WE ARE BACK!!! And we are just a few days away from the first match of the season, at home against Watford. After a difficult last season, it’s good to see Everton have a fresh start with a new campaign ahead. It’s time to look at all the movements from this summer, Everton’s strengths and weaknesses and have a half-decent prediction, which would turn out completely wrong when we look back at this in May.
Source: evertonfc.com
Pre-Season: How did we do?
Comparing this pre-season to last, we done fairly well. Roberto Martinez was much more organized with his squad, rather than facing Tranmere Rovers at their ground and having more games there than at Goodison. We also managed to win games, beating Swindon Town, Hearts and Dundee. We also managed to get to the final of the Barclays Asia Cup. In this pre-season we have also seen some youngsters who could push for a first-team spot in the future. Conor McAleny was very impressive, scoring against Dundee and Swindon and also picked up 3 assists against The Robins. Tyias Browning and Brendan Galloway both had good pre-season’s is well, both performing consistently. Browning also scored in Big Dunc’s testimonial last Sunday.
Despite the positives, as always negatives appeared. Getting a 3-1 pasting by Arsenal showed the lack of depth we have in the side. We conceded a number of corner goals, still no improvement in the defence what so ever. Everton have once again been plagued with injuries in pre-season. Muhamed Besic, Gerard Deulofeu, Romelu Lukaku, Steven Pienaar, Tony Hibbert, Kevin Mirallas and John Stones have all been hit with injury problems this pre-season. Overall we didn’t do to badly, and it was a good ‘warm-up’ to the new season ahead.
Transfers: Ins and Outs
Bringing back Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona on a permanent deal was one of the successes of the transfer window. The Spaniard brings pace, skill, creativity and can also cross a ball so just what we need. Doesn’t matter who buys who for the rest of the transfer window, bringing back Gerry for £4.2m was the best deal this summer. We also signed Tom Cleverley for a free so we don’t really need to moan about that deal. He had a good pre-season is well so I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts in the defensive midfield role on Saturday. Despite the signings, Everton have spent the lowest amount of money in the Premier League this summer, but we are a ‘31st of August club’, many players have came in on the final day including Romelu Lukaku (on loan), Marouane Fellaini, James McCarthy etc. so don’t rule Everton out.
As always, there are a lot of rubbish transfer rumours circling through the media, mostly provoked by the Daily Mail or the Mirror. I am surprised that we haven’t got John Stones back on a loan deal from Chelsea, as the Daily Mail have basically tried to sell him to Chelsea. Also rubbish rumours from the Mirror as always, Mirallas, Stones, McCarthy, the usual gibberish. We haven’t sold anyone in the first-team, but selling Chris Long is a little frustrating considering the potential he has. Losing Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz is 100% no concern for Everton and loaning out Luke Garbutt would be great for him, but otherwise I cannot see any major deal happening.
Key Questions
1. Do we need to add to the squad?
Yes, but football is a business, not a sport. Obviously you see on twitter almost everyday “WHERE’S THE TV MONEY BILL?” Well I think it is quite obvious that we are not going to spend £70m+ just on players. Chances are we have used the money to pay of our debts, which in my opinion is a wise choice. Look at Arsenal, they didn’t spend much money on players – until they signed Mesut Ozil. Pay the debts now rather than leave them for a future problem. There probably is money in the bank though, just not enough to build a dream squad.
2. Can we rely on John Stones and Phil Jagielka?
No, we need depth. John Stones was without doubt our best defender last season. The time Stones was injured was arguably the most depressing for Everton supporters. Phil Jagielka had a woeful start to the season but later on found his form and done well. Although Jags and Stones are great defenders, we have no replacements for them. Tyias Browning is young and in my opinion needs more time to develop. It’s a crucial position to cover.
3. Do we have enough cover?
No, there are positions we need to fill. We have to useless goalkeepers, nobody is covering for Seamus Coleman, Jags and Stones need cover and we still haven’t got a creative midfielder. Also, why is Arouna Kone still here? He has scored one goal in two seasons and he is Romelu Lukaku’s replacement? We need to add to the squad.
Why Everton will do well
There is no pressure coming in from the Europa League, which means players can be much fitter rather than suffer from the demanding Thursday-Sunday schedule. The season could also see fresh youngsters coming through. Tyias Browning has been excellent in pre-season, whilst Brendan Galloway played the last two Premier League games. Conor McAleny also looks a hot prospect. Others such as Kieran Dowell, Ryan Ledson and Antonee Robinson need time to develop but they all have futures at Goodison Park.
We have also managed to keep hold of John Stones and Romelu Lukaku, two crucial players going into this campaign. Everton’s squad is flourishing with young players, Gerard Deulofeu, Ross Barkley, Muhamed Besic, even James McCarthy who is 24. If they are all fit enough, they could be crucial for the Toffees this campaign.
Why Everton will do bad
We have so many injury problems. We picked up 3 hamstring injuries in pre-season alone, Gerard Deulofeu, Muhamed Besic and Romelu Lukaku. The lack of cover doesn’t help. With Hibbert doing his ligament, nobody will be covering Seamus Coleman’s place. Romelu Lukaku has had the same hamstring problem previously and will probably do it again in the future, Arouna Kone is useless and Steven Naismith and Kevin Mirallas aren’t strikers who can play by themselves upfront.
Everton still haven’t got a creative midfielder, since Mikel Arteta left we have relied on our full-backs to be the creative source in the team. We cannot rely on defenders to do attacking jobs all the time. We need to bring somebody in as soon as possible.
Key Players
Leighton Baines
Key Stat: The left-back created 70 chances for Everton, nobody created more at the club
Leighton is one of the best creative players in the Premier League, consistently booming down the left side of the pitch and providing Romelu Lukaku. If Roberto Martinez doesn’t bring a player creative enough soon, it looks like Everton will be trusting the 30-year-old again.
Phil Jagielka
Key stat: Nobody made more clearance per game for Everton than the captain (10)
Phil may have had a poor start to the 2014/15 campaign, but as time went on he improved and was a key defender in the Everton squad. His partnership alongside John Stones will be important once again if Everton are to have a good season.
Ross Barkley
Key stat: Ross made 1.1 key passes per game last season, only Leighton Baines (2.3) made more
He may have had a poor season last year, but Ross Barkley looks fresh and ready to fill the number 10 role again. No, he isn’t the most creative of players but will be important if Everton supporters back him up and not boo at him after every shot.
Predicted finish: 7th
Lets be honest, signing just two players will never get us from 11th place to a Champions League spot. I want this season to be a season were we aren’t just looking towards a 6th or 5th place finish, I want Everton to be aiming for a trophy and we should go all out for the League Cup and the FA Cup. We’ve been through enough pain over the last 20 years, it’s about time Everton won something.
Here is too a new season, lets not end bottom half.
Up the toffees.
Joel Parker
Latest posts by Joel Parker (see all)
- Match Analysis and Review: Sunderland 0-3 Everton - September 15, 2016
- Analysing Everton’s Summer Transfer Window - September 5, 2016
- A Koeman Philosophy (Part Two): Predicting an Everton side under Ronald Koeman - August 14, 2016
Banging article mate, agree with 99% of it! Proof read your articles though, brilliant content, dire for grammar and spelling! Keep writing, and about the blues, because you’re obviously passionate and no your shit!