Graeme Sharp: Whoever we put out should be good enough for victory
LIKE all Evertonians I've been frustrated to some extent about the delay over new signings but you can guarantee that David Moyes has not been twiddling his thumbs this summer.
David knows his targets that's for sure. He liked the look of Andrei Arshavin last season and although his success with Russia at the European Championship finals seems to have put him out of Everton's price range, Moyes has also identified players like Portugal's Joao Moutinho.
Like all managers he has to work within a budget and if the club in possession of the player gets stubborn over the asking price then things can get long-winded and drawn out like the Gareth Barry saga across the park.
David knows that he needs some new bodies on board, especially in midfield following the departures of Lee Carsley and loan duo Thomas Gravesen and Manuel Fernandes but they've got to be of a certain calibre.
A lot of the fans are worried about there being no new signings yet and I'm the same to some extent but it's certainly not doom and gloom.
Everton recorded their highest ever points total in the Premier League last season and after finishing fifth they've got to invest in better players to break into the top four.
Bill Kenwright said something similar a few days ago and got slated but it's true.
Moyes has stressed already to the existing squad that it's no use feeling sorry for themselves, they've just got to go out on to the pitch and continue to do the business.
Whatever team Everton put out against Blackburn on Saturday should be capable of getting a result.
They're involved in European competition again and that's important for Everton.
If they continue to qualify for Europe on a regular basis then it will only increase their standing on the continent and help to attract quality players as they build their stock up.
Both the players and the fans enjoyed the games in Europe last season and will be looking for more of the same this year.
No disrespect to the teams who Everton played earlier in the competition but Fiorentina was always going to be the big game.
It was a massive challenge and despite their poor performance in the away leg, Everton still deserved to win the tie and were very unfortunate to go out on penalties.
But the experience will have whetted their appetite for more this time around and the likes of Phil Neville and Mikel Arteta will be looking to get into Europe year-in, year-out.
It will be tough as there are some big names in the UEFA Cup this year but obviously it will help Everton is some numbers can be added to the squad.
But let's just get through the first round and safely into the group stages before we look too far.
In general, progress in the cup competitions hasn't been too great in recent years but last season there was plenty of promise.
A cup win of any kind would be massive for Everton but a lot of it is down to the draw - so let's hope we get lucky.
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Sharpy, Kenwright is being slated for good reason. I personally don't buy all this, and I also don't buy Moyes saying he only wants quality and not quantity. Well how about now?
Is he really willing to risk 16 and 17 year olds in the first team squad this season? That isn't going to push them forward and its certainly not going to break the top 4.
I have been a fan for many years, but at the moment I don't care that the season is starting in 4 days time. Why? because its clear to me that the club don't seem to care either, otherwise they would have done something about it 2 months ago.
Its not acceptable, especially as they have increased the ticket prices but devalued the product on display.
sharpy i think your absolutely spot on i don't think bk should take all the blame for what's going on at our beloved blues,after all he has found the funds from somewhere the past 3 seasons for moyes to break our transfer record and we wasn't complaining then,but all of a sudden no signings and bang instant reaction lets blame bk and the board.Well i'm afraid i don't buy it this season moyes has got to take some of the blame for the lack of new faces,we have it season after season last minute deals but this season im afraid he has left it too long. We have supposedly lost 10 first team players even the big so called big 4 would struggle to cope with this so what hope do we have. I am totally against the destination kirkby project but what liverpool city council have done to us over this matter stinks,as an evertonian you get the impression that this council will bend over backwards to accommodate liverpool(sorry) but when it comes to everton they will bend over backwards to stick a spanner in the works,pathetic
I agree with you Sharpy that the team we put out on Saturday should be getting the result, and I would also rather have no new players than 4 or 5 average players - however, there is a part of me that thinks we've had 3 months to make a signing and haven't, so what's going to change in the next two and a half weeks?? Something tells me that we're not prepared to pay the money and are hoping the price will drop and I don't think it will. And I think even the most ardent Evertonian is worried that we only have 10 players available for Saturday who have started a Premier League game last season, 6 of those being defenders. Even so, in Moyes I trust, as long as he stays, I am confident of bigger and better this season
Me and the lads feel that we have been let down as devout Everton fans, so if we sign someone by midnight tonight, the four of us guys will buy a season ticket. If no signings by 12 midnight, we will be online using our season ticket money to buy a holiday to Crete. More chance of seeing a few lads score in Crete too. Please dont sign anyone, i beg of you!!
I think there was an important issue someone just brought up and thats the price of players. I think when the season ended and every premiership club rubbed their hands with glee at the record bumper payout to those clubs, they hadnt banked on player prices rising in relation to that. For example, Arshavin would have cost around 7m last year, but now worth 24m according to his club. The rest of europe arent stupid. If premier clubs have bucket loads of cash, you cant blame european teams from tripling their prised asset's prices. I think this is the real reason why moyes and kenwright havent bought anyone. In the current market its gonna cost you 8.5m for Mr avergae Marlon King for example.
Stewart lowe, enjoy your holiday. Nothing is happening, nothing will happen and even if it did its too late. PATHETIC. I wrote to the club complaining and Ian Ross sent me a curt email saying there will be signings. All i can say is we have a first choice 11 including at least 2 kids with no Prem experience!!!!! No excuse.