Thiago

Digne joined Everton in the first place - his decision making is not the best.

Time for a thread for Digne?

Again, that's fine, I don't need players to believe they're going to be there when we lift the first trophy (fingers crossed) but especially now I don't want anyone that will see the first sign of struggle as time to down tools and wait out the season.

Be still my throbbing heart.

I'm not ignorant to our current plight, but I also would only want people that come here willingly. I'm not bothered if it's the cash that convinces them, but I'd need them to buy into the belief we're going for the top.

There's going to be a lot of deals for us to do in the next 2-3 years that benefit both us and the selling club looking to get rid of players. The bar for improvement at this club is so low.

During Ashley's 14 years we signed one new player during the first week of January.

I think Solano might have given someone at the club a nod and Ashley has spied a chance for a profit. I mean that as no disrespect to the young man, but when he arrived he was already in his 20s, with no recognition for Peru at youth level, trying to play at the highest standard in a demanding role. Perhaps there is quality to extract, but it'll be closer to home that he spends his career.

I just think they've been here less than six months. Think about what they've changed already, all while the club desperately tries to avoid relegation. You're selling new hires on two very different possibilities. I think after 14 years of stasis and neglect I'm happy to wait until the summer for these early building blocks to be put down.

What's your definition of long?

I've only listened to the first half, but it is quite telling to hear him admit publicly that Bruce was obsessed with stopping the opposition over troubling them with what we could do. I do think he likes being here, but I also think he knows that the levels of ambition speculated means he's not long for the club either. Mind you, if I was working a job and people we're talking up my replacement so publicly and like I didn't matter I'd be miffed so I get his push back on that.

There's talk he wants to set up a Red Bull type system with Southampton as the focal point.

Only been there since 2019. Kind of hope we can sway him with the talk of a huge long term project.

I'll never forget the derby against Danny Rose. Convinced that was the beginning of the end for him. Pains me to say it but Rose had him on toast from the first whistle until the last.

I took some joy in the fact Milan want him as they've become very data savvy of late.

Wonder how you say 'booting balls into the trees and kicking over training cones' in Dutch.

You know what, I don't disagree with you, but I'm also very conscious of us maybe signing one CB at most, in which case I want the best possible outcome rather than just trying to jump the low bar the current crop set. We're looking for a bit of a Van Dijk type improvement in terms of a very good individual defender that can unite the rest.

Every Ajax fan/person I know is not too cut up about losing him either. He's clearly done well for Lille, but I reckon we could be sold a kipper quite easily.

Lad can do one decent Stevie G impression and the rest are fucking awful.

Not a huge fan personally. Limited in all the wrong areas.

Patrick Roberts, who was a fun prospect at Fulham. Poor lad has been made of glass since sadly.

It was 99% done and then all they hear is....

Essentially a lot of the boxes you'd ascribe to a promising modern defender. He's aggressive without the ball but not reckless. He can pass out into midfield and doesn't shit the bed when he's pressured. He's left-footed so Howe will love him, and if Lille are determined to get £60m I'd be happy to take this lad instead. I'd say Botman is a more imposing character but I have concerns about his recovery speed and the odd bout of clumsiness when engaging.

Schlotterbeck.

Yes yes yes. Do that deal.