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Looks like Hiddink is the man chosen to take over at Barcelona after he's left his post at Anzhi: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2373657/Guus-Hiddink-set-Barcelona-resigning-Anzhi-Makhachkala.html

Welcome, you've picked a good forum

Two articles in the Echo today from an interview with Jordi Cruyff. This one reveals that we pay no loan fee to Barcelona if Deulofeu features in kore than half of our games. Also underlines what a coup that we signed him in the face of interest from some top European clubs: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barcelona-back-roberto-martinezs-everton-5163542

SSN just announcing that Benteke will be staying with Aston Villa and signing a new long-term deal, so he's one who won't be on the move this summer.

A contrasting opinion here on the OS from a Barcelona reporter for a Catalan newspaper: http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2013/07/19/-deulofeu-will-hypnotise-defenders-? Some key quotes: “Gerard has a huge amount of talent, excellent physical qualities and he is technically gifted too.” “I think there will be some very entertaining afternoons for the Everton fans watching him. " “I think the presence of Roberto Martinez at Everton was very important in Gerard’s decision to join the club. Martinez is a Catalan coach who for years has shown that he likes to dominate the game with possession of the ball and that is perfectly suited to Deulofeu’s characteristics as a footballer. He is a coach that has put faith in young, skillful wingers before as shown with the cases of Callum McManaman and Victor Moses, who he managed at Wigan Athletic.”

He's looked very composed for such a young lad, and a left-footed player too, which is always a bonus. Looking forward to seeing how he develops under Martinez.

I know it was only Accrington Stanley but some of the football we played was downright exciting. Given that half of the squad have only been back in training for a couple of weeks and the rest are joining up now in dribs and drabs, it looks like a promising amount of progress has been made already. Again, I know it was only Accrington, but Gibson looks like a man reborn and Martinez's preferred style is going to suit him perfectly. He could be a key player for years to come and my only concern is his injury history. We really need to add another midfield body who can play in a similar fashion.

Not the brightest of lads, and clearly hasn't been well advised in protecting his image, only in making loads of money for himself and his hangers on.

It's good that they're singing from the same hymn sheet as this is something Martinez mentioned in his first interviews. He thinks the transition from academy to first team is generally poor in this country and wants to improve our own record in this area, and if you watched the interview with new development coach Dennis Lawrence on the OS last week this is clearly something he has been brought in to help with too. I wish I could find the interview, but Martinez also said that he wants to change the emphasis in youth development towards a better balance of skills and physical strength, as too often in this country the smaller and more technical players can be overshadowed by the early developers. I'd say the future's bright for our academy lads and if they're good enough they'll get every opportunity.

Aw, just watched Chris Long's interview on the OS and I'm really made up for him. He's a Blue who's been with the club since the age of six and he can't keep the grin off his face in the interview after signing his pro deal. It would be great to see him succeed here.

Surely even Whelan isn't that deluded?! The lad only broke into their side this year and although he looks promising and has bags of pace he also runs down blind alleys and wastes possession, so still has some learning to do. Anyway, I think he was due to be sidelined by his ankle injury until late August so it could be that he'll stay at Wigan until at least the January window, which would probably be the best thing for him to get a run of games in the Championship.

Fingers crossed!

Me too, but as we've just given him a new contract it looks like he'll be around for this season at least so that's the only position I'd be comfortable to see him from time to time. Too slow to play wide and too weak to play a deeper CM role.

He and the others who played in the U20 World Cup are on holiday.

I think Ossie has all the tools and ability to play that role too, although not every week as his legs aren't up to it. I could see him and Pienaar being rotated in that position, with Barkley their understudy as he learns the role.

A bit of paper talk for the last few weeks, this one the latest: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/everton-transfers-james-mccarthys-move-2052191

I wonder if Ajax would take Johnny in part-ex?

They're not exactly banging the doors down to show us in the first half of the season - half as many games as the RS. Hopefully it's their loss as our attacking football and flair takes us up to the top of the table!

Welcome. Good to have you aboard!

Welcome Povikas. Look forward to reading your comments

It's a bit hard to fathom that one out! Would Wenger really prefer a 32-year-old slow an fairly static midfielder to a 25-year-old Fellaini with all the different strengths he would add to their side? If all their recent press talk is true, they have plenty of transfer funds yet Wenger seems terrified to commit to the £20-£25m signings he was expected to make this summer.

It's the Daily Mail again, suggesting Norwich are bidding £4.3m for Fer: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2359108/Norwich-increase-efforts-sign-4-3m-Leroy-Fer-Ajaxs-Toby-Alderweireld.html But the Twente chairman, who sounds as though he wants this deal completed soon, says he's expecting more like 10m Euros: http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/07/09/on-the-verge-of-a-transfer-newcastle-and-norwich-chased-leroy-fer-left-out-of-pre-season-training-to-smooth-deal/91572/ Sky Sports reports his agent saying there are a number of offers from clubs around Europe: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11709/8814527/Transfer-News-Twente-star-Leroy-Fer-has-a-number-of-options it seems like it's all coming to a head and his future will be sorted soon.

Pretty sure Kone and Robles will speak some English after last season (Robles was tweeting in brief English while he was with Wigan) but probably don't feel confident enough to do a lengthy interview in English. For Robles, doubtless it will help his progress to have a Spanish goalkeeping coach to work with.

I've read that part of Wigan's strict financial set-up is that they don't offer contracts longer than three years, which is why they've lost a few notable players in recent seasons on free transfers because the player has run their contract down.

It should give them a lift, as in January I seem to remember a few of them (as well as Moyes) saying in interviews that we had a small squad and we could do with a couple of new faces to help out in the second half of the season. Although in terms of numbers the senior squad will be much the same size so far (three out, three in?), the likes of Barkley, Stones, Duffy etc are that bit closer to being ready for first team football and you get the feeling Martinez would still like to add a couple more if possible. So far, so good...