I think the premis for a midfielder could have been instigated by Jimmy Macs extended injury whilst accepting that they are different kinds of player. We could be short of quality in that department if he struggles to regain fitness and we pick up another injury to say Schlupp who normally manages at least one injury per season.

To be fair, any loan player is short term gain. Whether it makes sense or not depends on the cost to added value ratio which no one would really know with DVdB until he joins a team. If he has a stormer at Everton we will regret it.

A, A, A, calm down, calm down.

Harsh words, harsh words but can't help but agree with the sentiment. Perhaps we should employ AJ and Yannick to consult on such moves? Always grateful for the wonga however.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

I think there were other factors concerning DVDB going Everton.

1. Firstly, Everton is not too far away from United so he doesn't have to temporarily move homes.

2. His partner is pregnant, so she probably doesn't want to up sticks and move to London for the next 6 months.

So when Everton expressed an interest, it probably seemed easier for them.

I'm pretty ambivalent about VdB. The upside was that it would have been, for us, what these days they call a "statement signing" and I do think it would have helped our image in terms of marketing ourselves to future targets to have done this sort of deal. But that said, I'm not entirely convinced that VdB was a player it made sense to push the boat out for. Not at all proven in the Prem and a reasonable argument can be made that he's a bit too lightweight for the league. All-in-all, I can see that keeping our powder dry until the summer was a better strategy.

I do find Everton's window an act of utter desperation. It seems the main motivation behind the signings of both VdB and Alli, each of whom cost a lot of money (whether in fees or wages) and neither of whom is anywhere near top form or at this point, a proven commodity is the usual Everton strategy of putting lipstick on a pig.

Everton has no real long-term recruitment strategy; they just chuck money at a couple of names so the fans stop moaning and go back into their box. I like Lampard but you'd think Everton had brought in Klopp the way their fans are reacting. That club is seriously delusional when it comes to understanding its own importance (or the lack thereof). In six months' time Everton'll be having the same predictable post-mortem about where it went wrong with everyone pointing fingers at everyone else. We may not be a bigger club than Everton but for damn sure we're a better run one.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

I'm sure that Andros Townsend wouldn't be happy at being called a pig

Man of the match in his first start for Everton today

...but maybe now questioning his choice?

I don't see why. He's now playing football whereas he wasn't doing so at Manure. If Everton finish low or are even relegated, so what? It's no skin off his nose.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

If you buy anyone outside the top four leagues, Premier, La Liga, Serie A or Bundesliga you are gambling

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Not at all. You've made perfectly valid points.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)