It’s already been a busy summer for the Blues. Here, TTT editors Paddy and Sean discuss the main talking points so far, their expectations for the rest of the window, and potential areas to improve.
What do you make of Everton’s business so far?
Paddy: Have to say I’m quietly impressed with the way the club has gone about things. As it stands, we’ve signed Cleverley and Deulofeu for a combined £4.2 million, made David Henen’s loan deal a permanent one and secured Luke Garbutt on a long-term contract. We needed to bring the average age of the squad down, lose some of the deadwood (Alcaraz and Distin) and inject some pace in wide areas, and have done so- the first month of business has to be seen as a real success, even if there is still a way to go.
Sean: It’s always good to see business getting done early, allowing the new faces to have a full pre-season with us. Cleverley on a free is a fairly low risk move (I’m quietly confident he’ll turn out to be a shrewd move) and Deulofeu is a great addition permanently, although I think some fans need to temper their expectations with him. Getting the Garbutt situation sorted early was also important. All in all a good start to the summer, but plenty more needs to be done.
What is still left to improve?
Paddy: I’d advocate moves for at least 1 new centre-back- preferably a physically imposing ball-player in the Ogbonna/van Dijk mode- a creative midfielder, another wide man and a striker if we’re serious about competing again.
Sean: Centre-back is obviously the main priority, with only Stones and Jags as senior players in that role. Ideally, any new centre-back would need to left-footed to offer a balance. A striker is also important, as is a creative number 10 and perhaps maybe someone who can play right back as well.
Is a new striker essential?
Paddy: Definitely, as we’ll get nowhere with injury prone, goal-shy Koné as the sole cover for Lukaku. I know Naismith and Mirallas could play as auxiliary strikers if needs must, but that’s hardly ideal for a club looking to challenge for a top 6 place. As I see it, any sort of serious injury to Rom and we’re royally screwed. Who would score the goals?
Sean: Absolutely. Beyond Lukaku, we’ve got pretty much nothing. Koné has suffered with injuries and a lack of form, and even Rom himself can struggle for consistency. If the Belgian were to get injured, you struggle to see where the goals are going to come from. Mirallas and Naismith would be square pegs in round holes.
Best possible summer transfer scenario? Potential targets?
Paddy: Best possible scenario, in my opinion, would be something like this:
IN: Cleverley, Deulofeu, Shaqiri/Mertens, Ogbonna/van Dijk, Loic Remy & Rafa Silva (or another no.10)
OUT: McGeady, Distin, Alcaraz, Garbutt (loan)
Sean: IN: Cleverley, Deulofeu, A left sided centre back, right back, Mertens (if Mirallas goes) striker (either loan or permanent) one of; Hernandez/Remy/Jovetic
OUT: McGeady, Distin, Alcaraz, Garbutt (loan)
Is Kevin Mirallas expendable?
Paddy: Probably, given his injury record and recent comments about Martinez. He’s still a very talented player, and a major goal-threat, but it speaks volumes that even after his regular “come and get me” pleas in the Belgian media, second-tier sides like Fenerbahce, Olympiakos, Spurs and Monaco are the only ones being linked. If he goes and, say, Dries Mertens (who is ahead of Mirallas in the Belgium pecking order) replaces him, would we be any worse off?
Sean: Obviously nobody is irreplaceable, but to lose Mirallas would be a blow. Although he struggles with injuries, he’s a threat and probably the one you’d look to behind Lukaku for goals. Both Belgians have also developed a good understanding on the pitch. Evidently, he’s not been totally settled in recent months, but surely the calibre of teams being linked isn’t something we should be too concerned about is it? Monaco, Spurs, Olympiakos are sideways steps at best.
Does the club need to tie the likes of McCarthy down?
Paddy: Of course- there’s been lots of speculation surrounding his future, and rumours that McCarthy’s agent is unhappy that others are signing improved deals while his client’s outstanding performances have gone unrecognised. He’s an essential part of the way we play, and is not on a massive deal as it is, so I’d say he’s worth an improved deal, yeah.
Sean: McCarthy has been terrific since he arrived, and I can understand if he feels a little unrewarded for his efforts. That said, the club showed a lot of faith in him giving him a long term deal in the first place, one which still has plenty of time to run, so perhaps his agent has been a little premature. What Everton mustn’t do though is allow it to get out of hand, and if McCarthy genuinely feels he is not appreciated by the club, this must be addressed one way or another.
Is Gibson worthy of a contract extension?
Paddy: Difficult one, this. I’m of the opinion that he’s actually our best option as a deep-lying midfielder/creator if he’s fit, but he plays far too few games to be worth anything other than a ‘pay-as-you-play’ deal. Such a shame, as his range of passing enhances our play and offers us something completely different.
Sean: He’s our best passer and would help get the best out of the likes of Lukaku and Deulofeu who like the ball put in front of them. His injuries though have been well-documented, so can the club really afford to keep paying someone who is constantly in the treatment room? I like Paddy’s idea of a ‘pay-as-you-play’ deal, although these are usually given players the wrong side of 30. I doubt whether the 27 year-old Irishman would be willing to accept such a deal.
How do you envisage Barkley’s role developing in the coming months?
Paddy: Barkley’s decision-making is still lacking, and he’s best running into space with the ball, so he’d no doubt be best served as an 8 (akin to Pogba and Toure). His best game last season was QPR at home, where he impressed with his all-round game- I’d probably try him there in pre-season.
Sean: The more I see Barkley, the more unsure I am of his best position. He’s clearly much better going forward than he is defensively, which suggests an advanced attacking midfield role would suit him more. But it’s also obvious he’s at his best with space in front of him to run into, something which he’d find in a deeper position. Provided we can bring in a creative number 10, and given his struggles last season, perhaps it might be time to give him a run of games in the centre of midfield, and see if he can dictate games.
What do you make of Everton’s pre-season plans- good or bad?
Paddy: Time will tell if the pre-season has sufficiently prepared the players for what is to come, but I’d say that on paper, the schedule looks much stronger than last year’s. I fully believe that, although there were mitigating factors like fatigue and the Brazil World Cup, the players were under-cooked going into the last campaign, and this affected results.
Sean: It can’t be any worse than last pre-season can it? Its 7 games this time compared to 5, so immediately that seems more positive. We benefited, I believe, from a tournament in Martinez’s first pre-season in the USA, so the inclusion of another one in Singapore, albeit in a slightly different format, is a welcome addition. Hopefully we’ll have a full squad for the whole of pre-season this time round as well.
