2014 Summer Transfer Window Thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Brighton are gonna sign Chris O'Grady to replace Ulloa

Oh the lolz

[JDizzle]

That's a lot of CBs, but I'd the question the quality of the cover.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

The first three of Jags, Distin and Stones are pretty damn good

[MIG]

I still think Jags and Distin are a very good partnership.  Stones is looking really good especially at his age.  Alcaraz brings some experience in the back up then you have Duffy who looked potentially good at one point but hasn't pushed on and Besic who I can't comment a huge amount on.  For me the CB's are ok for this season.  Full backs are fine with Coleman with Stones and Hibbert as cover.  Baines with Oviedo and Garbutt as cover.
Besic, Gibson, Barry and McCarthy CM.
Its attacking mids and forwards that look a bit light but Lukaku and Henen will start to fill that gap.
That would make - Mirallas, Barkley, Osman, Pienaar, McGeady, Naismith, Lukaku, Henen, Kone

[GSC]

There are few times in the PL with a trio as good as that. City's 2nd best CB is Demichilis. United have Evans at a push.

[JDizzle]

Stones is still very inexperienced and Distin is 36 now. Jags is a good PL centre half. One of my best mates is an Everton fan, so maybe I'm just being influenced by his pessimism and cynicism!

[MIG]

Stones is inexperienced but looked great being thrown in to the deep end last season and will have gained a fair bit of experience from it.

Distin may be 36 but he is a machine. His strength and speed never seems to go. Hopefully this won't be the season it does start to go, I guess it has to at some point. He is prone to the odd mistake but what CBs aren't?

Jags is solid in the Prem he may not be world class but he puts a real shift in and is our version of John Terry imo.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Press conference at Goodison is set for 7 this evening. See some people on Twitter are pointing out the irony that Lukaku was signed to replace Drogba, and is now effectively being replaced by the Ivorian.

[Fernando]

Everton have completed Lukaku's signing with paperwork to be finalized.

[Ent]

Fair play to Everton, good ambition being shown.

Battle for top four will be entriguing next year.

[Hammersmith harrier]

They have definitely overcome the potential issues that could have arisen because of their loan deals, securing both Barry and Lukaku will be huge for them but for the life of me I cannot understand what Chelsea are playing at.

[Ent]

Financing their other moves if guess.

[Guest]

You think Jose has something up his sleeve? Not sure. He has three strikers, his defence is pretty rock solid, I could only imagine him bringing in a holding midfielder, say Khedira, at the fee that they've received from Lukaku. Wouldn't surprise me.

[Fernando]

I think Chelsea only bring a player in if Torres/Ramires or Cech leaves.

Torres being pimped about for 14m apparently.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Think you're right Nando. Chelsea will definitely have to sell unless they bring in an under 21 player to their squad. By my reckoning, they've got 19 overseas players who could be included in their Premier League squad;

Cech, Courtois, Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Felipe Luis, Mikel, Matic, Torres, Drogba, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Romeu, Van Ginkel, Saleh, Diego Costa, Marin, Schurrle

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Lolz at Chelsea selling Lukaku. Just lolz

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Think you're right Nando. Chelsea will definitely have to sell unless they bring in an under 21 player to their squad. By my reckoning, they've got 19 overseas players who could be included in their Premier League squad;

Cech, Courtois, Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Felipe Luis, Mikel, Matic, Torres, Drogba, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Romeu, Van Ginkel, Saleh, Diego Costa, Marin, Schurrle

Actually only 18, as Van Ginkel will count as an under 21.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

£28m is a fair whack, both for Chelsea to receive for a player Mourinho clearly doesnt want (does well at that) and for Everton to pay out. No more "we're just paupers" from Everton

[GSC]

Not a bad fee for Chelsea, assume large sell on clause.

[Crimey]

Yeah think that deal is good for both parties, not sure Lukaku is a top European striker so can't see him succeeding at Chelsea, certainly not playing every week, which he wouldn't now Costa is there. He'll be good for Everton though and they've made a statement by spending a large amount on a player they want.

£28 million for a player who has never really shown anything at Chelsea is fantastic for Chelsea, it basically pays off the Costa deal.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

£28m is a fair whack, both for Chelsea to receive for a player Mourinho clearly doesnt want (does well at that) and for Everton to pay out. No more "we're just paupers" from Everton

Think this is a one off for Everton. They were massively in profit from last year's transfers due to selling Fellani, and this has probably given them the finances for this deal.

[Guest]

Have Everton actually made a step forward this summer? To me, the answer is no. All they've done is make loans permanent, yet that side wasn't good enough last year for top 4 & was seven points off, why would it be good enough this year? £30m+ is a lot of money to spend on Lukaku, Besic & offering the ageing Barry his wage. I only see another failed top 4 attempt.

[westisbest]

Fair play to Everton. Always liked them.

I sometimes wonder where we would be had Martinez taken over.

[Holymiky]

Have Everton actually made a step forward this summer? To me, the answer is no. All they've done is make loans permanent, yet that side wasn't good enough last year for top 4 & was seven points off, why would it be good enough this year? £30m+ is a lot of money to spend on Lukaku, Besic & offering the ageing Barry his wage. I only see another failed top 4 attempt.

I understand what you are saying but there is still time.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Chelsea exodus continues, Bertrand goes to Southampton on loan for the year.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Good good, another potential Olsson destination out of the picture

[westisbest]

We could/should have kept Bertrand, in stead of Richardson.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Have Everton actually made a step forward this summer? To me, the answer is no. All they've done is make loans permanent, yet that side wasn't good enough last year for top 4 & was seven points off, why would it be good enough this year? £30m+ is a lot of money to spend on Lukaku, Besic & offering the ageing Barry his wage. I only see another failed top 4 attempt.

You've failed to take into account the improvement the likes of Barkley and Stones are likely to make with a full season of Premier League experience under their belt. Also they usually sell a key member of their squad, as the likes of Fellani, Arteta, Rodwell and Lescott have left in previous close season. It's not going to happen this season, which will be a bonus.

Whilst I don't think Everton will make the top 4, I don't think that should be seen as a failure. The top 6 can pay considerably more in wages, and their budget's probably on a par with the likes of Newcastle.

[Hammersmith harrier]

The improvements that those players make will be countered by the added age of Barry and Distin, Everton have very much stood still but more importantly haven't gone backwards.

[Crimey]

Chelsea exodus continues, Bertrand goes to Southampton on loan for the year.

Yes!

Liverpool avoid signing him.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Good good, another potential Olsson destination out of the picture

If they would kindly sign a winger so they can bugger off of Redmond that'd be handy too. The only team I fear could make an offer that's too good to turn down for him

[Ent]

Huge amount of money and they've probably over paid - but who else could they have spent the money on.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

At the end of the day Everton are getting a guy who's scoring 15 goals a year at least atm and has the potential to score 25-30 goals a year. 

I love it, its bold, and I think it'll be the best business they've done since Cahill

[Guest]

Anyone see the Celtic score tonight? Expect the exodus to happen now because of financially missing out. Expect Forster to Southampton to come.

[CFCNick]

They have definitely overcome the potential issues that could have arisen because of their loan deals, securing both Barry and Lukaku will be huge for them but for the life of me I cannot understand what Chelsea are playing at.

Lolz at Chelsea selling Lukaku. Just lolz

Lukaku wanted out last year because he felt he couldn't beat out Eto'o. He's a major bottler and a cry baby. He wants to be the man but doesn't want to beat out the competition.

Thanks for the memories Romelu, you tart.

Spoiler:

[Ent]

Classy.

[Lowlandbrit]

Chelsea exodus continues, Bertrand goes to Southampton on loan for the year.

Yes!

Liverpool avoid signing him.

Where have you been for the last month that you think him going to play for Southampton means he won't end up at Liverpool?

[Fernando]

Odds that he joins Liverpool next summer for 20m+ 2/1

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Yeah, Chelsea did really well not having a go with him last year...

Wonder whether Everton had a look at Bony before this move?

[CFCNick]

Yeah, Chelsea did really well not having a go with him last year...

Wonder whether Everton had a look at Bony before this move?

He played for Chelsea worse than be did at the World Cup.

[Mat]

Alternatively, maybe he got a bit annoyed that despite scoring 32 Premier League goals in the last 2 seasons, Mourinho has still felt the need to not only spend big on a striker(fair enough) but also bring back Drogba and also keep Torres. Not really a great show of trust.

[CFCNick]

He can't do it for a big team. He suits 5th place challengers but can't step up.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Not really seen Chelsea give him a chance in the past two years though. Yet Ba, Eto'o and Torres were better options? Not so sure.

[CFCNick]

Hey, if that's in Lukaku's mind then he won't perform. He's never shown any fight to win the top job. And yes those players are a better option if the alternative is a player with an inferiority complex and at the same time wants to be the big man without putting in the effort.

He always looked like he had weights tied to his ankles in a Chelsea kit.

[MIG]

Yeah clearly he's not good enough for Chelsea....you realise he's still only 21 right?
15 goals a season as a 19/20 year old....potential...

God I sound like Truss....

[CFCNick]

I don't care if he's only 21. He doesn't have the mindset to be able to develop and perform well at a top club. He's better suited to Everton where him and the club can both attempt to rise together.

It's always been in his mind that he can't play well so it will never work out at Chelsea. Whether it's the price tag, expectations, "replacing Drogba", or beating Eto'o for a starting role, he can't put himself in the right mind to succeed here. So he's better off leaving and we get £28m towards FFP.

[GSC]

Surely this falls under doctor-patient confidentiality agreement Nick.

[GSC]

Ravel Morrison charged with assualting 2 women.

RIP his career

[CFCNick]

How many 2nd chances has this guy had? Ridiculous waste of talent and oxygen.

[GSC]

He really is a mucking foron

[GSC]

Benzema signs a new deal at Madrid apparently. Probably kills off the Falcao rumours.

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