Valencia handed No.19 jersey

Lyndon Lloyd , 1 September, 53comments | Jump to most recent

New signing Enner Valencia will wear Gerard Deulofeu's old number while Oumar Niasse has been included in the Everton squad submitted to the Premier League today.

Valencia was announced as the final signing of the 2016 summer transfer window when his season-long loan from West Ham was finalised in the final hour before the deadline and he will wear No.19 this season.

Niasse, who was not given a shirt number when the first squad of the season was confirmed prior to the start of the season, is named among the Toffees' 25-man roster which must feature at least eight home-grown players.

Tyias Browning and Matthew Pennington have made the list but, being under 21, the likes of Tom Davies and Kieran Dowell are among the unlimited number of Academy players that clubs are able to field.

Full Everton first-team squad

Leighton Baines
Ross Barkley
Gareth Barry
Yannick Bolasie
Tyias Browning
Tom Cleverley
Darron Gibson
Phil Jagielka
Aaron Lennon
Romelu Lukaku
James McCarthy
Matthew Pennington
Ashley Williams
Muhamed Besic
Seamus Coleman
Gerard Deulofeu
Ramiro Funes Mori
Idrissa Gueye
Arouna Kone
Kevin Mirallas
Oumar Niasse
Bryan Oviedo
Joel Robles
Maarten Stekelenburg
Enner Valencia

Reader Comments (53)

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CiarÃ¡n McGlone
1 Posted 01/09/2016 at 18:48:04

Niasse is in the squad and has been given a squad number!

I suppose that's sensible given there's only four senior strikers at the club.

But of a climbdown for Koeman if he actually ends up being needed and playing.

Zac Farbrother
2 Posted 01/09/2016 at 18:48:53

Hurry up and give Niasse a number, I need to get his name on my shirt ASAP!

Terry Downes
3 Posted 01/09/2016 at 19:08:18

Why can't we give McAleny a try?

Steve Hopkins
4 Posted 01/09/2016 at 19:18:41

Humiliating...

Des Farren
5 Posted 01/09/2016 at 19:22:11

Niasse is, like it or not, an Everton player on a massive wage. Koeman is his manager, also, by the way, on a massive wage.

Is it unreasonable to expect Koeman to be able to improve him to some extent, even to an extent that another club might become interested?

Andy Riley
6 Posted 01/09/2016 at 19:33:43

Conor McAleny not in the squad but not loaned out either. Didn't he score against Bolton the other night? RK must rate Niasse above him!

Gerard Quinn
7 Posted 01/09/2016 at 19:34:02

If the lad trains well we'll give him a spot on the bench. Will always be worth a 10-minute run-out to nick a goal I reckon. He's not exactly Ali Dia so why not give him a break?

Ian Burns
8 Posted 01/09/2016 at 19:35:38

RK must be wondering why on earth he left Southampton...

James Morgan
9 Posted 01/09/2016 at 20:00:08

Order of strikers we should use:

Lukaku
Mirallas
Valencia
Deulofeu
Kone
McAleny
Duffus
Dyson
Byrne
Sambou
Calvert-Lewin
Brewster
Me
The tea lady
Oumar Niasse

Mark Morrissey
10 Posted 01/09/2016 at 20:35:24

The only problem now for Koeman will be injuries to Lukaku and Kone. He will have his hand forced to bench Niasse and risk him actually playing for us.

Having made his well penned quote "He will have to leave if he wants football (or thereabouts), he will be forced to eat his own words. Cannot understand why he wasn't offered up to someone. Perhaps he was?

Brian Porter
11 Posted 01/09/2016 at 20:39:48

Total humiliation for Koeman. Now we really are a joke.

Joe Clitherow
12 Posted 01/09/2016 at 20:44:38

Or maybe without giving Niasse a squad number there would be absolutely zero chance of moving him on in the next window?

McGeady at least took the hint but Niasse is in there like a limpet claiming his wages.

Jay Harris
13 Posted 01/09/2016 at 20:51:16

Apparently Turkish and Russian clubs wanted him but his wife/girlfriend told him to turn them down and trust in God.

Mike Green
14 Posted 01/09/2016 at 20:59:40

Niasse Scores. We Riot.

Sometimes life has a certain, undeniable symmetry...

Brian Williams
15 Posted 01/09/2016 at 21:07:43

I think he'll come good. Be like a new signing if he does too.

Anthony Flack
16 Posted 01/09/2016 at 21:13:11

Stranger things have happened, what will we all say if Niasse scores a Derby winner.

Hard for him to come back though, earlier today I heard a mother in a supermarket shouting at her child, "Just listen to Jesus" he replied "Yes mammy I will listen to Jesus, can I have a cake?.."

ps: Not on Scotland Road... maybe it might do Niasse some good – divine intervention and all that.

Jake Lucas
17 Posted 01/09/2016 at 21:24:56

Really can't understand people's beef with the decision to include Niasse. The transfer window is closed, we are stuck with this squad till January, if there's space for him why wouldn't we include him?!

Granted he would get limited if any game time, but we would be stupid not to include him if there's space. If we get injuries to Lukaku and Valencia then he might well be needed regardless to skill levels!

Daniel Lawrence
18 Posted 01/09/2016 at 21:58:00

Isn't the Russian window still open? He'll be gone soon enough. Let's hope he's not January's transfer war chest .

Ernie Baywood
19 Posted 01/09/2016 at 22:23:08

Free transfers can be signed for another week. I can't believe there isn't one available who is a better option than Niasse. Get down the parks, Ronald.

Derek Williams
20 Posted 01/09/2016 at 22:31:25

James Morgan (9) I can't believe you've put yourself ahead of the tea lady in the pecking order.

Colin Metcalfe
21 Posted 01/09/2016 at 22:41:21

I wonder what happened to the Uruguayan striker Leandro Rodriguez? He seems to have dropped off the radar.

Geoff Evans
22 Posted 01/09/2016 at 23:02:42

Nice to know we have a striker who was told, only last week, that if he liked to play football he should find another club... Only at Everton!

Steve Ferns
23 Posted 01/09/2016 at 00:08:18

Rodriguez was told he can leave on a free. I don't think he found a club.

James Marshall
24 Posted 02/09/2016 at 00:34:14

Niasse is talll, Niasse is strong.

A cult figure in the making.

All hail, Niasse!

Jamie Sweet
25 Posted 02/09/2016 at 01:07:26

On paper, and on Youtube, Niasse is quite similar to the type of player we missed out on during this transfer window.

Perhaps some proper training could yet turn him into a legend .

*Cue video montage set to Rocky music of him beefing up in the gym, Big Dunc showing how to head the ball and generally scare the shit out of people, Barkley showing him the technique for hitting a bullet of a shot and him learning how to press by chasing footballing chickens.

He gets his chance against Sunderland after Mirallas pulls his hammy in the 12th minute...

Goals goals goals, Premier League, Champions League, Ballon d'Or .

Stranger things have happened right?

Dan Davies
26 Posted 02/09/2016 at 01:27:17

C'mon Niasse we need you! Haha! I'm wondering though if Valencia could be like an upgrade on Naismith? Could he?

Paul Kossoff
27 Posted 02/09/2016 at 01:41:21

Number of strikers we should use 2.

:
Lukaku
Mirallas
Valencia
Deulofeu
Kone
McAleny
Duffus
Dyson
Byrne
Sambou
Calvert Lewin
Brewster
Me
Me
Me
And
Me
Kenwright
Jimmy Cranky
Oumar Niasse

Paul Kossoff
28 Posted 02/09/2016 at 01:45:00

Ernie (#19),

Big Vic is free, apparently off to join Moyes's boys.

David Ellis
29 Posted 02/09/2016 at 03:29:02

Jamie Sweet #25 - "stranger things have happened"...no not really

Kieran Fitzgerald
30 Posted 02/09/2016 at 07:15:45

At this stage, what else can we do with Niasse but see what can be done with him on the training pitch? If we are paying him, then get something out of him.

Mohammed Horoub
31 Posted 02/09/2016 at 07:39:21

Niasse still hasn't been given a number... Although #2 is still available so Mike @ 14 your prediction might not be far off.

Hopefully Valencia and Lukaku can find some chemistry on the pitch and keep us in the top 6 till January.

Based on Wednesday night a strong league position is the only way we can attract a few more pieces of the puzzle. They might end up costing us £50+ mill but we are not far from competing with the Sky sweethearts...

Anto Byrne
32 Posted 02/09/2016 at 10:57:14

Niasse looks okay on YouTube. He has a turn of pace, is two-footed and can pass the ball. Surely that's an improvement on the likes of McGeady and some others now departed.

How do you spend £13 mil on a player without due diligence? The RedShite and Balotelli springs to mind but then how many others have they signed never to be seen again?

Bill Gienapp
33 Posted 02/09/2016 at 10:58:15

Colin (21) – yeah, the club basically told Rodriguez to take a hike. Which speaks volumes, since he plays striker. If he had anything to offer (and I mean anything), I'm sure Koeman could have made use of him.

Ian (8) – doubt he's pining much for Southampton, given that they just staged their annual talent exodus, with Mane, Pelle and Wanyama all going bye-bye.

Ray Roche
34 Posted 02/09/2016 at 11:05:38

Anthony (#16)

"What will we all say if Niasse scores a Derby winner?"

What horse was he riding?

James Hughes
35 Posted 02/09/2016 at 11:16:45

Ray, his wrist would be too sore to get in the saddle!

James Marshall
36 Posted 02/09/2016 at 11:32:21

Given the apparent climbdown on Niasse and feelings of embarrassment noted on here... it's also worth noting a similar climbdown at Old Trafford where Maureen has now given Shweinsteiger a squad place at Man Utd.

It is similar, isn't it?

Ray Roche
37 Posted 02/09/2016 at 11:32:44

We'll have to rein him in then.

Mike Green
38 Posted 02/09/2016 at 11:43:17

Very good Ray #34 :D

I don't see it as an issue with it at all to be honest.

Koeman said if he enjoys playing football he needs to leave Everton, didn't give him a squad number to make it clear he wasn't in his plans but now given he hasn't moved on, is being paid handsomely by the club and if push comes to shove we might need him he's back in the pecking order - albeit right at the back of it.

I can see the argument for giving someone like Conor that squad number but I'm sure RK / Unsworth etc. have got their reasons and Niasse's got the gig until January, which I'm sure he's happy about to be honest.

It also, as someone else pointed out, might give us a better chance of moving him on rather than have him completely off the radar.

File under nothing to see here.

Ray Roche
39 Posted 02/09/2016 at 11:46:43

Mike, and if RK thinks he's up to it he might even put him in the "shop window", so to speak,for a couple of games although from what we've seen so far that might have a negative effect on his value.

If RK has seen him in training he's clearly seen enough of him to realise he's not Premier League standard.

Steavey Buckley
40 Posted 02/09/2016 at 11:55:16

How could Everton sign Valencia without a medical, who at present is in either central or south America?

James Marshall
41 Posted 02/09/2016 at 11:57:10

Steavey, he played for Ecuador so I guess that means he's fit enough?

Mike Green
42 Posted 02/09/2016 at 12:05:33

And you never know, Ray – we could witness the greatest comeback since Lazarus... now wouldn't that be something? :)

Nick Page
43 Posted 02/09/2016 at 12:11:50

I doubt Koeman is happy being made to look a total prick by Billy the Bungling Bullshitter's horrendous efforts in the transfer window. If only he was as competent a negotiator/human being/Evertonian as he is a liar we'd all be fcking delighted.

Imagine you're the new manager, sold on "The Project" and exercising your control over the playing staff whilst expecting serious investment into the squad as promised, obviously, blissfully unaware that its all a massive lie and we haven't got a bastard pot to piss-in. Until you get Enner Valencia on deadline day

Steavey Buckley
44 Posted 02/09/2016 at 12:16:35

James: every player gets a medical before signing. Valencia has had medical issues while with West Ham.

James Marshall
45 Posted 02/09/2016 at 13:14:29

Steavey – I heard the deal was talked about between us and West Ham 2 weeks ago, so he probably had a medical well before he left for International duty in case Everton decided to go ahead and sign him.

Daniel Lim
46 Posted 02/09/2016 at 14:56:08

Anyone in UK care to check out for me the odds Niasse will score the winner at Mordor?

Derek Williams
47 Posted 02/09/2016 at 16:13:33

Daniel (46). About the same odds Leicester were to win the Premier League last season, I should think... but, as we all saw... funny game, football!

Raymond Fox
48 Posted 02/09/2016 at 16:57:42

Give the guy a break, it was presumably fact that he was Footballer of the Year in Russia, so he must have something going for him!

Add to that he will have been watched by officials from Everton at least once, so somebody must have thought he was worth the money.

He'll score as many as Lukaku has in the last 15 games, maybe more.

Tony Kost
49 Posted 02/09/2016 at 17:07:54

Mike Green (#42) – I think you could be right: Koeman is planning to play Niasse in our Easter fixtures.

Michael Polley
50 Posted 02/09/2016 at 19:14:23

He'll never be wearing our colours on the pitch.

Julian Exshaw
51 Posted 02/09/2016 at 19:20:21

Call me deluded but I still think Niasse may have something to offer. I mean, somebody must have seen something in him to justify paying so much. I wonder if RM ever actually saw him playing 'live'?

I hope he turns it around yet. His confidence must be rock bottom. Put him in the U23s, give him a chance and let's see.

Adam Carey
52 Posted 02/09/2016 at 20:40:01

I'm not defending Niasse but would one of the people who over the last few days has berated Kenwright, Koeman and Moshiri explain how they are to blame for not moving the player on...?

He was bought by Martinez, and has been told publicly that he needs to move elsewhere if he wants to continue with a successful career. If no other club wants him, or he doesn't want to go for personal reasons, then that isn't the fault of anyone currently in charge.

If I was paying a large salary to someone (even if I didn't want them), I would find a way to make him earn his wages. We are not Man City who can afford to pay the likes of Toure to not play at all for 𧶀k a week.

If the boy comes good, then great; but I doubt he'll be still here come the end of the next transfer window.

James Hughes
54 Posted 03/09/2016 at 13:57:39

I live in Essex and a lot of my mates are Hammers and they are glad he's gone.

General opinion is a good player but lazy but didn't rule out the possibility of him making it in the Premier League, they just couldn't see it happening with them. Who knows what will happen eh.

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