RuffRob

Based on this game and the players on show - there where plenty of reasons to be more optomistic as an Everton fan than perhaps as a Brentford fan for the season ahead. For any team with a small squad - the number of injuries will be key. However, the squad is now looking like one where a general style of play can me maintained through the team when different personel are available. There does appear to be a thought out process to our recruitment now.

We looked the far better team all day, just as we did against Fulham and Wolves. Difference today we have Beto and DCL available, and got the goals. We are beginning to use the height advantage we have through to team to better effect today as well. Brentford stuggled to compeate today. It was also notable today, for the first time in a long time, we had a little bit of offensive quality on the bench. Looking forward to seeing Jack Harrison joining them. Something to build on now we have no longer go the 'not won a game yet' monkey of our backs.

Just read there might be some protests at the Brentford game about 777 buying the club.

There is very little we can do about Moshiri selling to 777, so we may as well get behind it and help rejuvinate the club on the back of new owners. We wanted Moshiri and Kenwright out. Looks like we are getting it. The club is obviously in trouble and not looking in a great place financially. 777 must have confidence in the professionals they have in there organisation to make Everton a better 'club'. If their ultimate goal is to 'sell' the club and make a profit in 5 or 10 years time, I don't have a problem with this. To make a profit or make the biggest profit then they have to get the club to a better place, both off and on the pitch. Making Everton great again is in 777 best interest. It will not be from selling the family silver so to say. They might be looking for fans to also spend more. However, if you get good value in what we are expected too buy be it beer or food outside the stadium or insurance or flights through sister companies etc then this can only be a good thing long term. Revenue is going to be key, but not a problem if we get value for our money. There will be changes, and some we probably we will not like. However, to be a Premiership club and a good one at that, we have to play the corporate game now. We are going to have to expect to pay higher match day ticket prices etc. I am sure if we got to see some decent football that would be more palatable. Sadly some may be priced out. 777 make have to crack a few eggs to make an omelette, it may feel worst before it gets any better. It's all very much fingers crossed.

The stadium was always going to be built on debt - so to that effect is always going to be an ongoing cost as part of a normal operational costs. In a way its not overly important where that money comes from, just that it comes in a timly manner to get it finished and as long as interest rates are not to high. It's going to be our home for a long time. We will have to pay interest or rent as part of any lease. In a way the most important thing for Everton is to always remain a premier league club - this single thing will dwalf any difference financially between paying interest or a lease for using the new stadium. At this point in time nobody is going to come in and asset strip the club - Stadium is all debt and no equity at the moment as its not even finish and selling asset such as the players will only get us relegated - so any purchaser of the club would loose money hand over fist if that happen. I imagine buying a football club means you are actually buying a lot of goodwill as opposed to saleable tangible assets to enable a quick buck. What you do with this goodwill is key. For any investers in a badly run football club, the simplest and best way to make money would be to run it better both on and off the pitch - increasing the overall value and turnover of Everton FC and selling it on as a club in a better position than when you bought it. Are 777 capable of doing this? we shall see.

I feel this club has been run more as a 'corner shop' type operation since the beginning of the Premiership league - and we have been overtaken massively by 'smaller' clubs who have got there act together. There is an interesting artical in the Financial Times about American owners - and a keep statement sticks out to me 'proffessionalsing operations'. We have been severley lacking in this. There is also a mention on the oppertinites than multi club ownerships can bring, 777 do seem to be all over this aspect of club ownership and as the English Premiership team of the group we instantly become their Jewel in the crown. https://www.ft.com/content/6f7c3b92-42d1-46d8-9dc3-0276c1ef703f Maybe this is the sharp shock we need to try and muscle our way on to the big boys table. https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en-no/knowledge/publications/59c7db6d/multi-club-ownership-777-partners-spotlight Maybe the Everton board consisting of people like Don Dransfield over Graham Sharps and Bill Kenwight of this world might just be a step in the right direction. I seem to have now managed to convince myself if might not all be doom and gloom.

The truth is none of really now what they will end up bringing to the table. I surpose you could also put a positive spin on it. This day and age the days of sugar daddy owners is over, its all about clubs generating our own revenue. So in the longer run the best owners will be those who know how to use the club to generate the most money. In 777's portfolio of football club, fortunately we will sit right at the top of the pyramid - and 777 will not be able to go higher as the Premiership is the pinnacle if the world soccer tree (and they can only own one club). We will be their flagship 'brand'. Could Everton get first option, favourable terms on player transfers from other clubs in the group? You would think that would make best sense to 777 as a group. I wouldn't go as far as say they would be feeder clubs, but the group as a whole will have a good working knowledge of these other leagues accross the globe and the players and talent within - this can't be a bad thing. One thing is for sure - no matter who the investers are in the club - none benefits financially from us being relegated to the Championship. At this moment in time we are a relagation battling team so are just as likley to be relagated due to current owner over 777. Maybe ruthless proffessionals over nostalgic day dreamers is what the club is crying out for. Maybe a new chapter is well over due. The truth is its a bit of a coin toss.

This is very worrying. For however shite Moshiri has been as an owner (or as a studge for Usmaninov) I don't doubt their intention was to try and make Everton a powerhouse in the Premier league and become a Billionaires play thing for their own personnal bragging rights, so spend money on players, and got the new stadium to construction. Their problem ulitmately being they are just shite at running a football club. Moshiri is now simply about clawing back as much of the money as back as he can and as quick as he can now and doubt he gives two hoots about Everton. We will simply go down as a failed chapter for him. This 777 mob look to be simply all about making themselves money. Is this going to be one final shite Moshiri desision to inflict further damage on the club. Prepared to be fleeced as a fan.

I think all fit then our starting offensive line up is signficantly stronger than last season and dare I say it there would be decent options off the bench. If they all get and stay fit, then Dyche has some reasonable tools to get the team scoring more. Then we can really judge if he is going to be a decent enough manager for us. Last season was backs against the wall, the first month of this season he was still without a proper striker and with McNeil injured. Will be very interesting to see how we are going at the beginning of December.

From what Dyche said in his latest interview Thelwell is very constrained in the deal that he can make, and pulled a bit of a Rabbit out of the hat tailoring a deal that got a £25M signing of Beto over the line. It is extreamely difficult to judge DoF at this club. It sounded like both Walsh and Brands where pretty much dictated to by the owner or indeed the owners real puppet master - Usmananov. Transfer business was shocking under their stewardship, but blame goes far beyond the pair of them. Thelwell seems to be making a better fist of it, given what appears to be significant financial restrictions dealing with the aftermath of FFP and lose of significant sponser (although the sponser and owner interferance appeared to be hand in hand). Our biggest outlays - McNeil (22), Onana (20), Garner (21) Beto (25) and Chermiti (19) (ages when purchased) look to be decent transfers. The only real duck expenditure wise so far is Maupay, although we are still early days on a couple of these, I feel we are now consistently shopping the the right window now. Thelwell just need a bit more cash so the quantity of these types of signings can be increase and spread accross the pitch - i.e your Gnonto's etc. He is definately having to deal with one hand behind his back at the moment.

Playing wise, overall Gray has been an OK signing given the modest fee he came here for. However, that is becasue we had so much shit come to the club before him for decent fees, our bar was not set very high. He has showed flashes of a player with some good ability, but he has never came accoss as a particulaly good team player. This is why I think he spent much of last season under Dyche off the pitch. Dyche obviosley didn't see him as dependable. - Dyches manta last season was minimum expected was maximum effort. If Gray was not putting in this effort or following team instructions given, then very difficult for a manager to be putting you on the pitch ahead of those who put the effort in or followed instructions. He is not a player who is talented enough for the rest of the team to carry - even if in his own mind he thinks he is. The lad has obviolsey been showing a bad attitude with regard to the current regime at the club and ultimately decided to air his laundry in public. Glad the Dyche has given the other side of the story. Gray ultimately gets his move, and it a shame we can't really afford to let him rot in the reserves out of principle, but its where we are. Given that the club can't do this, I am glad Dyche and the club defended themselves against his comments.

surely we can do better than this with a state of the art new stadium on the waterfront in one of the countires most iconic cities littrally just around the corner. We must now be viewed with massive untapped potential as a Premier league club - for sale, the most modern stadium, great tradition and easily now biggest club in the Premiership yet to break in to the big boys league. Would have thought investers would be circling like flies around a honey pot!!!

Ok, loans come back, players purchased and players moved on - squad changes all a bit complicated, but ulimately the difference to first team squad from end of last season and now going in to this is. In Beto, Young, Harrision, Danjuma, Chermiti, Branthwaite, Dele, Dobbin and Gomes Out Coady, Mina, Davies, Simms, Iwobi, Maupay, Holgate, Vinagre, Begovic (still potential to lose Gray)

because I have no doubt he is not high on the list of starters and plan was to move him out this summer. But the Iwobi transfer happened and the club where not able to get anybody in. Once the window slams shut - the club have to take stock of the squad and have to make a decision that will be best for Everton FC. Ideally we don't get injuries and we don't need Gray as cover and he actually doesn't get a game. Club is hopefully in a good place. The other potential scenario is that we have bad luck injuries wise, and attacking options are thin on the ground and Gray has to be used. Money is flushed down the drain all the time with players who are ulitmately not used much, doesn't mean we shouldn't keep adequate (orcover in the squad. At the moment the option is A)Gray or B.) nothing else and fingers crossed. Club are simply think A) is the safest option given where we are.

Thus making a weak Everton squad weaker.

If Gray's potential move was to a Saudi club, then on transfer deadline week, sorting his move out was not any sort of priority. Gray may have been informed by the club that they will be open to offers for him this window as he is in his final year and club looking to go in a new direction etc etc. It sounds like the club have told him this. I am sure if the stars would have aligned and Gnonto or simlar got accross the line for us, then Gray will have been on the move this next week or two. If we could not get a move for a better player over the line in the final few days then the club are under no obligation to sell Gray and leave oursleves short between now and January. Not ideal for Gray as he knows he's not high in the managers thinking (maybe should have some focus on why this is the case!!) and will only be used as a bit part player, but the club under no obligation to leave ourselves short after missing out on replacement targets. This is no sort of spitful vendetta in blocking moves by Dyche or Thelwell, its about Everton now simply maintaining as strong as possible sqaud as they can up to the next window. Gray is simply now being unproffessional by venting his frustration on social media in a bid to get a move force a move to Saudi. Gray and Everton are losers in this situation - but be proffessional and get on with it.

Nice to have a game where there is plenty of candidates for MotM and none who really had stinkers. Had to be Beto, he looks a real handful, physically, with pace and decent technique. He definately gives the team bite in the final third. I think with three strikers, at the club with some similar attributes at long last team maybe able to build around an identity going forward.

Think we have been playing OK so far as the away team. Sheff Utd scored a couple of well taken goals and good play on there part, and little bit of fortune on their part. All still to play for in the second half, as think there are more goals in this game.

I know what you mean, pros and cons to it. All being fit, I feel generally maybe we have a stronger top 15 players. All players available, on paper we have better tools to win a game. However, the 25 man squad is probably weaker in depth of players. However, the depth of players we did have where generally not good enough or at least did not provide good value. We need a bit of luck - Branthawaite need to show he really is a Premeriship player, we need him to develop a reliable and consistent CB pairing with Tarks. - one of Beto or DCL (ideally both) need to be on the pitch and scoreing goals. - need to have the rub on the green injury wise. There feels an element of a gamble in what has happened by the close of the window. The success or failure of the transfer window, can only really be ultimately be judged on state of the team at around Xmas time before the next window opens. if we are 4-5 point out of the relegation spots at the turn of the year I would take than now.

Gray can still go to Saudi, as there market stays open longer - a la James? i think that's correct.

Given his contract situation, and the clubs financial situation then they have to take the deal thats on the table. The disappointing thing will be not seeing another player coming in to make up the numbers. it may give us wiggle room in January's market. I think its going to be fingers crossed on the injury front for the next 4-5months.

Dyche said there are interested parties in for him, and that financially the club will have to look at. Thats as good as indication as you are going to get that the club are considering cashing in.

https://www.footballfancast.com/everton-declan-rice-sean-dyche-transfer-live-updates-deadline-day-premier-league/ I will beleive it when I see it. But a loan move from City to Everton would not be a massive disruption for him and he's not going to get game time at City.

https://www.goodisonnews.com/2023/09/01/everton-set-to-be-busiest-club-in-premier-league-on-transfer-deadline-day-with-multiple-signings-in-the-works/ this could be a very busy day - for Everton (and a lot of other teams). Our squad could look very different at 11pm tonight than it did when the season kicked off a fortnight ago. We will need a before and after graphic!!

I think last nights win will have a big psychological differance for us going in to this game. Forget the first half, as the starting line up will be much closer to what we saw in the second half. It was only against Doncaster, but a wins a win. I think the team not scoring and no 'striker' in the team was getting to be a massive monkey on our back - I fancy Danjuma to get on the score sheet again tomorrow, I think he will benefit massivley from last nights goal.