Why there’s no need to panic despite a slow start to the summer

My feelings exactly. I never expected anything but a measured approach from our new owners, especially given the fact that two key members of our management team won't report for work until the end of the summer.

Some folks here are well into "where are the signings?" mode, but I'm actually pleased to see the club showing patience and not rushing into signings we might regret later just to fill out the ranks.

And if you want a team and a squad to gel get them in for pre season.
Last seasons pre season was woeful and we had a poor start to season.
That said, loan signings will be determined by the pace of the club doing the lending.
And cash and PSR mean that we have to duck and dive in the transfer market, getting best value for our money.
Whilst we’d like things to be quicker our current financial position means things will inevitably be slower and more pragmatic. We’ll just have to be patient.

Ideally we would have more in for the start of pre-season. But…. Pre season is often lauded as being all about fitness which mattered more when the players where coming back off six weeks on the ale and burgers. Nowadays footballers barely drink and train through the summer so a level of fitness should already be there. Of course there’s match fitness and tactical awareness that come with playing a full pre season together but it was always going to be a tough ask to get everyone in before the start pre season friendlies and it’s something that most teams haven’t achieved yet. The nature of the market now dictates that more is done towards the end of the window than the beginning, our first match is against Leeds who are in a similar position in terms of players waiting to see who else comes in for them.
I’m not worried for the first time in years.

Hi Mike G @ 1, I am a tad concerned that you state " that two key members of our management team, won't report for work, till the end of the summer ".

I am not disputing your statement, for one cotton picking minute, as I know you are well connected and do diligent research, as opposed to some purveyors of detritus we see on these pages.

Who are these key members ? It seems very lackadaisical, as we have so many areas to address in the transfer market that to leave it to either the last minute, or down to Moyes himself.

The manager has many tasks to perform to get ready for the new season as it is. I can't believe if we are to be a serious contender in the forthcoming season, that this has been allowed to happen !

Thank you mr manering. 💙

Old men barking at clouds.

Agreed there’s no need to panic — yet. But a few preseason injuries, plus the fact we’re not negotiating from a position of strength with so many needs, and my fear is the that we’re forced into panic buys in the coming weeks and month as the season nears. Things could get scary very quickly in that situation.

I am not for one moment advocating that we rush into signings just to improve the body count. I admit to being old,but I’m not daft!
The point I’m trying to make,probably very badly,is that all contributers to this site have known for at least 2 years where the deficiencies in the squad are.
My question is therefore, why are we not, as a club identifying potential replacements that fit the age,talent and price profile before the season ends ?
That way we could have a portfolio of possible targets to pursue with all the relevant financial and fitness details prepared beforehand and ready to go as soon as the window opens?
This would seem to indicate due diligence and preparation to me,but there is very little evidence of it happening at Everton.
As for a measured and cautious approach from our new owners how can that be when Roma and Everton are said to be in competition for the same player?
Competition can only force up the price.
So our savvy owners are in effect bidding against themselves and their own interests.
Crazy economics.

I didn't expect an influx, but did expect more than have arrived. My reasoning is its better to have players to start the friendly part of the season, to get fit and gel with the rest of the team. For me this is more important for those not aligned to a club as they are unlikely to be as fit.

Pre-season is all about getting your players fit and your squad ready for the new season.

Hopefully Everton, have bolstered the squad a little bit before we go to America, and play against three different premier league teams in eight days, because this might put unnecessary demands on a squad, that seems very limited In numbers, so early into our pre-season.

Do you have any evidence that Everton haven’t indetified players already Stu?

Dear Dr Mike @1
I agree with your last paragraph entirely.
The amount of duffers, lousy and useless players this club has regularly signed could be scribed into a collection of encyclopedias and fill a small shelf in the Smithsonian.
I was not expecting much in the way of balancing the transfers in with mass exodus out. But I was expecting more than one (Charly was here already) by now.
The new owners have had more than sufficient time in gauging this particular problem (out of the many others we don't know about). I hoped they would hit the transfer window with a hammer and smash a few in especially as they are needed and Moyes had this function bolted to his role at his insistence
However. I am not surprised. I am sad the club is as it always has been with transfers since way before the millennium. But it remains to me as No Shocks shock.

Ryan@11
Only surmising based on lack of activity Ryan.
They weren’t shy in publicising their pursuit of Barry were they?Ran in the media for weeks.

I reckon the club officials are sat on those deck chairs at Blackpool beach doing nothing

Maybe the clubs they want to buy players from need to get replacements in first!

This is why transfers happen towards the end of the window

Saturday do you honestly believe the club ‘publicised their interest in Barry….’

Tony is right.

As long as we've got a couple more in by the US tour, that's what's important. As we've just seen with the CWC, the conditions will be relentless and unforgiving.

I'm not concerned about Accrington and Blackburn. We'll likely see a second string and a few young players feature.

There will.be players lined up. Discussions are probably ongoing as we debate.

The club publicising our pursuit of Barry. There was no announcement from Everton until after he signed and was paraded for the cameras.

Prior to that, it was media guess work, X and other Social Media.

It's how football transfers should be handled.

I am sure we all have differing levels of disappointment at the lack of incomings at the moment particularly with preseason about to start.

I am really hoping that Harrison Armstrong comes good and that Tarks has regained full fitness.

Other than that we have to pray that we don't get any injuries in these friendlies and that the powers that be will surprise us with some quality additions at full back, midfield and up front.

The order is getting taller as the days go by and legitimate targets are signing for other clubs.

I remain one of the impatient ones who is used to getting things done.

Like all other clubs Everton will have identified the players they want but (again like pretty much all other clubs) it takes time because:

- target players, agents and selling clubs will be weighing up options

- many transfers are contingent on one player moving which is like being in a chain in a house purchase

That is why it all comes together at the 11th hour. True positions are revealed after the game of brinkmanship and the deals all go through.

I expect / hope we will get a new RB, RW and midfielder at least.

For all we know there could be three or four deals almost concluded and about to become public knowledge.

Or

There’s nobody lined-up and we’re in for a rollercoaster of a ride (again).

Robert - Absolutely 100% correct.

I would say judge in 7 weeks, not today.

I do think we should have right sided player before we go out to the US. We are short in that area.

I get that it's important to integrate players before the season starts, but equally we don't want to be settling for third of fourth options and if it takes a little longer to bring in our first and second choice targets then so be it.

There is probably lots going on behind the scenes but like the Barry deal I expect the club to be negotiating and possibly waiting on other club transfers to get over the line (domino effect)

Nothing to worry about. If we're short going into Leeds game then questions will be raised.

Right back, cover for left back and central midfield all look like positions where we need new players and it would be nice to see these in place sooner rather than later. We also need a couple of extra squad players to cover for likely injuries, all that will take time.
The thing I don't understand is why are we going to America ? This pre season was always going to be difficult with such a small squad of players, and for my money the trip to America is ill timed and in our circumstances not a good idea.