27 Jul 2016 19:00:37
Looks like Stones is off then. 50 millionish to City. Have not seen any strengthening of our squad yet. but the bank balance is looking healthier. I am with Howie on players wanting European football. It is what most of them say and now we will have 150 million plus any Premier League money. probably another 50 million burning a hole in our preverbial pockets. Yet so far no major signing. Wait to see how that affects Lukaku too?
27 Jul 2016 19:16:15
Forget about Lukaku for a minute. If we lose stones and Jags doesn't get a pre season under his belt through injury then we will need to get in three at the back of pretty decent quality. I know transfers take time but that's going some if you ask me.
Plus a keeper, left wing, cover at right back, a CDM and finally one striker if Lukaku stays but two if he goes.
Well Mr Walsh, get your swag on son.
27 Jul 2016 19:17:36
I think lukaku will be off as he will use Stones as an excuse. We need to make a statement signing asap, as it stands it looks like we are struggling massively. People will look at Everton as a selling club and players want Europe plus ambition of a future club.
27 Jul 2016 19:31:37
I really hate to put it like this, but I said this would happen all through RM's reign. I got absolutely slated for being so "negative" when pointing out that our ageing squad needed younger signings than Barry, Alcaraz, Kone, McGeady . especially when considering Osman and Pienaar and to some extent Gibson and Baines were nearing the end. Jags too. I know it will rattle some people but the damage was already done in my opinion. In my original posts I suggested that we may find it difficult to hold on to our younger gems like Stones and Lukaku. I know a lot of people think I am negative and that's probably true to some extent, but I did say things as I saw them. I really think we will struggle for top half and I also think we will struggle to get the "big" signings that a lot of people crave. On a more positive note, I do think Mr Walsh has been brought in todo a specific job and trust him to be our best signing this Summer.
27 Jul 2016 19:33:35
I think it is likely that a certain Mr Moyes will be looking closely at some of our players. Ones who perhaps had happier days playing under him and had a certain amount of trust. albeit misplaced trust.
27 Jul 2016 19:34:33
Dont think u can tie lukakus staying or going to stones departure. it will depend on whether or not a club meets our evaluation. let's flip it. what if lukaku is offered a bumper contract increase due to stones money? I am already impressed with moshiri. everything the board has done since his arrival has taken time. sacking RM ( with retrospect) , Employing RK, Employing SW. we also have a plethora of youngsters who have been flirting with first team, plus tarashaj. all of whom have been under evaluation since RK came. The stone saga has dragged on Imo because Everton will have been assessing the youngster and assessing new replacements to take over from him. and no doubt trying to convince stones to stay. its my guess they'll have identified replacement (internal or otherwise) . i suspect same will happen with any other player they sell. everton fans really do need to stay calm and start thinking more positive. its been about 4 months since moshiri came in. and the changes made are the most significant I have seen for a very long time. exciting times imo.
27 Jul 2016 20:04:02
It's very easy to say that Steve Walsh will be our best signing looking at his previous achievements, but he will only be a good signing for us based on his recruitment as DOF. In his own words his prime directive is player recruitment. I am excited about what is expected from him but at the same time I am worried about the amount of recruitment needed in this window.
It's not impatience nor is it unrealistic expectations. I'm sure it'll be alright by end of August but right now it does look a little concerning.
27 Jul 2016 20:18:16
JCL - the most objective post I've seen on here in a while. RK has played nearly 20 players in each of the last two friendlies to have a look at them, including most of the kids. Stones and Lukaku may go, but they haven't yet and I don't believe for a minute they'd be allowed to unless we had identified and were suitably confident of securing replacements. Let's not forget, RK has produced incredible results in the last two seasons after selling his team's best players.
27 Jul 2016 20:32:59
Stones is off mate. Clubs are in talks and valuation is almost met. more importantly. he wants to go. Lukaku may then be triggered into becoming restless again. That sems to happen to him every time the wind changes.
27 Jul 2016 20:57:01
Stones is off based on what? From what I've seen Citeh haven't even made a formal bid yet, so how has his valuation almost been met? None of us have any idea who is coming or going. Some people jump on the potentially positive rumours then get annoyed when they don't happen, others start banging on about the worst potential rumours and get negative.
Until something happens one way or the other, there's no point winding yourself up.
27 Jul 2016 20:58:07
It's just getting the first one big signing that matters for u guys, once that happens other players will take notice and think "hey something is going on there". Might need to pay over the odds for the biggy, but in the end it will be worthwhile.
27 Jul 2016 21:13:46
Windsor. i just think that u don't become a billionaire or top plauer/ manager by accident. As far as moshiri goes he's no baffoon. your either business savvy and surround with very intelligent people or your incredibly intelligent. either way he knows what he's doing. as far as koemen goes. rather than placate us fans with a big name he's done what he said he would. looking and evaluating whole squad. the apptmt of Walsh shows that there is a plan to all of this. same as the stones and lukaku saga. the board are ensuring they have the moves in place for all eventualities. i am not panicking one bit. tbf my outlook has changed only through coming on here and listening to other readers and eds.
27 Jul 2016 21:36:55
That's what I mean JCL, I think you're bang on. It takes time to assess why you've got both in the first team and youth squads. People seem to think because we get a billionaire investor that we'll rival Manure for Pogba. The media have us buying and selling about 15 players but I've seen nothing to suggest any of them will happen.
27 Jul 2016 21:58:58
Spot on windsor.
27 Jul 2016 22:18:45
Degsy you one miserable sod. You wait for the slightest bit of news you can turn negative then twist it to such extremes in order for it to fit your doomsday theories.
Can you give it a rest and go watch its a wonderful life. And don't turn it off before the happy ending either!
28 Jul 2016 08:43:27
BlueJohnUns I am quite a happy person actually. I report facts. They may be facts that people do not want to hear, but facts are facts. WindsorBlue, Man City have stated they are in advanced talks with Everton and both clubs valuations are not a million miles away. This will probably alert Chelsea and other clubs who were originally interested but fell below what Everton expected for Stones. All in all I would say unless Stones does not fancy a move (unlikely) that it is on. Back to my posts. I have commented in the past that I worry that my fellow Blues are getting over-excited about Mr Mori's money and signing players is as much to do with being successful (which our Everton is not at present) . If that makes me negative, then I am negative. I see it as being realistic. Same happened when Moyes went and Roberto Martinez came in. I was accused of being negative. 2 or 3 posters on here became almost abusive and I kept repeating my own beliefs. If you happen to think that finishing 11th 2 seasons running, having 150 million quid to sign players makes everything sunshine and roses, then carry on. I saw Aston Villa with Randy Learner's money get relegated. I saw Newcastle with Mike Ashley's money get relegated. What is more important is the club's infrastructure. I do believe Steve Walsh is a great move but we will not benefit from him for probably 3 seasons. I believe we will be bottom half this season. I base that thought on the damage that was done over thelast 3 seasons. We had a very ageing squad and the list of players that we brought in was inferior to the ones coming up to retirementor were just transfered out. I say that based on age and ability. Retiring or coming up to retirement over the last 3 years: Osman, Pienaar, Gibson, Jags, Distin, Neville, Saha, Naismith, Jelavic, Fellaini, Heitinger, Hibbert. Then look at the signings of Alcaraz, Barry, Niasse, Kone, McGeady. Yes I know Martinez made some good signings. but he allowed a very ageing squad to age more by not replacing the senior players with young 1st team players. We may have the best youth squad around, but these are not yet 1st team players. I apologise if you think I am miserable, I am a realist!
28 Jul 2016 09:29:16
You are the eternal pessimist Degsy. You want, thrive and seek negativity then hope and wish it all comes true to massage your ego so you can say I'm right and you are all wrong.
By the way City have not stated to anyone they are in advanced talks and not a million miles away in their valuations. If and I expect he will go it is no surprise as this has been coming for a while. What we and most well run clubs do is hold out for the fee they are looking for. That's what we will do.
The next thing that happens, and this may come as a surprise to you, is that we will probably go out and buy a new CB! It's shocking I know but believe it or not that pretty much is what happens in football.
It's not the end of the world, a big bright light won't appear and the whole of Everton is not swallowed up in it. Life just simply moves on.
Your description of all things Everton would make us all think we haven't been a football club for 138 years and know what we are doing!
28 Jul 2016 11:58:48
I just don't think we have as good a squad as you obviously do BlueJohnUns. The fact we are about to probably lose one of our best up and coming assets reinforces my belief. Please tell me which topcenter half we are likely to sign? Having money in the bank is great. Having footballers on the pitch is better. I see people saying it is good business selling Stones for 50 million. I totally disagree. It is only good buisness if we sign a better player. The money is irrelevant.