Best squad in 25 years (part 2)

[Zatara]

So, a few things have changed since my 'Best squad in 25 years" thread. Mostly of course Mori and Besic stepping up and also of course the players in /out over the window and of course Howard being the most disliked player since Alex Nyarko (perhaps).

Here (in my opinion) is where we stand ON PAPER now and prior to the summer activity using August for the player ages:


GK -- ??? / Robles (26)
LB -- Baines (31) / Garbutt (23)
LCB -- Mori (25) / Galloway (20)
RCB -- Jagielka (34) / Stones (22)
RB -- Coleman (27) / ???
DM -- Barry (35) / McCarthy (25)
CM -- Besic (23) / Cleverley (27)
AM -- Barkley (22) / Tarashaj (21)
LF -- Niasse (26) / Kone (32)
CF -- Lukaku (23) / ???
RW -- Deulofeu (22) / Lennon (29)

Unknown if still in squad after summer:
Mirallas (28)
Pennington (21)
Holgate (19)
Browning (22)
Leandro (23)

Out of Contract
Oviedo (26)
Hibbert (35)
Osman (35)
Gibson (28)
Pienaar (34)
Mattioni (27)

Perhaps for sale
Howard (37)
McAleny (24)
McGeady (30)


In my opinion we will see the following players leave in the summer:
Howard (37)
Hibbert (35)
Osman (35)
McGeady (30)
Mirallas (28)
Gibson (28)
Mattioni (27)
Oviedo (26)
McAleny (24)

This leaves us with:
19 squad players
4 players unknown
9 players out

A couple of other areas of interest:

A-- Barry will be 35 years old soon with a year on his contract. Will this mean McCarthy in longer term here or Besic also moving back into defensive midfield to compete with McCarthy?

B-- Kone will be 32 with a year on his contract, is he competing with Niasse or Lukaku now?

C-- Jagielka will be 34 with two years on his contract meaning if Stones is indeed sold do we need to sign two centre backs in case Jags does a 'Distin' or could Holgate / Galloway come through here as squad players at RCB and LCB?

D-- Will Martinez persist with the left sided forward role which was tried with Kone and now seems likely for Niasse, or if this doesnt work out will Niasse then be competition for Lukaku leaving LW needing to be filled?

E-- Are there any players able to step up in the summer such as Kenny (19) @BlueToff @catcherintherye ?


I think we need to bring in:

1-- First team keeper as priority as this position wins or can cost us 10pts a season

2-- Either a box to box player or deep lying playmaker because of Barrys age, and also McCarthy and Besic are both able to play defensive midfield or centre midfield but we have no variety there other than Cleverley who is more a "utility player"

3--Either a forward to be competition for Lukaku or someone for the left attacking slot depending on how Niasse does @bluestevon seems to be the main person to have watched him play and doesnt feel he will be good enough first choice.


So, i've gone back on my prior belief that we need 6 players and lowered this to 3 players. This is mainly due to the Niasse signing and also because Besic did so well as a centre midfielder and showed hes not just a defensive midfielder @MoutsGoat


A few talking points:

1-- I imagine that Mirallas will be the one people most want to stay, lets see what transpires before the end of the season.

2-- Is anyone else good enough to be kept on, perhaps Oviedo but we have players coming through at right back and look strong at left back also.

3-- Who could break through into the first team squad next season from the u21s?

4-- Do we need 3 players?


Purely based on paper, if we are able to bring in these 3 first choice players for the positions highlighted i think this will give us a top 4 squad.

This would be Martinez's squad and i think we could all agree that he would then need to push us towards and hopefully into the top 4.

In my opinion, these are 3 key positions lacking in the squad and almost a new spine to the team in the GK / CM / CF areas, hopefully Jags can last another season or we need a completely new spine....not much on paper of course but the reality could be quite different.


Onwards and upwards Evertonians!!!

 

[GoatJR]

First

 

[oldblue]

So, a few things have changed since my 'Best squad in 25 years" thread. Mostly of course Mori and Besic stepping up and also of course the players in /out over the window and of course Howard being the most disliked player since Alex Nyarko (perhaps).

Here (in my opinion) is where we stand ON PAPER now and prior to the summer activity using August for the player ages:


GK -- ??? / Robles (26)
LB -- Baines (31) / Garbutt (23)
LCB -- Mori (25) / Galloway (20)
RCB -- Jagielka (34) / Stones (22)
RB -- Coleman (27) / ???
DM -- Barry (35) / McCarthy (25)
CM -- Besic (23) / Cleverley (27)
AM -- Barkley (22) / Tarashaj (21)
LF -- Niasse (26) / Kone (32)
CF -- Lukaku (23) / ???
RW -- Deulofeu (22) / Lennon (29)

Unknown if still in squad after summer:
Mirallas (28)
Pennington (21)
Holgate (19)
Browning (22)
Leandro (23)

Out of Contract
Oviedo (26)
Hibbert (35)
Osman (35)
Gibson (28)
Pienaar (34)
Mattioni (27)

Perhaps for sale
Howard (37)
McAleny (24)
McGeady (30)


In my opinion we will see the following players leave in the summer:
Howard (37)
Hibbert (35)
Osman (35)
McGeady (30)
Mirallas (28)
Gibson (28)
Mattioni (27)
Oviedo (26)
McAleny (24)

This leaves us with:
19 squad players
4 players unknown
9 players out

A couple of other areas of interest:

A-- Barry will be 35 years old soon with a year on his contract. Will this mean McCarthy in longer term here or Besic also moving back into defensive midfield to compete with McCarthy?

B-- Kone will be 32 with a year on his contract, is he competing with Niasse or Lukaku now?

C-- Jagielka will be 34 with two years on his contract meaning if Stones is indeed sold do we need to sign two centre backs in case Jags does a 'Distin' or could Holgate / Galloway come through here as squad players at RCB and LCB?

D-- Will Martinez persist with the left sided forward role which was tried with Kone and now seems likely for Niasse, or if this doesnt work out will Niasse then be competition for Lukaku leaving LW needing to be filled?

E-- Are there any players able to step up in the summer such as Kenny (19) @BlueToff @catcherintherye ?


I think we need to bring in:

1-- First team keeper as priority as this position wins or can cost us 10pts a season

2-- Either a box to box player or deep lying playmaker because of Barrys age, and also McCarthy and Besic are both able to play defensive midfield or centre midfield but we have no variety there other than Cleverley who is more a "utility player"

3--Either a forward to be competition for Lukaku or someone for the left attacking slot depending on how Niasse does @bluestevon seems to be the main person to have watched him play and doesnt feel he will be good enough first choice.


So, i've gone back on my prior belief that we need 6 players and lowered this to 3 players. This is mainly due to the Niasse signing and also because Besic did so well as a centre midfielder and showed hes not just a defensive midfielder @MoutsGoat


A few talking points:

1-- I imagine that Mirallas will be the one people most want to stay, lets see what transpires before the end of the season.

2-- Is anyone else good enough to be kept on, perhaps Oviedo but we have players coming through at right back and look strong at left back also.

3-- Who could break through into the first team squad next season from the u21s?

4-- Do we need 3 players?


Purely based on paper, if we are able to bring in these 3 first choice players for the positions highlighted i think this will give us a top 4 squad.

This would be Martinez's squad and i think we could all agree that he would then need to push us towards and hopefully into the top 4.

In my opinion, these are 3 key positions lacking in the squad and almost a new spine to the team in the GK / CM / CF areas, hopefully Jags can last another season or we need a completely new spine....not much on paper of course but the reality could be quite different.


Onwards and upwards Evertonians!!!

That's the most in depth fortune cookie I've had

 

[bluebrotha77]

Second akinda

 

[bluebrotha77]

Really cant see rom staying in the summer especially if he has a good euros.wonder were everton thinking that as well in buying naisse.

 

[oldblue]

Jags is 34. Something leaping out here is that we were relying on jags and distin till recently, and nobody saw there was going to be a gap in experience. Same could be happening at full back.
That's going to be a very young back four very soon.

 

[bluestevon]

A lot of talk in there about spines of the team Zat, could argue the major problem with us the past two seasons is the team doesn't have any spine/backbone

 

[Zatara]

@oldblue @bluestevon

If we look at the central spine which i would keep and then additionally remove Barry (35) / Jags (34) we're left with something like this:

LCB -- Mori / Galloway
RCB -- Stones / ???

Then have Browning,Pennington and Holgate in u21s of course.

DM -- McCarthy / ???
CM -- Besic / Cleverley
AM -- Barkley / Tarashaj
CF -- Lukaku / ???

Are Ledson or Walsh able to come through or is it too early for them, how about Leandro up front and is he good enough? It seems like a no (currently) for all three.

So, in my opinion we need a GK / CM / CF and also of course possibly a CB but i am hopeful jags can last another season which would give one of the young lads a year to push through. Also even if Barry lasts another year and Walsh or Ledson do come through theres still no variety there.

Ive mentioned before that Galloway was given 3 starts at the end of last season. Seeing as Holgate was also brought in for a fee i hope he gets some gametime this season and then Martinez "could" use him in a similar way to Galloway has been used this season as cover for Coleman.

Next year then Galloway off on loan perhaps while Holgate is on the bench....its a tricky one.

If Stones is indeed sold this summer (i think he will stay another season if we sign some top players) then it becomes us needing two new centre backs in due to the youth not having any bedding in time.

 

[Zatara]

@oldblue an interesting point about full back actually.

LB -- Baines (31) / Garbutt (23)

Baines has 2 years on his current deal, it expires the same time as Jags and also of course he will be hitting 34 himsel that season.

Garbutt has gone off to Fulham and not seemed to perform (even though hes suffered injury and been played in left midfield also).

Galloway (19) was thrown in at the deep end and perhaps may even usurp Garbutt next season there. Maybe Garbutt could even be sold or sent on loan again?

RB -- Coleman (27)
Pennington (21)
Browning (22)
Holgate (19)

We currently have only an idea about browning as he got some games but is now out for the season. Holgate was signed for a fee rising to £3mil so i imagine hes most likely to act as cover like Galloway was this season.

However also Kenny and Connolly both getting good reports so it could be them next in line after loan spells.



@bluestevon i think Barry has done well for us. However i do not agree with McCarthy being played in CM when hes clearly a DM. Should be one or the other playing or both sat deep, Besic also for me has done very well in CM but his injuries are a concern. These two both have the ability which Barry lacks - covering and tracking back to make tackles which for me is a prerequisite for us and not being too slow to catch players and giving away unnecessary fouls (for the team). Theyre the difference for me and would take us up a notch defensively.

By signing a box to box player we then ensure McCarthy / Besic are able to play DM if needed and also have some power in the side from deep. Also a deep lying playmaker there would have an added thret which logically would mean the opposition wouldnt commit the same amount of players forward against us.

Interesting summer ahead.

 

[oldblue]

@oldblue @bluestevon

If we look at the central spine which i would keep and then additionally remove Barry (35) / Jags (34) we're left with something like this:

LCB -- Mori / Galloway
RCB -- Stones / ???

Then have Browning,Pennington and Holgate in u21s of course.

DM -- McCarthy / ???
CM -- Besic / Cleverley
AM -- Barkley / Tarashaj
CF -- Lukaku / ???

Are Ledson or Walsh able to come through or is it too early for them, how about Leandro up front and is he good enough? It seems like a no (currently) for all three.

So, in my opinion we need a GK / CM / CF and also of course possibly a CB but i am hopeful jags can last another season which would give one of the young lads a year to push through. Also even if Barry lasts another year and Walsh or Ledson do come through theres still no variety there.

Ive mentioned before that Galloway was given 3 starts at the end of last season. Seeing as Holgate was also brought in for a fee i hope he gets some gametime this season and then Martinez "could" use him in a similar way to Galloway has been used this season as cover for Coleman.

Next year then Galloway off on loan perhaps while Holgate is on the bench....its a tricky one.

If Stones is indeed sold this summer (i think he will stay another season if we sign some top players) then it becomes us needing two new centre backs in due to the youth not having any bedding in time.

Still would like to say a few defensive players in their late twenties in that squad.

 

[Zatara]

Still would like to say a few defensive players in their late twenties in that squad.

Where though? We have experience in defence and then a gap through to the youth. If we bring in players then the young ones wont get a chance...

I think we just need to identify the players to come through and get them games somehow either with us or on loan to develop.

 

[blueblue]

I think there is at least one more season in Jagielka.
Next season I think Galloway will get some games as a centreback and of course Browning should be back from injury.
I think ultimately Funes Mori will be replacement for Jagielka as no nonsense defender and leader.
If John Sones stays there will be loads of competition, if he leaves we will probably sign somebody like Keane at Burnley and still have loads of competition for places.

 

[Hellerad]

This Summer we will see Stones, Lukaku, and Mirallas exit along with a necessary transition away from Howard and Jagielka.

We should have upwards of 75 million to invest, and if we have new owners, hopefully a respectable influx of additional cash.

2016/2017 will see a squad built in the image of Roberto Martinez.

Lets hope it isn't dire.

 

[oldblue]

Where though? We have experience in defence and then a gap through to the youth. If we bring in players then the young ones wont get a chance...

I think we just need to identify the players to come through and get them games somehow either with us or on loan to develop.

It probably needed to be addressed a few years ago. The big problem now is Stones. Everything indicates he needs to spend a few years developing. 22 is still very young for a centre half. Even Mori at 25 is young. But we have got to a point with Stones that means we can't really develop him slowly.
I'd still be looking to buy three along the back four in their mid to late twenties, but tricky to know who. Maybe a versatile, experienced player who can play in more than one position.

 

[BlueToff]

@oldblue @bluestevon

If we look at the central spine which i would keep and then additionally remove Barry (35) / Jags (34) we're left with something like this:

LCB -- Mori / Galloway
RCB -- Stones / ???

Then have Browning,Pennington and Holgate in u21s of course.

DM -- McCarthy / ???
CM -- Besic / Cleverley
AM -- Barkley / Tarashaj
CF -- Lukaku / ???

Are Ledson or Walsh able to come through or is it too early for them, how about Leandro up front and is he good enough? It seems like a no (currently) for all three.

So, in my opinion we need a GK / CM / CF and also of course possibly a CB but i am hopeful jags can last another season which would give one of the young lads a year to push through. Also even if Barry lasts another year and Walsh or Ledson do come through theres still no variety there.

Ive mentioned before that Galloway was given 3 starts at the end of last season. Seeing as Holgate was also brought in for a fee i hope he gets some gametime this season and then Martinez "could" use him in a similar way to Galloway has been used this season as cover for Coleman.

Next year then Galloway off on loan perhaps while Holgate is on the bench....its a tricky one.

If Stones is indeed sold this summer (i think he will stay another season if we sign some top players) then it becomes us needing two new centre backs in due to the youth not having any bedding in time.

why are you removing Jags and Barry zat? They'll both be here and both be key figures next season.