A crisis looms… or maybe not, so we are assured

A bit left field I know but Sting's line from his song 'Russians' came to mind; 'what might save us me and you is if the Russians love their children too'.

Meaning, in this case, I hope TFG actually see a decent return on their investment and therefore won't allow us to start next season with the squad we currently have.

I am sort of comforted by the knowledge that when Ancelotti took over, 3 signings came in pretty much on the last day (Allan, Docoure & a certain Galactico as he was known) and all, in their way made a real difference. Plus two and arguably all three of them in positions we're after now; holding mid, attacking mid and nominally at least, a right winger.

Personally, I can't see a sound (no pun meant) company, like TFG, committing so much dosh and not doing their utmost to having everything in place to (as a minimum) keep us up in the Premier League, better still perhaps in the Top 10 this coming season.

Maybe behind closed doors????

We've talked a lot about uniting the supporters this past week and previously. Whichever way your glass is filled, or opinions on the new owners, there is increasing impatience and yes, worries about our activity in the transfer market on both sides of the opinions.

On your point about who is dealing with transfers and contracts right now? Someone must be as we've signed Alcaraz permanently, Barry and Travers. Plus the contract renewals of Coleman, Gana and Keane, with Pickford reportedly on the cusp of signing a new 4-year contract.

I've said this before, but don't mind repeating as it seems relevant for your article. Once the planets align and the pieces are in place, I don't see Moyes having anywhere near the absolute monarch control he had in his first stint. He will of course have input and be part of that group, but inline with Kinnear's comments for a flatter recruitment structure, it will be run by committee. I don't anticipate he will be involved in contract negotiations.

Caveat; that's not gospel or "in the know", just my reading between the lines.

I do think we will see a few players before the end of the window, and I promise not to spontaneously combust when we beat Brighton and sign new players!!!

Terms and Conditions apply — as the saying goes!

1) TFG need to show up, speak up, put up – they might not feel the need to proactively communicate to supporters, but they'd better change that approach quickly or this fan base will put them right.

2) The new executive recruits – these senior hires take a long time and we should be willing to wait for the best talent. I am quite impressed by the profiles of Nick Cox, James Smith and Chris Howarth.

3) New recruitment – our recruitment over the last 9 years has been so appalling that we have to learn the lessons, and avoid rushing into poor signings. I am willing to be patient for 4 more weeks.

4) Players – we need a right back, left back, No 6, No 8, and right winger. At least 3 of those signings must be better quality than the current squad, and I don't mind 1 or 2 more experienced players in that mix given this is a squad without a lot of leaders.

5) The manager needs backing – I am sure David Moyes has made it very clear what he needs and it is the job of TFG, Kinnear and Hammond to deliver.

Big summer for TFG – if they mess it up then the fans will be on their backs big time.

Paul, a very well written piece with a lot of humour (I like that last bit about Beto ha.. ha..). But I do share your growing anxiety about a lack of signings, but more worryingly, a lack of any exciting rumours from the less inaccurate sources like The Athletic, Romano, and that other guy whose name I forget.

It is ridiculous and makes a mockery of ‘financial fair play' if one team can splash hundreds of millions of pounds to improve their title winning team, another helplessly waits for scraps to fall nearby.

What has improved since the departure of Moshiri? Apparently, not much. And I am joining the bandwagon of TWers who believe that Kevin Thelwell would have done a better job if he had been retained until things settled down with the new manager, new stadium, etc. Too many changes simultaneously are never a good thing,

My fears for the season are:

1. We will go into it weaker than last season. Even managing to downgrade our terrible right hand side.

2. The promoted teams will fair better than last season making it a tougher battle at the bottom.

3. TFG have a reputation for pulling the trigger quickly on managers meaning a poor first half of the season could lead to yet another seemingly annual round of who's next.

One thing I would add, is that I don't think any of us can give assurances; I certainly can't. We don't run the club or make decisions, we just support them. Thoughts, speculation, opinions; yes. Assurances? No.

On Thelwell, I would have liked him to stay, but once it was clear the owners and board didn't want him, despite his professionalism, how much would his head and heart have been in knowing the writing was on the wall? It would probably have been mutual consent by both parties to go early.

I don't think we should look at Liverpool, just yet. They can point to several seasons of Champions League football, their global marketing pull and far superior match day revenue in addition to what that city centre store brings in from visitors.

Their owners are past having to throw money at it. They are generating revenue that can be reinvested. Hopefully that is TFG's plan.

I think Manchester United are the ones to watch. I know likewise, they draw a lot of revenue, but even without that, they are signing cheques like they are in a Las Vegas casino. Surely a lack of European competition will catch up?

Personally I would have left Thelwell in for this transfer window as his talent finding always seemed spot-on (Kudus, Ekitike, Diaz, Gyokeres, Ndiaye, O'Brien etc) even if he never had the money or club stability to close many of those deals. But perhaps it would have been the same if he was here. Hard to know what's going on behind the scenes.

There's not much that hasn't already been said. It will be a competitive season. Of the teams we'd expect to beat Sunderland especially seem to be recruiting well. Late reinforcements for us could lead to a slow start; my memory was this was a common ocurrence under Moyes.

But most reports suggest there is a healthy pot of money to spend and it's crucial we spend it wisely; the initial splurges under Moshiri were poorly executed and we paid a heavy price for that, almost going under. Patience is a virtue, a rare one for Everton fans, but we have to get it right; it's more than just this season we are talking about.

But their owners have, sadly, run their club the right way for a long time now and we are only just starting that journey. We can't compete with them and about 7 other clubs just yet.

I can't, of course, guarantee the outcome of the transfer window - but it is fair to point out (as others have):

- our immediate peer group of Palace, Bournemouth, Wolves, Brentford and Forest are all currently weaker than last season due to sales and departures with very little business done.

- the Sky money doesn't turn up until August, which should help get deals over the line. At the moment a lot of transfers are locked in someone along the lines of a chain when you're buying a house.

- the market plays out much the same each year, with deals done late due to agents, players, selling clubs and buying clubs all playing a game of brinkmanship to extract as much value as they can. Many deals will be done in the last week of the window as a result.

- we have bucked the trend of the last 4 or so windows and made positive investment of about £45m and not sold anyone - in fact we've tied down our star player to a long term deal.

- profile of the three brought in so far looks about right to me. All of them can be part of an improving squad for the next 5 years or more. Stability.

There will probably be some underwhelming signings too like maybe Soucek, Coufal and others - but that's okay. As Steve B says we do need some experience given the turnover in the squad.

If it remains a mess by the end of the window I'll join everyone in their complaints. But I can't imagine either Moyes or TFG will be particularly troubled by any of this at the moment – or feel the need to communicate with the fans – because it's all playing out quite predictably. It's just a shame the RS are having a big spending summer.

"It's all gone quiet over there!
It's all gone quiet over there!
All gone quiet, All gone quiet,
It's all gone quiet over there!"

No one saying a word.
Exodus.
Not filling empty places.
No reassurances.
Worrying…

Of course many of our respected and knowledgeable contributors have stepped in to reassure us of the difficulties of the transfer window/market etc, and that everything will come together in the last week or so of the window.

I hope they are right.

A question that worries me, however, is why so many of the players we have “a strong interest in”, or “are talking to” etc, etc end up signing for other clubs? I'm including newly promoted clubs in this, not just more fashionable continental clubs.

Is it because our recruitment team can't get its act together quick enough?

We are regularly reading that the club are interested in such and such player, and think “wow, just what we need, go for it” only to read next day he's signed for Bayer something or other.

Why? There must be a reason... Is it the club is perceived to lack ambition? Has a poor quality squad/ manager?

Have we upset a lot of players' agents over the years and they are reluctant to do business with us? Is it image?

I honestly have no idea but, whatever it is, is a very powerful influence because it comes back every window to haunt us.

I remember last year and the year before having similar discussions on TW, the same concerns,the same reassurances that “it will be alright on the night” … Groundhog Day.

I agree with Andrew @8 with another addition. Late recruitment means a fairly meaningless preseason. A wasted preseason often results in a poor start to the season (as we have experienced) and this puts pressure on the players, the manager etc by having to play catch-up football.

When can we look forward to a season with optimism and confidence?

After the last game at Goodison Park, he seemed to ask for backing from the owners. In recent weeks, he's talked about a lot of players coming in, when he's usually more circumspect than that. Maybe he's trying to force TFG's hand?

I wonder if the reality of the situation – limited funds and less autonomy on signings – has become clear to him?

In the 90s, both Howard Kendall and Joe Royle resigned after not being backed. Could it happen again?

None of the players who left were nailed-on starters, and certainly fall under the category of "not good enough to take us to the next level". Our best starting XI is unaffected thus far, and possibly improved by Barry.

Hysterical whinging based on comparisons made with the spending of our neighbours is beyond absurd. They are irrelevant in any case and in a position that offers absolutely no useful context for Everton at this moment.

Spit your dummy out and give yourself an ulcer if you want, it'll make no difference to the outcome. I trust in the players we have got and, until there is evidence to the contrary, assume that we have entered a more professional era with a strategic and deliberate approach to squad building.

What players out of our strongly linked targets have signed for other clubs?

I believe your post most accurately summarises the current position – and what will play out over the next few weeks. Given our current status, I have long expected most deals to be concluded in the last week of the window.

Liam #14,

Yes, it could. Of course he may be happy with how things are going, the deals being pursued etc, but if Moyes isn't backed and supported in line with his expectations, I could see him walking.

I have long-expected most deals to be concluded in the last week of the window.

Mike, mate, in whatever universe is this a good strategy?

Right-back Wesley just signed for Roma.

I'm a natural worrier where Everton are concerned and the way the club are carrying out the recruitment of new players hasn't eased that worry.

Nevertheless, it's no use crying or worrying over spilt milk, or even the milk that hasn't been spilt yet, so I'll just hope that all's well that ends well.

The way things are going if we do sign players they are not going to be ready for the opening games and valuable points will be lost.

It's all very worrying.

I don't need to tell you this, but it's why I don't really pay a lot of attention in most of the tentative links and speculation until there's something in it. It's not good for the health.

A link doesn't mean we've actually been talking to a player or if they are even on the target list.

I think Dave @20 captures it well. We are all, in our own way, getting frustrated, concerned and worrying.

But, we'll wait and see come the start of the season and end of the window. There's not a lot else we can do.

We are being linked with players either through genuine interest or media speculation, many of which would benefit and strengthen our squad.

Surely despite there being 4 weeks left in the window we should have had players identified, approached and in, the Manager would have wanted that and to take on pre season.

It's obvious that we are having a real struggle attracting players despite our new "reset" with manager and stadium.
The present squad, as we all know with its current lack of depth, will be circling the plug hole again come next spring.

The thought of being relegated in our first season at the new stadium does not bear thinking about. We need action now not feeding on leftovers.

Don't dither, do!!!!

Our neighbours mean absolutely nothing to me, although one thing that has been very noticeable to me is how much FSG embraced Liverpool FC from the beginning.

They never spoke about getting begrudged acknowledgement, but why would they, when everyone knows that real winners get a lot more respect than that.

Striker

- Barry (Everton)
- Ferguson (Roma on loan)
- Delap (Chelsea)

Right wing

- Hutchinson
- Kubo
- Doak
- Fellows
- Bakayoko (Leipzig)
- Dibling

Attacking midfield

- Alcaraz (Everton)
- McAtee
- Rohl
- Dewsbury-Hall

Central / Defensive midfield

- Gallagher
- Onyedika
- O'Riley
- Luiz
- Hackney
- Ndidi
- Soucek
- Diarra (Sunderland)
- El Aynoui (Roma)

Right back

- Wesley (Roma)
- KWP (West Ham)
- Coufal
- Vagiannidis
- Walker (Burnley)

Left back

- Aznou
- Kosugi

I think this means most of our strongly rumoured targets are all still available. There are probably a good number of players also, like Alcaraz in January, whom the club is talking to but haven't yet made the rumour mills.

As I recall it, when he first took the Everton job, he was told the modest level of support he was likely to get - and what he was told proved to be correct. So no reason for complaint.

He was also a young up-and-coming manager keen to make his mark in his first Premier League role — now, he's in his 60s with, I assume, a different perspective.

We don't know what's going on in the background, save speculating.

We've already identified that TFG play their cards close to their chest, rightly so in my opinion.

Added to this, most business gets done towards the end of the window anyway. It's the nature of the beast.

I'm sure most of us can agree that we needed to adopt a more structured and strategic approach to transfers compared to the shit show from previous owners.

I can still remember listening to people on TalkSport and watching them on Sky TV telling everyone Everton had won the transfer window before a ball had been kicked – and that didn't turn out good either.

Don't expect to hear from TFG, I keep hearing, which is fine by me to a certain degree, until I hear people like Dave Beeston talk about leaving us in a better place, which might eventually gain his employees some begrudged respect.

The Friedkins aren't responsible for the state of the club they purchased and they aren't responsible for us currently being in the most trophy-less barren spell in our entire history, but they are responsible for us now, so let's just hope that they have got bigger and better plans for Everton than just earning a little bit of begrudging respect.

Respect to Paul, by the way, because he definitely captures how I'm currently feeling with regards the current situation at Everton.

It's like Déjà Vu all over again.

There must be a reason we leave it until deadline day but it doesn't calm the nerves.

I'm doing my best to stay calm… if we don't sign anyone before the Leeds game, we're still only Harrison and Young missing from the team that beat Newcastle in their own midden!

Douglas Luiz is surplus at Juventus, and won't go back. Even this is proving hard to complete as Juve have set their price on a high earner.

There's no way that Moyes and TFG will want us struggling at the bottom of the table, therefore I'm sure we will see 5+ signings as soon as it's possible.

Signing players is not like choosing Christmas presents it's obviously far more involved than that. We need quality not quantity.

Interest in Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo has hit buffers due to the clubs asking price. [

@_pauljoyce

We're looking at Tyler Dibbling now…

- “There is an expectation at the club that recruitment will run right to the very end of the transfer window, which closes on September 1”.

We were told that TFG are good business people and therefore plan ahead. Then we were told to calm down as PSR prevented us doing much by 1 July.

It seems to me that, other than binning off a number of players, there has been little succession planning at all.

Although there is a lot of clickbait, the media do tend to get a handle if something is going on, so I was disappointed to read this morning that Kubo has stated he has not heard from anyone at or about Everton.

The words "It has all gone quiet" appear to be the order of the day.

Robert says some of the teams we compete with have been weakened — but so have we, only more so.

I'm still amused with all the players we've been linked with, and when some of the players have signed for another club, it's said we've missed out, even though no one knows for certain if we were really interested in the first place.

Football journalists love being heard, and more than 60% of the time, they're totally wrong. I see rumours now Calvert-Lewin could be signing for AC Milan, more luck to him.

You asked me @16 which of our strongly linked players have signed for other clubs and then answer your own question with your post at @28.

The answer seems to be 8 so far on your reckoning although arguably I would arguably add Kenny Tete and Weah to that list.

Also Omari Hutchinson and Hayden Hackney seem to be in well advanced discussions with other clubs and, despite our alleged interest and contact with McAtee, we don't seem to have convinced him that Everton is his best move.

We could also throw Jack Grealish into the mix but I won't as this seems to be obvious media spin.

Still, I would argue that there is ample evidence that players are choosing other clubs over us. I would still ask the question… Why?

Very easy to get carried away with media transfer links (I spend too much time reading them all!) but we have to separate 'interest' (in probably hundreds of players) to concentrate on bids and offers.

I accept that much of the information we get is from the media and therefore should be treated with caution, but some comes from a variety of sources which all seem to add momentum to the narrative.

Lack of communication from the club adds to the conjecture and frustration but that is probably the wise course to take.
Given all that, I still feel we need to move quicker, with the start of the season approaching rapidly.

Other reports say Real Madrid would collect half of Kubo's sell-on price. And the player himself just hired a new agent.

To be continued….

If Moyes isn't concerned with the strength of his squad, with just over 3 weeks until the new season starts, then I would genuinely be lost for words.

But he's been a top-level manager for 25 years now, so I don't think there's much that will stress him out. He's used to this.

What Moyes will also know and understand is TFG are not just building a squad for season 2025-26. So if the first three games go by while we're still short of players, then so be it.

That might make the difference between finishing 11th and 12th which, in the grand scheme of the next 3 to 5 years, means nothing at all.

Stu - to your point: Why are other players not choosing us? The answer will be:

- we withdrew interest in some (eg, Ferguson) on signing Barry

- we weren't really interested in the first place (eg, Wesley)

- the player was after Champions League football (eg, Bakayoko)

- we weren't prepared to pay over the odds (wages and / or fee) for someone we weren't that fussed about (eg, Walker and Walker-Peters).

Otherwise, we won't nail down every target because we have financial constraints and no immediate European or Champions League football. So good players may get better offers – but it still seems worth pursuing good players?

I think we're getting into fantasy land now. Do you really now see just how much trouble we are in right now?

I don't think it's unfair to say that Moyes is now working with the weakest squad in the Premier League.

We ended the season a small squad and it was know that there would be a load of departures. It's also known that most business is done in the latter part of the window.
with

Having the smallest squad going into pre-season friendlies isn't ideal. But we don't get points for pre-season friendlies.

What would you like us to do? The options seem to be:

- pay over the odds for players we really want, but then end up buying fewer players because it stretches the kitty thin; or

- move on to lesser players after our primary targets, but possibly have to pay over the odds for them too in order to seal the deal quickly.

Or maybe the answer is magically to negotiate harder or make ultimatums etc – none of which probably greatly concerns selling clubs or agents who know others are still waiting in the wings.

You don't know Moyes, Mike!

I would respond to your strategy criticism with the financial universe. We all see the player attributes needed for the next level. We collectively know the square root of fuck all about the terms or sequential potential moves that give us a chance to sign players possessing ambition with immediate application.

I still believe this is a market driven delay. Also, it seems recent big spending in the striker market has not been justified by outcomes. So not only do you have a downward pressure on at least price growth, it isn't clear what major deal will open the gates to more transfer activity.

It's been a pretty active window so far.

Firstly on whether his squad will get the additions we need and secondly that, if he does, he has to perform. I just sense that TFG won't hang around if they back him and it doesn't happen. They've proven that at Roma.

I can actually see that, Tony. And eventually, it might actually be a more suitable role for Moyes moving upstairs at this stage of his career.

It wouldn't happen immediately as he will get the chance to deliver on the pitch.

But as always, it could play out in different ways. It goes wrong and he is dismissed. Or, like we've seen at other clubs — Man City with Pep, Chelsea with Mourinho, and Liverpool — someone better comes along that is too good to miss the opportunity.

And that was despite those clubs all having success or being on the brink of it.

We need some stability and patience. This isn't a quick fix.

Certainly from where I am thinking now, but I could see it in time.

Ignoring the teams with lots of money and Champions League football, clubs are generally finding the window hard going:

Aston Villa: unable to retain Rashford, potentially selling Watkins. Bought a young Turkish centre-back as a development player. That's it.

Brighton: bought in high volume again (6 so far) but lost Estupinan and Ferguson. Possibly only Boscagli is first-team ready.

Crystal Palace: lost Mitchell on a free and replaced with inferior Sosa. Struggling to hang onto Eze and Mateta and Guehi.

Brentford: lost Mbeumo and Flekken, may lose Wissa. Bought some good players in Milambo, Kellerher and Kayode. But look significantly weaker.

Wolves: lost their best players by a mile in Ait Nouri and Cunha. Took up option on Strand-Larsen. Only new players are two very young wingers Arias and Lopez.

Nottm Forest: lost Elanga, Danilo and in danger of losing Gibbs-White. Bought Igor Jesus who looks okay but not as good as Elanga.

Fulham: nothing at all.

Brentford: lost their best player in Kerkez and also Huijsen. Also lost Kepa. Replacement left-back is not as good. Replacement goalkeepr looks okay. No replacement yet for Huijsen.

Promoted clubs: bought in higher volume but nothing we'd really want apart from probably Adingra, Diarra and Talbi who look like good business for Sunderland.

Jhon Arias isn't young: he'll be 28 in September. He's obviously not experienced European football before so is inexperienced in that regard but has been excellent in South America. Will be interesting to see how he does.

Otherwise, people will think I don't know what I am on about...

Providing we bring in the right players, I have no fear that we can have a go next season.

I feel sorry for the Blues going to watch that Stateside. The aim sadly is to build up fitness, and not lose any more players to injury, rather than win. Not what any blue wants.

The fundamentals are that we need players in. Weve cash on the hip for the first time in ages, plus multiple loan slots available.

The links on the whole have been positive. Apart from Harrison, most have been young, emerging players. That's important with the oldest squad in the Premier League.

We are not a club that can beat our drum, despite our history and new stadium. Everyone knows we've been a shit show club for the last 30 years or so.

No danger of that!

That, along with signing Barry and getting Branthwaite signed to a new deal, have stopped me from having a full-on melt down! 😂

I need to get back to my "Judge at the end of the window" calm self… 😂

Spurs only find it easier to attract players as they play in Europe more regular, and have now just won a European trophy.

Moyes has fallen into that trap in the distant past with late signings like Bily, Vlasic, Ings and Simon Davies, but after all these years I'd figure he has learned his lesson.

We all click into the website hoping to see signing news, but accepting that we're not always going to be competitive for the players we want is part of the deal. For now.

Ian #60, the US Blues are going into those matches with their eyes wide open. They know what they'll see, and what they won't. Don't feel sorry for them.

I just hope that we’re not embarrassed in USA.

Absolutely nothing on any sports network about Everton and transfers.
The great ‘reset’ has deserted us….. so far.

We simply can’t afford a slow start and having players signed late on is always a risk.

Come on, Everton. Ffs

I'm hoping that it's a consequence of the mess Moshiri left behind. The article was a bit harsh on Thelwell. He was spinning plates, while juggling balls & balancing books with people chucking bombs his way.

Moshiri washed his hands of us, and left us with no mid- to long-term strategy. So now a slow start to the window is to be expected, especially with the whole new recruitment department.

So, fellas, don't pull out the last of that hair just yet. Save that for when the team, with 20 new signings, struggles to string 3 passes together!

Barry / Beto
Ndiaye / McNeil
Hutchinson / ?
Alcaraz / Armstrong
Gallagher / Iroegbunam
Garner / Gueye
Mykolenko / Aznou
Rensch / Coleman
Branthwaite / ?
Tarkowski / O'Brien
Pickford / Travers

It's not a big squad but it is so much better in quality than anything we've had since 2020-21 and possibly even 2018-19.

If I am wrong and we're rubbish, then sincere apologies in advance for stringing everyone along.

It won't be long before we will be approaching 1.45 am and things will definitely start to get desperate then.

It's not the cash outlay that hits the books for PSR purposes, it's spend. The cost is amortised over the life of the contract, starting when you sign the player. When you pay the cash is irrelevant in that context, though obviously cash could be a constraint.

As for signings, we know where we are. The squad isn't deep and we could do with another couple of faces. It would be nice to have players in early but that typically means paying a premium or lowering your expectations in terms of quality. The dominos will start falling soon and things will become clear. I'm not going to judge the current leadership until the window 'slams shut'.

Whilst it would be okay on paper, over the course of any season, you are likely to lose players through injury, suspension or national call-up. Losing one in such circumstances is manageable, two difficult… but three is a major catastrophe.

We have seen seasons where it appears we have more injured players than fit so the smaller the squad the higher the likelihood of impact. We need 6 more players, 3 experienced, three with quality. Failure to find will impact at some point in the season ahead.