Return of Max Walter

Post by **Soapy** » 29 Dec 2025, 13:50

Sell Agbadou next.

Post by **ShireNiner** » 29 Dec 2025, 14:29

Soapy wrote: ↑
29 Dec 2025, 13:50
Sell Agbadou next.

I wanted to after that. He literally kicked it straight to Harrison. But Agbadou is going to be a key piece to the future, he will get better.

RMJH4 · Post by **RMJH4** » 30 Dec 2025, 07:33

Oh no. A loss to Leeds at home is very poor. Bit of growing pains here with this team.

Post by **ShireNiner** » 30 Dec 2025, 15:20

RMJH4 wrote: ↑
30 Dec 2025, 07:33
Oh no. A loss to Leeds at home is very poor. Bit of growing pains here with this team.

Yea, I expected some. My lack of FIFA skills lately plus putting in an entirely new style to try make Everton attacking. Issues are arising but this season was just about getting the players right. Next year will be about results.

Post by **ShireNiner** » 30 Dec 2025, 20:49

Everton, Werner agree to free transfer at the end of season

Timo Werner is back with his third team in England (ShireNiner PS5 images)

By: Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
Transfer Talk

Liverpool, UK— Everton have pulled off a sensational coup by securing the signature of Timo Werner on a pre-contract agreement, with the German international set to join on a free transfer from RB Leipzig at the end of the 2026 season.

The move marks a significant victory for manager Max Walter, who has successfully convinced his former protégé to spearhead the "Walterball" era at Hill Dickson Stadium. Werner, 30, famously exploded onto the scene under Walter’s guidance during their shared time at Stuttgart, where the striker notched an incredible 14 goals in just 22 appearances before his career took him to the heights of Chelsea, Tottenham, and Leipzig.

Walter has wasted no time in dismantling the squad he inherited from the previous regime, prioritizing speed and technical aggression over traditional Premier League brawn. Joining Werner in the summer of '26" is Dutch defender Jerry St. Juste, who has also signed a future free deal to leave Sporting CP this summer.

With Ayden Heaven (£4.2m) and Emmanuel Agbadou (£23m) already through the doors this month, Walter has successfully rebuilt his entire defensive spine and forward line in a single window.

However, the rapid influx of "Walter-players" has reportedly left Director of Football David Moyes feeling isolated. While Moyes was brought in to provide a steady hand on the tiller, sources suggest the Scotsman is "deeply skeptical" of the Werner signing, fearing the striker's previous struggles with the physical demands of English football while in London.

"David wanted a target man, someone to bully defenders in the air," a club insider revealed. "Instead, Max has gone out and got a sprinter. It’s clear who is winning the power struggle right now, but the wage bill is skyrocketing on players who haven't kicked a ball for us yet."

For now, Walter is bringing in his players and playing his style, but fans are growing more frustrated with every week of negative results. This season, the pressure is loose, but next season, Walter will be on a short leash and will need to perform.

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Sam Wallace has recently joined ShireNiner Nation after writing for The Telegraph and being Chief Football Writer at the Daily and Sunday Telegraph since 2015. Wallace is based in Manchester, UK.

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Post by **ShireNiner** » 31 Dec 2025, 10:03

Everton, Brighton Split Points in High-Octane Stalemate at Amex Stadium

Barry was just offside for his first goal that was ruled out (ShireNiner PS5 images)

By: Callum Ridgeway, EvertonCorrespondent
January 31, 2026

Amex Stadium— In a match that served as a microcosm of the "Max Walter Experience," Everton and Brighton fought to a pulsating 2-2 draw on Saturday night. It was a result that left the Everton away fans both exhilarated by the attacking intent and terrified by the defensive vulnerability that has come to define Walter’s short tenure.

With the January transfer deadline just hours away, the shadow of David Moyes loomed large over the stadium. The Director of Football, known for his "safety-first" philosophy, was seen looking stony-faced in the director’s box as Walter’s hyper-aggressive system nearly blew the game open—and then nearly threw it away.

Everton took the lead in the 25th minute through a masterfully worked corner routine. Iliman Ndiaye delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post, where the towering Jake O'Brien rose above the Brighton defense to thunder a header past Bart Verbruggen.

However, the lead evaporated five minutes before the half. Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh—who tormented Everton's high line all night—latched onto a rebound after Jordan Pickford had made a stunning diving save. Minteh showed more hunger than the ball-watching Everton backline, poking home to level the scores.

Brighton took the lead in the 58th minute, exposing Walter's zonal marking on corners. Jan Paul van Hecke was the beneficiary, rising unchallenged to head home a Minteh delivery, leaving Walter fuming on the touchline.

The Toffees rescued a point in the 81st minute with a classic counter-attack. Vitalii Mykolenko intercepted a pass deep in his own half and released Thierno Barry with a vertical ball. The striker made no mistake, slotting a composed finish into the bottom corner to send the away fans into a frenzy.

Both sides brough on more attackers to go for the win and despite the high-attacking, thrilling finish, the result was shared two goals apiece.

Walter made two changes to his starting XI that lost to Leeds four days ago. Barry started in place of Richarlison at the top and Gueye started in a more defensive midfield for Alvaraz.

Everton:
Goals - O'Brien (25), Barry (81)
Assists - Ndiaye (25), Mykolenko (81)

Brighton:
Goals - Mintah (40), van Hecke (58)
Assists - Mintah (58)

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Callum Ridgewayis a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering Everton. He previously covered Everton for Merseyside Network. He is based in Liverpool, UK. Follow Callum on Twitter @Callumsfake

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Post by **ShireNiner** » 31 Dec 2025, 10:20

FUHRICH FLIES IN: Everton Secures £7.4m Stuttgart winger on deadline day

Fuhrich played for Walter previously at Stuttgart (ShireNiner PS5 images)

By: Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
Transfer Talk

Liverpool, UK— Everton have confirmed the signing of German international Chris Führich from VfB Stuttgart for a fee of £7.4 million, reuniting manager Max Walter with the winger who became a symbol of his tactical fluidity in the Bundesliga.

The 28-year-old has signed a three-year deal at Hill Dickerson, arriving just as the January window enters its final, frantic hours. Führich, who was a cornerstone of Walter’s attacking setup at Stuttgart, arrives with a reputation for elite 1-v-1 dribbling and a "tactical brain" that understands the manager’s complex rotational demands.

Führich’s arrival is not just another signing; it is a declaration of intent. While Tyrique George has impressed since he arrived from Chelsea, the addition of Führich provides Walter with an experienced attacker to help take the pressure off George to produce right away. The position of left mid was previously held by Jack Grealish, who is on loan from Man City, but Walter sees Grealish as more of an attacking midfield option instead of a winger.

"Chris is a player who sees the game three moves ahead," Max Walter told club media. "He knows the rhythm of my football. In this league, you need players who can think while they sprint. He is the perfect mentor for Tyrique and a nightmare for Premier League full-backs."

With Timo Werner already secured for the summer and Führich and Richarlison arriving now, the attacking formation for the new Everton is starting to take shape.

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Sam Wallace has recently joined ShireNiner Nation after writing for The Telegraph and being Chief Football Writer at the Daily and Sunday Telegraph since 2015. Wallace is based in Manchester, UK.

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Post by **ShireNiner** » 31 Dec 2025, 11:56

League table as of Feb 1, 2026

Post by **ShireNiner** » 31 Dec 2025, 22:49

A Window of Necessity: When the Big Six Found Their Breaking Point

Chelsea captain made the move North for a fresh start with the Magpies (ShireNiner PS5 images)

By: Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
Transfer Deadline Day

England— The January transfer window has always been the month for the desperate, but as the clock struck eleven last night, it felt as though the Premier League had finally decided to drop the mask. The 2026 January window broke the Premier League record for month spent with €861 million, breaking the 2023 record of €815 million.

From the Etihad to St James' Park, the deals done in the final hours of 2026 suggest a league that is shifting power in real-time. This was the winter where the big clubs did not just loan salary deals or the relegated sides try off-loading wages. This was a window that could shape the way the season ends and plenty of impactful moves already making next season interesting.

The departure of Josko Gvardiol to Real Madrid for €102.1 million is the kind of deal that would have been unthinkable for Manchester City three seasons ago. Under Pep Guardiola, City have spent a decade becoming the club that buys the world’s best, not the one that sells them.

Yet, as the Croatian defender headed for the Bernabéu, he was joined by Newcastle’s prodigy Lewis Miley (€11.3m). It serves as a stark reminder that while the Premier League has the television revenue, the historic prestige of Madrid remains a pull that even the English champions cannot escape. City’s pivot to Feyenoord’s Leo Sauer (€11.3m) is classic City—searching for the next solution before the old one has even cleared out his locker—but the loss of Gvardiol in the heat of a title race feels like a gamble that could define their season.

If City looked like a club in transition, Newcastle United looked like a club ready to make a jump. The capture of Reece James from Chelsea for €40.4 million is the window's most significant domestic statement. Not only do the Magpies bring in a top player with plenty of experience, they take the captain away from a Champions League rival in the middle of the season.

James represents exactly what Eddie Howe’s project has lacked: elite, winning experience at the very highest level of the English game. By adding Dwight McNeil late in the day, Newcastle have armed themselves with two of the best cross-deliverers in the country. It is a calculated bet that technical quality, rather than just sheer energy, will be what carries them into the Champions League places.

At Villa Park, the mood is more complex. Unai Emery has performed miracles, but the cost of success is the predatory gaze of the European giants. Losing Morgan Rogers to Bayern Munich for €72.4 million is a phenomenal piece of business for the balance sheet, but a bruising blow for the pitch.

Rogers has been the spark in Villa’s attack, and while the arrival of the teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi (€21.5m) from Lille points to a bright future, the immediate exit of John McGinn to Frankfurt (€25.2m) feels like a loss of identity. Villa have traded their heartbeat for a healthier bank account. In a season where they sit 3rd, it is a high-stakes trade-off that will test Emery’s tactical ingenuity to its limit. It is not all doom and gloom for Villa, reports of multiple free contracts being agreed upon have been swirling, talks of the Rogers sale was to make room in the wages for big names Emery is working on recruiting.

And then there is Chelsea. A club that seems to view the transfer market not as a necessity, but as a hobby. Bringing in Patrik Schick (€71.1m) and Daniel Muñoz (€36.8m) while shipping out Malo Gusto (€33.2m) and James suggests a hierarchy that is perpetually dissatisfied with its own reflection. Schick is a world-class finisher, but one wonders how many more "missing pieces" the Chelsea puzzle can accommodate before the whole picture becomes unrecognizable.

Arsenal, the league leaders, were forced into selling young star Myles Lewis-Skelly (€36.4m) to Liverpool after the young talent forced a move due to lack of playing time. For the rest of the window, the Gunners stayed quiet, showing that Mikel Arteta is happy with his side and ready to finish the job this season and finally claim a title over Pep and Liverpool.

For the rest of the league, it was business as usual. Small moves that will move the balance on the books but not the balance in the table. Jarrod Bowen from West Ham went to Atletico for €46.4m, Chris Wood left Nottingham Forest for the challenge in France with Lille, and Man United brought in a highly rated player in Maher Carrizo from Velez Sarsfield for €14.3m.

The window is closed. The teams are set and the table is forming. Get ready for the last, chaotic months of the 2026 Premier League season.

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Sam Wallace has recently joined ShireNiner Nation after writing for The Telegraph and being Chief Football Writer at the Daily and Sunday Telegraph since 2015. Wallace is based in Manchester, UK.

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Post by **ShireNiner** » 31 Dec 2025, 23:15

Everton's Window: Help now and Planning for the Future

Everton looked toward the future during Walter's first window (ShireNiner PS5 images)

By: Callum Ridgeway, EvertonCorrespondent
February 1, 2026

Merseryside— On 31 March 2017, Liverpool City Council voted in favor of creating a Special Purpose Vehicle company. The company was tasked with securing the funds for the new stadium. In July 2019, it was reported that the club had options to fund the development from both the private and public sectors, which could include selling naming rights to a sponsor. All the steps completed, the ground along the waterfront selected, and in 2023, the construction was finally underway. Years of planning, discussions, agreements, and design changes. In the end, Everton had the future planned out and the pieces in motion.

Planning on the pitch is no different. Everton acted quickly during their first season in the new stadium. The board realized a new stadium would not be enough to make fans happy; they had to improve on the pitch. Not only in results but in style. The first move was the biggest one, moving legendary manager David Moyes to the front office and bringing in Max Walter with his high-tempo, high-risk philosophy.

With a new manager comes a new style. With a new style comes new players. The Toffees did not shy away, working immediately in the first available window to not only bring in new pieces this season, but also to sign future pieces to contracts already.

In previous seasons, Everton reacted to the market, went into seasons with thin squads, and rarely had the depth to compete on multiple fronts. The board is determined to change that.

Starting with the signings that arrived this window. Richarlison from Spurs, Ayden Heaven from Manchester United, Emmanuel Agbadou from Wolves, Tyrique George from Chelsea, and Chris Führich from Stuttgart. In one window, Everton has changed the center of the defense and the entire left side of the attack.

Everton did not stop there. Agreeing to terms with Timo Werner and Jeremiah St. Juste on future contracts to arrive in 2026. Add to that, extending the contract of defensive midfielder James Garner and now in talks with Charly Alcaraz on a contract extension, and Merlin Rohl on making his loan permanent. Everton is already in the middle of reshaping the entire lineup to start the 2026 season.

"The management knows to fill the stadium and make a profit back, on the pitch, we have to compete." A club insider told ShireNiner Network, "There will be signings in the summer; they are not done yet. This is just the beginning of a new Everton on and off the pitch. It is up to Max Walter to put it all together and make it happen."

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Callum Ridgewayis a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering Everton. He previously covered Everton for Merseyside Network. He is based in Liverpool, UK. Follow Callum on Twitter @Callumsfake

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