Mason Holgate, Everton Captain

Someone needs to start doing a Big Nev act, and I don't Pickford sticking his tongue out, so maybe Mason is the man to do that?

This season, he is one of the very few prepared to assert himself on the pitch, get in the faces of the opposition and engage in a dialogue with the officials when appropriate.

He is also one of the few players brave enough to acknowledge the away fans, even after our defeats, of which there have been far too many. A good team has captains all over the pitch. While Mason does not strictly need the armband to fulfil a leadership role, it would be a statement of intent to appoint him as team captain.

We've got internationals all over the pitch - surprisingly not that you'd know. Every single one of them plus the others who aren't should be good enough and know enough a captain shouldn't be required.

When you look at the '60s teams, the '80s teams, we had guys there who were all vocal and many Captain material. A sad indictment where we've come to...

On the field though it has to be Mason. I'm like John Raferty in that, as soon as I saw him step out in blue, I thought "future captain if all goes well" (with the massive caveat that far too many of our youngsters vanish from sight and it would have been equally likely that Holgate would go the same way as Pennington, Browning, Galloway, Foulds and more).

Yes, Mason for Captain gets my vote as, despite the internationals in the squad, Mason plays and acts like he does care about Everton FC.

The team needs a living pulse on the pitch, which we haven't had for a long, long time.

I also agree with Dave Abraham's – put Kenny in at right-back for more pace, crossing ability and grit and the defence is pretty much sorted unless Pickford is sold, which I'd be more than happy about.

We need these young, more determined types to establish a new order at the club and with Holgate and Kenny in charge on the pitch, Calvert-Lewin back to form with Richarlison up front, Digne at left-back half the team is in place.

I personally think Davies will be a good player once the rabble he has to play with in midfield is sorted and he can focus on whatever is his best position. The poor lad takes dreadful stick but he plays centre-midfield virtually unaided by Sigurdsson or Gomes alongside him, often with three opponents on his shoulder. Even Alan Ball would struggle to make an impression in the midfield at the moment.

Dave #3, I know you love Kenny but I am still predicting -- without any supporting evidence or inside information -- that he will not be back. Everton won't renew the loan and Schalke can't afford to buy him outright, but they love him and he could still go back there as a makeweight in a McKennie deal. Unless somebody comes in with a better offer for the young Yank, I think it'll happen.

ps: ESPN reports tonight that McKennie's pursuers now include the RS, Leicester, Spurs, Wolves and Herta Berlin. Spurs are reported to be particularly interested if we beat them to Hojbjerg.

I'm hoping we sign a top quality / world class player who is a real leader and obviously an easy captain decision.