May
31
2007
How can Everton improve this summer?
As part of our 2006/2007 Premiership season-end review, here’s a look at how Everton’s season went. Read up, then offer your own ‘expert’ advice on how Everton can improve this summer.
- Pre-season expectations: Andy Johnson’s signing meant that Everton were expected to reach, and aiming for, a UEFA cup spot this season.
- Season evaluation: Everton did quite well, with a respectable goal difference (compared to Tottenham and Bolton) attributed to their miserly defense. They could have done better, but 6th place and another crack at Europe will do a lot of good for Everton.
- The Big Negative: There were times that Everton were accused of playing for draws - I don’t think that’s the case, but Everton DID have a problem in finishing games off, and that counted against them in several games that should have been won but were drawn or lost.
- The Big Positive: Defensive strength and consistency - and the fact that this Everton team wasn’t afraid to mix it up with the big four (the only other team that managed that was Tottenham, in my view).
- Summer Priority: Bring in new faces to prepare for the additional European matches next season.
Everton have done well under David Moyes and will be expected to build on their success in the last few years and do well in Europe.
Now it’s your turn: How do you think Everton can improve this summer?
Also see:
- The complete list for the Premiership 2006/2007 season reviews.
- Do you have what it takes to be a football manager?
Related Items from Soccerlens
- Soccerlens Premiership 2006/2007 Review
- How can Watford improve this summer?
- How can Reading improve this summer?
- How can Sheffield United improve this summer?
- How can Blackburn improve this summer?
I think Everton need to offload Beattie and bring in someone of a similar mould, but obviously better. I think we also need a new experienced back-up goalie, and a new pacey winger, and if we can get Manuel Fernandes on another loan deal then that would be perfect.
Everton had some key players last season: Johnson, Arteta, Cahill, Lescott, Howard, etc. We also had a few youngsters doing well: Victor and Vaughan, but injuries to some of these key players and some off form performances from others on top of having a paper thin squad meant that we lost silly points during the season.
The arrival of Fernandes gave us another option and he slotted straight into the team and looks a great prospect for the Premiership, but he’s not the finished article yet.
Therefore the key ways the club can strengthen are to improve the level of competition, especially in midfield and defence, and also secure the services of Manny, either on a transfer or a loan extension.
Perhaps Jagielka is seen as an ideal addition to the squad because he can provide cover in so many positions, and until we can afford to have a big squad then this type of utility player could be worth his weight in goal (or whatever currency players get paid in these days).
I’d also like to see us strengthen the attack. We currently rely on Andy’s pace and while Vic and Vaughan are improving, they are still youngsters and can play with refreshing exhuberance but lack the guile or craft of a more mature striker.
McFadden has great technic, and he can do a job for us, but doesn’t have pace or awareness of others, and Beattie, just seems to have lost confidence and would probably benefit from a move, so I’d like to see him replaced by Nugent come in. He’s big, strong and fast, with a little skill too.
Assuming we can get Nugent for £6m, Jags for £4m and Manny on a loan, whilst losing Beattie for £3m, then I think we’ll have done a good job this summer, three in, one out and improved the squad.
A net transfer fee of £7m doesn’t sound exciting or ambitious, but we can’t afford to add another 6 players to the squad, so three new faces and one out isn’t too bad, and the fewer changes you have the better the squad plays as a team.
i think this summers transfer policy definitley needs to be quantity over quality.it seems at the moment we have a number of players professing their desire to play for the blues. i think jagielka would be a good signing as he can play anywhere, even in goal and at £4.5m is a good bit of business. if we can get fernandes back on loan and bring in joey barton to add a bit of grit to the midfield then we should have a more than efficient midfield and full of competition for places. i think preston will eventually crack over the nugent saga, even if it comes to him handing in a transfer request to force their hand.i dont however see us selling this summer. we have let wright and ‘the hairband’ go and i can see them being our only losses. for every 1 we sell we need to by 2 and i still think beattie has a place at everton.
A very good summary of our season in the article but i have a few points to add from the games that i saw live at Goodison park this season.
Firstly, although our squad is small, we have many players who can play in more than one position, which is crucial to Everton’s success. Therefore, Phil Jagielka is a certainty to be a big success with us. He would add strength and depth to defence and possibly midfield all depending where Moyes wants to use him.
Secondly, our strikeforce has gone from poor to very promising in the space of one season, and is likely to improve further. One young striker Spencer and another 17 year old striker are both coming through the ranks which will only add to the competition. Beattie will no doubt be sold for £3-4 million and someone will probably get the best out of him, but it wont be at Everton. He suited our style of play before Arteta and co came and he just doesn’t make the grade.
Furthermore, Nugent may not be needed as much as fans want to see him arrive at Goodison. I would rather see Fernandes here than Nugent as midfield is the key to winning most games and Everton’s success has often come from Cahill scoring from midfield. The club will be banking an extra £20 million from television money, so why isn’t at least half made for extra investment, so Moyes doesn’t have to choose between players.
Everton and Tottenham are in the best positions to break the top 4’s stranglehold, although Tottenham have a much better depth at this current time.
Jason Koumas looks like another player Moyes may go for as he has the ability of mcfadden with that extra yard of pace. His teamwork has also improved in the past few years, which is the reason why Moyes didn’t move for him in the first place. £4m seems reasonable but might be a risk too far for the risk averse manager.
The adding of quality is now the name of the game, and im sure we will see plenty of surprises in the coming weeks at every premier league club, not just Everton. Lets hope we see more arriving than leaving at the gates of Goodison
£3 million for Beattie? Which bunch of meffs would pay that? If anyone offers over a million, have their arm off. And tell Jimbo-the-Biffa-Skip I’ll pay his bus fare, wherever the fat useless lump decides to go.
Now, as to who I’d like to see (trying to stay realistic): £4 mill for Jags (to his mates) would be an excellent addition to the squad. However, my opinion is that, seeing as how EFC is perennially boracic, grab one class act whatever it costs. Yes Manuel Fernandes, we mean you. He’s already the dogs, and just a kid. If it takes £12 mill, then that is what it takes. Think of that midfield of Manuel, Mikky, Tiny …. mouthwatering to say the very least. Shame we never saw it last year, really.
So yeah: Jagielka and Fernandes. If there’s money left over then EFC should renegotiate with their top players to up their wedge and try to avoid them getting a bj from scum like WHUFC
Beg pardon, too emotional, I know. If EFC can add a 3rd to Arteta and Cahill, they have a serious shout, imho. But first they need to make sure that their best aren’t going anywhere.