This summer at Everton – The View of JMorgan93
With pre-season on the horizon, it is that time of year again where transfer gossip dominates the media headlines. As an Everton fan this is always a tough time, with a shoe string budget and a very ambitious fan base. This article will outline the summer transfer possibilities that I believe will take the great club forward.
Firstly I believe that finding a goalkeeper to rival Tim Howard is essential. A usually reliable Howard has had a few lapses over the past year, however with the emergence of now departed Jan Mucha as an alternative between the sticks, it seemed as if Howard flourished under the challenge of holding down his position. A young goalkeeper is essential and I believe Martinez needs to look no further than former Wigan loanee Joel. This young goalkeeper showed excellent reflexes and a cool head under pressure when thrown into the FA Cup final, even producing an accomplished performance on our own doorstep during Wigan’s 3-0 FA Cup quarter final victory at Goodison Park. With limited opportunities at Atletico Madrid Joel may feel the need to move on in order to further his playing career, with a cut price fee possibly an option.
Mucha has left Everton
Secondly I believe that we need to have an alternative in the central midfield area. On too many occasions last season when matches were running away from us we did not have a plan B. With players such as Gibson, Osman, Fellaini and even Neville playing the central midfield roles last season we lacked pace and energy in that department. Two players that spring to mind in order to address this problem are Mohamed Diame and Leroy Fer. Firstly Leroy Fer has made it quite clear that he is interested in re-igniting his move to Goodison, however due to a string of impressive performances during the European Under 21 championships his price tag could fluctuate, ultimately pricing Everton out of a potential transfer. If Everton can negotiate a deal with the player he would be a welcome addition to the team , providing us with a dynamic midfielder not afraid to take on players and also with great passing ability, which would fit in perfectly to Martinez’s footballing concept. Alternatively Mohamed Diame has proved for a number of years that he can perform in the Premier League and with a mooted 3.5 million release clause, this player could be a bargain for the type of player we desperately need.
Diame has been solid for West Ham and Wigan
Finally taking into account the poor form of Nikica Jelavic last season and the distinct lack of goals in Victor Anichebe’s repertoire a goal scoring striker is needed if the club is going to catapult itself into European contention. Numerous strikers have been mentioned in newspapers with Spanish based players Roberto Soldado and Alberto Negredo on the tip of every Evertonian’s tongue. With Sevilla in major financial trouble at the moment, a bid for Negredo could be the more viable option in a cut price deal, however I still believe this player could be out of the clubs price range unless we sell any of our prized assets. Alternatively a man who Martinez knows well from his time as manager of Wigan, could well be an option in the form of Arouna Kone. In my opinion he is the type of striker Everton need as he has the pace to stretch opposition defences and even when not scoring goals he will create space for players such as Mirallas, Pienaar and Fellaini to work their magic. A signing like this may even be beneficial for Jelavic as with defenders being pre-occupied with the constant movement of Kone, it could well give Jelavic a greater freedom to find space in the penalty area and re-discover his predatory touch in front of goal. The only downside to this is his age, but a younger striker with the same attributes may fit the bill, although I do believe this type of player at a younger age may command a substantial transfer fee.
Kone scored 13 times for a struggling Wigan team
I appreciate every fan has their own individual opinion and many may not agree with what I have written, however i truly believe these signings will keep the club moving forward and give us alternative options when the going gets tough and we become predictable going forward, notably in games such as Norwich away from home and Swansea at home last season.
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So basically, sign a load of Wigan players? Brilliant!
No. We need to sign a keeper that will (rather than provide him with competition) actually make Howard the competition. We need a new CB to ease the demands of Distin. We need a playmaker CM who can dictate the play; we haven’t had one since Arteta. If Fellaini leaves, we need to replace him with Fer. We need a proper RM/RW to allow Mirallas to play behind the striker. Finally, we need another striker.
I would take one Wigan player and that would be McManaman on condition that he didn’t cost more than £5m. The rest of them are tosh.
Bit of a twatty reaction from Jim there. Seems a bit unnecessary.
I think it’s a good piece taking into account the amount of money we’ll have to spend and the players Martinez is familiar with.
Kone is better than Jelavic and Anichebe and could cost around £5-6 mil. Name another quality striker who’ll cost that little.
Name a keeper better than Howard who will cost so little.
Name a centre mid better than Diame (now at West Ham) who will cost £3.5mil.
Whelan has already said that he won’t sell players cheap, so why would he let a 22 year old with three years left on his contract, who is arguably their best player, leave for £5mil.
Rather than criticise, Jim, why not offer an alternative. And one that makes sense while you’re at it.
Twatty? Unnecessary?
I’m not a scout. My job is not to find players for low prices. We (should) have a good number of people employed at the club doing just that. If you honestly expect me, with my knowledge of the player-base in football, to name the perfect hidden talent to fill those roles, you have a screw loose.
My reaction is one of sense. While I may not have a plethora of knowledge about other players and clubs, I do know a lot about the Everton first team. Watching them play, anyone can see what’s missing. You seem to have taken offense (you’re not even the author of the article) from a perfectly reasonable view. Wigan are a relegated club. None of their players should be worth more than £5m. If Whelan won’t sell Mcmanaman for that, then sod him.
I don’t believe I criticised this article once. On the other hand, I definitely did offer an alternative (mentioning 6 roles that needed filling, rather than the 3 the article picks up on). You need to read and digest comments properly before you reply to them.
Okay. I think we should sign 11 players of the quality of Lionel Messi for £500k each. And if the people at the club can’t do this then they need sacking.
All Wigan players are defo sh*t and could never do a job at a club such as ours, despite us having 6 roles that need filling.
How dare I defend an article that I didn’t even write…
I know its early days but some of the players that websites are linking us with are worrying me. I do hope that Bob’s buying will be a/ positive in terms of strikers being priority and b/ where possible look for a British option or at least players that know/have experience of the premier league. Agree that the midfield needs pace and a playmaker,(should Fellaini leave). Definitely needed is a 20 goal a season man, for my money at 29 Darren Bent is more a proven goal scorer than Kone who is the same age, and a wide rs player to give us balance and allow Mireilles to play off a front man. Also we have potential in reserve, expect Ross B to impact, if played, this season. Cheap foreign options are a no no for me and will take us downwards.