Be postive !!!

PeterPrinciple · November 24, 2015

Im fairly positive, but the reason any of them would move is money. A number high enouh for the player and club and it happens

the sniderman · November 24, 2015

Zatara said:
In what is becoming a really exciting season for us, in typical Evertonian fashion there's a fair bit of panic regarding keeping hold of our players....

1-- John Stones.

Put in the transfer request which shocked most of us as we didnt think he was that "type". Sees Chelsea nosediving and now 1st choice for Everton and being pushed by all pundits as 1st choice for England. Could only really go to UTD/CITY/Barca/Real/Bayern/PSG for a huge amount of money though again, why move at this stage?

2-- Ross Barkley

Local player given freedom by Martinez and looks now to be first choice for England. Enjoying his football and playing for his boyhood club. He has no reason to move.

3-- Romelu Lukaku

Terrible time with Chelsea and winning acolades with us as one of few to net 50 goals before turning 23. His all round play has improved enormously with last season a major focus on hold up play. I think Juve couldnt afford him and PSG havent a need for him yet + both leagues are a step down.

4-- Gerard Deulofeu

Mistreated by Barca and Sevilla. Has a buyout clause with Barca BUT:
A-- Would need to agree to return
B-- Cannot be re-sold within 12months
C-- We have 1st option to buyback
D-- Massively improving with us

Unless he's guaranteed a starting place why would he go back and why would he play under Enrique again? They have Suarez/Messi/Neymar/Turan and more so its unlikely he would take a chance of 12months of limited action if he returned. Has made it clear we were the only club he wanted to join and loves it here.

5-- Roberto Martinez

Must now be starting to feel that last season was a "blip" and is seeing the squad taking shape a bit more and playing his style. With a few players clearly not favoured and others running out of contract he should see a huge opportunity in the next two windows to improve us even further. He must be loving his job.

6-- McCarthy /Coleman

Linked with moves away in the summer but playing every game and are the embodiment of the team spirit at the club (along with Jags/Baines etc) which comes through in interviews.

7-- Mume Besic

Said he was happy to play so much last season and enjoying his time with us. Has been injured this season but played when fit. Clearly the successor to Barry and no reason at all to suspect he wants to move.

Now is the time to enjoy this team and the individuals we have at the club. The potential we have is unlimited and if Martinez can keep making us stronger every window we have the makings of our best side since the 80's.

Onwards and upwards!!!!

100%. keep fighting the good fight brother.

WA Toffee · November 24, 2015

ijjysmith said:
We're still above that shower yeah?

But it's all about the alternative table now. That is where true titles are won

eurosrees · November 24, 2015

http://www.football365.com/news/everton-theyre-good-but-theyll-only-get-better

I've just read this, then put a large sum on us winning the Champions League in 2017.

dholliday · November 24, 2015

Zatara said:
The potential we have is unlimited and if Martinez can keep making us stronger every window we have the makings of our best side since the 80's.

A bit of a meaningless statement this. If we keep getting stronger every window we'll be the best team in the world within 10 years. Limitless potential!

We were hyping Joe Royle's team as well as 04/05 & 08/09 as successors to the 85-87 sides. Those players either won a cup or qualified for Europe, as we know Moyes' sides regularly finished best-of-the-rest...3 times in all he bagged 5th and once that 4th place.

Martinez's mission is to replicate the success of his first season by qualifying for Europe. If he does that, then I think thoughts about best side since the 80's may be a little more valid.

I'm holding fort on the positive-future front until the end of the season...optimism has scarred me in the past :cheers:

catcherintherye · November 24, 2015

dholliday said:
A bit of a meaningless statement this. If we keep getting stronger every window we'll be the best team in the world within 10 years. Limitless potential!

We were hyping Joe Royle's team as well as 04/05 & 08/09 as successors to the 85-87 sides. Those players either won a cup or qualified for Europe, as we know Moyes' sides regularly finished best-of-the-rest...3 times in all he bagged 5th and once that 4th place.

Martinez's mission is to replicate the success of his first season by qualifying for Europe. If he does that, then I think thoughts about best side since the 80's may be a little more valid.
I'm holding fort on the positive-future front until the end of the season...optimism has scarred me in the past

I am not sure this 11 is as strong as either of the sides you mentioned. However I think it has a greater potential. In different ways both of the previous sides were castle's built on sand.

Royle essentially got the best out of a group of experienced and underperforming players. Limpar, Horne, Rideout, Southall and Watson had all seen better days and were on the way down and in some cases were past there sell by date. When you consider the unfortunate injury to Parkinson and the loss of form of Kanchelskis you can see why it all went wrong quickly. It was an older side with an average age in the late 20's.

Take Moyes's side, again similar in make up. Always a very strong starting 11 but struggled with the squad that was required. Likewise never quite enough young players coming through to replace people as they lost form with age. That's why we then had to spend a lot to replace and there was never quite enough in the kitty. Likewise, Yakubu aside we never had enough money to buy a striker of Lukaku's quality. I always thought we were a 20 goal a season striker short under Moyes.

For Martinez look what we have now. On Saturday we had 5 players under 23 in the outfield players. I would say 4 of them are amongst the top 10 performing young players in world football currently. You can see the improvements in all of them over the last 18 month-2 years. That process will continue and is very exciting. We also have young players like Browning and a host of others who may step up when required. While the team may not be as strong yet, if Barkley/Stones/Deulofeu/Lukaku can continue their development we will be a serious threat.

We need a new goalkeeper. Outside of that it's difficult to see any areas that need massive overhaul. For Moyes he always needed more depth and a top striker. Royle's side you could see would struggle once some of the guys who gave us a last swansong caught up with them. Under Moyes and Royle I never really felt we were destined for greatness. I didn't really think we had much chance of winning things. I think this side can.

dholliday · November 24, 2015

catcherintherye said:
I am not sure this 11 is as strong as either of the sides you mentioned. However I think it has a greater potential. In different ways both of the previous sides were castle's built on sand.

Royle essentially got the best out of a group of experienced and underperforming players. Limpar, Horne, Rideout, Southall and Watson had all seen better days and were on the way down and in some cases were past there sell by date. When you consider the unfortunate injury to Parkinson and the loss of form of Kanchelskis you can see why it all went wrong quickly. It was an older side with an average age in the late 20's.

Take Moyes's side, again similar in make up. Always a very strong starting 11 but struggled with the squad that was required. Likewise never quite enough young players coming through to replace people as they lost form with age. That's why we then had to spend a lot to replace and there was never quite enough in the kitty. Likewise, Yakubu aside we never had enough money to buy a striker of Lukaku's quality. I always thought we were a 20 goal a season striker short under Moyes.

For Martinez look what we have now. On Saturday we had 5 players under 23 in the outfield players. I would say 4 of them are amongst the top 10 performing young players in world football currently. You can see the improvements in all of them over the last 18 month-2 years. That process will continue and is very exciting. We also have young players like Browning and a host of others who may step up when required. While the team may not be as strong yet, if Barkley/Stones/Deulofeu/Lukaku can continue their development we will be a serious threat.

We need a new goalkeeper. Outside of that it's difficult to see any areas that need massive overhaul. For Moyes he always needed more depth and a top striker. Royle's side you could see would struggle once some of the guys who gave us a last swansong caught up with them. Under Moyes and Royle I never really felt we were destined for greatness. I didn't really think we had much chance of winning things. I think this side can.

good post, catcher...agree with most of what you say, except that 4 of the best top 10 young players wearing our royal blue is a bit overly-positive. We're not top 6 in the league right now, haven't beaten the top sides in a while (bar Chelsea) and last year finished 11th having got knocked out of Europe by a 2nd-tier club.

We desperately need a new keep, and he needs to be a world-class acquisition...spending 20m+ if need be.