ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Everton?s Squad Size

It was interesting to read Jose Mourinho?s comments on the BBC that he believes that the ideal squad size for him would be 26 players. I made a comparision between the squads (only numbers) that Everton and Chelsea have. Not counting our ?up and coming? academy/fringe players ? Ruddy, Boyle, Kissock, Vidarsson, Jutkiewicz, Agard ? and, Anderson Da Silva (on loan), and counting our ?chickens before they have hatched? i.e. Fernandes and Yakubu, we have 23 players ? 3 in the goal, 7 defenders, 8 mid-fielders and 5 forwards. Chelsea have 2 more each in defence and mid-field. Since Mourinho also stated in the same interview that he wouldn?t mind if one of his defenders moved out, Chelsea?s squad size is likely to come down to 26 by deadline day.

Assuming that Everton?s strength remains at 23, we are about 3 players away from the ?ideal? squad size. Of course, DM may have a different opinion and may feel that Everton is sized exactly right at this moment (especially since, with all due respect, it is likely that Everton will play fewer games than Chelsea). Anyway, the point is that ? slowly but surely ? our numbers are looking comparable to one of the top teams. We are probably 1 midfielder and 1 central defender away from a full-sized premiership team.

(By the way, just looking at the 2 squads, I would like to see Glen Johnson moving from Chelsea to Everton ? since many posters on TW seem to believe that this is our most vulnerable position at the moment.)
Ajay Gopal, Bangalore, India Posted 25/08/2007 at 11:05:02

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Comments

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Gavin Harris
1 Posted 25/08/2007 at 14:11:45

Interesting point mate. However, you can compare numbers but its quality that counts. If you comapre quality we are some way away from the top teams at the minute.

Its a good shout about Johnson though, i think he would be a good addition to our squad, especially as Hibbert is having a poor season so far.

James Elworthy
2 Posted 25/08/2007 at 14:15:11

Glen Johnson is a poor player and is by the far the weakest link in the Chelsea team. Signing him would be in my opinion be a bad signing, Jagielka is the ideal player to put there or Neville

Jason Broome
3 Posted 25/08/2007 at 14:58:10

Mourinho did not win the league last season and is only one man with an opinion. Not everyone needs to follow what he says.

Mourinho played Glenn Johnson in the pre-season so he could advertise him for sale. Now he wants Daniel Alves Da Silva. Therefore Johnson is not good enough for Chelsea, or us!

As for our play, we are weak on the flanks which causes us to play predictably narrow, unattractive football. We need 2 world class wingers, a RWB and plenty of European practice before we can challenge Chelsea.