Blues squad jets out to pre-season camp in Austria

I sincerely hope that Ronald can indeed see what he has to work with whilst in Austria, and that he acts swiftly when he sees first hand the improvements he has to make by bringing in new personnel.

I posted earlier my concerns about our lack of transfer activity compared with other clubs, but perhaps RK is impressed with our fringe youngsters and intends to promote some of them if they do well in pre-season.

At Southampton, Koeman inherited a super fit squad, he only needed to maintain what he had. Pochinetto was a fitness freak.

Now Koeman has inherited a very unfit squad and starts from a much weaker position fitness wise. He cannot treat this summer as just another pre season.

Don't think young Kenny is on the list either, anyone know why?

I thought he looked good in some of his three minute substitute appearances last season. And more seriously, Chelsea away 3-3 he was fantastic.

Can Koeman unlock the magic?

I do disagree with "he only needed to maintain . . . ". Easier said than done, yeah? If he did maintain, I see it as he saw the value in it and didn't let the players slack off. Unlike OFM taking over from Moyes.

Funny, after the last disaster of a manager, I look at pictures of Koeman with our players in training and am still adjusting to the fact we have an actual professional in charge.

I imagine then it's curtains for the aforementioned bar maybe Ledson. If the other four strikers can't get a look in alongside two Keystone cop strikers, then it doesn't say much for them.

He wasn't really maintaining as half the squad left with Pochetino

No idea what Martinez was thinking about last season, Mirallas is one of our best players. Ridiculously underused and I can see RK putting him straight into the first team.

He'll get 8-10 goals a season easily.

We finished in a very disappointing position last campaign, and that's a clear reflection on the squad's ability.

Yes, they can do better; and yes, the manager was useless... but the fact remains, we finished bottom half and none of the first-team squad had the balls or ability to stop that happening.

Signings are important, and it's vital to have them in early. We already have lots of rumours flying around about our own players wanting off, plus lads who have been at the Euros, therefore meeting back up late with the squad.

Koeman needs answers in his own head about certain players:

Niasse is one, is he a 㾹m mistake or just a lad who's never been given a chance? Henen, McAleny and Leandro Rodriguez are all in a similar group to Niasse too.

Mirallas and Deulofeu both have to answer the call to step up to the first team on a regular basis, or basically step off. Both should be playing 30+ league games if they could find fitness and consistency.

Garbutt, Galloway and even Baines all need to show if they can stake the regular left back spot. I'd guess Baines will be back to his best this season if his injuries have cleared up.

Galloway, Holgate and Browning all need to show they are genuine threats to the first-team players, one of them needs to show they can step up when called upon.

Robles needs to have shown major improvement if he's to be the Number One goalkeeper.

The above aren't the only ones, but it outlines the problems at the club. Only a few current squad players demand a first team start, and two of them have been linked with a move away.

Koeman needs to get his house in order asap if we are to start the campaign off well.

Also, Let's see the real Niasse too. He arrived with a big smile on his face but into a broken dressing room. There is a nagging feeling within me however that we need shut of Lukaku. Either that or RK is strong enough to bring him into line.

He looks to be exactly the type of monstrous defender we need to strengthen our back line. He is extremely well thought of and would be a high profile capture even though his name is far from household.

Though there are no guarantees I'd be very excited to get him as a replacement for or maybe partner for Stones.

I think we will find that Stones is definitely off to Man City and that is why we are being linked with high quality expensive signings Such as Rugani and Koulibaly.

On the other hand it may just be the media speculating and Stones may be staying but he is 1/5 with Skybet to join City and that is pretty convincing.

Anthony although I share your view that the squad needs a good shake up we have to factor in that the tactics and lack of player motivation has been a big factor this last two seasons. Any other club would have got rid the season before so maybe the players took it into their own hands and decided to down tools in the league games to force BK's hand.

It reminds me of a question John Lennon was asked...is Ringo the best drummer in the world?

Lennon " He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles"

Tyias Browning needed knee surgery back in November and has not played since. Martinez said he didn't expect him back before the summer. A Twitter post at the end of June had him running again at Finch Farm but he probably needs more time before he can fully participate in first-team training.

Sam Byrne broke his leg in an unfortunate training ground accident back in March and so will be sidelined for a while yet.

Joe Williams, the much unheralded captain of the Under-21s last season, damaged his lateral collateral ligament in the final game of the season against Chelsea in May, and needed surgery. Medical experts said Williams would be out for at least six months but the Huyton midfielder is targeting a return to action before mid-November.

Courtney Duffus was coming good with the Under-21s in the later stages of last season, and getting on the scoresheet. I can't find anything about him being injured. He was getting Irish citizenship... Are Ireland playing in the Euro Under-19s Championship? [Is his brother, Tyrone Duffus, still with us?]

The only other two U-21/U-18 names from last season who are not listed here: Jack Bainbridge and Delial Brewster, both of them regulars with the Under-18s but dropping off the teamsheets in the later part of last season, so they may also be injured or in recovery.

Davies and Dowell are gems and Koeman will see first hand what gems we have.

New players, 3? key signings to bolster the squad and we may get somewhere.

I expect this season to be hard and one of rebuild and steady progress so do not expect too much.

Onwards and upwards, you Blues.

They posted a (presumably correct) list of the Austria-bound players on Tuesday morning, as listed up top, with Walsh off to Spain and Browning not traveling.

Denis # 24 - totally agree with you about Mirallas - I am hoping Koeman introduces discipline into his game. Mirallas always looks fit to me and he can run at a defence through the middle.

So that must be the end for him really. What is he now, 5 years older than the rest of that squad? Feel quite bad for him.

Anyone remember the trips to Bruges and Dordrecht, a couple of thousand fans used to go? All sorts of mayhem and laughs in the boozers, casinos and brothels of Ostend, Scheveningen and other unprepared places. Happy days.

As for the squad training in Austria, including the absentees, they really need to be improved with some better players. Otherwise, Everton will be looking to finish 11th again in the premier league.