Jarrad Branthwaite misses US tour matches

Worrying… remember his minor injury last pre-season, lasted a good while?

We have lacked a goal threat for a while and, while we have signed Barry, it's a big ask for the lad to hit the ground running. Beto is a willing runner but I think we need more attacking options than we possess at present. Delap was exactly what we wanted; I wonder if Chelsea had signed Pedro before they approached Delap, would he have still gone there???

Is there such a thing?

All training will need to cease as there would be a real risk of a tear.

Okay, so the club may make some money from the trip, but as things stand, the present squad looks weaker than the squad that finished last season. So, unless they bring back a couple of new players, I think they should have stayed at home.

I think they should have stayed at home.

I don't think that would have been an option, David. This Summer Series is a big deal for the Premier League and the promotion of their brand in the USA. To have one of the teams pull out at the last minute because they were weak on numbers (or whatever reason given) would be completely untenable.

Mind, I can see a few would like it as sticking one up to the 'corrupt' Premier League in a good old tit for tat. But never going to happen.

Yet over many pre-seasons, including this one, our club doesn't seem to be in the position to take advantage of this opportunity, and our pre-season games are little more than a few half-hearted run-outs for fringe players with apparently meaningless results.

That means that we have to wait for a significant number of games into the actual season for first team players to start gelling, particularly new players who have been signed a few weeks, days… hours? before the end of the transfer window. That is a ridiculous state of affairs, risking early points lost that needn't be had the majority of the first team had the benefit of playing together in the early pre-season games.

This makes a mockery of the pre-season objective, but I'm guessing that Everton, and many other clubs, are at the mercy of players' agents nowadays who deliberately stall early negotiations for player signings in order to hopefully generate a scramble of inter-club haggling at the last minute. I'm not sure how these circumstances can be ameliorated but it primarily serves the wealthier clubs who are in the better financial position to pay the premium for an early signing of a player if that suits their objective.

Sadly, it appears we're not one of those clubs.

"...Everton, and many other clubs, are at the mercy of player's agents nowadays who deliberately stall early negotiations for player signings in order to hopefully generate a scramble of inter-club haggling at the last minute."

Of course they are. That's the agent's job, to get the best possible deal for their clients -- balancing money, playing time, club ambition and other factors.

It's not the agent's job to make life easier for the clubs bidding for the player.

We're in for some much-in-demand players, and we can count on those players and their agents to consider offers from all their suitors before making a decision, even if it takes until the very end of the window.

Fortunately, some of those players won't necessarily be looking for the biggest money, but will prioritize the best opportunity to get minutes on the pitch. If it came down to just the contract size, we'd lose out on almost everybody.

Everton and soft tissue injuries. Have we cornered the market? 🤔

Read a great post the other night on ToffeeWeb in relation to signings. Can't quite remember who but he was a regular poster.

There are three conflicting priorities... quality, affordability and timing.

Unfortunately Everton often have to compromise.

Of course I fucking haven't!! But someone will, soon.

And there I was looking forward to being on the live feed for games in the US.

I guess if the League wants to optimize clubs presenting better quality of football to the public from the start, they could shift the transfer window to finishing a few weeks prior to the season starting to allow clubs to integrate their new players in pre-season games.

No defensive additions, no midfield additions, and just one untested forward. Someone needs to start making it happen, and quickly…

This just highlights the critical paucity of the first team squad.

I keep hearing things like '3 good signings and we'll be okay'. Maybe if everyone stays fit, but that's not going to happen.

We are likely to be relying on Michael Keane again come the start of the season, which is like Groundhog Day. But worse.

Quad, hamstring and groin strains are often linked to a back issue or a bio-mechanical problem. Duncan Ferguson had similar issues which disrupted his career. We must hope Jarrad is not destined to suffer the same fate.

I've had my doubts about Dan Friedkin. I just hope and pray he proves me wrong.

Surely the new owners don't want a drop in their new investment?

Mike, sorry but I just don't buy that. We are in the richest league in the world and, while we might be a relatively rubbish member of it, we are still in it, with a new stadium that should add to our revenue.

There are clubs I referred to in a post the other day who would all, more often than not, take us to the cleaners as we stand today, having quality footballers both now and in the past, whose wage bill is way smaller than ours: Villarreal, Real Sociedad, Atalanta, Lyon, Porto, Sporting etc.

We should be able to quickly source quality players better than any of those teams. There are very many globally to choose from and, if we're not able to compete in the very top echelon, we are hardly in global terms, a bottom feeder, looking for scraps. It just needs good recruitment.

"We should be able to quickly source quality players better than any of those teams."

We should. We can't. Those clubs have long-established scouting networks and player development pipelines. We don't. Hopefully we eventually will.

Yes, the new stadium should generate more money… once it's paid for. Let's not forget, it was largely funded with outrageous loans from the Riverdance guy and 777 Partners crooks.

I'm hoping TFG bought us with a view to the long term because, if they splash cash short term, we can expect more points deductions.

When you consider he was as fit as anyone in the squad, it does seem weird unless we had a ready-made replacement.

We've got one right-back who's really a centre-back.

One that's perennially crocked.

One that's 36 and pretty much these days always injured.

And then we'd be left shoehorning James Garner there who again isn't a right-back.

I think the new regime for transfers should have been gradual and what we are seeing now is a group of strangers still getting to know their rolls.

Meanwhile, with 4 weeks to go, we have a lot of positions to fill and a lot of players to come in, who need to hit the ground running without getting to know their teammates, which tours like the one going on now are normally used for.

I am sure the owners, their board and accountants are aware what can be spent. I doubt very much we will be going back to the reckless Moshiri days, it doesn't mean we won't have money to spend.

I know there are other expenditure factors involved with PSR, and the reported permitted losses run over a 3-year period. In transfers alone, rough calculations are that we have in excess of over £100m in the green over the past 3 seasons.

Obviously as each season passes, one gets chalked off and the new one added. But with the additional revenue the stadium is going to generate, I think we are okay.

Manchester United however?? That said, they can probably avoid both PSR and FFP with their global reach and match day revenue even without European football.

On Moyes, my view in hindsight, is that it was the right pragmatic, practical and realistic choice for where we were. Moyes himself talks about stability. I think he's done that already and credit to him.

So, with the backing, he can push us on an accelerated path and we can become the surprise package this coming season.

You'll have to excuse me. August is coming.

Firstly, hopefully this is a precaution.

I'll go back to last season. I think it was Fulham away. He went down and it didn't look good. He was treated and came back on, which I commented on at the time, I didn't think was a good idea. Sure enough, he went down again soon after, voluntarily and signalling.

It would be good experience for Welch. He's looked okay, but it's a different level and I'm not sure he's quite ready, but it wouldn't do him any harm.

To your point, I would see it being a back 4 of Garner, O'Brien, Keane and Mykolenko for the tour.

Let's just hope we sign a right-back, and that Branthwaite and Tarkowski are ready for the new season. Then we have a different, but positive dilemma.

In his previous tenure, Moyes only had two good pre-seasons and starts to the season. It showed at the end of the season in higher positions. His highest position was lost in Europe in the preliminary rounds of the Premier League in the pre-season.

We may be lucky and actually buy a play-making midfielder, which is glaringly needed. Doucoure was never one.

Lindstrom only showed something at the start of Moyes's new tenure (the principal reason for Moyes's surprising step up) and then was injured. But he was never going to be consistent or strong enough for a full season. I am surprised that this priority has not been addressed.

Alcaraz is more box-to-box but not a playmaker to the required standard. He conforms to the group norm too easily instead of pushing on. I don't know what his only 2-year contract is about, other than pointing to bad work on Everton's behalf in 2 years time. Neither Doucoure nor Lindstrom have been replaced.

Branthwaite is likely to miss the start of the season. It would be advised as a precaution.

Apart from Luiz, I haven't seen anything suggesting we are in for other quality players. I have seen a lot of speculation but that doesn't mean we are actually in for the player mentioned.

Much as I hope we are able to bring in some top quality players, it isn't looking likely at this moment in time.

I just hope some of the younger lads step up and do us proud on the US tour; otherwise, it could get embarrassing.

I think you are mistaking famous names with quality. Douglas Luiz is a famous name – but I'd be wary of treating him as the right sort of target for various reasons.

Whereas plenty of other linked players – like Doak, Kubo and Hutchinson – have no shortage of quality but maybe aren't as famous as you'd like?

I honestly think Patterson would have been wholly excluded / sold by now if he were still that far down the rankings in Moyes's estimation.

Watching some of the available training videos, it seems to me that you hear a lot of Moyes encouraging ‘Patto' but he sounds enthusiastic and not exasperated.

Maybe Moyes has been good for Patterson and he will finally mature from his ugly duckling phase and become a swan?

I am sure there are many positions Moyes would like to strengthen but money and availability of the right players may be causing the slow movement in the market. Moyes is more aware than anyone the need for new players, and I am sure he is having conversations daily with his team to move things along.

Let's hope we can do some deals in the next fortnight, and stay injury free in the tournament as any more injuries to key players could really set us back for the start of the season.

Maybe Moyes is aware that we need new players, he'd be in the wrong job if he didn't, and I understand his position in regards to getting players to Everton in time for the new season.

It's not so easy getting six or more players in so quickly but nevertheless, and I know it's not his fault, but I feel for the fans in America next week watching our team, especially without Branthwaite.

I can see it being very embarrassing for them with no more new players travelling with the squad.

Yes, I read that he was going on loan to Stockport, maybe he isn't the answer but for me he deserved more game time than Patterson.

Let's hope the loan spell does him some good.

"This will be a Blues visit to the USA that’s bigger and better than anything that has ever gone before and as part of their proselytising duties to promote what is already the most watched and most competitive domestic division on the planet, the participants will also be busy promoting the Premier League brand to American audiences as well as sharpening themselves in preparation for another gruelling season ahead."

Hubris and hyperbole.

The Bobble reporting Jason Metcalfe is in advanced talks with Bradford City with a view to a permanent deal.

Strange wording in that extract from the Echo, Michael. I mean, it doesn't really say a lot. It could have simply read "Everton are travelling to the US to promote the club and the Premier League".

I'm nowhere near convinced about Patterson but apparently he did have a good game against Port Vale - on the front foot, got an assist, didn't embarrass himself actually defending. Maybe Moyes sees something he can work with.

Having said all that, I wouldn't shed a tear if he went back to Rangers.

The days of the press criticising the ownership of Premier League are drawing to a close. To be fair, the Fourth Estate was shown to be a busted flush in 2020; whatever it was no longer exists.

am not making any mistakes regarding quality or famous players at all. I was merely asking what quality players we were linked to, as mentioned by Mike.

I was also wondering why you have to be sarcastic in many of your replies? Does it make you feel extremely clever, or something?

At least we have some decent cover but hopefully he will be fully fit for the first league game.

We're all on here putting our opinions up for comment. Plenty of people don't like mine and make that plain and that's okay.

Worse still ,I sometimes get little or no response whatsoever when writing articles. I think my record is 6 comments - some of which were probably just out of pity.

I'm not trying to do you down but fair enough maybe I don't always get the tone of voice right (not easy with social media). I'll try harder with that.

I wouldn't take it to heart. Robert is very balanced and articulate in his opinions and writings.

For what it's worth, my gut feeling is that the Takefusa Kubo link will come through soon enough — it sounds like we're in pole position on this one, unlike say, Luiz or McAtee.

If it does, I'm predicting we'll be loving him lighting up BMD.

We all care and want those names to be true, but 9 times out of 10 we sign players who haven't been linked.

Elsewhere, Isak hasn't travelled to Asia with Newcastle after missing their 4 - 0 defeat to Celtic. Coincidence or genuine injury caution?

After the Liverpool link falling through, if he's moving I would imagine it will be to the continent?

I've a vague recollection of Branthwaite having a quad injury previously?

From personal experience, you don't know if a quad injury is minor until after you've been back a while without it reoccurring.

I've been looking out for a squad list but nothing so far. I don't know how comprehensive the video was of them boarding the flight; I suspect compiling a list from that would be rather incomplete.

Usually, the full traveling squad gets named either in the starting XI or on the subs bench; however, these games are likely to stick with Premier League rules which likely means 9 players on the bench — not the 11 Moyes has had (but did not use all) in the two pre-season friendlies.

Given what we've seen so far, I could probably hazard a guess as to who we have in the USA:

Pickford, Travers, Barnsley
Patterson, Coleman
O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Welch, Thomas
Mykolenko
Gueye, Garner
Ndiaye, Alcaraz, Heath
NcNeil, Iroegbunam, Onyango
Beto, Chermiti, Clarke
Graham, Armstrong

That's 24, the last two pure wishful thinking on my part. I fear that Braiden Graham would be "too young" in the eyes of David Moyes, while Harrison Armstrong seems likely to be packed off on loan because he "needs more development".

I know you are only guessing Michael but there are at least six on that list I would leave behind before Graham and Armstrong.

Guessing myself but hopefully because of fitness James Tarkowski is going along just for the ride and training with the squad towards his eventual fitness.

Those 2 have been training with the rest so, unless there is a particularly urgent need for them to be somewhere else, I can't see them not going to The States.

Meanwhile, in this ‘unprecedented' summer for Everton, we can't sign players, our ownership group are absolutely useless, our CEO hasn't got a clue, our manager has no appeal to players, Liverpool are signing 100s of millions in players and Isak to come.

Yes, my patience has snapped today.

40 odd games in a man's league where they can develop and make mistakes, such that they could be ready for the first team in 12 months time. Good enough for Branthwaite, I'd suggest good enough for them.

I know the squad is thin, and some top teams blood their youngsters, but for most nowadays, the loan system works well for teams that don't have easy games.

Both have got ability. Whether it is greater than Price, Warrington, Joe Williams, Banginime, Charsley, Mathis etc time will tell.

Pre-1992 of course, the transfer window was open throughout until March. The European Commission were involved in the introduction of transfer windows around 10 years after that.

I seem to remember the Premier League tried having a window that closed when the season started, but I think it was a one time thing as it wasn't seen as successful, or maybe I just imagined it - can't find anything online about it.

Danny @ 45, I am afraid I disagree with you because I did find the final paragraph sarcastic. But it’s all good now.

Jake @ 46, I hope we do sign Kubo, it would be a good signing in my opinion. Fingers crossed

My point was one of simplicity.
It would be nice if everything was done and dusted before the season starts.

Sigh... another four-game losing start then...