Full-Back Abyss

Given the state we are in with lack of leaders, I see no option to keep Baines on who, despite not being able to play every week is still quality (perhaps I'm bit starry-eyed) and still a very good back-up option. I agree with Carlo that we should sign him up. I think you are being idealistic thinking we should have 2 people at left-back, challenging that position. Unfortunately, we can't afford it and have more pressing needs in midfield (and right-back).

At right-back, I think all 3 you mention are adequate back-ups only. Personally out of the three, I would not keep Sidibé although he too gives 100%. I must admit I have not seen much of Kenny this season but he is young and on an upward curve. That all said, like you, I would probably accept the money in close season unless he looks ready to start. That means my money on Coleman being sole right-back on our books and we need another.

To me, we need to get quality in at right-back, that is crucial, and somebody who hopefully is as good as Digne. If we got somebody as good as Baines has been, that would be unbelievable, but I believe we have been blessed with Baines; he must be one of the best buys and players this club has ever had.

The decision, such as it was, to offer terms for a further year, appears more financial in nature than performance-related. We really must be skint. It could end badly for both parties.

With one additional, quality, centre-half, we can focus on our weak midfield options and look to bring in a left-footed right midfielder.

A new balance to the team, solid at the back, strong in the middle of the park and scary (to the opposition) going forward.

A new style of playing, not necessarily 4-4-2, from our Carlo — what is not to like?

COYB.

The problem with your logical assessment is the reality of the game. You're never going to be able to have two quality left-backs for any length of time. Either the older guy keeps his spot and the younger guy stagnates and seeks a move, eg, Robinson, Kenny. Or the younger guy makes the spot his own, and the experienced guy demands a move to get first-team football elsewhere.

If you're Man City, with more room on your wage bill and 60 odd games per season, then yeah, you can just about keep all parties happy. But if you're Everton and averaging 41 games per season, it's nigh on impossible to keep two quality players happy for any length of time unless one of them is an old-timer like Baines, Stuart Pearce, Steve Bould, Phil Jagielka, etc who can still do it on occasions but realizes he probably can't hack it on a weekly basis.

If you're only playing domestically, you can't have too big a squad or players stagnate, as we've seen with many of ours, including promising youngsters, in recent seasons.

Personally, I won't be happy until our present 1st 11 (whatever that maybe) is our back-up squad.

One of my favourite all-time Blues but it's not just the old Everton sentiment talking here for me, he looks after himself and is an able deputy. Delph can also fill in there, don't forget.

I agree though, right-back needs an overhaul. Personally, I would pass on Sidibé and look to move Coleman on for buttons and buy a new right-back; good shout on Celik.

Yes, our fullbacks need reappraising and is a position we have probably neglected but do we have enough scouts checking the UK? Look at Liverpool's fullback from Hull. How did Silva miss him?? He was his manager!! Was Antonee Robinson leaving a mistake?

Have you ever had a car that you really liked, you could have sold it for a good price, got a newer, better model but kept it too long and then it starts to give you problems, then it's not worth much?? When it comes to our players, I think Everton have been guilty of this for a long time.

How will Brexit impact on bringing players here from abroad? Trying to balance winning more games with giving young blood a chance is very difficult. But then you'll never know till you're standing in the trench.

Interesting times ahead.

I don't think selling Robinson was a mistake and I think we were seriously looking at Robertson years before Silva and then Liverpool were... but, for some reason (financial?), we didn't sign him.

There's enough decent full-backs around. The issue is getting our hands on someone who is more than decent. And who qualifies under that description depends a lot on whether the requirement is for someone who is, first and foremost, a good defender, or someone who can get up and down the flanks and put in good crosses.

Personally, I'd love Ait Nouri of Angers as deputy left-back and Aarons of Norwich as first-choice right-back. But better to get a top-class centre-mid (eg, Rabiot) plus a top-class left-footed right-winger (eg, Oddgaard) this summer and address full-back in Summer 2021 when a lot of the so far unshiftable crap will depart on free transfers, giving us a bit more to play with in terms of transfers.

Digne and Kenny in the 2020-21 season is the not-too-bad pragmatic approach.

Last week when Man Utd scored, we made a catalog of errors from the second we took the goal-kick, right up until the ball ended up in our net, but was Walcott brave enough when Sidibe's ball went that little bit astray?

Don't think I'm blaming Theo for the goal because I'm not, but I'd love to ask him a logical question, and it would be that, could he have still got to that bad ball off his fullback, and maybe received a free-kick?

He might answer no, but I also know I've seen loads of players down the years who I wouldn't have had to ask that question to, but we all see a different game, and that's what I'm seeing at the minute.

Digne and Baines still have quality delivery. Coleman can still play a role when fit. I would let Sidibé go and bring Kenny back.

As already mentioned above, midfield is the big issue. A couple of quality midfield additions would see our defensive and offensive records improve.

Martin (OP), I think if you reviewed the midfield, it would be a real horror show.

Robertson signed for Liverpool in 2017, when Koeman was Everton manager. So Silva couldn't have done anything about that.

Oops !

He could certainly be a good backup but I suspect he will want more than that. If Schalke were prepared to offer us 㾻M plus (which looks increasingly unlikely), I'd snap their hands off. Put that together with the 㾸M we save from not buying Sidibé and you can buy Aarons, Atal or Klostermann.

CM, CB, RM and RB needed this summer.

Also it's a real shame that the academy has not produced many first-team options for the last 2-3 years. Gordon is the only one I can think of who's even had a sniff. Usually there's some fast energetic youngsters who can do a good job at full back (The RS have about 6!).