We haven't bought a quality forward since Richarlison

[Simon Buttle]

Still gutted we never went for Joao Pedro. Like for like Richy replacement who can play as an attacking winger or a lone striker. Stupid in my opinion.

He has played more as a second striker/no10 type this season.

 

[SerenityNigh]

I'd like our record signing to not be a (alleged) nonce.

the best thing that happened to Everton according to some slightly biased stats weirdos

 

[SerenityNigh]

For a ready to go one, yes - but buying and (or just) developing one is a lot cheaper and I would argue much more effective.

Ings, Giroud and the established players we did buy wouldn't or haven't had anything more than a temporary positive effect followed by a longer period of waistrelry. Lukaku, Richy and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were all bought to develop and we did that.

This is IMHO why Kean was mishandled so badly by the club - when he turned up he should have given him an extended run in the team, in his correct position, with effective support (Dominic Calvert-Lewin) and on the understanding that when CL clubs come calling he'd be allowed to go for a profit. It is also why I think Simms should start games ahead of Maupay (best of all would be them starting games together, with Maupay being replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin when fit).

Just haven't bought enough young forwards. Between Martinez and Walsh Everton bought a bunch of youth players and few of these panned out, but not sure if that counts. Overall the development has been good for young players. Almost all of the older forwards have been a total miss. Kean was a miss and so was Vlasic but you never know if young players will fit at the club, that happens, but it's worth a shot for a certain type of player. Here are forwards coming in since Moyes left, with 25/26 being the dividing line between young and old.

Martinez / Young: Lukaku (yes), Traore (loan/injured)
Koeman / Young: DCL (yes, when fit), Valencia (loan, miss), Sandro (miss just like him falling over)
Silva / Young: Richarlison (yes)
Brands & Ancelotti / Young: Kean (miss), King (loan, miss)
FSW / Young: Gray (mostly yes)
Not counting loans, this is 3-4 good from 6 good transfers.

Martinez / Old: Kone (meh), Eto'o (miss), Niasse (yikes, sweet prince)
Koeman / Old: Rooney (miss)
Allardyce / Old: Tosun (miss)
FSW / Old: Rondon (miss)
Lampard & Thelwell / Old: Maupay (miss so far)
At best this is maybe 1 decent transfer out of 7

 

[SerenityNigh]

My worry with the Dom thing is that (hate to go all orange cat here) How do we know it's not coming down from the top? We all know how much of a traditionalist Kenwright is and he likes his old teams and probably wants that "Classic number 9" up top. How do we know he is not insisting the team be built around Dom as a figurehead? At the end of the day it is him that has the final say on transfers and I wouldn't put it past him to interfere, Sullivan is known to do it at West Ham.

Transfers aren't transparent, but we know from experience and from Moshiri's admission that at least 4 people are involved in a transfer (manager, DOF, Kenwright gives board approval, Moshiri gives budget approval) so there are at least 4 points of failure in every single target. It's really a wonder that this dysfunctional crew get any transfers done at all.

 

[SerenityNigh]

On this point I wish to add that some, many, of you wanted rid of Lukaku saying things like “I’ll drive him to Old Trafford myself” and “he’s lazy” and “we’ll share the goals about”.

All I hope is that my beloved fellow decent posters of GOT recognise our biggest enemy is within and until these people are CRUSHED there can be no peace or progress.

 

[SerenityNigh]

We haven't bought a quality CB since Stones

Branthwaite shows promise as does Godfrey, although maybe not at CB, but Stones is an unfair comp