CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE OR BUST - SURVIVING THE EVERTON EXODUS

rocheyb

rocheyb

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CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE OR BUST - SURVIVING THE EVERTON EXODUS



These are dark, dark times at Goodison Park.

When Roberto Martinez left to replace Arsene Wenger in the Arsenal hot seat at the end of the 2015/16 season, he left Everton third in the Premier League, automatic qualifiers for the European Champions League for the first time in the club's history. But as talent began to drain from the club - initially with the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Real Madrid - so too did the team's form. Manuel Pellegrini, Garry Monk and Nikola Jurcevic were all appointed and despatched from the manager's office within less than two years - and on 13th May 2018, a 0-1 home defeat to Burnley consigned the club to forfeit its top flight status for the first time since 1954.

Relegation plunged the club into crisis. With many of the brightest talents in English football such as Ross Barkley and John Stones still on the books, player after player made a beeline for the manager's door to demand immediate transfers away from the club against a backdrop of boardroom uncertainty. The vultures began to descend upon Goodison Park, greedily helping themselves to the rich pickings of the Toffee-flavoured carcass as rumours of an imminent takeover threatened to derail the massive managerial overhaul required before the beginning of the new Championship season 2018/19.

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Chairman Bill Kenwright was adamant that while the new manager would have to deal with the fall out of relegation and manage an extensive turnover of the playing staff in a very short space of time, he would also be required to deliver an instant return to English football's top table at the first time of asking, as Championship Title Winners. No ifs, no buts. Success is demanded.

Only a fool would take on this job...
 
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STEP FORWARD ROCHEYB...

My first season with Southampton was decent enough; an 8th place finish and progression to the quarter finals of the Europa League. And despite injuries to key players at the beginning of the 2016/17 season, we were in 5th place and playing well until the club was taken over and the new chairman decided to replace me with Brendan Rodgers.

I went to the MLS with Seattle Sounders but it proved to be a short stay, due to the strict rules regarding player wages that prevented me from naming my strongest squad. In April 2017, Championship side Sheffield Wednesday provided a way back into the English game. The initial objective was achieved by avoiding relegation to League One with something to spare, and some improvements were made to the squad over the summer that had us floating just under the play-off zone midway through the following season. But I never felt that the Wednesday squad was ready for promotion to the Premier League, so I decided to walk away in the New Year of 2018 and went on holiday until I received a phone call from Mr Kenwright, shortly after Everton's relegation to the Championship was confirmed, and strolled into a crisis!
 
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LIKE RATS DESERTING A SINKING SHIP

There were so many players complaining about the fact that Everton had been relegated to a level of football that they regarded as beneath them, that it was actually very easy for me to make a firm decision on day one of my managerial appointment: Anyone who wants a transfer can have one. It would be unrealistic of me to expect to keep the likes of Barkley, Stones and Alexandre Pato given the teams that were interested in them. And with the board allowing me to retain 90% of all transfer revenues, my best option was to rake in as much cash as possible and set about re-building the squad for an assault on the Championship. I made it clear to Mr Kenwright that I would be placing an emphasis on youth and I had a number of targets in mind, including several players that I had worked with before. Time was not on my side - this was a supermarket trolley dash where I had to sell, sell, sell even as I buy, buy, buy - but the value of my saleable assets was in my favour and I soon got to work:

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OUTGOING TRANSFERS

View attachment 147569James McCarthy to View attachment 147568 £25 million

View attachment 1056306Maxim Choupo-Moting to View attachment 147567 £4.2 million
View attachment 147609Ramiro Funes Mori to View attachment 147608 £1.2 million

View attachment 147604Yoshinori Muto to View attachment 147602 £10 million

View attachment 147600John Stones to View attachment 147599 £26 million

View attachment 147598Ross Barkley to View attachment 147597 £18.25 million

View attachment 147595Brendan Galloway to View attachment 147597 £6.5 million

View attachment 147590Juanmi to View attachment 147588 £4.7 million

View attachment 147584Mathieu Debuchy to View attachment 147588 £2.1 million

View attachment 147582 Oussama Assaidi to View attachment 147581 £900,000

View attachment 147580Marcos Alonso to View attachment 147579 £7 million

View attachment 147578Alexandre Pato to View attachment 147577 £8.25 million

View attachment 147576Kevin Mirallas to View attachment 147575 £1.8 million

View attachment 147574 Guillermo Ochoa to View attachment 147573 £525,000

View attachment 147572 Romelu Lukaku at View attachment 147571 £12.75 million

(During this summer's World Cup 2018, Lukaku reached a milestone of international appearances for Belgium which triggered this payment into my team's finances - even though the player left the club a full year before I joined, in a deal that was originally worth £55 million)
​
 
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Now THIS is interesting. Will be looking forward to this story and the new squad :)
 
EVERTON TRANSFERS - IN BRIEF


So throughout the close season, I have been scouting, reviewing and signing players like the clappers, trying to re-populate my squad as quickly as possible with players who are going to be capable of mounting a Championship title challenge this season. I am currently on the eve of my opening match of the season, having been through pre-season and signed plenty of players. I will introduce my entire squad shortly and provide details of what we did during pre-season, but here is the summary transfers screen.
 
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EVERTON BACKROOM STAFF

I haven't looked at bringing in any new backroom staff yet, which I should have done but I've been concentrating on the playing staff. Looking through the list, there are a few names that I recognise:
Steve Round was Assistant Manager to David Moyes and followed him to Manchester United and Aston Villa before returning to Goodison Park last year. I tried to take him to Southampton two years ago so I'm more than happy to work with him. His playing career with Derby County was short lived - I think injury did for him so he moved into coaching, instead.

David Unsworth played for Everton in two spells either side of a season at West Ham United. He was a tough tackling defender with a knack of scoring goals, particularly from the penalty spot. He was capped by England only once. He manages our U21s.

Kevin Sheedy was part of the great Everton team of the mid-80s that won the title twice and also lifted the European Cup-Winners' Cup in 1985, scoring a goal in the Final against Rapid Wien. He also scored against England for the Republic of Ireland in a 1-1 draw at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He is now a coach for our U18s.

There are some gaps within our backroom staff and some areas of training that need addressing, but I will crack on with the squad population for now and address this soon.
 
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MEET THE PLAYERS


I will now introduce the Everton first team squad, including my new signings, by playing position and alternate with updates from our pre-season campaign. The gold stars indicate that the player has been signed by me during the current pre-season - those without the stars were already here when I got here...
 
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MEET THE PLAYERS - GOALKEEPERS

Age: 30; Nation: Ukraine; Caps: 18
Ukrainian international goalkeeper, just signed from Chelsea for £2.4 million. Began his career with Dynamo Kyiv before moving to Dnipro in 2014. Only played two domestic cup matches for Chelsea before being transfer listed and picked up by the new Everton manager.

Age: 35; Nation: Italy; Caps: 11
Began his career with Torino and was loaned out to a host of lower league teams. A short spell at Serie B side AlbinoLeffe led to a £4.6million transfer to Cagliari in 2008 and moved to Lazio for a similar price three years later. Joined Everton as a back-up keeper last season. He was expected to join the Everton Exodus but interest from other clubs has cooled so it now looks as though he’ll be staying at Goodison to run out his contract as back-up to Boyko.
Age: 19; Nation: Norway
A 6’7” Norwegian U21 international goalkeeper who joined Everton from Rosenberg in 2016 before being loaned out to Stabaek for a handful of matches. A very promising prospect who will likely be loaned out again this season.

 
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Sunday 15th July, 2018
NEW YORK COSMOS vs EVERTON
FRIENDLY
James M. Shuart Stadium, Hempstead (NY). Att: 3,098.
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We left our training camp in Miami to take on the New York Cosmos:​

12' - The home side opened the scoring with a right wing cross that was tucked in at the far post by Andres FLORES.

26' - Mid-way through the first half Lorenzo Reyes played the ball to Patrick Bamford who had his back to goal, just outside the area. He laid the ball off to the left where Kevin-Prince BOATENG nipped inside the right back to place a low shot inside the near post.

35' - A throw-in from the right was worked across the outside of the penalty area to feed Leighton BAINES as the man over on the far side. His fiercely struck shot rebounded off the keeper and into the top left corner of the net.

With the squad under heavy construction and this being the first time the players have been asked to play my preferred 4-4-1-1 system, this match was all about finding fitness rather than the result. Nice to see Bamford and Boateng combining well for our first goal, though, as they did for me at Southampton.

​
 
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MEET THE PLAYERS - CENTRE BACKS

Age: 35; Nation: England; Caps: 46; Goals: 3
Veteran defender and former England international with excellent leadership qualities who joined Everton from Sheffield United for £4 million in 2007. Now in the last year of his contract, his contributions will likely be limited to substitute appearances and reserve team football but he has been a fantastic servant to the club.
Age: 22; Nation: England
England U21 centre back currently on a season long loan from Southampton, where he benefitted from Jose Fonte’s tutorship. 6’3”, strong in the air and in the tackle, a lot is expected of this player in the coming years.
Age: 22; Nation: Serbia; Caps: 1 cap
A £2.5 million summer signing from Tottenham Hotspur whose time at White Hart Lane was punctuated by loan spells at Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic and AGF Aarhus of Denmark. Can operate as a Ball Playing Defender and has been handed the captain’s armband for the new season. Will be looking to add to his solitary Serbian cap of nearly three years ago by producing quality performances in the Championship this season.
Age: 24; Nation: England
Former Nottingham Forest defender, currently on loan from Newcastle United. Had a loan spell at West Ham last season and will play a major part in Everton’s title assault this time around.
 
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Thursday 19th July, 2018
FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS vs EVERTON
FRIENDLY
Lockhart Stadium, Miami (FL). Att: 3,123.
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For our second match of our US training camp, we stayed in Florida and again had to come from behind:

33' - Young goalkeeper Julian Faye Lund dropped a right wing cross from Froese into the path of Rony ARGUETA who scored from a tight angle. 1-0.

34' - Just a minute later, Murru threw the ball to Lusamba on the left wing and received the ball back to feet just inside the final third. He advanced down the wing and skipped over Veeder's sliding challenge to reach the byline, before floating a delicious cross to the far post where Kevin MIRALLAS arrived to volley home from close range. 1-1.

​
A fairly uneventful match that did at least provide an opportunity for more players to gain match fitness.​

​
 
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MEET THE PLAYERS - RIGHT BACKS

Age: 23; Nation: England; Caps: 3
Southampton youth product who cost Arsenal £13 million in 2014 but was transfer listed during the close season, opting to move to Goodison Park in a cut price £2.5 million deal. Tall and an effective crosser of the ball, he can play at right back or centre back. Dropping down to the Championship and developing his ability in my new, young squad could be the making of this player.
Age: 28; Nation: Brazil
An attack-minded full back who is currently on the verge of a £1.7 million transfer from West Ham United to Everton, after being transfer listed by the Hammers. Began his career with Goias in Brazil before moving on to Sao Paulo. Moved to Barcelona in 2014 but failed to make a mark at the Nou Camp. Joined West Ham last season and will now rotate with Calum Chambers in the right back position for the Toffees.
Age: 21; Nation: England
An England U21 regular who signed from Barnsley for £1.6 million in 2015 and has played a handful of first team matches for Everton. A player of considerable potential but he is too defensive to suit my style of play in the full pack position and too short at 5’11” to be an effective centre back, so his future could be as a Ball Winning Midfielder in the DM position with some concentrated training.
 
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Sunday 22nd July, 2018
SAN ANTONIO SCORPIONS vs EVERTON
FRIENDLY
Toyota Field, San Antonio (TX). Att: 3,117.

For the third time in as many matches, we had to come from behind to get a result:

86' - A well constructed move down the right hand side ended with Rugg playing Ryan HOLLINGSHEAD into the area behind Leighton Baines, and he stopped dead before chipping an exquisite shot over the diving Marchetti to give the Scorpions the lead. 1-0.

90'+2 - As Everton pressed for a late equaliser, the ball was played back to Baines, mid-way inside the San Antonino half on the left hand side. He advanced before angling a low cross towards the penalty spot where Kevin MIRALLAS wrapped his left foot around the defender to fire his side level. 1-1.

San Antonio had more possession than us but we managed 20 shots on goal during the match. Our early pre-season form suggests that we may have some difficulty hitting the back of the net, though!
 
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MEET THE PLAYERS - LEFT BACKS

Age: 33; Nation: England; Caps: 48 caps; Goals: 2
Joint longest serving player with Phil Jagielka, Baines was signed from Wigan Athletic for £6 million in 2007. A dead ball specialist and experienced England international who did request a transfer after Everton’s relegation but appears to be content to wait for offers rather than to force a move away.
Age: 23; Nation: Italy
A former Italy U21 player who began his career with Cagliari and established himself in that team during their successful Serie B promotion campaign of 2015/16. Transferred to Everton for £3.7 million last season but failed to hold down the left back slot in the face of stiff competition from several players. Quite quick with good stamina, he can also play at right back. Did request a transfer but seems to have settled down during pre-season.
 
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Thursday 26th July, 2018
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN vs EVERTON
FRIENDLY
Tynecastle, Edinburgh. Att: 6,348.
We again rely upon our soon-to-depart Belgian winger to do the goalscoring:

45'+3 - With Hearts pegged back within their own penalty area, deep into first half stoppage time, Calum Slattery switched the ball to the left to Nicola Murru who found Ali Coote inside the area. His pass for Woodrow was deflected into the path of Kevin MIRALLAS whose shot was pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Randolph, but in the ensuing scramble the Belgian tapped the loose ball over the line. 0-1.

54' - An Everton goal kick came straight back when Hearts built a move down the inside left channel, Nicholson and O'Halloran feeding former Everton youngster Jose BAXTER to fire left footed from just inside the area, across Lund and into the far corner. 1-1.

An impressive performance from young Mason Holgate at right back bodes well, but this match was marred by an injury to Aaron Lennon which was later confirmed as a broken shoulder and will keep him out for the first month of the new season.
 
MEET THE PLAYERS - DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS

Age: 27; Nation: Chile; Caps: 8
A combative midfielder who is among the want away rebels at Goodison Park, but in the absence of any confirmed interest from other clubs will begin the new season in the Championship. A £5.5 million signing last season, his former clubs are Huachipato in Chile and Real Betis of Spain. He has also spent a season on loan at Almeria. His form was poor last season but he has performed well during pre-season.
Age: 26; Nation: Sweden; Caps: 18; Goals: 1
A £2.5 million summer signing from Swedish champions Malmo. A player I originally scouted while I was with Southampton and then tried to take to Sheffield Wednesday, but he fits into the Everton squad as a strong, Ball Winning Midfielder who can operate in the DM or CM positions. Sprained his ankle in the last pre-season match so he'll have to wait six weeks to make his Everton debut. Potential future captain.
 
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Sunday 29th July, 2018
BLACKPOOL vs EVERTON
FRIENDLY
Bloomfield Road, Blackpool. Att: 5,860.
Patrick Bamford got among the goals against the Seasiders:

7' - Ryan Ledson played Ali Coote into the left hand channel and he got to the byline, where he lost possession and went down. But as Mathisen tried to clear the ball, it rebounded off Coote to leave the goalkeeper stranded at the near post and Patrick BAMFORD free to tap the ball over the line in the centre of the goal. 0-1.

65' - A route one equaliser from the home side. Goalkeeper Boney's free kick from the edge of his own penalty area was misjudged by Lascelles, leaving Jack REDSHAW free to run straight at goal and beat Marchetti with a composed shot into the top right corner. 1-1.

70' - A one-two between Baines and Ledson played the former England player in down the left wing. Ferguson beat Mirallas in the air to win the header at the far post, but Lusamba redirected it from the edge of the area to BAMFORD who flicked his header beyond Boney from close range. 1-2.

We dominated possession and created chances but were caught on the break a few times. Good to see Ledson and Baines combining well and Bamford should be an important player for us this season.
 
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MEET THE PLAYERS - CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

Age: 20; Nation: England
Product of the Everton youth academy who has long been regarded as a promising player for the future. After loan spells with Walsall, Blackburn Rovers, Brighton & Hove Albion and AFC Bournemouth the time has come for Ledson to assert himself as an Everton player. A technically gifted midfielder who can play as an Advanced Playmaker or a Deep Lying Playmaker in the CM position. Capped by England at U20 level.
Age: 19; Nation: England
I gave Slattery his debut as a 16 year-old at Southampton, where he came through the youth ranks. I took him on loan to Sheffield Wednesday last season where his performances were consistently excellent until a broken ankle curtailed his contribution. He comes to Goodison Park on another season long loan. Dubbed “The New Glenn Hoddle” and already valued at £6 million, he plays as a Deep Lying Playmaker or Roaming Playmaker. A good passer of the ball with a penchant for long range shooting. Has scored two goals in four matches for England U21s.
Age: 28; Nation: England; Caps: 14
Former Manchester United and Aston Villa midfielder who joined Everton on a free transfer in 2015 and has represented his country 14 times at senior level. A very determined, hard working player who can operate in a range of different roles in the CM position. Has been conspicuously quiet since the club’s relegation, deciding not to join the queue of players wishing to transfer out of the club. Unlikely to be a first choice starter but will be a useful squad player.
Age: 29; Nation: South Korea; Caps: 78; Goals: 17
Experienced South Korean international who is counting the days until his departure from Goodison Park, having been transfer listed at his own request. A flair player in the Shinji Kagawa mould who graduated Boin High School to join Jeju United in 2007. Joined Wolfsburg in 2010, Mainz in 2013 and Augsburg in 2015 before transferring to Everton last summer for £7.5 million. Currently generating interest among Catania, Galatasaray, Lorient, Stade de Reims, Rubin Kazan and Saint-Etienne.
 
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Wednesday 1st August, 2018
EVERTON vs AS ROMA
FRIENDLY
Goodison Park, Liverpool. Att: 31,033.

A narrow defeat and a good performance against an impressive Roma side:

75' - Former Tottenham player Nacer Chadli put the finishing touch to a move he had started by cutting in from the left, near the half way line. Olivier Giroud worked the ball back to Pjanic in midfield who switched the ball to Carballo on the right wing, in space behind Murru. His looped cross was volleyed in at the far post by CHADLI. 0-1.

A decent display in which we had the majority of possession and did enough that Anthony Lopes, the Roma goalkeeper, took the Man of the Match award.
 
MEET THE PLAYERS - WINGERS

Age: 31; Nation: England; Caps: 21; Goals: 0
A fleet-of-foot right winger who has just put pen to paper on a new contract to resolve his immediate future. Came through the Leeds United academy and moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005. Signed by Everton for £4.5 million in 2015. Has missed much of pre-season with a broken shoulder but should be back in action by September.
Age: 22; Nation: Germany
A versatile winger currently on loan from Bayer Leverkusen who is equally at home on either flank. Quick, skilful and a good deliverer of crosses. He was with Oberneuland and then Wolfsburg before joining Leverkusen for £275,000 in 2013. Uncapped at junior international level but has the potential to become a very good player.
Age: 20; Nation: Scotland
A player that I had been tracking while I was with Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday, he just happened to be on the books of Everton when I got here, having transferred from Dundee United in 2017 for £650,000. Spent last season on loan with Glasgow Rangers. A left winger who can also play the No.10 role, his passing ability and flair are balanced by hard work and determination. A Scotland U21 international.
Age: 21; Nation: France
Another player I was monitoring while with other clubs, he became a free agent after being released by Nancy this summer so I signed him on a two year contract. A versatile attacking midfielder who prefers the No.10 role, he has an excellent first touch, passing ability and vision. Was a regular for Nancy for four seasons in Ligue 2. Doesn’t fit directly into my preferred tactical system, but can be retrained into several different positions. Capped by France U21s six times.
 
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