Star signing Thierno Barry joins the squad at Finch Farm

Moyes talked about wanting new signings before the trip to USA. That’s looking increasingly unlikely.

Although still only pre-season games, and in many ways a marketing exercise, these are the games where tactics and partnerships should start to be developed in readiness for the new season.

“Star signing”? A bit premature methinks.

Only time will tell but let’s cross our fingers and hope to see the net bulge.

Star signing? The only signing more like.

I hope he likes relegation battles.

A bit early to suggest this guy is a star signing. Fingers crossed it works out though.

Basically he is our only signing so far. So much for let’s way until July! That’s when we will get our business done.

I am still waiting!

Mike Allison,

Nothing changes. In his prior stint, every May we’d hear “We want to get in five or six early.” Then it would be “We need four new signings before we go on tour.”

Then crickets until 12 hours before deadline day ends: “We hope to bring in maybe one or two on loan.”

I’m not sure it’s right to lay all this on Moyes this time round. Circumstances have left him being the focus of our transfer business, and I believe his intentions are all good.

Numerous posters have identified the challenges in this window, so it’s fair to assume Moyes is as frustrated as anyone, and we just don’t know the extent of his efforts to date.

I moan as much as the next guy, but I’m still hoping for a few good signings that make a difference, and fully anticipate some less glamorous signings to fill the ranks.

Moyes is experienced enough to know the ropes.

The delay (to the extent there even is one) is nothing to do with him and all down to market forces and money.

Andrew,

My intention wasn’t to blame Moyes — more to illustrate the continuing saga he finds himself presented with when it comes to transfers, money, and Everton.

As I understand it, one of the big problems Moyes had with West Ham was his insistence on having the final say on all incoming transfers.

So to suggest Moyes has no input on our transfer dealings is wishful thinking at best. He will be involved in every step, save for the amount he can spend.

This delay in signings was inevitable when you think we’ve got a whole new recruitment department.

It’s one of the reasons I would have kept Thelwell, at least for this year, with the big turnaround in numbers in the squad.

Joe and Annika, let’s not forget our new goalie, Mark Travers, so two signings and, if you count the permanence of Charly Alcaraz, technically that’s three.

I am sure more will follow and even if they don’t, I feel sure we’ll have enough for the season with some enthusiastic but inexperienced youngsters.

Although I expected one or two more siginings by now, I’ll hold off and reserve judgement prior to Leeds away on 18 August.

Lots can still happen, plenty of motions still in progress on deals, varying dependencies, so lots can and will change.

We’ll know and learn a lot more about TFG by the time the window closes. The next 6 weeks will be interesting either way.

Do think we will only get the best of the rest. Teams in Europe will get first pick.

Players say they want to play in Europe. Then we will see what’s left.

Any under-21s are on holiday. We have emptied out, so it’s about sliding them in. Only my view.

I agree, Thelwell should have been kept for a handover whilst others are not yet in the door or up to speed.

I’m 99% convinced we will be scrambling on transfer deadline day.

Barry is not a ‘star player’ until he proves himself over several seasons. Until then, I will continue to wish, dream and hope a couple more players in can transform us into a very good team.

I don’t see much improvement so far in this window compared to others.

Okay, we got Barry for £27½M but a couple of windows ago we got Beto for £25M.

There is a pattern where players do not want to come here. They leave it late to see if others come in but also to get better personal terms from a desperate Everton as the clock ticks towards closure.

As much of a greedy sod our beloved Bill was, he was a salesman to the point where he got maximum return – but the club didn’t.

As we don’t look like we could turnover Bury currently; he’d have to be really shit not to improve us.

There was a joke there in case anyone missed it.

Relegation battles? He and we haven’t kicked a ball in anger yet.

I don’t think it’s a case of Moyes not having input into transfers, I just don’t think he will have overall control that he previously liked.

At the moment, it feels like not all of the pieces of the jigsaw are in place, so it’s down to Kinnear and Moyes.

Those who know Moyes, which most of us do, know that he has a cautious and considered approach… often leaving it late. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few late arrivals, even on deadline day.

Maybe it’s not all in his control. It could be players holding out for something else, the club not sanctioning a transfer, so I won’t put it all down to him, but we are familiar with how he operates.

Having 9 Premier League teams in Europe is definitely not helping our cause.

Seems to me, we may be haggling far too hard and allowing other teams to gazump us, when we finally agree on a price. Time to get real and get on with it.

I think that we have to be real regarding transfers.

We are not at the moment a club that players would see as a place to come to. We have spent the last few years fighting relegation and we are trying to attract players who could play in the Europa League, so trying to get better players in is difficult given our past history.

Having said all of that, Moyes will have wanted a couple more additions prior to playing in the tournament in The States, so will be more frustrated that this hasn’t happened.

But we need quality and not just extra bodies, and I am sure Moyes and his team are working tirelessly to add some quality before the season starts.

Brian #22, spot on, and the fact that we are apparently targeting real quality means that we’re competing for players who have multiple suitors, some of whom can offer bigger money and more Euro opportunities than we can.

These players have no reason to rush into a decision just so our fans can sleep better.

David #12, and the new recruiting team is not yet all aboard. Two of the five-man team named to identify and negotiate with potential signings are still contractually obligated to their current Manchester clubs — one at United, one at City — until late summer.

Ah, good stumper, Grant.

We’ve got Eccles Cakes and Bakewell Tarts, which describe some of our lot to a tee…

So I reckon it’s Ma Beaton’s Famous Bury Turnover! LMAO!