need experienced cover at left full back and we will do well to get Ashley Young. He's a couple of years older than Seamus, but a top professional and is ready to start the season.

We need a goalscorer that is ready to start as well, in case CL's muscle problem kicks off. It's great that we've got Dobbin, and he may well be a bonus for us; but we need an experienced goalscorer, ready to play. Another IF is whether Iwobi wants to leave. If he goes, we need an experienced right wing midfielder

Whoever we can get after the two players I look on as priorities, are bonuses. I think this first year is likely to be a crisis year; and the top prioritiy is to avoid relegation and I think we'd just about have enough, if people stay fit, to avoid it. If we find half way through the season, the the Investigation finds us all above board, then we might have money to to buy futher players in January.

All I hope is that we don't waste any money we have on similar puddn's that we've spent fortunes on in the past! This coming season, to me, it's like the last chance saloon for our club.

Surely that must be the first thing we consider?

We are not going to sign a single player that any other club in the Premier League wants. So, we rely on Dyche to do some alchemy.

Having said that, he appears to be a model professional who has looked after himself.

I suspect it's the timing of the signing which rankles some. If this were the ultimate deal, our having already sealed the other transfers that we need to make, then more would see this as a sensible move. But because it is the only signing so far, it looks terrible and desperate.

Let's see what happens over the next few weeks before passing judgement.

We are playing next season to do what we have failed for the last couple of seasons and that is to stabilize the club in a mid-table position, by improving the most obvious failures from last season with the major one being goal scoring and backup in this area to cover injuries.

If we are being honest no one really wants to see the club having to have to sign this type of player, but through bad management the club are forced to look at these type of bargains, and having watched Young a couple of times last season it is a reasonable signing for coverage and I don't think he will let anyone down if called on.

A lot in what you say, Bill, but I can't help feeling that Young and Coleman, no matter what they do this season, is not stabilizing the club and we most probably need two more next season with little likelihood of there being any youngsters ready. It seems just to be delaying a repeat of what got us into this situation.

Others (Andy Crooks, Tony) have also added a balanced view.

As I said earlier, we would enter the season with two promising young full-backs, who would be backed up by two experienced ones who have looked after themselves fitness wise and won't take any nonsense.

I get the sentiment about Young. He is a proper nark. I don't mind him being our nark.

To repeat, a lot of Villa supporters (who qualified for Europe), are disappointed to be losing him.

However he is a good pro and if he maintains his fitness that is what we need in the season to come. I doubt very much if our opponents will treasure the idea of playing against him having seen him operate at the top level for so many seasons. As I said earlier the important thing thing is maintaining his fitness and there hasn't been any indication that I have seen that makes that a problems so far.

A one year contract without high wages to cover left /right full backs when needed is a good solution in the circumstances, particularly if it saves money for our reputed cover (forward planning) for DCL which I strongly believe will be necessary,

So go for it.

This is about the manager and his team bringing in players who they think will add depth.

Young is right footed but has played left back plenty of times. I could not tell you if he played let back naturally or looked like a fish out of water.

Another old ex-winger turned attacking full back is Navas (?) the ex Man Cty. He would have been my preference but I think Young is a good muli-positional player to have for a few seasons.

Hopefully he's more lucky than Townsend was (pace, ability and fitness before long term injury) a really good professional and good option.

As always, just the forward positions letting us down in quest to field the oldest team in Premier League history.

Reckon Vardy is available? That would make some of the anti-youth fans in here happy. We could tread water for at least a year or two!

No-one is discriminating but merely addressing inescapable reality. Pretty soon, Young won't be playing pro' sport anywhere, due to age.

PS for those still advocating aged players, 11 of our current 22 man squad are out of contract next year. Guess making it 60-70% will do us the world of good. SMH.

Onana, Godfrey, Patterson, Garner, Branthwaite, Mykolenko and McNeil are all quite young and, hopefully, we'll be able to add Cannon to that list, if he steps up.

Any squad is a mixture of ages but an immediate concern is to bring in experienced cover for the full-back positions and I think Young fits that bill. In fact, if he signs, it'll probably be Mykolenko who ends up being the cover!

I'd rather have another 6-7 of the players you mention than over-the-hill stop-gap has-beens like Young.

Why does cover have to be “experienced”? Why not have “potential” as cover? Give younger kids a chance to have a go.

In a worst-case scenario, Godfrey's done well backing up Mykolenko…. so I don't see a risk of having a “Samuels-Smith” type in there also. At least that shows we give a platform. The message you're sending is we're back to the elephant graveyard years of Gazza and Ginola.

Football players only have to "endure" 90 minutes; Tour de France riders several hours, daily, for the best part of 3 weeks.

‘Godfrey has done well backing up Mykolenko'

The problem when you spew stuff like this is that it discredits everything else you say because it's absurd. It's complete nonsense. It's such disinformation that one wonders whether you watch Everton matches.

Sure, he was a decent back-up option at left-back in the past but last season he was a complete utter liability.

Also, if you try actually digesting my post instead of reading it and dribbling, you'll see I'm arguing that's “backup to the backup” and a reason why we can take a chance with “potential” as a backup, instead of players graveyard ready grandads.

Disinformation? Try watching less media.

Ashley Young is not the answer. Just screams of a lack of a plan and just trying to sign anyone who is free.

We do need back up. For several seasons now, our squad has been thread bare. Scratch the surface and with a few injuries, we are down to the bones and untried kids.

All opinions, but we do need back up.

Most clubs have that principle in place.

However, how many signings have we made in recent years, where the only thing we have to look forward to from that player is "getting his wages off the books". It is a very sad indictment of how piss poor our recruitment has been overall, and I do worry that we'll be thinking the same thing about Ashley Young in the not-too-distant future.

It does seem like we're run by people who are totally incapable of learning from our past mistakes.

I'm expecting that we'll be asked to judge our transfers at the end of the transfer window rather than now, and perhaps this will prove to be shrewd if it means we can invest in a decent striker. I believe we're still waiting for the striker that Mosh promised us at the end of the last transfer window though aren't we?

The goal needs to be signing players that make the first team better, and then the current incumbents in that position become the back ups.

Completely agree that we need a bigger squad and more options - the point I am making is that we need to bring in people who should be first choice and make us better.

Let's say we need to sign 5 extra players to give our squad more depth (I've made that number up, it's likely to be a lot more!) then I'd rather we get 5 players in who become our first choice, rather than signing 5 players who are back up to the current bunch who have been playing relegation football for 2 seasons. We need players to push us on is my point

I'm not so sure it's "good enough for us shite" I think it's more likely that Young is the best option available to us. I'm not so sure it screams of a lack of a plan as Andrew says, either. It looks to me like there is a plan; and it will consist of Dyche and Thelwell trying to find the best available players on the very limited financial means the club is constricted by.

You are saying we don't need back up.

Any squad needs back ups. On the full back front, which is topical of this thread, as I said earlier, we have two young promising fullbacks.

We now potentially have two very experienced back ups.

And yet, as a direct result of their dickheadedness, he's likely to be this summer's marquee signing.

Says it all really.

This should obviously be classed instead as a relatively small gamble for a short period of time that could pay off.

Andrew (191), much easier said than done unfortunately.

That's just lazy journalism. If I was a journo I would have wound up half the fans in the Premier League with that one by now, laid back satisfied in my fat comfy leather armchair and watch as the clickbait counter spins like a hamster wheel...

A pity that Antonee Robinson or Ishe Samuels-Smith couldn't be seen as relatively small gambles which if either paid off would have held us in good stead for quite a few years, whereas the two probable full-back covers will themselves probably need replacing next year.

Doesn't really come under forward planning unless it is thought they will do well at a mid-table Championship side the season following this one.

Have you seen Samuels-Smith play?

I haven't but I'm intrigued as many who have seem to rate him highly.

I'd like to know what it is that has gotten so many energised about this one.

I genuinely can't comment on him as I've never seen him play.

Well we'll never get the chance to see him play with us and, other than reading Villa fans comments, when was the last time you saw Young play, and I don't mean Alex?

And does your argument also apply to the never seen in an Everton first team Antonee Robinson.

It's no good reasoning that he is not highly rated when a Premier League side is willing to pay a reported £4 million for his services, or are you suggesting they've never seen him either?

I take it you mean Alex Young in your reference?

I was born in 1971 so never saw him, just listened to stories like a lot of us. So no, I am not referring to him. Ashley Young.

Chelsea have history of doing this only to spit them out of the system and make a lot more money on the players than we can right now. Sadly, we are in a position where we take what we can get when we can get it to help the manager build the team he wants.

That's where we are and we all know why, so I don't need to labour that point.

My personal opinion is that if he is as good as those who have seen him make out, he would be better off staying put and trying to push for a place. I'll reiterate, I'm not criticising the player. I can't. I haven't seen him play to make comment.

There will be multiple factors at play. The club's intent (we had the Rooney interview not long ago) and the also the manager's plans or wants.

The fact we already have two young fullbacks. What are the manager's priorities? This manager will be thinking relatively short-term (I think - don't know).

Also, it is often not down to the player unfortunately. But maybe the bright lights of the Fulham Road are an attraction that turns his head. Who knows?

I suspect he will spend most of the next few years playing at Cobham (read Finch Farm) before being farmed out on loan and then sold at profit. That's their model in general.

We just don't know. All that I know are the pre-season fixture dates and we play Fulham on the opening day of the season.

It's not about winning, it's about consolidating, and one day soon in the distant future, the new ground will open and suddenly we will all begin to see the value of Bill Kenwright's amazing tenure.

Fuck the trophies, they are only for the big clubs, but just look at our new ground? They won't be able to call us plucky anymore, and this is all down to me. I'm the greatest ever chairman of Everton football club, because I made the people understand it's all about consolidating, rather than becoming a Leeds, a Leicester, a Forest, or a Manchester City.

If he had any ounce of decency in him, he would know that and would have realised it years ago.

Therein lies the problem. I could use a few analogies and parallels. The blind leading the blind, but that would be offensive to our supporters, so applies to dumb and dumber upstairs. Or blue Lions led by donkeys.

I think that is more appropriate to how we have been treated with the utmost disrespect and contempt.

It's only Monday. Another week in the Everton madhouse lies ahead.

When I talk of survival, it is exactly the attitude that is needed now by the manager. Especiallly when the coming season is going to be very much dependent on him, with limited resources available.

He really can't be dependent on a regime that has run Everton into the ground and is still operating. Ashley Young provides good back-up in various positions, which Dyche has already found he has needed.

My main concern is lack of pace which is a perennial problem at Everton, but obviously Everton are going to be set up defensively, with a look for improvement in attack.

As for Chelsea loaning and then, as you say, "spitting" them out at a profit, don't Everton do the same thing, albeit on a smaller scale? I suppose the last couple to come through at Everton were Barkley and Davies. I can't think of any others that weren't first at other clubs academies or only made very limited, if any, first team appearances.

Oh, and in my time I've been called many things (yes, probably that one as well) but I can't remember Andrew being among them. First time for everything, I suppose, but somewhat later for promising juniors.

Yes, we do similar, but just not on the same scale as Chelsea.

A sad indictment of our brand in comparison to Chelsea (yes Chelsea)?

Or a sad indictment of our youth system?

Combination of both?

I've seen this happen at Schalke. A few years back, Bayern snapped up a certain Manuel Neuer. A couple of years later, they took the follow-on keeper Nubel as a potential successor.

Played once before he was shipped out on loan to Monaco.

Schalke fell into the double edged trap of selling from their very productive academy. Check out the products over the years – top drawer.

How much of that was the hawks circling or the club willing to sell and cash in, or the players' intent is anyone's guess.

The number of young players that a club like Chelsea have on their books should be regulated. Equally, the number of young players that clubs can sign on a transfer fee below 18 years old.

Given the size of the benches now permitted and 5 subs per game, clubs should also be required to retain 2 spots for young players (23 years old and below).

Clubs like Chelsea are just farming talent from other rivals for talent to sell at profit. And agents are giving poor advice to these kids to earn a commission.

I think the entire academy system needs reviewing. And I mean holistically, not just Everton.

It is a cash cow that is manipulating young kids with dreams from a young age. A very young age.

Clubs would do better to engage with grass roots and leave those young players in the natural environment and support them in a different way whilst still monitoring them.

The Germans snapping up young keepers! That would never do at the Marigold Tearooms, sorry, Finch Farm, nor anything solid from the Rock Emporium or worthy of the Entertainment Arcade.

Although we could be worthy of the name, All-at-Sea.

They don't get the recognition of Ajax or Barcelona, but it's pretty impressive. And mostly local.

I go out once or twice a season and it's great to be able to watch the development teams on the academy pitches in the shadow of the stadium before the match.

Not playing behind locked gates like Finch Farm and other English Premier League clubs.

Of cause, he may want a larger home or move to another area. Who knows?

I've seen every minute of every game Godfrey has played and I can assure you he ain't no full back! If we're relying on him we're doomed!

Having coached kids cricket from Under-11s to U-17s in Western Australia where there is Community Cricket (local clubs) to District Cricket at U-13, U-15 and U-17 levels (games scheduled to allow players to play both competitions in a season and the Metropolitan area split into quarters) before Senior levels or Grade cricket if good enough, the latter being where Sheffield Shield State teams are selected,

I would suggest that there must be something overseeing Coaching levels as some coaches, despite having done the courses, try to change everything about young cricketers rather than encouraging their better talents. I've seen promising bowlers ruined by coaches who want another fast bowler in the Dennis Lillee mold and batsmen dropped for playing a reverse sweep in the nets.

However, they do play with their mates and schools, if they run teams and some have recognized courses, as well as having a pathway to a career if good enough. There are also State teams at U-15 and 17 levels which usually only play at an annual carnival in a selected State. Oh, and the girls are allowed to play with boys and can play upto 2 years under their age level.

Just as an aside, it is also necessary to get a police clearance as permitted to work with children if you wish to coach.

For now though, it looks like it's a continuation of Dyche and Thelwell, doing their best to save as much money as they can to buy the best goalscorer they can. What that sum will be for a goalscorer...who knows. I'm not expecting it to be any more than £20miiion or so. Perhaps not even that!

I'll be made up if we can afford a decent right winger as well; but who knows, we mightn't have the money. Even if we do have some Arteta money stashed away the club is not an attractive proposition for good young players.

It won't be until we see a dramatic improvement in the Boardroom make up, and who can hopefully begin to pull this club in an upward direction.

While Kenwright is Chairman, I can't see him being any use except he's the only one left of the previous Board who is culpable for the mess we are in.

Hope I'm wrong but I can't see us buying all the quality players we need. It might be loans and free transfers until we're out of this mess.

As you know, I have been following The Bundesliga for 25 years and have spent a great deal of time, like you, in Germany. My team is Freiburg, I just like them, but I have worked extensively in Köln and got to seeing some games.

Believe it or not, I played some five-a-side at Köln FC a long time ago, also had the odd Köln FC player in The Dark House. The point I wanted to make is they built their training ground in the late '50s, next to their main ground. Training was open to the public and you could have a meal and watch the players train. No secrets given away I'm sure.

On a personal note, I agree with Chris and others about language and trivialising big words. I have returned to the UK urgently, and have been here in Cancer Specialist Ward for 4 weeks – possibly starting chemotherapy this week.

Big meeting tomorrow with the Doctors… but to use this word and others in a football conversation is beyond me and has no place. Not overplaying anything but I am battling for my future. Up The Blues.

Best of luck, George, fingers crossed and palms held together saying a few prayers for you, George, God bless. Everton can be put aside for the moment, George.

I am a big promoter in coaching and leaving kids in their natural environment for as long as possible and even when they get taken on, don't lock them behind closed gates. It's why so many are increasingly subject to mental health issues. They are denied a normal life from a young age.

I've been to Western Australia. In my military days, I stayed in the barracks in Swanbourne. Visited Perth which was okay, but my favourite place was Fremantle.

However, the fact that we are not signing Ollie Watkins from Villa but Ashley Young sums up the last farcical seven years of amateur management at Everton.

Quite fancy Villa as dark horses to rattle the top four this season.

I remember my dad telling me about Sunderland when I started going the match and John Moores was funding the great team of the Sixties (brilliant time to be a Blue!). They spent a fortune and ended up being relegated.

Well, we've ended up skint, by the look of it; and you're right. Seven years to blow a fortune and end up skint. We've also got a Chairman who led us to this. I wonder if he will be here at the start of next season and is he going to keep up his disappearing act?

I just hope his interim chairmanship is very "interim"!

I wish you god's speed.

It has been great meeting you in person. We will do again.

Fantastic talking to you on the phone. Wonderful reading your writings about the thing that brings so many of us together.

Eternal Evertonian.

Take care of yourself and send those cosmic waves into yourself.

As you know, I'm not superstitious but I'll be keeping everything crossed that everything goes well, tomorrow.

And, yes, beyond me also how anybody can use the "cancer" word as a throwaway criticism of somebody. Some people, eh.

I'd like to join the rest in wishing you the very best in your battle. There are a fair number of survivors here on TW, and we look forward to welcoming you into our club. Stay strong and positive, and ride the cheers of this crowd to victory.

I hope our positive vibes help you in this horrid time and you pull through to continue with us all, on this other battle that we all share.

Good luck tomorrow, George, and make sure you're fit and able when the new ground opens.

It's nonsensical. Just like Fabian Delph and countless others.

Young can still do a job, but we need a few serious signings.

They say all roads lead to Rome; for Evertonians, that's Bramley-Moore Dock! Each of us face the journey there with trepidation but never alone. You have thousands of friends you have never met but look forward to your posts; the future is bright, the future is blue.

Get well soon lad, 50,000 hands are reaching down to give you a hand..

I eon't ever forget the taxi Derek Knox and I shared with you from Bramley-Moore Dock to Lime Street. As I recall, you leapt out and the taxi driver said, "What the fuck was that?"

Cry tough, George, everyone on here is cheering you on.

It's pretty clear what's happening now, cost is being cut out of the club big time. Players shed, none brought in. Focus is on tweaking what we have and selective use of the up-and-coming with experienced pros alongside. It seems like a plan.

Decisions on who stays or goes have been made; apart from another striker I cannot see any money being used, whilst definitely not a fire sale, we will be leaner and hungrier. Dyche has to have them super fit if it's to work.

It's been a long time coming, but there is a massive culling at the club to make both its cost base more attractive and cut out the bloated numbers unwanted or unneeded. Currently at least the focus appears to be primarily on further reducing the squad numbers rather than loaning out players. After the last two seasons, I hope they get this one right.

You've put out plenty of positive vibes on here... you more than deserve good news.

I'll be at mass tomorrow in some remote part of Donegal and will say a prayer that it'll be good news for a true Blue.

Will be thinking of you...

To put it in perspective, I think Young has won the Scudetto since Baines retired. If Baines could have played at that level at that age, he wouldn't have retired.

Not having a go, by the way, I love Baines more than my wife.

I was going to come on here and moan about Ashley Young until I read your post. Shame on me.

It's all about perspective isn't it? I pray you'll get on well and wish you all the very best.

Young wanted to keep playing, and did. Since Baines retired, Young has played 90 games at top level, quite well, and without a single injury.

Maybe he doesn't play guitar.

The comparison is pointless.

All the best, sunshine, health and everything that's good from 'Merica.
Beat the damned thing.

Peace.

It's obscenely apparent Everton are cutting costs out of the club. The frightening thing is, until MSP ride in on their white horse, this type of exercise is usually the precursor to demise.

If we don't get investment soon, and I'm thinking pronto, we're in big trouble. This shedding of costs could be the proverbial hitting of the panic button.

Then again, it could be I'm thinking the worst and the books are getting cleaned up for a takeover, complying with financial rules, who really knows?

I think if Dyche keeps us up, assuming there's no more incomings, it'll be a minor miracle. My bar for next season is survival. If Dyche gets us safe and anywhere mid-table, I think he will have done a spectacular job.

As for this signing I am not a fan. Not in the least. But, if Young provides security in a position and plays well, fair enough.

As a defensive back, Young is a liability; granted, he wasn't a bad winger when a lot, lot younger but, come on guys, this smacks of desperation of the highest order.

Everton have the oldest full-back pairing in Premier League history – 73 years combined.

Well done, Uncle Bill, we continue to be a fucking laughing stock. I really can't wait for the season to start.

Yes, we are skint but we're still desperate enough to be paying a 38-year-old more money than any others would.
Expect Diego Costa or the likes to be signing soon.

Best wishes, George. It's an all-too-familiar story we hear amongst friends and family at this stage of our lives.

We don't know the realities of Everton's financial situation. But my bet is there will be at least some money to spend. Allocating £40k per week on an experienced and reliable player who can cover left-back, right-back, left-midfield and right-midfield if needed means we can hopefully spend what cash there is on some more exciting young players with potential. If signing Young is what's needed to afford Gnonto or Bilal Toure etc, then that's fine by me.

I could be wrong but let's see how the rest of the window goes before we start throwing the toys out of the pram.

"Everton have made an enquiry about signing Manchester United's former England goalkeeper Tom Heaton, 37." (Mirror)

About 5 minutes after saying I'm okay with getting Young if it means we can afford Gnonto or similar, it's on the internet that we've agreed a deal of £20M for the young Italian!

I fully expect Moshiri to cough up money in the last weeks of the transfer window. I also expect the addition of a scoring forward.

You could be right regarding a young attacking player. This has been attempt in previous seasons. I don't expect Almeria's Toure to be in the running though, since his injury record is suspect.

Actually the transfer window is following a similar pattern to previous seasons. The main initial difference is, rather than loaning out young players, they are selling them.

You are right about Young.

Good luck and best wishes.

Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Like everyone else on here, I wish you all the best if the diagnosis turns out to be cancer. As someone who's fought off prostate cancer for 7 years and just had an operation to remove a bowel cancer, I know I two things. One – you'll be feeling like shit at the moment and Two – it can be beaten. The NHS have worked wonders for me and I'm sure they'll do their best for you.

All the best mate

ps: It's a pity we don't have some of the passion and commitment of those in the NHS shared by those bastards running our fucking club.

I am sure with your positive vibes you can overcome anything so here's to a few pints down at the Bramley Moore pub.

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.

"We have Gomes, Alli, Branthwaite and Cannon. With the addition of Ashley Young, that is 5 new players available to Sean Dyche. Like last season, we have brought in only the best players who strengthen our squad. It is exciting times."

George @217,

Good luck. Stay positive. Do it for us Blues.

Alan J (198) - Robinson long gone and Samuels-Smith completely untested at the level so not at all relevant for here and now.

Young is a stopgap and will need replacing soon but delays that decision by 12 months at least.

Bainesy is not a credible alternative just because he is same age as Young. To equate the two is moronic.

Edit: just realised I am (feebly) echoing Mike Gaynes on this.

We really struggled last season with a few injuries at the back so having proven Premier League quality options as cover doesn't seem a terrible idea to me.

Obviously it's only likely to be a one- or two-season signing, but it is true that defenders can play longer. Thiago Silva is 9 months older than Young, Ronaldo is 5 months older and Milner's not that much younger – all of these and more are playing at a decent level still.

We do also have youthful players like Branthwaite (21) likely to break through (and others in the U21 side), Patterson (21) is a regular as is Mykolenko (24), Godfrey (25) looked great previously and hopefully still has a role to play and Holgate is only 26. So as much as we could play an old back 4 of Young, Coleman, Keane and Tarkowski with an average age of 33.5 – we could equally play one with an average age below 23.

The inconvenient truth though is that the vast numbers of posters who are decrying this deal will also be the first that scream blue murder in the forums (or the stands) at the first sign of inexperience from Holgate or Mykolenko, saying how they aren't good enough and we have to get rid... etc.

It would be great to be able to compete for the very best proven Premier League players in their mid-20s, but these are incredibly thin on the ground and that's just not realistically the position we are in.

Naturally Young shouldn't be our only signing, I think we need at least 4 or 5 myself (including 2 forwards) maybe more if we sell on Onana, etc, but as a stop-gap, this sort of experience and positional flexibility makes total sense to me. I'd personally rather have Young for a season than the likes of Vinagre or Davies and I bet he'll be available to play more games than Mina, much as I loved the big fella.

In fact, the only player we've let go or sold so far this summer that I'd have maybe been tempted to keep was Coady; but obviously Dyche didn't agree and he's the gaffer after all.

One down, let's now get one of these Leeds forwards (I'd take Rodrigo, Gnonto or both tbh) and maybe someone like Danjuma to add a little excitement.

Young's case is a bit different though.

Even though his fleet-footed days are certainly gone, he is still in decent physical shape (he played 29 league games in total for Gerrard and Emery last season).

Unlike Gazza and Ginola, Young will be not be asked to play a central role. He is here to provide back-up coverage with his versatility: primarily at left-back behind Mykolenko, I presume, but he can be a break-glass emergency option at right-back (are we sure the injuries bothering Seamus aand Nathan are really gone?) and left-winger (especially if Thelwell can sell Gray at a premium in light of his exploits at the Gold Cup for Jamaica; back-up is still needed even if we have secured Gnonto after selling Gray).

Offensively, he can be an extra and valuable option on set-pieces and he can still cross a decent ball (whether we have anyone to score at the end of his crosses is another subject).

Defensively, as long as Dyche plays a defence that is deep and close to the goal, Young will not be as exposed as some would worry.

As long as we are not signing him with his full salary last season (reportedly £50,000 per week), I would give his signing a C+.

Total agreement.

He's costing us nothing, his salary surely not silly money. He brings a vast wealth of experience and skill, providing us with cover in a variety of positions. Along with Seamus (assuming his deal is settled), they are excellent short term additions to the squad.

Older ToffeeWebers will recall the howls of derision when we signed Paul Power at the end of his career, yet he won Player of the Season at the club, helping us to trophies for a couple of great seasons.

These men are consummate professionals, not to be confused with the mercenary phonies we've signed in the past, who were simply after one last big payday and couldn't care less about the club.

We have to be realistic and pragmatic in our approach to signings. Dyche is no fool, he knows there is little in the kitty. This is a wise addition to the squad given our circumstances.

Me old man had a similar battle this year and he made it out the other side, and I'm betting you'll do the same. Born tough us Evertonians!

Next to "foot" it says... both.

Only such listing I've ever seen.

As well as Heaton, Rodrigo and Young joining Lonergan and Coleman, the club will shortly be announcing that a new range of blue and white zimmer frames will be available from outlets.

I really do have to wonder why they bother with an Academy or why they have taken so many to Switzerland. Perhaps it's cheaper in a group booking.

Apart from P&S limits, we probably need to cut costs to be able to afford replacements, certainly in the next 2 years, maybe even 1 year given the length of contracts that are being handed out, the youngsters that are leaving and those contracts which expire at the end of this season.

It's difficult to see what the long-term plan is.

It's not the age, it's how players look after themselves or how their natural body slows down. Different level, but although I didn't play as often from the age of 35, I still played my last competitive match aged 40. And it was at a high standard. Don't get me wrong, I was "break glass in emergency", but could still do a job!!

The amount of ground Gueye covered last season was impressive, especially when you consider he was often doing the job of two men at times.

It isn't Gana that I'm getting at but the number of players we have nearing more to the end than the zenith of their careers (or contracts), adding more and losing promising, even unfulfilled and untested youngsters. We seem to be merely heading for a repeat of the financial position we have been in during the last few years.

No matter how they look after themselves, do you see Young, Coleman, Lonergan, Gana and possibly Rodrigo and the rumoured Heaton being with us and doing a good job in 2 or 3 years time?

Yes, we can say that it is just a stop-gap measure but I can't see when it stops being such or how we will improve on the field to give hope that we will be anything but a perennial relegation dodger until the inevitable happens.

The only other hope seems to be that whoever owns the club sells out to somebody with a lot more imagination and/or there is a major change to P&S regulations and limits.

I would be very happy with this one, but more suitors will probably appear now and throw a few spanners into the works.

On average, we have a youngish squad. The average age may go down depending on whether a few of the youngsters and introduced (Warrington, Mills, Cannon) and depending on who else we sign.

Let's see.

Right now, I'm looking at the train strikes.

🍺🍺🍺🍺 for George. COYB.

Thank God we had the financial wizardry of Moshiri and the unrivaled experience of Chairman Bill to get this one over the line. I hope that Bill has tied him down on a Dele like contract to ensure no one tries to steal him in the January window.

Let the good times roll.

PS All the best for a happy outcome George. We all need you to cheer us up.

You're correct about Stoke back in the old 1st Division. They had a policy under Tony Waddington of recruiting stars who were past their 'sell buy date'. George Eastham, Jimmy Greenhoff and Alan Hudson come to mind.

Southampton also did a similar thing with the likes of Alan Ball, Kevin Keegan, Peter Osgood, Mike Channon and other notables in their team.

Their aging legs were past winning titles, but good Cup runs and entertaining football were always assured. Most importantly I don't recall these teams of fading Superstars having the recurring nightmare of having to repeatedly stave off relegation with final day survival, as we have had to endure in recent seasons.

I have no qualms about pursuing such a policy given our current financial status, provided that our youth development is prioritised and young blood is given the opportunity of playing alongside such players to gain from their experience.

And didn't we win it again in 1984 with A Young Trevor Steven on the wing. (Sorry about that one!)

The noise you can hear is the sound of straws being grasped. I've already got me coat on!

Championship, here we come!

Sorry to hear of your current medical situation George. Exactly a decade ago in the summer of 2013, I had the nightmare of being diagnosed with Stage 3 esophageal cancer, my tumour was close to my windpipe. The prognosis and survival rate made grim reading, with 5 year life expectation only 8%. I underwent maximum chemo/radiotherapy treatment at Clatterbridge and here I am 10 years down the line, cancer free. Stay positive George, statistics are not set in stone. My oncologist was a wonderful man, I owe him my life. I put my trust in him and I put my trust in God.

It worked. It wasn't my time.

You may not know me, but I have been in your company on a few occasions. I wish you good health and a speedy recovery.

Incidentally, you are not related by any chance to McKane's from the Holy Cross Parish (near town) from the early 60's? I had a childhood friend Gerard McKane from there who would be 70 now, but I lost touch with him. We sang in the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir together.

Anyway, it looks to me like we're in the financial mire. If that's the case, we'll have to make do and mend. What is it we've spent over the last seven years? A massive amount anyway. £500 million or more and the number of dud players we've bought with that has near sunk us.

We have lost our major sponsorship money and as yet have not found another sponsor. We haven't yet cleared the P&S investigation, so if that's the case, we have little more scope than look at this coming season, not the following two. Maybe the, long-awaited MSP Investment will make some difference. But, it looks like Dyche and Thelwell are severely limited in who they'll be able to recruit. Mind you, we've got another month yet so who knows?

If we have any money to spend I'd rather it go on a striker & creating chances. Use the loan and free transfers to fill any other spaces.

Our weakness is attack, creating chances and scoring goals. Our defence is OK but if we are attacking and causing a threat, then our defence and defensive record will improve when they are not under so much pressure due to having zero threat up front.

My guess is a winger/playmaker & striker are dyches priorities. Young can deliver a good ball and is a natural wide player unlike Iwobi.

I'm not as nervous going in to this season as I was last year with lampard at the wheel. Even with a weaker sqaud as I do think dyche can bring the best out of some players who were poor under Frank.
The difference in mcneil & Doucouré is a start.
If he can get Godfrey, Patterson & dcl performances up we will be fine with a few astute additional signings.

Patience as an Everton fan has been pushed to the limit before the window opened so it's no surprise we're looking through every linked player each day, thinking "Just sign someone..."

But that's what got us into this mess... so If they take their time and get the right players, great. If they don't and the window closes, then it's time to complain!

Link

.. but it was merely a detail from a Mermaid pub flyer in 1986. Photograph: Courtesy of Nicholas Bullen

Over the past seven years, three or four signings like this would have served us better than the array of £25m+ players who couldn't score goals, lacked pace & purpose, went missing when it got tough, etc.

You bring in bring solid players first, then bring in the fancy dans. We've spent seven years doing this in the wrong order.

It is meant to be fair. But it clearly isn't

A club need the footballing equivalent of a genius tax accountant.
Sadly ours (Moshiri) is a dope.
BK has been operating like some arfur daley hustler since he took charge.

To make it all worse is the protracted MSP saga, which is typical of Kenwrights involvement in anything.
To see them both at the helm still, brings nothing but a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Didn't we hire in 20 new bodies in various unknown capacities in response to Little Miss Dynamite's 120 point plan?

I don't see that as cost cutting unless we can get transfer fees for them when they move on?

Obviously, if Dyche can get his former stars to influence the rest of the squad, to perform better, then my concerns will be moot.

It's not the signing as such, it's what it indicates as the only signing so far. I hope signings through the remainder of the window set things in a different context.

We don't know what the 2022/23 financial results are and we can only surmise what we have to do to stay within the rules. But as I understand it Moshiri has guaranteed our losses for the last three years otherwise the Prem limitations would be considerably more stringent. So hardly 'broke'.

Your focus on P&S is also valid, because any purchases will have to be made with the value to the club, made front and centre, and there will be few if any true Marquee signings, in the near future in an attempt to win over the crowd.

Next season will be another scramble to avoid the dreaded drop, but there might also be some new blood on the board and a shift in how the club is run, unfortunately that will largely depend on how Moshiri views his investment, and at what point, does he decide to remove himself from complete control.

What I now realise is that had Everton failed to stay in the Premier League last season, there would have been a very real likelihood, that we would not have bounced straight back up and the financial straits would have been far worse.

The manager and the players will have to rise to the occasion very early in the new season, and we can't allow things to drift like they did at certain points in the last couple of seasons.

The economic side of the club will take care of itself over time, the playing side has no such luxury, every game is vital and every point gained will be invaluable to the future of the club.

Focus on a couple of strikers with the funds we have available.

Southampton hold talks with Everton over deal for 26-y/o who's been left out of pre-season tour

I have said I believed we are 'broke' (not using that exact word) on other threads.

I can't know that is the case, because we are given no evidence, but I surmise we are close to it because we seemingly have a short term loan of tens of millions at 12% interest.

I can't think of many commercial entities with such an arrangement that is enjoying positive cashflow. I am assuming it is covering stadium costs pending the MSP money, which is itself taking a long time to arrive which is worrying. One can also point to the sale of academy players at this early stage of the window suggesting an urgent need for cash. Where we have incoming cash, it needs to go to paying down that borrowing. Or at least, that is what a functioning business would do.

Hence my belief that cashflow alone is constraining our position, setting aside P$S. I can't see any serious incoming without an even more serious outgoing, presumably Onana, but maybe Pickford, as they are our only two obviously saleable assets. Hence also we scratch around for out of contract players on their last legs. We only need them to run for a season

I live in Spain. I follow the blues online from here.
I havent seen a match programme in years. Does Kenwright or Moshiri say anything in them ?

Because they say nothing to the outside world in an official club capacity, ie release a statement about Everton's progress goals for the next 6-12 months.
The odd occasion they do say owt it is all about them.

The last one being how Bill is great to stay on.
NOT
We would like to make matters clear for all of our fans.
This is the issue we have with P&S.
Blah blah blah
The result of which means the club are extremely limited in bringing in new players.
We have provided Thelwell with a figure of £X with which to work.

It is not like Everton would be revealing their hand to anyone.
All other clubs know our plight, better than us, the fans.

Except us of course! :(

Everton are closely monitoring his situation in case Ashley Young decides Luton Town are a more attractive proposition...

He'll give guidance and advice as well to current players and may well take the first team spot off Mykolenko, form depending.

He's won more in his career than the current Everton squad combined!

This is what we need right now as we consolidate for the future.

I just don't trust Moshiri anymore. I think he will dump them on the club and head for the hills if he can.

Davies would probably be looking for another contract and it looks like Everton have decided to let him go and use the money saved to add to our transfer fund... which isn't likely to be very much!

It looks like we'll be getting £10 million for Holgate; and maybe we'll be able to bring in a decent goalscorer.

Where have you seen the £10M for Holgate please?

Brands became a scapegoat when he turned on Moshiri and lost his vital support.

The Director of Football role is no different for Thelwell. He works with the manager, but is an advisor to the Board, handing over the requisition form to the Board and that is where his work ends in any transfer.

Similarly, the Board influences the transfer policy determined by the Profitability and Sustainability rules, money made available, and their own preferences and contacts. In Kenwright's case, Man Utd and Barcelona rejects, Levy, Harry Redknapp and other scrumbags. Moshiri simply watches Italian television which he views in Monaco.

Therefore, the transfer policy seems to have a threadbare feel about it. Need a back-up full-back, possibly a centre-back and a centre-forward to replace Simms. Old ground were they've been before is preferred.

So a Director of Football has no remit regarding side balance, development (young players sold off, loaned out before this) or style of play. The Manager has to do the best he can to cobble together a side and make do and mend, which makes him dependent on Medical Services.

Based on the ancient regime of the School and Science, a title that has long lost its relevance as a method suitable for Premier League competition. Players that were given big contracts and bought in on huge fees have to be in the selection mix and played if fit, on suspect performance criteria.

Moshiri's continuous praise for the present regime is based on no-one admitting crap was bought. Any manager brought in is conditional on his ability to get something out of crap players.

Aleast Dyche knows something about such a remit.

Apparently he's kept himself fit, and his injury history is low so let's wait and see?

Even if Mykolenko starts, Young will be a very good back-up option, cost nothing, so a no-brainer for me.

For me, I'll reserve judgement on any signing until the window closes. Only then will our ‘strategy' and predicament be revealed. The comings and goings of the window will then be seen through the lens of our ambition - to survive or thrive.

My prediction is 13th with a -10 goal difference - both a huge improvement on last season and a damning indictment of where we find ourselves currently.

Like you I thought Dyche got us out of a situation that looked hopeless and with a full preseason training helping him to get the squad fully fit, assessing who we have finally finished up with he will be able to get n a position that will banish any of the last two seasons fretting and worrying.

I think the main danger to Everton next season is any serious injuries to a still threadbare squad.

There will be still nothing to get excited about but that is the way the club has been run for a long time and it's gong to be a long time before we are stabilised and ready to get back to fighting for and winning honours.