Galloway: There's nothing that I fear

Once we get our usual left backs fit, we have in Galloway another centre-half.

Galloway and Stones (and perhaps Jagielka) are also able to play at LB and RB respectively. Hopefully we can keep them; Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Galloway, Baines, Oviedo, Garbutt all as the bedrock of the team, with several of them able to play full back or even DM if needed as well.

Perhaps we need stronger / dedicated cover at RB for Coleman; in addition to the CBs, Lennon could also perhaps play there in a pinch at the end of a game ... but there seems to be some interest in Coleman we might be hard pressed to resist financially, eg, PSG. Sam Byram would be a strong choice, but my first choice is to keep Coleman and have a good understudy... ie, Tyias Browning who wasn't even on the (very attack minded) bench against Chelsea ... but he was on the bench at Spurs, and does he re-enter the equation at RB if Coleman is inured for Swansea? Or does Martinez play Stones at RB and leave Funes Mori in the side?

Some interesting decisions ahead for Bobby Brown Shoes.

ps: Perhaps it's not quite so ridiculous now to think we might see an all Everton back four for England at some point after Euro 2016... if we can keep Stones, keep bringing on Galloway, Browning, and Garbutt, and of course if Jagielka is still in the mix.

I agree... well almost. I would like to see Pennington get some games at right back; Holgate, if he is near ready or Browning (but preferably Browning at centre-back) to see if they can take over if a massive offer did come in for Coleman.

Unlike you (and although I am an admirer of Coleman) I would sell at the end of the season if it was a big fee and any of these others could fill the void or we could bring in Sam Byram (who looks like a Martinez signing).

Coleman is quality but he is reaching that age where he is at his peak and maximum value and we could (I can't believe I'm saying this) bring in better or already have better in potential and collect much needed funds for the manager.

It just gets better doesn't it? I think my biggest concern with the new wave of defenders is how Garbutt is defensively; I was never that impressed when he was defending, and he made me realize that Baines is better defensively than I had given him credit for.

I wouldn't disagree with cashing in on Coleman at the end of the season if that's what he wants and we have a valid alternative AND backup. Seamus has given us a few good years and I agree he's probably as good as he will get in terms of performance and value.

Apparently Galloway is a centre-half by trade, although he looks comfortable at full-back too. I liked his composure on the ball the other day, I think that's the first time I've seen that from him. If it continues, he could become a real asset as he will be capable in two positions.

To think he begun this season as 4th choice left back and he's looking like he has the potential to push for a England role due to injuries to Baines and tonight's injury to Shaw. That shout may be a bit soon but I've heard the Reds say it about Gomez and Brendan is head and shoulders above him.

Anyways, good luck Brendan; I'm loving the confidence.

Last season he was 4th choice left back at Everton, this season with injuries and loans he's first choice and is taking full advantage of it.

With Luke Shaw's terrible injury last night. Brendan could be on his way to the Euros next year, if he gets; and takes his chance in the England team.

Great to see a young player developing so fast and with confidence and right attitude.

With Jagielka nearing the end of his career we are spoilt for choice when it comes to talented young centre-backs. Stones, Galloway, Browning and Holgate as well as Funes Mori.

I really hope that Stones stays long term, but if he does eventually leave or when Jagielka calls it a day we have plenty of options in the centre. I truly believe that Galloway, Browning and Holgate all have the potential to develop into top PL players.

Giving them the game time they need to develop is going to be tricky, but with a combination of loans and trusting them to step up when injuries open a place I think we can develop them all into the core of a rock solid defence for the next decade.

So far, it's been a improvenent.

I think we have the potential to have the best defense in the PL for the next five years and England are likely to depend on us for the majority of theirs if they all stay for a while!

I am starting to feel a strangely confident regarding this Everton Squad compared to last year; we just need that creative No 10!!

There is one area that needs strengthening now if we're looking at a top back 5 defensive line: the goalkeeper position. There is no way this team squad will come close to winning anything in the near future with a goalkeeper who has very obvious key goalkeeper weaknesses that constantly weaken our defensive line every week he plays.

I believe we could challenge for trophies when these key areas are addressed by the gaffer. Although the blind spot Robbie has for Howard could well be the manager's downfall.

It will be interesting to see how RM replaces Coleman, I know the temptation will be to move Stones to full back and bring in Funes Mori. But I would prefer to keep Stones and Jags in the middle, especially it being an away game.

OFM had little time playing the youngsters regularly; even Coleman had to wait for an injury to Hibbert before Moyes played him.

Even after playing Garbutt at half-time against Leyton Orient and having a decent game, he then left him out against Leeds United in the next round.

How many games did Stones play under OFM?

Okay, Martinez might have his faults, but trusting in youth and not being afraid to play them is not one of them.

Also before you start extolling Bobby virtues for youngsters, let's not forget Stones only got in when Distin was injured/went through a poor patch.

Not trying to be argumentative, but let's not kid ourselves about Bobby and youngsters when he prefers to use Barry and Ossie.

In regards to Coleman, why are some posters wanting to sell him due to his maximum profitability?

Here's a funny idea: let's keep him and utilise his best years instead of getting shut for money that the team probably won't see?

Sadly I think he's still injured; maybe we've already seen his last first-team appearance. Great servant obviously, although the game has moved on a lot since he first broke into the Everton side.

Add another to the long-term mix; young lad in the Under-18s, James Yates, is a very promising right back. I've seen some of his performances for England Under-17s and he's very neat and tidy.

Well maybe not, but the likes of those players would not have been given extended run outs by OFM.

The likes of Neville, Heitinga, Osman, Distin, would all have been played out of position, before he would play the youngsters.

Martinez is doing it the right way, giving youth a chance, ensuring they are happy and signed up to longer contracts.

I still cannot forgive OFM, when Barkley had a stormer away to Arsenal and MotM, only to be dropped for the next game, and a half-fit Osman, back from injury recalled.

His tippy-tappy football and insistence of not dropping Barry and Howard are Martinez's flaws, but this season, he seems to have ditched the crab football, is mixing youth with experience. Give him time and I reckon long term, he will build a great team once again; at least he has the balls to say "Not for Sale!" if he wants to keep a player.

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En Moyes nosotros trusto? Mi seguro una persona puede correcto mi espanol con esta...?

RM signed Lukaku for our record fee, paid top dollar for McCarthy and also bought Galloway. So it's hardly likely that either Lukaku or McCarthy wouldn't start.

You castigate Moyes for dropping Barkley after a MotM performance, yet seem to forget Browning coming on and playing great against Liverpool and hardly seen since.

I also seem to recall that it's only in the last couple of games that Barkley has played the full 90 minutes. Otherwise he has started on the bench or been brought off after 60 minutes or so.

Brian, taking out our two most expensive signings in consecutive years, so there is absolutely no doubt they would have played.

How many games between the rest of them?

Garbutt playing due to necessity - now shipped out on loan and dropped like a stone when he spoke out against Bobby after West Ham game

Browning - As stated in a post above, played a stormer in the "Jags Derby", disappeared

Galloway - Instead of playing Garbutt, as a punishment? played 2 games last season and against necessity means he is playing now.

Stones had to wait until January in the 2013-14 season before he got his first start.

I am glad we have the youth coming through but, again, let's not state Bobby is that great with youth.

Let's see how all the promising youngsters do after a run of games.

Those wanting to sell Coleman must want their bumps felt.

Coleman is one of the best RBs around and contributes a few goals too.

He has been carrying a weak hamstring since preseason (along with a number of other EFC players!!!) but has still given his all.

We need to keep our best players and try to bring more quality in not get rid of them at the first sign of a few dollars.

You may say Stones only got a chance because of Distin displaying poor form or suffering an injury, but that's always been the way in football and the end result is still the same: young players name on the team sheet at the say so of his manager. It's not like he was given a start accidentally or begrudgingly against Martinez's better judgement.

Surely, the most important thing is how young players themselves perceive the managers propensity to give untested youth an opportunity.

Galloway certainly seems appreciative:

"The manager's advice and willingness to give me a chance really means a lot to me and I can't thank him enough. He puts his faith in me and hopefully I repay him.

Him playing me at left-back, especially in these types of games, shows that he really trusts his youngsters".

Whether or not Martinez actually deserves his reputation as a manager with youth development at the forefront of his 'philosophy' doesn't mean jack shit so long as people within the game believe it to be true. Myth or not, the more this line is peddled, the more attractive a proposition a move to Everton may become for young players aspiring to make their Premier League breakthrough.

It's one of the few 'aces up the sleeve' we have remaining when competing with clubs whose child catching techniques consist of flashing a big fuck off briefcase full of cash and the faint promise of medals in the distant future... maybe...after a couple of years spent sitting on your arse followed by three or four seasons fannying about on loan....if the mega-bucks we've spent on more marquee names in the interim turns out to have been wazzed up the wall...and we don't decide to cash in on you while people still vaguely remember that you actually possessed some small amount of promise at one point.

("So, sign on the dotted line, son, and your old queen could be rocking Beyonce style butt implants down the bingo by next Sunday and bragging about how her Godlike boy is destined for even bigger things than Gael Kakuta.")

I've said a couple of times already that I'll eat my hat if Galloway doesn't make a £30m+ central defender, in fact I'll eat my shoes as well!

We now have a seriously strong squad with quite a few 'kids' also knocking on the door.

We might not have multi millions to splash about like some, but I think were ready to give anybody a game.

England's back four in 2020.

But how many will still be at Everton?