SpartyBlue

Important to remember that his fitness may not be fully there (looked gassed at the end) and more important to remember he was at one place for quite a while. It will take time to learn his teammates and that will allow him to play faster. He’s a solid premier league striker that provides some things DCL doesn’t. I think he will prove to be better cover than what we’ve had in a long time.

It’s hard to know how many options we really liked there. Maybe just Pedro and Chuk. Once those didn’t go through we didn’t force it. I would have loved to get a winger as well but I appreciate that we didn’t sign someone for the sake of it. Def an area of focus next summer if not sooner.

Given the next window isn’t that many games away I think it makes sense to find the player and the deal you want. We’ve had too many costly misses lately.

I suppose he hasn’t Garner’ed your attention.

Personally, I think a winger is more important now that we have Maupay. Need to be able to force Gray and McNeil to the bench, or at least into a real competition. In any case def an attacking option would be the icing on the cake.

Very hopeful on this one. Hopefully he has the energy to be a heat seeking missile for a couple years and mentor the young midfielders.

Excellent window regardless. Would have loved to get Kudus and I do think some attacking help on the wing completes the window but overall we did a lot of business both in and out and got both promising youth and reliable experience. Will take a while to mesh but, on paper, it’s a job well done.

A bench of Doucoure, Garner most likely,Davies is also much better.

Obviously some quality there. Just wasn’t the same after his injury. Fine margins with the pace and physicality of the Premier League.

Let’s just sign his wife. Love the energy.

I mean If he’s being asked to take a pay cut to leave I don’t really blame him for saying no. It’s his “fault” we don’t play him but I can’t really get on a player who has likely been told you won’t play and please leave for less money.

Apologies. Brain aneurism. I guess even more reason for them to try to keep him. If he rips up the championship I’m sure he’d get that high level interest

Prob smart not to make a lateral move-ish anyhow. With a strong season he might be able to get Top 6 offers.

Here is a question. Let’s say we get chuk-wagon and these others. More options now. How does Frank actually want to play? So much has been done out of necessity. What is his vision? What type of Everton does he want?

We do need another attacking option. Pedro woulda been a good one but seems to be smartly kept. Maybe this is option 2.

We have to be going to a 3 man midfield with everyone coming in, yes?

True but given that I think they’ve mostly hit these last few windows on a limited budget I’m willing to be hopeful

If they aren’t it’s because he’s allowed the football people to make these decisions. That should have always been the case but it’s still learning from one’s mistakes which should be acknowledged.

Well, if the player can decide to not come back to the selling club I guess I don’t see how the club has the first option. They lock in a price and have an advantage negotiations but it’s up to player whether he returns.

Plenty of criticism for Moshiri but when we’ve been able to spend he has spent. Some would say too much and too recklessly. This window seems much more thoughtful with a clear idea of what we need.

Big number for the permanent. Someone educate me on him please.

Well, the player has first refusal. The original club’s only advantage is having a set price with the new club. A player could still just test the open market as he wishes. I’m not saying there is no point in the clause, just that it’s far from a sure thing. I suppose if you’re Barca you could always say hey let’s sign you to more money when you come back and then if we sell you’ll still be on higher wages.

That’s the system they knowingly signed up for. As you point out they are obscenely paid for the privilege. I get that it’s difficult for them and their families to move like that but it’s their choice to play these sports. Go be an accountant if you don’t like it. The difference is these are leagues with 32 teams or less. If players could just decide they will never be traded to certain markets the parity gal would grow hugely and you’d get something like the Premier League where half the league or more has realistically no chance at ever winning a title. We also have drafts here that try to balance things a bit more. Pros and Cons to both systems but having a league worth more parity where every team has a chance to build themselves into a perennial winner is preferable to me.

Yea he handled it fine. I do think, objectively, it’s best he stays and really establishes himself. Playing 10 min at a time couldn’t have been great for his development. He’s a year or two away, if he progresses, from being in the starting lineup regularly for a top side.

One reason more parity exists in those leagues I would say. You sometimes get holdouts in the NFL or NBA but they aren’t held hostage by players nearly as often as occurs in football. As an American it is always wild to me that a player under contract can just easily force a move in most cases, effectively disregarding his agreement. I expect it comes from there just being so many different leagues and options whereas the NFL is only that one league really and can better regulate those things.