Sean-celotti: the next steps

One Sean-celoti.. there's only one Sean-celoti

Maybe Robert?

Of course, striker is the #1 priority but I would place right midfield as a close second. You have rightly characterized Iwobi as inadequate for this role and it's vital that we get a proper player here. I am for signing Coady for £4.5M (you won't find a better cost/quality option) and trying to shift Holgate and Keane. That leaves us with Tarkowski, Coady, Godfrey and Branthwaite and I wager there is enough quality there to make this less of a priority.

I also hope that we can somehow sort out Patterson's injury issues because, to me, he is the real deal at right-back and just needs to stay fit.

On the whole, though, I agree with your general judgments and I think we can all agree that it will be tough to get the quality that we need, given financial constraints.

I think Mykolenko's play would be solid whether starting or rotating so we could definitely buy there. Maybe he develops as a left-side centre-back in a back three.

Another point going to the first part of the piece, Dyche proved he can install two productive systems on the fly with one hand tied behind back. The 3-5-2 worked with Garner and the 4-5-1 used against Brighton was unassailable. Those demonstrate Dyche can innovate. He is stubbornly risk averse though; deal with it.

Fantastic well-timed article, once again, Robert. Thanks for that.

No signing is without risk even monied clubs are chocca full of expensive duds but it doesn't matter they just sign someone else and roll on. Whereas us, as financial paupers, need every signing to hit the ground running. The new guys have to be transformative even though arriving from the cheap seats.

The reality of the transformation required is beyond terrifying and it will be astonishing if he gets anywhere near.

Man Utd under Fergusin despite revisionism weren't a “great footballing side”. Many goals came from counter-attacks, or Schmeichel finding Giggs or Beckham free on the wings. It was exciting and successful fayre.

Under Allardyce, we had games without a single shot on target. Under Dyche, we have had more shots than in years. The problem is we can't finish them. Under Lampard, we couldn't even create chances. That is a huge improvement.

Now it's not going to be easy as you say with our squad to improve but, God willing, our scouts will look beyond the usual, eg, the most expensive recently relegated players, and find someone on the rise who's hungry. Not someone already wealthy on the way down like Iwobi, Walcott and so on.

Interesting you mention Branthwaite; he's had rave reviews in Holland although the bitter ex-blue Andy van der Meyde savaged him as a donkey last week. Can we afford to nurse him along for a year or will we have to sell him to help the here and now?

I'd like to add in your points about Dyche's playing style that, although he was severely restricted in his attacking plans, the team made very good chances in every game, even when Dominic was missing. If half of those chances were taken, and they were not half-chances, we would not have been worried about yesterday's result.

Could we simply use Ishe Samuels-Smith as a reserve left-back with a pre-season of Dyche behind him?

What about putting our faith in a combination of Gray, Simms and Cannon as back-up to Calvert-Lewin?

Could we rely on Welch, Warrington, Price, Dobbin and Mills to beef out the squad?

I think the team that started the last match (with Branthwaite instead of Mina) is fine to get us mid-table, especially under Dyche, so why not focus on trying to clear the deadwood, concentrate on simply being safe for a year and giving the youngsters a go in situations that aren't as pressurised. If just 2 or 3 of those mentioned actually have a career with us then we'll save ourselves a fortune.

Deadwood:- Keane, Holgate, Gomes, Gbamin, Maupay.

You posted as I was writing mine. If I had seen yours first, I wouldn't have bothered with mine. You covered the same point better.

And I agree with Dale about Dyche using that 3-5-2 with Garner. You can say that it was forced on him - but he worked it well, with little time to prepare for it.

There is a football brain in there.

A striker has to be identified and bought, and must be good enough to properly challenge Calvert-Lewin. We were 5 to 10 points lower this season because we didn't have even an authentic stand-in striker to finish off chances. It must be addressed.

We still need more goals even if that is sorted. So the right sided midfielder or forward is an interesting point. Iwobi will get a few assists but only one goal or maybe two a season, Gray similar maybe four or five goals and a few assists. On other occasions I like both, others they frustrate the hell out of me.

I think we will be looking for more potency in attacking from the right. Thelwell had Kudus, Ouatarra, Sulemama, Danjuma, all in his sights. He will be thinking along these lines still and must have a target in mind.

Also, Robert, agree with the right-back comments and the possible cost-effective solution to solve what could become an injury-weakened position next season.

The midfield will remain combative Gana, Garner with Doucouré advanced. Onana may well be sold if a very big offer comes in, and the funds reinvested to allow a better standard of incoming players in two or three positions.

Robert (and Sam) don't leave it too long, I am looking forward to seeing the summer shopping list.

Coady is the player they should get a deal sorted.

I think the Blues should go for Vardy or Ings (short term they
could keep us out of the relegation zone)

If he does it'll be a remarkable, what's that word?, oh yeah, "project"!

Now that you’re here let’s get semsible while a bit drunk on sherry. Ok only I am on the sherry. The point is first we can deal a couple and convert the sale into several decent punts and get a few loans and Dyche will have enough. The second point is that Dyche may not be in that position. Not knowing the exact budget isn’t the same as no cash whatsoever. Additionally investors coming in aren’t looking for another gamble on the gamble they just won (nice move fellas, wink wink). So some reasonable amount of funds will likely come available.

And if not we’ll still be better than three of those other shits so have another round. I am.

Unless you know something about him coming out of FF that I havent heard (perfectly possible as i'm out of the city and not got any contacts there) that says that SD doesn't rate him I think (or maybe hope - I'm not sure which) he'll be played more next season. Ive watched the lad a lot from U21's, and also Hearts and SUnderland (when I could get a stream) and he is improving year on year. He has always scored goals, he's always been a big strong presence. But he is also a pretty calm kid, and has now started to add concentration to his game. He would drift in and out, lose concentration, be out of position, look almost lazy, not too bothered. That seems to be much better. I think (hope maybe) that he can be a player for us.

And Tom is an interesting player. Every time ive seen him play (U21's) and from a mate of mine who is PNE thru and thru is certain that he is going to make it in the premiership. "Things just happen around him, he's not the most technically gifted but he is very direct, very strong on the ball, he knows where the goals is, and he cant half hit the thing' I hope that we keep Simms and Cannon back for the season.

Ideally Maupay might find himself a better fit. I don't think its us, and it may well be Luton or Sheffield for eg. We (Thelwell) then finds us a robustly fitter striker who will fit the SD profile, and use and develop in the premiership SImms and Cannon.
Robert - What do you think of Mateta at Crystal Palace. Every time I have seen him (they havent played him too much tbf) but he definitely has attributes that a good coach could develop further into a very effective centre forward who can absolutely occupy the attention of any opposing centre halves, as well as contribute with goals ?

I think the championship loan next season should be Stan Mills. If he can fill out a bit over summer, I think he would be right for a championship loan. Or bring Dobbin into the championship, and Mills into League One (Derby could a good fit actually)

Couldn't agree more.

Mosh reined in the spends with Benitez and nothing meaningful has changed add in bargain basement picks start at 20m these days and the whole scenario is terrifying

You don't mention shopping in the US, but I think there are a couple of strikers in MLS who would be worthwhile at a decent price.

My choice for a right midfield version of McNeil would be Aaronson, the least celebrated of the three Yank midfielders at Leeds (all of whom will be leaving). He is what McNeil was a year ago, a skillful, creative and incredibly hard worker who absolutely cannot score a goal. Dwight picked up the goal knack this season. I'm convinced Aaronson can too. And he will definitely do the defensive job. Kid never stops running.

Dale, you're gonna have one hell of a hangover in the morning.

I was prepping for my article (will be ready in 2 weeks I think) and for me the priorities are striker (clearly!), right wing and full back cover.

Other positions depend a lot on who we sell. It would seem likely that we have to cash in on at least one talent and Onana would seem the obvious candidate, but I’m not sure who will pay the £60m we’d want for him.

We’ve got a lot of players returning who’ll probably be unwanted (Gomes, Gbamin, Alli etc) and hopefully Thelwell can get them off the books but we’ll see.

As you say a huge amount will be who can we afford. It’s been a long time since we had a great transfer window, though arguably last summer was one of our better ones; Onana (£30m), McNeil (£15m), Garner (£10m) and Tarkowski (free) all look like sensible buys though obviously Maupay was a poor choice.

Not sure I’d keep Coady personally unless we can sell both Holgate and Keane. £4.5m may seem trifling but every penny counts this summer and last year Milan bought the talented Malick Thiaw for the same amount.

If we could get him on loan, maybe, but I don't think we'll have the c £20m or so he'd cost left over after buying a striker (and hopefully also a CB).

Unless we get major investment this summer (which in fairness may happen) I think the net spend won't be more than about £5m.

That means very low spending indeed unless we sell either or both of Onana and Pickford.

In line with your article, I won't list specific players, but you've given me a few ideas. Some of it wish list type, some of it more realistic. I agree, we could pick up quality for relatively low prices scouring the continental leagues.

Mina will be a loss. Sadly, we seemed to see the best of him in those last few matches. If only he could have stayed fit and played more often.

On our current crop:

Doucoure is much better being instructed (presumably) to get forward. Gueye is effective in what he does. I noted he actually got a shot on target Sunday, forcing a save from the keeper. There's me screaming for him not to shoot for most of the season!!

Iwobi is much better playing as a free spirit. A roaming number ten. I've said elsewhere, he makes mistakes, but because he is trying to make things happen.

And McNeil just needed time to settle. He certainly has a great delivery on him.

Mikolenko had a mixed season. I and others have toyed with the idea of him playing LCB, but I think he would be more suited to that role in a back 3.

On the style of play. I too at times, was pleasantly surprised, given that many thought we were getting a more polished Allardyce. We've played some decent stuff, although there were times we were pumping it long. Wolves away sticks out.

Whatever the reason, the players finally found resilience that had been missing. The manager and his coaches deserve credit for that and motivating the team to never stop and give in.

I look forward to your list once you have conducted your scouting activities!!

I think Sean Dyche is the best manager that we could have; and we'll do well with him. He's had to change is approach virtually match by match, due to the injuries we've had. I look at the Brighton match and that was us playing unbelieveable football.Counter attacking football at it's best!
If, Big If, we could get a that centre forward and someone like that lad Aaronson that Mike has suggested, we could be the poor man's Ferguson's team that he got when he bought Cantona. We are not that far away from being a decent side. If Sean Dyche and Thellwell can root around and get the bargains in the style that Moyes did and if we can keep the players we want to keep, I think we'll do o.k.

No doubt we're a side with players who could be replaced with better, but I don't see us being able to do much, if any recruitment, other than the ways Robert has suggested. I think Sean is wise enough to know that and will already have been looking at players from the sources Robert has suggested.

It doesn't take a financial genius to see that until all the mess of the trouble we're in clears up, it will be a future of "make do and mend", At least, that's how I see our future for the foreseeable, We've had a five year splurge of spending massive amounts of money, with no discernable plan. I think Dyche and Thelwell will be spending little... with a plan.

He's not exactly Cafu but it's this sort of profile of player we will need to find - given Coleman's age and Patterson's injury record, and the lack of cover at LB while Samuels-Smith is developing.

Whilst it would be great to sign, say, Livramento we just don't have the money.

After that we're in beggars and choosers territory.

John @ 13 agree on Branthwaite but hopefully his year at PSV will have brought him onto the next level

The trend years ago was Scottish managers then the likes of Wenger brought the standard of football up to new levels.

Most clubs hire foreign managers because they have had a good season in the Greek, Dutch or russian leagues ignoring British managers.

Dyche has had it pretty tough in every job he has had. No money in struggling teams. He work wonders at Burnley similar to what Moyes did with us.

The money has dried up so Dyche fits the bill.

Player wise we need to buy players that have an eye for goal and who are versatile enough to play across the front line. After 2 years of injuries we need DCL to be a choice off the bench, we cannot rely on him.

Both full backs are suspect, I would go for walker peters as he can play both positions.

The biggest enigma is Onana. We have carried him for large parts of the season. We need to play him holding centre mid and nowhere else.

I would love us to play a 433 with the 3 up top being flexible enough to switch roles and cover back. But would settle for a steady season playing 451.

I couldn't take another season like that again.

I suspect Dyche and Thelwell will be focused on affordable targets early. There is an anundance of talent out thete if the team plan and desired attributes are settled. Probably looking at loans for next season but Dyche won’t let that go on for long.

I wasn't sure about Dychey, but I was impressed with his interview after the match. He's clearly been storing up all the WTF views since finding what a shitshow it really is behind the scenes, and he laid it out very clearly that this isn't a case of tweaking a few things here and there, it's a total reinvention that's needed. Let's just hope someone actually listens for once.

He's saying fans have to be realistic, something that sadly a lot of people can't grasp, this isn't an overnight job and especially seeing as we're skint. But I'm saying this now knowing there'll be people on here in August screaming why haven't we signed X, Y, Z, pull your finger out etc. etc. We might have to get used to seeing pretty much the same faces next season, I'd bit your hand off now for mid-table mediocrity.

Off for another lie down...

Whether he will get us back up the table and a team to be reckoned with is another question but who else can you say will do it considering those big names who have gone before him.

Naturally he needs the financial backing to get the players we need.
Others before him got some money but brought in some players not useful to us.

I like the fact he has given Garner some time and he is proving to be a real gem.

Everton showed tremendous commitment against Bournemouth although it was a struggle at times but the referee and VAR didn't help when they should have.

Seamus, Mina, Davies, Vinagre, Coady, Townsend and the two reserve keepers all have contracts expiring in the summer. We will look for sales deals on Gomes, Gbamin, Nkonkou, Delle Alli, Virginia, Holgate and Keane while reintegrating Cannon and Branthwaite back into the squad.

Sorry, but we should welcome Coleman on the coaching staff and then look to the future. We only have two really saleable assets, Pickford and Onana. If we don’t get additional investment this smmer, then I fear we will lose one of them.

1. Dyche has earned his opportunity. What he has managed was unimaginable when he come in. I don't think he’s got everything right, mainly trusting Keane over Mina, but overall I can’t believe there are people playing down his achievements

2- there’s not going to be significant money. Therefore buys need to be considered. Character and fit needs to take precedence over things like PL experience that saw us land Maupay. We also need to consider how many changes we can realistically make

3- it’s vital we use the loan market to the full ability. We have 4 spaces and a team where they will likely play. PL loans a must. Or even loans from the relegated sides- a Suleymana for example.

4- Priorities for me are CF. One who has to mimick the role of DCL. It’s clear we are a way better outfit with a physical presence up front.. I reckoned this summer a Chris Wood would have been a way better investment. This shouldn’t be a too tough an ask. Secondly a RW. Someone in the mould of a Sarr at Watford has who has 12 months. Than the defence. I don’t rate Mykolenko. Really limited footballer, but may have to accept him for a few years as they’ll be no buyers. Needs solid challenge though.

3- Coady issue. Unless they are confident of shifting Holgate and Keane- and on their pay and performance I wouldn’t be- I’d let Coady go. He’s looked suspect in a back 4, and I don’t reckon he really compliments Tarkowski at all. Really they need another Mina. Though Branthwaite is a talent, is it him either?

4. Unlike many, cashing in on Pickford if 50m was on the table wouldn’t bother me

Whatever else one might think of him, it seems clear to me that DCL (or someone similar) is pretty key to Dyche's default set up. Without him, we have no-one to hold up play, nor make instinctive runs in the box. How many times on Sunday did we see crosses with nobody even close to being on the end of them. Someone like Kane is already on the move the moment the prospect of a cross becomes real, well before when it's actually played, and he'll be weighing up where it's most likely to go. I think we'd have had at least 2 goals before the hour, with him on the pitch.

Instead, it seemed Dyche had figured out that a set piece was our most viable option. Bring up the big CB's and look to feast on knockdowns. Hence I saw a lot of play that attempted to set up free kicks in the 'right' positions, out wide, level or near level to the edge of the penalty box. Or playing for a corner. Not exactly the beautiful game, but the best way to make something out of the sow's ear we are. Given our playing assets are unlikely to be any less meagre next year- we are going to need another year of minimal losses to restore FFP criteria- Dyche remains for me the man to optimise that.

His decision to push Doucouré up front as a floating forward yielded 5 goals which I never would have thought possible. We fashioned scoring chances out of a formation that had no forwards. That takes some doing.

A slight concern is that he does not tend to buy overseas players, Defour, Cornet and Weghorst (?) being exceptions I'm sure that wasn't his choice, rather a policy at Burnley, restricted by budgets, to go for journeymen, experienced players already in the Premier League.

The guy has earned the right to continue. At least Everton teams will be organised, fit and hard working under Dyche.

The fans deserve a statement within this week on financial matters, and the future of players and the club's intentions at boardroom level.

I think in general if Dyche continues to build confidence and get more balance in the side, with goalscoring ability a priority, we might surprise a few next season.

Although I think we need a centre-foward, I also think we have to recruit or loan players who can contribute goals from other positions.

With the 5 sub rule, our squad is woefully weak so let's get what we can for the hangers-on and hold on to our best players and beef up the squad with loanees, youth players and good value buys..

Simms needs to be coached in his heading ability and hold-up play but does have a natural goalscorer's instinct as does Tom Cannon. Stanley Mills needs to continue his development and Branthwaite needs to be integrated into the squad.

Dyche has worked wonders with a poor squad which is something the Dinosaur failed to do. Sitting on a pension in Crosby eateries while your son did all the work has clearly pulled the wool over a few eyes.

There is a big difference between improving a poor team like Dyche and continually taking over winning Champions League teams and smoking a cigar with your trotters up.

Like comparing my 6-year-old niece's finger painting to the Mona Lisa. There are no words for this level of ignorance. Madness.

I think Dyche tended to buy British at Burnley because they just didn't have scouting or agent connections to tap into other markets effectively. It was also safer to spend his pitifully low budget that way, on players they knew and had done their homework on.

I'm hoping that success with Cornet – and positive experience with our African, South American etc contingent will have opened his eyes a bit too (if indeed they were ever actually blinkered).

I'm fascinated to see how summer plays out.

We're starting with an ould pencil.

We knew that we were in trouble when Calvert-Lewin started being injured early in the season and no reinforcements were brought in.

My interpretation of the title is a light-hearted reference to some of the decent football Everton played under Dyche, with a lot more resilience and better mentality.

You only get to manage Champions League level squads if you are good enough. Ask Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.

Pep only manages at that level. Because he's good enough. Klopp too and Tuchel. A different style of management is required. As it is in the situation we found ourselves in.

Dyche inherited a poor team, low on morale. Some cynics (there aren't many), would point out he took us to within 33 minutes of normal time to the Championship.

The vast majority, myself included, recognise and respect what the manager has done in very difficult circumstances, especially with what has been going on off the pitch.

The title of the article was meant to be a compliment to the fact the team has played some decent stuff since Dyche came in.

I'm enjoying the moment and glad that we take Goodison into her final full season in the top flight and Everton in the Premier League.

Dyche is our 4th manager since the "Italian Dinosaur" went on to win things.

After a very tough season that us supporters have been put through again, I am more focussed on the club sorting out the real problem to give Sean Dyche a fair crack of the whip. Credit to the guy, not only did he organise the team, he seemingly protected them from the madness surrounding them and ignored the noise himself to get on with what was needed.

Within reason, I'm past caring who the manager is, to be honest. They are not the reason for our situation.

A good goalscorer was the major problem for almost two seasons, but the previous season we had Richarlison as well. I'm sure that'll be top priority if Calvert-Lewin can't be relied on to go a full season, or even a decent part of it.

Robert, who is Cornet? Is he a scout?

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I felt Townsend was a huge miss. I greatly respected his abilities and defensive commitment, and I think he'd have been the regular starter on the right this season opposite McNeil.

And if he'd been able to return in February, as originally projected when he was injured, I think he'd have been a valuable contributor through the frenetic final games.

The "Italian dinosaur" is one of the game's greatest managers and IMO, if he had been backed properly at Everton, he would have put a trophy in the cabinet.

As he said "He is not a magician" but did have us top of the table for a few months.

For you to deride him in this way is more a reflection on you than him.

They have both managed Everton, so that means people will always have a reason for comparing them, but they are obviously completely different managers on the world stage and, given our current position, I'd definitely sooner have Sean Dyche rather than The Italian Master in charge of Everton right now.

We all see a different game so my own biggest concern with Dyche was that I personally thought he has had us playing a lot more open than I thought he should have done in certain games, especially when Calvert-Lewin wasn't available.

I was very happy that he concentrated on keeping the back door closed on Sunday, although I'm going to contradict myself by saying how much I hated it when we suddenly retreated very deep once we had scored our goal.

Top of the table for a few months?

I mostly agree with the tenet. The duration of heading the table though, was 5 weeks.

Some funny comments about Ancelotti. I do enjoy ToffeeWeb. You certainly enrich it too Ian Edwards. I saw a good comment from Andrew Keatley on another thread which made me smile - something like the bizarre tangents and inadvertent triggers. Unfortunately I couldn't comment because the ads seem to be disrupting my ability to write comments on most threads. Anyway, we don't all get along do we but that's probably half the fun. Probably

So in terms of shifting the deadwood, I see that being a massive headache for Thelwell.

And for those say we need 4-5 signings, I'm not sure where we expect to raise the funds from. While I take the point that there are diamonds to be found, if it was that easy, every team would be doing it. For every Mac Allister, there's a player like Adam Armstong at Saints, or Jordan Rhodes at Boro, or Ross McCormack at Villa.

Not trying to be a doom-monger, I just think the turnover of the squad may well be minimal. If we can offload Holgate, Keane (who I don't think should ever be near the team again), and try and reinvest the salaries from Mina, Davies etc, then hopefully we can source some nuggets from somewhere. But I also think that Dyche will have us placed somewhere around mid-table, even if he has to go again with the squad in its current guise.

I think we have to sign a centre forward (not doing that - again - is unthinkable), and if we can convince Salernitana to take Maupay off our hands, then that's a bonus. But he's another I fear may be happy to sit on his hands.

I'm still hopeful next season won't be as bad as this one, but I thought the same this time last year, to be fair.

Ancelotti has won the Champions League, La Liga and Copa Del Rey since he left Everton with a Real Madrid squad that is not exactly vintage and low gross spending on transfers. So, not exactly finished, as you claimed when we hired him!

By the way, I do agree that Sean Dyche has done well since taking over. And he didn't play 4-4-2.

But I'm not sure it's about hidden gems and gaining an advantage anymore. Lots of clubs are recruiting intelligently.

In truth there are very few hidden gems in world football. They're all hiding in plain sight in youth international football etc. Caicedo for example was well known and touted around clubs (including Everton) across Europe before Brighton took the plunge.

Buying them at source/ lower cost markets (home and abroad) just removes a self imposed disadvantage - which has made it so easy for promoted clubs / yo yo clubs to build better squads so quickly in spite of the fact that we've been ever present amongst the riches of the Premier League for 30 years.

It might never be a swashbuckling style under SD but I'm willing to bet he could shake off his reputation for being one dimensional and defensive. I'm also not going to judge him for his lack of subs, I'll wait to see what his decision making is like when he actually has a sub with some quality at his disposal.

I personally think you have to have a certain way of playing before you start recruiting players and I think this has not just been one of our biggest problems, but it’s been the biggest problem by a country mile?

When laying foundations then I think you first need stability, then you need both a plan and total professionalism. Only then, can you really be confident about what type of players that you need to bring in, to try and take the team forward?

Martinez did this in his first season, when he luckily came into a club, that had a team with a decent foundation, before he started failing badly for whatever reason, and Silva, looked like he could build something before he was badly let down by an inexperienced (in this country) DOF, and it’s been slowly downhill ever since.

I’m aware that the most important team in any football club, is the first team, but I’m also aware that most successful football clubs, have strong foundations. The Instability has killed us, and until this changes, then I will expect nothing more than the same unadulterated, unprofessional shite, that we have sadly become very accustomed to.