Everton lose both Opel Cup games

But rules is rules. And I assume Sevilla play Mainz at some point, so maybe for practical reasons, expecting fans to watch three successive full matches is a bit much.

I can't watch any of them as I'm at a posh wedding bash darn sarf, at the delightful Chenies Manor. Wedding favours are a little jar of homemade strawberry jam for each guest... very chic!

Line-up for the first game:

Everton (vs Sevilla): Pickford, Coleman, Holgate, Mina, Digne, Gomes, Delph, Walcott, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Stekelenburg, Lössl, Gibson, McCarthy, Pennington, Davies, Broadhead, Schneiderlin, Mirallas, Connolly, Hornby, Gordon, Foulds.

I think Holgate and Mina could make an effective partnership. I'll be very interested to see how they get on

I know pre season is about getting fit for the new season, but this trend of lacking goals in this team, is still apparent in this team.

Marco and Marcel you have much work to do in the market and hopefully soon.

DCL missed 2-3 chances, the boy does all of it right, but he simply can't score. He's not a finisher, and that's not good enough.

Holgate had a poor game. I'm hoping we stick with Mina, Keane, Holgate, and Gibbo in the back and save the money not spent on a CB, and spend it on a striker. Holgate needs to step it up and not make mistakes.

I completely disagree with your statement saying Bernard isn't good enough. Whilst I fully agree he needs to add goals to his game, there is no doubting his ability. In my opinion, anyway.

Same with Sigurdsson but the other way around for me. Yes, he scores goals. . . but he needs to add a lot more creativity to his game as far as I am concerned.

I fully agree with your comment. Or maybe play Bernard there and see how he goes? But I would like to see us buy a young, up-and-coming midfielder who is naturally creative. One for the future, if possible.

That seems logical but who knows maybe it will be decided by how many defensive clearances clear the boundary line of the nearest cricket field.

This time last year I was agreeing with you on a similar thread regarding Siggi but I changed my mind over the season. I realized he doesn't get a ton of assists but he often drops deeper and gets the assist for the assist as it were. He makes some nice clever passes that enable the wide men of CF to lay on the assist. Difficult to quantify but useful

No argument for me on that point, although I will need to watch more closely to fully appreciate the point you are making.

I just feel he was bought as an attacking midfielder who would create chances for us. To me, he has failed in the creative area. But, having read your post, maybe not as much as I had previously thought.

Now where's that centre forward we need.

To improve we need to replace them two with equal or better.

To challenge for top 6 we need another forward who can get 10 assists and 10 goals minimum.

Loads of time to sort it , 12 days left in this window

no need to panic..

at all , don't even think about panicking

it wont do you any good, stay calm, I mean serene,

SERENITY NOW !, SERENITY NOW!

I am not seeing it yet and I don't consider the deal in any way a steal. In fact, at the moment, I still think Man City mugged us by getting the amount we paid.

However, I sincerely hope he proves me 100% wrong. But I can't change my opinion based on 45 minutes against the mighty Wigan and an hour in this Opel thing.

Enjoyed a Saturday morning lie-in, leisurely broke my fast, walked the dawg and fired up the computer...only to find he game already done and dusted! Must have been a very early KO.

When does the Mainz game get under way?

Link

The defensive depth is absolutely non-existent. Baines is always injured. If, as Silva seems to, we are counting Holgate as a centre-back, that leaves Coleman as the only right-back at the football club. Our centre backs are Keane, Mina, and Holgate - that's it. All have their own problems. We desperately need to sign 2 more defenders or our season could be in jeopardy.

The midfield is looking... alright, but once again, very very slow with ageing players like Sigurdsson. Gomes hasn't set the world alight this pre-season. We've still got players like McCarthy on the books. If we sell Gueye however, we are f*cked.

Up front we are completely toothless. Calvert-Lewin should not be our number 9 going into the season - and I do not understand why we have not brought a new striker in yet. Hopefully the wings will look better with Richarlison returning, but Walcott and Bernard are just impotent.

Concerning times. Once again we're hoping for a deadline day miracle - if it does not arrive, I don't see us finishing above the likes of Wolves, Leicester, West Ham.

Bernard is never gonna be a goal threat, he is a useful sub player and competition for Siggy.

We are still waiting for DCL to develop his finishing.

The main concern is it appears that Silva is failing to address our main issues, signing players is not enough, our problems won't be resolved through signing anyone if the system employed, and the training and preparation, are not up to standard.

Until March, lest we forget, I guess 75% on here expected and wanted Silva gone. He managed to save himself with a solid end of the season (when all was lost), but if we struggle come August as we appear to be atm, then questions about Silva will dominate our pages and pubs once again.

I'm not sure of the style and set across these games but there seems to be no solid shape in the play.

Let's see what happens and we hope for better times in the next season, but a natural striker is a must buy, in my view.

Clive #41 - yes, I've heard of those rumours too. Kean would be extremely exciting - seems to have a very good scoring record for his age. Like with Gbamin though, there's just no use getting excited until some reliable Everton journos are talking. Until Joyce, King, Kirkbride etc are dropping their names, speculation is sadly useless. But we can hope!

And as I type the Germans hammer a third goal home. Extremely, extremely poor. These were just beaten 5-0 by Seville...

Everton must be the only team with players who look worse on Utube than better!!!

You're correct. There's no reason to panic at all.

Sign Zaha.

Sign Kean.

Done. Maybe a CB but I think we'll pass and we may be in for a gunslinger season.

They need to play quicker forward passes. Unless 3-0 up with 3 mins to go there is no excuse.

We have reverted to possession based play that failed us last season before we switched to a more counter attacking style with great wins against Chelsea and Man Utd.

Sorry but Schnides is no defensive screen and Holgate is always a mistake away from happening. Not the only two poor players but players that always fail to step up and deliver.

Forward. I'm a big fan of DCL but he has to hit the target. Whack the ball on target and stop with the deft touches that are never going to trouble a professional goalkeeper.

Creativity is poor. There is more often than not a 2 second delay before the final pass or cross is played and then cut out.

Lookman is a creative, fast, powerful forward who's not afraid to have a shot. Why can he not get a game a head of all but Richarlison and Siggy is beyond me. Oh yes, some idiot sold him.

Preseason is all about fitness, but sadly the skill, vision and ability is not so easy to train. IMO the 2 best youngsters Lookman and Vlassic have been sold and we are left with a worse team and a weaker, older squad than finished last season.

We need rabbits in the next 13 days, 3 excellent rabbits. Here's hopping.. .

There was little to encourage any further viewing being almost devoid of any attacking ideas, and of the rare chances that were produced DCL managed to fluff his lines again.

I am still not totally convinced by Silva, he watches the game from the sidelines, can evidently see what is needed but perseveres with the same tactics for the next game, as he did for the most part last season. Even subs are either like for like, when change is being cried out for, or left too late to have any effect.

This can happen if we sign Costa, Kean and Zaha. Haha

I'm not even sure DCL would fill his boots at Championship level to be honest with you.

We signed him from League One and I think it's really starting to tell now that he didn't make that natural progression from the Championship upwards.

He's nowhere near a top level striker I'm sorry.

We could sign any lad from League One and he'd work hard for you but putting the ball in the net as a Premier League centre forward is paramount and DCL just can't do that.

Something significant has already happened. We have looked absolutely dreadful in EVERY preseason game and it looks certain that we have lost Zouma and Gueye from last season.

As someone pointed out the season opens in 2 weeks which means even if we get a couple of players in they will not be ready for the start of the season.

I take comfort from how we finished last season. That looked, for the most part, a tight and promising unit capable of beating top 6 sides and with some ease. No reason at all why that should have collapsed.

Let's stay steady. We are going to make signings. If, God forbid, we don't get in a striker then we must play Richarlison centrally; that seems to me to be the only serious option.

Brands and Silva must be painfully aware of the need to bring in, at least, one striker who can get around 15 goals. If they don't we're in for another season of being beaten as soon as the other team score!

Pre-season has been grim and of course it's concerning, we look unable to create and yet pourous through the middle. Not a great combination. But it's only preseason. We were terrible last preseason but looked pretty handy in our first match out against a strong Wolves team.

It's a shame none of the youngsters has really stepped up and I do think we need more creativity but we won't start really learning about where we are till Palace(a).

I hope by the time we'll have a few new players though I wonder how long they will take to be match ready. The Kean signing sounds less certain than this morning and if that falls through and Leao goes to Milan then I don't know who the ST plan will be. I also think Gueye will be a massive loss that Gomes especially will feel.

Let's see what next two weeks bring.

It's all very well saying he's a nice lad and can't fault his effort, I have done myself on many occasions, but it should be realisation time for all of us. Being nice and working like a Trojan doesn't make you a good striker overnight, or ever, for that matter, if you don't have that timing and natural instinct, which DCL doesn't have, he isn't going to be ever what we desire for him.

On the other point you made Sam, personally liked the look of Broadhead and Gibson, but have to agree like in the past, these kids have the chance to impress in pre-season and more often than not fail to grasp the opportunity.

I said before I was skeptical of Silva, and still am very much, but I do have a lot more faith in our DoF/Transfer Guru, and trust him to come up trumps again before the Window slams shut.

I'm happy with the signings of Delph and Gomes. If we can get a striker in, and offload some deadwood, i'd be happy with that.

We will hopefully have our first choice players back against Palace - Pickford, Keane etc. They should all be fit also. But we are not going to improve on last season without a striker. I can't believe the season is almost upon us and we still haven't signed a striker, and the only players we seem to be seriously linked to are wingers!

The pressure being put on DCL is unfair and it could ruin the lad, he's not mature enough to lead the line at Everton despite having been put in that position last season, he needs more time to develop.

Something is wrong if the management can't identify that, it smacks of gross incompetence and it's negatively affected are whole pre season run in. The chances of replacing Zouma and Gueye are looking remote as well, all in all pretty shambolic.

I cannot recall where Tosun got a regular run out for more than 60 mins and in successive games.

For all those myself included who like Lewins hold up play, he will never get ten plus goals a season.

Time to bring in someone who can find the back of the net, a striker is an absolute must.

So many names have been put forward by fans, but [A] the parent club has to agree to sell a player, and [B] the club wishing to buy him have to agree the transfer fee, but the most important person in any proposed deal is [C] the player himself, he needs to want to join the club pursuing him, to make a transfer possible.

We as fans play no part in these negotiations, and in the case of Everton's pursuit of players, it may well be that they have explored the possibility of signing some of the players, that fans on this site have considered ideal signings.

We have no option but trust in the management duo's ability, to secure the services of the players we need, I appreciate that this may sound simplistic but that's the way I view it.

"Gomes was released to us by barcelona because they felt that they were too slow in possession with him in the side."
I track Barca closely and I have never heard this before. What's your source for this statement?

By all previous accounts, Barca was willing to let Gomes go because he had lost the confidence of his teammates and the fans, and he couldn't handle that pressure -- he'd gone into a shell. If you have contrary information, I'd very much like to know what it's based on.

As for Costa, he scored four goals last night against Real Madrid, and I highly doubt he's in our reach at this point.

I'd say, out of pure speculation, there are possibly only around 20 players on the planet who could guarantee this.

Believe it or not, it probably is difficult.

Hi Peter [77] it may surprise you to learn that contrary to possessing 'common sense', some people regard me as a bit of a dinosaur, and in some quarters I'm known as Johnny McFossil. I had another fall last week, [not too steady on my feet], but I hope to see you at the Excelsior on the 17th of August, where I can bore you with some of my so called wisdom.

You misunderstood my post. We aren't capable of attracting a 30 goals a season player.

I too heard what Colin has said about there being a feeling at Barca that Gomes was slow to move possession on. It was referred to by at least two separate sports journalists based between UK and Spain, one being Spanish-Irishman Miguel Delaney. I know you like to think yourself an authority on FC Barcelona but it's possible you may have missed one or two things.

Silva does need back up for the right back position, since there is none and a back up Centre Back for Mina. I do think he would be keen on Gbamin, since he provides back up to the Centre Back position and more of a supporting attacking option in midfield. Delph is more a Lookman position prospect and competition for Walcott.

All of this would prevent the midfield being overrun and add support better interplay in the final third. This leaves the problem of finishing and taking chances, both of which Everton are below par at.

There is no doubt that players will have to improve on last year. Tosun, Niasse and Morillas are still with us and it is obvious it would take a miracle for them to step up. Bernard, Calvin -Lewin and Richarlison could improve.

Everton need someone who can score 20 plus goals in a season and play within the Silva system. Everton also need goals from other positions.

It's going to be a difficult two weeks.

It's not ideal to have DCL leading the line. He's not clinical (yet) and obviously every ambitious club would prefer to have a striker that will put chances away.

But he does seem (or seemed to at the end of last season) fit the team very well. And if the team is winning I don't care too much how many the striker is scoring.

Yes, I'd like someone who can do what he does but put more chances away. But if we can't get that then let's at least appreciate that his work may facilitate the success of the team even when not scoring. Last time we got 4th Marcus Bent scores about 7 goals all year! Wouldn't we all take that again?

To quote marco: "we need some important players to sign, you are talking about five players in 12 days.

“It is too many and, of course, I would prefer to be with all of them in our squad at this moment but we don't have that and we are preparing for the first game."

I'm not sure if I'm pleased that the manager is reacting in the same way as most of the fans are, or if I'm worried because he seems as desperate as we do.

I'm afraid that my only foreign excursion was the Cup Winners Final in Rotterdam, although I did go to the Fairs Cup game against Manchester United at Old Trafford in January 1965.

DCL flanked by Zaha and Richarlison could be a lethal front 3. I know DCL needs to be far more clinical but he is workaholic in his quest to produce for the team.

This workrate hands possession and opportunities to his attacking teammates and can make them look good stats wise, to his detriment.

One thing I am sure about is that DCL wont give up fighting to prove himself as our no9. This fighting spirit means I will not give up on the lad, he is still young enough to get better.

To match Everton's ambition he needs to deliver fast or he will be sidelined, especially if someone like Moise Kean or Malcom come in.

In a nutshell DCL needs to start the new season on fire or suffer long spells on the sidelines.

DCL flanked by Zaha and Richarlison could be a lethal front 3. I know DCL needs to be far more clinical but he is workaholic in his quest to produce for the team.

This workrate hands possession and opportunities to his attacking teammates and can make them look good stats wise, to his detriment.

One thing I am sure about is that DCL wont give up fighting to prove himself as our no9. This fighting spirit means I will not give up on the lad, he is still young enough to get better.

To match Everton's ambition he needs to deliver fast or he will be sidelined, especially if someone like Moise Kean or Malcom come in.

In a nutshell DCL needs to start the new season on fire or suffer long spells on the sidelines.

John #82, always a pleasure to hear from you and read your posts. I'm sorry to hear about your recent fall... hope you weren't injured and you're feeling better. My only regret from my last trip there, except for Picks' gaffe was not getting enough time to chat with you in the noisy Midland. I hope to make up for that on my next trip over. (PS... I haven't lived in my beloved hometown of Chicago in more than 30 years... I'm a beach bum in Oregon these days.)

Brian #88 and Kevin #78, spot on. As I've said before, the recurring "no striker yet?" comments here sound to me like a little kid in the back seat asking Daddy, "Are we there yet?"

Jerome #87, Holgate played all last season at right back, and played it well. He's clearly the backup for Seamus.

https://www.juvefc.com/everton-in-advanced-talks-for-moise-kean/

Not a done deal, but it appears we're in the lead.

He is clinical in the training clips we saw last year. Just seems to be snatching at things during a game. Once one goes in I think we might start to see him score more frequently.

Sousa left and has been replaced by Boa Morte. I remember when Harvey and Kendall split and we were never the same again.

I sincerely hope this is not the case but I was expecting a lot more this preseason due to the way we finished last season and Silva has had a year in the hot seat.

Some have argued it took Sharpy a while to settle and we cant argue with the lads workrate and attitude but he does lack that killer touch that all top goalscorers have.

No one is suggesting buying good players is easy either, that's why we are paying managers millions of pounds to get on with the job. Or are you suggesting thier all above criticism ?

It will take 6 to 10 games for new signings to settle in. End of September we will be mid table. Does anyone know when the season starts at Everton? Get a move on please!!!

Never mind the reluctant player not putting any effort in.

Should a buy-back provision be triggered, there is usually a contractual obligation to enforce the contract and transfer the player accordingly

And another:

No other club except the selling club can pay the fee agreed while negotiating and in maximum cases, the player would have to go back to the parent club when they call for him. The player does not have a say in it and is powerless.

I do hope there's something to it... a 19-year-old is always a gamble, but this kid is electric. I saw him on tape-delay a couple of months ago in the game where he was racially abused, and then again the following week where he scored against Milan to clinch the Serie A title. Major talent.

It did take Bernard a little longer, and of course Mina and Gomes were hurt coming in, but anybody we sign from our current target list will have been training and playing preseason games with their current club. Should be ready from Day 1.

There are more important things, and after 71 years of watching Everton I've experienced relegation, promotion, FA Cup Final victories and defeats, League Championships, and I view football as an escape from the trials and tribulations that life throws at me, I'm no longer as ecstatic in victory, or as demoralised in defeat as I used to be.

Everton may lose a game, but someone in a crowd of 40,000 is going home to seriously bad news, I would imagine that their outlook may well change, and football would rank low in their priorities. I've learned to accept that for every winner there's a loser, where in my youth an Everton defeat would spoil my weekend,

I still attend games, as a matter of fact my season ticket arrived this morning, and I'm looking forward to the season and trust that the younger supporters can enjoy the sport of football, and taste the success that I have in my time of watching Everton.

Apologies if this post sounds like a sermon, it's just that I have learned to put my love of Everton in it's rightful place in my life. I know you were being flippant and meant your post to be lighthearted.

Respect.

From a young whippersnapper who's just made 60!!

If we don't get Keen I am sure they must have others in mind. It's obviously a tough market if we're having to bring them in so late. We have no idea what's going on in the background and can only hope that Brands is calmly getting the pieces into place.

He's decided to let me do the panicking.

If he isn't pulling those Machiavellian strings - then I don't want to even think about the consequences.

I will not remove my royal blue tinted glasses just yet.

For far too long we have lacked that killer instinct when playing teams, and even in the games we have won, it has rarely been by more than a goal or maybe two.

I would have thought so regarding Holgate, but in the Echo Silva thinks he needs back up in the right back position and cosidered playing Colman a risk in pre season. Apparently Baines is injured and having to play Digne was considered a risk also.

In my opinion, Silva has little confidence in Mason and probably has no long-term plans for him. I base that purely on how he treated the player last season -- five starts, then complete oblivion, banished to the stands until his loan in January.

But if the season starts in two weeks with no new RB signed, Holgate's gotta be Seamus' deputy. There's no alternative except Cuco.

There's a jarring thought. Couldn't be Cuco, could it?

See where you are coming from. Makes me wonder why Kenny was loaned out and Robinson sold. I thought they both had potential that will not be easily found in the next two weeks. Had forgot about Cuco are beloved out of position defender.

See where you are coming from. Makes me wonder why Kenny was loaned out and Robinson sold. I thought they both had potential that will not be easily found in the next two weeks, unlLink

Reading the last few posts interesting regarding Holgate, I have expressed my chagrin regarding the Bargain Basement Giveaway with Robinson. Getting back to Holgate, I didn't think he did too badly and the penalty was a bit harsh. How can Baines be injured?

Juve will have the option to buy him back for 55m

So if he is a resounding success after Marco Silva and his team put their life and soul into improving him...

We are forced to sell him to Juve after a few years when he is 22-23 and at the beginning of his prime years, and make 19m

Alternatively,

If he fails to make the grade we lose up to 36m and Juve lose nothing.

The whole thing is a derivative of a loan deal, where we develop a player for Juventus. The backdrop will feel like a wasted effort for Marco and his team , and may even subconsciously dilute their enthusiasm to offer 100% to him from the off.

Also, the player always has his return to Juve at the back of his mind and does not commit to Everton with 100% heart and soul.

The whole development of his career can then be compromised because of these background issues that wont ever go away . Silently distracting attention and focus to Everton FC.

I am not comfortable with us entering deals using this model, I think it could harm us long term if fantastic young players we improve can be lost for the sake of 19m. We would be back to square one again with little or no gain for the club.

Sign great players, but not with these punitive buy back clauses, it is short sighted and detrimental to the club in the long term.

Buy Moise Kean outright or walk away.

Having said that many on here only a day or two ago were insisting on a similar situation with Lookman. I am not in favour of it myself, but it is a double-edged sword, if he's a success we lose out on the player, but gain financially when he is at the end of his contract, if he's a flop we are stuffed that way too.

There again look at Lukaku he did well for us initially then thought he was more important than the Club, wanted to move on to better things, Oh and it's repeated itself again soon to moving on from Manure to Milan?

This lad should we get him may turn out to be another Lukaku, over to you Mr Brands, I trust you will do the best for us.

He must want to play for Juve, because otherwise he could just tell them he's going to leave for a very nominal fee next season, and they couldn't do very much about it.

It only comes into effect if he wants to return.

Tony Everan you make some good points there mate and I agree with all of them.
Some people believe that the player could refuse to go back to the selling club but they don't realize that the player is contractually obliged to return by the terms of the original transfer, should the original selling club activate the buyback.
When you look at the setup it's pretty much common sense that he'd have to go back.
The selling club sell the player for what is considered a lower fee than he's worth (think Deulofeu to us). The buying club are able to sign a player that they probably couldn't afford in a "normal" transfer.
The selling club do this in the knowledge that should the player set the world alight then they can get him back.
The buying club do it because they have a player they otherwise would have no chance of playing for them.
Now here's the common sense bit (incidentally backed up by lots of late night reading and research). If the player could refuse to go back then the selling club have sold him on the cheap and they could lose out big time.
The likes of Barcelona (Deulofeu and Mina) don't fuck up big time on these things and other big continental clubs have done the same.
If there was a chance the player could refuse to go back they simply wouldn't take the risk of selling him "cheap" in the first place.
The bit that some seem to be missing is that the player signs and agrees to the buyback at the time of the original transfer just as he signs and agrees to a contract on a "normal" transfer.
An example of this, if rumour is to be believed, is that Gerry very much wanted to stay with us when Barca activated the buyback clause but basically had no choice as he'd agreed to it when he signed for us. Ours was quite a shrewd one, some may say, in that Barca had to have him in the first team squad for a season when they bought him back and couldn't sell him immediately.

Not gonna bother arguing back and forth on this though. So believe what you want to believe. :-)

It only comes into effect if he wants to return.

One of the worst strikers we've had in years. He works hard (so does the cleaner) however his finishing is akin to Daniel Leon Cadamarteri (or DLC).

He struggles to score as much as Jermaine Beckford who wasn't good enough 8 years ago. Why the hype!?

We are toothless upfront and this DCL kid is part of the problem. All the gear and no idea.

Preseason usually mirrors our league campaign. Silva better wake up quick or he might be gone by Christmas.

Why would you claim to know about a deal of which you have no inside knowledge?

The player will obviously have to agree to a new contract. As if they know what they will be paying the player 2 or 3 years from now. Do you think he's going to go back on his old wages after scoring 35 goals a year for three seasons straight?

The Everton would have to accept the agreed offer. The player could absolutely refuse the transfer.

DCL isn't meant to be the starting striker but if Tosun is so abysmal as to not even make the team, then he has to play.

People going on about DCL, but he is far from our weakest link.

Woeful defensive positioning akin to the start of last season, static and predictable midfield play, and zero impact from the wings.

Silva is not developing the style of play he says he is.

I don't get your comment about DCL not meant to be a starting striker. He is an England u21 international who will turn 23 this season. So why shouldn't he be considered a starting striker?

There were several set-ups including playing a one-two and shooting past dummie defenders. Rooney and Klaassen were both much more clinical than Calvert-Lewin. That was nearly two years ago and worryingly for Dominic, his finishing is still a work in progress.

As others have stated, if we have to rely on our wingers and number ten to get the bulk of our goals we will certainly not make the top six.

Yes, it doesn't look like much has changed at this stage, and I suppose on paper it hasn't, but Silva's job is on the line and so anything less than a decent start will bode badly for him.

Three years later and after receiving a load of cash from United for him here we are a couple of weeks from kick off still scrambling around for Lukaku's replacement

The last people we should be questioning are the youngsters. The people we should be questioning are the board and management

Overall, yes we need to add Quality but also an attitude and a fighting winning mentality which means taking games seriously even if it is a 'pointless' friendly. Oh yes one more thing.. The loyal fans reaction to YNWA was something I was hoping would spur on the team a bit but they seemed oblivious to that. Just a well paid job then boys eh?

https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/what-is-a-buy-back-clause-and-how-does-it-work
Look particularly at the passage: No other club except the selling club can pay the fee agreed while negotiating and in maximum cases, the player would have to go back to the parent club when they call for him. The player does not have a say in it and is powerless.

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8cf6bfe1-8a78-4e5b-b84e-42bc012d6e3b

Think about it. If the clauses were unenforceable why would the selling club insist on one, and why would a buying club (us with regards to Kean) not want one?

By the way, we could spend more money buying him outright, then have a bigger club come along and buy him off us when he's a success. Or we could just build a good team that compels him to stay.

As in other walks of life at the moment, this isn't as simple as some people demand it to be!

£55 million Everton bid for Zaha!

I think it's an awful or for him, but he is a game changer, but not often enough for me, plus it doesn't make a lot of sense when it has been mooted several times that Arse is his desired destination, which also makes sense.

Londoner, probably supported them when growing up, still lives there etc, so it sounds like if he did come to us it would be just for the filthy lucre, do we need any more mercenaries on our wage bill?

There is FAR too much loyalty shown to bang average players at Everton and even accepting the new regime and it's a project waffle, I am not seeing hard-nosed and ruthless leadership yet!

However I differ considerably in regards how I respond to Everton results. I HATE Everton losing just as much now as I did when I stood snotty nosed in the boys pen watching the likes of Oscar Hold trip over his own feet. I still want to win friendlies and any rubbish pre season game. I still manage to exasperate my ever loving wife by my idiotic rants when Pickford drops the ball. I still phone my adult kids to tell them just what I think of anyone connected with Liverpool Red in fact I almost cut off my daughter when her husband bought a "Red " car. Yes insane but I just love being an Evertonian and I still love ranting when we lose.

However I know that there are people in the world who are far worse off than this eighty year old and I do know that football is not always that important. John You are a fantastic Evertonian who is obviously far more sane than I am. My life lights up again come August when we play Watford. If we win I will be ecstatic. If we lose I will chase the cat out of the house and blame everybody even remotely connected to Everton. And once again my wife will say, "There are far more important things than Everton." She has said that for the last fifty plus years and I still respond "Name ONE". In fact it was part of our wedding vows that she would not talk to me for three days anytime after Everton lost.

I must admit that my wife allowed me to call our two sons John Everton and Andrew Goodison. Unfortunately she would not let me call our daughter Gladwys, but that was only because I wasn't sure how to spell it. Right now I am still annoyed after losing to those two stupid teams. I should be alright by the time we beat Watford. But what if we don't ?

👏🏻

So no excuses from the management or players. If they want to make a serious stab at getting higher up the league this season, we need a strong start to get points on the board early and build confidence and momentum. Also no Europe so we have less games than the teams who finished above us.

No excuses for not signing players either. No club can get all their top targets, not even a Madrid, Barca or Juve. Every club needs a plan A, B, C, D etc to make sure they have the squad balance they want. If we're struggling to sign a decent striker, that tells me that Silva thinks DCL can do a job (I.e. presumably he doesn't think there are many available who are significantly better - something I highly doubt, but I'm not the manager.)

The signings so far have been good, not exceptional. So we'll wait to see what squad we have come the 8th August. I just hope a striker, CB and RB are added at the very least.

I'm still on the fence re Silva. Will see if there's marked improvement to come. An 8th place finish in his first season is still lower than Koemans 7th so al lot still to prove.

I just wish that same mentality existed in the ranks of the players and Management, I am a strong believer in confidence and having a winning mentality SHOULD become second nature.

I can reluctantly accept defeat, and have mentioned on T W many a time, if we have been beaten by a) a superior team on the day, b) or been the recipient of bad luck or bad refereeing, but to lose without a whimper or any visible effort is unacceptable to me.

That's a wonderful post. I may be 20 years younger than yourself, but I share every last one of your sentiments.

Your wife sounds like a magnificent woman to not only put up with your Evertonian agony but to actually allow you to name your sons as you have.

And I've no doubt that John Everton Boon and Andrew Goodison Boon have grown up to be equally magnificent, befitting their weighty monikers.

Please post more often, sir.

From one John to another, I think you know of, and have probably experienced, some of the worst things in life. The difference is that we react to Everton's wins or losses in different ways. I still feel the disappointment of defeat and the pleasure of victory, but the hurt of one and the ecstasy of the other are not as strong as they used to be.

I can appreciate how you feel, because I've been down that route. I take no pleasure out of a poor display, but I've come to the realisation that the players are not programmed, and even the best of them make mistakes, and it's the uncertainty that attracts us.

I go to the match with an open mind, because I have learned that 'anything can happen in a game of football', and to tell the truth with the expectancy lifted I find the games more enjoyable. People in the Park End, where I sit with my Grandson, sometimes give me queer looks if I praise the opposition for a good pass but, if you appreciate good football, it's an involuntary response.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is already a top player. There is some pure fucking shite on here about strikers, as if you are born with this natural ability to take chances. It is about confidence and not another fucking thing. Calvert-Lewin, when he gets a couple of goals, will be a star.

Confidence, belief, support. That is what makes a goal scorer. There have been a few, utterly cretinous, comments on here that Calvert-Lewin has a weak shot. Honest to God, how can any sane person believe that a young man can pass every demand, every stringent test that makes a footballer, with the shooting power of a small girl?

We have a star here but some believe that the ability to tap the ball into the net is some God-given 𧴜 million talent. It is about confidence. Not another thing. Calvert-Lewin has it all but that. He will get it.

Absolutely spot-on bollicking. I'm a bit younger than your good self, I've only been a regular match-going fan since the title winning season of 1969-70, a season ticket holder for most of the seasons since.

The word 'red' is not allowed in our house – only salmon pink. My daughters are not allowed boyfriends from the dark side which they have duly obliged being avid blues. After family and friends, Everton is the most important thing in my life.

Being a very long time Blue, it is extremely challenging to remain calm cool and collected. I personally prefer to go from the extremes of delight and ecstasy when we win against any team. I can then spend the rest of the day pontificating about the delights of supporting the "Blue Enigmas " that is a team that leaves its supporters totally perplexed,confused and unsure about what to expect next.

Therefore when we lose I go to the other extreme and rant and rave and predict gloom and depression for the whole of society not just for Evertonians. I feel that is my way of handling the fine art of being a " Losing Blue". I do not let my displeasure affect those around me, except for the cat. Fortunately I have Blue children and grandchildren who actually agree with everything that I suffer. It is because of me that they are also biased "Red hating " blues. We really enjoy being angry together. Fortunately my wife, their mother and grandmother, is able to remain sane. She thinks we are all daft, bonkers and just not right in the head. She is absolutely right. Fortunately I am also able to laugh at myself and this is why.

Yesterday we were able to defy all aspects of common sense by actually losing twice in the same day. In my long life of watching Everton I have NEVER known of them playing two games in one day. Why not just play once with twenty four on each side. The whole idea is absurd but when it happens only Everton could manage to lose them both. At least this gave me something to laugh about, although it probably wasn't that amusing for those poor souls who actually went to the game. Did they have to pay twice ? I am smiling even as I write this. You HAVE to have a sense of humour to be an Evertonian. The other option is insanity or perhaps I should be more rational like my fellow blue John McFarlane who is far more sensible and practical than I will ever be. Cheers to you John.

Look at what happened with Rangers players when they went bankrupt.

The RS have lost their last 3 and even Klippety said so what? As he said (and I hate to quote the prick), we'll be a different animal come the start of the season.

He makes a good point (the prick)

I must admit that I still feel anger and frustration when things don't go quite right, but the overall emotion is one of bitter disappointment. I'm sure that your wife and family love you just the way you are, I fear that you are beyond redemption, and paying for 'Anger management sessions' would be wasted money.

Stay the way the you are John, because as I stated at the beginning of this post, 'We are what we are'.

I would like to declare a truce We are obviously both true Blue Evertonians in that we are both sure that we are right about anything blue. You have matured to having a rational and sensible acceptance of where we have arrived at, while I am frustrated by the present not being like I have experienced in the past. Arguments rarely lead to sensible resolutions. I am prepared to go slightly off my rocker when we lose, while you can remain cool calm and collected. My wife actually agrees with you Would you be able to come to the divorce process ?

For clarity, I'm sure I'm not the only one wanting you to again identify "the prick" you allude to.