Gone are the days Everton would be chasing ageing players and wasting silly money on deadline day. It is good to see investment in young and exciting prospects and the club were open and honest that business would only be done in this window if it was good value for money.
But 'nil satis nisi optimum' remains the motto, and as another transfer window departs, yet again, Everton have not signed a full-back!
It seems incredulous that Nathan Patterson was linked with a late move to Genoa with options so lacking in that department, however, David Moyes seems set on rotating Jake O'Brien into the right-back position and even one of England's most exciting prospects at centre-half, Jarrad Branthwaite, over to the left.
With four centre-halves on the pitch against Brighton last week, it is surprising we did not try to recruit some more height!
At the attacking end of the pitch, however, Everton have recruited very well in Tyrique George. A low-risk signing (loan with an option), it is an advantageous deal with Chelsea given Jack Grealish’s injury and he is certainly a different profile of winger than what is currently available to the manager.
Everton can give George the minutes he craves, he can play on the wing, in attacking midfield and up front if required, and it will be an exciting link-up with his former team-mate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Indeed, it is important to have some perspective. Everton are currently in the top half of the table, with a brand-new state of the art stadium, a solid, more focused recruitment team and there is absolutely no mention of relegation whatsoever.
After the last few seasons, it is a joy to have some excitement for what the second half of the season may bring.
