Pickford returns ahead of schedule

What a great attitude, let's hope it rubs off on some of the others.

Hopefully he’s not coming back early to clear out his locker!

Although given his comments there is no hint of that.

He won’t leave this summer, there would be hell to pay if we sold him with a week to go, with other signings massive priorities the last thing we need is a matter of days running around looking for a goalkeeper to replace Pickford.

We have one week now exactly to sign at least one central defender (I’d say two needed) and at least one (again I’d say two) forward players.

Depending on how ambitious we are I think we desperately need a striker, I’m very concerned with our attacking options at this moment in time.

Definitely the trappings of a man not interested yet in moving on despite his heroics this summer. Good lad

Chelsea won't sign him off the back of one world cup. It's all tabloid nonsense.

There will still be Evertonian's out there with reservations about him.

I wonder if some of the delay around signing a CB is to see what JPs thoughts are about who he would like to see in front of him. Marco Silva is known to be a 'people-person' and good man-manager, if I was looking to keep a player who has suddenly been thrown into the limelight on a global scale, and could in theory have his head turned, a good way to coax him into feeling happy and vital to the team is to see what he would want in front of him as his main defence. Just a thought.
If I were initiating a full overhaul of a team, and the sumemr panned out the way it has, I would be certainly seeking to see what JP thoughts were in relation to building a solid defence with him as a potential future captain also a factor (vocal, good attitude, and now a big reputation).
Just a thought...

Alex

Nice thinking but I very much doubt it.

Don’t you think Pickford would be banging the drum for Maguire to come here?
But there’s not a chance of that.

Fair enough, why not come and meet the new manager a day early. Of course they will want a new style of play but as a goal keeper tactics are less pivotal. Rubbish headline and news. But...

Small goalkeeper's need big, strong, commanding defenders to rely upon especially at set plays which have a big weakness of ours.

What did anyone make of Mangala?
I know he's injured for a good 6 months but would anyone have him back? Is he better than Keane?

I have a feeling Jags may still prove to be our best defender this season. Top professional but definitely past his peak.

I've high hopes Galloway steps up. I think the lad is a diamond.

I don't think Pickford would be encouraging McGuire to come. It could be the other way around if Man Utd sign McGuire though.

Justin, I can’t tell if you’re serious. Galloway, Browning and Garbutt we all hoped would be in the first team by now but either they failed us or we failed them.

Mangala wasn’t a popular signing back then and wouldn’t be now. Jags gave us his all and can be relied upon for a handful of games up to January when I expect him to finally leave. As it stands, unfortunately “and still” the best cb at the club...

We are weak at the back aren’t we. Holgate is so much better in a 3... but this has to be a breakthrough year for him.

According to Steve Ferns, Silva likes his centre-halves well over six feet tall.

I was impressed with Galloway when he last stepped up to the first team and I believe he is naturally left footed and according to his stats on Wikipedia stands at just over 6'-2".

For a moment, I did envisage a possible back three of Galloway, Keane and Holgate. But again, given that Wikipedia say that Holgate is only just 6' tall, I think neither he nor Galloway will fit Silva's profile.

Both are very speedy and that may make up for their lack of height – but Keane is also only 6'-2" according to Wikipedia, so, if Steve Ferns is right, none of them fit the bill.

Hugh (11), that was EXACTLY what I was thinking - a Back 3 of Holgate, Keane and Galloway would be intriguing. I don’t think Holgate is just 6’, There are conflicting reports about his height, but he is probably 6’2”. Holgate and Galloway and fast, energetic and good on the ball. Keane would mostly stay back and protect Pickford. But then, if you also play Coleman and Digne, then you have only 5 players for the midfield and forward line.
Would that be Siggy, Loftus-Cheek (he..he..), Walcott, Richarlison and Tosun?

This will not happen as I think Martinez sorry I mean Silva is very much a 4-5-1 manager.

With our poor defence I would play a back 3 but Jags in the centre for experience and order Galloway and Holgate to push, squeeze, drop off etc. Keane isn't good enough or mobile enough to play the style of play Silva wants.
We desperately need a top class experienced Centre Back to help nurture the talented youngsters.

Gibson £15m is good but in my mind too similar to what we already have rather than an upgrade although has the benefit of experience and less injury prone so maybe he is an improvement but not the Top class defender we are in desperate need of.

5 defenders with Coleman/Kenny and Baines/Digne. I think to get the most out of modern full backs they need resting and rotating. It may be the most physical and mentally demanding position. Always switched on, total focus, aware of runners knowing when to defend and space to attack. I love Bryan at Bristol City as an attacking left back. Bring him in now to compete with Baines ready for next season.

2 midfielders to support and link play. I think Drinkwater is a great shout. He's the one to distribute and start attacks from deep. Unfortunately Schnides looks like he's fooled another manager to believe he's good enough. He isn't, never has been and should be sold.

Then depending on the opposition either Gana/Davies for energy and closing down or Siggy to control and link play.

3 forwards Tosun/DCL as the natural strikers and Ricy, Lookman, Dowell, Vlassic and Walcott.
Ricy could play in the centre but he's so talented I'd give him more freedom to be the creater and get on the ball in wide areas.
Walcott just isn't a striker and the rest are all young promising players but can not be rellied upon to be consistent so play whoever is in form. Yes that means keep Vlassic.

Niasse, Besic, Sandro will be given run outs but until we get a top class new centre back and central midfielder we will not improve to compete with the top 4. I believe we have enough players that are good enough to create and score we just need to be solid and stop conceding the first goal so cheaply.

Everton defence is Porous, poor us, but hopefully that marque central defender is about to sign. Good luck Silva he's going to need it.