2024-25 Season Preview

If you’d asked most Evertonians what they wanted a year ago, amid ongoing turmoil off the pitch, a succession of managerial tenures, and after two gruelling battles against relegation, most would surely have plumped for a season of boring, mid-table mediocrity.

With Sean Dyche’s seemingly steady hand on the tiller, it felt heading into 2023-24 as though that was an eminent possibility. But a miserable start to the campaign, one that belied the underlying attacking metrics, a club record-breaking winless streak that spanned 3½ frustrating months, and two separate points deductions, put paid to the vain hope for an uneventful season of stability and steady transition.

Off the pitch, things were no less painful, with 777 Partners’ proposed takeover dragging through almost the entire season before bowing to reality and collapsing in May. The white Texan knight in the form of AS Roma owner Dan Friedkin rode up over the summer, took one look at the legal mess and eventually kept on going, leaving Farhad Moshiri in situ as a lame-duck majority shareholder and Everton in a continuing state of stasis.

As 2024-25 kicks off this weekend, even though the ownership question threatens to rumble on with no resolution in sight, the overly punitive regulatory headwinds have at least abated… save for an outstanding — and, as-yet, unscheduled — third independent commission hearing over stadium interest payments that could yet result in the Blues being docked more points, albeit fewer than last term. so it’s less likely to mean another struggle to climb out of the bottom three.

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Indeed, were it not for the Premier League’s intervention, Everton would have finished 12th last season, a benchmark that Dyche will hope to use to push towards a higher berth this term, even if there are parts of his squad that still need attention, some positions more urgently than others.

The sight of Seamus Coleman hurrying down the tunnel in the first half of last weekend’s Goodison curtain-raiser with a calf strain was the last thing Blues fans needed to see given that Nathan Patterson is still some way from being ready following his surgery earlier this year, the long-standing defensive Swiss Army knife, Ben Godfrey, has been sold, and the only senior right-back left is 39-year-old Ashley Young.

Just as concerning: the veteran is the only cover left on the other side of defence should Vitalii Mykolenko succumb to injury. It makes a versatile full-back, preferably one who can play both sides, a top priority before the transfer deadline but it may take another sale for that to be a realistic possibility if a viable option isn’t available on loan.

Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will start what could be his final season as an Everton player with his contract situation very much in the air. Having more or less indicated his reluctance to sign a new contract, at least on the terms on offer, it’s looking more and more likely that he will be leading the line for the Toffees until January at least and, very likely, for the duration of the season. At that point, he would be a free agent, a far cry from the £35m it seemed as though Everton might have received had the striker agreed a move to Newcastle in June.

Purely in terms of how things might go on the pitch, Calvert-Lewin staying — and staying fit to boot! — could end up being the more preferable scenario. The closer we get to the transfer deadline — and with the Club’s dubious track record for signing decent centre-forwards very much in mind — the more dicey it would be to allow DCL to leave, even if Everton are desperate for cash, and the breathing room it would provide in being able to make more incoming signings would be very welcome.

At least with Calvert-Lewin in the side, we have a known quantity who is perfectly suited to Dyche’s system and direct playing style. He hasn’t been prolific even when healthy since his purple patch under Carlo Ancelotti but, with Youssef Chermiti still learning his trade and Beto still working under a large question mark, he at least brings continuity and familiarity to the team.

With the Blues able to hold on to Jarrad Branthwaite (while adding a deputy in Jake O’Brien) and Amadou Onana being the only one of the first-team regulars to have left this summer, Everton have been able to layer on to the existing squad some much-needed pace and flair with the additions of Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrøm which should make them a better outfit overall in 2024-25.

Ndiaye promises to enhance the side with the kind of guile and invention that Evertonians haven’t been able to enjoy for a while and in the eager-to-impress Lindstrøm the Blues will have a player willing and able to run at defences with the ball, test goalkeepers directly from set-pieces, and offer a valuable outlet on the counter-attack.

And if his ever-improving pre-season displays were any indication, Tim Iroegbunam could very well drop seamlessly into the void left by Onana for a fraction of the amount the Club sold the Belgian for. Confident on the ball and willing to drive the team forward, if the young midfielder can provide some of the tackling ability Onana offered with his telescopic legs, then Everton might well have pulled off one of the bargains of the summer.

Unless he has flattered to deceive in the warm-up matches, Iroegbunam not only offers a ready-made stand-in for James Garner but also stiff competition for the Birkenhead native; however, Dyche is still short on an experienced and reliable option in that part of the pitch and it would be a surprise not to see another central midfield signing before the end of the month.

What pre-season did show is that, while the team does now have a couple of genuinely exciting attacking players in the ranks in Ndiaye and Lindstrøm, the style of play probably won’t change that much. Everton under Dyche will continue to look to get the ball forward early and often, with the predictable effect on the possession stats which last season suggested that the Toffees were better when the opposition had more of the ball.

As long as Calvert-Lewin is up there, Jordan Pickford will still drive plenty of balls long, searching out the striker’s prodigious leap and strong hold-up play but, if the new boys can work their way into the starting XI, Everton should be more effective and consistent with their use of the second ball. That, together with DCL finding his regular scoring boots, could be the key to improving on last season’s tally (outside of the deducted points) and ensuring that the only emotional pain Evertonians suffer this season will be the wrench of leaving Goodison Park after 132 years.

It remains a squad lacking in depth in certain areas, however, so luck with injuries might be key but, absent a fitness crisis, even with a couple of the newly-promoted sides likely to fare better than Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley did last term, and teams like Crystal Palace promising to be stronger under new management, Everton under Dyche look well placed to enjoy that sought-after season of mid-table obscurity that can take them into the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock as a top-flight club.

What happens vis-a-vis the takeover situation is anyone's guess...

Predicted outcomes:

Premier League: 11th
FA Cup: 5th Round
Carabao Cup: Semi-Finals

Follow @EFCLyndon

Reader Comments (10)

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Kunal Desai
1 Posted 15/08/2024 at 07:38:45
Premier League: 10th

FA Cup: 5th Round

Carabao Cup: 4th Round

Derek Knox
2 Posted 15/08/2024 at 07:43:10
Good article as always, Lyndon, and I agree things are looking more positive under Dyche and improving as time goes by.

We seem to still have some room in the transfer situation but could do with those who may go to go now rather than last-minute flurries with deals being too late to complete.

Tony Abrahams
3 Posted 15/08/2024 at 08:01:08
A good write-up, Lyndon, and like you I still believe we need another midfield player, and also another full-back.

If Everton begin to play more progressive football, then I expect this would suit Patterson once he recovers from his latest injury, but we definitely still need cover in this area of the pitch.

I think we have got a few players who can do a job out wide although, because none of them are exceptionally quick, that's all they do. But looking at the squad through different eyes, playing slightly infield will probably suit a lot of our attacking players.

With this in mind, it wouldn't surprise me to see Everton look to try and sign a player who can play as a left-sided wingback; this would give the squad a much greater dimension, and might even suit us because it now looks like we have got three very strong central defenders.

I expect a better season, but I'm still worried about the lack of Premier League experience that none of our new signings possess. This makes me slightly worried about the early part of the season. If we get off to a good start and get the crowd feeling more positive, I think Everton might just surprise a few people this season.

My wish for the season is those gobshites across the park have to burn that flag that keeps going up by a higher number each fucking year! 🤞

Neil Lawson
4 Posted 15/08/2024 at 08:29:58
It's disappointing that mid-table mediocrity is judged a success but it is the reality.

My fear is that Dyche will persist with last season's tactics and players and he will remain reluctant to embrace the skills and the real potential for improvement that Ndiaye, in particular, and Lindstrøm bring. I suspect a monumental groan/sigh when Doucoure appears on Saturday's starting team sheet as he surely will.

However, a stress-free season will do me just fine provided there are some true highlights and magic moments. (And a genuine alternative to Ashley Young at full back… or anywhere else!)

Jimmy Salt
5 Posted 15/08/2024 at 08:30:40
I would like to see a solid Plan B from our leader this season.
Christine Foster
6 Posted 15/08/2024 at 08:31:29
A fairly positive perspective, Lyndon, laced with a little discomfort on the lack of cover (although Garner could play full-back if need be) and (as yet) a bit of head-scratching as to line-up, formation and play. I for one will be more than disappointed if we adopt the same formation and approach without a wideman's pace. Surely this is the key to getting the best out of DCL?

The lack of a No 10 since the little Columbian left is a major concern; Doucoure is not it, never was. Central midfield may be stronger but it's the lack of creativity that will be our biggest problem. Goals come from either wide play or creative play – we have been doing neither, hence our open play conversion was almost non-existent last season.

Hoping for a change of play from Dyche is probably wishful thinking, but it looks like we will be tight through the middle with teams continuing to ping long crossfield balls behind our ageing full-backs where they think we are vulnerable. (We are!)

Overall, I think we will do okay, as long as we don't get stuck in another tench warfare battle trying not to lose points! More trepidation than excitement precedes this season for me… I guess it's called pragmatism!

James Lloyd
7 Posted 15/08/2024 at 08:37:33
I have a lot more hope this season than I've had for a while. The spine of the team is strong, but I'd like some fullbacks and another central midfielder, then I think we have a good balance.

I would be very happy with mid-table, my sons have only been following Everton since we have been flirting with the drop, so to them it would be like winning the league.

Here's hoping 🤞 COYB 🔵

Kevin Edward
8 Posted 15/08/2024 at 08:59:03
Looking forward to seeing how this squad shapes up, not expecting miracles but they have an opportunity to sign off at Goodison Park with a comfortable finish next May away from the trap door.

The cups will be dominated by the usual suspects; if Dyche can deliver a semi-final or final, then just maybe we are turning the corner at last.

It's a historic season ahead, very emotional. I just really hope it's not de-railed by off the pitch matters, and the Premier League.

We want to enjoy the occasions of the last games at Goodison vs teams we have been playing for over 100 years, but there's a strong likelihood that we will end up dominated by VAR and PSR as the Premier League probably haven't finished with us yet.

Takeovers and debt restructuring should take a back seat, but there's too much at stake, thanks to Moshiri.

But on a positive note, UTFT!

Robert Tressell
9 Posted 15/08/2024 at 09:17:51
10th is a bold prediction, Lyndon – as we would have to outperform about 5 or 6 better sides to achieve that. Not impossible – but the new signings would have to hit the ground running and we'd need some luck with injuries too.

I am keen to see Dyche play better football and Ndiaye and Lindstrøm should help enable that – although they will need to prove to Dyche that they can operate within the well-drilled defensive shape before they are trusted. Many fans will criticise Dyche for this but that defensive shape got us a 12th-place finish last season against tremendous odds and we compromise that at our peril.

Otherwise, we need to see partnerships with the chemistry of Branthwaite and Tarkowski emerge in other areas of the pitch – notably flanks and centre-midfield. If we can do that, then an underwhelming finish in 2024-25 could pave the way for a more exciting start to life in the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Paul Tran
10 Posted 15/08/2024 at 09:19:53
That's a good summary, Lyndon. A good sign of progress is that unlike last season, I won't get called 'delusional' for suggesting we'll finish 12th, maybe higher if the new players are played and gel quickly.

The two big questions for me are:

Will the central defence be as solid as last season?

Who (plural) is going to step up and bag some goals this season?

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