AlbanyNYToffee

On Rooney...he has said in regards to his players that he has no control over who goes as its all down to the administrators. They will do whatever they can to reduce costs - as is their role usually. It'll be the same if an approach came for Rooney - from any club - they'd take the money quickly. Its weird because would Rooney have much say in thar regard? Strange one.
The other thing I'd say, against some popular opinion, is that I don't believe the squad is full of peeps who don't give a fuck. Quite the opposite. I think we have some big/good characters in there - Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Godfrey, Doucoure, Allan, DCL, Gray, Townsend, Richarlison, Gordon.
I say this because of how they react to the bad shit - they look genuinely gutted. And how they celebrate together - they love it. I see them trying to stay connected to the fans at the end of games - against a barrage of abuse.
I think there's enough good character and talent, albeit in a small squad, to do better than this under the right manager.
However, some players need to be shifted out of first team action. Coleman is one as he just doesn't have it now. As is Keane who, unfortunately, just isn't mentally strong enough to handle the shit times. Doesn't sound a lot but that's half our defence - which is significant really.

Someone on Twitter suggested Emma Hayes who's just won FIFA'S female coach of the year award with Chelsea Women and one of the replies was "Why not, she's used to taking charge in a dressing room full of fannies." Made me chuckle. 

Not voting. You didn't include Marco Silva.

Albany said in El Ghazi thread that he can but of course he's a few hours behind our time here!!!

Depends if you're Liverpool or someone else.

It's a tribute to his Ajax teammate.
Sure can. 

this.
It may well be that Rafa is a wrecking ball who may ruin us..... but make no bones about it - this group of players left to their own devices would continue to take £££ and see us relegated without a whimper.
If we had any semblance of a team who appreciated the shirt and fought for the points I would be all over Rafa - as it does appear he is going full on and may be taking a huge risk......  but my thinking is "what have we got to lose".
Our club has been populated by millionaires stealing a living and I think he knows this.  The fact is that he shouldn't have been hired as there are too many fans who wont allow him to upset a few overrated egos because they have mastered the art of conning some fans that they care about the club.
 

I'm quite conflicted with the situation at the minute and the way Rafa is running things. On one hand, I feel many aspects of his methods are something we've needed for a long time. He wants the team to be just that, a team, and wants to achieve this with discipline and hard work. He isn't interested in individuals.
On the other hand, it's difficult to get on board with it. From the outset many fans didn't want Rafa at the club, which makes any negative situation seem worse, because he isn't very well liked. It feels like Digne was being driven out for whatever reason and I'm not sure we will ever know the details of it or who was in the right. If Digne wasn't willing to adapt his game to suit the team, then he's not really a player I want at the club. On the flip side of that, it is disappointing to think Rafa was incapable of finding a way of using Digne to his strengths - but then again where has that ever got previous managers?

So far there seems to be a lack of a plan on the field, but there does finally seem to be a vision off it. I've never seen the board work so fast in a transfer window to seal targets. I would guess this could only be influenced by Rafa. Whether these players are good enough or not is yet to be seen.
One thing I'd like to mention is that the signings he has made so far have influenced the team really well. Gray looks like he could be a really good player for us and Townsend has his flaws but is a useful squad player, better than most we have brought in in recent years. He has also brought Gordon's game on heaps and bounds and he is also looking like he will be a good little player for us.
At this point it pains me to say it, but the sensible thing to do would be to give Rafa the summer window and see where we are at around Christmas time before we call for his head. I know that is very difficult though as every loss breeds hatred.

To be honest, this doesn't feel any more catastrophically horrible than moments under Martinez, Koeman, Allardyce and Ancelotti.
Every single one of those managers had at least one chunk of time during their tenure where everyone on here was bitching and moaning about how it's the worst they've ever seen Everton play.
We're a sad bunch of fuckers who, even if we win the treble, will somehow find something to moan about 🤷🏼‍♂️

IN: Mykolenko, Patterson
OUT: Digne (Fabrizio says its happening)
LOAN IN: El Ghazi (Fabrizio says its happening)
LOAN OUT: 
CONTRACT ENDS AFTER SEASON: Lonergan, Kenny, Coleman, Delph, Siggy, Tosun
Squad for rest of season:
GK: Pickford, Begovic, Lonergan
DEF: Keane, Mina, Holgate, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Coleman, Patterson, Branthwaite, Kenny
MID: Allan, Doucoure, Gomes, Davies, Gbamin, Delph
FWD: DCL, Richarlison, Gray, Townsend, Gordon, Iwobi, Rondon, Tosun, El Ghazi

Normally I'm the first one to vote against stop-gap options that don't appear to have any strategy behind them, however this will keep Iwobi further from the team so I'm absolutely elated. 

IN: Mykolenko, Patterson
OUT: Digne (Fabrizio says its happening)
LOAN IN: El Ghazi (Fabrizio says its happening)
LOAN OUT: 
CONTRACT ENDS AFTER SEASON: Lonergan, Kenny, Coleman, Delph, Siggy, Tosun
Squad for rest of season:
GK: Pickford, Begovic, Lonergan
DEF: Keane, Mina, Holgate, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Coleman, Patterson, Branthwaite, Kenny
MID: Allan, Doucoure, Gomes, Davies, Gbamin, Delph
FWD: DCL, Richarlison, Gray, Townsend, Gordon, Iwobi, Rondon, Tosun, El Ghazi

Normally I'm the first one to vote against stop-gap options that don't appear to have any strategy behind them, however this will keep Iwobi further from the team so I'm absolutely elated. 

Sometimes stop gaps are necessary. I think far more is being made of this than should be. In this window there aren’t likely to be many available options. I’ve heard that he’s a guy who plays “in the hole” as opposed to a winger so for the sake of argument let’s assume that’s true. It’s absolutely a position of need for us. No, he may not be a longterm solution but a 6 month loan on middling wages is not going to effect our fortunes one way or another. 
 
The greater concern is over who is ultimately pulling the trigger on these moves but as all we have to go on is unsupported speculation I don’t think there is much gain in getting riled up over that just yet. 

Normally I'm the first one to vote against stop-gap options that don't appear to have any strategy behind them, however this will keep Iwobi further from the team so I'm absolutely elated. 

Normally I'm the first one to vote against stop-gap options that don't appear to have any strategy behind them, however this will keep Iwobi further from the team so I'm absolutely elated. 

Normally I'm the first one to vote against stop-gap options that don't appear to have any strategy behind them, however this will keep Iwobi further from the team so I'm absolutely elated. 

Villa have now agreed a £25m fee for him.
Like I've said, it's a brilliant deal for us financially and it makes sense to sell him but I'm not going to pretend we're not losing a quality player when we have too few of them as it is.

That El Bobble on Twitter, who seems to have the inside line at Everton, has said the manager has said no three times to us signing El Ghazi.
I guess we’ll find out if this is true if he walks or barely uses him.
It would be peak Moshiri to hire a manager a large proportion of the fan base don’t want and then undermine him. 

A fair point and certainly a concern. Financially though this wouldn’t be a big commitment. Davies out, Iwobi seemingly out of favor etc.. one in wouldn’t be terrible for me. Just not one I’m bothered much by either way. If he cost Gordon in particular minutes I would be both surprised and annoyed so I get it.

The only player of theirs I would be remotely interested in would be John McGinn.

I was bored.
2018/19: 136 MOTM votes
2019/20: 67 MOTM votes
2020/21: 14 MOTM votes
2021/22: 0 MOTM votes
Even if you don't take this season into account, that's a pretty stark drop-off season by season.

I'd be quite happy to sell him, rather than loan him, if we had a quality replacement lined up. That latter point is not something I'd have a lot of confidence in though.

Your point is well taken but height is not the best determinant of aerial prowess/defending. Those two traits are jumping ability and aggression. Us blues should know as Tim Cahill was a legend. Give me a 5'10 pitbull over 6'2 poodle every day of the weekday. We lost seemingly every set piece against Hull and I guarantee you we were the taller side.