The Rebuild

[Evertonian418]

Isak is available app.

[The Doc]

Do sumthin.

[KingdingalingNL]

Wished we had the same owners as Roma as they are signing a lot of players.................... oh ... wait! Never mind.

[Cantoffee]

Pretty fair to hit the panic button I'd say.

We are woefully short of talent and numbers and we are 3 weeks away from the start of the season.

Minimal rumours of anything concrete.

At minimum to be at the same level as last season we'd need a backup LB, a passable RB, a starting CM, probably a passable RW. Probably need a backup CM as well.

Absolutely no way we have more than two of those done before the season starts and all 5 before the window shuts is unlikely.

If we want to improve we need a great CM, starting RW, starting RB plus a few of the above.

There isn't the time to get it all done frankly, not based on anything in our history of transfer dealings. I'm certain we will pick up a couple shit loans to fill out the squad near deadline day because we won't have who we need.

[OldEnglandToffee]

Pretty fair to hit the panic button I'd say.

We are woefully short of talent and numbers and we are 3 weeks away from the start of the season.

Minimal rumours of anything concrete.

At minimum to be at the same level as last season we'd need a backup LB, a passable RB, a starting CM, probably a passable RW. Probably need a backup CM as well.

Absolutely no way we have more than two of those done before the season starts and all 5 before the window shuts is unlikely.

If we want to improve we need a great CM, starting RW, starting RB plus a few of the above.

There isn't the time to get it all done frankly, not based on anything in our history of transfer dealings. I'm certain we will pick up a couple shit loans to fill out the squad near deadline day because we won't have who we need.

rumours or something concrete sounds like an oxymoron to me

I assume you’re counting the backup left back and passable right back as Ashley Young. So one versatile player who can play across the back would do us. Then you mean replace Harrison and doucs i think? We can get a load of loans still.

We don’t need to get everyone in now. Much better to be frugal than spunk money on rubbish that we have to pay top wages for 5 years like we’ve previously done.

Moyes isn’t perfect but he spends the money like it’s his. Can be annoying but he makes sure not only they are good players but also the right fit. Think we will try to get 2-3 top players but if it’s not possible then we will get some cheap stopgaps and loans.

[PoD1878]

Everyone knew who would be out of contract in June, we’ve had at least 12 months to prepare. Moyes has had 6 months to prepare, even without appointing the recruitment team which everyone saying he has input into.

To be sat here this close to the season with 2 new players, one being a back up goalie, is not good enough for a side with ambition to not be involved as minimum in a relegation battle again.


Stopgaps shouldn’t be what we’re bringing in. It’s a huge failure of everyone involved if we don’t bring in the players we need. We can’t kick the can down the road again, to January and hope it’s going to be alright, because eventually you run out of road, which a lot thought was very close last season.

[Toddacelli]

rumours or something concrete sounds like an oxymoron to me

I assume you’re counting the backup left back and passable right back as Ashley Young. So one versatile player who can play across the back would do us. Then you mean replace Harrison and doucs i think? We can get a load of loans still.

We don’t need to get everyone in now. Much better to be frugal than spunk money on rubbish that we have to pay top wages for 5 years like we’ve previously done.

Moyes isn’t perfect but he spends the money like it’s his. Can be annoying but he makes sure not only they are good players but also the right fit. Think we will try to get 2-3 top players but if it’s not possible then we will get some cheap stopgaps and loans.

I appreciate the sentiment here and you’re right in a lot of what you’re saying, but it’s not about ‘getting everyone in’ so much as it is having a serviceable squad. We are woefully short on numbers and one or two injuries in certain areas could see us starting players out of position, or even kids.

[AjaxAndy]

We historically sign players later on in the window, it's the handicap of being a less desirable club due to being in relegation scraps every year.

Admit I expected at least one of not two more in by now though... I'd take the hit of a few lost points getting the real gamer changers in later in the window than signing lesser players earlier too though, so I guess we'll see what happens.

If we wait all this time to sign third or fourth choice though at the end of the window it'll have been a complete shit show.

[toffee_scot]

We will very unlikely do much transfer business anyway with the team currently in the USA.

A real shame we didn’t get more of the recruitment structure in place earlier in the year as that might have helped.

I don’t suppose there’s anyone from Roma who isn’t part of their first team plans who could do a job here?

[Matt1878]

I definitely want to return to Moyes' approach of spending and building slowly from 20 years ago.. (where did the time go?). Understanding the market we are in, knowing we're not going to build the squad we want in one window, accepting there will some filler required.

But we are desperately in need of players now and with the team away its going to mean that new signings simply have no time to bed in for the start of the league and it's going to marr what should be a massive feel good time and optimism for a new era at the club. I dont expect miracles overnight, but its really poor how the window has gone.

[OldEnglandToffee]

I definitely want to return to Moyes' approach of spending and building slowly from 20 years ago..

Exactly. Even more important than ever now because of FFP. The Barry, Alcaraz and Ndiaye signings are exactly the type we need.

Another way of looking at things. Worse case scenario.

Defense. If we have an injury crisis in defense we can switch to back 3. Worst case Mykolenko or Coleman can play there.

Wing backs Garner Ndiaye McNeil can do a job there. Before having to call on youngsters.

we have 3 players for number 9 position.

Dm. Alcaraz has played there. Irogbunam and Armstrong are not bad back ups.

Attacking 3. Barry can play here. Maybe Chermiti as well.

So for me like I said above. 2-3 loans as we’ve done every year. Plus one or two more cheap options and we’re absolutely fine.

Ideal world we sign 6 of the next super stars on the cheap with time to bed them in. But that was never gonna happen.

[Evertonian in NC]

It's why I want to prioritize versatility, in part. We ain't signing 6-7, so sign players who can provide cover across the board. And maybe grow/settle into a more regular starting role, if they make a leap.

[TheRam]

“I’m sure we’ll pick up some loans late in the window to pad out the squad”

Hearing this quite a lot. Are people really happy with us doing that?

We can’t keep making a load of loan signings every window then having to replace those players the next window.

Three weeks until the start of the season, five weeks until the end of the window and we still need six players.

The full back situation and lack of depth in midfield should have been addressed by now. Signing cheaper players to play supporting roles in the squad are easy signings to make.

Yet we’re going on tour where we play three premier league teams with two full backs, one of them being patterson who has a lot of doubts over if he’s even good enough.

They’ve already failed imo. Left it too late and I’m now expecting to see at least three panic signings towards the end of the window.

[Shogun]

Nothing beats a good morning flap

[NickNack]

“I’m sure we’ll pick up some loans late in the window to pad out the squad”

Hearing this quite a lot. Are people really happy with us doing that?

We can’t keep making a load of loan signings every window then having to replace those players the next window.

It’s not ideal and not a long term proposition if we’ve any ambition to get top 6/8. I can sort of accept it at this time as, for whatever reason, the structure wasn’t really in place to start major rebuilding right now. Moyes is obviously involved in recruitment but he won’t be doing the negotiating, financials or closing the deals and I think those positions were filled too late in the day.

That said, it’s been a massive disappointment so far and if someone doesn’t get their finger out soon I could see us being in trouble. I’m just hanging on to the hope that someone at the club knows what they’re doing but they’re not making it easy…