RuffRob

I think we are definitely seeing a realignment in this squad at the moment. Could almost say Gray is a straight swap for Bernard and Townsend for Walcott (who maybe we actually could have done with last season). Halved the wages, but still have two player who will most likely be just as effected as the players they replaced (but perhaps more so). I think the players coming in will definitely be hungrier. Neither of these player are likely to elevate us to CL, but the two they replaced where not doing that either. I know we need better players than 'mid table' ones if we want to improved, but the reality of FFP is I don't think the club have any option but to have a frugal season (or two) and balance the books. These are the rules of footballs governing bodies now, and there is no getting away from it. We just don't have the 'revenues' that allow us to buy big season after season. We have had two seasons of massive loses, the balancing needed over 3 seasons comes home to roost this year. It does not matter that we have owners that are willing swallow these loses- its just not allowed now. This season might just have to be a 'pause' on trying to spend our way in to the upper echelons. The club win have to demonstrate this season it is at least trying to conform to FFP rules. So in this climate, Gray is a decent enough signing as maybe a replacement for Bernard..

Good luck to him. As others have mentioned, he just missed that physicality needed in the Premiership. Middle of his farewell message is unusual - I wonder what all that is about.

I started a threat when saw a headline that an 'Everton player had been suspended' - knowing fuck all about who or what and I didn't know it was being discussed on the particular players thread. I was shocked went I realised the seriousness of the allegation - and have not commented with any opinions or speculation on the subject since nor do I wish too. Based on the support for locking the players thread it seem most on the forum also have the grace and good sense to do the very same.

Unfortunate for Delph people putting 2 and 2 together and wrongly coming up with 5 all over social media as well. You are doing the same. I chose not to comment on the gyfi thread yesterday due to seriousness of the charge, and I am glad the post has now been locked to stop the temptation of tittle tattle. Lets not spread it on to other threads in the forum.

It's likely down to FFP. You have to balance the books over a 3 year period. We have had a few year of over spend, this year is likely to be a more frugle year meeting the balance by underspend. Our problem is success and the money that come with that has not materialised to help balance the books. So because no massive increase in income has happened, spending less for a period is the only way to get the balance needed.

Think your missing the whole point - At the time of his signing Barry was not a popular signing due to age and his profile. Don't tell me Barry was a popular signing with most people at the time and that we all knew he would do so well in the arse end of his career. Most bitched about it! Nobody is saying Townsend will be as good as Barry for us if you read the posts properly. You say 'clearly not going have anywhere near the impact of Barry' before he's kicked a ball for us. What crystal ball you using to have such 'clarity' That's lazy if anything is. I am not saying he's 'clearly' going to be as good a signing as Barry. I am saying he is not a particular popular signing (similar to Barry - thus a valid comparison in this respect) , but might actual prove to be quite good value.

Apparently he was the most accurate crosser of the ball in the Premiership last season. And he put in the 15th most crosses of any player - so not like it only a small number of crosses attempted. So DCL should love it. 10 games under Benitez - 3 goals and 2 assists. Not as big as sample as the crossing stats - but a positive one none the least

I don't have a problem with bring in players like Townsend for free. Over the past few years, I had more of a problem watching the club spending £25M on Bolaise, +£20M on Walcott and £28m on Iwobi. I don't think any one of us was overly comfortable with the money spent on any one of these transfers. My guess is that Townsend will be AT LEAST as productive as these three players, and probably more so. If we need a year or two of more modest and maybe BETTER spending and dare I say it better management to get back on track then I say its about time!!

I think its fair enough to compare older players with Barry - especially in the context of at the time loads of people moaned about Barry as a signing due to him being an aged footballer on a free (the typical - 'is that the level we are aiming for' comments). Did anybody truly call it that Barry would have turned out such a fantastic signing for us. Its about the immediate negative moaning about a signing before he has even had a chance to kick a ball for the club. Barry turned out better than most expected. In a blue shirt could Townsend not turn out better than most expect would expect from a free transfer? At least give the fella a half decent crack at the whip, before writing him of as not fit to lace up other player boots.

£25M will be around top doller for what we will be looking to spend on players. And what I mean by that is that we would be paying price for a player with plenty of years on his contract from a club that will only sell him at the premium of what he might be worth.

I have been reading he's a very good crosser of the ball. Can whip the ball in 'up and down' with a lot of pace on it. So something the likes of DCL would thrive upon. Can't say I have watched a great deal of Burnley. At 21 he has got plenty of Prem experience and potential, but at £25m you expect this potential to be delivered as paying top doller for it. The more exciting transfer than Townsend and Grey, but equally the most risky considering the Iwobi/kean esqe fee.

At 30 so same age as James and Allan, so still a few years left in the tank. As a team totally devoid of pacy wingers, then Townsend on a free is decent business. He has done well under Benitez in the past and is clearly a player he knows and trusts. He could easily turn out to be a Gareth Barry type of signing, I remember how uninspired a lot of people where when he came here. Low key but became a solid part of the team/squad. Townsend is a decent enough professional, and will improve our current squad with little cost.

emm, I wonder if somebody has their wires crossed when heard that Everton are in for Bayer Leverkusen winger!! For Leon Baily I give you Damaria Grey - just seem a bit of a coincidence!!!

This summer is going to be harder than ever to shift unwanted players. Especially if they are on good wages. Pretty much every team is going to be doing the same - just look at the likes of Real, Barca and what sounds like most of the Italian clubs - they want to shift high earner, and have no money to spend. They are having to dump players. If anybody things there will be big bids for any of our players its fantasy. Who is going to pay Delph or any of the other players names anywhere neat the wages they are getting with us. Who's going to sign these players!!! but also who is going to part with big money we will want for the like of Richarlison - not Real or Barca thats for sure. Most players on the move this year are going to have to be thing about taking serious pay cuts!! Messi, arguably the best player in the world, out of contact and apparently taking a 50% pay cut to stay at Barca!!. I can see this being a very slow transfer market to get going. who is going to sign players on big contracts in the next few weeks - when it could be sale of the century come the end of August!!!

I agree, manager recruitment has definitely been a bit scatter gun. Looking back with hindsight, Ancelotti was maybe a bit of a 'starry eyed' appointment, going against a 'younger' manager approach that had gone before him (not that the ethos of these younger managers was the same). Allardyce was always just a sticking plaster. It does look like the last two appointments have 'owner' fingerprints on them maybe a little more than perhaps Brands would ideally like. But they are the 'owner' and the ones shelling out the money and at the end of the day and Brands is one of their employees. Given where the club is now and where is wants to be, Benitez is probably a very good fit at this moment in time. I think we may have tried to jump a couple of steps with the Ancelotti appointment - and got our finger burnt. I think Benitez will put the time, effort and enthusiasm needed in to developing this team. We desperately need a period of stabilisation and steady improvement, get the last of the deadwood sold or at least loan out this summer. I am really interested to see what Benitez actually gets out of the incumbent players this season, with a bit more hands on coaching and organisation. I think he could do well with the backing of the club owners.

just wondering if he was that great (£50M+) why do other 'big' teams not appear to be after him? He does seem to have great feet, but what is his final ball/shot/cross like? does he get dispossessed much? Is there much substance to him - otherwise could be a lot of money spend for little actual tangible return. I have not seen a great deal of him for full games - he has 'looked' good, but his business end of the field stats are nothing special when you look at them. Will we be be paying all this money to see a 'dozen' or so great dribbles a season, but little real return? £50M is a lot of money this summer.

Yeah, 34 no age for a keeper. Decent enough and shit loads of Premiership experience. Perfect as back up keeper. I would guess half the wages of say Romero.

agree totally, Benitez is superior to Allardyce in any every department mention. I am convinced that Benitez will fight tooth and nail for Everton now he is here. You can tell he really wanted this job, despite some of the negativity that's thrown his way. He definitely has a strong affinity with the people of Merseyside, which he has made his home. Think he has be very brave taking it to be honest, and has definitely put himself up for close scrutiny. Having read up on him in a lot more detail this past few weeks, he does seen a decent, honest and hardworking fella, so I wish him nothing but the best now.

paying £50M for an attaching player who is only chipping in with only around 3 goals and similar amount of assist a season would worry me. It's not like we are blessed with goal scorers at the moment.

no thank you - We already have plenty of players that don't score goals. 6 goals and 8 assist in 51 Prem appearances over two seasons!! We need much better attacking players that this. There will be much better value around this season.

I really can't get my head around this lad. Somehow the club has really pi55ed him (or his agent or parents) off. The behaviour of not turning up to training at 16 doesn't put the lad in a good light at all. Not very professional at all, even if he plans to sign for somebody else as soon as he can. Getting some poor guidance. Can't believe this 'first team' football bullshit, as at that age he's not going to be starting in any Premiership team let alone Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea. Must also be something else to this.

This also seem a strange one to me, you wouldn't think biggish money on a 30 year old CB would be a priority - Unless others in this position are being planned to be shipped out to make room. He has been rumoured this window when Ancelotti was still in the hot seat. So sounds like more than just a Benitez request. He's is a very good player though. Naploi fans call him 'The Wall'. It sounds very much as though an opening bid has been put in.

other than answering the now boring questions about ex Liverpool manager being at Everton blah blah. He basically says - most important this is developing a winning mentality at the club, no matter what teams we play. I will take giving everything and 'winning' more are the most important thing at the moment, so will happily buy into that.

me too - now got my head around him being here. There has be to much crap getting people down this past 12-18months, so not going to let it get me down that the fact that my own personal choice didn't get the job. It is what it is now. For me personally, life's to short to be mopping around and being pissed off about something that MIGHT turn out to be shit. New broom sweeps clean and all that - it could be just as likely it turn out great, so I may as well be optimistic about the coming change. So I have just been dwelling on the positives since the appointment. Plenty of time to be pissed off if it actually turns to shit.