One version of the future...

Sam Hoare 17/05/2016 45comments  |  Jump to last
Okay, so if you're adverse to those highly speculative, theoretical (read: Championship Manager) type pieces, then look away now. Having given myself half-an-hour's procrastination time before I do some less important work, I thought I would lay out my vision of an Everton team to fill up the trophy cabinet over the next decade.

So, first of all, the manager: I've decided to keep this article within some relatively realistic parameters and for that reason I'm going for Frank de Boer as I think Mourinho is nailed on for Man Utd and Koeman will stick at Southampton for next season before aiming at the top clubs. So Frank 'The Farmer' it is... bringing his backroom staff of Staam and Bergkamp along with his youth-orientated policy to create a young, vibrant team similar to what we have seen from Spurs this season. But better.

We are opting for a 4-3-3 but all these players are highly adaptable and Frank's work ethic means that they are fit and smart enough to fall back into a 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1 if needed.

Goalkeeper – Joel Robles hasn't done enough. He's still No 2. In comes a strong, new No 1. Many potential candidates out there... maybe Butland could be tempted, Karius, Perrin, Sirigu, Horn etc. All look handy but I'm opting for Bernd Leno. – German efficiency and solidity between the pegs.

Left Back – Can Leighton Baines get back to the good old days? I hope so for one more season at least. Reinvigorated by the end of his nemesis, 'Brown Shoes', and well rested after no England work needed. Otherwise, Brendan Galloway steps up a level and Luke Garbutt has something to prove after his failed loan at Fulham.

Left Centre-Back – I like Ramiro Funes Mori but I don't trust him. He has a hint of the Yobo about him and a rash decision or lapse waiting to happen. Perhaps he will step up but I'm not totally sure. So I'm going for the beast from Napoli, Koulibaly – fast, strong and at 6ft-5in not easily beaten for soft set-piece goals. A snip at £20M+.

Right Centre-Back – I still have faith in John Stones who decides to stay when he sees what's happening at the club that put him in the spotlight. This is the season he really comes of age after a strong showing in the Euros. Phil Jagielka is still around and dependable on when called, as are the likes of Matthew Pennington, Tyias Browning and Martin Holgate.

Right Back – Tough one this but I'm giving it to Jonjoe Kenny. Only seen a glimpse of him but he put in more good defensive work on Sunday than I've seen from Seamus Coleman in a long time. Perhaps it may depend on what is needed on the day but for back line solidity I'm giving young Jonjoe the nod.

Left Central Midfield – De Boer and his team work hard on young Ross Barkley and get him fit as a fiddle and able to play the box-to-box role that he performed so well as kid for the Euro-winning England team. He can use his size and speed to dominate and break forward as part of a energetic midfield trio.

Central Midfield – Gareth Barry has been great this season and still helps out from time to time but De Boer brings in one his proteges the highly rated Ricky Bazoer for £20M. The lad has been compared to Rijkard and Viera, I've no idea if he's any good but the press seem to think so. Plenty of other dominant, energetic options out there or perhaps Muhamed Besic or James McCarthy might impress the Dutchman but I'm going for the glittering young Dutch star.

Right Central Midfield – Tom Davies. It felt like a new hero could have been unearthed on Sunday and let's hope it turns out to be the case. Inevitably it will be a learning process but the young star seems to have it all. Touch, intelligence, confidence and most importantly a serious desire to win. Get him in the team.

Right Wing – De Boer opts to bring in another gem from Ajax with Arkadius Milik who turns down Liverpool to join his former mentor. He's quick, strong, smart and has a rocket of a left foot to use to great effect when cutting in. Other options of course in Kevin Mirallas and the young Gerard Deulofeu who hopefully comes back to the fore and adds a little more consistency and work rate to his undoubted talent.

Striker – The big man, Romelu Lukaku stays, knuckles down, gets super fit with the rest of the team, and continues to knock them in for fun before becoming the most sought after young striker in the world. Or else he goes and we bring in one of Lacazette, Batshuayi, Embolo etc.

Left Wing – Kieran Dowell gets the chance to take his sparkling Under-21 form into the first team and after a Summer in the gym has a bit more strength to go with his undoubted artistry. Lukaku feeds off the the line of superb, curled left-wing crosses coming in and Kieran scores a few crackers himself. Other options could be Mirallas or dare I say the real Oumar Niasse – desperate to atone for his poor start to life at Everton. Or perhaps the much vaunted Yarmolenko finally makes the move... Why not?

So here's my starting team for the 2016-17 season:

Leno;
Kenny, Stones, Koulibaliy, Baines;
Davies, Bazoer, Barkley;
Millik, Lukaku, Dowell;

Subs: Robles, Jagielka, Coleman, McCarthy, Besic, Deulofeu, Niasse.

Leno (£12M), Koulibaly (£20M), Bazoer (£20M), and Milik (£13M) means £60M spent which seems a drop in the ocean for the new king of the roost, Farhad – who is spending more money developing the new stadium in the Princes Dock which will soon be undoubtedly the premium stadium in Liverpool if not the North of England.

It takes time for De Boer's young crop to gel and find their feet but they sneak 4th in their first season along with the League Cup before going on to win the Premier League the season after as Klopp's Liverpool implode to an unexpected relegation after a derby drubbing on the last day of the season sends them down on goal difference... (I may have left those realistic parameters at this point!)

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Reader Comments (45)

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Bob Cumiskey
1 Posted 17/05/2016 at 14:26:39
Sam, I wish Lukaku was knocking them in for fun!!
No goals in 9 games, with lots of good opportunities missed!!
I think Coleman and McCarthy will be great as well next season and hopefully injury free.
I have spoken to a lot of EFC fans lately who have suggested that McCarthy is sold. I don't agree as I believe he may flourish under some new direction from a proven manager given the opportunity.
Oscar Huglin
2 Posted 17/05/2016 at 14:26:59
Love it. Especially the last paragraph!
Steavey Buckley
3 Posted 17/05/2016 at 14:42:05
Any playing system that has one player by themselves is bound to fail (even if there are 2 together) such as 4-2-1-1-2, when that one person loses the ball, that allows the opposition to counter attack straight away. The best attacking, defensive and offensive system is 4-3-3. That means there is more support up front and in midfield, especially, when the ball is lost. But it may involve sacraficing the 2 full backs into a more defensive role, to give more cover to prevent counter attacks, instead of them pushing further up front on the wings.
Joe Duffin
4 Posted 17/05/2016 at 14:56:35
I know this was a hypothetical piece but what a load of nonsense.

First off- Coleman has been a revelation over previous seasons and I just think this season, he and a number of others have underperformed - but Kenny would be a good back.

Lukaku is away, his body language and everything with exception of an outright Bye Bye, he is gone.

Dowell has been good for U-21, but he was OK against a very poor Norwich side. Davies played well and might justify a place, but again based on 1 game against a really poor team.

I think Deulofeu will be one to go, he really is only at Everton because of Martinez and would expect him to leave for the same reasons.

Just a final comment - If we sell Lukaku for £50m would you not rather and invest in our future and put the money towards a new stadium that a fickle new player who may leave in a few seasons?

Alex Doyle
5 Posted 17/05/2016 at 15:09:25
Loving the Football Manager style optimism. Highly unusual on these forums. And if it doesn't work, just reload and go again!
David Chait
7 Posted 17/05/2016 at 15:54:39
Very much on the same theme from only couple days back, think we will get a lot of them.. the more the merrier I say:
http://ToffeeWeb.com/season/15-16/comment/fan/32635.html

Wow a whole clear out of our DFM's... Apart from Besic I'm aligned.

Damian Wilde
8 Posted 17/05/2016 at 16:04:33
Why is it some articles are just not there, literally?
Andy Mack
9 Posted 17/05/2016 at 16:10:41
Koulibaly, yes please. We definitely need someone like that at the back, I'd have Mr. Elbows, Fellaini back as well. Make us far less of a soft touch, suddenly, some height at both ends of the pitch.
Jay Harris
10 Posted 17/05/2016 at 16:57:52
I agree with Joe Duffin.

What was your view when you woke up from this dream Sam.

We cannot get carried away with the kids after 1 game against a poor and deflated Norwich side.

They show promise but as we found with Ross and John Stones the Prem is a huge step up on a regular basis.

I pefer the way Moyes managed Coleman and Baines into the first team to both become exceptional full backs.

Peter Gorman
11 Posted 17/05/2016 at 17:27:39
Dowell is not a left winger - he will probably develop into the 'number 10' Martinez thought Barkley should be.

On Barkley - yes, this kid needs a major rebuild. I recall some anecdote or other about him as a young teenager running from his house to every training session. He should be fit as a butcher's dog but he has bulked up like a body-builder with a big Kardashian arse. Against Norwich his neck practically rolled down over his collar - as so many have said, he needs to lose some weight.

Once he does trim down, I'd love to see him as the box-to-box midfielder he should be, carrying the ball forward with aplomb, rather than the peripheral figure he became under the Marinez system.

As for James McCarthy - he was unrecognisable on Sunday, full of energy and drive going forward. That is the player he needs to be, not restricted to ball-winning.

Joe Duffin - on Del boy; not sure he is so tied to Martinez anymore, he struggled to feature with his main man in charge. If he gets fitter and avoids whatever it is giving players hamstring injuries, he should know he has a future at the club.

Brian Williams
12 Posted 17/05/2016 at 18:28:20
For Lukaku read Michy Batshuayi I'd get himj in as a replacement. Hopefully get £45-50m for Lukaku and offer £30m-35m for Batshuayi. Simples.
Sam Hoare
13 Posted 17/05/2016 at 19:02:12
Joe and Jay, of course the odds are heavily stacked against Davies and Dowell both becoming first team regulars but they brought something much needed on Sunday and Lord knows we have dropped points to teams as poor as Norwich this year. They have also starred all year for the U21 team so how about we give them the benefit of the doubt in hypothetical world!

It's just a bit of fun, think calling it nonsense is a bit 'bah, humbug' but each to his or her own.

Nick Entwistle
14 Posted 17/05/2016 at 19:16:39
I'll just shoe-horn some anti-Martinez stuff in... the point was made on Talk Sport that a £50m bid from Chelsea was turned down for Stones, but can't get in the side for a ready developed £10m defender in Mori.

Martinez, the antithesis of Mr Moyes - he destroys defenders.

Whoever comes in I hope can still get enough out of the flanks to be the best in the Prem. I don't think Baines' days as a rampaging full back, or Coleman for that matter is over. And we have the wide men to help.

And forgetting Stones for one minute, Del Boy has been criminally held back.

Martin Mason
15 Posted 17/05/2016 at 19:28:42
Peter@11

As I said Saturday I saw a lot of the Martin Peters style in Dowell on Sunday, the ultimate no 10 ghosting in to score and set up goals as he did.

These lads have to be kept in the team and Besic and Funes Mori possibly need to be sold, they aren't good enough for the club now. they are championship level for me. We have to follow our motto now and look only for the quality that will improve us not squad players that will keep us in the Premiership. That was important but it isn't now if we genuinely have finance to invest

Tony Woods
16 Posted 17/05/2016 at 19:48:50
I don't think there is any point in speculating on the playing staff for next season. For me the interesting feature is just how much Farhad Moshiri is already pulling the strings and beginning to drive change. How much pressure did he put on others to get rid of Martinez ? Then Liverpool council made the announcement the Walton Hall Park plan was dead in the water but this was quickly followed by a promise of 'somewhere ' within three years. ( ok so we have had promises before) The Guardian back in February said ' high on Moshiri's agenda is a resolution to Everton's stadium saga'

In the same article Moshiri is quoted as referring to Everton as one of Europe's leading football clubs. As a successful billionaire businessman I don't think he will covet our club as being his own but he will bring in change throughout. He is a shrewd businessman who may want to create a more corporate and demanding environment and will want people around him who understand what he is all about.

The world of football has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. We find ourselves in a corporate world both within the Premier League and UEFA and if we want to survive we have to compete.
Given Moshiri sees Everton as one of Europe's leading clubs hopefully he will change the culture and how we are perceived by others - often ignored by the BBC and passive support from much of the press including the Echo. We are viewed and portrayed as that 'nice' club a 'small' club often punching above its weight and all too often bullied out of games.

Above all with the power and influence , not to mention money we can rid ourselves of the culture of mediocrity. In my opinion Moshiri is not here to make a quick buck nor is he here to simply throw his money around. He wants success and will make demands in his attempt to get it. If he is able to generate the prospect of change then we will start to attract new players. Hopefully with his experience we will succeed.
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind but I am positive and excited about the next 5 years

James Flynn
17 Posted 17/05/2016 at 22:35:08
Fun read, Sam. A lot to do the next window, no doubt.

But in the clearing out, Besic needs to be sold over here to MLS. That's his level.

A wasted signing.

Gareth Stephens
18 Posted 17/05/2016 at 22:37:04
Hopefully, Lukaku won't stay. He just doesn't have the work ethic that I expect of someone privileged.

Must have some medical condition which causes excessive sweating when he does sod all. He's proved several times that when he's up for it, he really is unplayable and is too strong and powerful for defences. The problem is... he's rarely up for it. He's got the worst first touch that I've ever seen.

Says he wants to play in the Champions League – how would he feel about joining Leicester City? No, I didn't think he'd be too interested.

I'd really love to see Barkley stay. Needs to learn a how to graft a lot more though, and tackle, and head, and stop those pointless one two nothing passes and just turn with the ball and rip the arse out of midfields like we all know he can. Another one who's unplayable when he's driving forwards.

Not fussed if Stones goes. Over-playing aside, his anticipation of play is one of his main weaknesses and doesn't seem to be improving.

George Cumiskey
19 Posted 17/05/2016 at 23:01:33
On Sky News today, Steve Round saying he would like to come back to Everton with Moyes...

WTF!?!?! Is something going on behind the scenes? It can't be happening... for god's sake, Nooooooooo!!!!

Mike Gaynes
20 Posted 17/05/2016 at 23:13:04
I would make two points. First, the adherence to the dreamlike idea that Barkley will ever be a consistent box-to-box midfielder at the top level is a joke. The lad has bags of offensive talent and zero strategic vision of the field, and neither slimming him down nor teaching him to get back on defense won't fix the vision problem. He could do a job at #10 as a kid because he could dominate physically. He cannot run a team as a #10 on this level. He never will. Ever. He belongs up front as second striker.

And second, the line that "Del Boy has been criminally held back" is a flight into idiocy. Del Boy has been held back by Del Boy. He lost his position to Lennon, fair and square, because top quality opponents adjust to a one-trick pony, and his beat-the-defender-and-feed-Lu routine became so totally predictable that the defense was literally sitting there waiting for him. Hope the new manager will help him add a few new dimensions to his game.

Peter Lee
21 Posted 18/05/2016 at 00:28:55
Sorry, but Stones and Barkley as keystones for the future doing anything else but supply the cash when we sell them doesn't work for me. Neither one has the instincts and qualities needed to do the jobs you suggest they can in the Premier League.

It could be that both suffered from team orders/structure. Long, get-rid balls, work at Leicester but wouldn't here because of the way the team is set up. Maybe that's why Stones doesn't play them.

Barkley's occupation of space on the left, ten yards in front of the area when we are without the ball, seemingly waiting for us to win the ball back and play it to him means we have played with ten men most of the season. If his instinct is to do something different then I agree that he can be an asset; lay off the weights, lose some body mass, and get yourself booked for strong tackles on the half-way line.

Paul Kelly
22 Posted 18/05/2016 at 02:39:08
Put a smile on my face that one Sam, gives you a glimmer of hope of what could be, hypothetical or not.

As for writing players off, wouldn't be quick to pull the trigger on anyone's Everton career, let's see how they pan under a different manager, I believe coco would f##k up Barcelona given enough time.

Ernie Baywood
23 Posted 18/05/2016 at 03:12:25
The best future I can think of is we get an inspirational winner as manager soon and he somehow convinces the youngsters to stay.

We sign a new left winger in the Pienaar mould.

We get Ross, Del, and Kev fulfilling their potential providing a steady stream of goals plus assists for Rom. Dowell starts getting some time to continue his development.

An all round centre mid with some leadership qualities comes in alongside a released and rejuvenated McCarthy who reclaims the Kante phrase about covering every bit of land on earth. Davies gets regular game time to keep him developing.

A new keeper makes it a two way fight in goal with the experienced back 4 ahead of them.

That's not that far fetched. And it's closer to the Moyes/Martinez crossover period which looked to have so much potential. It's really up to our ownership whether they are prepared to hold onto our assets.

Ernie Baywood
24 Posted 18/05/2016 at 03:17:11
Mike Gaynes, Del Boy was undone by a lack of fitness. He was electric in the first half of the season and leading the assist charts. He frustrated at times but that's the lot of a player who is there to create chances. Did defenders get used to him? It certainly didn't assist like that to me - defenders were terrified of him.

Unfortunately he couldn't last more than 50 minutes.

Possibly his fault but it seemed a common theme didn't it?

David Barks
25 Posted 18/05/2016 at 03:37:14
Ernie,

That's all well and good if you ignore the fact that the champions of England would play Okazaki for around 60 minutes and sub him out every match. As opposed to Del who was suddenly removed completely from the team, much like Mirallas. Funny how the same used to be said about Mirallas yet he lasted 90 minutes at the weekend, got a goal, and was threatening throughout the match.

Mike Gaynes
26 Posted 18/05/2016 at 04:45:06
Ernie, no question fitness was one of the many reasons Del lost his starting job to Lennon... who in addition to being tireless was also tougher, safer with the ball, capable of getting into the box for goals, and MASSIVELY superior defensively.

Those once-terrified defenders stopped being afraid of him when scouting revealed his one move, the stepover cut to the right and cross, could be shut down by overplaying him to the right and boxing him in. I watched him turn the ball over three, four, five times in a row trying to dribble through defenders who were simply waiting for him to present them with the ball... knowing that he'd never fight to get it back. Lennon, by contrast, varied his attacks and never gave up on a play.

I guess it comes down to whether you blame Martinez for the kid's poor fitness. On a side where guys like Macca, Lennon and especially Grandpa Barry could last forever, I'd say it's the player's responsibility. But either way, Del will never be a regular starter on this team until he develops a fully professional game.

Ernie Baywood
27 Posted 18/05/2016 at 06:10:04
I watched him turn the ball over like that too Mike, but eventually he got through. He'll learn to add some balance to his decision making but the amount of goals he created was impressive wasn't it? Again, do we want possession or goals? In the first half of the season our best performances came when we had less of the ball - yet this site went up the wall every time we sat back. I still remember the criticism of our start against Spurs and the praise heaped on our second half performance. We were winning in the first half and conceded during our "better spell"!

David, I agree we should have used him more appropriately. At the start of the season people on here were adamant Roberto was a lunatic for subbing him off and I was saying that he should be used for a half but you don't get any more - you either accept it or send him off to fitness training. Not too sure you can compare his workrate to Okazaki, mind, but I take the point you're making.

Ernie Baywood
28 Posted 18/05/2016 at 06:10:09
I watched him turn the ball over like that too Mike, but eventually he got through. He'll learn to add some balance to his decision making but the amount of goals he created was impressive wasn't it? Again, do we want possession or goals? In the first half of the season our best performances came when we had less of the ball - yet this site went up the wall every time we sat back. I still remember the criticism of our start against Spurs and the praise heaped on our second half performance. We were winning in the first half and conceded during our "better spell"!

David, I agree we should have used him more appropriately. At the start of the season people on here were adamant Roberto was a lunatic for subbing him off and I was saying that he should be used for a half but you don't get any more - you either accept it or send him off to fitness training. Not too sure you can compare his workrate to Okazaki, mind, but I take the point you're making.

Ernie Baywood
29 Posted 18/05/2016 at 06:10:41
I watched him turn the ball over like that too Mike, but eventually he got through. He'll learn to add some balance to his decision making but the amount of goals he created was impressive wasn't it? Again, do we want possession or goals? In the first half of the season our best performances came when we had less of the ball - yet this site went up the wall every time we sat back. I still remember the criticism of our start against Spurs and the praise heaped on our second half performance. We were winning in the first half and conceded during our "better spell"!

David, I agree we should have used him more appropriately. At the start of the season people on here were adamant Roberto was a lunatic for subbing him off and I was saying that he should be used for a half but you don't get any more - you either accept it or send him off to fitness training. Not too sure you can compare his workrate to Okazaki, mind, but I take the point you're making.

Brian Porter
30 Posted 18/05/2016 at 06:53:41
Martin Mason #15, Funes Mori is only Championship standard? Try telling that to the manager and coaches of the Argentine national team. The guy has turned in some great performances for them, particularly against Chile. Like many of our current squad he has had a torrid time trying to play the Martinez way but we will probably see more of the real deal from him under a new manager who knows how to coach defenders, (like the Argentinian coaches). I would never accuse Argentina of being a championship level international team, so don't single one player out for our poor defending. We were crap before he arrived and he also adds a goal threat that none of our other defenders offers.
David Donnellan
31 Posted 18/05/2016 at 06:57:43
Nothing wrong with speculating your Everton team for the future, it keeps you hopeful & optimistic. I did enjoy reading your post.

However I don't get championing players you have never seen play just because the press seem to rate them & over players that you have seen play. I mean we nearly signed Leroy Fer a few seasons back, who I had never seen play but seemed to be highly rated. We never signed him & he has gone on to play for some English sides & to me has just looked an average Joe whenever I have watched him.

I suppose youtube is good for getting an idea of someone's ability, but saying that Niasse looked a world beater on the clips I watched on youtube, very different to what we have seen so far.

John Crawley
32 Posted 18/05/2016 at 08:39:48
David 31, you must have been watching YouTube in HD.
Nigel Gregson
33 Posted 18/05/2016 at 08:53:23
another version sees us lose lukaku and stone and using using the proceeds in buying flops all across europe just like aston villa did. Wealthy owner sacks a manager every other year and the rebuilding continues relentlessly. New managers too scared to try out kids because Goodison is now not known for being patient with kids making mistakes. Youngsters are sidelined or loaned in favour of quick wins with European pros which leads to finishes such as 6th, 12th, 9th, 15th etc. A general malaise sets in, with stability, progress, philosophy ushered to days of past. Everton is no longer an attractive destination for young talent, as a the manager seen to be nurturing youngsters (Martinez) was sacked with such ruthlessness. There is no vision, just staying up and top 10 finishes are seen to be good enough.
David Donnellan
34 Posted 18/05/2016 at 12:04:49
John #32, haha, yeh, I must've been.
World beater is a slight exaggeration I admit, but he certainly looked a lot better on the youtube clips I saw than the player we have all witnessed so far in a blue shirt.
Steve Ferns
35 Posted 18/05/2016 at 12:29:46
I hate all this simple arithmetic of you sell Lukaku for £45m and then spend £30m on Joe Bloggs and then the other £15m on a second player.

When will you guys learn how transfers really work. We sell Lukaku for £45m, and we have to pay him a loyalty fee, probably around £5m (you only waive this if he requests a transfer). We then have to pay an agency fee for negotiations (which is basically extortion). So we're down to around £35m already. Then we have to pay various other costs, such as legal fees. Which means we'd be lucky to pocket £30m.

Then on the purchase, we have to pay multiple agency fees, as there is a queue of agents looking to extort us for their "part" in getting the player to sign. Contrary to popular opinion we don't have the cash just sat in our bank account, so we have to pay a bank for arranging the finance. The player then will want some kind of signing on fee, relocation fee, translator fees, major legal fees for the various and extensive contracts. And a variety of other fees that are beyond our compression. All of which means a £30m transfer can cost as much as £45m particularly when you take into account the interest we have to repay on the finance from the bank.

So please, please, please stop with your simple arithmetic thinking that 2+2=4. Like it or not, but football operates in the 21st century.

Richard Lyons
36 Posted 18/05/2016 at 13:32:25
It's not Martin, but Mason Holgate, which I think sounds a bit like a website for adulterers, or a dodgy Panama based slush fund...

I love your optimism, and wish I could share in it fully. I think it all hinges on your first point: the choice of manager.

Paul Thompson
37 Posted 18/05/2016 at 15:44:31
A fun piece Sam, but a little too dependent on De Boer as a manager. We need to think about two players for each position and let them compete in training, pre-season and early games. So, for example, Coleman and Kenny as the two RBs. But I do agree with the thrust of some of your judgments. We need better players than Robles, Besic, and McCarthy. I still think there is room for Barry for one more season, especially one of disruption and transition. Del and Funes Mori I'd like to see under a different, better manager. Like most others, I do expect Lukaku and Stones to go. Pennington can be the shadow the latter, but thee's no-one quite ready to step up from the U21s as a striker (I suspect that Brewster or the Swiss lad are the nearest).
Eric Myles
38 Posted 18/05/2016 at 16:06:04
Steve #35, and you forgot the sell on fees to the previous club
Milo Gould
39 Posted 18/05/2016 at 17:04:29
De Boer is a Martinez clone, we could be relegated if he comes.

He has said that it is more important to score more goals than the opposition and he believes in playing the ball out of defence like Martinez. Roberto could probably win the dutch league with Ajax.

James Stewart
40 Posted 18/05/2016 at 17:41:14
Stopped reading after Kenny over Coleman, based on less than a full game against a relegated side. Too much Football Manager logic.
Denis Richardson
41 Posted 18/05/2016 at 18:25:23
Fun stuff Sam and certainly food for thought. Personally I don't care if Lukaku and Stones both go. I know Lukaku scored goals and everyone seems to rave about Stones' potential but for me the former does not have the right attitude and the latter is not the sort of defender we need, nevermind the transfer request everyone seems to have forgotten.

Don't expect either to be here next year and personally I don't mind. We need a complete overhaul with top priority given to a classy GK, a no nonsense CB and a midfield general, as well as a proper captain (could be the new midfielder).

Paul Ferry
42 Posted 18/05/2016 at 19:30:33
I've heard/read it all now: James Flynn (17) - 'But in the clearing out, Besic needs to be sold over here to MLS. That's his level. A wasted signing'.

Besic a 'wasted signing' and on a level with the truly awful standard of play in the MLS!!??

Ho hum!

Someone was not watching the first leg of the Man City semi, apparently. Nor has someone taken account of a rotten run of knocks and 'being' under Martinez's wing or the forward looking fast pace nature of Besic at his best.

It will be interesting for me to see how players play under a different manager. We clearly saw that on Sunday with McCarthy, Stones (see the two hoofs into the stands?), Mirallas, and it was all summed up poignantly for me when Leighton picked up the ball for the penalty with utter certainty and confidence and I watched from the Park End as Rom and Kev walked the other way.

That was a major moment and one I will breathe in in the hope that Besic and others will have freer expression and roles that match their true talents under the new gaffer than they had under the old one.

I still have not ruled out Mo Besic as a potential Everton skipper.


Jack Convery
44 Posted 18/05/2016 at 23:59:38
Dreams can sometimes become nightmares – we've all just woken up from one. However another nightmare may ensue – Moyes as manager after all and sundry turn us down or are not approached.

Fellaini returns Lukaku leaves as he knows Moyes is a grave yard manager for Centre forwards. Deeney is bought to replace him. Osman gets a 2-year contract as does Pienaar. Niasse is loaned to Blackpool, who send him back after a week.

Naismith is brought back as Conor McAleny goes to Norwich as part of the deal. Mirallas joins a Turkish team in the Champions League. Barkley is put in the Under 21s to learn what to do when the team does not have the ball.

Coleman, Jagielka and Baines are seen smiling at Finch Farm. Hibbert gets a pay as you play contract and a brand new boat in which to go fishing. Moshiri is not seen at Goodison for months. Wake me up someone please!!!!!!!

David Ellis
45 Posted 19/05/2016 at 06:07:05
Fun stuff Sam. I think Callum Connolly is ahead of Kenny in the pecking order at right back - he did a great job when coming on for Coleman in a recent home game against Southamption. Not sure why he didn't feature against Norwich...perhaps he picked up an injury. Truth is we have so many potentially good youngsters it's hard to keep up with them all.
Kieran Fitzgerald
46 Posted 19/05/2016 at 06:53:47
Steve, you also have to give the tax man his cut as well. That could easily be another 4m.

I agree with some of the posts that it may be a bit early to write players off. Many of the players will want to stay in the PL with Everton as the PL is where it is at in terms of wages and glamour. They will want to play well in front of a new manager and also restore their own reputations after two poor seasons at Everton.

If Martinez was still in charge over the summer I think many players would be looking to move from the club but within the PL. But for now I think it will be a matter of waiting and seeing.

The transfer window doesn't close until the end of August. That gives a new manager a full pre-season of training, warm up games and four or five competitive games in August to assess what he has.

Alan J Thompson
47 Posted 19/05/2016 at 09:32:55
If Lukaku wants to go we don't pay him a penny extra. We do to him what was done to Rooney, Fellaini and Arteta; if you want to go then put it in writing, if the price is right you get what you want, not a penny more, not from Everton anyway.

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