Trigger

Wendal, a man, a human in flesh, but not for law!
Go head Mr Wendal!

Couldn't agree with Romey more. I just simply don't understand why we never learn.
Proven Averageness in the Premier league at a premium price vs taking 20 to 24 Yr old  promising unproven Premier league talent from a wide variety of leagues.
If we can take 2 or 3 promising talents for the price and wages of Harry Winks, I know where I want us to be looking.
No more Delphs, Gomes, Keanes, Bolasi's, Sigurdson's.
More Cahills, Artetas, Jagielkas, DCLs, Stones

Who are these guys and what have they done with our players?

No Thanks.
If we sign Dele Alli and DVB we're repeating the same old mistakes of buying players simply because they become available and not to fill the priority positions we need. DVB is an Attacking Midfielder and so is DVB - for now job done until we can shift Gomez.
It's a CB and DM we need now as priorities.
Doing business with Daniel Levy also means you will be overpaying and never get the money back you spend.
Lets go look elsewhere for what we actually  need.

No Thanks.
If we sign Dele Alli and DVB we're repeating the same old mistakes of buying players simply because they become available and not to fill the priority positions we need. DVB is an Attacking Midfielder and so is DVB - for now job done until we can shift Gomez.
It's a CB and DM we need now as priorities.
Doing business with Daniel Levy also means you will be overpaying and never get the money back you spend.
Lets go look elsewhere for what we actually  need.

Suprised at the different opinions here to be honest.
I think Richarlison is one we really just have to wait and see on. I think he definitely has more talent and potential than most of our other wingers.
Vlasic has shown nothing to me to make think he's ever going to be more than a solid bottom half of prem player or top Championship level player. Works very hard, Tracks back well, but doesn't really any creativity, invention ability to go by a player going forward. Lookman has all the talent in the world going forward, but is lazy and inconsistent at tracking back and needs to mature in his decision making Bolasie since his injury hasn't been the same force going forward to me, and has never been great tracking back. Walcott is good all round for me and our best winger..... when fully fit. I'd rather be investing in younger potential that still is just on the verge of getting in first team rather than paying £30M to £40m for 28+ year old in their prime that are difficult to move on if they don't perform (e..g. Bolasie, Williams_) whcih according to Fat Sam is what we should be doing!

I completely agree with Haf's view on this. I actually think we have quite a repair job to be done on the scouting piece.
 
I remember Louis posting a book or article that one of our old head scout's wrote about how when Moyes came in one the good things he did was overhaul the scouting system and had a room in Finch Farm with the target formation drawn up and 1st to 3rd transfer target against each position that would improve the existing squad etc. We picked up quite a few under the radar good quality players under Moyes.
 
My view is that under Martinez, this fell away a bit. Martinez was all about coaching, positivity and bringing players on. I didn't see any evidence while he was at Everton of great scouting and player identification. Both Barry and Lukaku didn;t really need a scouting network to identify. Alcaraz, McCarthy and Kone were from Wigan and known.
 
McGeady, Niasse, Lennon, Deulofeu, Traore, Atsu, Robles, Besic, Eto'o
 
Out of those I'd give you Deulofeu and Besic as possible talent if they stay injury free and work a lot harder.
 
Lennon in my opinion is a "solid" rotation player.
 
I wouldn't say that any of them have proved to be a an unknown diamond destined for great things.
 
You could argue that Stones, Fellaini, Baines, Jagielka, Coleman and I'm sure there are more were "identified" as good targets and fulfilled their potential.

I completely agree with Haf's view on this. I actually think we have quite a repair job to be done on the scouting piece.
 
I remember Louis posting a book or article that one of our old head scout's wrote about how when Moyes came in one the good things he did was overhaul the scouting system and had a room in Finch Farm with the target formation drawn up and 1st to 3rd transfer target against each position that would improve the existing squad etc. We picked up quite a few under the radar good quality players under Moyes.
 
My view is that under Martinez, this fell away a bit. Martinez was all about coaching, positivity and bringing players on. I didn't see any evidence while he was at Everton of great scouting and player identification. Both Barry and Lukaku didn;t really need a scouting network to identify. Alcaraz, McCarthy and Kone were from Wigan and known.
 
McGeady, Niasse, Lennon, Deulofeu, Traore, Atsu, Robles, Besic, Eto'o
 
Out of those I'd give you Deulofeu and Besic as possible talent if they stay injury free and work a lot harder.
 
Lennon in my opinion is a "solid" rotation player.
 
I wouldn't say that any of them have proved to be a an unknown diamond destined for great things.
 
You could argue that Stones, Fellaini, Baines, Jagielka, Coleman and I'm sure there are more were "identified" as good targets and fulfilled their potential.

I completely agree with Haf's view on this. I actually think we have quite a repair job to be done on the scouting piece.
 
I remember Louis posting a book or article that one of our old head scout's wrote about how when Moyes came in one the good things he did was overhaul the scouting system and had a room in Finch Farm with the target formation drawn up and 1st to 3rd transfer target against each position that would improve the existing squad etc. We picked up quite a few under the radar good quality players under Moyes.
 
My view is that under Martinez, this fell away a bit. Martinez was all about coaching, positivity and bringing players on. I didn't see any evidence while he was at Everton of great scouting and player identification. Both Barry and Lukaku didn;t really need a scouting network to identify. Alcaraz, McCarthy and Kone were from Wigan and known.
 
McGeady, Niasse, Lennon, Deulofeu, Traore, Atsu, Robles, Besic, Eto'o
 
Out of those I'd give you Deulofeu and Besic as possible talent if they stay injury free and work a lot harder.
 
Lennon in my opinion is a "solid" rotation player.
 
I wouldn't say that any of them have proved to be a an unknown diamond destined for great things.
 
You could argue that Stones, Fellaini, Baines, Jagielka, Coleman and I'm sure there are more were "identified" as good targets and fulfilled their potential.

I completely agree with Haf's view on this. I actually think we have quite a repair job to be done on the scouting piece.
 
I remember Louis posting a book or article that one of our old head scout's wrote about how when Moyes came in one the good things he did was overhaul the scouting system and had a room in Finch Farm with the target formation drawn up and 1st to 3rd transfer target against each position that would improve the existing squad etc. We picked up quite a few under the radar good quality players under Moyes.
 
My view is that under Martinez, this fell away a bit. Martinez was all about coaching, positivity and bringing players on. I didn't see any evidence while he was at Everton of great scouting and player identification. Both Barry and Lukaku didn;t really need a scouting network to identify. Alcaraz, McCarthy and Kone were from Wigan and known.
 
McGeady, Niasse, Lennon, Deulofeu, Traore, Atsu, Robles, Besic, Eto'o
 
Out of those I'd give you Deulofeu and Besic as possible talent if they stay injury free and work a lot harder.
 
Lennon in my opinion is a "solid" rotation player.
 
I wouldn't say that any of them have proved to be a an unknown diamond destined for great things.
 
You could argue that Stones, Fellaini, Baines, Jagielka, Coleman and I'm sure there are more were "identified" as good targets and fulfilled their potential.

Add to this that you cannot talk directly to the player until you have clubs permission. The way this unfolded seem to be with only a few hours left in the window.
 
1) Sissoko agent contacts Everton and outlines the deal needed to close quickly.
2) Outlines Personal Terms (probably what was already agreed with Spurs) and is probably agreed first.
3) Transfer fee was the Issue as Spurs will not offer £30m needed, so Everton you will need to contact Mr. Ashley (or whoever) and state you agree to the fee.
4) Once you've agreed with Mr. Ashley let me know and I'll give you Mr. Sissoko's phone number for you to talk directly.
 
In the meantime Spurs have been back in touch to say don't sign anything we going to agree the fee.
 
Personally I don't think any negotiating professional would have avoided this. The 2 outcomes regardless would have been either.
 
1) Say "not interested" and either Sissoko would still be at NUFC or at Spurs for less than £30m
2) Get Involved and Spurs cave in to pay the full £30m
 
To be honest I'm happy we got involved as we got a Peer football club to pay more than they wanted to for a player. That gives them less money to spend because of us! That's still a win in my book! That and I think we can spend £30m more wisely.

Add to this that you cannot talk directly to the player until you have clubs permission. The way this unfolded seem to be with only a few hours left in the window.
 
1) Sissoko agent contacts Everton and outlines the deal needed to close quickly.
2) Outlines Personal Terms (probably what was already agreed with Spurs) and is probably agreed first.
3) Transfer fee was the Issue as Spurs will not offer £30m needed, so Everton you will need to contact Mr. Ashley (or whoever) and state you agree to the fee.
4) Once you've agreed with Mr. Ashley let me know and I'll give you Mr. Sissoko's phone number for you to talk directly.
 
In the meantime Spurs have been back in touch to say don't sign anything we going to agree the fee.
 
Personally I don't think any negotiating professional would have avoided this. The 2 outcomes regardless would have been either.
 
1) Say "not interested" and either Sissoko would still be at NUFC or at Spurs for less than £30m
2) Get Involved and Spurs cave in to pay the full £30m
 
To be honest I'm happy we got involved as we got a Peer football club to pay more than they wanted to for a player. That gives them less money to spend because of us! That's still a win in my book! That and I think we can spend £30m more wisely.

I'd rather we buy no one at all then get Valencia. He quite clearly isn't going to a first team winger regular.
 
Not so bothered about Sissoko either.
 
If it's crap window then it is what it is. Move on and save the money to go at it January when we can reset and go for proper mainstream targets, not our 6th or 7th choices.

Need an extra crowd Steward for the next home match?

I'd wait till the end of the window before outliing this.
 
We have also freed up wages from 5 senior players moving on (Osman, Hibbert, Pienar, Howard and Stones).
 
If we can get the right players I think we'll get another 2 or 3 in before the window closes.
 
I'm less bothered about how much we spend and much more bothered about the players themselves.

He'd be gutted. He would have to spend most the day lying on the floor.

He'd be gutted. He would have to spend most the day lying on the floor.

In 48 hrs we'll know for sure....

No Tom Cleverley?
 
Garbutt didn't even get a squad number so I would remove him as unlikely to be in Koeman's plans.
 
I thought Davies had been playing mainly ACM in pre-season?
 
I would include Besic (even though Injured) and probably the same for Browning.

Hasn't Mata been seen playing keepy uppy with Riquelme at Training Ground yet?

Great. We can have Strootman and Gibson in midfield. If we then sign Andy Carrol up front and Jack Wilshere to play 3 in Midfield we can redevelop Goodison as a hospital when we move stadium and let them rest there on a collective £500k a week in the same ward!

Great. We can have Strootman and Gibson in midfield. If we then sign Andy Carrol up front and Jack Wilshere to play 3 in Midfield we can redevelop Goodison as a hospital when we move stadium and let them rest there on a collective £500k a week in the same ward!

Great. We can have Strootman and Gibson in midfield. If we then sign Andy Carrol up front and Jack Wilshere to play 3 in Midfield we can redevelop Goodison as a hospital when we move stadium and let them rest there on a collective £500k a week in the same ward!

Great. We can have Strootman and Gibson in midfield. If we then sign Andy Carrol up front and Jack Wilshere to play 3 in Midfield we can redevelop Goodison as a hospital when we move stadium and let them rest there on a collective £500k a week in the same ward!

For me it's at the point of "arrogance and philosophy" over "adaptability and change".
 
The definition of madness is doing the same thing time and again and expecting a different result.
 
If you were about to play an Everton/Martinez side you would know the following and be able to train to counteract the style for a whole training week usually.
 
1) we will play 4-2-3-1
2) we will play possession football deep in our own half
3) we will look to push up our fullbacks whenever possible
4) we are weak at defending set pieces
 
SAF used to have a philosophy and a favoured formation, but if it wasn't working he'd change it. Then other managers find it much more difficult to plan to how you're going to play. And I don't mean a knee jerk change. I mean a well planned, fully trained selection of back up formation and plays that can be utilised when Plan A clearly isn't working.
 
Could you imagine if Martinez put out a 4-4-2 Direct Ball team just for one match? Do you think the opposition would be ready for that as they try to pressurise us high up the pitch only to watch it go sailing over their heads in to the spaces behind?
 
Next match it keeps the manager guessing as to what we're going to do. By all means have your core philosophy to play to, but this should be augmented by other styles as a Plan B and C.
 
We keep going out to play exactly the same way in the same formation, with nearly the same players every time and when we lose, do the same all over again as though it was a one-off and it'll be better next time if we just keep plugging away and work harder at the same things.
 
Very Frustrating!