Everton Banter 3

12 Jul 2026 20:11:41
Quite like the new away kit, if the leaked images are real.

12 Jul 2026 22:55:18
The white one with a handful of pin stripes?

It's certainly better than the cream one of last year, the salmon monstrosity two years ago or the pink one the year before.

I quite liked the yellow one when we had Rodriguez. Not had a decent away kit in a few years. Looking forward to seeing what the third and goalkeeper kits look like.

13 Jul 2026 09:25:23
I didn't like it. Looked a bit cheap to me.

12 Jul 2026 20:07:59
What do my fellow Evertonians think about getting Grealish for 5-10 million if City would prefer to cash in now rather than him leave on a free good value or not? 🤔🤔

{Ed025's Note - good value i would say TB, but of course his wages would have to reflect that he is not Billy big time anymore mate..

12 Jul 2026 22:46:37
Not getting him for that. More probable that would be a loan fee.

12 Jul 2026 23:01:19
Think a lower wage with larger bonuses would be good for us, but that's probably not in Grealish's plans, given he's towards the end of his career and could be an injury liability. Love the guy's attitude, but it's a big ask for him to commit to us when there's big final cheques out there.

13 Jul 2026 04:10:09
Obviously, Jack is a very, very wealthy young man. He has won lots of major trophies, played for his country & is generally liked in the football world.
Does he want to stay & be a bit part player at City?
Does he want to go to Saudi or the US whilst still Premier League standard?
Maybe, just maybe, he now wants to be loved & appreciated by a club & set of supporters.

He seemed extremely happy last season, & so maybe he would happily take less to stay?

12 Jul 2026 22:54:28
I agree Ed, we are not in the position to offer stupid wages to any player but we certainly shouldn't be doing it for a player who is, if everyone is honest, beyond his peak.

That isn't to say I wouldn't sign him. I like Grealish and he definitely brings more eyes to Everton football wise, which can only be a good thing whilst he is with us.

I think he is a very intelligent footballer and his most impressive attributes are his first touch and his ability to win fouls. He has never been a pacey and powerful athlete and always relied on his brain and agility.

I did think that last season after his good start, he was worked out pretty quickly, through no fault of his own. The same on the opposite flanks. Teams know they can just double up on our wingers because our fullbacks offer sweet fa.

Grealish has had some lengthy injuries in the last few seasons and his now in his 30's. Whilst I appreciate that players are much fitter, healthier, generally better looked after in todays game, the body still regresses after a certain age and Jack doesn't typically live the cleanest lifestyles.

If we get him for that fee, it represents brilliant value, especially in this market. However, as Ed said correctly, it all depends on his wages.

I think if we can get him in for 150k a week max, we should bring him in. Anything more, I would look elsewhere.

It is no secret how much he enjoys the club, so if he really does, he will realise that his time at City is done and he won't be starting every week, ahead of the likes of Doku and Semenyo. He won't have to worry about that for us, as providing he keeps fit, Moyes will play him every week.

{Ed025's Note - i was thinking £100k max BN but maybe im being unrealistic, the fee should not be a big deal really mate but i agree with you that his injury record and lifestyle history still makes him a bit of a risk..

13 Jul 2026 09:27:53
Grealish is a signing I'd like, and it's proven from his loan. But the price will need to reflect his age and lifestyle. He's 31 and a party boy. Both of those will come with problems.
His quality, though, is not in question.

11 Jul 2026 19:34:48
Bryan King, our former scout, thinks we should go back in for Lukaku. With advice like that, I am glad he is no longer our scout. It's just my view; I am sure some of my fellow Evertonians on this forum would disagree, but he is finished as far as being a lead striker for a Premier League side with serious ambition of becoming a top eight side.

11 Jul 2026 22:10:52
Have met our scouts over the years, most very knowledgeable, but sometimes (I have said this to them) , they need to put the crib sheet down.

12 Jul 2026 11:05:50
Agree, instead of looking at stats, go and actually watch the guys play.

11 Jul 2026 16:01:54
Our stadium is looking amazing in the Eng v Fiji game.

12 Jul 2026 11:06:59
That's because it is amazing.

11 Jul 2026 13:46:36
Looks like we want Jacob Murphy from Newcastle. I can believe this particular rumour because he is 31 and fits Moyes mo for older experienced players, and he would possibly be cheap, probably around the 10 million mark, and he has played right back before. Apparently I have seen this on one of the Everton websites, and my pal is a barcodes supporter and stated this name is doing the rounds up there being linked with a move to our lot.

How do my fellow Evertonians feel about this one? It does not excite me, but I all honesty not all transfers do. Maybe he feels a gap in the squad, who knows. Thoughts 🤔 fellow blues.

11 Jul 2026 15:42:32
If he was the ain't fightback I wouldn't be impressed. If he was a squad player and we still got a right back, I'd be happy. He does chip in with some good goals.

11 Jul 2026 15:53:18
Goal return is worse than Barry and Betos. Assists are better. But no thanks.

11 Jul 2026 17:08:25
31..no thanks.

11 Jul 2026 19:01:54
Am I wrong in thinking he is a winger? Not a striker? Seeing comparisons to Barry and Beto who have scored more goals, but honestly I'm not sure that's relevant? Surely any right back we look at will have scored less than our strikers next season?

11 Jul 2026 23:36:11
You're right, cropper. Having a moment in this heat, mate. Still a no though. 🤣

12 Jul 2026 11:08:43
Just how many wingers do we need?

11 Jul 2026 08:57:12
I've been looking through the stats from a few different leagues from last season to see if there are any centre backs Everton should be looking at, and these are the ones that stood out to me.

Ryan Flamingo (23, PSV, €14m) is probably the one I'd go for if we could get him. He's quick, good on the ball, wins plenty of duels and still has loads of room to improve. For around €14m he looks like the smart, forward thinking signing we never seem to make at the right time.

Matte Smets (22, Genk, €10m) is another who looks a proper player. He reads the game well, wins his headers and is comfortable stepping out with the ball. Still young, still improving, and €10m isn't a bad fee at all for someone with his profile.

Leo Greiml (25, NAC Breda, €900k) is a bit of a wildcard. He's had injury problems, but for around €1m he's the sort of low risk punt that can quietly turn into a bargain. Not saying he'd walk straight into the team, but there's not much risk at that price.

Gonçalo Inácio (24, Sporting, €40m) is probably the best player on the list. Left footed, calm on the ball and already proven at a high level. The only problem is the price, as I can't see Everton spending that sort of money unless someone big leaves.

Nathan Zézé (21, Neom SC, €20m) is another interesting one. Big, athletic and left footed. He's probably more of a signing for the future, but you can see why clubs have been keeping an eye on him.

If we wanted someone with a bit more experience, Joseph Okumu (29, Stade Reims, €3m) looks like a bargain. He's strong, quick enough and for that sort of fee I think he'd be a solid signing.

Rasmus Lauritsen (30, Brøndby, €1m) would be another cheap option. Experienced, good in the air and reliable. Probably more of a squad player in the Premier League, but at €1m he's hardly a gamble.

Kobe Cools (28, FCV Dender, €600k) is another one that caught my eye. For around €600k there's very little risk, and he looks like someone who could do a job as a squad player.

Out of all of them, Flamingo is the one I'd be trying hardest to sign. Young, good value and I think he'd suit the Premier League.

11 Jul 2026 10:04:28
I've heard that Ryan Flamingo is so good he can play the game standing on one foot.

11 Jul 2026 11:02:33
If he turns out to be rubbish, he wouldn't have a leg to stand on..

11 Jul 2026 11:08:26
Haha, love it, JB. He would give us some balance at the back when the rest of the team falls over, and he would fit right in wearing one of them pink/salmon tops we bring out.

12 Jul 2026 11:09:38
Ah, if only stats won you matches.

11 Jul 2026 07:35:58
Why don't Everton go for a young British striker who has scored goals in a lower league, rather than paying huge money for foreign players like Barry, Kofane etc., who usually end up being no more than average anyway in the PL? I am thinking of soemone like Dome Ballard of Leyton Orient.

11 Jul 2026 09:22:40
Ballard is a good young striker, but he's not the type who jumps straight from League One to the Premier League and thrives. His movement and finishing are legit, but his physical profile isn't ready for Premier League defenders. He would still need another 2 years of development before he'd be ready to step up to that level.

11 Jul 2026 09:37:17
Big Dunc was skinny when he came to us. Didn't take him 2 seasons to get physically ready for English football. The players these days are soft as s****. They should all be ready no matter what league they came from. Problem is, they start off playing on plastic pitches when their kids are not allowed to head the ball until they reach under 12s, and don't play 11 v 11 until under 16s.

By that time all the tougher street kids have got bored and gone and tried rugby instead.

11 Jul 2026 09:42:26
Can you really tell that before you give him a chance? And which of Everton's expensive foreign strikers have thrived immediately? Why risk big bucks on players who have in any case not yet proven themselves to be big goal scorers at the top level?

11 Jul 2026 11:20:00
The point isn't that we shouldn't give young British strikers a chance. The point is that Dom Ballard's specific profile, what he's good at and what he struggles with, matters when you're talking about a jump to Premier League football.

But he's also not physically ready for Premier League centre backs, he isn't a natural hold up striker, he isn't strong aerially, he's still developing his back to goal game, and he can be inconsistent when he's isolated. Those aren't things you fix by "giving him a chance", they're fundamental traits that decide whether a striker can survive the step from League One to the Premier League.



You mention that Everton's expensive foreign strikers haven't all thrived immediately, and that's true, but those players at least arrived with elite physical profiles, proven senior minutes, and attributes that translate to Premier League intensity. Ballard is a good young striker, but he's not the type who jumps two divisions and suddenly becomes a Premier League No.9. He's a development project, not a first team solution.

If Everton were to sign someone like him, it would be with the intention of developing him over a couple of years, not expecting him to fix the striker problem this season.
That's the difference.

11 Jul 2026 11:24:15
Or alternatively, stop spunking money on "Goal Scorers" that are highly unlikely to replicate the number of goals in the toughest league in the world, against the toughest managers, defenders and goal keepers.

They aren't playing against the same level of opposition, they won't get the types of chances that they get in their respective leagues they are coming from.

That is why you see these players hit decent numbers and then come to the PL and fall on their arse.

I would much rather us target a striker who is an overall decent footballer and is comfortable in most/all aspects of the game, that way, if they don't hit decent numbers straight away, in terms of goals, they can offer something else to the team.

11 Jul 2026 12:51:01
Bowen is that type of player BN would take him all day long, mate.

11 Jul 2026 13:45:59
Not wrong there, GB, mate.

I am hoping we can chuck McNeil to them and bring the price down to £25/30 mill and get it over the line.

11 Jul 2026 14:08:30
There are no guarantees that any player from a different league, whether Europe or lower English, can get the goal return we need. Even some high profile strikers from Europe's elite have struggled in this league. So the scouts do their homework and hope it pays off. The last prolific striker we had was Lukaku, who had already shown he could handle the league, even if it wasn't at Chelsea.


We'll all have our picks of players we think can cut it. I actually thought Beto would do well due to his strength and height, but that didn't work out, now did it.
We need a Lineker or a Heath or a Latchford.
So, could the scouts have a check to see if there's anyone that good out there that wouldn't be more expensive than our stadium?

11 Jul 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, Why Patience and McInnes Matter at Rangers

10 Jul 2026 22:34:39
I've been reading various posts since this World Cup started.

From what I can gather, our fans want us to keep Gueye, Ndiaye, Patterson and Pickford then sign up Lukaku, James Rodriguez, Digne, Onana, Stones, Mina and Anthony Gordon. All managed by Carlo Ancelotti with Roberto Martinez as his number two.

Simple.

11 Jul 2026 08:58:17
Dentie lad (TL) , unless you are plagiarising from someone else on fb, your identity is known. Lol funny though.

11 Jul 2026 13:31:34
Yep, it's stolen from FB, but had to share as I thought it was very witty lol.

10 Jul 2026 20:04:39
AC Milan now after Doue.

10 Jul 2026 20:40:58
We cannot afford him, likewise, Grealish wages. Need to sell, I believe RB and striker priority now.

10 Jul 2026 21:29:07
How can we not afford anything. More income from sponsors and stadium than ever before. Coleman and Gueye have gone. Dwight will be gone soon, so will Patterson and Travers. We have money in from Gordon sale. Tom will probably go, so will Barry.

There's plenty to play with, as you won't outlaw the full whack income go. It's spread over length of the contracts. Plus, look at smaller clubs like Bournemouth, Brighton, Sunderland, all spend big.

10 Jul 2026 21:57:02
Outlay the full whack in one go. Had too much wime.

10 Jul 2026 22:36:24
Surely rb is a priority, it has to be, so surely we need to throw the bulk of our transfer budget to solve the situation? Are we really saying £30m on a rb is beyond our means?

10 Jul 2026 22:36:27
We have money to spend, which will be bumped up by player sales.

How much is Grealish asking for? Nothing has been reported, so you're just guessing there. For all we know, he might be willing to take a massive pay cut to make the move happen. It's not like he needs the cash these days!

11 Jul 2026 06:20:13
I think that we're playing down just how big our transfer budget is. If other clubs thought we were spending big then a player's transfer fee would suddenly rise.

Moyes knows the positions that need looking at, & this being the final year of his contract, will want success.

Whether you agree with him or not, nobody can deny that relegation fears are a distant memory under him.

UTFT NSNO. 💙 💙 💙

11 Jul 2026 07:57:03
Totally agree. I would like to think the club and us all have learned from Moshiri telling everyone the budget, then other clubs fleecing us for it. Claim poverty but still spend on the right player. The Man Utd, Liverpool and alike can get away with players demanding to go there due to Champions League etc, but we don't have these privileges just yet.

11 Jul 2026 11:45:48
The club have got plenty to spend.

Look at the spending of clubs last year. We were below them. We have only got more breathing room this year.

It could be that they just don't want to spend 40/50m on Doue, and I don't blame them. The lad went from Rennes to Strasbourg for 5m. He has played well in his 2 seasons there, but to increase his value to that amount is laughable and typical BlueCo behaviour.

There are plenty of other options available to us that are more reasonably priced.



I still can't understand why we haven't gone and bid for Sanchez. A well-balanced RB, and available for around 10m, still only 22. That would then give us breathing room, if we wanted to, to go and spend a little bit more on another right back and target a different profile, there are plenty - Jon Aramburu, Omar El Hilali, Wesley Franca, Givairo Read, Wilfried Singo, the list goes on.

11 Jul 2026 12:20:48
That income, blue-dev, has to materialise. We had roughly £50 mill ready cash, I believe. Deals are currently being negotiated to buy players, then once agreed, structure has to be dealt with. Under SCR, how much do we earn? Of which (not in Europe) , we can spend 85 percent on everything. We still have a massive debt (Stadium) millstone. City etc have massive income.