The Waiting Game

You've hit several nails on the head here Lyndon.

As you rightly point out, it is crucial that anyone coming in is an upgrade than what we already have, reluctantly re-signed, or have let go.

We're going to struggle to be able to pay for even slight upgrades. Markedly superior players are already out of the question. That doesn't half narrow the field down.

As you say, we probably have money to spend. How much is anybody's guess, but I think we can safely say that most of our EPL rivals will have a healthier war chest.

I belief TFG think our ship is only half steadied - incidently so do I.... Only when they see further evidence on the pitch and money coming in off it, will they feel confident enough loosen the purse strings enough to lend credibility to the relentless wash house gossip we read from "credible sources" like the Athletic.

There are no credible sources at the moment. How can there be ? My gut feeling is that Moyes will spent most of the funds available to him on loan signings. Playing in front of a fanatical crowd in a brand new stadium will be an obvious attraction to "superior" players finding themselves surplus to requirement at elite clubs. The problem, as you rightly point out, is that the big boys wont know who is surplus until they have completed their own business.

For fear of being punched on the nose. I wont be advising any of my long suffering, match going friends to practice patience. BUT

A realistic appraisal,sobering but true.
We haven't been an attractive move for a long time, the players we would like are naturally drawn to european game time and the chance to make it into their international squad.
So we have hard choices, Darren identifies one of them, and Lyndon has Armstrong in his squad list.
So we use whatever is available to us to make a fist of a squad in a loose fitting glove and hope to punch hard enough!
Give youth a chance, one or two old hands on short term deals and a couple of younger developing players bought in asap...
Still not awe inspiring, but god we need bodies in just to hold our own.

Things are not as bright as TFG thought at first it seems to be the case. The £100M now rumoured to be £150M is not going to be enough to fill all the gaps in the squad even if we are able to land all th targets (that is if we know who the targets are).

I am increasingly worried about our main rumoured target. Douglas Luiz. Juve appear to have illusions on his price or we have been underestimating it for some time now. One or the other. Luiz himself, it is rumoured, put himself on hold as far as we were concerned to see if anything better turned up. He then went on strike at Juve which is not helpful, so I begin to wonder if that move is a good one for us. Do we really want someone with that sort of attitude at the Club. Maybe not a good idea, however attrative a proposition on the field he maybe.

The right side is a glaring need and very little seems to happening there. We can't afford to start the season without that being fixed.

Yes strengthen forward line if we can but the right side needs fixing first. To be honest I'm not too impressed with TFG and their recruitment efforts to date but hope that we don't live to regret what we have seen from them as the season gets underway.

Sorry to be a bit negative but I'm certainly not encouraged by what I've seen so far.

I think encouragement can be taken from the fact that the club appear to be holding out for their main targets for now but in the face of the competition I mention in the piece from a number of clubs shopping in the same market.

It was unlikely that we were ever going to be able to fix everything or plug all the holes in one summer, especially with two of the more important recruitment/academy hires in Smith and Cox not due to come on board for another month or so.

Long term, TFG will feel they are putting right foundations in place but for now, I see them angling for 3 or 4 quality additions this summer for decent money (Barry being the first) and the remaining signings being loans and free/cheap acquisitions.

I agree Douglas Luiz’s actions aren’t exactly admirable but that profile of midfielder is what we need. Eventually you’d hope we’ll be identifying players before they cost £30m but that will hopefully follow once the recruitment team is fully bedded in.

By the way. In post 3 I didn't even mention Harrison for a very good reason. That is I don't, along with the majority of fans, don't want hime anywhere near BMD thank you.

So I have woken up to see that Bournemouth have Bournemouthed the hell out of us once again. Does our threadbare squad getting battered in our high profile summer tournament make us 1. more attractive to potential signings or 2. less attractive to potential signings…?

Starting to become seriously worried now

After the woeful performance against Bournemouth last night, the need for recruitment was painfully evident.
A decent first half performance, but hardly ever looked like scoring.
A second half, where we conceded 3 goals, two of which were defensive howlers, a great late save from Pickford.
We barely got into their half-in the second half, our only outlet being a long ball.

I always thought it was going to follow the pattern it has this Summer.At this stage it seems the main interest is in young player.Barry was a good acquisition.The academy has been a let down.Dixon is going on loan to Stockport.Maybe the tried players in the Pre season will show something, but Armstrong maybe on the way to Stockport as well.

I wondered how Moyes would cope with so many changes. Since he was never a Manager who could fashion a team, more a Manager who could develop a exiting team.But even with this I am surprised that Moyes has not made a play making midfield a priority.He needs that to add polish to his core of hardwork and effort.

So now that I am back from my annual interrupted transfer break I expect the real business to be done in free players and loanees.Maybe purchasers on a delayed finance based.

I do agree that Everton has a problem, being seen as poor career option.No big money transfers out hasn't helped and PSR is still a consideration.

Moyes is going to have to earn his corn and I do think the new transfer team will come through in the end.Thewell had to go due to previous regime mismanagement, which he got caught up in, but he was good at sourcing players..

Otherwise things are going as expected for me, which lessens the tension just a little. A poor start to the season and above mid table finish, Kiss my ass.

After six months of consensus that we need to be patient, we need to rebuild properly, slowly, that it's a challenge to source, buy and integrate several players in one summer, we've got here and panic is setting in.

Wasn't it always going to be like this? Most transfer activity happens just before the deadline, when brinkmanship turns into fierce deal-making. Many players will sit and wait for a better offer. Many will believe that they can break through at the bigger clubs now, rather than shine for us for a couple of years before their 'bigger'move.

The reality is that most, if not all, of the departed players won't be missed. They had to be let go. This summer is all about two or three sound, quality purchases followed by some last-minute canny loans.

My big hope is that he's forced to play Harrison Armstrong and that the kid shines.

Outside the usual suspects, no-one has significantly strengthened. Yet.

We'll soon see how we strengthen.

Patience is a virtue and I'm pleased Everton aren't throwing money on any player for the sake of it. and are being frugal,if thats the approach they're taking.

After all the time in the financial abyss, patience will be needed this and next season.

Hopefully the players that do sign, will be up to the challenge.

But it's preseason and Moyes will see the positives as apply and the negatives, and all together as Evertonians, we must endure and keep the faith.

Easy to compare the rest of the outgoings of transfers out and in the EPL, but what's the point, they don't count.

It is going to take at least two seasons to progress beyond mid table.The test for Moyes this Summer is to improve on the existing team.Those that have left would not be missed in a progressive situation.Moyes to progress has to strengthen the team in strategic positions that will enhance his formula.I don't think that this beyond a reasonable ask in the coming weeks, given how long it has been known that players would be needed.It also enabled Moyes to bring who he wants.

The main reason Moyes was engaged was to stabilise the team and get a above mid table finish, but maybe not Europe in the coming season.I doubt a run in the League Cup or FA Cup will be possible.A sufficient Squad even for that is not possible at this stage in the Summer transfer window, never mind European Competition.

What we can offer potential signings is game time. It's all well and good a player holding out for European competition based games, but if they're in a big squad, how many minutes over the course of a season will they actually get? Our targets will be starting eleven nost of the time.

While not getting Man. City or RS wages, they will still be also getting PL wages.

Also, how many Chelsea, RS or Man city squad players are going to start getting itchy feet. Squads have to be registered for different competitions and not every big squad player will get a spot. We may have several ists of potential targets on the go.

While I would prefer to have all our signings done and dusted already, I'm not panicking just yet.

What you’ve suggested, Kieran, is precisely what I hope the agents of players like Fofana are instilling in their clients. One look at the Bournemouth game and Malick should have been thinking, “I walk into that side!”

Kieran#12 & Lyndon#13

I do think that part of the TFG's Strategic Plan is to develop youth in the first team, aka Chelsea.This is a problem for Moyes in that he is on record as saying 3 months ago that a player with no Premier League experience can't expect to walk into the first team.

Moyes is a relegation manager or as he would prefer a Premiership assured Manager.The main characteristics of of such a Manager is they don't like to play or depends on Youth.Obvooudly the seasoned Professional,he is coming up with, are out of reach or do not fit the TFG profile.

TFG will expect results from their Manager and restructuring.All will have to follow the Strategic Plan.Something that Everton never had for over 30 years.

Moyes needs to get out of his comfort zone rather than bleating about needing 10 outfield players.A Pork Chop in a Synagogue statement, if there ever was one as far as Transfer teamwork and Player moralr It also does not improve Everton's bad career move image.

Get out of your comfort zone and stop trying to cover your ass Davy boy.

Jerome (14) My interpretation of Moyes’s words is that he is managing upwards; that is seeking to apply pressure on those above him to deliver something approaching a viable squad as soon as possible. I think he is also keen, like most managers, to be seen by fans to be doing just that.

Of course he is operating currently from a position of strength, having earned credit for the recovery from late January onwards. He knows as much as anyone that memories of that recovery will fade very quickly if the team suffers a poor start to the season and that inevitably the spotlight will always fall on the manager for failing to make more of the resources available.

While Moyes will probably be loath to blood younger players in such a threadbare squad I believe he will do so once he is convinced they have a fair chance of making an impact. He did that in his first tenure with Leon Osman, James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe and Jack Rodwell all making their debuts.

Of the current crop of academy graduates Harrison Armstrong appears most likely to force his way into the reckoning, playing with a maturity which belies his age. I would very much like to see him start at least one of the two matches this week.

John, I was only thinking that last night about previous academy graduates. Moves has a history of blooding them and then making them a regular part of the first team.

I was thinking last.night about JJ Kenny and Ellis Simms. I think both players have shown enough since leaving Everton that Moyes mark I would have made senior players out of them.

It's a pity about our academy at the moment because hot prospects are costing millions to buy into the club.

Another point that popped into my head last night was Moyes' knowledge of the championship having been with Preston before us. He was able to pick up players like Baines, Cahill and Jagielka having seen them in action. At the time, transfers for relatively obscure players weren't ridiculously driven by T.V revenue. Moves was able to pick up these players for what would be an absolute steal today.

As an aside, a friend of mine reckons Wenger's knowledge of French players, then an untapped market,had given him an edge when he first went to Arsenal.

the Task of Bringing in at least six players, who, are a serious upgrade on the very ordinary players we have, ( Branthwaite, Pickford, Gueye excluded), will be a monumental task.

This could mean, possibly 2 players a week, or, even a double transfer, which is a rarity nowadays.

I think the last one I can remember, involved Carlos Teves ( can’t remember the other), to West Ham.

And that’s not counting the eventual replacements for the very below average, non- Pl quality, of Messrs Chermitti, Patterson and Garner.

Paul (18) I think the other player who went to West Ham as part of that double deal was Javier Mascherano.

Not sure how anyone can claim Chermiti as a non PL quality player.

The lad has barely had a chance to show what he can do. He did look good in the previous pre season, then got injured.

I think he has promise but needs to stay fit

John#15

You are right about Moyes trying to put upwards pressure on the Board, but a strategic plan is in place , which Moyes would have inputted into .I doubt his outburst will carry far since he will be seen as part of the Transfer team.

They are American Professional Managers : Give me solutions not problems, will be their attitude. Breaking ranks to get Fans on side will be seen as petty and unprofessional. Moyes will find that out next meeting.He will be told to redouable his efforts.

These type of outbursts in the past have never did Moyes any good and been seen as excuses.Even the fans feel that to a large extent.

Delap, if Everton did talk to him, would have not have been guaranteed first team play, yet at Chelsea he played in a World Club Cup Final in a team that took PSG apart.

Moyes is not a Progressive Manager, never has been.He wasn't employed by TFG for that he was employed for continuity and to be part of restructuring and a better more effective use of data.

Jerome 8, a bit harsh on Moyes in saying he’s not a manager for building a team. Building is exactly what he did in his first spell with us. Sure it was slow and measured, due to budget constraints, but the difference in standards from when he arrived to the later years was quite striking. I’d give a lot for players like Fellaini, Arteta, Cahill, Baines and Piennar right now, all of whom were way above the standard he inherited. My concern is with Lyndon’s point that this isn’t a one window fix and will need time. Contrast that with expectations being high due to new ownership and stadium patience in some quarters may wear thin.

John Raftery 19
yeah ! Thanks, thats him.
He’s currently Manager of Inter Miami.

Ian Herbert 20
I was merely expressing my opinion.
Your opinion, is that he’ll come good.
If you walk into a betting Shop, you will see, that there are odds offered on Horses, Dogs and Various events.
if you look in the Bin, or, on the floor, you will see plenty of opinions.
Regardless, I do hope that Chermitti does come good, as it will be a win, win situation, for myself, yourself, the Player, the Club and the fans.. we are all Evertonians and want nothing but the best.

Howsrd#22

Point tak.It will takes two or three windows and different stage to build Everton up.

Interesting to see Soton rejecting Evertons £27M bid for their England U21 winger.

Personally I hope they don't go back with a higher bid, but it's going to be interesting times but I'm glad Everton are being frugal and appear to have a business policy for operating the club business.

Paul (25) I would love to see Dibling in our team. He is a really exciting talent, the kind of player who could transform our style of play. Depending on the size of our overall budget for the summer window, I would not be surprised if the club increases its offer to something approaching £35m plus add-ons.

What we cannot afford to do is go so high on Dibling that we cannot then add the experience and output we badly need in central midfield. Hopefully we have the budget to address all these needs.

Hi John Raferty,

I respect your views and feedback. You are a great Evertonian, and a great writer on Everton, genuinely fair and honest.

in my view, thev Everton business team. are forming up.

The Soton player looks good.
Naturally a player, even a player from the Jimmy Husbsnd, Gary Jones, era's. But time and form, playing stets and analytics now seems is all.

The business stakes are very high and every penny counts to EFC.

But the common factor is Everton must be careful on how much they apply to a single player, what he brings and the development and resale value.

I'm cautiously optimistic but I hope the new board do their DG on time played, contract value, and positive impact on the team.

It's critical to spend every penny with best intentions; easy to say, and harder to do.

I'm prepared for a long hard slog, next season, tougher than the last couple.

I'm prepared and I live in hope, Everton. has a structure, in place for the
first time. in 35 years.

Thanks Paul. You’re absolutely right about every penny counting. In today’s Times, Paul Joyce makes the point that David Moyes treats every penny as though it was his own. If only we had had him, or someone of that mindset, in the scattergun years.

Given the scale of the overhaul required this summer it was always likely to be a tough challenge for the new regime to pull off so many deals within a single window and a limited budget. Even if several players arrive in the next four weeks it is inevitable they will need time to settle.

Next season could indeed prove to be a long, hard slog, especially if we suffer yet another poor start. The consolation is that Moyes has usually proved adept at recovering from poor starts by building confidence and cohesion as a season progresses.

Great article and thoughtful responses. I reckon we need four in and we will be ok. First choice right back, defensive midfield and two wingers/inside forwards.
As long as they are all potential first team selections that should do it.

Some excellent posts on here. It's refreshing to read so many people demonstrating an understanding of how things are, as opposed to how we would like them to be.

What this window is giving us, is a very clear insight of what the outsider looking in thinks of today's Everton. I personally have found some of the rejections in this window very difficult to take. BUT..Whilst we like to think of ourselves as footballs sleeping Giant, its not hard to understand the indifference shown by younger potential targets. To these lads, we have only ever been a non entity. That team that hangs around the bottom. The ones who are always last orders on match of the day.

Davey Moyes is facing a different question to the "Can-You-keep-us-up" question which was repeatedly put to Dyche, Benitez and Lampard. He's being asked "Where can you take us ?". The trouble is; Like the others. He is not being given the tools to do the job. So why do we think it will be different this time ?

Try as he might. The master of expectation management is struggling to get a lid on it this time. Despite his (and our) frustration at not getting the signings over the line, Davey is struggling to Dampen the anticipation and renewed hope generated by the "New dawn" which has come in the shape of of new ownership and a fantastic, new, best-in-the-country stadium. Everyone I know cannot wait to get in there and get at them.

I wont go into the perceived "merits" or "shortcomings" of Davey Moyes. They've already been done to death, but I think John Raftery makes a very salient point. How we could have done with his careful approach to spending money during what he describes as "scattergun days" Spilt milk. I'm afraid, but it does not diminish the point.

Whether he was the right man at the wrong time, or the wrong man at the right time is immaterial now. We can only deal with today. The here and now. For me, Davey Moyes has always been more comfortable with a small tight unit and I don't think he is anywhere near as spooked by our relatively low numbers as he is making out. We may not land our first choice targets, but second and third choices often turn out to be the better buys or loans anyway. We may not have players for every position either, but I'm confident we can bring in players of sufficient quality to cover most eventualities.

He wasnt my first choice - that's quite an understatement, But this, more experienced, Davey Moyes seems to have learned that risk doesn`t always have to end in disaster and often carries unexpected rewards.

He is now faced with both a daunting task and a wonderful opportunity.

Yes Darren, I'm detecting a bit of playing to the gallery here. Like anyone with a double-figure IQ, Moyes will have known the likelihood of most of our business being done towards the end of the window.

When I work with people closer to my age, we talk about the 80s, they get us. When I work with apprentices & graduates, it's 'who?', 'why?' and 'what's the point of Everton?'

A few years of solid competence without relegation dramas will get us back on track. In the meantime our attraction relies on two facets; players who perform will get s regular game for us, and signing & starring for us will either put a player in pole position for a 'better' move, or becoming a hero in an emerging Everton team.

I'm ignoring the current hysteria. We know what the first eleven can do, it's all about improving the quality and making the squad deeper.I think that'll happen. Then it's up to Davey.

John, I believe on this thread that all believe the art of the possible takes time, patience and money.

It's comforting to see Evertons approach to the transfer market. They are playing this game wisely, and I don't believe the new owners will be led on by any parties, and will follow their beliefs and business plan.