23 Aug 2020 17:59:40
To those who replied to my original post on the matter, I do not care if we lose 3-0 or win 22-0 in pre-season games. What I do care about is the way we play. Most of the team who played against Blackpool yesterday have been together for at least a season and yet Blackpool were better organized and better than us in many aspects of the game especially in the first 15 minutes. The fact that it is a pre-season game is irrelevant, we played this way for a lot of last season also. Most of our players need a kick up the backside, hopefully by Big Dunc.


1.) 23 Aug 2020
23 Aug 2020 19:41:22
Our problem is, us supporters don't know where we stand ref money to spend, have we, havnt we, realistic targets, ffp rules, who has the final say, Brands or Carlo, its a very frustrateing time, and the Blackpool game was a joke, 3-0 down after 10 mins, had that been a prem club, i dread to think COYB.


2.) 23 Aug 2020
23 Aug 2020 20:04:57
Sorry guys but I don’t know what you expect?
We were abysmal at the end of the season.
The players have had time off and have been back in training for 1 week! I’ll repeat 1 week!
We haven’t bought and have not changed the team that was abysmal at end of season so why is anyone complaining about the performance?
There is no magic wand.
We have still got the same players
Once we get a couple of new faces it’ll be a different story.

However as one poster has already pointed out - we actually came back to get a draw. Previously we’d have lost, I know it was against Blackpool but at least for a change they showed some fight to get something out of the game.

{Ed0666's Note - And then you go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like logic...


3.) 24 Aug 2020
24 Aug 2020 03:42:25
I don't want to argue with you Gingerdan as you come across as someone with as much feeling as me for the club
You are completely right we were abysmal at the end of last season
We, probably more than any other team with designs on Europe next season, were crying out for additions (and departures) from the club.
Season starts 12th Sep. What have we bought so far - an addition to the U23's - looks a good player but not one for the here and now. Compare that to what our potential challengers to Europe have done

I understand Hojbjerg always wanted to go to Spurs. Fine - stop chasing him and move to someone who might want to come to us
Gabriel, we were front runners if the rags are to be believed but instead of moving quickly to get the deal agreed and done we tried to get him cheap and cut the price. Napoli and Chelsea, even Man Utd move in and we lost him even when we finally matched their offers,
Allan = thank Christ he seems committed to joining up again with CA but we're still trying to squeeze/ refuse to pay what Napoli want. I only hope we don't push his patience too far
Doucoure - instead of moving for him weeks ago when we knew Hojbjerg wanted Spurs and closing a deal early we are still haggling with Watford. How much confidence do we all have that this is not just paper talk and we won't see him in blue

I completely agree we want value for money and we shouldn't be paying over the odds but we are also not good enough to be going into the start of next season with last seasons squad. As you said we were abysmal. CA deserved to have some new blood available right from the start, used to their new teammates, but that seems very unlikely

I wasn't too bothered about Blackpool. As people, including me, have said first friendly of the season, players rusty etc etc but I am worried that the club is not ready for the start of the season in terms of strengthening the team and if we start badly then confidence could be shot, we won't be attractive to new players whilst the window is still open, Europe will be 'next year', and relegation will be a fear.

{Ed0666's Note - thank you’re lucky stars you have CA. Having the opportunity to work with him will attract a decent caliber of player.


4.) 24 Aug 2020
24 Aug 2020 09:20:22
The problem with listening to the media is they put us in for payers we have no intention of going after. We have a bloated squad and little cash to spend. We have spent a lot of money on players that haven't performed for the club but where given long contracts. Brands came in with a difficult job to do and from what Ed002 has stated has been hampered by Moshri listening to advisors and bought players Brands had little to do with. As for the club spending cash and breaking FFP rules then why would the club want to do that, why would you want to spend now and end up paying fines and getting sanctions at a later date with no guarantee that you will be successful anyway. We have spent loads of cash so far and look where we are now, why would spending even more cash put us in a better place? Our best way forward is to try to get back into a good state financially then try to get players that will improve us. We as fans will just have to wait for that to happen hopefully next summer when all the contracts of our unwanted players have terminated we may see the additional spending we all want. Hopefully Brands will have identified targets CA will have input to what he thinks he needs in the short term. With a bit of luck we may bring some sorely needed quality players but I don't expect there to be many.


5.) 24 Aug 2020
24 Aug 2020 09:45:04
I’m as frustrated as the next fan regarding previous transfer errors and lack of investment so far this term.

However this C.V. has seriously affected all clubs, every club is looking for value and it looks like only those with money are making any significant early moves.
Chelsea - Werner and ziyech
City - ake and Torres

The only other teams to have spent significant money so far are:
sheff Utd - ramsdale 18.5m but they desperately needed a keeper with Henderson loan ending.
Spurs - Hojbjerg but did a swap to keep price down anyway
West Brom - pereira made his loan permanent after he impresses last season.
Liverpool - tmiskis cover for Robinson.

Willian and Lallana have moved on free transfers and if the other transfers I can’t say we’ve missed out on anyone.

It pains me to say it but would not be surprised if we start season with near enough the same squad we ended last season with and we do business later in window when teams may let players go for more realistic prices.

We can blame the club for previous failings but I don’t think we can blame them for the current recruitment issues - it’s on a global scale.

Also with so many people having lost jobs/ houses etc does it sit comfortably when a team pays an obscene amount for a player? Doesn’t for me.

Look at arsenal - reports of 75 staff being made redundant yet Ozil in £300k or whatever a week and Aubameyang lines up for £200k or whatever a week - I’d be disgusted as a fan with that.

We all want our team to do well, buy the best players etc but this window is completely different and all clubs need to be looking to balance everything up and get value for their money.


6.) 24 Aug 2020
24 Aug 2020 14:36:40
Forget what the press say when they link us to this or that player, until they have walked throught the doors at Goodison then we are not in for them. As Gingerdan says, we are entering into a unique season after what has gone on this year, not many teams have strengthened so far. Yes, we definitely need to bring players in but we can't, in these uncertain times, go out and pay over the odds when the entire world is tightening up their belts. It's a crazy, unprecendented time and all we can do is watch it play out until we get back to some kind of normality.


7.) 24 Aug 2020
24 Aug 2020 06:29:00
I agree with you Ed0666

I just want to see him supported. The same way Moshiri did with Martinez, Koemans and Silva (and Walsh! ) . Unfortunately a lot of that was wasted but, with the record he has, he deserves the backing he is asking for.

{Ed0666's Note - I wouldn’t worry about CA not being backed. You would bet you’re bottom dollar it would have been his first proviso when he was earmarked for the job. I still can’t quite believe he’s you’re manager. It’s a real coup on Moshiri’s part.