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Everton: Champions in 2012

I was discussing with a fellow Blue, last weekend (over the odd beverage) the state of our beloved club. Where we sit, where we need to be and how etc., essentially the same thing discussed in this forum every second of the day.

We took the view that we are in pretty good shape to be a UEFA cup participant for at least the next few years, with our top players all being relatively young. But whilst this is certainly a step up from the dark days — when Kev Campbell was all that stood between Everton and oblivion — we want to WIN! And by win, I don?t mean the cups — Europe or otherwise. We want the league to run through Goodison (or whatever we call the next place — another argument altogether) for a long time.

But can we do it as early as this coming season? Of course not! We don?t have the depth to create that sort of consistent run of results required to take the league. How long will it take, you ask. How long is a piece of string, I respond. But for the sake of the argument, we came up with the concept of winning the league in 5 seasons' time with, obviously, incremental improvements over that time frame. Onwards to 2012!

What do we need to get to that point? Talent, obviously. But young talent. Of our current core, only Cahill will be winding down in 5 years time. So we have young talent, that will be maturing, or at its peak in 5 years. The other thing that we need is players that are relatively unknown and/or inexpensive, as we are currently not a big-money player. European competition will help this, and we?ve taken the view that consistent runs in Europe will bring in more money and attract a better quality of player, which will improve the results, which will bring in more money (you get the picture, I?m sure). The Henry signing, as noted on ToffeeWeb, should bring some sanity to the current transfer demands, which will help also.

Now I?m expecting some agreement, and of course a hell of a lot of debate over what I run through next ?— an Everton squad for the 2011/2012 season that would, all other things being equal, be a serious contender. Some of these guys are good now. Some are a touch untried or underutilised by their current teams, and could see Everton, or a move to England in general, as a move to ?restart? or forward their careers. The things they all have in common, are, youth, pace, talent and one ?dream? signing aside, none could be considered a ?star? at this stage of their careers.

Now, we haven?t speculated on transfer fees etc, because we don?t know what trend fees will take on, let alone what our success will be in the next few years — a bad year or two scuppers this entire theory. Also, we?ve worked this based on 4-4-2, with a midfield sweeper (a la Carsley) — my favoured formation.

Here goes?

Goal — Howard: he?s the man. Will be in his keeper's prime in 5 years. Turner/Ruddy: Both young and good. Turner may leave to be a number 1 by 2012, though.

Defense — Yobo, Lescott, Boyle, Hibbert: Not a bad foursome. Add Phillipp Lahm, and maybe Glen Johnson from Chelsea. These two with our central pair of Lescott and Yobo will all be in their prime in 5 years. Lescott and Lahm are both outstanding players now — imagine what they could be in 5 years! Boyle can cover the centre and left, and Hibbert can cover the right. We also talked about Mexes, here. But four top notch defenders in front of Howard would be sufficient, with some youth and veteran back up behind them.

Midfield — Arteta, Vidarsson and McFadden from the current group. Throw in Jagielka, Gambino from Cologne, Johannes Vonlanthen and a possible controversial one in Javier Mascherano and we?ve a top notch midfield. This covers the wide areas, with Gambino, Arteta and McFadden, the central role with Vidarsson, Vonlanthen and Arteta. The sweeping role could be covered by Jagielka and Mascherano. Mascherano has class written all over him. Wouldn?t it be great to steal him from the Shite and watch him blossom! Kind of makes me feel better about Nick Barmby. Another name that got bandied about was Andreas D?Alessandro — impressive with Portsmouth not long back.

We can?t win with little Ozzie, God bless him. And as much as I hate to saying it (being Australian), Cahill will become surplus to requirements — build the squad up a bit and then sell him before anybody realises he can?t pass, tackle or dribble, and before injury prone becomes injury plagued.

Many will be dirty on the naming of McFadden to any Everton champion team, but he?s the sort of ?mercurial? type that can win a game with a few moments of genius. He?s not a 90 minute player — we?ve all realised that by now, but surround him with class, where we can carry him for periods of the match and his particular skill set will continue to come to the fore. Also, as Moyes is a defensive minded coach, we need that occasional bit of genius to break up the ?strangle the life out of the opposition? type game that we play, now. Although a lot of these players will eventually lead to him falling by the wayside if he doesn?t pick it up on a more consistent basis.

Forward — Pretty well set here. Johnson, Vaughan and Anichebe could be a good set of strikers for a very long time. But here comes the ?dream? signing. The sort of talent that would put a very good team over the top: Fernando Torres. We would have to move heaven, earth and half of Madrid to get him, but imagine him donning the famed number 9 for a few seasons. As much as this would be an amazing signing, in a few years time this guy could well be considered the best striker in the world & well out of our reach, so a lesser target might be Ryan Babel. He seems primed to leave Ajax, right now, but seems to be pining for (a newly cashed up) Arsenal. Also, Gambino, Vonlanthen and McFadden can all play up front.

That leaves us with a first team of:

• Howard
• Johnson Yobo Lescott Lahm
• Mascherano
• Gambino Vonlanthen Arteta (maybe McFadden on a wing for Vonlanthen, with Arteta central)
• Babel, Johnson

(Although I think Vaughan will have overtaken AJ by this time).

With talent like Anichebe, McFadden/Vonlanthen, Jagielka and Boyle on the bench, does this sound like your 2012 Premiership champions?

Five of these guys could be considered ?amongst the best in the world at their position? 2012 : Lescott, Lahm, Mascherano, Arteta, Babel. This is a side to be envious of.

Now, admittedly, a lot of things have to go right: we have to continue to improve as a team, and as a club (i.e. facilities). We have to have these players wanting to move to England and to Everton — Europe and it?s money/prestige can only help all of these things. But it?s only common sense to know that ALL of those signings can?t be achieved. So let?s break it down a touch.

Johnson might be one to steal away from Chelsea as their so called ?2nd 11? gets restless. Duff was an example. Similarly, we could target Wayne Bridge, if Lahm is unattainable.

In midfield, I think Jags is a mortal to become a Blue. As far as Mascherano, give it a season or two before he gets sick of Rafa sticking him on a wing or not playing him at all. D?Alessandro impressed at Portsmouth and would think Goodison is a palace compared to Fratton Park, but is unlikely. If we can?t get either of them, maybe look at Stephen Pienaar. Can play anywhere in midfield, is young enough and has pace to burn. Deserves a better league than Holland. And of course, we all hope we can get Fernandez again.

Up front, realistically, Torres is my own personal pipe dream. Babel is a long shot, as long as Arsenal doesn?t grab him this off season. But if we get Vonlanthen or Gambino, they can both play up front in what would be a lightning paced, if small, attack.

So even with those alternate signings, we could run with a 2012 line up of:

• Howard
• Johnson Yobo Lescott Bridge
• Jagielka
• Gambino Vonlanthen Arteta
• Johnson Vaughan

Still looks pretty good, doesn?t it? Especially with Boyle, Pienaar and Anichebe on the bench.

And the underlying factors of all of these potential signings (Torres & perhaps Babel aside): They?re all young and most come from lesser situations; be it a ?lesser? league (Germany) or playing 2nd fiddle to somebody else in their current squad.

Now, TW faithful, I turn this over to you to tear apart limb by limb.

Lets get some long term player thoughts onto these pages as well as next seasons. We might just be the punter, but we all know what we want to see from our beloved Blues — the title!

Let?s see some debate, people!

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