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In the final days of the transfer deadline, we were wondering whether Everton were going to get any other deals over the line, but Merlin Rohl was a name who had been supposedly in the frame over the last few windows.
It can be frustrating for a manager - especially when you're on form - when so many of his best players are away on international duty but working with a smaller group, you can have a proper, closer look at those who are still at Finch Farm.You can test them, you can drill them, and get a lot of information across more personally than with a much bigger group. The whispers I've heard is that Merlin has impressed and he's adapted really well to the sessions and is impressing with his performances in training and that's fantastic to hear he's showing so much quality already as you don't often get such glowing praise so soon.
When you're performing at those levels, the players around you need to step up to the plate. Some of the players won't be happy with the amount of game time they've had under David Moyes, but these are the times to show him that you've got the right attitude, determination and most importantly, the quality to be a part of it.
Get yourself in the manager's eyeline to show him that you're willing to fight for a place.
As well as he's done, with Idrissa Gueye about to turn 36 and set to go away to the Africa Cup of Nations - probably with Iliman Ndiaye - it was always a priority to get another central midfielder in.
Bringing someone in before the end of the summer window enables them to adapt now.I think that James Garner has been absolutely fantastic the last couple of games with his performances in midfield. He's shown hunger, the right ability and determination, playing like he wants to prove a point.The manager had been vocal all summer about his need and desire to bring large numbers of new players to the football club. That doesn't mean you should down tools and feel sorry for yourself, instead you can show why you want to be number one.James helped the team by playing at left-back for the first couple of games but then got the chance to play in his normal position against Mansfield and he continued that against Wolves where he was all over the pitch and that can't be overshadowed as I think he's been fantastic.
With Merlin now at the football club, James needs to keep those levels up and show the new signing 'you've got to be better than me.'
Vitalii Mykolenko pulled out of the Ukraine squad with injury and he's been a bit iffy fitness-wise since the Goodison Park derby last year. Because he's so important to us, he might have been thrown in a bit quicker than you'd have liked, so hopefully he can get on top of that. Adam Aznou is a young player still finding his feet and the issue we have now is we don't have an experienced alternative who can fill in at full-back on both flanks like Ashley Young.