18 Aug 2020 16:39:54
If we allow Arsenal to sign Gabriel for 4m euros less than we were prepared to pay is total lunacy.
We are not short of money but do have financial fair play issues which need to be addressed, the priority for Brand's is to get players who haven't and never will cut the mustard eg Sigurdsson, Gomes, Mina, Walcott, Iwobi, Tosan, Besic, Sandro and Bolasie etc off the wage bill.
In whatever business you are in it is vital that there is an understanding of what is critical, important and nice to have.
EFC in the last 4-5 years have shown a total disregard in the transfer market, exhibiting what can only be regarded as naivety, losing out on supposedly first choices often by thinking they are 'businesslike' in bidding less than it takes to secure the deal, then when they fail, in desperation buy, almost for the sake of buying second, third and fourth choices at exorbitant prices and wages- penny wise and pound foolish springs to mind.
Carlo is on record as saying " break the bank to secure Gabriel" which beggars the question why it appears he is going elsewhere for less than we originally offered?
He also said signings would be done early to ensure a decent pre-season bedding in, well pre-season started last Sunday!
As almost every Evertonian knows the team are short of pace in both the midfield and at the back, coupled with the need in midfield for someone who can break up play and offer some protection to the defence and another who has the skills to provide support for Ricky and DCL as well as being capable of scoring.
I'm aware nobody really knows what's going on inside the club but it certainly feels like we are following the same transfer pattern as in the immediate past seasons.
How come our friends across the park, who walked the EPL title and have a very good in-depth squad have already recruited?
Something is seriously amiss at Everton and Brand's and Carlo need to remove the digit and address the obvious needs for the team going forward, otherwise I'm afraid we can expect more of the same as last season.

1.) 18 Aug 2020
18 Aug 2020 17:51:06
Sorry but that post is a little short sighted. You make some good points about wasting money just for the sake of it. I would definitely rather pay over the odds for someone we want than pay the asking price for someone we don't.

However comparing us to the reds is unfair. They have no real FFP issues, and they can be fairly confident that if someone is there first choice, the feeling is likely mutual. We do not have either of those luxuries. Throwing money at a player who would rather play for Arsenal does not feel like good business at all. Settling for second best can also be good business if they want to play for us more than our first choice does.

The mistake was last year we spent so long messing around haggling over the number one choice, we didn't get anyone at all!

2.) 18 Aug 2020
18 Aug 2020 18:30:22
Gomes and mina don't cut the mustard? Baffling.

3.) 18 Aug 2020
18 Aug 2020 18:50:20
I think we would pay the extra but the player wants to go to Arsenal. For once, I don't think we can blame the club on this one.

4.) 18 Aug 2020
18 Aug 2020 19:40:46
All we mostly have is what the press say and there as reliable as a paper umbrella, I'd rather have a player who wants to join, but where not exactly in an attractive position but have Ancelotti attraction value, I feel we will continue promoting youth whilst buying people like allan to steady the ship, I'm not sure resale value is important as we think in some circumstances, I can name several players from each top team but 1 or 2 from say wolves Leicester and they ain't done so bad with lesser named players.

5.) 19 Aug 2020
18 Aug 2020 23:38:08
We’ve been linked to dozens of players in the last few weeks, can’t sign them all, so can’t all be true.
We cannot stop a player from preferring to sign for Arsenal than us.

{Ed0666's Note - he’s you can by being more attractive.

6.) 19 Aug 2020
19 Aug 2020 03:30:13
If the lad had really wanted to come to us then he would have made sure he signed a contract at the first opportunity. It always felt like he was holding out for a different club and, if that gives him European football then good luck to him. So it doesn't look like it's in 'our hands' to do anything, if a player prefers another club then that's that.
Gomes to be sold? Really?

{Ed0666's Note - Gabriel is a fine fine player and has a super high ceiling. Would love Liverpool to get him. Him and Salina will be immense as a pairing.

7.) 19 Aug 2020
19 Aug 2020 10:42:14
I haven't seen a great deal of him to be honest, ed0666, but the clips I've seen he seems a good player. Which is why I think he's been holding out for a big club that can offer European football. No shame in that and no need for our fans to be turning it into an attack on the club.

{Ed0666's Note - I agree Blue....you can’t be pulling Meghan Fox if you’re Lewis Capaldi.

8.) 19 Aug 2020
19 Aug 2020 20:26:56
Ah but you can if you have loads of money😂. You only have to look at the fat old billionaires and what they have dangling off their arms.
Yes I am JEALOUS! 🤬.

9.) 20 Aug 2020
19 Aug 2020 15:08:40
hahahaha exactly ed0666! Tickled me that response mate.

{Ed0666's Note - there’s plenty more where that came from mate. The problem is Eds 001 curtails my artistic license lol.