FairWooney

Seriously doubt we get Draxler.

From the looks of the rumours we are currently trying to recruit a replacement for Stones and a replacement (major improvement) on Kone. I'm hoping that we manage to get our replacement and let Stones go with Bony coming the other way this week. It's the kind of deal I can see going on and on until 31st which would be really detrimental to start of the season. I bloody hate the transfer window and the way obvious deals all run and run until the last minute. We seem to be linked with a few difference centre backs, I don't really know who would be the best option out of them but just hope we get on and sign one of them soon! For me if we can't find a suitable replacement keeper right now then were ok for now. Defense wise we can get by ok if we get a quality replacement for Stones (assuming he leaves) Midfield I think we need a new player in the middle to go with Gana who can offer something going forward with a good pass. Not sure how Mirrallas has got on but once we could do with an extra winger as backup at least. A quality striker to replace Kone who can challenge Lukaku (who i don't think will leave)

wants to go to a top international club. Billy Bullshit would have to do an amazing job of selling our ambition if he was to convince him that that was us!

the main positive for me was the quick closing down. It stopped Utd being comfortable on the ball in areas of the pitch when we did it. I only watched the game on my phone so didn't couldn't really analyse individual players that well but attacking wise we weren't great. at times we moved tihngs quickly and looked to get forward quick but it was just a bit sloppy at times and just a bit lacking really. we definitely need recruits but I wasn't appalled by it, hopefully with another tough game under our belt on Saturday and a good bit more training we'll be looking more ready.

I've got a feeling he won't go. Lukaku touts for a transfer all the time but if we say no then he'll get on with it. I think 60m is very tempting and a great deal for us in terms of profit on the purchase but would we get someone who could do as good a job and hit the ground running? Sure there's lots of players around who have been bought for much less who have scored plenty for various teams but it's often a bit of a punt. Depending on how much he wants to leave I'd still be keen to to keep him as I think he will fit into Koeman's style well.

The problem as mentioned is big names don't want to come. Witsel clearly doesn't want to come. Mata didn't want to come. Koulibaly obviously isn't that keen either. Why would they be? You can throw big wages at them but so can most teams who are in Europe and challenging for titles. If those players don't want to join I don't want us to waste our time trying to force them in. I fancy Lukaku won't leave, he's one of those players (and agents) who like to promote themselves for a transfer every window, if we accepted the offers that came in he'd leave but I think he'll be happy enough to get on with it if not. I don't see him making a formal transfer request. I really fancy Lukaku will do well under Koeman, he would certainly have to work a bit harder but he's always excelled when we've got the ball forward to him quickly and given him a chance to take on the defense at the half way line. From the sound of it this is something Koeman is keen on with quick balls forward from the full backs. Hopefully we get to see it. For me the main position we need is another central midfielder who can hold position but create things. Having both Barry and McCarthy didn't really give us that. It's fine to have 2 midfielders who get stuck in and hold position and cover full backs to an extent but in a lot of cases last season they were a little redundant while we had a lot of possession. 1 of those players needs to have more about them to push forward, look for smart passes and open things up. Besic has a bit of that ability but I feel that's a position we need quality in. I'm guessing that was why we after Witsel but from what I've read I didn't get the impression he was someone that would do the great passing and opening things up kind of side of things. I may be wrong though. Surprised to see Garbutt hasn't got a squad number, not sure how he did out on loan after his injury but I thought he looked very good the season before when he came in for Baines.

But Chelsea aren't in Europe. If they were they'd have every right to beat us to players. Obviously there is a higher expectation that they will be in a years time but right now they're not.

I don't see him playing no.9 too often, more because we didn't really have much in the way of strikers (at least ones we plan on having for the season) available. Good to see that he is capable in the role though and he could benefit from getting into that position more often. That said from the analysis I read about the game it seems Koeman will use wide players a lot more than Martinez did anyway so he will probably see a lot more action on the wings than he used to. I noticed he was popping up on the website, twitter etc a lot during the summer and felt maybe he was showing a lot of willing and offering himself up for a few promo bits to keep his name around after a second half of the season where he'd not got a lot of game time. With that It made me think he'd be really putting in the work to impress preseason as well and I'm sure we'll see him pull out all the stops to try and show that he should be in the starting 11. With his quick feet and excellent crossing I certainly think he's got the potential to do good things for us, hopefully he can just get the improvement in his game to make him a top quality consistant performer.

great right up that. Interesting reading about the changes to our game. I like the high press and always felt it was something Martinez would have been more keen on given his love of Barcelona's football. The other key thing was the look to move things faster quicker, the no.10 looking to turn and find a forward pass quickly and using a long ball from the full backs down the channels to try to play Gerry in. I do recall this sometimes happening under Martinez with Lukaku looking very dangerous when played in like that and being able to look to muscle past his man into plenty of open space but all too often our release from the keeper resulted in far too many side to side passes before pushing forward. The defensive comments I'm not too worried about at this point, in the first half we had 2 young inexperienced defenders and we had a mix at full back. Obviously stopping crosses is something that needs to be addressed though and hopefully Koeman will be on the case.

Eden Hazard scored 4 in 30 last season but I wouldn't say no if we signed him!

I find this the most frustrating period now. rumours and negotiations go on for ages when all you want to see is players joining to spend maximum time in preseason training with their new squad and coaching staff. In the end half the players join after the season starts and your left wondering why most clubs seem to end up doing that! I'd love it if we could have Mata signed this week and Witsel or whoever else he wants in Midfield to be signed quickly as well so that they can report in for training as soon as possible. Obviously with Euro's players they have a later break so you have a bit more time but the sooner the better really. Fingers crossed for Mata!

I would rather have younger players on the whole, both for their sell on value (ALL clubs want sell on value) and for the potential to help build a squad for a few years rather than having a constant turnover of player. It’s not only poor clubs that need to buy young players to sell for a profit, no team wants to spend all their money buying players they then lose on free’s or low prices. Plus we aren’t suddenly some mega rich team who can afford to flitter our money away, at no point has Moshiri ever said he’s going to pile money into us for players, he has hopefully resolved our debt issues and can ensure we are able to compete but we haven’t just become Man City or PSG! However I’d certainly advocate spending money on a couple of top quality players who can make an instant big impact and are in the prime of their career. Mata is just the kind of player who can make things happen and if he performs well for us would be a huge boost to the team.

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/06/29/report-manchester-city-paying-close-attention-to-lukaku-even-tho/ Apparently reported by the Sun suggesting that Man City would be interested in a swap deal of Bony for Stones. From the Bony side I'd be happy for us to get him. He's another player who's suffered at the hands of Man City/Chelsea transfers following a good year at a smaller club. He was very good at Swansea. Not sure how it works out value wise, but he cost them 25million and hasn't progressed since being at City so I'd say Stones has a higher sale value than him especially given Stones is the younger player with more portential value increase. I'd say Bony and 10 million would do nicely.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/romelu-lukaku-could-stay-everton-8242463 His agent is like the Don King of the football world, constantly bigging up his man and putting down everyone else! Serie A is no place for his super star but now Everton have a bit of money they might be worth his time. We're more of a project than feckin PSG you idiot!

is that a pole dancer in the tower?!

Plenty of on going projects in China he can try to win the league with surely! The Indians were bringing in old time legends to make some great premier league, a good place for him.

What a great project indeed, splashing Billions into the already biggest team in a small time league. Well done PSG. Maybe you should earn a trophy Rom, not walk into a side that are already winning them all. Plenty have enjoyed winners medals from the Chelsea and Man City benches, doesn't make them great successes!

Matt, at any point has Moshiri said he will be personally throwing big money into our transfer funds? He has got us into a better financial position, and is keen to progress the new stadium and get a manager sorted but I don't see that we'll have anything much more than anyone else to spend which is largely coming from increased TV deals. Any other extra money on top will be from the sale of Stones or Lukaku. I might be wrong but I don't see us suddenly bringing in several huge transfers ala Chelsea/Citeh.

I agree. our defensive players are good, Jagielka is solid, knows how to make those last ditch challenges and plays pretty much like a classic English centre back. Stones took the Martinez desire for ball playing defenders too far at times last season which lead to too many errors when he needed to be thinking more about safety. Saw today how well he could defend while still showing class on the ball for England. Mori is a very decent centre back while Coleman and Baines do a great job as full backs and the youngsters look like excellent cover The only position that's a bit short is right back which could do with some cover for Coleman. As smeghead says they need coaching better and also better management to play in such a way that doesn't see them making so many errors and leaving so many holes. The only position along the back that would improve the team would be a new goalkeeper. Someone that instills confidence in the defence and communicates well with the back line. Hopefully that's a priority.

I'd love to have him, solid keeper and I like him as a character, with us having 3 defenders who have played with him for England I'd like to think they'd have good trust and communication with him. However the money is ridiculous, particularly the wages. Also....why on earth would he want to leave league contenders City with their Champions league football and Pep Guardiola to go to managerless bottom half finishers, no matter how good a game Moshi and BK can talk up ambition to him! There's plenty of quality keepers just in the Premiership that we could get at better price, let alone anywhere else.

Matt the interview where Martinez said he would reject the transfer was on EvertonTV, it was in the post match interview after Barnsley, I watched it and he clearly said what people were quoting. I'm not going to go and find the links as I'm busy but it was there, post match and talked about in the final minute of the interview.

Ultimately the club NEED money and the only way we can get that money is to sell our prized assets. We've already sold the training ground, mortgaged out the stadium and we take loans on the forthcoming tv money long before we get it. The only thing left is players and if the right offer comes in for a player worth enough to help balance the books and give a bit back to the manager then that is what they will do. It will continue to happen all of the time unless we suddenly come into money

Chelsea have 1 ex Wigan player who is unwanted in the side. given Martinez history of transfers i'm sure he'll be keen to bring him in!

the bonus is hardly a big deal when you consider how much more he'd be on a week plus he'd get some payment I'm sure from Chelsea on signing.

so many similar reactions but I don't really understand the surprise. Lets just lay this out. WE HAVE NO MONEY We have plenty of debit and loans coming out of our ears. I don't know all the facts but it's clear from plenty of actual records of these things that we are having to repeatedly take any opportunity to fund the club short term. Roberto Martinez may have told the world we are not selling John Stones but besides giving the impression of being hard ball on the sale there was never going to truth in it if the right price was offered. We need that money and there is no doubt that we would sell him. Whether Stones has asked to leave of his own account or whether he's been told he should put in a request for the good of the club I don't know but either way it ensures that when he leaves Everton don't look like bull shitters. I think anyone that thinks we would just turn down whatever offer we get is very naive. I'll be sad to see him go as he's a great talent who could have gone on to be a great long term centre back and maybe captain for us but unfortunately that's not the world we live in and the teams with the money quickly grab any young talent off of those who don't, particularly if they are English. My only worry is over how much of the money we actually spend and what players we get with it.