Goodison Glory

Great post, sounds like both groups in this debate are admitting they don't actually know very much and the majority is speculation. Gray - posted an unprofessional comment in the public domain, as he did at Leicester. Club - gave his number to someone else and blocked a transfer move outside of that, I'm not sure we know much else with certainty, other than it's yet another distracting side show that we could do without.

MSP only broke down because they wanted equity based loans and Rights Media thought they were getting too much equity in return. if the 777 deal is different, could be a complete takeover or just partial investments that would include a pay down of Rights Media Debt then that would be different.

Apparently Hazard was the opposite of Ronaldo in terms of training. Ronaldo would still hone his craft at training, try hard, be there early etc. I read that hazard was last to training and first to leave. Didn't want to improve just use the god given talent he had..:I guess in that context it's no surprise he will just retire...he had enough money and doesn't have the character to try and start again.

I was very encouraged yesterday. Of course we still have weaknesses and moments of frustration but we continue to create chances and have shots on goal...world of difference to last season. 3 players (+ Pickford) deserve special mention: beto is awesome. No other word for it. He won 12 aerial duels yesterday and completed 2x more dribbles than any other player. branthwaite continues to impress. He seems very assured at the moment and has the physical tools to back it up. I also thought Onana was very good. I saw some of those driving runs we want him to make. He even took a ball on the chest in midfield - because he was calm enough to take a look and bring the ball under control instead of hoofing it clear. The ref was horrendous. No more laughable that redrawing the line when the wall was encroaching! All in all, I am feeling good. We've had some good performances and not got the points we deserved. Now we have a break, get some players back to health and continue to integrate new signings.

Be interesting to assess where we are since end of last season in terms of wage bill but also net transfer spend. if we include Moise Kean, I make it that we are 20-25M up (that's counting all fees as immediate payments which I know they aren't) for wages, we've shifted 275k per week off the wage bill last night. Plus Mina and others. Then when you add the wages of the new guys, I'd estimate that we have had a very good spell from a commercial standpoint and even strengthening the team and removing dead wood who would never really play.

Wonder what the clause was. Would have preferred a promotion clause.

Again, at the time of the summer window a lot of people are high on the manager and also the dealings. it's not a criticism of anyone it's just that what happens in reality can be different to what's on paper. We could be sitting her in Jan slagging of dyche and the purchases we made. hopefully not, as on paper I do think we have improved the squad.

But they lost Brennan Johnson...that's how they are managing FFP. He's not as good as Gibbs-White but I'd say they are weaker without him.

Will prob fail his medical and our board will be wondering why

Iwobi is the biggest earner so this would be quite the wage bill reduction....depending on what we would have to contribute to Kalvin's wages (if that comes off)

Hope this comes off. I said at the time he made the move that it reeked of "Danny drinkwater" - not comparing the players but the situations - the hero at a smaller club, move to a so called giant club and barely plays.

McNulty reporting it as we want between 15-20M and Fulham don't want to pay that....perhaps the 20M is just wishful thinking

Packet of wotsits and a biscuit boost and he's yours.

Any idea on fee if perm...has to be more than Simms surely.

I stand corrected....conjecture no more

Oh man! Don't tease us with a Kalvin type of signing...would love that to happen.

I think it's dangerous to rate our window so soon. Yes it's miles better than Jan (because we got no one) however last summer we were saying the same thing - we thought "great we have 2 new CBs, especially high on Tarks, we were delighted with midfield recruits and the age of Onana/Garner (some were happy with Gana coming back)..McNeil etc

I don't think our business is done. I can see at least 3 out (cannon, gray and one other - Gbamin poss) hopefully we can get one more in, across the line. I think it'll be someone we've been working for a while - like sulemana.

I don't see it happening - all just conjecture at this point IMO. Hope it's true but don't believe it.

Have bids been submitted or a it just speculation/rumour at this stage?

Was thinking what a brilliant assessment until I read your Gana piece, where you focused on that one play. Young played well but Gana played better.

Godfrey - Shit. myko - shit Dobbin - anonymous Chermiti - Shit. then looked even worse when he was off the pitch because Beto was so much better. I'll give Chermiti a pass. He's young and it's only his 2nd game.

But let's not have recency bias...his last contribution was awful but he was one of the best players. He broke stuff up and he moved it through midfield quickly: he even played a couple of nice balls from the edge of the box

Chelsea also needed not 1 but 2 £100M footballers to comE off the bench to beat Wimbledon.

I'd also go as far to say Gana was a massive improvement (low bar)