Dusic

Hard to rate until you have seen the new signings play but on paper it looks good and certainly we have a squad capable of automatic promotion. In particular I like the way this window has obviously been planned, we havent actually been linked strongly with that many players, seem to have done a lot of it quietly and every signing has a pretty clear purpose and fit to the team. We have been crying out for genuine change and we have that now - an opportunity for new key players to emerge and a nice mix of tried and tested and players that seem to be on the up. Also far less reliance on loans which is good and leaves PL loan spots free for Jan if needed.

Guess thet rate Sesay otherwise agree, don't see what we gain by loaning someone like Smallbone who got 7 league goals from midfield last time! Matsuki seems more suited to an advanced role but is also another option and perhaps more willing to have fewer minutes.

I think these options existed for Edozie about 3 weeks ago but not now, both those have strengthened in that area. If we need to use the likes of Edozie or Aribo in our squad this season its hardly a disaster, probably the best quality 'deadwood' of any Championship squad! Same applies to Smallbone who got 7 goals from midfield last time, not sure I would be in a hurry to loan that out to a potential promotion challenger.

I'm not overly bothered by Smallbone as its an area of the pitch we dont have huge depth in, but Bree and Taylor would be high on my list now we have Jelert. But yes, substantial change in most areas as was needed.

We have facilitated a huge amount of much needed change in the squad - it doesnt matter at which stage of the window. We all asked for a proper shake up and IMO we have done it. Unprecedented amount of departures with probably a couple more tomorrow and a good volume of players in - some considered amongst the best in their position from the Championship and some promising additions from outside. Really don't think we could have done much more.

Archer especially will score regularly with the right players around him IMO. He needs a run in the team. Ikone, who we have been linked with (probably pre Fellows) is joining Paris FC.

Reading between the lines of Still's comments post match, if we can shift Edozie and BBD we will bring in another wide left player. I guess if either stays we will use them as a decent option (Edozie) or squad filler (BBD). Aribo obviously hasnt gone anywhere and if he doesnt Im not too fussed tbh. Good at this level and certainly would have been a handy sub today.

Would be a shame to lose THB at this late stage. He has been promoted twice in a row and very good at this level. Pretty sure we would want well in excess of £25m which would surely put off any buyers unless they are totally desperate (that will be West Ham then...)

Some of the takes on the Spors thread looks spectacularly bad now. As ever, 90% of transfer business is done in the last 10 days of August but its looks like we have been laying the groundwork of this for a long time and just waiting for the pieces to fall into place. Sign Scienza and don't lose anyone else and it looks pretty decent and certainly one of the top two squads on paper. Over to Will Still and the players then...

Sounds like Fellows isnt sure about leaving/doesn't really want to leave but they want the cash. Not much Saints can do if that is the case but wait for him to decide and then get someone else if he says no (Kone, Guilavogui etc). Scienza plays on the other side so not really a factor.

Did anyone really expect Fernandes to stay? He will be offered a huge wage increase, chance to play PL football, chance of a World Cup place etc - its a credit to him that he has played for us this season, most players in the same position would have downed tools. At over £40m its a good fee, can cover the relegation shortfall and allow some additions to help us be overall stronger for a promotion push. Quite simply, if you want to keep players like Fernandes (and Dibling) then don't ger relegated - once we did exits were inevitable.

Pointless IMO. Aribo is a good player at this level, pretty versatile and capable of scoring. The reason to let him go is because he has a year left so if we get £5m or so for him then fair enough but loaning him only to have to replace him would be stupid. We might as well keep him as he would be useful.

Would have preferred Spertsyan but was never going to happen so this seems a good deal. Hopefully can ads a couple of wide players now and then no excuses really. When all fit its surely 3 from 4 of Downes, Charles, Fernandes and Azaz although wouldnt suprise me if he played up front on occassion!

If Fernandes does stay (I am still sceptical), how would you fit Charles, Downes, Fernandes and a new #10 into the lineup? Would seem to be very difficult and all those players would see themselves as starters and rightly so. As an aside, intetesting that that there were zero questions post match from either the Echo or Solent about incomings. Pretty bizarre for midweek in final week of the window. Imagine some kind of agreement not to ask.

Azaz seems likely for the #10 role as Boro seemingly not that fussed to keep him if they get £12m or so. Championship proven as many value.

I don't care who the #3 keeper is because they are just a training aid and will never play. The most reckless thixng Spors could be doing is blowing cash on a 3rd choice keeper, it would be entirely pointless. A cheap loan makes sense, spend the cash where it is needed.

Pointless getting worked up about a 3rd choice GK. Was always going to be a Joe Lumley type who will never really play.

Sure others will de-cry but IMO £35m + £5m add ons for our best academy prospect in a generation is a terrible fee. Pretty much any PL English player with potential starts with a 3 these days and Dibling is a huge talent who will not be worth less in 10 years. As soon as he signs his Everton contract his value will probably double. Difficult situation for the club due to relegation and contract status but anyone who knows can see the ability he has and showed in ludicrous circulstances last season. That is why we are currently unserious and miles behind where we were 10 years or so ago.

Looks where that shot hits the net. Its right in the side netting just next to the post. Excellent finish and to stop that would be a worldie save. More of an issue is how easy it was for a GK to throw the ball and create a 1vs1 situation that lead to the shot. So far this season Bazunu has played well, but understand that because he was unconvincing last time any goal he lets in will be viewed with scepticism. Overall there is a lot of hyperbole right now about SR, Spors etc but the time to judge is next Tuesday once we know what has happened. Still has consistently outlined what he wants and Spors has happily said in public that he is accountable for all football decisions so it will be very clear who to blame if this window does end badly and that clarity of accountability is a good thing that has been lacking here for a while.

The main open links that seem potentially plausible then are: Scienza - right footed creative player mostly from left. V good chance creation and dribbling stats from Bundesliga Azaz - no10. Known quantity for Boro but obviously not one of our primary targets for this position Guilavogui - right sided forward. Powerful and direct if not the most refined. Known to Still but not the most instantly appealing. Spertsyan - clearly the no1 target for no10 but now seems unlikley which is a shame as looks a cracking player I reckon we will end up with two of these four plus a loan that hasn't yet been mentioned.

Still very clear post game that he wants a #10 and a few wingers who can score. One week to get them... Anyone who want a £15m no9 is going to be disappointed and I agree that creativity and overall threat is more of an issue. Still has openly said we are only playing this system because we don't have those players so when we do then its up to him to pick the best forward(s) we have to play with them.

Agree - the Spertsyan situation is fruatrating because he obviously wants to join and Still clearly wants him as top target having also been in for him at Lens. Seems (and always has) highly unlikely, but he does look like someone who would be a gamechanger in our team.

Looks a good fee on paper but in reality he won't be worth less again until he is in his mid 30s and most of the cash will just go on bridging the gap in TV revenue. Hugely talented player - in a year that could look like a great deal for Everton. From our side we had no choice because we got relegated and need to raise cash to plug 100m shortfall which is why Fernandes will also go once offers are upped.

The guy on twitter who @ArmenieFootball gets some of his info from is @gotna. He said yesterday that he and some other journalists should be speaking to Spertsyan today so there might be something later. If he is contuining his lines of speaking to the president, still happy at Krasnodar etc then its obviously done. Feels lile he would need to make it publically very clewr he wants to go for there even to be a chance. Interesting that Still had a chance yesterday to say directly that it wasn't happening and he didn't, so they must feel there is some chance perhaps?

Must be incredibly frustrsting for Spors to get the point of persuading Spertsyan and his agent, checking the financial realities of sending cash to Russia etc and then to seemingly just be fobbed off by Krasnodar despite making good offers. Would think its not entirely unexpected (and is there perogative) but also imagine a huge amount of hours invested...a sign of why he is still there! Guessing unless it gets unlocked somehow by end of the week or very early next we will just go for Azaz because that #10 position is too crucial to risk ending up with nobody.