Saw this rumour last night that we might sign back 37-year-old Begovic.

Good to see EitC at work helping the elderly.

Steve;

Of course we'll re-sign Begovic, I mean, just look at the bench he put out. It had to include juniors as the third "bench" keeper would have been a junior who was due to play or had just played for the U21s or U18.

Dyche would have done his head in having to use that many juniors, even as unused substitutes. He has to have somebody who remembers how he used to play football, other than those who have to pay to watch it.

I just saw a BBC Sport headline saying Everton about to sign an out-of-contract player to fill a gap in the squad.

I instantly went through all the spare right-backs in the top 2 divisions, to see who it might be.

Answer: 'Asmir Begovic'. I've nothing against Begovic, he's a perfectly good 'keeper.... but what are his qualifications for playing right- back!!

Nicholas "I've nothing against Begovic, he's a perfectly good 'keeper but what are his qualifications for playing Right Back!!"

Well he's not scared to come well off his line!

Begovic as a number 3 or are we selling Virginia before he is out of contract next summer?

Apparently we are looking at Steve Watson and Marc Hottiger as potential backup right backs, whisper it quietly though, don't say I said so.

OAP FC - not breaking news doesn’t fill you with confidence - we’ve refused Maupay a loan deal - keeping or just for sale? Only Everton 🤷💙

I think the goalkeeping coach left the club recently after many years at the club, he was there when Pickford first came from Sunderland and had coached him at another club, an ex Irish international goalie.

Begovic will likely do a lot of his work, I hope gets Pickford to come off his line a lot more than he does!

What a relief! We can now look forward to tonking Spurs 4-0.

The coach I was talking about @(8) is Alan Kelly.

FFS, why? Can he play right back, does he score goals, can he find that killer pass? This club never cease to amaze me. "What would Everton do? they always get it right"

Not sure why resigning him is getting so much negativity. He's a a good 'keeper and as everyone knows 37 is not too old in that position especially as backup.

I'd be happy to have him back.

But yes we still need to sort RB.

Dyche needs to get himself over to prenton and watch the kids instead of the Oap center for footballers

He’s just part cover and more coach then player no?

On a free and can’t imagine his wages are that high so surely all fine.

Wow,well done guys,just what we need,another out of contract goalkeeper.we’ll soon be racing up that league!
How come we can make signings like this no problem,but anyone who is likely to improve us on the pitch is a no-no?
Still I suppose the thinking is that if we can stop other teams scoring we won’t need any fullbacks,creative midfielders or pacy forwards who can score goals.Anyway if there’s a problem we can always sub him in the 89th minute can’t we.
My minds gone now——-Nurse!!!

Can someone led Tony Hibbert a pair of boots?

The final piece of the jigsaw. Everything is now in place. Lift off.

Mark @ 16, Can someone led Tony Hibbert a pair of boots?

You are having a laugh he was bad enough first time round, we have enough below standard players without taking more ' aboard '. Give yer head a good wobble, and Dyche's too !

Hopefully this is down to one or both of our younger lads going out on loan.

I'd be very surprised indeed if he was doing any coaching at all, other than giving his advice to the other younger keepers, Dave. Was Lonergan coaching whilst Kelly was there? He's a player.

Phil (19), Alan Kelly only left very recently so unless they bring somebody in to replace him I can see Begovic earning some of his wages coaching, I doubt he will be playing very much if Virginia stays!

Phil (19), Alan Kelly only left very recently so unless they bring somebody in to replace him I can see Begovic earning some of his wages coaching, I doubt he will be playing very much if Virginia stays!

Presumably the medical is to check he still has a pulse?

I was feeling just a little concerned after Saturday. Having seen this in the early evening yesterday, I became so excited I had a job sleeping. Bring on the Spurs. COYB.

How many EPL games did the player of the season Jordan Pickford miss last season? Er... NONE.

Why waste our precious wage budget on a player we don't need?

Virginia is more than capable as a deputy.

There's a couple of decent out of contract right backs out there if they'd bother their arses.

Fine, good call, but Virginia must be absolutely sick. He was certain he was locked in as Pickford's #2.

Maybe he's up for a loan to the Championship. He certainly needs games that he won't get as Picks' deputy.

There is nothing wrong with this signing.

If Pickford gets injured or sent off for trying to cover one of Gana's passes, then Virginia comes in and Begovic on the bench. Perfect sense.

It costs relatively nowt, so a good move.

Meanwhile, a couple of full-backs would be nice, please?
Anyone who thinks that the management will not have looked at every available ful-back is doing them an injustice.

We can't make them play for us!

What is the point of this? We have a back-up keeper in Virginia.

No wonder our youth players lose interest and go to shit when they see signings like this.

Lol. Why are we even supporting this joke of a club? As if we weren't depressed enough already!

A Premier League club needs at least 3 decent goalies. Begovic completes our complement.

Move on to more pressing matters.

Chris, Martin and Mike have sensible posts on here. He was a really good goalie; now he's an old pretty good goalie. Probably won't play but, if he does, he can do a job.

In the past, the likes of Pat Jennings and Gerry Peyton filled a similar role. Not an exciting signing by any means… but a sensible low cost back up plan.

Maybe it's Dyche's plan to have two keepers in goal at the same time to make up for having no right-back?

Didn't he leave us last time 'cos he refused to sign a new contract offered to him? What's changed this time around?

Possibly doing a coaching badge if he's to provide training support and assistance?

Appears to be a sensible move as a back-up goalkeeper.

As some have stated on here, this gives the young goalkeepers a chance to go out on loan to other leagues to get more match time. Better than wasting away on the bench at Premier League games etc.

The only reason we're re-signing him is to bring the average age down.

The coaching theory could make sense, Dave, and as you say, would provide useful backup. I suppose it will be interesting on what happens with Virginia. Hopefully he will stay, as he's always impressed when he's played.

Yes, if he can get Jordan to venture out of his 6-yard box, then he will have an effect!!

I hope we don't sell Virginia, which is possible because he is out of contract at the end of the season and can walk away for nothing… which is also very possible!

Not entirely sure why we need a goalkeeper coach when we have England's No 1. It's not like anyone else can 'teach' them anything.

To me, it makes more sense that Jordan runs training sessions (where required) with all the 'keepers from the Academy participating.

Like Dave A @ 35, I think Virginia has shown himself as a decent back-up, and has pulled off some good performances. It does seem strange, in the last year of his contract, sending him out on loan without having agreed a new one.

Also is he to be third choice and sitting on the bench? Something I have never been able to fathom out, although it does happen, a goalkeeper injury, how often does the substitute also get injured in the same match?

Like Toyah Wilcox sang in her song, "It's a Mystery".

Virginia is a very capable keeper imo and a shoo-in if Pickford ever leaves.

I'll put my tin hat on and say that Pickford is one of the big players we could afford to let go to free up cash and strengthen the team in the search for a right-back and a striker who can actually strike.

Goals win games… we don't have a goal in us.

Martin,

Jordan is probably the best shot-stopper in the league, but he could do with coaching to get off his line and out of his 6-yard box more.

Anyway, I've just got my ticket for Doncaster. Get online people, they're only £15 for adults.

Ajax apparently want Holgate…

Please!

Danny,

"Anyway, I've just got my ticket for Doncaster. Get online people, they're only £15 for adults ".

£10 if you have grey hair! You will soon qualify, Danny! :-)

Absolutely the right decision to make, signing a third goalkeeper, although highly unlikely to play in the Premier League. A free transfer and probably on buttons per week.

Highly unlikely to play in the Premier League… well who knows? Remember back to 2006 when I think Nigel Martyn was our Number 1, but either injured or suspended for the home game against Blackburn?

His deputy, rookie Iain Turner deputised, and within 10 minutes was sent off for handling the ball outside the area. An even bigger rookie, John Ruddy, came off the bench and helped us win the game 1-0, courtesy of a James Beattie goal.

So anyone questioning this signing needs to give their head a wobble. Can you imagine the same scenario today, Pickford unavailable so Joao Virginia deputises, is sent off after 10 minutes and Billy Crellin or Harry Tyrer coming off the bench with zero experience behind them???

At least Begovic is a fully experienced goalkeeper who's played at the highest level. Good signing in my opinion.

Rob, now change the scenario so that our first-choice right-back is injured and a deputy right-back gets sent off so Mason Holgate had to come on. Not such a rosy picture now, is it?

ps: I actually welcome the signing of Begovic and I'm being slightly facetious.

I recommended we sign him in July. Every team needs 3 solid keepers. Our two younger keepers are not ready for Premier League football. We can loan them out and give them much-needed experience.

It also explains why Alan Kelly was let go. Begovic will likely be coaching as well as keeping.

Martin (36),

Jordan running a training session with all the other goalkeepers?

Ah give them a break, Martin, they'd all have bleedin' nervous breakdowns after a few sessions with him!

Makes sense, 3rd choice and there to help Pickford and Virginia develop and become better keepers.

Seems a good bloke to have around the squad, bags of experience and, if we help him and he helps us, then it's a win-win.

Chris # 43…

Any scenario is likely in football. As bad as Holgate may be, he has still played and has the experience of Premier League football. It's just unfortunate for us that all three right-backs before him are now injured or suspended, and yes, I agree that it's a position that should be rectified before the window shuts.

But going into the season with only Pickford and Virginia as the only first-team squad goalkeepers is criminal, and goalkeeper is the one position where you cannot be left short. Besides, if what I'm hearing is true, then Branthwaite will be available on Saturday, and is willing to fill in at right-back if needed.

We could also easily have missed out on Begovic as no doubt Chelsea would have tried to sign him!

Should fit in nicely with all the other OAPs at Finch Farm!

Obviously for his experience to coach… but, fuck me, when is this dumb as fuck club going to prioritise a full-back and a bloody goalscorer?

Midfielders that actually attack might be good too! Is the club bus sponsored by Saga nowadays?

What pisses me off is they don't even try to get young lads into our team anymore. Same old crap wheeled out every week!

Can Dele play full back??

So we buy a dinosaur to put another wall in front of the youth.

Dyche really hasn’t got a fucking clue. We have little to no money and he spunks some on this salary thief, I really do give up!

Ralph # 50…

Who exactly is the youth that you refer too, that Begovic is in the way of?

If you're referring to Billy Crellin and Harry Tyrer, then fair enough, but I can't see either of them two getting anywhere near the Number 1 slot. Not saying either of them are crap, but would you like to see either of them in goal if Pickford and Virginia had to spend some time on the sidelines due to injury?

Begovic is also a free transfer, so no money spunked on a fee, and I doubt very much his salary will be that much per week (compared to others that is). As I said earlier, it was essential to get a third experienced keeper in. So I'm quite happy with this.

I understand that Mr D left the U21 match last night with 10 minutes left. Hypocrite. I hope he explains and apologises.

Losing 1-0 at the time. Time to sub on an extra defender to keep the score and margin of defeat down ?

Final result. We won 3-1. A Beto brace.

Perhaps we can only play when the manager isn't there to find fault and declare the players inexperienced and not yet up to speed. Who knows ?

Sigh... we need desperately an attacking midfielder!

As Gallagher has gone... try a loan move for Brooks at Bournemouth... now!!!

Trust in the young players too, Mr Dych,e,or you'll pay a heavy price. [It also rhymes!]

I see Broja is undergoing a medical at Ipswich, with a view to joining on loan. Should Ipswich avoid relegation, then they will be obliged to buy Broja for £30M.

Blimey, don't think he's worth that much, but then it is Chelsea, trying to claw some money back.

And talking of Chelsea, it might be worth a cheeky bid for Sterling now he's been told to call a taxi.

He wants to stay in the Premier League, but wages could be a problem… perhaps a loan?

Could do a job... Trainee right back? ;-)

Maybe he had to deal with something else, Neil?

Touching on Rob's point, those young keepers may have potential. But keepers don't tend to hit their peak until later in their careers. The two best in the league are 31 with years ahead of them. Pickford is 30.

Different players in different positions mature at different ages.

So Forest get Moreno as left-back. Where were we?

Forest getting Nketiah. Where were we?

I'd like to know how Forest have managed to spend £90M this summer?

James # 57, we are skint.

Remarkably, the last Everton keeper I can remember coming through the ranks was Albert Dunlop.

I think nearly every other keeper since Albert came from other clubs, or have I forgotten somebody who regularly played in goal?

Brian,

I think that Andy Rankin came as a police cadet and went on to play for us regularly.

Forest spend money as they have loads and don’t care about ffp.

Geoff Barnett came through the ranks, was in goal for the 1965 FA cup youth final.

Understudy to Gordon West and Andy Rankin, he was unlikely to ever get the No 1 shirt but got his big break when Bob Wilson was injured at Arsenal and they paid a surprisingly big fee for him: £35,000. He never ever got a regular game at Arsenal but played in the FA Cup Final against Leeds when Wilson was injured again.

The only other local lad who came through the ranks that I can recall and saw was George Burnett who was mostly understudy to Ted Sagar before he went to Oldham Athletic and played in the 4-0 game when we got promotion. A lot of fans, at the time, reckoned that was the best game he had ever played for Everton!