Filling a Void — Nørgaard Signing Could Represent Excellent Business from Everton

Our best piece of business of the window so far.

From what I’ve seen of Nørgaard (mainly Brentford) I’ve been very impressed, seems technically sound and a good passer who likes to play forward and he knows the league well, didn’t play much at Arsenal but they speak highly of him with some even rating him better than Zubimendi.
I can see him getting plenty of minutes.

Nice one Everton, Right back and striker next please.

Hear Hear.

Good signing, I'll look forward to seeing him in our team.

Is this a done deal then? If so, seems like a very sensible signing.

Much better value that Pape Gueye.

Should allow both Alcaraz and Iroegbunam to leave for (?) about £30m and maybe allows us to let Armstrong leave and develop on loan.

Other deals might depend on where things end up with Ndiaye.

Good solid player at a good price. He'll glue a few things together on the pitch.

Yes agree with all the above it looks like a really good signing. We still will need a couple more first team ready players signed before the deadline. Hopefully Armstrong will get a good loan move, I would keep Iroegbunam, as I think he has it in him to become a better player, but I would allow Alcaraz to leave.

From what I read Nørgaard is a player quick to spot danger. I’m hoping he is the player we have needed for several years, especially in home matches, capable of disrupting opposition counterattacks. Too often we have been caught out with too many players in forward positions and nobody in position to cover the breaks following a loss of possession. The goal conceded against Manchester United in February was an obvious case in point.

Here is my completely uninformed speculation - having secured the Norgaard deal (subject to medical?) we will now move to complete the signing of Alistair Johnston for the tiny fee of £14m which gives us a mature, English speaking specialist RB with experience in British football (i.e. okay, he's not very exciting but is likely to hit the ground running and be consistent). Ndiaye will then leave for Saudi and we'll get Spence - who will play left back.

The Ndiaye sale will also allow to complete deals for Delap (Loan), Grealish (Loan), Harwood-Bellis and a big talent like Nwaneri or Rowe.

If we can do that, we'd have a very good mix of experience at low cost - and potential at good value.

Robert (8) My only doubt would be about Harwood-Bellis, not concerning his ability, but where he would stand in the pecking order of our centre backs. At 24 years old, he would presumably expect to be making regular starts. Would he be behind or ahead of O’Brien who has yet to establish himself in his rightful position? Or would he be the cover for Branthwaite who has failed to stay fit in the last two seasons? Or would he be the replacement for Keane or Tarkowski, one of whom must be phased out next year? How do you think it might play out?

Robert #8, I strongly doubt Spence will ever play left back for Moyes. Yes, his pace and athleticism are thrilling, but watching him do his headless-chicken act at left back for England must have triggered heart attacks all over Britain. He knows as much about defensive positioning as I know about sub-atomic particle physics.

There's a reason that in last season's run-in, with every point precious for Spurs, they benched Spence. They couldn't trust him. Udogie started most of those games. And for all Spence's attacking verve, he's totally unproductive going forward -- 44 appearances all comps last season, zero goals, zero assists.

No thank you.

PS... I love the Norgaard signing. Perfect move at this time, especially with Garner out.

He is a good replacement for Gyene and hopefully can help the build up play.Could prove benifical in tactics, because Moyes will have to give him leeway going forward as its is part of his game, as Lyndon points out.

Mike # 10, I don't think Spence is a top quality player btw - or necessarily the most astute signing. I am saying how I think this might play out.

I disagree that Spence is unproductive going forwards. He does something extremely important that Everton have lacked for a long time - he presses high, he carries the ball at speed and he puts opposition defences under pressure by driving at them.
He is not a polished player at all - but Moyes is good at refining defensive positioning. So who knows?

John # 9, if Harwood-Bellis came he would compete with O'Brien to partner a fit Branthwaite. He'd partner O'Brien when Branthwaite is not fit. Finally some competition for places. Keane and Tarkowksi are hopefully not part of the picture anymore (apart from injury cover etc).

Also, at 32, with all his PL and international experience, Nørgaard has leadership skills that we could do with in the middle. Tarkowski won’t/shouldn’t be a regular starter for the majority of the season, so we could do with a calm head dictating play more centrally. This transfer feels like the KDH one: a high-value, if maybe a bit unglamorous player on the periphery of one of “six”, who really relishes a lifeline at Everton. Perfect fit for all parties.

excellent value for money.

Right back right back right back Right back right back right back Right back right back right back Right back right back right back Right back right back right back

RRIIGGHHTT BBAACCCKKK!!!! Please

If nothing else Norgaard has lifted our spirits even before he kicks a ball which perhaps illustrates our general feeling. I do worry that Moyes seems to be reluctant to play O'Brien in his preferred centre back position, as continuing with either Tarkowski and or Keane is not something I look forward to. So yes Alan at 15 we are still desperate for a right back, not forgetting we also need a proper centre forward. If we get those positions sorted any loan players we can bring in will be a bonus.

Not sure where a proper centre forward is likely to present himself from. There’s a lot of talk about Delap - even on loan that makes no sense to me; another big, slow, hold-up player which we already have. If Ndiaye does go to Saudi I’d like to see that cash used for the likes of Jonathan David, who has genuine pace and touch for the PL. But there’s not a lot of quality CFs knocking around atm. The likes of Forest are more likely to steam in and snatch him, unfortunately.

John # 17, there are some decent strikers available and likely to move but the issue is we’re competing with Champions League clubs and Champions League fees and wages.

Now that Castro has gone to Roma - the more sexy striker link is to Leverkusen’s Kofane. He’s only 20 but basically Champions league royalty want him along with about half of the Premier League and rich clubs in Saudi. He might also cost between £50m and £80m. This would be buying potential only - not the finished product. He only got 5 goals in 29 games last season. Poorer than Barry - when playing in a better attacking team in a weaker league. Very similar stats etc with the highly sought after Fofana of Lens.

Delap has less potential than Kofane and Fofane but is more likely to be an immediate hit. He works hard, he is aggressive to the point of violent and when a team plays to his strengths (s Ipswich did) then he scores goals. I think he’d be a fairly popular player for us and score about 12 goals - a bit like Andy Johnson, say (but better suited to be pone striker in a 433 / 451). In the current market I think he’s one of the best options around. I don’t think Jonathan David would be a hit. 6 goals in 35 for Juve last season suggests he found his level in France and is now on a downward trajectory. Plus he’s a short arse and badly suited to our style of play.

An unexpected bit of good news now that Norgaard is coming to us. As has been said earlier he is dependable and reads the game well which, as he isn't a youngster any more, becomes more necessary. I am told his medical is tomorrow (fingers crossed) which will do away with the long awaited, and expensive to my mind, of Pape Gueye to replace Gana. He will also make it much safer for those supporters who sit in Row Z of the stands.

Changing the subject slightly. I'm not sure Robert that Johnston will be coming to us although I would be happy if he does. There is talk of Celtic upping their price plus offering him a much improve contract including a huge jump in wages. If we can't buy him for about 10 - 15m I can see us walking away and going for someone else, eg Molina from Atletico who would be more acceptable price wise. Whoever it ends it being we have got to get someone into that position before the start of the season.

Admittedly I lack the vast knowledge of strikers worldwide that many of my fellow contributors do but sometimes that can be a benefit; too much choice encourages indecision.
I sense that on this thread &, in any event,sense that are multiple reasons why many of the names mentioned are not realistic targets.
The Delap connection seems constant but, for me, it is reminiscent of a certain James Beattie whom we signed for big money & regretted.
Big, strong, bustling 'knew were the goal was' but somehow rarely actually found it.
He entered the fray in a Derby rather like a bull at Ronda, hyperventing & frothing at the mouth!
'Ole' we roared only for him to be redcarded, totally unecessarily in the first 15 minutes.
With my limited knowledge I would favour Troy Parrot; Fulham might well knab him sadly.
Sure we need to have a physical presence at set pieces but we have three strapping chaps trundling up from the back for them already.
Those occasions usually end with James T being penalised & trundlind back shaking his head ruefully.
Pace,skill, & instinct for me in a striker every time!

Robert- I would absolutely love it if you were able to throw my words about Delap back at me later in the season if he’s at our place and banging them in.
But I’d still rather see breaking at speed, balls played to feet, close control and chicanery. Beto, Barry and Delap don’t do that. We’re too samey, too old school, in my very humble opinion. As much as I can’t bear him, Vardy in his absolute prime would be a good Everton fit.

John#21
Under Moyes's system you are never going to see breaking at speed.The supporting play is deliberate, with inverted wingers adding to the defensive tactics.The centre forward play is not planned as can be seen by the lack of positioning awareness and the lack of delivery into the key attacking areas.Evwrton's tall Centre Forwards rarely are at the end of a header.This all is in part also due to predictability.

John # 21, take a look at Delap while at Ipswich. His trademark was picking the ball up in the inside left channel and driving at the opposition.

He’s not an immobile Beattie type of player at all. This time last season most supporters would have been absolutely delighted to have got him after such a strong season for Ipswich.

I think his life was made easier there by Ipswich’s kamikaze defence - attacking left full back in particular and the talented trio of Enciso, Philogene and Hutchinson.

He has obviously had a poor season and now seems to be considered rubbish rather than brilliant. The truth is he’s somehow between the two.

Moyes tactics don’t help strikers that is true - but the players at Moyes disposal are the biggest problem. Almost all of the worlds best most dynamic teams use inverted wingers - what makes this work is overlapping fullbacks.

Our full backs are abysmal- probably the worst attacking pair in the premier league for the last 3 seasons at least.

If we can fix that and a few other glaring issue then Delap is probably a 10 to 15 gol a season striker (a bit like DCL in a Leeds team with Gudmundsson and Bogle).

Ps. Probably the most Jamie Vardy like striker - pace and finishing and movement - around and available at a price we could afford is Franculino Dju of Midytyllnd in Denmark.

He has developed in the past season into a very very good all round player and the goal tally (even in Denmark) is impressive.

The trouble is this makes his extremely highly sought after. About 30 odd clubs - including us - are after him.

… and finally Troy Parrot has done a great job in the Netherlands with 14 goals in 28 games and then 16 goals in 28 games.

However, it is a weak league and the best strikers who go on perform well in better leagues tend to be 20 / 25 goal a season at least in the Netherlands.

In the Premier League a player like Parrot is more likely to be of the standard of, say, Eddie Nketiah or Lyle Foster or Adam Armstrong. These guys are struggling to get past 5 league goals.

If we’re trying to overtake the likes of Bournemouth (Kroupi and Evanilson), Palace (Mateta and Strand Larsen) etc then Parrot is not the answer.

Delap too in fairness is not better than these players - but he’s more likely to be effective in my view.

Players like Franculino, Kofane and Fofana could all become genuine Champions League standard strikers - but require patience.

I think we might go for a safer bet this summer and try to find someone top class in future windows.

Am pleased with the prospect of Norgaard joining but, Robert and David, I disagree with sending out Harrison Armstrong on loan. I see him right now as one of our most incisive midfielders. Though still being a teenager (him, not me!) I wouldn't want him playing much more than 20 games this season.

As for a no.9, I find it interesting the way Evan Ferguson is now rarely mentioned. Recovering from an ankle injury, I know. But I see a fine player there. I hope he fulfils his promise.

Mike, I agree. I think Ferguson is more talented than Delap and has just been unlucky for a few seasons. The departure of Welbeck to Chelsea suggests that he may stay at Brighton this season though (as the £65m Greek pair of Tzimas and Kostoulas only managed 3 goals between them for Brighton last season and do not look ready).

As I have said for a few years now, it will be extremely difficult for us to find a striker in world football who is capable of scoring more than 12 Premier League goals in his first season for us.

As for Harrison Armstrong - the issue is whether he will get any games with KDH, Hackney, Garner, Norgaard and Rohl in the squad already. That's 5 good players competing for 3 spots. In that sort of scenario - pretty much every Premier League club would send Armstrong on loan. He could play 30(+) games in the Championship or Eredivisie etc just as Gordon and Branthwaite did previously. At Everton, realistically he's just not going to play.

I really like Dju and I know we were sniffing around him the last couple of windows but he’s not coming to us. If I were a CF’s agent, (with a conscience, rare, I know) I would strongly advise to avoid signing for a Moyes team, it’s career suicide. Nobody else was in for Barry and it’s clear to all it was a bad move. I hope he comes good, but the vibes aren’t right. Moyes just can’t nurture CFs. But taking a punt on reviving a stalled career like KDH, Nørgaard or Delap is a Moyes trait. It’s worked for the first, probably the second, but I’m not convinced by the third, I just don’t think he can hack it at a bigger club than Ipswich. No other PL club apart from the three promotion ones will be in for him and that says it all. But, like I said before, I would love to be proven wrong.

Franculino would come to Everton if (a) we offered him the best wage (b) we offered Midtjylland the best fee.

Barry gave up Champions League football with a very good Villareal side to come to Everton for exactly those reasons.

With a few rare exceptions, players do not sign for managers. Every player signing for a Premier League club knows the manager could be gone as early as October. The players signing for Everton this summer know that, as things stand, Moyes is only here for another season.

so the world class recruiting team has now been in place for a year. And we are finally making our moves, overhauling the first team left by Dyche. As things stand, we've made 3 to 4 changes. 28 yr old KDH as the 10, 32 yr old Norgard as the 6, and the 28 yr old Canadian as the full back. And maybe the 31 yr old Grealish as the winger.
All brought in on the cheap, no evidence of medium term planning affecting the first team any time soon.
I have to say this is not my idea of world class recruitment.

What a refreshing change to be reading a positive thread and positive comments, haven’t been on for a while and this was my first read. I can’t say I’ll be on ToffeeWeb again any time soon, so depressing. Well done Lyndon and all of the contributors. Plus, I’m made up we’re in for Noorgard.