04 Jun 2022 09:45:19
My thoughts on the squad
Goal Keepers
Pickford Begovic Lonergan Tyrer Virginia
Right back
Patterson Coleman Kenny
Centre Back
Mina Keane Godfrey Holgate Branthwaite
Left Back
Mykolenko Nkounkou
Midfield
Gomes Davies Sigurdsson Allan Doucoure Townsend Iwobi Richarlison Gray Delph Gbamin Gordon
Centre Forward
DCL Dobbin Simms Rondon Tosun
I've not included Van de Beek or El Ghazi as they have returned to their clubs from loan or Kean who is contracted to leave
So, 32 players and we can only register 25 for the premier League squad. Not 100% sure on the rules but I think you can play U21's in the EPL as well so maybe Tyrer, Branthwaite, Nkounkou and Dobbin can register as U21 but still feature in the EPL. Is that right Eds? I'm also not well up on the U21's and who else could move up to the first team. I think Townsend is the only long term injury we have that might not feature first half of next season at least
Out of contract so are likely to leave the club are Tosun, Kenny, Delph, Sigurdsson, Lonergan although there are rumours that Kenny is to be offered new contract
32 less 5 out of contract less possibly 4 who could be classed as U21's but available for first team less 1 long term injured gives us 22, 23 if we give Kenny a new contract
If we look at which areas need strengthening. Again I must stress I don't know who might be coming up out of the youth squad so opinions based on the players above
Goalkeeper - Pickford, Begovic, Tyrer and Virginia
I don't feel this is a position that should be priority to strengthen. Pickford, if he stays is the England No 1 and his work last season helped us stay up, Begovic is an able understudy and the 2 youngsters seem to be progressing reasonably well. The only question is could we cash in on Pickford and find a cheaper replacement such as Pope. I wouldn't change it but can see the arguments for and against it
Right Back - Coleman, Patterson, Kenny
Now it starts to depend on the formation Frank wants to play. If he decides on wing backs Iwobi also comes into the equation. Coleman has been a great servant but he is coming to the end of his career and is finding it increasingly difficult to play 2 games a week competitively. He is also picking up injuries so can't really be relied upon to be available every week. Patterson I'm hoping will be a good buy and will quickly become first pick. Kenny I'm not sure on giving him another contract although his passion for Everton and the low wages (only ¾ million a year! ) is in his favour. He also provided a couple of good assists so maybe he is improving. My call would be to find one addition
Centre Back Mina, Keane, Holgate, Godfrey and Branthwaite
None fill you with confidence, do they? Mina injury prone, Keane in and out of confidence, Holgate showed signs of improvement during run but too rash at times and should be playing better more consistently, Godfrey I'm hoping it was a bad case of C.V. because he went backwards last season and Branthwaite wasn't really used but we forget how young he is. I'm ignoring Coleman who played in a back 3 because of my comments above. Whether it is as a back3 or even as a back 4 these weren't good enough. I think we need at least one more signing but it needs to be someone who can lead the rest of the defence, similar to a Thiago Silva or a Johnny Evans. In terms of sales - and this would depend ofn whether we could get the right offers my priority would be Mina just because of his injuries, Keane and then Holgate but Mina and Keane are on very good contracts so I don't see them wanting to leave unless we give them away
Left Back Mykolenko, Nkounkou
If we can keep Nkounkou at Everton next season we should be OK but it won't be easy keeping him happy now he has experienced playing regularly but we have to be hard
Midfield Gomes, Davies, Allan, Doucoure, Gray, Gordon, Richarlison, Townsend, Iwobi, Gbamin
The only ones I'd want to keep are Richarlison, Gordon, Gray, Iwobi. The rest I think we could get better. Gbamin, the big if is IF he is fit might be another and Townsend I don't think we would be able to sell due to his injury. I also don't think Ricky will stay as he deserves a bigger club than we are now. So that's 5 out and probably 6 in as we are short in defensive midfield. PRIORITY AREA
Centre Forward DCL Rondon, Dobbin, Simms
I think we will be forced to sell DCL and Rondon isn't capable in the EPL anymore so that leaves us with 2 untried youngsters. We desperately need strengthening and it's tough buying 20 goals a season strikers when money is tight PRIORITY AREA.
21 Jun 2022 22:42:49
Short and snappy post ?.