Squad flies out to Holland

Looking at the list of the squad, we do need some quality out wide – why spend 㿞mill on Sigurdsson when we have enough central players?

A quick winger with an eye for goal: Joel Campbell from Arsenal on the cheap?

Barkley, Funes Mori, Coleman, Bolasie (injured)

Browning, Galloway (on loan)

Pennington (about to go on loan)

Joe Williams, Tarashaj, Leandro Rodriguez, Niasse (???)

Sandro isn't tested in the Prem, and we need a back up for Rooney in case he is injured or just looks off the pace. We have a few wide players, but not really enough depth or quality to push through a long season with top 4 aspirations and cup runs.

Defense seems okay, although another top quality centre back wouldn't go a miss. Central midfield seems quite congested so plenty of competition there.

The attacking quality will come from more central positions with wing backs overlapping and the forward players drifting out wide to mix things up (similar to how Liverpool and Chelsea play). We know Rooney, Sandro, Calvert-Lewin, Mirallas, Barkley and Lookman can do that job, so can Sigurdsson if he comes.

If you look at it that way, then it makes sense to add another striker and another attacking midfielder rather than a winger. Perhaps another centre-back if Funes Mori is out long term as we'll need 6 players to cover those 3 positions. Probably why he's trying Besic there.

Sandro should play on the left of a front three. He likes to go out that side and cut in onto his favoured right foot. He scores a lot of goals from the left.

As things stand, I foresee a front three of Sandro, Rooney, and Barkley. But I do think we will sign another No 9 like Dembele, Giroud or Benteke, and I expect a pacy player for the right of that three. I also cannot see Ross being here after the window closes.

The reason is that Schneiderlin plays in that role. He drops back to pick up the opposition Number 10. Anyone trying to play off the striker is his man. So that's the defensive duties of the 3rd centre back taken. The attacking duties are coming out of defence with the ball. Again, this is Schneiderlin's job.

So what we have lost is a big tall centre back to head the ball away, but we have gained someone who is much better on the ball, can push up the pitch into a flatter midfield if necessary. It also speeds the transitions up (the time from winning the ball to the starting of an attack).

I'd be amazed if we played 3 at the back again.

http://preseason.evertonfc.com/

All you have to do is pay £3.99 and you're all good.

Why do we always seems to get problems with these friendlies?

And I think I saved my card, so I'm not going to go through with that transaction to see if they just let me in for free...

Gareth Barry really influencing the game. Still 0-0 but Lookman and Mirallas should have put us up 2-0 so far.