Moyes contends with thin squad as Everton’s era of short-termism catches up with club

I mentioned a month or so ago Andy that I'm concerned about the age of a lot of the players we're being linked with and the corresponding lack of on sell value. Admittedly most of it is click bait and I should just wait & see what the squad actually looks like at the Leeds game. Barry is 22, Fellows and the guy from Ipswich are young so that gives me hope of a more balanced squad of youth & experience. It's sad that Leeds, West Ham and even Sunderland seem to be our main rivals for players we're reportedly interested in.

Some of us, even when the 100% accurate Guardian piece states the blindingly obvious, for years, want to in their words credibly, repeat, credibly move on from a past that for decades incrementally destroyed our club, without ever credibly stating how it might be reversed (and that's not a criticism, because I think Friedkin hasn't a clue either).

Some of us are deluded. We'll still be ploughing the poor soil of recruitment bestowed on us by the self-serving connivance of those in charge, for thirty years and more, for years to come.

Cheers Don.
That’s great.
Good night.

Well it's another hot night Mark, so sleep as well as unarguable reality allows you mate.

Morning Don!

I slept the sleep of the innocent and remain optimistic that we are on the up.

Blue skies all round.

Happy thoughts.

The Guardian article is a summary of what Evertonians already know. But, I would contend that things are not as dire as they are being made out to be, especially with the re-signing of Gueye & Keane, the signing of Alcaraz and Branthwaite's contract extension.

I believe that 5-6 more players is what we need to add to the squad and here is my list of probable additions:

Goalkeeper - Olsen (free)
Full Backs - Tagliafico, Walker-Peters (free, or if we are unable to land both, a right back for about 20 million)
Midfield - Douglas Luiz (15-20 million)
Right Wing - Kubo (25-30 million)
Forward - Barry (30 million)

So, a net outlay of between 80-100 million, which is doable.

The squad would look like this:

GK: Pickford, Olsen, Tyrer
FBs: Mykolenko, Patterson, Tagliafico, Walker-Peters (or another), Coleman
CBs: Tarkowski, Branthwaite, O'Brien, Keane
MF: Gueye, Garner, Luiz, Iroegbunam, Armstrong
Wingers/Attacking MF: Ndiaye, Alacaraz, McNeil, Kubo
Strikers: Beto, Barry, Chermiti

We would have back-ups for almost every position. We could potentially put out 2 starting XIs:

1st Choice XI: (4-2-3-1)

Pickford
Walker-Peters Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gueye Luiz
Kubo Alcaraz Ndiaye
Barry

2nd Choice XI: (4-4-2)

Olsen
Patterson O'Brien Keane Tagliafico
Armstrong Garner Iroegbunam McNeil
Chermiti Beto

I am optimistic about the new season (as always), and hopefully we will be challenging at the top half of the league.

Get in Mark. You're worse (or better?!) than me for optimism.

I hope Billy enjoys the occasion and you the day.

I take it, the ceremony will be in the Anglican Cathedral. My son's was when he graduated from John Moores.

Be sure to cleanse yourself after you leave!!!

Have a great and proud day.