c1982

Maybe, maybe not. We don't fully know if Martinez has or hasn't been backed this summer. Maybe he had already identified targets but not been allowed to get them in early. Maybe he's delayed any dealings intentionally. Tactically, it's easy to point the finger at Martinez but none of us know the full story. What I will add is, Jagielka, McCarthy and Mirallas have bought into what Martinez is doing and Deulofeu and Cleverley have chosen us with other options available. I for one won't judge until the window is closed and we can see what hand we've actually got.

He's injured!

Everton 3 - 1 Watford Lukaku

Loan to buy = win win http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/07/everton-internazionale-xherdan-shaqiri

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/07/everton-internazionale-xherdan-shaqiri

We can put this to bed for a while now!

Now to concentrate on new players!!!

He wouldn't be my 1st choice but there's no doubt that he's a goal scorer. We could do with another one of them. At £15m and 12months left on his contract it's way over price but personally I don't care as long as it's not at the expense of a number 10 and centre back. You can never have too many goalscorers. At the moment we have 1 - then Kone and Naismith and I'd have Austin up front over either in a heartbeat. I actually think he and Rom could work in tandem - having a lethal striker leaves space for whoever's with them.

I share with Big Nev - legend!

Agree.

Has joined Thorniley on-loan at Stockport. http://mobile.stockportcounty.com/news/article/county-add-everton-striker-to-ranks-2598732.aspx

Agree, so we need to look elsewhere because he's not that good yet!

Good solid start from our batters. Get 300 and this test is done!

We need him tied down. Far too important to us and not many better around at what he does e.g regains and keeps possession.

Completely agree.

I don't think Lennon's one of the 3. Maybe mind games with Spurs saying he's not part of their squad but asking too much. Longer it goes and I'm talking the dying embers of the window it's who blinks 1st. He already knows what's what with Lennon so can just wait - with us playing Spurs in August they'd probably want to hold out until after that anyway. I think Lennon will sign but whether it's this window, January or even on a free next summer we'll see what suits us - I'd say we've got the power in this deal.

Could be useful if our season needs resurrecting around April then.

The thing for me is that our starting 11 is excellent - top 6. Beyond that though we are really thin. Look at Palace they have Bolasie, Zaha, Puncheon, Lee, Sako and probably more I've not thought of and in attack Wickham, Murray, Campbell and Gayle - now I'm not saying player for player that they've got more quality than us but when players get injured, which they will, teams like Palace and Southampton will be able to swap like for like while we continue to put square pegs in round holes. I think the balance of our squad is all wrong - we are really well stocked in centre mid and left back and that's it! With Deulofeu, Mirallas, Pienaar and McGeady potentially out already we have no width AGAIN! With Lukaku potentially out we have no goal scoring threat. I'm usually so so optimistic but this summer is killing any optimism I usually had. Thing is, say we go and sign Shaqiri, van Dijk and Austin, that optimism would probably come flooding back. The injuries are probably my biggest fear this summer as, as usual, the deals will get done but just late on.

Well he's not going to Schalke then... http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/596274/Newcastle-Everton-Inter-midfielder-Shaqiri-Schalke-snub

Liverpoo fan Matt Smith trying to wind Evertonians up on twitter?

You do remember Oviedo snapping his leg and having big metal pin in it don't you... restricted him from playing for a large chunk of that time.

Unsurprising... http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/23/blog/post/2547865/tim-howard-worst-of-premier-league-keepers-joe-hart-in-best

The lad who's writing these Stones' articles, Matt Law, is getting loads of stick on twitter from Evertonians. I used to go to school with him, 4yrs above me - massive Villa fan who walked into journalism through his dad who is/was a sports journo too.

I stand by I think we'll cave in at around £35m. I don't want us to but I just can't see us turning it down. I agree it's not enough but it probably will be for the people who are in a position to say yes or no. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11783906/.html