Holgate signs new deal at Everton

Best case scenario we can enjoy watching him as he matures into a cultured international class defender.

Worst case scenario his fee has just gone up substantially

I hope to God you’re right. It’s been a bloody long time mate.

It's on the club site.

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He's been one of our best players over the last few months and hopefully will keep on improving. It was great to see him, Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies in a huddle after the match on Sunday; they're clearly big mates and that's good for the club.

The referee initially signalled a goal and was overruled by VAR.

The new contract is great news for Holgate, the fans and the club.

Glad that Barkley stuck it to the RS and he is another that didn't quite reach the heights expected from him at Goodison. Like Delboy, he has shown a lot of improvement this season but Delboy sadly is gone for the season. So pleased what his Watford teammates did to the RS.

Thanks Jay @10&11, for the links, it is always a bonus when you get Academy, or young players who have come through the ranks, actually wanting to sign a new contract and become part of the bright future ahead.

We are still building, but with the addition of a couple of players in the Summer I do honestly believe that we will eventually become a 'force majeur' again in the Premier Leagueand hopefully European Football.

Anyway, forget that, let's get Calvert-Lewin's contract sorted out.

In our present situation, I would have no hesitation playing Holgate in a defensive midfield role. He is currently our strongest option and it would give Gomes more freedom to express himself.

In a 4-4-2 formation, I believe our current strongest XI form-wise would be:
Pickford (Virginia may possibly be worth chancing), Coleman, Keane, Mina, Baines, Walcott, Holgate, Gomes, Bernard, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

In a way, it's positive we didn't sign Zouma in the end – and he has been dodgy for Chelsea – as it has given Holgate this opportunity.

Kenny the next one to progress, with hopefully a couple of others too (still annoyed that we sold Antonee Robinson, that could have been a whole back line worth of young players brought through the ranks).

I had predicted (more accurately, ‘hoped') that Holgate and Calvert-Lewin would come good, and so glad to see that happen.

Let me make another prediction/wish here - the next young player to break through will be Beni Baningime. Remember the name!

He will soon become the club’s captain and lead from the front.

Following the positive train, Kenny should return as first-choice right-back. We still have gaps in the squad, but there is undoubtedly young talent at the club – Gordon? – and this contract for Mason Holgate shows there is a route to the first team

It’s all well and good deals like this but we are conceding too many shitty goals and have done all season so at some point the defence (goalkeeper included) need putting under the spotlight right?

Problem areas as follows.

We don’t keep enough clean sheets.

Are we not working as hard as we should as a team?

Why do we persist with playing it out from the back, it does not work, didn’t work when Martinez had Stones doing it and it’s not working now, if anything the goals we are conceding lately feel a bit like Groundhog Day.

But I do agree we need another centre-half to go alongside Holgate, or give the young lad on loan at Fleetwood a go, Gibson. Maybe Gbamin will be the answer to our midfield being of more help defensively? Let's hope so anyway. We also need a new right-back too, if Kenny doesn't prove up to the task.

Carlo will also bring in a left-footer in central defense, along with an energetic midfielder and right-winger these last two positions are fact and mentioned by Marcel and Carlo recently so it will be interesting in the summer transfer window.

If the right bids come in, all players have a value and can/will leave.

I’d say that’s probably one of the biggest factors in tying him down to a long term contract.

He’s English and English young players do tend to command quite mental transfer fees (Solanke) amongst others.

We have about four really big saleable assets and now Holgate has signed a big contract, if he was to leave in 18 months time we’ll get a very considerable fee.

Whether we sell him is another matter, which only time will tell.

Overall our Goalie and whole defence isn't too bad, probably top 3rd of the table.

The strikers are getting there and are probably top third standard if not higher.

The midfield is definitely lower 3rd standard. Gomes and Gbamin aside the rest of them would struggle getting into most other prem teams. Certainly top 8 teams.

The obvious focus in the summer has to be midfield.

Richarlison, Digne, Calvert-Lewin, Holgate, Gomes. That is a decent core of young-ish players. I think there is a lot more to come from Gbamin, Iwobi, Kean and maybe Gordon.

We need a dominant left-footed centre-back, a super mobile well-rounded box-to-box central midfielder and a pacy, hard-working, goalscoring right midfielder. Possibly a quick and competent right-back as well if Sidibe continues to make mistakes. Then we are looking like a more complete team that could go places.

The trouble is we need to sell some players. Tosun's injury is a real pain.

This season, I was very impressed with his performances in midfield where he was far superior to the usual incumbents. Better defender and he could pass the ball more than 5 yards sideways and backwards.

Look at Henderson for Liverpool, he has blossomed into a phenomenal player after being no better than Tom Davies. Nothing would give me more satisfaction than another midfielder coming up from the U23s and us buying nobody.

Steve 50, I agree with you on the young lads and Holgate, Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Kenny, Gordon and Gibson makes it 6 English players all with the talent to make it. Holgate and Calvert-Lewin have stepped up big time and should have a chance of an England call up.

I have belief that Davies can also step up as his performance in the second-half against Man Utd was superb. Kenny hopefully can join the first team squad next season and I have high hopes that Gibson can be a future left sided centre-back for us.

Gordon can only get better and hope he can get some minutes on the pitch this season. On Sunday we had 7 English players starting, one Irish player, and only 3 Foreign players.

He really has come on by leaps and bounds after playing right-back at West Brom last season.

Now buy a John Terry type to go alongside him – "none shall pass" is what being a centre-half pairing is all about.

The talk about City being interested may or may not be true, but we need to be signing/retaining players who are good enough for City, not selling our best players to them.

Davies has a big role to play but he's not a natural fit alongside Gomes in a 4-4-2. Going to be a fascinating summer.

I fail to see how you can possibly make any sort of assessment of Gbamin yet. He is a total unknown quantity. You state 'Gomes and Gbamin aside'. Well, we all know Gomes is class, but what do you base your opinion of Gbamin in an Everton shirt on? He's only played a matter of minutes for us.

We've had several players in recent years, signed with big reputations complete with big price tags, only to completely fail in a Royal Blue Jersey. Klaassen, Niasse, Sandro, Bolasie, to name but a few. Incidentally, these flops signed long contracts which placed them amongst our highest earners. Managerial madness.

In retrospect, it makes it all the more satisfying to see the likes of Mason Holgate, who let's be honest, was vilified not so long ago by sections of the crowd, finally getting the recognition and reward that his talent deserves.

We don't know for sure yet, if Gbamin's injury will even allow him to resume top-flight football. I sincerely wish the lad well and hope he makes a full recovery. He may well in time turn out to be a star buy.

But the situation as it stands, the fact that he's hardly mentioned now and updates on his progress being scarce, continues to inspire little confidence. Hence, my earlier post suggesting we play Holgate in a defensive midfield role. He has the vision, skill and strength to become a commanding midfield General, while we continue to monitor Gbamin's progress.

What I do know, however, is that we have £100 million plus of talent who have come through David Unsworth's team, and that is a conservative estimate.

There's a good possibility that he and Calvert-Lewin could be called up to the national side soon, so it makes good business to tie them down to long-term contracts now as, no doubt, the newspapers will have them both sold to Man Utd or Man City if they perform at all well.

Silva acted like a complete moron. How anyone could have prepared the lighthouse stopper (insert name) to a footballing talent like this is totally at odds with everything I believe in.

Holgate still has a way to go. He goes for the Hollywood pass too often, but he'll learn to pick his moment.

His risky style of play will get him into trouble from time to time too, but every time I see him a turn out of trouble or side-step a high press with that air of "I'm a proper footballer", I just want to sing "This is how we do it. This is how we do it baby!"

Five more Mason Holgates please, Mr Brands!