Let's talk Everton

Having taken in a good amount of Premier League football this season, I have a number of clubs I'm disappointed in, or worried about. One of them is most certainly Everton. I want to give a bit of background as to why I'm writing about them today, before going into what I'd do if I were in charge.

First, I want to address the elephant in the room, which is the amount of money spent and the lack of progress under various managers. Going back at least 5 or 6 windows, Everton have spent more than they've brought in, transfer wise. This is normal, and I'm never one to whine about "net spend", like certain fan bases, as it's only part of the whole picture. However, it's telling that the club spends so much yet is constantly 4 or 5 STARTERS from even competing. The way I'll cover this right now and in the article generally is to judge how many players would get into the good teams in the league. Let's say the top four, since those IMO are by far a step or two above the rest of the league. Calvert-Lewin is a shout, for sure. I don't think Richarlison would, as he's one of the more overrated/overhyped players out there. Digne is good, so can't complain there. James is hit or miss. As a #10, if you build around him and keep him fit, he's a baller. But if his head's not there, or his fitness levels aren't great, or you have dysfunction around him, he's not worth it. Godfrey and Keane are decent, not great, but far from the biggest issue at the club. I like Allan and Doucoure. Pickford is average and none of the wingers are particularly good. They desperately need a right back as well, all respect to Coleman. This is all to say that the squad isn't terrible, but not quite at a "top 4" level. This is where coaching comes in. I don't buy this mentality of "oh the players aren't good enough, it's not the manager's fault". That's bullshit. The entire point of the sport and hiring a good manager is to make the team better than the sum of it's parts, or whatever the cliché is. Just this year, I've been quite disappointed at many of the managers in the league, as they've mailed it in. Ancelotti, Arteta, Mourinho, Nuno, Parker; to name a few. The football has been appalling to watch, and the players have been at best on par with their level. Bielsa is an outlier, but look at what he does with what he has. Hell, Klopp finished 3rd with no CB's and all sorts of injuries. Tuchel came in for a naïve (at best) Lampard and finished 4th and is in the CL final. Tactics definitely matter. Belief matters. I said from the beginning that Ancelotti going there was a terrible idea. He's never been a great league coach, and he's also never improved players to a high degree. He comes in, lets the players do their thing, and sometimes they win the CL. He's not a "project" manager.

Next, I want to discuss mentality. It's directly related to what I was saying above. Liverpool is the big club of the city, and Everton are the bitter neighbors who still have a slight sense of entitlement from being decent back in the day. Even the idea of Liverpool and their international fiascos being the reason Everton weren't successful in the late 80s and 90s is so "the Ev". People talk about Liverpool always making it about them, or being the victim, but Everton take that to a whole other level. It's pathetic. This deficiency in mentality seeps into every aspect of the club. Even without fans, they were horrible at home (15th, points wise), and this 100% relates to mentality. Same thing with Arsenal. I just view it as players that won't put in the work or be focused enough to maintain high levels of performance. It's also the coach's job to motivate the players and get the best out of them, which is simply not happening at Everton. Failed transfers don't help either.

One transfer window, 2019/20, is particularly worrying. They sold Gueye to PSG, which wasn't that bad, given his age and limited ability, but they also sold perfectly good youngsters in Lookman and Vlasic for a total of 30 million pounds. Neither is a world beater, but giving up on young players is peak Everton. They then went and splunked 28 million on Iwobi. Why would you do that? Iwobi, Really? They also bought Kean for 25 million after a few good end of season games for Juve. The Italian club literally got rid of him because of his attitude, so that's another "the Ev" moment. 9 million for Delph, who was injury prone at City, was not smart. Nor was 45 million combined for Gbamin and Gomes. Now, I give Gbamin the benefit of the doubt, as nobody would expect the injury issues he's had since arriving. But Gomes is another that reeks of the "big club reject" policy Everton has had of late. Why would players be motivated to play well at a midtable club like Everton? He left Valencia when he shouldn't have, looked poor in the minutes he was given at Barca, and has been average at Everton. It makes much more sense to "gamble" on young players or guys from smaller clubs than to take on "rejects" from big clubs trying to maybe salvage their careers. James is another example. He came in at 29, having done nothing of note since about 2017. Went to Bayern on loan and was poor, which says something. In what world is that a good signing for a "project"? One aspect the club has been fixing, and that deserves praise, is getting rid of "dead wood". Part of this is hiring and firing managers, as you'll have a mix of players from all the coaches. All you have to do is go on TM and see how many guys left for free or at a low price to highlight the poor dealings in the market. Going a little further back, you have 100+ million spent on Klaassen, Sigurdsson, Walcott, Tosun, and Pickford. None of those are good enough, and 3 are gone already.

Looking forward a season, 2022 is the end of contract for all of James, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Coleman and Delph. I'd let them all go, to be honest. I'd also be looking to sell all of them other than James (and Coleman, who's staying regardless) this summer instead of them going for free. Hell, if someone wants to come in for James, he can go too.

This is where I'm at with this team. They have a rich owner, he's poured money into the club, yet they're still not good. This is despite having a supposedly top manager as well, though I've already explained why this is faulty logic.

From here, you either scrap it and build from the base level, or attempt to fix the problems by spending more. Many "big clubs" in Europe right now are struggling, largely for the same reasons as Everton, and it's a choice they have to make. Most are too proud or delusional to realize the path they're taking isn't going to work, so they go into debt and risk the future of the club. Everton, as I said, are rich, so it's not quite at that level, but it's still a sketchy situation. What I'd do, personally, is a bit of a re-tool. Get rid of the mercenaries, address the positions of need, and take the league by storm with a manager who actually is hungry to succeed and improves players.

Now for the comings and goings. Going to do it in two sections, with two different options.

I. Go all in

Upgrade to a top GK

Get a commanding CB to pair with Godfrey/Keane/Mina

Get a top RB

Backup for Digne, loan Nkounkou

Get a fast winger (with end product) capable of playing either side

Add a CM/DM to dictate play

Keep Digne, Allan, Doucoure, James, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison

II. Focus on the future

Find a coach to lead the project

Bring in a promising RB

Bring in a promising winger (or two)

Integrate Kean, or sell him and find a young striker

Keep Olsen to backup Pickford

Cash in on the mercenaries (James, Richarlison, whoever else)

Find a creator for the midfield

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So, a lot of what I wrote above is outdated, so it's good I didn't post this yet. Personally, as I was saying before, there was little hope of Ancelotti succeeding there, so it's good he went back to Madrid. Well, good being the word if Everton don't screw up the new appointment. I'd be looking at a young, hungry manager capable of coaching attacking football. Not that much to ask. The hierarchy has to recognize that it will take time to build something. Let the older guys go, like I said, and whoever doesn't want to be there, and build a core of players who actually want to play for Everton.

In terms of who's available, somewhat realistic, and that could progress the club, there aren't many names. I've seen various links, most not inspiring whatsoever. For instance, I've seen a return of Moyes discussed. First, why would he leave West Ham, who are in Europe for once? Second, this squad is not set up for Moyes. Next one is Nuno. Same thing applies. Going from attacking football, to defensive football, to possession based... scattergun approach, forever in limbo trying to get rid of players to buy new ones for the current manager, who won't be there long because the squad is far from suited to him. I just think the issue with Nuno is that he had his boy Mendes bring his guys in. Will that happen at Everton? The squad isn't too bad, in terms of how Nuno sets up, outside of right wing-back, which was already an issue at Everton. A front three of DCL, James, and Richarlison

obviously works, assuming they stay. Maybe this season has crowded people's judgment of Nuno, in that it was dreadful to watch throughout. I just think he'd fit Palace better, in terms bringing in his system and reactive football. Also, if Nuno were to use the 4-2-3-1 he'd likely need to bring in a winger as well as a fullback/wingback on the right side. That is, unless Iwobi plays there or that Gordon kid. Would all the current players stick around for Nuno? Some clearly joined for Ancelotti, who promptly dipped on them. Some might want out.

Positions of need and some targets

RW/LW: Moussa Diaby (21) or Leon Bailey (23) of Leverkusen

Not many choices here. Both at the same club, obviously, left footed, young, pacey, not consistent in the final third. I probably like Diaby more, but feel at Everton Bailey would fit better, if that makes sense.

CM: Ruslan Malinovskyi (28, Atalanta) or Houssem Aouar (22, Lyon)

Goal threat from midfield or more of a creator. Neither is particularly realistic, given Atalanta are in CL and Aouar is likely wanted by clubs of a higher caliber. This is the level Everton need to target though.

RB: Leo Dubois (26, Lyon) Jonathan Clauss (28, Lens) Giovanni Di Lorenzo (27, Napoli), Zeki Celik (24, Lille), Aarons (21, Norwich)

A few names, mostly not linked to the club, but they should look at. I've not seen enough of the guys in France, but Di Lorenzo is quite good, and Aarons looks decent in a attacking Norwich side. Out of these I'd go with Celik, tbh.