Pre-season schedule shaping up

Surely it'd be better to play the majority of matches at Goodison? Keep up a regular training schedule at Finch Farm, bed in the new signings are prepare to make Goodison a fortress.

Instead we're trotting across Europe and Africa for no discernible benefit.

Monaco and Bremen will be good tests for us and Sion offers something new whilst we should all be familiar with the local haunt to Wigan.

Now for some new signings!

There won't be any preseason match at Goodison this summer I've just learned.

That's a bit disappointing as I like going to them myself and had hoped for a European heavyweight at home in the final match before the important stuff started, ah well.

I hope Silva, has a good look at James McCarthy, before he makes a similar decision to the one he made on Klaassen though, because I think he's a lot more suited to the rigours of English football, and could still be a very good player for Everton, now that his injuries are behind him?

Behind him? let's get behind everyone next season, and let's hope the players respond if we do!

You can only put so much faith in youth though, we need to start seeing progress each season, if that's with young or old then I'm not arsed.

I can't see a regular starting team including Davies, DCL and Holgate (just an example) being good enough to finish higher than 8th, that's not to be disrespectful it's just that I think we need better than they can offer us right now.

If we are happy to finish 8th, have a similar season to the last two years then fine be patient, but I'm tired of being patient a bit now and I want some real substantial progress sooner rather than later.

Liverpool can fit in the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the like because they have a team challenging for major honour and their kids fit the mound whereas if we bring in Davies for example over Gomes or Gana, we lose something, same when we brought in Kenny for Coleman ect, next season would be the same, Holgate for Zouma won't be the same for us, it's not like for like, it's weaker replacements.

We need top quality I'm in total agreement, but I'm not bothered what age they are as long as better results come than the last two or three years.

Bowler, Gibson, and Gordon particularly.

Beyondo that, hopefully before it starts we'll know who from the current set up will be gone. Things are too quiet for my liking in regards to Niasse, Walcott, Mirallas, Bolasie, Besic, Sandro, Martina, Tosun, McCarthey and Schneiderlin.

That is a lot of players, and big wages, that we need to move on, hopefully permanently, but it will not be easy.

McCarthey I like as a player, but feel he needs a move, he needs somewhere where he can play 30 games and get his fitness back. A club like Villa, or Norwich, or a move up north to Celtic, would do him well and maybe he'd sill have a hlaf decent career ahead of him.

For me, use this season to integrate some quality youngsters, as we have no Europa, no need to invest in 'squad players'. And use fund to sign just 4 top quality players - one forward (no need for a 'centre forward' as everyone claims, just a versatile forward to fit in with our hard press forward line), two midfielders (should Gueye remain), one being Gomes and one as back up to both Gomes and Gueye, one defender.

Pre season games are more about branding the Everton name which is fine by me...

I really cant see Everton improving much next season if they finish out side tge top 6 and we have some real progress with the new stadium I feel Morshi will be happy with his investment...

Realisticly the fact that we relied heavily on the loanies last season is a snakes and ladders approach we silp down a few squares and roll the dice again...

Untill were in a position to buy quality long term players we will yoyo beteeen 12th and 6th...

Silva will be under more pressure this season only because he had a good end of season...

He needs to get off to a good start to stave off the inevitable dip in form..

As always anything can happen in football.. we live in hope...

The only one who'd interest me is Wilson, but his price would be way exaggerated.

Mitrovic is the classic needs 5 chances to score 1 type striker, who has poor control and woeful movement. He'd be dreadful in a 4-3-3 with a dynamic, hugh press attacking 3.

Giroud? Wrong side of 30, slow, not a goal-scorer.

We have Richarilson, who is good for 15-20 goals. DCL can likely get 10-15, maybe more if he really takes off. Siggy for 10-15 too. Lookman if he stays (and plays) can also bring goals to the table.One more striker for sure, but none of this absurd calls for a 'centre-forward'. Whoever we get will be able to play out wide as well as down the middle, ideally left footed, and considering the players we're linked with, Silva and Brands agree.

Where is the evidence that if Lookman stays he can bring goals to the team?

One league goal in his Everton career to date, back in January 2017.

DCL has not shown in more than two years in the first team as a regular that he is ready to “take off” and start putting chances away to score 15-20 goals, again he's another who has scored just 6 league goals since January 2018.

Outside Richarlison and Sigurdsson god knows where we get enough goals, there's no guarantee that Sigurdsson will hit that many again either, his first season saw just 4 goals so we can't hang our hat on him hitting 10.

There's no real goals in the squad outside of two or three players.

Gana, Schneiderlin, Davies, lucky to get a combined 2 or 3 out of them put together.

Walcott, Bernard maybe about 7 or 8 combined (perhaps that's generous?), but still not enough.

Coleman and Digne may weigh in with about 7-8 combined but since the injury Coleman doesn't get as many as he once did.

When you are looking to score 60 goals plus which we will require as an improvement on last term, then I don't see enough potency in the squad we currently possess.

DCL has shown great improvement in all areas of his game, and i'm sure the focus on his develooment will be making him more clinical. The lad is still young - but this is a ling running debate on here. There are those who Think DCL has the goods, there are those who don't. I think that Brands and Silva think similar to the former. That is why we will not invest in a 'goal-scoring centre forward' or a 'big man' or whatever out dated footballing positions.

It is quite clear from the consistency of the style of player we're being linked with that they are looking for a left footed, quick, wide attacker who can play down the middle and on either flank.

Also, investing in youth is just this, investing in potential.A striker who has proven he can get a guaranteed 20+ goals will cost how much? 60+ million at a minimum. Just aint part of the business model.

Think you've been fed wrong info. Palace away.