Hegemon92

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/everton-poised-confirm-new-manager-8127187

Van Dijk in that CB role sounds good.

EDIT: He's on a long-term contract though

For his age and ability, I would rather pay 15M for a younger CB with more potential. I cannot honestly say that he could bench Jags, Stones, or Funes Mori.

Been looking on a few saints forums to see what they are saying. Safe to say that they are not happy, they are trying to compare us to Portsmouth and someone even mention QPR. Fair play they haven't a clue what they are talking about! 7th and 6th and I think they are having delusions of grandeur!!! I Couldn't tell you how many trophies they've won or how many years they have been in the top flight of the football league but it ain't probably much! If you know your history!!!!!

I have been doing the same. At the same time, I can't blame them for being mad. At this point, the summer exodus at Southampton has become an expectation. Yet, I see a lot of hate towards Koeman by Southampton fans. Don't blame Koeman; blame your board. I am sure when Koeman first signed for Southampton on their vision, Koeman didn't expect them to sell their best players every summer. Southampton shouldn't be surprised that Koeman left for Everton on the promise that we actually want and can build a team when Southampton's board didn't live up to their promise.

Honestly the more and more i think about it. I think Moshiri will give Roberto next year, during which time he will be taking over the majority of the club and then after next campaign he will either sack martinez (if he hasn't won a trophy or CL) or sign him to another deal (if he wins stuff). I dont' think the new owner wants to fire him just yet, i'd think he would want continuity while he takes over.

I think you might be right. It seems like Moshiri's short-term goals are to keep star-players at the club for next season and to expand transfer-market spending. Martinez is a good recruiter and keeping him at the club may be necessary for the two aforementioned goals. However, I don't doubt that Moshiri has set concrete goals for Martinez, and if these goals are not met, then Martinez is out. With so much time on the sidelines at Arsenal, I also have no doubt that Moshiri has a short-list of coaches to take over at Everton.

It seems that somewhere between 1980 and 1990 it all turned to shit.

 

Going back to this little caveat, the aftermath of the Heysel Stadium Disaster and Thatcher's/UEFA's ban of English Clubs took a particular toll on Everton. Everton were officially banned from the European Cup in the 1985-1986 and 1987-1988 seasons, from the European Cup Winners' Cup in the 1986-1987 season, and from the UEFA Cup in the 1988-1989 season.

I think we need Lennon for the work ethic and tempo that he sets. He plays for the team, not himself. While he may not be the complete package himself, he improves the performance and effectiveness of other players such as Coleman (who knows cover will be there if he bombs forwards) and our strikers who benefit from more, and better, chances being created. He also helps our defence out by tracking back, tackling and generally setting a great example.

 

And over 38 league games plus, hopefully, 2 decent cup runs, there will be injuries and a need to rotate the squad.

What he does for Coleman is the main point I have in mind, but I want to ask everyone if we need the depth. I mean if we were competing in the Europa League then yeah.

I don't know if I can assess Deulofeu's ability at the moment to completely write him off.

Pretty good strike from him here:

Adding Gyasi Zardes s a younger striker for Kone to the mix:

Brad Guzan to take over Howard if Villa go down.

I cannot stress enough how important Gibson and Lennon were in this match. Gibson was pivotal to distributing the ball and attacking in a way that Barry has failed to do. It was important in this match that Martinez not stop the flow of the game by putting two defensive midfielders on: Barry/ Besic or Barry/ McCarthy.

However, I think that Lennon was by far the best player in the pitch. He fulfills his offensive and defensive duties well. Moreover, he made Coleman shine today, particularly when his play has failed to impress during the season. The reason being that having a fast and tactful player on the right flank that also plays well defensively leaves Coleman open for more runs and crosses, what Deulofeu did last season, and what McGeady has failed to do consistently.

Lennon is what we need to play wider football. However, he and Atsu are only here on loan. Wingers will be pivotal during the next transfer window. Who will be the long term solution?

Article is spot on.

Yeah. This article won me over and I think that this season ruined Martinez for me. Although I still think Martinez might have potential as a good manager in the future, it is not at Everton, and probably not in the Premier League.

As for Kenwright, I think he spoiled Martinez with that deal over the summer. We went in too fast to buy Lukaku and Barry. I had heard as early as September that Martinez was using the Europa League as an auditioning platform for his next job. I refused to believe it at the time, but now it is starting to make sense. I just want to be proud of my team again.

But, if not Martinez, then who?

There is no reason that Gareth Barry should be playing 90 mins. It should have been Aaron Lennon in for Barry instead of Mirallas.

Nani would make the team worse. There is no X button on that controller.

RM's subs were good today. Although Barkley was moving the ball, he was all losing the ball in key positions. Gibson was doing a better job of spreading the ball and attacking.

Besic was also timid, and choosing to be a little too liberal with the ball at times at the edge of the box. I think Atsu did a great job of adding some pace to the ball. Would love to see more of him going forward.

Howard Out, Robles In. Today was embarrassing for him.

The weather was absolutely terrible at Goodison. Not to give Lukaku too much leeway, but at least when he misses opportunities he makes up for them. Not like Barkley today, absolutely terrible.

Who is upfront is not the issue to me as much as who is on LB. Oviedo went out for the YB game, but I would prefer Garbutt over a rushed Baines. Any updates on both Oviedo and Baines?

We won't go down. I am looking towards the summer transfer window. If we play like we did at Bern for the rest of the season, we will be just fine.

I recorded the game and just finished watching. First of all, what a great improvement from the toffees. I loved the faster speed of game which paid off with a Lukaku hat trick. Let me say that although Lukaku scored the most goals today, this was a team effort. Although Lukaku gets criticized unfairly in my opinion, this is what happens when the midfield plays in sync and Coleman is allowed to run up on the wing.

Garbutt deserves to start over Oviedo.

The referee was obviously biased in favor of YB. If it wasn't the soft fouls, it was the liberal use of the yellow cards against Everton, particularly the one against Lukaku.

On Stones...yeah he messed up, but that was no where near a straight red card.

Honestly. I am fine with this result. I have been waiting for this season to be over for awhile. Big mistake for RM not to buy this transfer window, but hopefully this translates to some big buys over the summer.

One main lesson to take away from this game. We need to lose some of the "experience" (i.e. Barry) and let the young guns run the show. I want to see more of Garbutt. Besic is getting better every game and in a couple of years he will be a cream of the crop No.6 Box to Box midfielder.

The only thing holding the club back now are the fans that cannot think of the big picture. Immediate results are good, but you want a sustainable model for success over a long period of time. Many of these players (Lukaku, Barkley, Besic, and Garbutt) are that future.

Also, I read a lot of hate for Lukaku on here. Unjustifiably so, as he was the one muscling people off the ball and tracking back for most of the game.

We deserved much more than that. Unfortunately, I feel that the fall will go on Mirallas after a night of missed chances and lack of urgency all around.

I still don't understand the pessimism towards Lukaku. Lukaku is always fighting for the ball and pushing defenders off the ball up top. My biggest worry is other players not showing up to the game, particularly in the middle. One thing we need to stop doing is passing the ball back to the GK because any mistake there will cost us.

We need McCarthy and Sly:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sly-stallone-deliver-special-message-8468143

Overreaction.

Would much rather have Eto'o in for McGeady

For US viewers, tomorrow's replay is on FoxSports 1, 2:45 EST. Probably pregame at 2/2:30. The match will also be shown again Thurs eve 8:00 EST on FoxSports 2.

Awesome. I am going to need to record this.