Report: Alcaraz to depart this summer

So long sad times, go long bad times
We are rid of you at last
Howdy gay times, cloudy gray times
You are now a thing of the past

Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So lets sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again

Altogether, shout it now, thereÂ’s no one
Who can doubt it now
So lets tell the world about it now
Happy days are here again

Your cares and troubles are gone
ThereÂ’ll be no more from now on, from now on

Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So lets sing a song of cheer again
Happy times, happy nights
Happy days are here again

Now if he can only take Kone with him.

Good luck from me, Antolin.

So one CB is definitely on the shopping list - hopefully itÂ’s not just a back up but someone whoÂ’ll be good enough to challenge for a starting place and possibly replace Jags in a yearsÂ’ time.

IÂ’d move heaven and earth for Shawcross, I donÂ’t give a fuck about ball playing centre halves to be honest, I want a dirty physical cynical bastard that wins headers.

A "no shit" defender if you like.

This means reinforcement at the back!

IÂ’d like Caulker or Shawcross (unlikely given Stokes form)

In my book we should cash in on Baines, have Galloway and Garbutt to battle it out between them.

Back for of Coleman, Stones, Jags and Galloway/Garbutt is looking pretty tasty.

The main buys in the summer should be a keeper and a right midfielder. Now weÂ’re adding a centre back to the mix.

Keeper
Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway/ Garbutt
R Mid McCarthy, C Mid, Mirallas
Barkley
Lukaku

I expect Pienaar will be the left midfielder so Mirallas can move into a more central role.

Good teams who aspire to be properly successful (not just finish top half with a pat on the back) but properly challenge need quality players for every position.

With the experience of Distin now gone, we need a string physical central defender who can step in and do a job if Stones or Jagielka lies form or fitness.

LetÂ’s not forget Jagielka is getting on too, 33 in August himself. Not that old but not that young either.

Martinez has already stated that Galloway wonÂ’t be going in the middle until the far off future and thereÂ’s doubts over BrowningÂ’s ability to play there I have heard.

Stones is a good ball player, maybe sometimes a heart in mouth defender depending on your opinion of taking too many risks, but two things he is not, is great in the air on defending crosses, heÂ’s also a bit easily bullied at times, itÂ’s happened on several occasions but is often overlooked because heÂ’s young and supposedly a ball player.

If you look at the goal conceded on Sunday again itÂ’s our Achilles Heel on crosses.

I think with Jags and Stones we will see us concede that type of goal a lot next season again.

DonÂ’t blame RM for signing him as back up. Unfortunately didnÂ’t work out. Good luck at your next club AA!

The point IÂ’m making is, just because Jags was solid this year, thereÂ’s no guarantee he should be a set-in-stone starter next season; like Distin earlier this season, he lost form and could have been dropped himself, you know.

We have to ask ourselves anyway, is the Jags - Stones partnership really that impregnable?? I remember a few weeks ago they were tortured at Villa Park and looked a shambles every time a cross went into the area. I personally think it wonÂ’t be long before we find out our weaknesses next season.

Would Ciaran Clark of Villa be an option? Left-sided, young and wouldnÂ’t command a big fee.

Letting Alcaraz and Distin go is a start but his faith in Kone worries me. I hope heÂ’s right and IÂ’m wrong, but more goals are required and more clean sheets if we are to challenge for a place in Europe and both cups.

I have never forgiven him for that shocking team selection at Anfield last January when he opted to play Stones right back, who looked a fish out of water there, despite having Hibbert on the subs bench. Alcaraz who was suffered muscle fatigue thrust in against, at the time, the most devastating potent Liverpool team for years.

As I say, I have not forgotten Martinez for that one, we could have lost that 8-0 that night and all because he picks a total mish-mash of a defence.

So, before he starts going on about witch hunts, he should look at the handling of the man himself at times.

Even in just 14 games we had to witness the disgrace in Kiev where he only had to come and head the ball twice (after all, that is what CBÂ’S are supposed to do), the pathetic own goal against Southampton, and Aguero going past him all to easily (Alcaraz looked like he was in quicksand).

McGeady, Traore, Atsu and EtoÂ’o have also been disasters!

34 - 2011
25 - 2012
10 - 2013
06 - 2014
08 - 2015

However, as others have stated, the Blues definitely need a big cover for either Stones or Jags. especially as Jags is not getting any younger. I like the kid Browning who can press Coleman for his place and Galloway who can do likewise to Baines & Co.

We all have our favourites regarding all the other Â’Â’benchwarmersÂ’Â’ and it will remain to be seen who else is still at Goodison come September.

Get the boy from Celtic to put pressure on Jags and for the future. LetÂ’s bring in young players who have experience in Europe.

[Just trying to raise the tone...]

Just seen reports of our interest in Trippier. ١.5M release clause. Would be interesting signing.

IÂ’d be tempted by Huddlestone too. Can be a bit too laid back but he can pick a pass (short or long) which we are crying out for. Let McCarthy do his donkey work for him and I reckon it would bring out the best in Lukaku with someone finally giving him proper service. He reminds me of Gibson without the injuries.

I doubt either would (a) break the bank or (b) demand silly wages in order to stay in the Premier League.

As for Alcaraz... thank god heÂ’s gone!!! He was a disaster waiting to happen that invariably happened.

Shit, weÂ’ve no-one left ?

Garbutt is not a true blue blood Evertonian, and is clearly in it for the money. Baines is not only the best LB in the country, but displayed great loyalty to the club when he could easily have gone to Man Utd and followed the money trail. IÂ’d pick Baines ahead of Garbutt any time.

If Garbutt is as good as he and his agent seem to think he is, let him stay and prove it, show us he should be picked ahead of two international left backs. He has a lot to prove yet, and talking about him as if heÂ’s the next Roberto Carlos is a load of old bollocks IÂ’m afraid.

a) Replace with more free transfers?
b) Hope Browning, Galloway et al are up to the job?
c) Pray for no injuries?
d) "Reluctantly" cash in on one of our rising stars. With Barkley looking more and more like the next Stefan Rehn, letÂ’s hope Stones doesnÂ’t get itchy feet or weÂ’re really screwed in defence.

Of course, all of the above.

Thanks Bill! Good job youÂ’re a Blue...

Although I would say goodbye by Martinez.

I will not be joining the few celebrating Alcaraz leaving. He was not a money grabber, did not treat fans or anyone within the club with distain and has never been in the papers causing trouble. He had problems with injuries. When he was on form he showed the ability to be a solid enough back up.

Fact is that he was a gamble due to his fitness problems and it hasnÂ’t paid off. Hope he finds a club where he can play some games, and probably in a less physical environment. MLS maybe?

He seems to have been unable to see AlcarazÂ’s limitations that a great number of supporters have seen throughout his stay.

Now we find heÂ’s out. I just wish now and again the manager would say it how it is, but then again maybe he does think Alcaraz is great; if so why bin him?

IvÂ’e played with a few classy Latin players over the years, and when the game is relatively slow tempo, they look like Rolls Royces - imperious.

However when the game turns into a maelstrom of flying tackles, boots and elbows, the composure can disappear, and the once statesman-like demeanour can be replaced by that of a dispossessed peasant.

That was Antolin.

a) Free transfers donÂ’t have to be crap and turn out like Alcaraz. There are currently 3 free agents that I think would be a good option for us at CB-Shaar, Vlaar and Richards. Richards may be predominantly a RB but with his build would be a good option at CB as well as providing cover for Coleman. Any of the three would improve our squad, two have premier league experience and the other is a ball playing center half.

b) Browning and Galloway have showed in their brief appearances this season theyÂ’re up for the challenge and will only get better being around the 1st team providing healthy competition and can be given game time from the bench or in the cups. Stones did it at 18 and IÂ’m a big fan of promoting from within as otherwise whatÂ’s the point of having an academy?

c) Injuries are part and parcel of the game, thatÂ’s why you have a squad and try to have cover in every position. No Europa League next year so less games to pick up injuries. My concern on the injury front is more the fact we have injury prone players-Pienaar, Gibson, Oviedo and Kone and the older players like Baines, Barry and Osman who will pick up injuries more easily.

d) LetÂ’s just hope not as the next 5 years for this club needs to be built around the core that is Coleman, Stones, McCarthy, Barkley and Lukaku.

I agree with your last comment though - Good job we have a lifelong blue in charge of our club. God forbid we had a rich savy businessman at the helm!!!

Somehow, it didnÂ’t work out well for him, with injuries; and once he stopped playing regularly, the form and quality goes too.

He could have worked out; on a free transfer, sufficient experience, and actually decent enough.

I agree that there is no need to direct all these harsh criticisms, and as rightly pointed out by many others here, it was also in part due to his inclusion, at the expense of Distin for the Kiev game.

We all know Martinez will begin the new season with Everton, we are not daft enough to think otherwise but whether he should be given the whole of next season is a totally different matter.

If he starts poorly up until late September or October and the malaise is the same as this season then he simply has to leave.

ps: Why are we skint? WhereÂ’s all the telly money going BK?

It makes a lot of sense to look at what youngsters we have and get them starting the pre-season games.

The Â’Â’oldÂ’Â’ or sick note brigade should be looked at seriously and defined as to whether they really have anything to offer the club going forward.

Yes, I know some have contracts but what is the point of paying them if they hardly play.

The youngsters have talent, speed and a desire to make an
impression so it makes sense to make room for them.

It appears however that there is nobody knocking on the door for midfield or offence so unless RM strengthens with signings we will see the usual suspects struggling next season.

Ideally one would like to see Besic and Barklay hit the ground running but like many others they have disappointed this last season so one wonders where they figure in the RM pecking order.

I cannot see the likes of Mirallas, Naismith, Osman, Pienaar ,Kone or Barry offering up anything new to improve the team and personally would move them out.

I honestly donÂ’t think we are skint, so would be shocked if we didnÂ’t have 㾻m or so in the transfer kitty. IÂ’d personally like one classy creative midfielder (replacing osman) and then good cover provided through loans or free transfers.

i donÂ’t see why there should be a problem with summer signings as the club is in profit due to all the TV money, we had more than last season due to the Europa money.

never mind at least we are not LFC fans. What odds would you get I wonder to see who gets the chop first between Martinez and Rodgers?

Need to spend our money on a creative midfielder and a left winger

Tuscan sunshine, Florentine surroundings and European football... heÂ’ll be on the first Easy Jet over.

Center-halfves are surely the the only position on the pitch that requires no more than to be over six foot tall.

Good luck is the last thing he needs as some idiot will pay him a fortune to do very little. Maybe we will get Richard Dunne in for a season on 㿞 grand, and when he goes you can wish him good luck too.

We wonÂ’t get Shawcross and we donÂ’t want Vlaar. I just hope our scouts have been well briefed (Martinez "Find me someone phenomenal") I donÂ’t think we necessarily need a proven Premier League centre-back.