Seasons2017-18Rumour Mill
Leverkusen left-back eyed as Baines replacement
The 24-year-old Bayer Leverkusen left-back is supposedly being eyed as a long-term alternative to Leighton Baines, as is Hertha Berlin man Marvin Plattenhardt who is currently on World Cup duty with Germany.
Reader Comments (53)
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2 Posted 20/06/2018 at 22:17:41
3 Posted 20/06/2018 at 23:06:13
Saw this rumour earlier, so did the usual YouTube scout. Some tackling footage as well as forward play which was encouraging.
If Silva likes him I'm in, but also keen to see Robinson in preseason.
4 Posted 20/06/2018 at 23:28:08
As long as he is here, Baines starts each game, as long as he is fit, but we need a natural replacement, as no player, lasts for ever and in the last 11 years, Baines is up there by far as one of our very best players.
It's a total new scheme at Goodison Park and Finch Farm, and patience will be needed. I'm not getting wound up, as lessons of past mistakes in the transfer market, now seem to have been realised.
Hopefully at least the players' physical and mental fitness will improve, this season. >All very quiet over Goodison Park and I sense a long, long road to somewhere, and Bramley-Moore Dock. Hopefully the club will take the right course.
5 Posted 20/06/2018 at 23:39:54
6 Posted 20/06/2018 at 00:02:38
With so many top rate yet less fancied sides with their quality players on show, the World Cup is an eye-opener. I continue to wonder at Walsh's and Koeman's poor transfer deals.
7 Posted 20/06/2018 at 00:05:30
8 Posted 21/06/2018 at 00:55:01
I could write up a contract and say I have a 㾸 million release fee from my wife, doesn't mean anyone will pay, or that my wife would reject 75p.
Besides, we are not looking for Baines's back-up, we are looking for a Baines's replacement. Baines as a first team player in a Premier League team that aims for top 7 (challenging top 6) is finished, he is back-up at most.
9 Posted 21/06/2018 at 02:44:08
10 Posted 21/06/2018 at 02:45:12
11 Posted 21/06/2018 at 05:13:19
12 Posted 21/06/2018 at 08:05:53
I do hope that our current management team will look at the significant assets we already have within our club.
I have had seriously diminished interest in all things football after last season and the World Cup is soporific – but the buzz around our place is fanning the flames so starting to look forward to August and the new season now. Please don't let me down, Everton.
13 Posted 21/06/2018 at 08:21:27
I agree that Baines is no longer dynamic enough to be a top class full back. Though. he's still a very decent player I'd hope he's not our first choice by the end of next season.
I'm excited to see Robinson given a shot in pre-season.
14 Posted 21/06/2018 at 11:53:20
15 Posted 21/06/2018 at 11:58:56
16 Posted 21/06/2018 at 12:06:21
17 Posted 21/06/2018 at 12:07:31
18 Posted 21/06/2018 at 12:16:19
In Garbutt's case, we signed from Leeds Utd when he was around 17 for 𧾦k because he was considered to have great potential. He has, I think, been on very good wages for at least the last 3 years without ever coming close to that potential in many areas of his game.
It is always sad to see young lads released but sometimes it is because the lads have not improved their game.
19 Posted 21/06/2018 at 12:21:46
20 Posted 21/06/2018 at 13:09:55
I imagine that his wages were pretty decent — I saw him last season getting out of his Range Rover in the players' car park.
21 Posted 21/06/2018 at 13:31:31
Regardless of who is manager, these kids only get called up in an emergency and the nonsense of signing Martina when Robinson was screaming out to get a chance merely proved that nobody from the club watches the lads out on loan. Joe Royle was said to have that job but spent most of his time watching the first team, I'm told!
22 Posted 21/06/2018 at 13:42:59
Coleman?
Lukaku... kind of.
23 Posted 21/06/2018 at 13:48:25
I don't suppose you considered Seamus Coleman because he didn't go straight into the side and it was a season of establishing himself rather than being first team for him after he re-joined from Blackpool.
There's also the case of Ross Barkley. He didn't play for the dinosaur that is Warnock. He didn't trust Barkley, in the Championship where he was by far the best player a short time later. He then quickly went out to Sheff Weds were he played and showed he was far too good for that league. I have a Sheff Weds supporting mate who thinks his club should put in a cheeky loan bid for Barkley now, as they still hold him in the highest regard.
But I agree with your general sentiments Derek. Loans should be for a short period of time, like for Ossie, Coleman and Barkley. Give them a shot at the right club then bring them back and get them in the team. And as with Barkley, get them to the right team.
Chelsea are the club that loan the most players, and just look at the long list of English players that they have loaned out, like Chalabah and Loftus-Cheek. I think Chelsea have not developed these players. Had Chalabah been at a Championship club to start with and broke through and been playing, I think he'd be at the top level now. Sarri saw a player in him and had him at Napoli. Now he's at Watford.
Loftus-Cheek is doing well for club and country, but it's only now that he's on the cusp of getting into the team of his actual club. I think he'd be a lot further on if he had never joined Chelsea. Their system does not work. It needs to be a short loan of no more than a year to bridge the gap between U23 and Premier League.
24 Posted 21/06/2018 at 13:51:42
Robinson has a future, and think could be incorporated into the squad as competition for any new left back. Or he could get further experience on loan, maybe a club like Huddersfield or alike on loan, maybe even a German team given that league's success with youngsters. This is for our management team to assess and decide. Send to a team along with Henry, give them a year to develop a relationship for when they are with us.
Hooefully, come 2019-20, we will be back in Europe and in need of 2 top quality players in each position.
25 Posted 21/06/2018 at 14:02:23
If the belief is that Baines is capable of one more season, then Robinson can stay and be the backup. Who knows he may grasp his chance and do away with the need for a replacement.
26 Posted 21/06/2018 at 15:02:21
27 Posted 21/06/2018 at 15:07:29
Agreed. A season too early for young Robinson, who – lest we forget – hasn't played a single minute in the Premier League and it would be unfair to heap pressure on him now.
28 Posted 21/06/2018 at 15:38:22
BUT, let Baines go in January!! Absolute genius. It is widely acknowledged that it is Christmas before the table takes shape. That the run-in is crucial, yet you propose to let an experienced player go for the run in!?
Behave yourself.
29 Posted 21/06/2018 at 15:48:37
30 Posted 21/06/2018 at 15:59:58
31 Posted 21/06/2018 at 16:27:10
Robinson is already in house and looks good, why not give him a shot first before spending money on this position? The squad has other pressing needs.
32 Posted 21/06/2018 at 16:27:55
If he stays fit and healthy, we could get another season out of him. He's a bit slower but he brings quality to our defence. Leighton's build and movement makes me think he can go another season.
I think Silva will see it as too much of a risk not to get a quality experienced left-back in, the man will want to be first choice too. Leighton will be back up.
Robinson will be loaned out to get more experience under his belt. His development will be closely monitored. When Baines finishes next year Antonee hopefully will be back challenging to be No 1 choice.
33 Posted 21/06/2018 at 17:04:23
I wouldn't mind seeing this explored.
34 Posted 21/06/2018 at 17:08:24
Silva wants to play 4-3-3, in this formation, it is all the more important. The full-back needs the engine to run the length of the pitch. Often, it is the full-back who links the midfield with the attack.
Baines just can't be relied upon to do that.
Robinson might, but we can't rely upon him. Kenny provided very decent cover and has potential, but also showed that to play 20+ games he has much to learn and improve.
Look at Liverpool, even with the excellent Alexander-Arnold, they also have Clyne. At left wing back they have the excellent Robertson, and the very decent Moreno.
We have the old, injury prone Baines and a kid who has never played before. Baines needs replacing, and hopefully Robinson can come in and prove himself to be top quality. But we can't risk such an important position being left as it is.
In fact, centre-back and left-back I would say are the two priorities.
35 Posted 21/06/2018 at 17:48:45
Whether he's good enough or not, he's injured too often, he needs replacing. The injuries get worse with age, not better.
The american interest is there. Why not let Baines get himself one last good contract and sun himself in LA? He's had a great run and can bow out a hero to all blues.
36 Posted 21/06/2018 at 18:07:53
37 Posted 21/06/2018 at 18:56:14
You seem he'll bent on Sending Baines to the states!
We need a first choice Left Back I agree but why you pushing him out the club and sending him to the states?
38 Posted 21/06/2018 at 19:06:02
I don't think it's good enough for a soon to be 34 year old with constant foot problems. They'll only get worse.
He's also slowing up. Quite frankly he's far too slow for someone who needs to get up and down the wing all game long. He's also on a wage worthy of someone who was as good as he once was.
If he's interested in the american link, and it comes from American sources not England, then why not let him go?
I don't want to spend a season cursing Baines' lack of pace, and watching Everton come forward only down the right. I want us firing on all cylinders. There's no room for sentimentality here, we need to improve.
39 Posted 21/06/2018 at 19:21:29
Anyway, Jefferson was slow. But he had a magic left foot and was lethal from deadball situations. Here's a wonder goal for Estoril against Sporting.
Like many ex-Silva players at his previous clubs, he was great under Silva but could not find that level without him. There's a long list of these guys.
40 Posted 21/06/2018 at 20:07:43
Even if we got 25 - 30 games out of Baines I would hope with cup games we will play nearer 50 games. Lot of games for a young lad
41 Posted 21/06/2018 at 20:15:16
42 Posted 22/06/2018 at 10:43:21
43 Posted 22/06/2018 at 11:47:50
We are crying out for a quality centre-back now, in the mold of Terry, Cahill, an unyielding dominant force, a leader and organiser. It will be the single most important signing of this window. Break the bank for the best.
I haven't a clue who we can get in but maybe Steve or someone could offer a few names of quality central defenders that Silva would be interested in.
44 Posted 22/06/2018 at 16:55:31
Played well against Argentina, the figure the rags are touting is about 㾶M.
And guess what, West Ham are also interested. Seems like a compulsory clause these days.
45 Posted 22/06/2018 at 17:15:56
46 Posted 23/06/2018 at 13:11:20
I would go for Aaron Caricol from Espanyol, he isn't on the radar of the big clubs but has had good reviews by the Spanish press (and a lot cheaper).
I think we need to buy well and what we need, IMO: 2 central defenders, a left-back, 2 defensive midfielders, 1 number 10, 2 new wingers (right and left) and a quality striker.
47 Posted 23/06/2018 at 22:47:24
Haven't we had enough of the old pals' act? Why keep another player on as defensive coach? I'm Baines's biggest fan but it's this Kenwright teary-eyed view of our players and ex-players that has made us a laughing stock.
He's made a fabulous living out of the club so, when he does finally finish, I hope he does just that. I'd like to remember him as the great player and great servant he was – not some failed coach trying to eke more money out of the club.
48 Posted 23/06/2018 at 23:01:52
49 Posted 24/06/2018 at 08:32:51
Fully agree the central defender we sign will be the most important business of the summer. It is one we have to get right if we are to stand any chance of a top 6 challenge. It will be the first really big test for Brands to get the right player in for the club.
I am waiting with enormous interest to see who they will go all out for. I'm not bothered whether he is ٠m, 㿀m or 㿨m as long as it's the right man. It is a signing that will be significant in shaping the next 3 or 4 seasons.
50 Posted 24/06/2018 at 12:53:49
51 Posted 24/06/2018 at 20:24:49
52 Posted 25/06/2018 at 10:36:26
53 Posted 25/06/2018 at 12:26:00
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1 Posted 20/06/2018 at 22:09:46