31 Jul 2016 10:31:40
This is for the few fellow Blues who have been in "dispute" with me re the state of our squad and potential for this season. Firstly thanks to those who have tried to cheer me up . particularly NBTB. Cheers mate. Secondly, I want you all to know that for once in my life, I really do hope that all my fears are misplaced and I really want to be wrong. Never before have I so desperately wanted to end up with egg on my face and say to you guys. I was wrong and you were all right! Thirdly, the season starts in a couple of weeks, so we will all know then how we look. Fourthly, I do keep praying and hoping that I will wake up soon one day and see on the news that we have signed 5 or 6 new players. Ones who score goals from midfield. A cracking center half. A young version of Gareth Barry who has pace. I would also like to see an improvement on current players. A James McCarthy who can tackle AND make a forwards pass. One that sets Lukaku free. A Niasse who does not tread on the ball and actually takes it with him when he sets off on a run. A rejuvenated Baines who once again gets to the corner flag and whips in a wicked cross for someone to head in. A Lennon with some consistency. Brilliant every week not every 3rd week. A Del Boy who blossoms into a fantastic finisher rather than creating 4 chances before he puts one in the net. Mirallas like he used to be. getting shots on target all the time. Stones playing for us like he did against Manchester United in the 2nd half. Lukaku scoring goals like he did against Chelsea. Instead of sulking. getting angry and shaking off defenders. Elbowing them if necessary. Barging them with his 17 stone or whatever he is. The new keeper (cant spell his name yet) looking like Neville Southall. Besic shifted to play sweeper like Macherano does for Barcelona and looking so calm and cool yet getting in those last ditch tackles all the time. But there we go. Life carries on. I do still dream. just a couple of weeks to go boys!
31 Jul 2016 11:05:26
That's more like it Degsy! Who is to say who is right or wrong? We won't know until the season starts. My optimism may be misplaced, but the way I see it a lot of work HAS to be going on behind the scenes, as we do need at least 4 players in my opinion. Realistically I think the state of the squad is not as bad as you make out, but probably isn't as good as I feel it is. I just have faith that work is being done on the down low. If we sign 3 quality players this week we may all feel more positive :)
31 Jul 2016 11:08:44
Have to say i agreed with your last post in reply to mine. Its something all Managers do at end of each Season. Who is not part of your plans (age n talent) , who is, who is likely to be courted by other clubs, where needs strengthening, whos your Historical injured players, what's the discipline like re suspensions, the youth coming through. If we did that as fans to the last squad written on the back of the Proey for last game of Season, you will find as you did, that you have a threadbare Everton squad, in your case only 11 definite players. Its why this team needs big investment, maybe not all at once but enough to make a difference. At the end of the day it has to end up as Koemans team, not Martinez' team, otherwise were in trouble.
31 Jul 2016 11:23:20
lets hope so, I get a feeling that a lot of our business is so dependant on Lukaku and stones, ie a major striker and central defender, the likes of Gueye etc are squad strengthening but replacing those two will need to be marque signings.
Lets not forget when Koeman first went to Southampton he lost all his top players mainly to the RS, and still managed to unearth some top players in time for the season!
31 Jul 2016 11:52:11
And that's where Walsh comes in. It was not Koeman unearthing gems at Southampton. it was his backroom staff. Likewise at Leicester. Everton have done the right thing by bfringing Walsh in. they just did the wrong thing for 3 seasons before . hence such poor signings during that time. let's see if we can get some in quickly.
31 Jul 2016 12:05:36
Degsy, good post mate but look at the teams we have had this pre-season. All have been a mixture of kids and experienced players. Koeman has been assessing the players and now has to pick his first team. He will now know who we need and who does not fit into his plan. He will also know if Stones and Lukaku are to go or stay and what dead-wood we need to ship out. The next few weeks will be critical and I expect new sightings will arrive this week. Keep the faith mate, we are at the beginning of a new era, it will take some time to irradiate the failures of the past but it will happen.
31 Jul 2016 12:25:33
Degsy fantastic first post! I do try to put some positive spin on things and at times for you, no problem. It comes natural to me. Particularly now as how the club seems to be taking care of business. I'm very impressed with the goings on in the last 3-4 months. Getting Koeman and Walsh makes me think everything will fall into place.
IMO why are people freaking out and being worried about signings? We have 2 top names in our manager and DoF. Things will inevitably fall into place. These 2 people know what they are about and got recruited for that simple reason. That's simply why I'm both impressed and contented with our last 3-4 months and also our future.
Its all good. Degsy your last post is speculation that the reason Koeman done well at Southampton was because of signings done by others. You maybe right. I can't say for sure who it was down to.
One thing I can say for sure is that Koeman managed the team and it was him that ensured they done well. Regardless of who identified the players to sign. It was Koeman that picked the style, tactics and team selection. That has to account for something.
I have no doubt this will be the case at Everton. Also Koeman was able to get Southampton to perform after loosing players. He has to get credit for that.
Chin up, the future is very bright! Imigine if we didn't have all these changes. Then I would fear for our future. Since FM came in he shook things up. Our future is fantastic and I look forward to enjoying next season.
31 Jul 2016 12:44:52
I actually think the Walsh Koeman partnership will work. but it will take a couple of seasons. It is a bit like how Brian Clough and Peter Taylor were when they built the European Cup winning team at Nottingham Forest. Clough would say he needed a tough tackling center half. uncompromising. and Taylor would go out and scour for one. Clough knew what he wanted but didn't have the ability to go out and find these players. let's hope that we have as much success as those Forest players all those years ago.
31 Jul 2016 14:51:57
If you think it will work then there is no need to worry. Sit back and enjoy the ride. I look at things in an alternative fashion.
What is the alternative to having Koeman and Walsh? I would imigine still having BK making all the decisions and Martinez as manager.
So which alternative would you rather? I know I'd pick Koeman and Walsh with Moshiri every time.
Not taking away from BK. He done fantastic as chairman and even done better finding our new investor. Martinez was a problem IMO. Never wanted him personally.
That's why I'm happy and looking forward to the new season. Couldn't ask for a better summer so far. New management and set up along with investment. Our long term future is secure. Last season we looked like going backwards.
That's why I think you think things are worse than they are Degsy. Your looking at last season through the lenses of Martinez.
Next season under the lense of Koeman it will be a lot better and pleasant. I'm convinced. Of course I'll be gutted if it doesn't work out. Can't see that happening though.
31 Jul 2016 15:57:46
No NBTB, it is not just last season. Even when Martinez was having a great 1st season I was slagging him off in certain areas. Partiularly the way he was letting the average age of the squad increase. Ok he was bringing in potential youngsters. but that was just it. they were potential youngsters and not ready for the first team. Even now when I see we might be signing Ashley Williams I shudder. At best he is a stop gap signing and might be finished in a year or two. A good manager has a blend in the team. All age groups. Swan and me used to have some right ding dongs about it. I was saying we had Osman, Pienaar, Jags, Distin, Howard, Hibbert all coming up to retirement and he sells Anichebe and signs Barry, Alcaraz, Kone? Look at the ages of them all. He was taking the average age of the 1st team up to about 29. With Gibbo's injury record, I was saying we would pay the price. I don't want to go on and on about the last manager, but Mr Koeman has a big job on to sort it out. The other oint I always go on about is the lack of goalscorers. Some players have it. and some just dont. He seemed to go for (Lukaku apart) midfielders who have never had it and never will. The one player in the squad who had it (Miarallas) never got a game under him. let's hope that Koeman picks him and gets his confidence back. To think McGeady was signed and picked ahead of Mirallas is crazy in my opinion. Lennon too. Mirallas in form is unstoppable.
31 Jul 2016 16:20:22
You keep mentioning the age of tbe squad Degsy, but let's be honest. Yes he didn't replace Hibbo, Peanuts and Osman. But Anichebe was an awful player. Glad we sold him. Kone unfortunately didn't pay off. The thing is, now Koeman has the opportunity to replace, and upgrade those players. And you mention about Williams. If I'm correct he is the same age as Distin was when we signed him, and we got a good 5 years out of him.
31 Jul 2016 17:00:15
I meant it came to a head last season Degsy. Obviously it was accumulating over the 3 years Martinez was here. I like you was happy with Moyes. I wasn't with Martinez. Last season was truely 100% Martinez compared to his first season which is obvious to everyone now was not his doing.
I don't agree with you on his recruiting. He done well IMO. It was just his tactics, team selection etc that I had a problem with. IMHO the squad is well balanced. There is youngsters coming through. Yes only some will make it but that's better than none.
Them along with what we have and the money that will be used to spend will blend a very good squad. Especially when it's Koeman and Walsh that's assembling them.
The way some supporters are talking you'd swear we had a bad team in place. If Martinez was still here I would definitely be fearful. He's not and it is our new management.
Don't care what positions we need to fill. Who we need to sell etc. It will all be taken care of. I'll be rubbing my hands first day of the season.
31 Jul 2016 18:26:14
I wish I had your optimism NBTB. And BlueTommy it is more than the few you mention. Alcaraz, McGeady, Niasse, Cleverly, Lennon. ok Lennon has done ok. But all through that time Distin goes. Mori comes in. Good one that. But now Jags is at the end. Baines is not far off. Gibson was never replaced. Barry did well to last so far but is surely past it now? I would guess its like having a car with 150 thousand miles on the clock. It is ok but not quite as fast as it used to be and could break down any minute. that's why he gets booked every game now. He has to foul when players go past him. We should have been signing players from lower leagues and foreign ones. More of the class of Mori. I have said enough on this now.
31 Jul 2016 21:34:28
Degsy Alcaraz, McGeady and Niasse were bad signings yes. But did you expect Martinez to get every signing right? I hope for your sake your answer is no.
Distin, Jags and Baines did get older but what was Martinez to do about that? He brought in plenty of young centre backs. At least one or two will make it. Galloway done well under him.
Cleverly was a free and Lennon was also good value. Gibson I rate, but really he needed replacing? I don't think so. If you want he has replaced himself as he is still here.
Barry was an excellent signing. Dread to think what would have happened without him.
As I said last season was an accumulation of Martinez influence. IMHO he has left a fairly decent squad behind. IMO they would be valued more now than they would have been before.
We can talk about this until the cows come home. I'll sit back and let Koeman and Walsh work their magic. I'll come back on here and tell you I told you so and we'll all be happy. Bob's your uncle and there you have it.
Over and out!