Everton opt not to sign Coady

01/06/2023 204comments  |  Jump to last

Everton have decided not to take up a £4.5m option to turn defender Conor Coady's season-long loan move from Wolves into a permanent transfer.

Coady joined the club on loan while Frank Lampard was manager, and played every game (except against his parent club, Wolves) from August through until the end of February.

But Sean Dyche has been much less keen to use the former England International who he consigned to the bench as an unused sub for the last 3 months of the Premier League season, selecting him to start only in the last match of the season, the dramatic win over Bournemouth. 

Everton have also confirmed that defender Ruben Vinagre will return to Sporting Lisbon following the end of his loan spell at the club.

Article continues below video content


Vinagre made just two sub appearances in the Premier League back in August, with two starts in the League Cup. He was named as an unused sub on 19 occasions before succumbing to injury that would keep him sidelined for the last two months of the campaign. 

Thelwell thanked Coady and Vinagre for "their impeccable professionalism and valuable contributions both on and off the pitch during their time with the club" while Coady said his goodbyes over Instagram, posting "It's been a pleasure to play for you Toffees. Thank you 💙 UTFT." 

Coady's departure along with that of Yerry Mina removes two experienced options at centre-half from Dyche's squad, although the numbers are expected to be bolstered by Jarrad Branthwaite who returns from a successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven.

The Dutch side were said to be keen on signing the 20-year-old on a permanent basis but could not meet Everton's valuation.

The player himself was diplomatic when asked about where he thinks he will be playing next year, with another loan move, potentially back to PSV, still an option.

"That is always difficult to say," he said "I'm under contract with Everton, so it's their right not to sell me, of course.

"This season has been all about my development and wanting to perform well. With my first prize and holding on to second place, I think I can be satisfied.

"I didn't make many minutes in the first half of the season, but that has also been going a lot better since the winter break. I am absolutely open to staying with PSV, but then the clubs have to work it out together."

 

Reader Comments (204)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()


Derek Taylor
1 Posted 01/06/2023 at 10:09:39
And Everton get the close season underway by giving Coady the 'Bum's Rush'.

All of us could tell Dyche he has at least three centre-backs worse than the 'back to Wolves' warrior. (After all, £4.5 M is expensive for Everton these days!)

Brian Harrison
2 Posted 01/06/2023 at 10:09:52
Everton have just announced that they wont be taking up the option of signing Coady or Vinagre and Kevin Thelwell has thanked both players.
Mark Ryan
3 Posted 01/06/2023 at 10:43:14
Sad to see Conor Coady going back to Wolves. I didn't consider him dead wood. I felt he would be a good back up and always gave his all.

Perhaps indicative of where we are financially…

Paul Cherrington
4 Posted 01/06/2023 at 10:47:55
I also think it's a shame we couldn't sign Coady – especially for the fee that was apparently involved. I just can't see us being able to sign a back-up centre-back of similar experience/quality for that money, so it will cost us more in the long run. And that even if we can bring anyone else in to replace him which is never a given.

Even with Branthwaite back to slot in next to Tarkowski, we are short of options at centre-back for injuries/suspensions. We all know Keane or Holgate aren't the answer and I am not a fan of Godfrey either. Maybe the young lad Welch is ready to step up a level?

Christine Foster
5 Posted 01/06/2023 at 10:49:58
So Coady goes back to Wolves, shame but not surprising.
Derek Taylor
6 Posted 01/06/2023 at 10:51:37
Coady is a gonner. Wolves not willing to give him a free and £4.5M beyond Everton's summer purse, it seems
Marc Hints
7 Posted 01/06/2023 at 10:55:33
Paul,

From what I am seeing, they are looking at getting rid of Holgate and Godfrey as well as the club feels it is a bloated squad.

Strange as Mina has gone as well, but saying this is Sean Dyche's decisons.

Marc Hints
8 Posted 01/06/2023 at 10:58:42
As someone put on Twitter:

Day 4 after escaping from relegation by the skin of our teeth.

Coady gone.
Mina gone.
CEO cancels meeting with Fan Advisory Board.
Everton board still hold their positions.

This is going to be a very long Summer.

Neil Carter
10 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:10:19
A mistake – we need leaders on the pitch until this club is stabilised.

Is Coady going a reflection of things to come? Keep cutting the wage bill and prioritise the ground costs?

I hope not. We won’t survive yet again if this is continuing mentality.

Robert Tressell
11 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:13:03
I'm not fussed. He does show some leadership but he's an awful partner for Tarkowski and a fairly average player. Not in the same league as Mina.
Michael Lynch
12 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:14:11
Dyche only really played Coady when we were forced into a back three. I'm guessing his intention is to return to a back four when we have some full backs available, so thought Coady was a luxury we couldn't afford.

As against Holgate, a luxury who will cling onto his wages as long as he can, despite never playing unless we're down to choosing either him or my nan. As long as he's on our books, we can't afford the wages for another centre-half.

James Fletcher
13 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:15:56
I can now see Tarkowski getting injured in the pre-season and us being utterly fucked once again...
Mal van Schaick
14 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:17:51
I couldn't fault Coady's attitude and commitment, but I think that he's lost any pace that he had.

If we are keeping Branthwaite and recruiting a few more defenders under Dyche's guidance, I will trust him to get it right. Transfers in and out will define us next season. I expect quite a few changes and maybe a few loan deals.

It's off the pitch that we have our main problems.

Sam Hoare
15 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:20:45
Makes sense. He's not great in a back 4 and Dyche won't be playing a back 3 much if he can help it.

And the 'leadership' thing is a bit of a smokescreen, his leadership didn't stop Lampard's Everton becoming the worst Everton team I've seen for a very long time!

Perhaps if we sell Holgate and/or Keane we might go back in for him but I think there are better options out there, even at that price.

Fair play to him, he was a professional and always gave his all; but we have other priorities for what little money there may be.

James @12, that would be unbelievably bad luck given Tarkowski has one of the best injury records in the Premier League!

Will Mabon
16 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:23:06
Robert - but good enough to play successfully in the most vital game of the season.
Jerome Shields
17 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:23:21
Mal #12,

I thought when he played he has given up on the Everton cause. But he was a good addition in the last game.

Dyche preferred Keane and Tarkowski who he knew and he could depend on their committment knowing their weaknesses. Not surprised he was not kept on.

Mike Allison
18 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:27:27
Top man, great character, but not likely to be first choice. At least the decision has been made early.

I'm really hoping Branthwaite and Tarkowski get paired together. I think Keane should also go but that might leave us needing to sign someone. I don't know how Dyche rates Godfrey, Holgate and young Reece Welch.

We need a left-back, 4 different attacking players (one for each position basically) and to replace anyone else we sell or release. I hope the last day is an indication that Dyche realises Iwobi is a central player and not a winger, but I fear that it was just a function of the formation.

Steve Cotton
19 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:32:37
Scored more than Maupay, that says it all... either they have someone coming in or we are emptying out everyone and we can rely on the youngsters and Tarkowski.
Dave Abrahams
20 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:39:17
Let's see how Sean Dyche utilises the transfer market, he's made two early decisions on who is going out, one of them was obvious, Coady less so.

Dyche has been around a long time, maybe he has some ideas on who he is bringing in, mostly on free transfers with players out of contract.

At the moment, his hands are tied because he doesn't know what he is being allowed to do re bringing players in and the board and Moshiri look like they have taken the 5th Amendment to protect the racket they had going at Everton FC.

I wonder what surprises they have in store for us? I'm not expecting any good ones… but you never know.

Joe McMahon
21 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:41:05
I liked him, always gave his best. His reaction when he scored against Liverpool showed he cared, but then it was chalked off.
Brian Harrison
22 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:47:24
I assume this is a Sean Dyche decision and, if that's the case, it has to be backed. He only brought Coady back in for the Bournemouth game as he was forced to play a back 3, and Coady is more suited to that role than the other options.

As regards the centre-backs still on the books, while he may want to get shut but, if they don't want to move, there is nothing he can do about it. I would imagine, with both Mina and Coady going, then a centre-back and at least 1 striker will be his priority.

Apparently newly promoted Sheffield Utd are very interested in signing Coady and I am sure with his experience he will do a great job if he goes there.

You wonder what budget Dyche has been told he has for the upcoming window, as this squad will need new additions if we are to improve on the last 2 seasons.

Dave Cook
23 Posted 01/06/2023 at 11:58:12
Good job we have all this cash splashing around to replace him and Mina.
John Hall
24 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:01:28
The decision looks to have been made by Dyche.

Surely he would have sanctioned the permanent signing had he seen a place long-term for Coady at such a low fee. Must have his thoughts on who he wants and hopefully he get's what he needs.

Thanks to Conor for the time spent with us and wish him well in the future. Plenty of teams will chase him for a few million pounds based on his experience and professionalism. Never once complained but kept his fitness levels and helped enormously during his final game for us.

I could mention quite a few who I would have shipped out before him, so leave it to Dyche in whom we must trust. He performed a minor miracle to keep us up so let's hope for better times if we can shift the deadwood at the top and within the squad.

A few months now in relative comfort with not having to worry every weekend or midweek about games and results. I think we all need a breather now after the nervousness and worry over trying to get over the line, but it's done so best wishes to all on here and enjoy the rest.

Got my flip-flops ready for the beach.

Ian Hollingworth
25 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:17:15
Dyche rates Keane so I do not think he will be going anywhere and will possibly start alongside Tarkowski.

Strap yourselves in, Blues – it's going to be a long summer.

Matt Byrne
26 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:20:07
I think it's a mistake. Try to flog bottlers who make regular mistakes, ie, Keane and Holgate.

Coady is a good leader and did okay alongside Tarkowski in a two (making the World Cup squad) before Dyche went for his mate Keane.

Coady's words after the match on Sunday, when he played well, shows he has the desire and attitude. A shame.

Ernie Baywood
27 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:23:30
Interesting decision. If we're going to play 3 centre backs then it would be a no-brainer to sign him. Unless we don't have £4.5M.

If we're definitely going to play a back 4, then it obviously makes more sense.

But you don't save £4.5M. It's going to cost us a lot more money to play any formation that includes a back 4 because we don't have the players to play in it. We need to sign one or two full-backs and one or two wide players in addition to the forward we absolutely need. That's at a minimum.

If we don't make those signings, then we'll be forced into a tactical change that will make this decision look very foolish.

I don't think we'll make those signings and I think we'll regret this decision. But that's par for the course for us.

Bill Gienapp
28 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:25:40
£4.5 million for Coady seemed like pretty reasonable business, until some pointed out that you could take that £4.5 million and simply cover Mina's wages with it (not that I expect us to consider that either).
James Marshall
29 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:29:52
I think it's a mistake letting him go. He's not a world beater, but he's no panel-beater either.

He's most effective, as has been said above, in a back 3 so why not keep him for that reason? A squad needs to be able to play different ways and he suits a 3 which also suits us at times. He's also experienced, and an excellent voice around the squad with an assured head.

So what's the plan, Sean? Branthwaite as backup to Keane & Tarkowski? Well that brings me out in hives immediately. Relying on Holgate & Godfrey as backup?

Getting rid of battlers, hanging onto bottlers. Give me strength.

Christopher Timmins
30 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:33:12
In Sean we trust!
Sean Roe
31 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:34:25
Guess who scores the winner against us when we play Wolves or Sheffield Utd (If reports are true) next season.

A real shame, as others have said. I would rather see the back of Keane or Holgate.

John Raftery
32 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:40:05
There's no money left. We were never going to pay £4.5M for Coady.
John Williams
33 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:54:13
Looks like Mee from Brentford on loan. Barnes ex Burnley up front. Can anybody think of others all on loan, or is there a limit?

A shame about Coady, he was a good fit, but what happened when he was disciplined and left out of the squad?

Joe McMahon
34 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:54:25
It's a pity as he was a much better option than Michael Keane.

I don't know which manager or director of football agreed to £25 million for Keane, but yet again another example of how this club has been run into the ground. If it was any defender from Burnley, back then it should have been Ben Mee – we got the wrong one.

Eddie Dunn
35 Posted 01/06/2023 at 12:55:44
Hard decisions in tough times.

I like Coady, his attitude and his input but Dyche is prioritising where money is spent.

Early indications that Dyche and Thelwell have already made their minds up and aren't wasting time.

Good luck, Conor.

Andrew Ellams
36 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:00:37
Wolves let him go because they were moving away from a back 3. I guess this just a bit of déjà vu.
John Keating
37 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:01:30
Branthwaite must be coming back into the fold.

Left-footer, already paid for, low wage.

Barry Williams
38 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:10:46
It is all very well saying get rid of Keane, Holgate and Godfrey before Coady - but how? They are under contract and you need takers for them; Coady isn't.

I think (in my expert opinion) the squad needs a few versatile players in the Neville/Heitenga, and for the older supporters, Harper mode. Garner might be this, and Godfrey may get back to some form - long covid and injuries ain't helped. Holgate can play RB, CB and holding MF - though waiting for the flack here, so he might be a stayer and a pre-season under Dyche might get back his old form.

And Branthwaite will have returned - a year older, a year more experienced.

As well as in the obvious areas that need improving, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the way Dyche was planning. But, what do I, or any of us, know?

James Marshall
39 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:11:20
Ben Mee just won player of the year at Brentford, ahead of Ivan 'where's the bookies' Toney. I'd be surprised if Brentford sold him.
Ian Jones
40 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:21:57
Could it also be that Coady was offered the chance to stay with us but couldn't be offered any indications that he would be close to being anywhere near first choice.

At 30, he has a few good years ahead of him, and imagine he would prefer to be playing rather than sitting on the bench hoping he may get a chance.

Good luck to him, in my opinion, a good pro.

As for Branthwaite, will be interesting to see if he feels committing to the Everton cause. Another one who has had a chance of fairly regular football. At a much earlier stage in his career than Coady, will he fancy sitting on the bench.

Mark Ryan
41 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:23:38
The one bit of business I hope to see is Holgate being shown the door. He can play in lots of positions. He proves to be bang average in every one. Get rid asap
Dave Cook
42 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:23:56
Worth a cheeky on Maguire with all this cash we've saved?
Frank Crewe
43 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:25:54
The whole squad needs shaking up and Dyche is getting on with it. This is no time for sentimentality. In five years Mina played only 45% of the games he could have played because of injuries. He's now gone. Coady will turn 31 in February and Tarks turns 31 in November this year. We could not risk starting next season with our two main CB's in their 30's unless they were exceptional defenders which neither of them are. So Coady as the loan player is also gone. With Branthwaite coming in we hopefully have a long term replacement without having to spend any cash. Presumably Dyche is now looking at Holgate, Keane and Godfrey. As CB's go Keane and Holgate are both mistakes waiting to happen and Godfrey is starting to look injury prone but could be used as emergency cover across the back four. Both Keane and Holgate have been at the club a long time and have had plenty of playing time but don't appear to have improved at all. Their early potential mostly failed to materialise. So there may be more ins and out in the centreback position in the coming weeks.
David Bromwell
44 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:48:18
Seemed like a very nice bloke and didn't let us down when it mattered. However, we all know that the squad needs a big revamp and we are likely to be left with some fringe players simply because they are on favourable contracts. So it's a big summer ahead and we cannot operate as we have done in the past, simply giving and extending contracts. We will have to be ruthless and in the circumstances this is the right decision.
Derek Thomas
45 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:48:55
I'd say he was a bit unlucky there, but it frees up wages. 2 CBs gone, hopefully Branthwaite to come back in, or it's Holgate, Keane and Godfrey with Tarko - who will then get injured.
Barry Rathbone
46 Posted 01/06/2023 at 13:49:02
A hint of dispensing with the sentimentality that blights this club and possible indicator of raising the bar. In previous regimes Connor would likely have been kept on but no longer.

Unloading players is only half the job though, the question is how are we going to recruit better with 5 quid and a used Renault minibus as part ex ?

Jack Convery
47 Posted 01/06/2023 at 14:07:09
Why didn't we buy him and sell him on, in January for £8 to £12m to a team struggling at the wrong end of the EPL table ? If Dyche is seriously going into next season with Keane back in the side, I despair. If Keane and Holgate won't move then loan them out and get some of their wages off the books. Their days in a blue shirt are over - aren't they ?

St Ettiene want to buy Nkounkou and sell asap at a profit. Maybe we are interested in one of Wolves players and have given them him to flog for more than £4.5m. England internationals come cheap, it seems these days.

Kieran Kinsella
48 Posted 01/06/2023 at 14:11:02
The specter of the chuckle brothers playing again is terrifying but that said Coady being better than them isn’t a high bar. Hundreds of ToffeeWeb posters are better than Keane and Holgate.
Duncan McDine
49 Posted 01/06/2023 at 14:29:58
The relatively small transfer fee is only part of the equation. Wages for someone at his level of experience will be very high (much like Mina). Our inept owner/board have put us in a position where only a few players will be able to earn the big bucks… and those players need to affect games more so than the likes of Coady.
James Flynn
50 Posted 01/06/2023 at 14:44:59
Duncan (49) - "The relatively small transfer fee is only part of the equation. Wages for someone at his level of experience will be very high"

I think you're on it.

For one, Coady was Lampard's man. So, there's that.

And let's not ignore that Coady saw Everton as a way to get out from under the shitty contract he signed with Wolves, which still has two years to go. He'll be 32 then. The possibility of signing a new contract with us this Summer would be his last crack at a large wage increase.

I'd bet Connor saw our CB wage scale and thought/hoped he could get on the Everton gravy train that's feeding Holgate, Keane, and Godfrey unjustified wages.

We have enough contract problems at CB. No need to add some more. He proved himself a hard worker and good luck to him, but no great loss.

Jack Convery
51 Posted 01/06/2023 at 14:45:39
As we appear not able to spend £4.5m on an England International maybe we could afford to sign Ryan Manning, a left back, on a free transfer on the 1st July 2023. Ryan was Swansea's fan player of the season. His stats for last season were played 46, goals 5, assists 10. He's 26 and a Republic of Ireland International, with 6 caps. He can also play LM.

Brett Jonathan
52 Posted 01/06/2023 at 14:52:12
Everton fans : Get rid of the Everton bloat!

Also Everton fans : Keep Mina and Coady!

Dyche doesn't want them. I am fine with that and expect him to buy a replacement. Great dressing room personalities don't win games.

Andrew Grey
53 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:01:37
Without knowing the whys and wherefores this seems to me to be a big mistake.
Dale Self
54 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:15:02
Sometimes being charged up is fun but I suspect we are all a bit spent after the big finale. The world in general may not help so keep in mind we made it and there are some decisions that must be made. It shouldn’t surprise or disappoint that we will forego the services of our older CBs who never sustained form.

Thelwell and Dyche were not caught by surprise. They are likely working on an initial cost neutral clear out and reup with a younger squad. This will have to do until the noise upstairs is resolved. Dyche has a good understanding of what pieces to build aroumd and with that input Thelwell has enough time to make something worthwhile happen.

We may not find affordable ball playing CBs but we need more speed in those positions. We will likely go for physicality built for a low block setup until we buy a possession midfielder.

Iain Johnston
55 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:15:12
Vicious rumour alert No1...

Apparently they're looking at a lad from Mainz in the Bundesliga on a free but I think he's a full back. I think linker is left?

There's a few lines on it in Allgemeine Zeitung

Jack Convery
56 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:23:39
Iain is it Aaron Martin ? If so he's on free.
John McFarlane Snr
57 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:28:16
Hi Kieran [48] down the years there have been many players that I have liked less than others, but I have never found cause to belittle them. I take it that you are referring to Michael Keane and Mason Holgate, and your claim that hundreds of posters on ToffeeWeb are better than who you refer to, as the "Chuckle Brothers" is neither amusing nor necessary.
It would have been just as simple for you to write, "I don't think that Keane and Holgate are good enough." It's my belief that anyone who earns a living playing football is likely to be a great deal better than those who criticice them.
Raymond Fox
58 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:34:57
He did a decent job when called on but I'm guessing Dyche is sticking with Keane who gets hammered on here by some because he's become one of the latest whipping boys.
Branthwaite is coming back so Conor I suppose could be said to be surplus. He wont have a problem finding another club if Wolves don't need him.

Anyway good luck Conor and thanks.

Mike Gaynes
59 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:36:33
Coady. Magnificent man, magnificent leader. Just not good enough in my view. Not enough pace to stay with the runners, not enough quickness to deal with quick players, not enough strength to deal with strong ones. Wolves had dropped him, and now Dyche has too.

He'll be signed by a struggling Championship club, wear their armband and have a fine remainder of his career. All the best to him.

Colin Metcalfe
60 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:42:27
Poor decision by the club as he an adequate back up center half and this means Keane is going nowhere which is frightening as he should of been the first to be shown the door !
Jay Harris
61 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:44:46
So that's wages saved till the season starts and 4.5m to put towards a goalscoring forward.

Thats also 2 leaders gone in Mina and Coady and unlike Brett I believe dressing room personalities do win games. Just look at the influence Seamus has.

We just need to get some fees in and Keane, Holgate and Godfrey seem to offer the best opportunity for that.

We should also have some money from Kean and Gordon unless its found its way down the back of Bill's sofa.

Maybe 5-10m for Maupay from some mug and we have the makings of a war chest (Hahaha).

Wage savings on Mina, Vinagre, Davies, Townshend etc should also help.

IMO loan players should be backup to the squad and not first team automatic choices so we need up and coming talent that cant break into the likes of City first team.

Fed up taking Man U rejects but Chelsea look like having a fire sale and I hear Pulisic is available for 20m although I doubt he would come to us.

Akpom, Gyokeres and Sargent may be available as their clubs missed out on promotion and are worth a punt and we need to give Simms and Cannon an opportunity to show what they can do by slowly integrating them into the first team squad.

Jeffrey Schlupp, Nathaniel Clyne and Aaron Cresswell are nearing the end of their contracts and could be good cover for the full back/wingback positions.

Kieran Kinsella
62 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:47:57
John,

I could have just said "I don't think they're good enough" but it gets a bit tiresome saying the same thing over the course of watching Mason Holgate play under 10 different individuals managing on match day, and Keane under 9 all of whom bar Ancelotti were sacked or demoted back to lower levels because of the poor performances of these players over a almost a decade. But taking any hyperbole or humor out of the equation, they are both error prone, neither can read the game well, neither defend well, Keane has the odd moment in attack but that is it and Holgate really is just not good enough. I am tired of seeing their names pop up on team sheets under manager after manager after manager while the team with them as core squad players over almost a decade has gotten worse and worse.

Joseph Murphy
63 Posted 01/06/2023 at 15:58:14
If Dyche keeps Keane now, he deserves everything he gets. Coady was an upgrade on Keane and we would easily get the money on that sale to pay the 4.5m for Coady.

Obviously, That’ money for Keane is less my mileage costs to drive him to any other club that would take him!!

Denis Richardson
64 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:01:20
We needed to get rid of a couple of CBs so Coady going was a simple decision as it doesn’t cost anything. Not an amazing player so no loss imo. Need to get rid of one more, hopefully Keane.
Billy Bradshaw
65 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:04:48
John @ 57, made me "Chuckle" that one.
Phil Smith
66 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:05:11
Of all the money we've wasted over the last few years on shite, I am amazed we're not trying to sell Keane and Holgate and keep Coady for 4.5 mil. Mina has been replaced by Branthwaite, effectively. We need 4 decent centre halves - 2 starters (Tarks and Branthwaite) and 2 back-ups (Godfrey - if he can find some form - and Coady, for me, but I guess he's sticking with Keane). Holgate has to be sold. He'll be a great Championship centre half. Could even do a job at one of teams coming up, but not for us. Need 2 players for each position and if short then you play one of the kids and let them learn. Most other teams seem to do it. Why can't we?
Tony Abrahams
67 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:30:45
Dyche was a central defender so he must know what he wants from any players he picks in this position.

Coady, is good in a five, but I don’t think he is quick enough or not quite commanding enough, especially in the air, to play in a four man defence?

Brainthwaith is hopefully coming back to play alongside Tarkowski, but it’s going to be a very long summer, especially because it doesn’t look like we are going to have much money to spend, so whatever money we do get is going to have to be spent very wisely.

Steven Telford
68 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:31:47
Just when you think that the board could not be any more BRAZENLY INCOMPOTENT they look a gift horse in the mouth (Coady at 4.5m!) and they say, no thanks. This club have made some seriously stupid decisions in the last few years, signing three No.10s in one summer comes to mind, but this really takes the basket.

Keane over Coady FFS .

Kieran Kinsella
69 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:32:11
Tony/Dave

Do you know if Reece Welch is any good? I know he's been on the bench a few times but noticed we gave him a new four year deal last October. Much longer than our usual one year at a time deal for under 23s. I am assuming Lewis Gibson will be released when he deal end next month.

Kevin Edward
70 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:34:41
Seem’s a reasonable decision to me, don’t offer 4-5 year contracts to players over 30 unless they are scoring/saving 20 goals a season. I liked him but not sure that he would be improving the squad for the battle ahead. As already suggested there must be better options out there for the fee and wages. I really do hope someone involved in recruitment has a sensible plan (or just a plan would be a step up..).
Brent Stephens
71 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:44:12
Kieran, Welch has been consistently reliable at U23/U21. The usual question though - can he step up? If only I see into the future!
Joe McMahon
72 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:49:22
I'm not one (at all) to go into the part but Sylvain Distin was 30 when he signed for Everton. Yes he was a better player than Coady, but at the moment our only 2 CH's worth having are Tarks and Coady. I just wonder if Conor wanted to stay and if somehow Thelwell could have worked a better deal with Wolves chucking in Keane and even Maupay?
Barry Hesketh
73 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:49:51
Hopefully, the decision not to take Coady permanently has been made by the manager. The Dyche tenure shows he didn't have Coady in his plans and it was surprising to see Coady play on Sunday. Obviously, every decision made by the manager and the club could come back to bite them, but decisions have to be made and a manager lives or dies by those decisions, good luck to Coady, he did OK, but it's not as if we're losing a future 'John Stones' is it? and some Evertonians were quite happy to see him leave, albeit for a lot of money.
Gary Brown
74 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:55:28
Steve Telford - who was offering to take Keane off our hands?
Danny O’Neill
75 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:58:39
I'd have kept him, but maybe we have other plans?

Branthwaite back, but we're still a centre-back short with Mina leaving.

Despite his goals that he will never be forgotten for, Michael Keane is about the same age as Coady, equally slow but far more timid and turns like a tractor.

Holgate has yet to step up and I'm not sure he will.

I can only assume with this decision, we will be looking to bring in another centre-back?

Daniel A Johnson
76 Posted 01/06/2023 at 16:58:53
Strange how he benched Keane and played Coady for the knife-edge decider and then releases him. He obviously fancied Coady more than Keane for that one, which speaks volumes about Keane.

We need to get rid of Keane, Holgate and Godfrey they are not Premier League standard defenders.

Gary Brown
77 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:01:37
Loads on here under the delusion we can simply decide to sell Keane and Holgate.

If the past 5 years have shown us anything, it is that deadwood doesn't shift, unless on loan to Turkey or another minor league, and with us picking up most of the wage still anyway.

We're losing tens of millions a year thanks to scandalous wages, and some want to add another £60-90k a week for a 30-year-old reserve option who can't play in the system the manager prefers.

My mind boggles. Good man. Would be nice if we were a rich club who can afford to have these kind of players sat around as “squad” but we're just not. Wake up! Anyone we buy from now on in needs to be a Brighton type of buy low, sell high. Anything other than that is a P&S issue again.

Ian Bennett
78 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:02:21
Tricky:-

Pros
Better than Holgate, Keane and Godfrey.
£4.5m decent fee.
Leader.
Already lost Mina, so need some quality.

Negative
£15m commitment over 3 years with no resale value.
Lacks pace.
Everton aren't a 3 at the back team.
We were overloaded in centre-backs, admittedly with lads below him in ability. Money needed elsewhere.

My general sense is if money was available you'd sign him. Not signing him, and not signing a striker after selling Gordon, tells me we have either no money or the Premier League are blocking our ability to sign players.

Time will tell.

Mark Ryan
79 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:04:43
Keane's going nowhere. He's one of Dyches's boys. He's a Burnley boy.

He's staying and I'll put my neck out and say when Seamus doesn't play he'll have him captain. Mark my words. He's going nowhere

Kieran Kinsella
80 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:06:31
Brent,

Maybe he will go out on loan? Seems hit and miss but appears to have benefited Branthwaite but not various others.

Tony Everan
81 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:06:46
He's a fighter and a player to call upon who will battle all day for the cause. No one can bully him out of it, and that's a must for any central defender.

Maybe it wasn't just us deciding, Dyche will have been honest about his preferred formation next season and it would mean Coady bench warming. No player his age wants to willingly do that. He will move to a club where he is playing week in and out.

Good luck to him and thanks for the contribution.

Martin Mason
82 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:19:50
It's not only selling that is essential but getting high wages off the books. Coady is a good asset but a victim of our total incompetence.

At least most understand just how broke we are now. 5 years of billionaire ownership and we have gone downhill. Only Everton.

Robert Williams
83 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:27:57
I have decided that I am not going to follow the transfer ins & outs through June till kick-off. Had enough of it over the years - linked with every Tom Dick and Harry from every corner of the globe, and then. nothing! So fuck it!

I am however sorry to hear that Conor Coady is leaving us – I liked him. I hope we don't regret that decision. All I can say is that Dyche must have better on his 'wish list' but hasn't that always been the case.

Holgate and Godfrey are claimed to be on the list as well as, hopefully Keane. Again, I liked Godfrey, I thought he was good – until his accident – then things seemed to deteriorate. We should get some backups in for the two/three.

Please, please don't get rid of Onana – we need to hang on to our better players.

Barry Cowling
84 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:31:42
I think there are too many on here think we have money to burn, face it, we are damn near potless. £4.5M for a bench warmer is not going to happen, plus he is too old to fit the Thelwell programme, better spending what we may have elsewhere.

And before slating the likes of Keane and Holgate give the coaching staff a chance to work with these and get them doing what is required of them, if they stay that is. Dyche has had hardly any time on the training pitch with any of them.

We can get cover on a free or loan; otherwise, we will buy younger talent that will have a sell-on fee

Iain Johnston
85 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:37:11
Jack #56,

Yes, mate, that's him.

Kieran Kinsella
86 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:37:57
Barry Cowling,

It reminds me of when we had Kevin Campbell on loan and had to scrape together the measly £3 million needed to sign him up and this coming not long after we'd spent a "warchest" on Collins, Dacourt, Materazzi, Bakayoko etc.

Rob Dolby
87 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:41:31
It's a reflection of where we are as a buying club rather than Coadys ability.

He had a purple patch when we first brought him in. Some suggesting he should be club captain.

He is a prem standard centre back that thrives in a 5. A good organiser and talker.

I would rather have gotten rid of Godfrey or holdgate but beggars can't be choosers.

Mike Hayes
88 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:46:54
Nkounkou gone to Saint-Etienne thought to be in the region of £1.7m. 🤷
Peter Warren
89 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:48:17
I don't think we can afford £4.5M for a forward let alone a centre-back.

Until club gets investment, we will be selling not buying .

John Raftery
90 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:53:23
Branthwaite appears to have potential to be a very good centre-back but is left-footed. Tarkowski has been used mainly on the left. Are we sure the two would be effective as a pair?

Stephen Davies
91 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:55:13
Rumours Kenwright is out and Boardroom shake up.
Joseph Murphy
92 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:56:59
If Dyche keeps Keane now, he deserves everything he gets. Coady was an upgrade on Keane and we would easily get the money on that sale to pay the £4.5M for Coady.

Obviously, That money for Keane is less my mileage costs to drive him to any other club that would take him!!

Kieran Kinsella
93 Posted 01/06/2023 at 17:59:04
Mike,

Him and Price going means we've added £2.1 million to the transfer kitty. Woo hoo!!

Kieran Kinsella
94 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:03:23
Stephen Davies,

Let me guess. He will do a Reggie Perrin and be replaced by someone who looks suspiciously like him called Ken Billwright.

Mike Hayes
95 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:05:57
Kieran - we are letting potential go. I'm not saying they are the answer but we know Keane and Holgate aren't.

Who's next and who are we left with and who's coming in? Early days I know but we certainly got rid of four so far. 🤷💙

Ian Bennett
96 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:06:13
Out:-

Kean, Nkounkou, Gordon - £72M.

Incoming:-

Zip over last 6 months.

David Currie
97 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:08:40
Loved Reggie Perrin and Rigsby, Leonard Rossiter was an Everton fan.
Mark Ryan
98 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:10:26
Stephen @ 91, continue please
Mike Hayes
99 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:11:04
Keiran – love it – like a Jack Johnson and his opposite John Jackson 🥸
Paul Tran
100 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:11:18
Joe #34, you're dead right about Mee. I did some work at Turf Moor a few years ago. They couldn't believe what we paid for Keane. They all felt Mee was best, followed by Tarkowski, then Keane.

We have to get some centre-backs of the books, he's the easiest one to get off the books. Top lad, half decent centre-back, under the circumstances, I'd say it's the right decision.

Ed Prytherch
101 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:11:56
Nkounkou was never going to be a back-up for Mykolenko in a stay-at-home defence.

Paul – Maguire went to Leicester for less than we paid for Keane in the same transfer window.

Stephen Davies
102 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:17:36
Mark @#98,

Posters here may testify to the authenticity of Watched Toffee.

He says there are just legalities to be finalised before an announcement will be made.

Mark Ryan
103 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:45:37
Sounds good, Stephen.
Will Mabon
104 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:46:45
Dave @ 42:

Your Maguire joke seemed to go unnoticed but I got it. It was a joke - wasn't it?

Craig Walker
105 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:48:05
Please don't suggest Holgate and Keane need coaching.

If they're no good after the number of managers we've had, then please get shut like we should have done 3 years ago. Sentimentality will see us in another relegation scrap next season.

Ray Said
106 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:49:24
My reading of the companies act is that, in a share issue, the existing shareholders must be offered the chance to acquire the new shares first?

If that's done and not taken up by existing holders then the board have discretion to offer them on. All this must be decided by the Board (not the main shareholder) at a duly constituted board meeting. Hurdles to go yet.

Robert Williams
107 Posted 01/06/2023 at 18:55:17
MH @95, Letting potential go.

I take it you do not mean Kenwright!

Neil Lawson
108 Posted 01/06/2023 at 19:00:40
This development raises a myriad of possibilities. Are we utterly skint such that we can not afford an experienced and effective centre-back who is also a leader?

Who is going to replace Mina? Are we looking to the youngsters, Branthwaite, Welch and Gibson? Surely we can not afford a better centre-back than Coady at that money? How many players do we have to sell to afford a decent striker? A left back also. Nkonkou has gone so how do we afford a back-up to Mykolenko?

The next few weeks will be fascinating and informative. We only need about 6 to 7 new players. Hoping we have some top youngsters or there are some worthwhile out-of-contract pros cos I don't think there is any dosh any time soon.

Mike Hayes
109 Posted 01/06/2023 at 19:03:25
Robert,

Who? Kenwright the redshite gobshite? The only potential he had is to screw the club, screw the fans, and screw the free buffet.

Bill Hawker
110 Posted 01/06/2023 at 19:24:15
Branthwaite coming back. Godfrey a natural centre-back (never a full-back). That gives us Tarkowski, Branthwaite, and Godfrey as centre-backs. Holgate the worst-case scenario in terms of injuries.

I'm in the camp that Coady would have been a good back-up but, as we're skint, we have higher priorities elsewhere in the transfer window, namely getting one or two strikers who can put the ball in the net.

Oliver Molloy
111 Posted 01/06/2023 at 19:34:01
I'm in the camp that thinks Coady is a decent centre-back and was totally committed to us – could be he was looking for too much money to sign.

One thing for sure is, he's a Blue now!

Andrew Bentley
112 Posted 01/06/2023 at 19:56:41
As much as I liked Coady and his positivity on the team and players around him, we don't need sentimentality. We need better quality than what we had this season so if we let him go and get someone in who's better then I'll be delighted.

Mina is more of a loss than Coady as he is much better, but even with him I'm okay he's gone as we couldn't rely on him to play the majority of the season.

Get rid of the under-achievers, just because we stayed up by the skin of our teeth doesn't mask the lack of quality we have had. We need new blood not scarred by the last 2 years.

Holgate, Mykolenko, Godfrey, Keane, Davies, Gbamin, Maupay, Gray, Iwobi can all go. Gray and Iwobi you may not agree with but it's a sign of how poor we've been that these guys have looked okay for us. We need really quality — not poor imitations.

Alec Gaston
113 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:09:55
If Coady isn't good enough for Wolves, why would we sign him?

Whether Keane and Holgate are better is irrelevant, they have contracts – Coady doesn't – he only played because of injuries and exposes us in a back 4.

We don't have the luxury of being able to have multiple back-ups on big wages who are at the end of their careers.

Ashley Krotosky
114 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:25:23
Quite a hot debate this one: lots of contrasting views.

I had hoped we had learned from our striker debacle that we need to get bodies in before we ship out, but if we are truly potless, we reluctantly have to go the other way.

Each year we seem to say that good recruitment has never been more crucial, and every year we seem to screw up.

I can foresee choruses of "We should have kept Conor Coady" whenever our defence looks a bit ropey next season. Maybe he is something of a modern-day Mick Lyons in terms of application, passion and bravery? Though I wonder how far someone like Mick would get in the modern game.

Danny O’Neill
115 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:33:11
Come on, Alec. It doesn't always work like that mate.

If Kevin Sheedy wasn't good enough for Liverpool and sat in the reserves, why would we sign him? £60 grand Peter Reid who came with a dodgy injury record. Neville Southall, the former binman and hod carrier bought from Bury.

If Seamus Coleman was only playing in the Irish League, why would we sign him?

Sometimes players fit into a manager's plans and system regardless of where they have been before.

Seems that Coady isn't in this manager's plans.

Karl Meighan
116 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:39:39
I expect Mina to go and expect Keane to start next season and he his a liability and utter shite. Dont see anyway of Dyche picking Branthwaite before Keane. Once again we will have 2 snails at centreback and I hope for the best but only see slight improvement if any.

What worries me is Dyche believes we have a decent squad of players, he's wrong and I don't expect to be entertained either. I would be happy to have a Forest type transfer window bringing in a whole new team keeping about 3 or 4.

Oliver Molloy
117 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:40:59
Coleman played in the league of Ireland - not the Irish league.
Winston Williamson
118 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:43:45
The world and Danny’s dogs know we have no money. I wouldn’t of kept Coady personally, even at 4.5m.

We have 5 senior centre-backs on the books at the moment. We had 7 before Mina and Coady were released. Totally unbalanced.

One of Keane, Holgate or Godfrey must be sold/released simply to balance the squad and the wage bill. (Knowing EFC we’ll sell Branthwaite instead)

Personally, I’d offer Keane and Holgate to newly promoted sides with a discount on the transfer fees to subsidise the wages over their remaining EFC contracts. I’d then promote an U23 centre back.

I’d be happy to see us start next season with-
Tarks
Branthwaite
Godfrey
Another (youth promotion/free transfer)

Paul Birmingham
119 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:46:36
This was an interesting decision, and who knows the rational.

Ageing player, - Everton starting a new transfer rule book, and not buying players touching on 30, wages, etc.?

I thought the lad was a leader on and off the park.

Sean Dyche, found a few different ways to play with the resources he had available, get results,, and kept Everton up.

May be this is the onset of the new era, new board CEO and Chairman, but hopefully, Everton, about to start a new era, when the Everton Football Club, will be managed every hour if every day with care and attention, befitting Everton FC, and Evertonians, across the World.

The last few years have been hell, and so, let’s hope.

UTFTs!

Ian Riley
120 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:50:05
Sadly, probably more to do with our current plight financially and building a new stadium? Dyche will be to blame whatever happens. It may have nothing to do with him? Contract perhaps? Director of football decision? No one knows really. Looks like the knives are out for dyche already. Someone said he deserves all he gets if he keeps Keane. If dyche suffers Everton suffers. Everton is becoming the impossible job! Next season is 40 points and move on!
Tony Abrahams
121 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:51:16
I think Phill Thompson, is the man to ask Kieran, although I was once told by an ex member of the Everton staff, that he didn’t think Welsh, would make it at Everton, and not because he lacked ability, but because this fella thought he lacked a little bit of bravery to become a central defender in the EPL. We will see?

This does explain why I’m not that fussy on academy football though, because when I was reading about the Lurton v Sunderland play-off semifinal the other week, it was described by one Lurton player as absolutely brutal, and a very physical all out war, and I personally think this side of the game is being overlooked, when you consider the end-game is, the ultra physical EPL?

Mike Gaynes
122 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:51:41
Daniel A #76, what it says to me is that Dyche considered Coady to be more suitable than Keane in a back 3, which is what we were forced to play against Cherries because we had no fullbacks.

Dyche's lineup choices over the past two months made it clear he preferred Keane to Coady in a back 4, which is our preferred formation.

Dyche clearly considers Keane more useful overall than Coady. I happen to agree with him.

Jamie Crowley
123 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:52:54
Myko, Patterson, Onana, Garner, Brainthwaite. All keepers. Young players who all have talent and potential that we need to allow to grow.

Veterans who must stay would be Pickford, Tarkowski, Gueye and Doucoure now we've committed to him.

That's 9 players. The rest can stay or go as far as I'm concerned. It's time to trust Dyche implicitly, along with Thelwell, to build a squad.

Like Dyche said in his last post-game press conference, he doesn't have a magic wand. This is going to take time. We simply have to allow that process to unfold. All the while praying for enough points to keep us up.

Good luck to Connor Coady. Consummate professional who gave his all to Everton and helped us survive.

Mike Gaynes
124 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:58:39
Ed #101,

I think Nkounkou has probably played his last professional game at left-back. St Etienne became the latest club to give up on his defense and moved him permanently to left attacking midfield. The kid responded with 6 goals and 8 assists in a bit more than half a season.

He'd have been a backup to McNeil, not Mykolenko.

Jim Lloyd
125 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:58:40
Well said Mike. I'd like Coady to stay as I think he's a great lad in the squad. But I think it's a case of every penny counts and £4 ana half Million plus wages might be needed to fund our attempt to get another player/players.

I think it's certain that Sean Dyche will have many difficult decisions to make, with little in the way of money to work with, at least until we find out what the decision of the investigation is.

I'm glad we had Connor, and I wish him well back at Wolves.

Barry Hesketh
126 Posted 01/06/2023 at 21:08:46
Ian @ 120, is correct, Everton's first objective for next season, regardless of possible sanctions, is to get to forty points, or at least an average of a point a game, the manager if it is to be Dyche and I can't see any new ownership getting rid of him, can only focus on that objective, with whichever players he has at his disposal.

Jim Greenwood, the former Everton secretary insisted that budgets were made for a season, based on the possibility that progress in the cups would end at the earliest stage and that the manager should get the club to the required number of points to avoid relegation at the earliest opportunity, everything better than that was a bonus. That's the situation we find ourselves in today, not pretty, not awe inspiring, but a necessary way of handling the near future.


Tony Abrahams
127 Posted 01/06/2023 at 21:18:45
Karl@116. If you listen to Dyche’s interview after the Bournemouth game, then I don’t think he would have used the word’s magic wand, if he genuinely thought he had a decent squad.

I think he’s got some decent players in his squad though, and I definitely expect to be entertained at least as much as I have been by the last seven Everton managers, although I’m aware this isn’t asking for much.

Jamie Crowley
128 Posted 01/06/2023 at 21:35:48
Tony -

I'd say under Dyche the play will be much, much better - because it was!

We created plenty of opportunities and also, and I have zero stats to back this up, we surely took a ton more shots? I wasn't bored at all watching this Dyche squad.

Can't say the same for dreadful times under Large Fella Sam, Red Christmas Tree Koeman, Silva (who seemingly was allergic to playing through the middle of the pitch), or even Carlo who Lord knows would pack it right in.

I'm not worried about entertainment under Dyche. We played a fine brand of footy with him at the helm thus far in my opinion. I'm more worried about getting enough points to stay up with this dysfunctional club we have at the moment!

Dale Self
129 Posted 01/06/2023 at 21:49:04
Kieran and Tony,

I don't know if Reece Welch has worked on his strength but for me he looked the part of a rangy central defencive midfielder or centre-back in a three-at-back. I'm taking a cynical position and hope that we are short enough in the squad to ensure his place here.

Danny O’Neill
130 Posted 01/06/2023 at 21:51:32
Oliver @117. You got me on a technicality.

People's Front of Judea / Judeans People's Front and all that. I knew what I meant! I played in the Irish League. That's another story.

I wonder if Warrington will feature. From what I've seen, he looks very promising if he can make the step up.

But would he be competing with Garner, I think?

Tony Abrahams
131 Posted 01/06/2023 at 21:55:16
I genuinely thought we were actually too open at times Jamie, and the only games I watched and didn’t really see any improvement was the games against Man Utd and Fulham. Some of the sticks he’s getting beaten with, make me think that he’s got an impossible job, because Maupay is shite, and he should have been playing Ellis simms, but I think his last couple of selections prove that he probably doesn’t think either of them are good enough?

It’s the same now. He hasn’t kept Coady so he must be going to play Keane, (why exactly?) but whatever happens Sean Dyche has already exceeded my expectations, because I thought we were already dead and buried when he arrived, but suddenly average players, who were very low on confidence, started playing for the shirt, and we not only incredibly survived by the skin of our teeth, but we also definitely began to look like a much better team,imo.

Sam Hoare
132 Posted 01/06/2023 at 21:58:25
Honestly I think this move (or lack of) signals a smarter way of thinking.

In years gone past, we have bought some very mediocre players just because they are slightly better than what we already had. And look where it got us.

Coady may be slightly better than Keane and Holgate but that doesn't mean we should buy him. I'm surprised at some of the people on here and elsewhere that seem outraged by this decision.

Jamie Crowley
133 Posted 01/06/2023 at 21:59:01
Tony,

I don't think he's perfect, but I'm 100% behind Sean Dyche.

No subs in that Leicester game had me apoplectic. Maupay up top just fuming to no end.

But Tony, every single manager I've ever watched for Everton pissed me off at one time or another. We improved under Dyche and, as you say, the dude kept us up. Mic drop.

Philip Bunting
134 Posted 01/06/2023 at 22:03:01
Not bothered. Started well, then was okay, then fell away, then came back a bit.

In the end, if we rave about kids like Branthwaite, why put a £4.5M obstacle in the way when the money and wages can be spent elsewhere?

Good decision.

Mike Gaynes
135 Posted 01/06/2023 at 22:14:01
Tony, for all his many faults, I think Keane is the better player. For two reasons.

One, he can handle the physicality of big attackers in the area, and Coady cannot.

Two, he has proven himself a big-game, big moment player in the box. He scored the goal that restarted our pulse against Palace last season. And this season, Doucouré's rocket doesn't keep us up unless we also have those two previous at-the-death tying goals by our centre-backs -- Keane's spectacular strike against Spurs and Mina's tap-in, which was set up by a deft touch from Keane.

I have a lifelong affection for ordinary athletes who step up unexpectedly at the most massive moments. Keane has done it three times now.

Danny O’Neill
136 Posted 01/06/2023 at 22:15:39
Much more resilient, Tony, and better with the same group of players.

Keane worries me and has done for seasons.

Wide open in midfield. Deliberately targeted on the flanks.

I think the reality of the squad hit the manager. But he navigated through the fog.

Makeshift forward options and, at the end, no natural full-backs.

Jim Lloyd
137 Posted 01/06/2023 at 22:42:21
I think he had to choose, one or the other... couldn't have the two.

He knows Keane from Burnley and I think Sean Dyche is looking at Branthwaite as first choice, but Keane to step in if needed, Keane has also shown that he his fairly decent at scoring goals with head or foot. So I think that settled it, if he could only keep one, he's kept Keane. Not perfect by any means but it looks like money's tight and spending £4.5M wasn't on.

I think Dyche has to use his knowledge of players who will improve the squad, with little or no money until we know where we stand re the P&S investigation outcome. I think, luckily, he'll have a good knowledge of players who will improve positions in the squad, from the lower leagues, loans and end of contracts.

I also think he's putting what money he knows he's got on a centre-forward. We most probably will not be able to count on Calvert-Lewin.

Chris Gould
138 Posted 01/06/2023 at 23:08:58
We didn't have any money to spend in January, and we won't have any money to spend until we sell, which we can't do until the transfer window opens. The option to buy expired, so we couldn't buy even if we wanted to.

This doesn't mean we won't go back in for him near the end of the window, and try and get him even cheaper.

The fact is, Holgate, Keane, and Godfrey are on decent contracts, so difficult to move on. Hopefully we can find a way to sell at least two of them.

Personally, I'd keep Keane. He's always fit, can be effective offensively, and works well in certain systems.

Peter Moore
139 Posted 01/06/2023 at 23:29:33
In Dyche I trust (despite not disagreeing strongly with his persisting with Maupay for far far too long).

Gyökeres now linked to Newcastle. So regretful we failed to grab him in January.

Get the investment or takeover done before the transfer window opens, please, Everton. Then, let us cling to more than just hope asap. UTFT.

Mike Gaynes
140 Posted 01/06/2023 at 23:50:05
Peter, the Esk's tweet didn't set a time frame, but I'd be happy with July 1. It's not like we're gonna compete for the big signings anyway.
Colin Glassar
141 Posted 01/06/2023 at 00:01:49
Not bothered tbh. He's no great shakes and he's a massive kopite to boot. I'd prefer to keep Branthwaite.
Phil Lewis
142 Posted 02/06/2023 at 00:46:54
I'd like to thank Coady for his effort and commitment in the relatively short time he's been with the club. He has given his all when called upon. His departure is I believe a business decision, as he's no worse than the other central defenders currently in contention for a first team place. Unfortunately for him, he's easier to get rid of. The others are under contract. It's that simple.

I liked the look of Branthwaite when he debuted and his spell abroad has by all accounts prepared him for first choice selection. It would seem that Tarkowski will be his most likely pairing.

I wish Conor Coady every success for the future. Whether he returns to Wolves to fight for a first team place or if he signs for another club, they will certainly not regret it. He is a very capable, competent player, with years left at the highest level.

Lester Yip
143 Posted 02/06/2023 at 01:57:17
I have great doubts that Branthwaite will become the 1st choice just based on his successful loan spell at Holland league. EPL pace and physically is on a different level. It takes years for CB to mature. And Dyche is not the type of manager that will gamble on that position.

Godfrey had shown what he can do in the past before Covid. He's been played out of position and his confidence got shot. He's got the right attitude, good speed and physicality. I think he can become good again when given time.

Ideally, we'll sell Holgate. Tarkowski and Keane will fight for the right-side centre-back position while Godfrey and Branthwaite fight for the left-side centre-back position.

Anyway, Dyche knows how to organise a defence. He knows what he needs for his defenders. He will get it right.

Karl Meighan
144 Posted 02/06/2023 at 05:47:59
Dyche sill probably pick Keane as he managed him at Burnley for years and trusts him, which is why he played when he first came in and he put him in when there was no reason at all to do so.

There is no reason to believe Dyche will pick anyone but players he has relied on before would make sense to me.

Did someone say Keane is strong, obviously doesnt remember Lukaku using him like a rag doll, shrugging him off and scoring a few years ago. On that alone he should never have been bought.

I’ve backed him and, for his couple of assists, I will give, every game he plays he makes a mistake that leads to a goal or that leads to a big chance for opponents. Been here years and I’ve seen enough of him and Holgate to know a team that struggles to score has to score twice to win when these two play, more often than not.

Mike Gaynes
145 Posted 02/06/2023 at 06:09:37
I was at that game, Karl, and it wasn't a strength move, it was that amazing quickness. Rom didn't knock Keane over, he just spun past him.

That was why I was so opposed to us signing Keane. He was simply helpless.

Shane Corcoran
146 Posted 02/06/2023 at 07:41:44
Might these two recent releases be linked to our accounting year ending 30 June? Nothing incoming until July?
Danny O’Neill
147 Posted 02/06/2023 at 07:42:36
I've read through this again.

I tend to agree with Winston @118. If there are any takers, we should try to offload a centre-back to make space for a new one. Maybe offload two, with Branthwaite coming back.

Personally, I'd keep Godfrey for now. He's obviously struggled, but we saw enough before his illness and lack of form to see he can feature in this squad given where it is right now. And only 25; relatively young for a centre-back.

So for me, at least one from Holgate or Keane, maybe both. If only one, I know my choice, but I won't bore anyone with my usual tirade. And yes, I will be eternally grateful for those two crucial goals (Palace, Tottenham) and that assist for Mina at Molineux. But I've never been convinced by Keane.

A lot seem to be pinning high hopes on Branthwaite. He's only played a handful of games. He looks promising but is 20. Very young for a centre-back, so whilst I am a promoter and don't want to sound like a cautious Colin (sorry for the Colins out there!), we're probably not at the stage where we build the defence around him, in my opinion.

Mina is gone. We have opted not to take the option on Coady. Holgate’s and Keane's abilities are debatable and we may move one or both on. Branthwaite is young; let's not do a John Stones on him, give him time and not have over-expectation.

In summary, we need another centre-back… And a striker!

Tony Abrahams
148 Posted 02/06/2023 at 07:55:47
Coady has left and Michael Keane is simply not good enough, in a similar way that neither Maupay or Simms are not quite good enough either.

Saying that Dyche is going to pick players he knows sounds like it makes loads of sense until you start to break it down and then start analyzing it. Look at our last fixture – he played with three central defenders, and still never selected Michael Keane even though he knew it was going to be the last ever game in an Everton shirt for two of the other three?

Of course it made sense to play Coady, who is the more natural defender in a three, but we had another two central defenders on the bench and our manager overlooked both of them for the biggest game in our season.

Eddie Dunn
149 Posted 02/06/2023 at 07:58:28
Mike G -Totally agree on Keane. A goalie drops the odd clanger but then pulls off a wonder save.

Keane too, makes a cock-up from time to time but the amount of times he gets his head on a cross or, as you illustrate is instrumental at the other end of the pitch more than makes-up for his shortcomings.

I like Coady but pragmatism rules. We are skint and what small war chest Dyche will have to spend depends on ruthless decisions on the playing staff.
Everything must be done to get in a decent striker or we will be in exactly the same position next May.

Tony Abrahams
150 Posted 02/06/2023 at 08:12:25
I understand what you’re saying Eddie, even if I don’t agree with a lot of what you write, for one simple reason mate. Dyche has really surprised me because I thought he would have had us playing on the back foot a lot more than we have done, and Michael Keane is simply not a defender who ever looks confident playing on the front foot?

He gets caught between two-stools, imo, and when a central defender plays like this, then I think it spreads doubt throughout the team?

Jim Lloyd
151 Posted 02/06/2023 at 08:51:06
I think it's mainly having to make a hard choice; and finance playing a major part; but also adaptabilty. We might need to save any penny. I think Keane can play up front if he's ever needed, and as far as defence goes, he' possibly staying as a reserve should one of the central defenders gets injured, as we do seem to rack up loads of them.

I think the hard choice was, we'd have to pay for Conor Coady plus his wages, that just left Dyche with a plain decision to make: save the money.

Eddie Dunn
152 Posted 02/06/2023 at 08:53:51
Tony- don't get me wrong - there are plenty of centre halves out there who are better than Keane. We just happen to have who we have under contract.
Perhaps if Lampard had been able to buy him, Conor (under contract) would be staying. It's surely just an easier option.
Of course, the problems at the other end of the park have increased the necessity of not conceding anything. We had the spectre of thinking that once we were behind, where were we going to find a goal from. If we had a rampaging attack popping-in thre or four every week, we could put up with the odd clanger at the back.
Man United have been able to live with Maguire's mistakes accordingly.
Or mistakes from Godfrey, Holgate, Keane, Tarks, Coady et al usually result in a loss.
Strange that Mina has suddenly found fitness and form just when his contract was running out. He has looked a class act. It will be interesting to watch his injury record at his future club.
Ray Jacques
153 Posted 02/06/2023 at 09:26:40
When Keane and Holgate are gone that will be a sign of progress.
Steve Brown
154 Posted 02/06/2023 at 10:16:36
This summer, Dyche will be looking for a tall, physical, quick centre-half who can play in a back four. Coady is vocal and likeable, but none of those things.

It was smart though for Dyche to pick him in a back three against Bournemouth, and I think he played well.

The centre halves next season will be Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Keane (sorry), Godfrey plus a new addition. I think Holgate will be sold.

Eddie Dunn
155 Posted 02/06/2023 at 10:18:00
Thinking of Holgate, at times he has looked superb9not this season) a natural successor to Stones. I recall many on here slagging-off Nathan Ake when we were linked with him, "not tall enough " etc. Now look at him. He did well at Bournemouth but now looks so composed under Pep.
The coaching side of our regime has failed to improve so many of these young lads.
Kevin Naylor
156 Posted 02/06/2023 at 10:28:41
Do the rules just not let us loan him for another season?
Steve Brown
157 Posted 02/06/2023 at 10:41:04
Getting rid of the following players this summer will get 39 million off the wage bill each year - Mina, Holgate, Coady, Maupay, Davies, Vinagre, Gomes, Alli, Kean, Virginia, Nkounkou and Broadhead. That will be the priority for Thelwell before he spends anything on transfers.

Unfortunately, our recruitment has been so terrible that we won't receive much of a transfer fee for any of them apart from Moise Kean.

Our first team roster is looking extremely thin though - Pickford, Begovic, Patterson, Coleman?, Tarkowski, Keane, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure, Grey, DCL, McNeil, Iwobi, Garner and Simms.

18 players!

James Fletcher
158 Posted 02/06/2023 at 10:53:28
Can add Townsend to that list too, ageing but can still do a job on the wing.
Steve Brown
159 Posted 02/06/2023 at 11:00:05
James, I haven't heard any updates on Townsend at all so left him off both lists.

His contract expires 30th June, so maybe we are still monitoring his injury recovery before making a decision.

James Fletcher
160 Posted 02/06/2023 at 11:15:24
Probably a sensible approach, how very unlike us XD
Mike Corcoran
161 Posted 02/06/2023 at 11:22:05
Branthwaite could end up at left-back initially with his desire to get forward. We also have pedigree for doing this with Ratcliffe, Unsworth and Lescott.

I think being shorn of proper modern attacking full-backs and a couple of actual strikers has been the problem. Hoping Mills, Cannon and Warrington can show they're worthy of the first-team squad this season.

Tony Abrahams
162 Posted 02/06/2023 at 11:31:53
I think Mina looked like he could become a very good player on a few different occasions, Eddie, but then he always broke down and ended up being injured once again. I'm glad Dyche had the wisdom to bring him back after our defence once again capsized after the Newcastle game.

I doubt Big Yerry will ever get another contract in his life like the one that's just ended but I'm just thankful that he ended his Everton career playing very well in a run of massively important games.

Danny O’Neill
163 Posted 02/06/2023 at 12:21:40
You made me draw parallels with Fabian Delph towards the end of last season Tony. A player I said I'd be glad if I never saw him wear our shirt again. But he added calmness and composure to our run in in those last few games.

Okay, I said I wouldn't bore everyone. Keane worries the shit out of me every time he plays. Turning circle of a 1950s Russian tank. A daydreamer who watches the ball go over his head too often, but doesn't have the pace to recover. Or the powers of concentration or anticipation to compensate for that deficiency. A poor man's Harry Maguire.

Prove me wrong by all means, but I have been watching him for years now.

And thank you for those goals and that assist.

Ian Bennett
165 Posted 02/06/2023 at 12:36:17
Totally right Danny on Keane. However I fully expect Keane to start our first league game.

My expectation is Keane, Godfrey, Holgate will be ahead of Branthwaite in the pecking order.

Branthwaite is raw, but I'd be amazed if he's partnering Tarkowski on the first game of the season despite what the fans hope for.

Dave Abrahams
166 Posted 02/06/2023 at 12:39:39
Steve (157), a few of those players you mentioned contracts are up this summer and we sold Broadhead to Ipswich in January, some of the players will be hard to get rid of because of the huge wages they are on and will likely not move for less than they are on now, mores the pity!
Rob Dolby
167 Posted 02/06/2023 at 12:56:40
Danny 163. Your description of Keane could also apply to our other centre backs.

Godfrey isn't even a footballer.

Holdgate is terrible

Tarkowski isn't as good with the ball as Keane.

The 30 yarder v spurs, the goal last year v palace the assist for mina at wolves. None of our other CBS have that in them.

It's all very well having a whipping boy but look around the squad. We have 2 decent players, one is always injured and the other is the goalie.

Danny O’Neill
168 Posted 02/06/2023 at 13:03:17
I don't have whipping boys Rob.

Like most, I comment on what I watch.

I spent years sticking up for Hibbert and Osman

Whipping boys for many.

I don't do that. I give opinion. Which is just that. We won't all always agree.

Ray Roche
169 Posted 02/06/2023 at 13:14:07
Ian@165
Ian, Branthwaite has played a full season In Holland and excelled, he may not be as raw as you think. He should be in the side or at least competing for a place in the starting line up.
Steve Brown
170 Posted 02/06/2023 at 13:22:43
Dave, unbelievable isn't it?

Yerry 125k a week, Gomes 112k a week, Alli 100k a week, Holgate on 70k a week. We all criticise managers but the DoFs who agreed these wages should be shot,

Ian Bennett
171 Posted 02/06/2023 at 13:30:55
Time will tell Ray, and I hope you're right.

I just think many that expect Branthwaite to be put in as first choice will be disappointed. He's played in Europe and the Dutch league, but that isn't the EPL.

I hope the lad has a good preseason and Dyche judges it on merit, and not pecking order of seniority or players he knows better. I fear it will be the latter.

Mike Hayes
172 Posted 02/06/2023 at 13:34:00
Makes me laugh when fans don’t think a player like Branthwaite who’s done well in Europe don’t think he’ll make it or will struggle in the Prem yet they’d advocate a player from Europe who hasn’t played in the Prem - go figure 🤷
John Keating
173 Posted 02/06/2023 at 13:34:03
Obviously different players, different wages, different lengths of contracts.
It might be financially beneficial to give some of these a free just to get them off the wage bill
Holgate 70k a week can’t be true???????
Eddie Dunn
174 Posted 02/06/2023 at 13:34:27
Dave @166
I heard a piece on Talkshite this morning and Gordon Strachan was giving his opinion. it was mentioned that many of the Leeds players are on fantastic contracts and thus would be very difficult to ship out.
Clubs who need to offer better deals to attract players just get lumbered with them if they fail to meet requirements.
But it's not just us.
Mick O'Malley
175 Posted 02/06/2023 at 13:56:08
Mike @172 agreed, if you don’t hit the ground running the “he’s fucking Shite “ crew can’t wait to put the boot in irrelevant of age, experience or circumstance,the best striker we’ve had in the PL era Lukaku was “shite” just because he didn’t have the best first touch, I’m prepared to give youngsters the benefit of the doubt foreign or not, imagine being dropped into this side at 21 years of age and being expected to stand out, I’d love to see Dyche or whoever is in charge to put a bit of faith in Branthwaite and some of the other youngsters and play them, we know what we are going to get with Michael Keane, 1 good game followed by a couple riddled with mistakes and nerves, he won’t get any better but the likes of Branthwaite will with experience
Paul Kossoff
176 Posted 02/06/2023 at 14:37:05
So Cody not signing which we already knew is the main headline, and the supposed take over from MSP is put in the rumour section.
Not happening then?

Mark Ryan
177 Posted 02/06/2023 at 16:04:07
The deafening silence continues. On every thread I am searching for that first bit of news so I can start singing "Ding dong the Witch is dead"

C'mon Mosh, throw me a bone

Phil Jeffries
178 Posted 02/06/2023 at 16:49:41
He started OK, but then we started to concede and he had his fair share of mistakes. Shouting a lot doesn't make you a leader, and I'm pretty sure Dyche is confident he can better elsewhere. Not losing any sleep over this whatsoever.
David Hayes
179 Posted 02/06/2023 at 19:16:16
I find it difficult to attribute any kind of credit to a squad that consistanly failed to achieve any kind of results,despite the constant declarations of hard work and the need to improve ect. Players fighting and striving in talk only. Frank Lampard, clueless and out of his depth, talking a good game and the obligatory " I get this club " bollocks that numbs the masses into it will be alright soon. Sorry can't celebrate just staying up. Coady a case in point, more noise than effect, so a symptom of the malaise not the part of the cure.
Dave Abrahams
180 Posted 02/06/2023 at 20:02:32
Eddie (174), It really has been ridiculous the way Everton have approached the transfer market, and we are not the only club to do this in the last few years, with one catastrophe signing after another with nothing seemed to be learned along with the even more unbelievable wages and long contracts and nobody tallying all this money spent, at the same time the squad was getting worse, smaller, injury prone with no striker, no fit full backs, one good winger who had to be utilised as a full back along with a very promising centre midfielder turned into another full back, another winger used as a striker all on the final game of the season which would decide whether we stayed up or relegated to a possible long stay in the lower divisions.

Luckily we had a manager, seemingly left on his own to run the club, who came through with necessary solutions to fix us for now.

If the problems at the top of the club are not sorted out we will start another fight to avoid relegation come July.

David West
181 Posted 02/06/2023 at 20:44:20
A character! But personality doesn't win football matches or keep clean sheets.
Lacking in quality, he's probably the standard of one of our youth players.

Shame that we didn't get him a couple of years ago. I suspect he's been told he won't be first choice and he's not interested in staying as a sqaud member.
My memory of him will be him dithering on the ball and getting closed down instead of advancing tge ball forward.

Good luck to him. Give us his all.

Karl Meighan
182 Posted 02/06/2023 at 22:17:18
If were going to buy a centreback and as sick as I am of buying relegated teams players and Dyche may think he's to old Johnny Evans might be worth a punt.

I hope Branthwaite can be given time to stake his claim for a shirt and having trust in youngsters would at least give the Club some direction. If we keep faith with most of the players who have got us in a mess for the last 2 seasons, we may not keep dodging the bullet.

Bobby Mallon
183 Posted 03/06/2023 at 08:06:57
This club needs a reset from top to playing staff. Starting with a wage cap of £50 grand a week. If they can't live off that, then they don't play for us.

No more buying players older than 28. That's the prime years of most footballers. Start improving players like any decent manager or coach should be doing.

The club should only sign players who were born in the Merseyside area and kids within the Academy, IMO.

Lastly, we fans need to realise that we are not the team of the 80s, but just a pPremier League team and finishing with 40 points or more is not a bad season – it's just how it is.

Seriously competing for either of our domestic cups is a must.

Jim Lloyd
184 Posted 03/06/2023 at 09:08:19
My guess is he's going because we can find better use with the money we'd pay out for him. I hope he's looking at Branthwaite and seeing him as a first team player. He's probably looking at all the squad players and choosing who he can depend on to do a job he's being paid for.

Until funds come in, IF they come in, then he'll have to make do with what's in the funds account now. He's going to be looking at players who've reached the end of their contracts, and see if he can use them or not. From what I've seen of Onana, then Dyche may well think he could find good use with the money we'd get from him.

It also looks like we'll have to do the bult of our recruitment, before this P&S decision is made. The main thing in our favour is we've got a number of good or decent players and a Manager who, if he can recruit, will not be afraid to look at players who'll do a good/decent job for us, and give us a stronger squad,

I think we'd all say that a Goalscoring centre forward is a top priority. Again, it looks like he will come within the available funds. Robert and Sam have given lists of reasonable possibilities with Brereton and Gyokeres mentioned. I think I read somewhere that Brereton is out of contract, don't know about the other lad but either one, if affordable, might be a useful player for us. Obviously I don't know the details of CL's long term future with us, but we need another option anyway.

Bobby, don't you think that might picking players purely from merseyside, might narrow the choice down so much, that it would leave us way behind all other teams in the Prem?

Paul Kossoff
185 Posted 03/06/2023 at 14:44:22
No news day again then, no takeover rumours, no transfer embargo news, nothing else to talk about other than a player who is not ours and hasn't been since it was announced days ago and still a headline.

I'll go and look on the web for something interesting.

Ray Smith
186 Posted 03/06/2023 at 17:52:23
As much as I want us to import new (2 or 3 max) young quality players, I don't see the point of importing over-the-hill seasoned players just to keep us in the Premier League eague next season.

Give Dyche the tools and he will deliver, a mid-table, top-half return, which is the best IMO we can hope for, then move on the following season.

If Kenwright still has his grubby fingers in the recruitment pie, it will be deadline-day deals again. Please tell me I'm wrong.
We have the nucleus of a strong squad, especially if Pickford, Iwobi, Onana, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Cannon, Simms etc stay with other youngsters knocking on the door.

Regrettably we need to part company with Calvert-Lewin, and recruit a 10-15 goal striker.

The trouble I foresee is attracting young quality players. Look at Brighton for a model to work from. Who is their head coach for youth development and overseas loan deals (in and out)?
David Weir; could he be tempted to return!

Kenwright interviewed him for the manager's job several years ago and gave it to Martinez, say no more! Our high -placed finish in his first season was from a team he inherited.

I await our transfer dealings with sceptism. Will Dyche put up with Kenwright shenanigans, or will we be looking for a new ‘yes sir' manager?

I'm trying to be positive, and I accept the window isn't open yet, but my optimism will not improve until Kenwright leaves.

Ray Smith
187 Posted 03/06/2023 at 18:08:34
No AGM since I don't know when! I wonder how Kenwright sleeps at night? Not single-handedly, but almost, he is responsible for our demise.

It's Leeds United all over again when Peter (can't remember his surname) sent them spiralling down through financial suicide.

Let's hope somebody with a business brain comes in to get a grip of our current financial disaster!!

Jason Li
188 Posted 03/06/2023 at 18:12:54
I hope Dyche brings in a tall streetwise centre-back whose about 23-24 years old and played 5 seasons at centre-back only, and at a decent level. Not sure who but I hope Dyche doesn't put all his eggs in one basket on Branthwaite with Tarkowski.

I'd be tempted to sell Keane to fund it and keep Holgate, who has also gone backwards since Carlo left, but can be cover for right back next season as well as Patterson is struggling it seems with bad luck with injuries like Calvert-Lewin.

I would love Branthwaite to hit the ground running but he might need 3 years to bed in. Like Godfrey, who is still struggling to bed in as a reliable centre-back.

Brent Stephens
189 Posted 03/06/2023 at 18:24:40
I remember going to a (Carabao?) cup game at Huddersfield just a few years ago when a raw, recently-signed Branthwaite had a mare of a start but, if I remember it correctly, soldiered on and had a decent game overall.

I'm looking forward to him starting for us on a regular basis.

Andy Crooks
190 Posted 03/06/2023 at 18:30:20
Bobby Mallon, come on now, who could live on £50 grand a week?
Tony Holding
191 Posted 02/06/2023 at 18:58:11
First few times I saw Branthwaite, I thought "This fella looks like future captain material!"

So let's just all put some faith in Sean Dyche who has worked a bloody miracle.

Mike Gaynes
192 Posted 03/06/2023 at 19:11:38
Bobby #183,

Is Merseyside currently considered a cradle of young Premier League-ready talent?

I really like Sol Solomon at Marine AFC, but I wouldn't have considered him a competitor for Dom. Or even Rondon.

Dale Self
193 Posted 03/06/2023 at 19:14:20
I haven't followed his progress lately but never stopped believing he will play for us. That Chelsea performance showed me all I needed to know about his potential.

Let Dyche work with him and I'm suddenly getting some belief in our back line and how we play out of our half.

Gary Brown
194 Posted 03/06/2023 at 19:20:17
“23-24 years old and played 5 seasons at centre-back only, and at a decent level”

Derby O’Gill, that pit’o’gold exists after all…..

Tom Bowers
195 Posted 03/06/2023 at 19:20:20
No point in keeping and paying players who spend more time injured even Calvert-Lewin – who isn't a bad player but we need consistency on our offence. He and Maupay should be moved on now.
David West
196 Posted 03/06/2023 at 19:36:31
Sam Hoare 132 . Speaking sense again!

Coady is not really a loss. He never improved us when he arrived and won't weaken us when he's gone.

It's great having a good personality but that doesn't keep clean sheets or win matches. Leaders lead you to succeed or progress at least. Where has coady led us ??

Who's going to play there people ask ? Can Branthwaie or one of the under 23 really do any worse ?? Even if Keane and Tarks are first choice, coady gone frees up a path for a younger player and wages for a more important addition.

We as fans need to be patient. Would we rather watch Coady and Keane play out the twilight of there careers or be excited by developing players like Branthwaite?

It needs to be a change of mentality from everyone fans included to see us build something sustainable the longer term not just next season or we will forever be making poor shortsighted signings like this would be if he stayed.

Tony Dunn
197 Posted 03/06/2023 at 22:34:07
It wasn't so long ago we were excited about our young players, Barkley, Stones etc.

I saw Stones do his Cruyff turn today at a much bigger level than in front of the Park End… I hope all the knobs who caused him to do his "calm down" gestures realise what a player we lost.

Ben King
198 Posted 03/06/2023 at 22:58:08
Tony #197,

You act like Stones didn't make regular mistakes and cost us a fair few goals. The Stones we had at Everton was not the complete player that he is today.

And the Everton team he played in certainly didn't have the goal power to bail out goal-conceding mistakes in the same way that Man City have

These rose-tinted glasses are biased and you should give our fans more credit.

Karl Meighan
199 Posted 03/06/2023 at 23:41:00
Yea, Tony, as fucking about in the 6-yard box with the ball is real smart as a defender.

As for a much higher level, it doesn't get any bigger than playing for Everton as far as I'm concerned. Stones wanted to leave as I remember it, he wasn't lost.

The Club has made terrible mistakes in the transfer market –getting £50M for a player who cost little from Barnsley wasn't one of them.

David West
200 Posted 05/06/2023 at 12:04:15
Ben 198.

Young players need to be given time. They will make mistakes like Stones did. Man City could see past that and see the player he was going to become.

We need to do the same with young players coming through.
No young centre-back is going to develop from age 21 without making mistakes – it's how they learn.

I'd rather watch a couple of young centre-backs make mistakes and develop than watch Coady and Keane make the same mistakes at their age. It would be okay if we had top quality at the back but we all know we don't!

Ian Riley
201 Posted 05/06/2023 at 20:05:05
Stones went to a club that could afford to let him develop. Man City have world class players who can step in to that position. What is needed is a young player with an experienced player guiding and mentoring next to him.

Our squad needs more depth in quality for young players to come through. Dyche's aim is to get points on the board. As fans, patience is key with young players. Mistakes is key to learning. The negative comments out loud leads to fear.

Barry Rathbone
202 Posted 05/06/2023 at 20:20:56
Playing for a team like Man City who don't really have to defend is a match made in heaven for Stones. Comfortable on the ball unquestionably but a defender in the accepted sense of the word, no.
David Foster
203 Posted 06/06/2023 at 13:30:11
I think I've found the centre-back you are all dreaming about he's young and he hardly missed a game of the 2022-23 season.
Brent Stephens
204 Posted 06/06/2023 at 13:55:12
David - Branthwaite?
David Foster
205 Posted 06/06/2023 at 16:21:57
He’s 25 he plays in the Premier League and he’s got a left foot and it’s not Branthwaite.
David Foster
206 Posted 09/06/2023 at 09:57:01
It’s Max Kilman of Wolverhampton Wanderers

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


How to get rid of these ads and support TW

© ToffeeWeb