plaidharper

Wonder when the new shirts will drop and who our sponsors will be? Also this:

West Ham released Yarmolenko. At 32, doubt he will remain in England. Zinchenko is a player but we would really have to sell the project to him. Don't think we can spend big on him as CB and DM are the priority. He could maybe play DM but for Ukraine he seems to play more of a box to box role. Guess it depends on how Frank wants to play. Feel like we could see something completely different at the start of the season. Will just have to wait and see. Trying to make the game in Baltimore and it will be interesting to see how he lines up.

Not an attacking midfielder and is kind of small to be battling it out in the middle of the park. We will all just have to trust Frank if it is real.

A back up / squad player who is local and doesn't mind riding the bench for super low wages in theory is not the worst idea given our current dire financial situation but have to feel for all the full backs in our youth set up. If Kenny resigns, it blocks the pathway. For example Kyle John is already 21. What does this mean for him? One year left on his contract and never been out on loan. Then again maybe it will be easier to sell the youth compared to Kenny who we were unable to move on for any fee at all and is now on a free. We are a mess is so many places. Really hoping Thelwell can sort it. Already pushed Unsworth out but has so much more to do.

signed our young goalkeeper already....

Ainsley Maitland Niles only managed 8 games and 491 in his half season at Roma. Has sat the bench during their final today. Sort of wondering if he will make in the PL? Plus isn't he a midfielder who has just been played out of position when playing RB / LB? Seems like a poor fit for us.

Also seen on a few reported salary websites that Dele is on 100k a week. Would need to turn up big time to deserve that. Would mean he earns slightly more than Richie. Will be interesting to see what happens this summer with him.

22 goals in the Championship this past season. Blackburn just missed out on the playoff places. He starts for the Chilean national side. About all you need to know.

No way on Isco. Some of the players on that list have already moved. Ben Brereton-Diaz and maybe James Tarkowski might be the only ones I would look at on that list. A lot of aging players on the list. Need to learn from the mistakes of the past.

We could probably do with 2 CBs this summer. If Tarkowski was one it would not be so bad. Should be looking to do a shorter contract with older players. Enough of automatic 4 to 5 year deals. Why not 2 with the possibility of renewal for three based on benchmarks if they need convincing? If Mina is sold and we replace with Tarkowski he will be on less wages and play more games. That is fact. Then bring in a second CB. Loan Braithwaite as I can't see him being a starter for us and he needs starting minutes or won't develop. Without development, he does not break into our team or command a fee. Blame this on poor pathways for our youth and holding onto players for far too long. Can't believe the new massively long contract we handed Holgate after not really doing anything to deserve it. Can't see anyone in for Keane or Holgate but would consider selling there too. They have deals until 2025 which is a serious commitment. Hopefully we are shrewd this summer. Not only do we need to find the right players who improve us but their contracts need to make sense. If a deal doesn't fit then move on. Balance in the squad and in the books will help us more in the long run than a gamble on one player. Turnover is natural and our contract lengths do not support that but rather make us a retirement community instead.

Gone to Bayern.

Indeed. Imagine it will be something along the lines of go compete with Kante, Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount, Havertz, Ziyech, and Pulisic (as they normally play a 3-4-2-1) for a spot or be the first name on the team sheet in our midfield. At least he seems miles ahead of Barkley and Loftus-Cheek if he does stay at Chelsea. Unless Chelsea sell a few midfielder players, if I was them, I would be loaning Conor back out again (hopefully us over palace, haha). Jorginho and Kante's contracts are out in 2023 so the season after next there will be less competition.

Think we need a CB and a DM before we can even look at LB and RB or attackers for that matter. Why? How many seasons in a row have we alllll been moaning about the mistakes that Keane and Holgate make? (If those two are our starting pair for the season then we are in trouble.) Mina is always injured. The jury is still out on Godfrey and Braithwaite is so raw. This position has been an absolute mess since Jags and Zouma departed the club and it wasn't perfect even then. Multi-season issue that needs addressing. Also with Delph leaving, Gbamin exiled, Allan really not suited to just sitting as he likes to run about we do not have a defensive midfielder at the club. Another big issue as our current CBs need protecting and maybe slightly less if we solve the first. If these two issues aren't addressed, then goals will be flying in. Pickford can only do so much. Everyone is strengthening and we do not want to be in this mess again.

Indeed. Some international minutes might have helped raise the fee as I expect we look to sell him on this summer.

Also if he did come in... wonder what the dressing room would have to say about that tackle Tarkowski put in on Richie?

Boubacar Kamara just went to Villa on a free. Speaking of #6s, we should have been looking at that. Assume he would play second fiddle to Douglas Luiz at Villa unless they sell him. Little competition from our squad if he joined us.

Missed the game as I went to the beach instead (and by the looks of it some of the team where there as well). How did Price do overall? Any bright spots after the poor start?

I so hope we can keep him for a bit longer but if he does leave I hope the best for him. Needs to go somewhere where is a starter and can flourish. Not only would I miss his on field presence but his twitter account is fire. hahaha.

Not sure we need to waste funds on a backup as we already have Begovic, Crellin (who we just brought in Jan.), and Tyrer. Plus we still have Joao Virginia on the books. Hopefully Lonergan will be let go (what a waste). That is a lot of goalkeepers. If a backup was brought in, we would need to clear a lot of those out. We need pathways from our youth teams to advance or what is the point of having those development teams? Not saying tons of players will make that step up but we need to stop repeating past mistakes. Hoping Thelwell will correct this. Would like to keep Pickford but would understand if he was sold. Pope would be a good shout but wonder if Burnley will want the moon for him?

We need a CB and a #6 before any thoughts of attacking players in my opinion. And by #6 I mean a true #6 and not a box to box player who can play out of position.

Please never leave!

My word. I am still buzzing. Cannot thank this forum enough for being a comfort in dark times. EVERTON! SPIRIT OF THE BLUES!

Agent Rafa can do one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Soothsayer.