What could possibly go right?

by   |   09/07/2022  23 Comments  [Jump to last]

After feeling pretty despondent about Everton for the last few months, it's amazing how a short break re-kindles the optimism and anticipation for the new season. As a pretty "glass half-empty" sort of bloke, I am resigned to disappointment in the transfer window so… what's the best that can happen this season?

Dominic Calvert-Lewin regains full fitness, is determined to book a place with England at the World Cup, and starts banging in goals like a £70 million player.

Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko confirm that they are top-class attacking full-backs.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin, whom I have always believed is a decent player, will stay fit and prove that he is.

Jordan Pickford will continue as he left off.

Yerri Mina will stay fit and form a lasting partnership with our new centre-half who will himself add the steel we lack and become our talisman.

Anthony Gordon will get better and better.

Demarai Gray will be more consistent.

Andros Townsend will recover.

André Gomes will find a new club.

Frank Lampard will continue to improve as a coach.

All of this is possible… Champions League – here we come!

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Reader Comments (23)

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Dave Williams
1 Posted 10/07/2022 at
You miss the player who could make all the difference, Andy: Dele Alli. If he can regain his confidence and appetite for the game, then it will change the whole team.
Gary Jones
2 Posted 10/07/2022 at
Well, what the hell……Simms, Dobbin, Branthwaite, Warrington, Onyango and Price ALL smash their way into the first team as Alan Hansen comes out of retirement to declare “you CAN win things with kids!”.

Meanwhile, a doping system “Lance Armstrong would be proud of” uncovered at Anfield, stretching all the way back to Jurgen's first day. The 25-year ban was welcomed by the nation's press.

Clive Rogers
3 Posted 10/07/2022 at
Andy, admire your optimism and I am sure some of those will happen. The ones that won't imho are:

Patterson looked very raw to me in the half a game he played,

Gbamin seems far too slow for the Premier League,

Gomes is on £112k pw and no-one is likely to pay anywhere near that so it is likely he will see his contract out until he is a free agent.

Robert Tressell
4 Posted 10/07/2022 at
My observation is that we're never quite as good or bad as we appear.

With no further signings and mature management from Lampard, I think 12th to 14th place is likely.

I do think we'll get a couple in though, be it loan, free or credit card.

In many respects, Alli and Gbamin are game changing unknowns. I think the former stands a better chance of showing form than the latter – because the latter must surely be a wreck physically.

If we ever do see the Gbamin who played for Mainz, then it's a midfield powerhouse.

Ian Pilkington
5 Posted 10/07/2022 at
And the deal with Americans is completed by 20th July after all, with Kenwright kicked out without so much as a restricted view seat in the corner of the Gwladys Street where the Boys Pen used to be.
Tony Everan
6 Posted 10/07/2022 at
Andy, the heat has gone to your head!

Maybe one or two of those will come to pass and I like Gary's addition of Warrington bursting onto the scene in central midfield. Gbamin fully fit and a full pre-season's work, then we could see the real Gbamin for the first time.

One of the positives alluded to on the list is Frank and the coaches talking to Gray and Gordon about end-product. Both players have all the tools to produce more of it with better decision-making. They both have all the ability to help Dom to 20+ league goals.

Jay Harris
7 Posted 10/07/2022 at
Unfortunately, it's all wishful thinking.

Gbamin will never be our Ngolo Kante. Doucoure will never be our Mason Mount and I've forgotten who the rest of our midfield is.

We used to struggle without our best 11; now we are down to our best 9.

Mike Gaynes
8 Posted 10/07/2022 at
Andy, my friend, I love when you write. I've always known that underneath your cynical shell beats the heart of a true optimist.

The funny thing is, you're right. All of these possibilities you raise are at least realistic hopes. I'm even believing that there's a potential miracle lurking in Gbamin, who would literally make sports medical history if he is able to return to his previous abilities.

But Dave's right, the most exciting game-changer of all -- IF he has finally gotten his head out of his ass -- would be Dele. That's a player who in top form, next to a resurrected Iwobi, gives us a genuine attacking midfield that we currently have no right to expect.

Last season, everything that could go wrong, did. Arrests, injuries, Benitez, sanctions, more injuries, gutless referees, stupid decisions, Gomes, still more injuries.

If the scales of justice balance this season, who knows how many of your wishes could come true.

Mike Gaynes
9 Posted 10/07/2022 at
Jay #7,

Gbamin doesn't need to be Kante. We should be delighted if he's Gareth Barry or Allan -- slowed, but a sure tackler and a fine passer. If he can do even that much, he's better than anybody we'd be likely to sign.

Ciarán McGlone
10 Posted 10/07/2022 at
We're not famed for our optimism over here, Andy.. but that's a decent stab at it.

Good man, yourself.

Tony Abrahams
11 Posted 10/07/2022 at
I like reading stuff like this, Andy, because it definitely puts a better slant on things, and Robert's first line @4 is also how I view us.

Sign the right players and I'd be optimistic that we could surprise people. If we don't sign enough players, then we are going to struggle badly, and this is why I'm getting concerned right now.

Looking at your title, Andy, it actually might take things going wrong before something can possibly go right. This deafening silence will surely be met with real anger because things can't surely go on the way they are for much longer whilst it's obvious we need some new players.

Raymond Fox
12 Posted 10/07/2022 at
That's a pretty good shout, Andy, although I think you've strayed into the realms of fantasy with regards Mina staying fit for long.
Lee Courtliff
13 Posted 10/07/2022 at
Lots of things could go right. Alli could rediscover his goalscoring touch and suddenly we've replaced the goals of Richarlison.

Iwobi could blossom into a full-blown box-to-box midfielder and Gordon could finally pick the right pass!!

Along with Mina and Calvert-Lewin staying fit and our young full-backs fulfilling their undoubted potential, we could be in for a pretty good season.

The whole point of summer is to be optimistic, especially after the way we finished at Goodison against Palace. But I would feel better if we signed a couple of midfielders.

Dennis Stevens
14 Posted 10/07/2022 at
The first thing I'd like to see go right is the signing of a defensive midfielder who proves to be effective in the role. That would have the knock-on effect of making the rest of the team look a whole lot better.
Peter Mills
15 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Be optimistic whenever possible.

It is always possible.

Danny O’Neill
16 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Get in, Andy.

I'm intrigued to see what Gbamin can do if fit. Then, like many, I've been saying that since he got here.

The League Cup (finally God please) and European qualification.

Hope to see you at a match soon, Andy.

Jerome Shields
17 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Actually, Andy, there could be a measure of truth in what you say. Surely the coming season can't be as bad as the awful last season we came through. It probably was the worst season for years.
Brendan McLaughlin
18 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Ha ha good post, Andy.

Keep taking the "Danny O'Neill" pills!

BTW sent you an email via TW & Lyndon has confirmed he forwarded it on to you. I don't expect to be in Belfast in July but should be there quite a bit in August if that suits you for a meet-up.

Nick White
19 Posted 11/07/2022 at
I like the article, Andy. 👍
Stephen Vincent
20 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Loved the optimism, Andy, genuinely I think some of your points are valid no matter how light-hearted they were intended. Especially about Patterson and Gbamin.

Perhaps there should be a a permanent thread on here for you and Danny O'Neill, we could call it the 'Dandy' thread and only positive posts are allowed.

Dale Self
21 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Hear, hear, Andy!

I believe there remains an underlying frustration among some of the players that amounts to a "We're better than this" mentality. If Frank can find a system that keeps Iwobi confident while Dele Alli buys in, then we have a viable midfield threat that will create added space that the others need.

If we can get to the final third and not camp out but have some real intent that forces the opposing back line to react, this squad could find itself in good supply of players willing to run for one another.

The pieces are there for a productive reset and, if the players throw in all they've got, we will at least get back to playing football the Everton way. A couple of decent or well-timed goals and who knows how fucking good it could get?

Andy Crooks
22 Posted 11/07/2022 at
Brendan. I would love to catch up with you in Belfast. My email address was hijacked resulting in Mike Gaynes, Derek Knox, Keith Harris getting requests for urgent financial assistance (I swear it wasn't me!!!)

Anyway, I've sent my new address to Lyndon which I have asked if he will pass it to you. (Cheers, Lyndon.) So I hope to maybe see you in The Crown in August.

As far as optimism goes, I think I have mellowed. I used to get gut-bustingly angry. Nowadays, Everton make me more anxious than anything.

I think we are due a monumental change of luck and I genuinely believe that good times are coming. My God, we deserve it. Those Blues who went to Goodison Park and just made relegation unacceptable, who installed a backbone in the team, who, beyond imagination, inspired Iwobi to become quite good, deserve it.

This will be our time. Believe.

Mark Andersson
23 Posted 20/07/2022 at
Intersting that the hope that kills you phrase has not been used..

As always there is more ifs and buts

Some of you forget that we had a good start under Raffa... If the same pattern happens this season Frank will be hounded out to be replaced by safe Sam...


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