Deadline day went as expected; being linked with a handful of decent players only for the links to materialise into thin air. It’s the hope that kills you but from a lifetime of supporting Everton I’d expect nothing different.
The window closed and August ended with 9 new faces, a successful window, however the replacement of the best striker we’ve had in years was nowhere to be seen. Can Sandro do it? Well from what I saw at Chelsea last Sunday the answer’s no, he did nothing and caused no problems for the Chelsea defence but saying that, the whole team was shit and the game was lost before it had even began. They are the champions though and evidently so, they played us off the park.
So with us having two strikers, neither of which can live up to Lukaku’s standards and the shithouse board not replacing him, what now? Calvert-Lewin lead the line at City and he played a blinder. He caused problems and chased every ball down for the full 90 minutes and showed no signs of tiredness. He holds the ball up well, he’s relatively quick, he’s tall and he’s got composure. He’s gonna be a gooden and has to start up front (cos he’s NOT a winger) every game for me. Apart from Chelsea I’ve seen nothing from Sandro but for 5 million quid we can’t moan about him.
We’re spoilt for choice in midfield now. Rooney, Klaasen, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Sigurðsson to name a few. It’s better than Cleverley, McCarthy, Barry, Barkley on the wing, McGeady and Lennon isn’t it? So for all you moaners rambling on about how shit the transfer window was, go back 3 years and see how far we’ve come since Martinez made a mockery of us.
I still think Rooney has something to offer when he’s not driving his car after going on the ale all day. His lack of pace is cancelled out by his awareness, brains and gamesmanship and he can carve defences open in one pass. But will be able to play every game? Davy Klaasen hasn’t taken to the fans yet but I’ve certainly taken to him. His movement off the ball creates space thus creating chances (see goal vs Stoke). He also has the greatest chant in football so I for one am made up when he’s playing. Tom Davies, ah Tom Davies. He looked goosed after half an hour at City and Chelsea and was subbed at both of them. I’m still not convinced by him, not yet anyway, if it wasn’t for his goal and performance in our 4-0 win against City last season I don’t think he’d be where he is now. He’s gonna be boss but he isn’t yet. Gylfi Sigurðsson, the club’s most expensive player is the dead ball specialist and the man with the assists. The (quite a big) problem is that there isn’t a target man in there to assist. Typical Everton that. Giroud was the man for me but his Mrs was having none of it. Llorente went to Spurs (good luck getting a game) and the only other option was Stefano Okaka, who’s only scored two goals in his life and guess who they were against?
The defence is looking alright but the system has to change imo. Playing 3 centre halves and 2 wing backs doesn’t work for me. Mason Holgate doesn’t know whether he’s coming or going the poor lad. We need a back 4 imo. If you follow me on Twitter the you’ll know about my passionate hatred for Ashley Williams; the slow, overweight bastard (he should be dropped) but I just blank him out and watch Michael Keane spray balls about the pitch and head anything that comes towards him. What a signing he is. Jagielka is a man of two halves. He was unreal against City but nonexistent at Chelsea, consistent though and does a job. Leighton Baines is still great but cover for him in the transfer market would’ve been reassuring, especially with the number of games we’ve got coming up. Luke Garbutt? Nah.
Having a goalkeeper who can catch a ball and punch it further than the 18 yard box is a rarity (especially after sitting through games with poppadom hands standing between the posts star jumping over shots and diving the wrong way for others) not to mention the lad’s left foot, a genius and easily England’s future number 1. He should be now cos that long necked Tory, Joe Hart who hasn’t kept a clean sheet for about 3 years is shite.
So in summary, after the lack of striker in the transfer window, the lack of pace in the whole team and the lack of wingers, what happens now? Bolasie to come back will inject some pace but Mirallas posting an Instagram story identical to a 14 year old girl’s suggests he won’t playing for us again so until Bolasie’s back I feel 2 wing backs will be the norm which isn’t great. We’ll see ey? Koeman will sort us out but I can’t see us finishing anywhere but 7th. I’m excited to see how the team will gel and Calvert-Lewin leading the line.
Up the toffees.
Joe- ( @joewhitehead__)