28 Nov 2016 11:04:10
One thing that occurred to me was that in the old divisions, a team that was promoted from division 2 to division 1 inevitably struggled. Often they would get immediately relegated after one season in the top flight. However, in today's modern game, teams like Burnley, Middlesborough, Hull, Watford, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Leicester City (and we all know how well they did last season) Newcastle, Norwich, Villa. and many more are capable of being in either division and yet can put decent performances in. or are maybe just 1 or 2 players short of being a decent side and can give any of the premiership teams a game. That tells me that all of these teams have a plan or way of playing. It also tells me that they all have some decent players. that's a lot of clubs with some decent players that should want to come to a club like Everton (just like Koeman wanted to) . So we must be an attraction. However, I psted a couple of years ago about Martinez changing from what Moyes had done. ie Moyes scoured the "lower" clubs for young up and coming players. eg Cahill, Stones, Pienaar, Baines etc. Martinez went to Man City for Barry, Chelsea for Lukaku, Man Utd for Cleverly (although technically he was a free) . I may have some bits of this wrong, but it is something I feelin my bones that we were looking for younger up and coming players 5 years ago who had the ability to almost slot straight into the 1st team squad. Now we seem to be waiting for the "top" clubs to release players and we have their cast offs. I guess you could say McCarthy was one from Wigan. but at the same time we brought in Alcaraz, Kone and Joel. You could argue Joel was an up and coming keeper. but it is in my gut feeling that we changed 5 years ago from targetting these up and coming youngsters . the bright young stars from what is basically our competitors in a business sense. We also seemed to have more success bringing in players like Fellaini, Mirrallas, Gravesen etc from abroad. I just have the feeling that we have lost our way a little. We definately should have signed the Southampton center half Van Dyke. He was reasonably priced and looks not only a giant but skillfull too. Certainly better than Mori. I hope we can start rebuilding with youth and get a decent squad together. It is sad that we rely on players like Barry who really does well for us but is clearly nospring chicken. The next 2 seasons are going to be a real time of change for Everton. let's all hope its for the better.
28 Nov 2016 11:38:27
In the past, the club's finances were such that we couldn't afford to bring in - let alone attract - established talent for big fees on big wages. Indeed, our business model was mainly to bring in lower-tier players, develop them, and transfer out one of them every season or so in order in order to fund the club's ongoing operations.
With the arrival of the massive television money, that model changed to bringing in some high-earning, high-fee, often well-established players with the aim of becoming regular European qualifiers and hopefully win some silverware.
When that fails, we're left with an ageing, under-performing, high-earning, mainly low transfer value squad that will take several transfer windows to rebuild (not least because of the financial regulations) . Also, because other clubs have money these days, fees and wages are hugely inflated - its Monopoly money these days!
On top of this, we'll remain financial minnows compared to the Champions League clubs until we get a modern stadium and until we can significantly increase our commercial income.
28 Nov 2016 11:50:18
Degsy I'm not even going to attempt to read that. You seriously need to put paragraphs in long posts.
28 Nov 2016 12:34:29
Aside from Leicester no one has ever been in the CL never mind challenge for the PL with a team of champioship players. Hopefully we will continue to go out and purchase players of calibre rather than constantly bring in lower end players that pose a higher risk.
Last summer was the first time we've done it. This January and the summer to come if we do the same will make us stronger than we've ever been.
I just hope that never again we have to constantly look to the lower leagues to go shopping in for 90% of our purchases.
28 Nov 2016 13:12:08
fitness, nutrition and sports psychology have also improved tremendously Degsy, I would argue thus creating a far more level professional playing field.
28 Nov 2016 16:09:26
Some good points there. I like the one about our past involving bringing in lower tier players and transfering them out at great profit. And there is the crux of what I was trying to say. There is now no need to transfer them out. We can get lower tier players and keep them. The comment of higher calibre players is right to a point. but all players start somewhere. eg Bolasie cost us an astronomical figure. 3 seasons ago we could have got him for next to nothing off Bristol City. Or for even less a year before from Plymouth. the same player from a lower league. John Stones came from Barnsley for around 3 mill. should we wait for the next John Stones to develop and then pay 47 million like Man City did? And by the way. Everton qualified for the Champions league about 10 years ago with players like I mentioned in my original post. Add to this Blackburn, Newcastle and Leeds. plus I am not suggesting we haveonly championship players. just that we seem to have had a turn around of wasting money on older players nearing the ends of their careers. and that is my point. I for one would rather sign up and coming players like Bolasie 3 years ago. Like Van Dyke a year ago. Like Stones 3 years ago.
29 Nov 2016 15:07:55
We qualified for the qualifying stages of the CL. Not quite the same thing.
As for Blackburn. They bought quality players (the first club to do a . Newcastle bought quality players (Still didn't win anything) . Leeds were in an era were English football was one of the worst leagues in Europe.
1 or 2 is fine Degsy but if you want success this isn't the way to do it. You have to buy quality proven players on a regular basis not the other way around.