judge us at the end of the transfer window – not now

[MrGrumpy]

What GOT is saying is that there was a process that produced the goals and that Richarlison was a big part of that.

What I'm saying is that Richarlison had a lot of involvement with certain types of goal - the goals that resulted from either a short-range pass from forward to forward in the box (he is generally on either end), as well as a few that he just ninjaed out of nothing. Gray scored zip, zero, zilch, nada under Lampard last season, which was also a worry. FSW played fast ground counter, which was Gray's game. It was heartening to see him net early. Both of these are types of production we have to replace somehow.

What bothers me is that a almost a third of the goal production came from behind the forwards and we're not getting that right now.


I'm much further to the "this is a good window" end of the spectrum. I would put it this way: in mid-July we were 100% down, given other clubs' spending this window. Possibly not even better than Bournemouth. We're walking out with what I would call a 20% chance of going down and legit young talents in on a shoestring budget as this window went. That's good work.

We still have a problem, which is that we are light goals. We either need to get to 40 or play some very stingy defense to feel good about getting enough wins to stay up. I think we will play some stingy defense. I don't know that we improved enough at that end to get away with scoring 35 and stay up. Burnley did that for two seasons, and in the second one the points tally came up snake eyes. As GOT points out, a reasonably healthy Dominic Calvert-Lewin probably solves all of this. The worrying case is the one where he isn't, where poor service, sloppy finishing and a lack of production from behind the forwards can send us down.

Richy got 10 goals and 6 assist, ppl are acting like he KDB, he’s not, he is a very good player who up until the end of the season had 4 goals. We got a better midfield and a better balance now so in terms we should Create more and concede less meaning we be higher up the table.

 

[Terrarian]

A far far far better window than I was expecting and if you're all honest with yourselves you'll agree, yes another forward would have been decent given DCL injury problems at the moment as I'd like Rondon to have his contract terminated, seems to be the done thing at the moment.

The defence and midfield are in much healthier shape. We have a pretty decent squad now in my opinion. I don't think we'll be any where near a relegation scrap.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Let's face it.. it's still been a good window. Strengthened the defence & central midfield which is what everyone was crying out for last season.

The final couple of pieces (the attacking third) should fall into place at some point, but it was clear that the priority this summer was to build from the back.

 

[4737carlin]

Neil Maupay has entered the chat

Exactly, we identified a good target, landed him and moved onto the defense

 

[MrGrumpy]

We had richy for the most part of the season...people underestimate his overall contribution to this team, not only his goals/assists...we haven't replace him and so all its on Dominic Calvert-Lewin really to try and match those numbers from last year

An Maupay and Gordon and Gray and McNeil.
Gordon wasn’t a 90 minute players according to Benitez

 

[ForestBlue]

We're a lot tighter defensively and will have much better ball retention. Delivery from set pieces should be better with 3 or 4 options.

There is strength in depth now in midfield and defence and competition for places. Richarlison is very hard to replace and almost impossible to replace in one player but his qualities are certainly there in the new signings.

Its disappointing we didnt get a really top class forward but thats really really difficult. We're in a much stronger position than 12 months ago and have kept Gordon. Its was a good window all told - especially with the players who left the club.

Agreed!

We've spent well an shifted a fair few so overall i'd say 8/10

Strengthening the areas we have to date (defence and midfield) should hopefully allow us to concentrate all our efforts (and budget) on a top striker in the next window.

We really need DCL back and injury free for the rest of the season, allowing for the usual niggles, and then we'll have a better idea of what sort of striker we need

Rome wasn't built in a day etc

 

[Sweverton]

The board still leaves us wanting, that annoying announcing players at the last hours is a transparent strategy and i'm fed up with it. Not signing another striker screams of incompetence. However, the best window we've had for ages. A good mixture of potential, experience and players at their peak. This new squad is actually something to build a future on

 

[EFC78]

If the season started tomorrow and we had this squad (including current injuries) I reckon we'd be on about 5 points more and would easily be capable of pushing for a top half finish.

Given that we've wasted 5 games, I expect 12th - 14th but think we will be well clear of a relegation scrap.

Next season I expect us to be far more competitive and be challenging for a top half finish.

 

[Neiler]

I think its important to do proper squad analysis.

How i tend to view the squad is less on measure of number and quantitive data but more on a qualitative functional basis.

I tend to view and analyse each squad position and how functional it is an option and gauge the improvement, then balance that against the value and cost.

Richarlison - McNeill

Kenny - Vinarge

Tosun - Maupay

Gomes - Onana

Delph - Gana

Sigurdsson - Garner

Gbamin & Dele - replaced by defenders Coady & JT.

Bar Richarlison, you couldn't say any of the above contributed in a major way to the squad for anything but a bit part way at best. If you accumulate the no of games played on the left - with what we expect the players on the right to play, its very clear in my opinion the squad is in a far better functional place. We've essentially created 7 functional squad places - were there was no functional reliable player before. The big concern of course is Richarlison, but if we were doing this last year we wouldn't have had young Flash down as a viable option and look at him now - our most valuable player.

In terms of player trading from a business perspective, we have lost four of our highest earners on the left, Richarlison, Gylfi, Deph and Gomes (depending on the deal). We've taken on wages but i would suggest we have lowered our overall wage ceiling in comparison and that should help with costs.

Also in terms of costs, two of the loans Coady and Vinarge hold no amortisation, JT on a free has none, Idrissa (if he was 2 mill) is negligible. Garner is 3.5 mill, Onana 6.6 mill, McNeill 4 mill. Maupay 3 mill odd. So 18 mill added in annual amortisation costs on right Vs what we have lost in the left Colum with wages and amortisation.

Overall from a functional and business point of view, it certainly seems like we are stronger in terms of options without going crazy on costs - though we are still prob loss making. Dare i say though the word that keeps coming to mind is balance, but also maximising squad places that weren't functional to make them functional and real live options to strengthen the team.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

I think its important to do proper squad analysis.

How i tend to view the squad is less on measure of number and quantitive data but more on a qualitative functional basis.

I tend to view and analyse each squad position and how functional it is an option and gauge the improvement, then balance that against the value and cost.

Richarlison - McNeill

Kenny - Vinarge

Tosun - Maupay

Gomes - Onana

Delph - Gana

Sigurdsson - Garner

Gbamin & Dele - replaced by defenders Coady & JT.

Bar Richarlison, you couldn't say any of the above contributed in a major way to the squad for anything but a bit part way at best. If you accumulate the no of games played on the left - with what we expect the players on the right to play, its very clear in my opinion the squad is in a far better functional place. We've essentially created 7 functional squad places - were there was no functional reliable player before. The big concern of course is Richarlison, but if we were doing this last year we wouldn't have had young Flash down as a viable option and look at him now - our most valuable player.

In terms of player trading from a business perspective, we have lost four of our highest earners on the left, Richarlison, Gylfi, Deph and Gomes (depending on the deal). We've taken on wages but i would suggest we have lowered our overall wage ceiling in comparison and that should help with costs.

Also in terms of costs, two of the loans Coady and Vinarge hold no amortisation, JT on a free has none, Idrissa (if he was 2 mill) is negligible. Garner is 3.5 mill, Onana 6.6 mill, McNeill 4 mill. Maupay 3 mill odd. So 18 mill added in annual amortisation costs on right Vs what we have lost in the left Colum with wages and amortisation.

Overall from a functional and business point of view, it certainly seems like we are stronger in terms of options without going crazy on costs - though we are still prob loss making. Dare i say though the word that keeps coming to mind is balance, but also maximising squad places that weren't functional to make them functional and real live options to strengthen the team.

Good post, mate. Though maybe.

Richarlison - Gordon

Usmanov - McNeil

 

[Neiler]

Good post, mate. Though maybe.

Richarlison - Gordon

Usmanov - McNeil

The McNeil Stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. lol

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

The McNeill Stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. lol

People need to understand!

 

[Carlito]

I'm interested to see Onana and Garner, but I don't actually know if either of them are any good.

I was positive about McNeil, but he's looking like he's going to be an expensive substitute for the time being.

Don't rate the rest.

 

[Alan Whittle]

From the outside (a Palace fan who follows Everton closely, second club etc) this looks like the first transfer window in a long time where there was some kind of agreed strategy, a plan to implement that strategy and some success in achieving it. Not a feeding frenzy of him, no him,oh alright him.
No one is getting everyone they need or want, (See Palace;Crystal) but overall the depth and balance of the Everton squad has much improved over the course of the window imo.

 

[joebocop]

Who is the big character here now at this club who gets on the ball, fires up the crowd and helps bail us out of a mess?

I dont see one.

That concerns me no end, because I look at this team and wonder where 40 points comes from.

Gueye, iwobi or onana are capable of this I think. And I think there's a chance Gordon can step up too, although I'm still not totally convinced.

What I think we've done though is made a side that should be more consistent across the year. Richy could undoubtedly win a game all on his own with a flash of brilliance, but there were large parts of last season he couldn't impact a game.

I wish we had a mix of solid foundation as well as a wildcard like Richy who could just explode with brilliance. But if I were only to have one, I'd have the solid foundation.

Hopefully we've built this, with this transfer window.