January is the biggest month in modern Everton history.
It is a month in which we need a complete revamp of the squad in every position. We need a new direction in which to take the squad. We need fresh ideas. We need results.
We need help.
Koeman, so far, has not had a successful start to life at the club. An embarrassing transfer window culminated in a honeymoon period swiftly passing us by, and as that, results went with the wind.
Two wins in 12 games. That’s beyond relegation form.
That’s the thing. If we keep this form up, we will be relegated. Objectively.
I’m not suggesting that we will, of course, we’ll pick up at some point, but waiting isn’t the way to do it. We need to galvanise the entire club in January, and there’s only one way we do that.
Signings.
But beyond that, we need to try something. We need to blood the youngsters into the team.
See I say that but there’s no ‘blooding’ involved, they’re all fully fledged, senior footballers who trump our ‘experienced’ crop. Mason Holgate and Tom Davies to name a couple. They need to be in the first team, for effort if nothing less.
Koeman has recently begun to turn to Dominic Calvert-Lewin in order time solve some attacking woes, but to call this a baptism of fire is an understatement. He’s been brought on against Arsenal and against Liverpool, in our two most important games of the season. He’s done well, but it’s not enough.
We need a change of formation, of system entirely, as the one-up-top style leaves too much room for drifters and too much opportunity for Romelu Lukaku to become isolated. It’s been a broken record, harking back to Martinez ever since his first game, and it’s been stale for two years now. When something’s out of date, it doesn’t become fresh again.
The player occupying this out of date formation are equally expired. Gareth Barry has been a massive hindrance for most of this season, Phil Jagielka is an embarrassing captain and Ashley Williams has been far from stellar. It’s the ageing core that passes on its lethargic ways to the sparks of the team, so they’re limited in just how effective they can be.
Change that.
Enner Valencia has been a much-needed addition to the squad, but Koeman is insistent on playing him out wide, still leaving Lukaku horribly alone up top.
Anyway, importantly…
We need five players. No less.
And they all have to be exceptional players if we even want to think about being in the race for European spots. We go into the window linked with high-profile names. It’s a familiar feeling, so approach with apprehensive optimism.
Actually, it’d just be better to approach with no optimism and position yourself in a fetal position, preferably wall-facing in a darkened room, and await the signing of a Russian League player on deadline day for an extortionate fee only to miss out on a locker and any remaining shreds of pride for six months.
I’m not going into it with much hope, personally. I’ve lost a lot of faith in Koeman, and he’s done nothing to regain any trust at all. Steve Walsh’s backroom team remain an enigma, and Farhad Moshiri has yet to invest in the transfer window.
Why should we be going in with confidence?
So have a firm grasp on the noose, a fluttering cursor over your refresh on Twitter and repent.
Forever, ever loving the blues. Repent and grovel.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
