Everton January 2022 Transfer Thread

[ToffeeTim]

Richarlison - is he hungry?
Vlasic - was he hungry?
Lookman?
Pickford?
Godfrey?
Holgate?

I'm not having a dig at the idea, I just can't stand the generic 'young and hungry' phrase. It means nothing. Every young player you sign is probably hungry to succeed mate. That's all it is.

Mykolenko and Patterson are good additions. We've moved decisively. I think we're paying a bit too much for both but overall no complaints. They'll both need time and aren't quick fixes.

But what if they go through rocky spells of form like Godfrey is. Are they suddenly not going to be 'hungry' anymore? That's why it's such an annoying turn of phrase to me. It's semantics really but it just gets me.

Godfrey isn't going through just a rocky spell. The flaws that were clear when he signed are still the same flaws and if anything they are more obvious now. A lack of positional awareness and a lack of ability in the air. Pretty fundamental problems for a centre half in England.

 

[BlueToff]

Hahahaha no you can’t count Gray, he’s 25 and has played for Leicester and won a league title. You are really really grasping at straws with this post, Klaassen ffs?

What do you mean? Did Gray not see us as a step up from Leverkusen - a chance to reignite his career?

How am I clutching at straws with Klaassen? We signed a highly touted midfielder who was only 24 at the time, already had a vast amount of experience and was looking to make the next step from Ajax to the Premier League.

 

[BlueToff]

Godfrey isn't going through just a rocky spell. The flaws that were clear when he signed are still the same flaws and if anything they are more obvious now. A lack of positional awareness and a lack of ability in the air. Pretty fundamental problems for a centre half in England.

But is he "young and hungry"? He is, isn't he. In fact he's 'quick, young and hungry', which is exactly the phrase that Saint Domingo used.

 

[toffee-L]

"We can't risk playing someone" to the detriment of the team.

Utter drivel.

If our purchases for Mykolenko and Patterson are totally funded by an anticipated sale of Digne, then it is not utter drivel. It is just sadly the reality of our situation that has been many seasons in the making. Digne was probably on the bench with an understanding that he would only come on if we suffered injuries in defence. He will absolutely not be risked in a highly intense Premier League match if we are making £25m worth of purchases that we have only been able to allocate funds towards by selling Digne.

We are already up the creek enough as it is, and we are probably in a situation that we'll only get out of this mess by selling either DcL or Richarlison in the summer. It's incredibly frustrating, but we only have ourselves to blame.

 

[BlueToff]

“Young and hungry” is an awful phrase

It means absolutely nothing

 

[Toffeelover]

Well Gordon has been given a chance when he was frozen out last season.

Yes the only reason was both DCL and Richalison unable to play and Rondon was well you name it.

But look at the Brighton game, brings on Rondon to replace the LB when we had Simms and Dobbin on the bench.

 

[MikeH72]

What do you mean? Did Gray not see us as a step up from Leverkusen - a chance to reignite his career?

How am I clutching at straws with Klaassen? We signed a highly touted midfielder who was only 24 at the time, already had a vast amount of experience and was looking to make the next step from Ajax to the Premier League.

Klaassen was Ajax captain and a Netherlands international, he was not up and coming he was already well established. Gray was also established and had played over 100 games in the Premier League.

 

[BlueToff]

If our purchases for Mykolenko and Patterson are totally funded by an anticipated sale of Digne, then it is not utter drivel. It is just sadly the reality of our situation that has been many seasons in the making. Digne was probably on the bench with an understanding that he would only come on if we suffered injuries in defence. He will absolutely not be risked in a highly intense Premier League match if we are making £25m worth of purchases that we have only been able to allocate funds towards by selling Digne.

We are already up the creek enough as it is, and we are probably in a situation that we'll only get out of this mess by selling either DcL or Richarlison in the summer. It's incredibly frustrating, but we only have ourselves to blame.

We used two subs the other day and had Godfrey at left-back when we were 3-2 down at home to Brighton, suffering our 10th defeat of the last 14 games.

 

[ToffeeTim]

But is he "young and hungry"? He is, isn't he. In fact he's 'quick, young and hungry', which is exactly the phrase that Saint Domingo used.

Those are just the prerequisites for any potential signing. If those boxes are ticked you move on to look at ability and suitability for the style of play we hope to implement. If those boxes are not ticked it's a no and you move on.

For me, Godfrey should have been a no. His defensive abilities are not good enough and I dont know if he was value as a utility player.

 

[MikeH72]

Yes the only reason was both DCL and Richalison unable to play and Rondon was well you name it.

But look at the Brighton game, brings on Rondon to replace the LB when we had Simms and Dobbin on the bench.

I agree by the way. I just don’t agree with your statement that the reason we haven’t been signing talented up and coming young players for the past 6 years is down to Benitez, because it doesn’t make sense.

 

[RomanReigns]

Looks like we will recoup the money for Patterson and mykalenko by selling Digne and holgate

 

[BlueToff]

Klaassen was Ajax captain and a Netherlands international, he was not up and coming he was already well established. Gray was also established and had played over 100 games in the Premier League.

Right so we're speaking strictly those players here then, your 19-21/22 year olds?

Mykolenko has played in the Champions League, won more trophies by 22 than Everton have in 26 years and he's a regular international player. What boat does he fall into?

 

[Saint Domingo]

Richarlison - is he hungry?
Vlasic - was he hungry?
Lookman?
Pickford?
Godfrey?
Holgate?

I'm not having a dig at the idea, I just can't stand the generic 'young and hungry' phrase. It means nothing. Every young player you sign is probably hungry to succeed mate. That's all it is.

Mykolenko and Patterson are good additions. We've moved decisively. I think we're paying a bit too much for both but overall no complaints. They'll both need time and aren't quick fixes.

But what if they go through rocky spells of form like Godfrey is. Are they suddenly not going to be 'hungry' anymore? That's why it's such an annoying turn of phrase to me. It's semantics really but it just gets me.

It’s a different sort of hunger than just hunger to play. Hunger to improve, hunger to maintain performance, desire to not give in so easily when behind, hunger to be the one to make things happen in a game.

We get it in flashes occasionally from players like Richy Godfrey Allan etc. but I do not see it in the squad at all. I see a lot of entitlement, a ‘you’re lucky to have me at Everton’ feeling. I see a lot of players who I’m sure are all nice blokes but some have been here a long time and seemingly done nothing to improve. I suspect that some haven’t shown the desire to even get back from injury quickly if you read between the lines on what Benitez was saying about Townsend and Allan doing everything possible to return quickly from injury.

Worst of all though I’ve seen years of games where we’ve gone a goal or two down and just completely given up and accepted the loss.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Looks like we will recoup the money for Patterson and mykalenko by selling Digne and holgate

Holgate should be sold as soon as possible. Anything over 5m is a good deal for us.

 

[BlueToff]

It’s a different sort of hunger than just hunger to play. Hunger to improve, hunger to maintain performance, desire to not give in so easily when behind, hunger to be the one to make things happen in a game.

We get it in flashes occasionally from players like Richy Godfrey Allan etc. but I do not see it in the squad at all. I see a lot of entitlement, a ‘you’re lucky to have me at Everton’ feeling. I see a lot of players who I’m sure are all nice blokes but some have been here a long time and seemingly done nothing to improve. I suspect that some haven’t shown the desire to even get back from injury quickly if you read between the lines on what Benitez was saying about Townsend and Allan doing everything possible to return quickly from injury.

Worst of all though I’ve seen years of games where we’ve gone a goal or two down and just completely given up and accepted the loss.

We have absolutely no idea if either of these lads have that. Which is what I mean by I just think it's pointless jargon that fans spout out when they want to say what's wrong at Everton.

I fully agree that every player we sign should want to do that. But I think the vast majority of pro footballers do. Sometimes, especially with younger players, well a lot of the time, they stagnate and that's when good coaching and guidance comes in. I think it's fair to acknowledge that at Everton that hasn't been the case, by and large with a few exceptions with certain players, for the past few years.