Andy Hunter, The Guardian 08/07/2025 19comments  |  Jump to last

Andy Hunter provides a clear-eyed summary of "The vast scale of the overhaul required at Everton this summer… The squad that reported on Sunday for a training camp in St Andrews contained 15 senior players in its ranks and numerous holes to fill."

 

» Read the full article at The Guardian

Reader Comments (19)

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Paul Kernot
1 Posted 08/07/2025 at 22:49:49
I mentioned a month or so ago Andy that I'm concerned about the age of a lot of the players we're being linked with and the corresponding lack of on sell value. Admittedly most of it is click bait and I should just wait & see what the squad actually looks like at the Leeds game. Barry is 22, Fellows and the guy from Ipswich are young so that gives me hope of a more balanced squad of youth & experience. It's sad that Leeds, West Ham and even Sunderland seem to be our main rivals for players we're reportedly interested in.
Don Alexander
2 Posted 08/07/2025 at 23:10:46
Some of us, even when the 100% accurate Guardian piece states the blindingly obvious, for years, want to in their words credibly, repeat, credibly move on from a past that for decades incrementally destroyed our club, without ever credibly stating how it might be reversed (and that's not a criticism, because I think Friedkin hasn't a clue either).

Some of us are deluded. We'll still be ploughing the poor soil of recruitment bestowed on us by the self-serving connivance of those in charge, for thirty years and more, for years to come.

Mark Murphy
3 Posted 08/07/2025 at 23:17:56
Cheers Don.
That’s great.
Good night.
Don Alexander
4 Posted 09/07/2025 at 00:14:48
Well it's another hot night Mark, so sleep as well as unarguable reality allows you mate.
Mark Murphy
5 Posted 09/07/2025 at 07:20:55
Morning Don!

I slept the sleep of the innocent and remain optimistic that we are on the up.

Blue skies all round.

Happy thoughts.

Ajay Gopal
6 Posted 09/07/2025 at 07:21:50
The Guardian article is a summary of what Evertonians already know. But, I would contend that things are not as dire as they are being made out to be, especially with the re-signing of Gueye & Keane, the signing of Alcaraz and Branthwaite's contract extension.

I believe that 5-6 more players is what we need to add to the squad and here is my list of probable additions:

Goalkeeper - Olsen (free)
Full Backs - Tagliafico, Walker-Peters (free, or if we are unable to land both, a right back for about 20 million)
Midfield - Douglas Luiz (15-20 million)
Right Wing - Kubo (25-30 million)
Forward - Barry (30 million)

So, a net outlay of between 80-100 million, which is doable.

The squad would look like this:

GK: Pickford, Olsen, Tyrer
FBs: Mykolenko, Patterson, Tagliafico, Walker-Peters (or another), Coleman
CBs: Tarkowski, Branthwaite, O'Brien, Keane
MF: Gueye, Garner, Luiz, Iroegbunam, Armstrong
Wingers/Attacking MF: Ndiaye, Alacaraz, McNeil, Kubo
Strikers: Beto, Barry, Chermiti

We would have back-ups for almost every position. We could potentially put out 2 starting XIs:

1st Choice XI: (4-2-3-1)

Pickford
Walker-Peters Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Gueye Luiz
Kubo Alcaraz Ndiaye
Barry

2nd Choice XI: (4-4-2)

Olsen
Patterson O'Brien Keane Tagliafico
Armstrong Garner Iroegbunam McNeil
Chermiti Beto

I am optimistic about the new season (as always), and hopefully we will be challenging at the top half of the league.

Danny O'Neill
7 Posted 09/07/2025 at 07:25:33
Get in Mark. You're worse (or better?!) than me for optimism.

I hope Billy enjoys the occasion and you the day.

I take it, the ceremony will be in the Anglican Cathedral. My son's was when he graduated from John Moores.

Be sure to cleanse yourself after you leave!!!

Have a great and proud day.

David Bromwell
8 Posted 09/07/2025 at 08:14:23
Trouble is while many things have improved we are still way behind with on so many aspects of the key elements of our business and it will take some years for the football side of the business to be restructured.
Moyes and his staff, were appointed to steady the ship, but were not seen as long term appointments and this policy has been continued as we sign up, messers Coleman, Gueye and Keane etc. I don't see this as a mistake as we currently have little alternative, but it's certainly not exciting and I fear we are in for another long season.
Sam Hoare
9 Posted 09/07/2025 at 08:58:29
Ajay@6 I'd be pretty happy with those additions, though I think Kubo will probably cost more than that and Armstrong isn't a RW, think we maybe need to bring in 2 RW ideally. I also think Moyes will start Beto over Barry, initially at least.
Mark Murphy
10 Posted 09/07/2025 at 11:01:48
I've no idea, Danny, the invite just says “Liverpool Cathedral".

What's ours called then??

Danny O'Neill
11 Posted 09/07/2025 at 11:05:38
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

Or more affectionately, "Paddy's Wigwam"!!

Jake FitzGerald
12 Posted 09/07/2025 at 11:06:49
Don, I assume you read the paragraph in the excellent article that starts with “TFG's and Kinnear's recruitment is encouraging.”, and then lists the impressive team that the Friedkins have put together?

A team of proven professionals highly regarded throughout the footballing world?

Rob Halligan
13 Posted 09/07/2025 at 11:07:31
Liverpool Cathedral is the proper one, Mark.

Paddy's wigwam is just that…….a wigwam!

Mark Murphy
14 Posted 09/07/2025 at 11:08:07
Chelsea, Newcastle, Man United, Aston Villa, Man City (and others) were all mismanaged and suffered declines (including, unlike us, relegations).

But they all rebuilt and are now fighting for the top four. Why shouldn't we believe the same can happen to us? It's a time for optimism.

Mark Murphy
15 Posted 09/07/2025 at 11:09:18
You’ve mid spelt Proddy, Rob!
Rob Halligan
16 Posted 09/07/2025 at 11:12:01
Even Mis - spelt! 😀😀
Mark Murphy
17 Posted 09/07/2025 at 11:21:39
Argh, you've won the internet again, Rob!
Kevin Molloy
18 Posted 09/07/2025 at 11:38:07
I think that squad leaves us pretty light in midfield and attack, Ajay. I actually think we'll do well to finish in the same position as last season.

We've been relying on oldies and loans for 5 years, and the downside of that is that we have nobody to sell now to generate funds to swap in someone else. So replacing, eg, Doucoure, who brings in no fee, is going to cost us c £30M. And we've got 5 or 6 similar to that.

The critical position is the central three midfield positions. I think we desperately need a playmaker in there, and that won't be cheap. I'm of the view we punched above our weight last season, got a fair few jammy wins. I'm not sure we can rely on that this season. We won't have the new manager bounce,

Alan J Thompson
19 Posted 09/07/2025 at 16:54:35
Have any of the players out of contract who have been let go found new clubs yet?

I've only seen the Calvert-Lewin rumours.

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