Paul McParlan - Recruitment, Recruitment, Recruitment
Another season ends and we can only hope that the next one will be better.
Except we said that this time last year and it certainly wasn’t, in fact it was even worse. The big question for all Blues is whether the club is going to move forward, or will we be in the same situation again this time next year?
One reason for believing that matters may improve is the manager. While Frank Lampard was happy to be seen dancing on top of the executive boxes after escaping relegation, Sean Dyche clearly did not view avoiding the drop on the last day as a reason to party.
READ MORE: Everton await results of FA investigation after final day survival
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His post-match press conference made that clear. Everton are a big club in name only at present and that is simply unacceptable. It was hugely encouraging to hear such refreshing honesty from an Everton manager.
Recruitment will be the key factor this summer, especially when Everton will be operating in the bargain basin again. Nevertheless, Brighton and Hove Albion have shown that this need not be an impediment to bringing in quality players.
Two new strikers are a priority in addition to adding depth to the midfield options. Also, the lack of alternatives on the right and left side of the defence needs to be addressed.
If Richarlison is not going to be a part of Ange Postecoglou’s plans , any chance of a loan move back to Goodison? Will either Tom Cannon or Ellis Simms be given an opportunity during the next campaign?
The rumours of new investment are also welcome , especially if this leads to wholesale changes at boardroom level . The disconnect between the fan base and the top levels of the club simply must be addressed. It cannot be allowed to fester.
Final thoughts... I seem to recall that Kevin Thelwell had a 120-point plan to rejuvenate Everton. Are we still working on this, or has it ended up in the recycle bin?
How about reducing it to one simple aim - improve the recruitment process! When Marcelo Bielsa was interviewed for the Everton job, he arrived armed with an extensive dossier outlining what he needed to take the club forward . Anybody know what happened to the Bielsa files or have Amazon bought the rights?
Evertonians are well used to broken promises . They are sick of hearing the same old platitudes being trotted out.
This needs to be the summer when the boardroom finally delivers and shows that they have a coherent, well devised strategy to take the club forward.
The fans and Sean Dyche deserve no less. Are you listening, Mr Moshiri?
Luke Davies - We shouldn’t get caught up in lording these players
To begin, the season started slowly and didn’t ever really pick up pace. Kicking off at Goodison Park on August 9, with a 1-0 defeat to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
A game rather overshadowed by a Ben Godfrey leg break. However, at the time the result wasn't considered much to be worried about.
One thing that was an issue was the fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, an unwanted theme that started to form throughout such a disappointing season. Moving forward, after a bunch of draws and a defeat at Villa Park, Everton finally registered their first win of the campaign against West Ham, the winner courtesy of Neal Maupay, this goal his only strike of the season.
The following week the Blues travelled to Southampton, coming away with the spoils thanks to a Connor Coady goal alongside Dwight McNeil’s first goal for the Toffees. The feeling was positive at this point, with most fans behind the team and manager at the time Frank Lampard/ Things had begun to look up with last season’s relegation worries a distant memory.
The rest of October brought tough fixtures with trips to Spurs, Newcastle and Fulham, just bringing a solitary point alongside a home defeat to Manchester United. Although the Blues did take all three points against Crystal Palace on October 22, things had begun to change, many fans started to question the quality within the squad and the manager’s tactical decisions.
Everton felt the winter chill, failing to pick up a point between October 30 and December 30 until a miraculous draw at Manchester City on New Year’s Eve. But the supporters called for the departure of Frank Lampard, many thought the two defeats at the hands of Bournemouth in November to be the final straw. However, Lampard did not actually depart until late January.
Sean Dyche took charge of Everton for the first time on February 4, with a hard fought 1-0 win against in-form Arsenal. Next came a defeat at Anfield followed by a victory against fellow relegation scrappers Leeds.
Overall, most Blues felt more positive about their survival hopes. After the initial few wins, the form was flaky all the way up until the end of the season, with the stand-out a win against Brentford and a point at Stamford Bridge.
But they were then ruined by home defeats against Fulham and Newcastle. Thankfully the teams below us stayed below us and ended up being somehow worse than us but I do want to see improvement throughout the club - this has to start now!
My stand-out performance of the season was of course the victory away against Brighton, I still can’t quite believe the team on that pitch was Everton. In terms of individual awards, once again, Jordan Pickford stood out from the rest.
A notable mention must also go to Dwight McNeil. Many doubted him, but he put in some shifts this season, winning us games against Brighton and Brentford when it really mattered. Overall, I don’t have many plaudits to give to other players; maybe Abdoulaye Doucoure deserves a pat on the back for his performance since Dyche's appointment.
We shouldn’t get caught up in lording these players, though, they are the same team who took us to that nailbiting the last day. I want to see many leaving with fresh new players bringing fresh new ideas come next season.
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