During Everton's first game after the transfer window had closed, the 2-2 draw with Manchester United, the camera panned to a rather downbeat Angus Kinnear.

Once of Leeds, he's now the CEO of the Toffees. Sadly, supporters do not think he's doing a great job.

That's hardly a surprise. While Everton have a swanky new stadium and only just missed out on European football last season, that didn't seem to help in the transfer market.

They were indecisive, sold too many players and then failed to adequately replace them. It was the definition of messy.

Where Angus Kinnear went wrong this summer

Speaking just days after the conclusion of the summer market, David Moyes expressed concern about how the window had played out behind the scenes.

"I know the numbers you need," the Scot began. "I’ve been around long enough to know that, but some things went against us and some things could have gone better. Ultimately, we didn’t want to lose a lot of the players, but for different reasons, that had to happen."

To suggest some things went against Everton is an understatement. The way in which the final hours of the window played out was nothing other than a disaster.

They sold Beto and as a result, looked set to sign a replacement. Folarin Balogun was the name, but after issues were flagged during his medical, the Merseysiders pulled the plug on the move.

Well, so we initially thought. In the chaos of deadline day, they relaunched their bid to sign the American and it looked to be a done deal until the striker performed a U-turn, rejecting Everton's advances. He was understandably tired at how negotiations had played out.

A late attempt was also made for Joshua Zirkzee, who, despite his lack of form at Man United, would have been better than nothing.

Alas, Everton will have to play out the first half of the season with just one out-and-out centre-forward in the squad: Thierno Barry. If that wasn't bad enough for Kinnear, they also sold Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City without signing a replacement.

Jack Grealish was already on the way before that move was agreed, while Brennan Johnson was the Dwight McNeil replacement. That hasn't gone down well with fans either.

Remarkably, there could be even more punishment on the way for supporters.

Kinnear heading for another big-money mistake at Everton

There was just one form of consolation for Kinnear over the summer. The CEO helped bring in around £92m in player sales with McNeil, Ndiaye and Beto leaving the football club.

That, however, will be no form of consolation for the supporters and indeed Moyes. While the Everton matchday squad has hardly been filled with academy players, it's alarming just how slim the side is now.

They had to field two goalkeepers on the bench against Tottenham Hotspur in their last Premier League game and if injuries were to strike, the fear is that Moyes' men could find themselves towards the bottom end of the table.

Well, come January, their task may not get any easier. That's because another key man, Jarrad Branthwaite, could leave Everton behind.

TEAMtalk report this week that a number of clubs are interested in signing the centre-back in the New Year. Kinnear and Co have slapped an £80m asking price on the defender's shoulders but that is unlikely to be prohibitive for a strong list of suitors that includes both Manchester clubs and Real Madrid.

Considering the Englishman cost them just £1m back in 2020 from Carlisle United, that would be extraordinarily good business.

Yet, there are two simple things here: Everton cannot afford to sell Branthwaite; it would leave the squad even smaller. Secondly, if Kinnear were to cash in on another star player after Ndiaye, it would surely leave his job in an untenable position.

Supporters are already on his back and this would leave yet another sour taste in their mouths.

Branthwaite has long been seen as a player who could fetch a pretty penny if he were ever made available, but given the state of the current squad, they cannot allow that to happen.

The squad size is not the only reason. So far this term, the 24-year-old has been one of their standout players. In that game against Michael Carrick's team, he was simply outstanding, making 11 defensive contributions.

There was one moment where he made a last-ditch tackle to prevent a goalscoring opportunity and in the same phase of play, got back up to block the follow-up shot with his face. It was Branthwaite to a T; this is a defender who is always ready to put their body on the line.

Against Tottenham, the centre-back was just as impressive, recording 11 defensive contributions. At 6 foot 5, he is a man mountain at the back, but he's certainly no slouch.

When they faced Spurs last Saturday evening, Branthwaite was recorded as the fourth-quickest player on the whole pitch. He was even ahead of renowned speedster Micky van de Ven.

While his future is clearly at a higher level than Everton, cashing in on him in January would be the worst possible timing. This is a future Toffees captain in waiting. He is too important to let go and if Kinnear does sanction a winter exit, it should be seen as a sackable offence.