RuffRob

Mina

Some bench for Chelsea.

And you wouldn't put it past him either.

Frustrating to be a goal down. We have actually done OK so far.

10mins into the season and looks like the first nasty injury. FFS

Emm, surprised us all with Alli not starting. Has he gone with Grey's pace, against a 37 year old Silva with a 31 and 32 year old each side of him? Quick counter attach is going to be our best weapon against a team pressing us back.

Need to remember it's also a highlights real, so difficult to judge to much, as this sort of tackle is going to be prominent in them. Make him look like he slides in here there and everywhere. Seems to have good timing though. Always going to better saying on your feet than going to ground if you can.

Going to be a tough game as always with Chelsea, the unbiased view of the bookies have us 5/1 to win and 3/1 the draw, so they have us beat already. However, I think with the crowd and new buzz around the place with recent new signings, and those on the cusp of signing, I am hoping there will be a real energy about the team. As we are not expected to get fuck all, there is nothing really to lose in a game like this. Play with energy, passion and heart and I know the Goodison faithful will remain behind the team from kick off to the final whistle. I will be happy to see this, because this will be the bedrock of any improvement or future success. Opening few games are always a bit random results wise, tactics, good quality and partnerships on the pitch will develop in time. I can be patient with this. Hardwork, passion and desire can be shown today and in all subsequent games.

No Mc Neil?

Just watched a you tube video 'Amadou Onana - the game changer' not your usual you tube highlights real. A very mature young fella, full of self confidence, hunger and humility. He even sings!

Transfer window got very exciting this week. If we do get Coady as well as the now expected Onana, and Gana and potentially throw a loaned Broja in to the mix, then our line up for the first game in September could be very different to last September, with almost all out field players potentially swoped out. Truly, the start of a new broom. Will take a while to gel and partnerships to developed. We have to be patient, but very exciting non the less.

Hopefully getting the master and the apprentice. Gana a seasoned pro and great role model for Obana to learn from. A nice 18months crossover will help Obana settle in to the role longer term. Wouldn't be sensible to put a raw 21 year old in at the deep end for a key position.

https://www.claretandhugh.info/hammers-dead-right-to-call-the-bluff/ I find these sorts of wages hard to believe - we are not going to be paying that. Inventive journalism to made hammers feel better about missing out. I would think this sort of player is looking for game time a stepping stone to get to the top of football if he can, as opposed to instant massive wages. I think it because we may have said he will get more playing time this season as opposed to obscene wages.

In the Billy Gilmour thread my biggest concern with him was his stature or lack of. So Onana's size ticks a big box for me. A big part of Fillaini success was he was just unplayable at times largely due to his size.

you also lose a players 'cost' off the books as well - for example Gylfi £40m over 5 years will have been mark down as £8m for each season, so this disappears of next seasons books as well.

so realistically not going to be back until after the international break at the beginning of October - will miss 8 PL games. so a decent chunk of the season - at least.

https://tbrfootball.com/it-worked-frank-lampard-has-now-phoned-midfielder-and-convinced-him-to-join-everton-journalist/ and also just read an article saying Stevie G went to Tarkowskis house to try and persuade him to join him at Villa. If this Onana transfer comes of then the Lampard patter is obviously the best at selling a vison. As Everton are not exactly the easiest sell at the moment.

Gana and Onana instantly transform our midfield capabilities, having Gana here means a 21 year old Onana has 12-18months to actually properly find his feet and get up to pace with the Premier league. Onana could hit the ground running, but would be far more sensible to have a proven Gana this season, especially as we all know how tough its going to be. All of a sudden having your midfield depending on a 21year old new and unproven in the Premiership is not to smart. He will need time. Shocked he wants to come here over West Ham at this present time. We must definitely be in some sort of discussions then.

I suppose when you know you are going to be getting +£100m for Declan Rice next summer, quite smart to bring potential replacement in 12months in advance.

https://www.goodisonnews.com/2022/08/03/everton-blow-as-maxwel-cornet-prefers-move-to-west-ham-united/ I read this around Cornet 3 weeks ago as well, before any mention of West Ham

Its not unheard of playing with out a striker, so it is something that could work as its done for others (although others have had Worldie plays at there disposal. Being forced in to it is not ideal, but sometimes necessity is to the mother of invention. Easy to be doom and gloom, but might focus the club in getting back up or indeed replacement first choice striker who could end up more than filling DCL's shoes. People at the club will be shitting it a little more with no Richy and potentially a long term DCL layoff looking them straight in the face.

my fear is Cornet has been dragging his feet waiting on a team who are in Europe to jump in for his signature. Read early doors that he would prefer a move to a team playing European football. Now West Ham are in for him, so that might turn his head and might be a team he prefers to go to - unless we show him the money!! Which I assume we are trying to move away from.

So would I and everybody, hence priority is now to get a first team striker in in. But somebody needs to lead the line on the weekend. Better alternative to Alli starting at the weekend?

Going to have to bite the bullet a bit, and to a degree park FFP to the side and worry about it in the January transfer window or early next summer. We need a half decent striker who walks in to the starting 11. At least whoever we are now chasing now knows they are pretty much nailed on as a starter for the first half of the season.

if true, with the World Cup pause then that pretty much means the New Year.