Everton banter 9

29 Jul 2026 14:39:50
Three weeks on Saturday until our first match.
This in my view not a long time to either sell Ndiaye and establish available funds for signing new players, or we keep Ndiaye and have a short time to sell other players and bring in replacements, in particular a RB in my view, which seems difficult role to fill, plenty of rumours but nothing concrete.

29 Jul 2026 14:43:40
Going to be a busy time, mate.

29 Jul 2026 15:07:10
I would like to think GB, our recruitment team, have a master plan already in place at this stage to cover the various possibilities. Still not long to get things in place if new signings to play in first team from day one. It normally means last minute signings are more expensive than they should really be.

29 Jul 2026 15:13:24
Gents, I think the only way this window turns out to be a positive one, is if we see a day like we did in the Martinez era where Rom, Jimmy Mac & Barry arrived within 24 hours.

29 Jul 2026 15:22:25
I remember that day well.

29 Jul 2026 15:39:57
Yep, a good day for sure. Hope we can bring some in.

29 Jul 2026 18:11:13
Our recruitment team could not devise a master plan if they were playing snap.

{Ed025's Note - love it AB..

29 Jul 2026 14:06:48
Whether we sell the Chuckle Brothers or not, we clearly need a new striker that can actually score goals or offer a modicum of football ability up top to bring others into play.

We clearly don't have much spare cash to spend, otherwise we would have made more signings already.

Strikers that could improve us but not cost an arm and a leg would be Kevin Denkey or Promise David. They are both unproven in the top European leagues but that is why they are more affordable. We have seen the money that can be wasted on signing a Striker that is proven in those leagues anyway - case in point Mr Barry Chuckle.

Denkey - Big, strong, powerful and hard-working centre-forward who combines clinical finishing with intelligent movement and strong hold-up play.

Thrives inside the penalty area, attacking crosses and through balls with good timing, while also using his strength to occupy defenders and bring teammates into play. He is relentless in his pressing, is good in the air and bags goals.

He would be available for around 20m.

David - Another physically imposing, athletic centre-forward. Pace, power and a good instinct for goals. Loves stretching defences with runs in behind, attacking crosses and using his strength to hold off defenders. While his link-up play and all-round technical game are still developing, his size, mobility and finishing gives him a high ceiling.

Both would suit the current team and excel in transitions.

29 Jul 2026 15:59:46
Or we have the cash but they don't like our manager, style of play or squad..

If money is an issue, go in for Vlahovic. Just need to find money for his wage.

30 Jul 2026 13:58:35
Have youse not got enough Donkeys up front already?

29 Jul 2026 11:58:09
I’d like for the Kubo rumours to resurface if/when Ndiaye goes as he'd be the ideal replacement.

29 Jul 2026 13:38:33.
Sociedad are notoriously difficult to deal with and charge ridiculous fees for their players. I think we were quoted 60m last year.

The player himself is a talent, but not sure he would suit the PL. He isn't the biggest, and I am not saying you have to be to be a success in the PL, but if you haven't got the size, you either need blistering pace or a very high footballing IQ. His numbers are modest as it is, and that is in a much easier league, imo.

I would rather us go after a player that is better suited to the PL physically.

Someone who is bigger, faster and stronger and/or posts better numbers than Kubo.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo
Assane Diao

I get that those types of players might not want to come to Everton, and who could blame them. Failing that, I would rather us spend far less on a talent that has still not had a breakthrough. Yeremay Hernandez (Deportivo) or Bryan Zaragoza (Bayern) would be such options.

29 Jul 2026 16:02:34
Noticed Graham was knocked off the ball easily against Stoke. He'll need to build his strength if he is to make it in the PL. I'm with BN on this. I like the look of Kubo but think there may be better options out there.

29 Jul 2026 10:04:57
FFS Please just stop, I've been through worse preseasons and we’ve gone on to win the league. Not that is what’s going to happen this season. So we had no Pickford, Branthwaite, Garner and potentially Grealish. We played virtually two different 11’s and not all the right combinations on at the same time. So with the greatest of respect can you all just wind your necks in, it was a training session, the transfer market is now just starting to warm up, multi million pound deals don’t just happen overnight. I’m sure we’d all want all our deals be done on the day the window opened and then we steamroll every preseason game 10-0 but back in the real world that isn’t happening so take a breath and see it for what it is a preseason training session.


Just to satisfy the truly miserable, I think something is going on with Iroegbunham as he isn’t dominating or bossing, he’s just getting involved when the ball is near him, definitely just going through the motions. Also the young lad Graham isn’t ready for the Premier League. Admittedly out wide rather than a 10 he still gets knocked off the ball too easily, opportunities aren’t given they’re taken and if he’s got it he needs to show it. Hope that was balanced enough for you all.
UTFT COYB

{Ed025's Note - thats your point of view Big C and you are entitled to that mate..as are we all, but lets not kid ourselves mate..if something is yellow, looks like a lemon and tastes like a lemon...its usually a lemon..

29 Jul 2026 10:23:54
My first post, guys, I fully agree, Big C, let's get pre season done, and bring on Palace on the 15th. I hope, like all of us, we get the new additions we are desperate for. But I don't think we should judge on what is basically a ramped up training session.

29 Jul 2026 10:31:30
Big C, whilst you are right in some instances, aren't you worried that there is still a lack of movement in the transfer market. We are expected to pay to watch this same s****. The league is only 3 to 4 weeks away, and we are miles off where we should be. Has the past not taught us anything?

29 Jul 2026 10:42:43
Big C, are you sure you're not DM. ??

29 Jul 2026 11:16:44
The squad is weak no doubt, but it's early days. I think that the board must have been waiting to see how the Ndayie situation played out before attacking the transfer. Let's hope so anyway because we need a minimum of 4/5 players to be competitive.

29 Jul 2026 10:37:57
Absolutely BC its getting beyond tedious with the professional level of these Putin style media hunter hating bots. It exposes the needy flip flops who just love to be with the mob. It also exposes a lack of knowledge and reinforced that these pages are nothing more than a women's cake and gossip get together. Victoria Sponge anyone?
Banter? Neurotic waffle more like.

Calm down dears. I've seen us a roaring preseason and then fight relegation and terrible ones and do rather well. We have money we have owners we have to be realistic we are 3rd choice with no euro comp for players and as with all summers, it'll go crazy next week onward. Turn of news bow and enjoy the summer. Go for a walk have a wan9 who knows who effing cares.

29 Jul 2026 11:08:58
I like lemons ed not all are sour and Dev it's a marathon not a sprint.
Maybe I'm just more patient than most.
Doesn't do for us all to be the same but can we just have a modicum of calm it's preseason the World Cup has just finished and the transfer window is just warming up even ssn transfer program doesn't start till Monday.
Finally I heard from our milkman's granddaughter's aunty;on the mothers side; heard from her toy poodle that heard it from biscuit the Labrador that we're signing Vinicius Jnr for a Mars bar and 10 shillings and 6 pence.

Have a good Wednesday everyone

UTFT COYB

29 Jul 2026 13:02:59
Don't like what's being posted, don't come on and read it and like yourselves, everyone is entitled to their opinions.

29 Jul 2026 13:20:51
A couple of decent signings and the mood should improve.

I've seen poor preseasons before, but we were another level of poor in the second half.

What kills you is the hope and expectation.

Every year I'm hopeful of improvement, but I'm seriously worried this year if the squad stays as it is. The lack of decent links and Ndiaye possibly on his way out (still hope this is nonsense) .

29 Jul 2026 13:49:47
Don't particularly disagree with anything posted. It is just a pre-season game after all.

That being said, it is Stoke. They finished 17th last season and are not a good side, yet we allowed them to look like a PL side. No Pickford, JB, Garner, but we still have PL players as replacements, and the drop off should not be as clear as it was.

I watched the entire game and it was s***e. No attacking patterns, no fluid movements, no urgency to turn the screw - same old dross.

I appreciate transfers can take a long time to happen, but we aren't going after world class players here.

The holes in this team are and have been evident for a long time - remedying those holes should not be taking as long as it takes us.

Villa lose Tielemans and Rogers and then arguably go and get two upgrades in Gomes and Manzambi instantly. Some may say that is an unfair comparison as they are in the CL. Fair enough. Brighton have brought in 8 signings. Ipswich 11. Spurs 7.

We have brought in Hackney.

There are plenty of players out there to go after to improve us. We should not be waiting to see what happens with Ndiaye (a winger) , to go and sort out a RB, 6 and Striker.

29 Jul 2026 14:08:11
Agree with Big C, like others.
Palace lost their last two friendlies (Bromley) .
So have Villa.
United lost at home to Wrexham. None of them are getting on the manager's case.
Still looking forward to the start of the season.

29 Jul 2026 15:54:16
Spot on Big C.

29 Jul 2026 16:05:41
Do they play as poorly as we did in the last quarter of the season and continued it into the pre-season?

I'd love to be wrong but if we are still playing like that mid August, I fear for the season.

29 Jul 2026 22:21:48
So, people aren't allowed a different opinion? I have seen nothing to suggest we have improved from last season or that our tactic is likely to change.

{Ed025's Note - we are all allowed opinions Brass, now i know you might not like what you hear guys but in the end its just different takes on the situation, at the moment i think we can all say that nobody definitely knows whats going to happen this season, but we have to respect others views whether we agree with them or not or this forum will just become a bitch fest, cheers..

29 Jul 2026 07:57:27
So is it just Ndiaye who we are waiting to come back to training? I find that worrying that this is our squad going into the season which is 4 weeks away. This recruitment team need to get their a*** in gear.

29 Jul 2026 09:23:47
We've basically got the same squad as last season, only we've swapped Hackney for Gueye.

29 Jul 2026 07:55:44
How were Dibling, Hackney, George and Armstrong in the match last night then?

29 Jul 2026 09:44:51
They were all ok. Hackney played 45 minutes. Armstrong played most of the game. Rohl was on the longest and had a good game, but, as Seamus was when he first came, not a Tony Hibbert. If he is to become a right back, it's a work in progress. He's as much a right back as Jimmy Garner is, not natural but effective and good going forward. If we went to 3 at the back and played him as a wing back, he linked well with dibbling, who looked better and was better in the middle, running at goal.

Hope that helps GB. Did you know you can watch all the preseason away games through the club? They're £5.99 per game, or the bundle for all 6 was £25, or £20 if you're an official member or season ticket holder. I've been doing that through my phone and screen casting it to the telly.

29 Jul 2026 12:11:25
Thanks for that, mate, cheers.

29 Jul 2026 14:12:25
Thing that I find amusing is that it's us lot that cry for DM to play the youth ('cause he doesn't play them, doesn't give them a chance') , then when he does, and we don't register a goal on target in a friendly it's 'get rid of DM'. ? Really doesn't make any sense.

29 Jul 2026 16:10:55
He did play youth, but the tactics were same old dross. Think it's become bigger than the lack of playing youth. Aznou ended up running as much towards his own goal as towards the opposition when he had the ball because Moyes' tactic of sideways or backwards.



We can't break down teams. Need to attack before the opposition are fully set. Otherwise it's down to winning a set piece and hoping for something from that.

29 Jul 2026 06:32:52
Well my fellow Evertonians, I fear a relegation battle this season, not solely based on pre season results so far but by the continued lack of urgency around our priority position right back. We have need a right back for the last five seasons and all we continuously get are excuses about how hard it is to acquire one. Other teams manage it, even ones that have not been in the Premier League as a mainstay since it's inception.

I firmly believe the ambition of our current incumbent in Davey Moyes is a attitude of it's not broken so why fix it. In other words we are still a Premier League club so we must be doing something right. Well, that's not what our motto stands for; this is hardly nothing but the best will do now, is it? We need a DM to replace Guyue and we are crying out for a forward to put away some of the chances we hope wingers like George and rohl may create, and that's even if we sell Ndaiye. I have no faith in Moyes and personally did not want him back at our great club.

I fear with him at the helm the writing is on the wall to mediocrity and sooner rather than later relegation, which could be as soon as the end of the 26/27 season. I have no faith that even if Moyes was given a decent amount of money to spend he would not spend it on players very much in his own image: safe, dour and uninspiring. I would have preferred us to take a punt on Lee Carsley if I am honest, so let's see where we are squad wise by deadline Tuesday 1St September. However regardless of an upgrade In players, does dinosaur Dave have the tactical nouse to blend a winning side that can look up the table rather than over our shoulders season on season? I doubt it very much. So here's to a rollercoaster of a season that I am praying does not end in the unthinkable of dropping into the Championship. In the words of our rather incompetent CEO Angus Kinear this is one evertonian that is definitely not happily disatified.

29 Jul 2026 07:17:45
I think TB, your glass is a bit half empty there. I get it, we lost last night and failed to score again. That's a concern for me too. But we will win and draw enough games to finish around the same position as last year. As much as I despair at the recruitment and the constant talk of our best players leaving, matters not addressed, like the full backs and striking positions. And, of course, the utterly horrible tactics Moyes relies on.

We will be ok.
But that's the very best I expect which is why I want him gone now. Not for fear of relegation but the fear of having a repeat of last season. We will line up against last season's championship sides hoping not to lose when we should be destroying their hope of any points by the very fact that we've been ever present in the PL since it began.

29 Jul 2026 07:55:22
The thought of watching another season of hoofball is already depressing me. Even last night, straight from the kick off, back to the keeper to hoof it up the pitch.
I was really happy we got Dibling as I had seen him a couple of times and loved his positivity. But now he looks like he is terrified to make a mistake, so, like many in the team, just looks to get rid of it. I swear last night Moyes had Alcaraz play in three different positions. Surely by now he should know his best position?
We do have some good players, but already it's like any ambition has been sucked out of them. Yes we need a right back and a striker, but that is not the root of the problem here.
The problem is we have a manager who's idea of playing football is wholly based on not conceding a goal.

It doesn't really matter who the striker is as long as he runs around a lot. Wingers have to be able to defend and, if they get the ball, then pass it sideways or backwards, but do not go forward and compromise our shape. Midfielders, who's playing where? Defenders, should we play Branthwaite and O'Brien? No, let's play safe and keep Tarks in the side, too risky to play two young international players together.
Moyes would be perfect for the Scotland job, but he is not good enough to manage this club. In my eyes he is a slight improvement on Dyche, and I mean slight. And that is not good enough for me.

29 Jul 2026 08:07:24
We will be ok, are you kidding me and yourself? We might be a Premier League mainstay, but that is about to end. They are the worst squad of players we have had and none last night bar KDH tried. Two centre backs slow and cumbersome, a left back who gets to the half way line and freezes like he is in a swimming baths but can't swim, lacklustre midfield and don't get me going on those two up front. So yeah we will be ok. Moyes will get the Scotland job while the 2 managers who were available have gone to Premier League clubs Ariola and Glassner.

I look at clubs doing transfers without any bother while we continue to haggle over 5-10 million, sounds a lot but most of the time you get what you pay for, and with this lot Toffee Ace we're about to get ours with relegation. This time last year it was a poor American tour, wait until the 2 games in Germany and games against Newcastle and Lille and then repost if you think we will be ok. Oh by the way did anybody pick up on KDH walk past Moyes when they took him off? Did not shake his hand and Moyes tapped him on the back, not a good sign.

29 Jul 2026 10:20:41
Alan, I share your concerns but we are using the same players so far as last season with the same coaches. We were fine last season and we will be there-ish this season.

It will be horrible football to watch, but it won't be the relegation fight you think is coming - not at least based on the facts of the last one and a half seasons.

29 Jul 2026 01:53:15
If any fellow blues still have their glass half full after the Bolton and Stoke games I’d love to hear from you, utter disgrace.

29 Jul 2026 07:09:32
Not only is my cup half-empty but the half remaining is poisoned..

{Ed025's Note - we just have to hope things change very quickly Swinners, i cant see it at the moment but would love to be proved wrong mate..

29 Jul 2026 07:59:04
That's the problem Ed we spend every season hoping to be proved wrong, and end up being proved right.
It's like dating a really pretty girl then you meet her mum who's about twenty stone and you think it's ok she won't end up like that. Twenty years later.

{Ed025's Note - love it Brass..

29 Jul 2026 01:32:07
Why do Everton keep doing this to us season after season? Everyone says pre season friendlies are meaningless and just a get fit exercise, but seriously tailed off completely the last 6 weeks of the season and now this utter dross. I, like others, am beginning to question the owners here. What is actually their ambition? From here it's mediocrity and try and keep your heads above water. Sorry, not good enough. We bought last summer, kept our powder dry in the winter and up to now the transfer window has been underwhelming to say the least. Are these guys building the revenue and selling us down the river? I hope not.

Who the hell would want to join us at the moment as there is absolutely nothing showing any forward steps. I’ve been blue blood since 1975 and it’s beyond a joke. phase 1 was last summer, where the f*** is phase two, the rebuild, can't stomach much of this. How on earth can you go to Bolton who have only just been promoted from League 1 and then Stoke and not score a goal ffs? The white flag is out. I loved Moyes the first time he was here but now jeez he is pig headed, stubborn, totally had enough of this utter S***, where do we go from here.

28 Jul 2026 22:08:10
No wonder Ndiaye wants to leave, he probably wants to play proper football under a proper manager.