CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE OR BUST - SURVIVING THE EVERTON EXODUS

Saturday 4th August, 2018
EVERTON vs INTERNAZIONALE
FRIENDLY
Goodison Park, Liverpool. Att: 30,554.

Our first choice line-up, allowing for current injuries, produces an excellent performance to triumph over the Italian giants:

18' - Biabiany attacked down the right wing for Inter and found Kerin with his low cross into the area. Luka KERIN controlled the ball with his back to goal, just right of the penalty spot, and had time to turn and strike past Boyko at the near post. 0-1.

84' - Coote and Baines combined on the left wing before Coote delivered a low cross from deep that deflected off Mattioli to provide Arnaud LUSAMBA with a simple finish from close range at the back post. 1-1.

85' - Coote played the ball infield to Koo and the South Korean released Baines down the left wing. His cross from the byline was met at the near post by Cauley WOODROW who bundled the ball over the line. 2-1.

90'+1 - Woodrow was tripped inside the area by Vanheusden. Baines stepped up to strike it low to the keeper's left but Bardi got down quickly to make the save.

A knee ligament injury to Ali Coote overshadowed this impressive victory, and it's particularly a shame because he and Baines seemed to be generating a positive understanding of how to link with each other down the left wing.
 
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MEET THE PLAYERS - STRIKERS

Age: 31; Nation: Ghana; Caps: 15; Goals: 2
Although a versatile attacking player, Boateng specialises as a Shadow Striker which is the role he performed for me at Southampton. I took him there on a free from Schalke 04; his previous clubs were Hertha Berlin, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Genoa and Milan with a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund. He was transfer listed by The Saints so I spent £800,000 to bring him down a division and help me implement my preferred tactics.
Age: 31; Nation: Scotland; Caps: 56; Goals: 7
Former Kilmarnock and Glasgow Rangers striker who operates in the Shadow Striker role. Renowned for his committed, hard working displays. Was not among those demanding a transfer and is reported as “enjoying playing for the club”, having amassed more than 200 appearances for Everton. Likely to rotate with Boateng in the SS role.
Age: 24; Nation: Republic of Ireland; Caps: 19; Goals: 7
Another player that I worked with at Southampton, when I had him on loan from Chelsea. Everton signed him for £7 million last season and although he did demand a transfer upon relegation, he remains at the club as we prepare for our season opener at Derby County. Prefers the Advanced Forward role, though I would like to retrain him as a Deep Lying Forward to combine with the Shadow Striker role.
Age: 23; Nation: England
Deep Lying Forward signed from Fulham in the summer for £16 million. Has a proven track record of scoring goals in the Championship and is the right age to develop into a Premier League striker if he can help fire Everton to promotion. A lot will be expected of him this season.
Age: 22; Nation: England
Yet another ex-Saint who started out at Plymouth Argyle before being taken into the fold of the Southampton youth academy. Had season long loans with Milton Keynes Dons, Wolverhampton Wanderers and with me at Sheffield Wednesday, although recurring injury prevented me from getting the best out of him. Released by the St Mary’s club in the summer, I signed him on a free in the hope that he’ll remain fit enough to make a positive contribution to our title challenge. Prefers the Target Man role, which features in my alternative tactics.
Age: 25; Nation: Romania; Caps: 21; Goals: 9
Something of an enigma in that he was signed by the club for £5.75 million during the period in which I was being interviewed and confirmed for the job - so we both arrived at Goodison Park at the same time, knowing nothing about each other. Prefers the Complete Forward role but has the potential to be re-trained as a Shadow Striker. Previously spent his entire career so far in Spain, with Vinaros, Castellon, Villarreal and Cordoba who he helped to achieve promotion to La Liga in 2016 with 20 goals.
 
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Tuesday 7th August, 2018
DERRY CITY vs EVERTON
FRIENDLY
The Brandywell, Londonderry. Att: 3,328.

Last chance for players to achieve match fitness before the big season kick-off at Derby on Saturday:

11' - Julian Brandt's cross from the right wing is controlled on the far side of the area by Lusamba who then tees up Tom CLEVERLEY to strike from a central position, 18 yards out. 0-1.

27' - Reyes released Brandt down the right hand side. His square pass found Ledson on the edge of the penalty area. His pass further infield allowed Patrick BAMFORD to turn and shoot home from roughly the same position as Cleverly did. 0-2.

42' - Bamford controlled Mason Holgate's throw at the right wing byline and pulled the ball back for Ledson. His shot was blocked but as the goalkeeper was wrong-footed, the ball fell to Julian BRANDT for an open goal. 0-3.

47' - Lascelles upended O'Regan inside the penalty area and Dave DUFFY confidently struck the spot kick home, sending Marchetti the wrong way. 1-3.

Excellent performances from Julian Brandt and Ryan Ledson in particular, but once again there was a nasty sting in the tail as new signing Oscar Lewicki was carried off with a sprained ankle that will keep him out for two months.
 
JUST ONE MORE PLAYER...


My first team squad now contains 26 players and I'm well covered in all positions - except the left wing. Money isn't a problem - got loads of the stuff! I have quite a few players who can play as Inside Forwards (or Inside Out Wingers) who are predominantly right footed, but I prefer left footed players on the left wing because I want them to get to the byline and put crosses in:


The player I really want is Rob Hall, who I had at Sheffield Wednesday. I renewed his contract when I was there and it had a £12 million release clause so I have made an offer but the player himself wasn't interested in discussing terms. That's annoying because he was the top scorer for me at Wednesday and he is versatile enough to play equally well in both the M(L) and AM(L) positions. I may well try again with him in future, but for now he has given me a firm "No".

I flicked through the various European international squads and have identified a handful of players to scout, but I want to get this resolved quickly so I have made an offer to take Patrick Roberts on loan from Manchester City. He prefers to play on the right hand side but can play on the left and is left footed. If he comes to Goodison, I will have him train in the M(L) position.
 
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Saturday 11th August, 2018
DERBY COUNTY vs EVERTON
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
Pride Park, Derby. Att: 33,597.
View attachment 146962 vs View attachment 146959

Pre-Match Odds
Derby: 6-4 (fav) Draw: 2-1 Everton: 13-8
View attachment 146957 View attachment 146955

Injuries to Kevin-Prince Boateng and Steven Naismith prevent me from playing my preferred 4-4-1-1 formation with a Shadow Striker in the No.10 position, so I have decided to go with my version of 4-3-3. Ali Coote is also injured so Arnaud Lusamba will start as an Inside Forward on the left wing, with Julian Brandt operating as a right winger.

Seven of our starting line-up are making their Everton debuts today. Pre-season was okay but I can't expect them to all gel instantly; it may take a little while for them to start playing together effectively.​

Everton get off to a flyer at Pride Park:

9' - Leighton Baines crossed from deep on the left but Derby defender Jason Shackell prevented the ball from reaching Woodrow. It fell to Ryan Ledson 25 yards out and his short angled pass picked out Julian BRANDT in the centre, who took a touch and then clipped a shot into the top right corner from 18 yards. 0-1.

28' - Faour intercepted a clearance from Boyko on the halfway line. His low pass into the middle found Russell with his back to goal and Craig BRYSON burst through to latch onto the lay off, maintaining his composure among four Everton defenders to pick his spot in the bottom left corner. 1-1.

57' - Everton restore their lead with a well worked free-kick routine. Leighton Baines shaped up as if to shoot left-footed from 25 yards out, right of centre. Instead he laid the ball off to Julian Brandt, standing to the right of the defensive wall. He quickly centred for Cauley WOODROW to mark his Everton debut with a goal from 10 yards. 1-2.

73' - Derby County equalise with the kind of goal that makes you tear your hair out! When Luke Freeman received the ball with his back to goal, 25 yards out, right of centre, there was no immediate threat to our goal. Baines and Ledson were both in close attendance but FREEMAN turned in-between them, then raced away from Baines in a diagonal dribble across the D and into the area before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner, beyond the despairing dive of Boyko. 2-2.

86' - Calum Chambers pulled the ball back to Patrick Bamford on the corner of the penalty area and his left foot chip floated over the Derby keeper only to smack the crossbar and bounce harmlessly away.

​
FINAL SCORE
View attachment 146933 2-2 View attachment 146932
View attachment 146931 View attachment 146930
I'm happy with the performance from an attacking stand point, but our defending left a little to be desired. Calum Chambers got forward often down the right hand side and combined well with the Man of the Match, Julian Brandt. The German took his goal very well but from a central position that I'm inclined to think he would get into more often if I played him as an Inside Forward from the left hand side, so some food for thought there for when some our other players return from injury. Carley Woodrow is off the mark, which is important for a new striker and Ryan Ledson played very well in central midfield. I'm disappointed not to have won our opening match of the season, but a score draw away from home is a decent result.​

​
 
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Going to be reading this throughout. Good start and very interesting story so far. Also a fantastic layout. Good luck!
 
Thursday 16th August, 2018

TOFFEE NEWS IN BRIEF…

Brazilian right back Douglas completed his £1.7 million transfer from West Ham to Everton this week.
Patrick Roberts also joined us on a season long loan from Manchester City. He's an England U21 regular who began his career at Fulham before joining City for £5 million. Had a loan spell at Sunderland in 2015/16. I cancelled a pending loan offer for Middlesbrough’s Harry Chapman who plays in the same positions.
My attempt to bring in former England international Mark Chamberlain (the father of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain) as U21s Assistant Manager was blocked by the board because when I accepted the job I told them that I wouldn’t be making any changes to the backroom staff. That could be a problem because the coaching workloads are stretched at the moment and we need more staff to spread the load and ensure that the players are getting the most out of our training sessions.

Kevin-Prince Boateng, Steven Naismith and Sam Gallagher all returned to training after recent injury. Boateng and Jamaal Lascelles featured in a 2-0 friendly win for the U21s at AFC Blackpool, in which both players played 45 minutes.

The draw for the 2nd Round of the Capital One Cup hands us a home tie against fellow Championship side Birmingham City, now managed by Tim Sherwood.

I have turned down bids from Premier League clubs Norwich City and Newcastle United for my 17 year-old defender Darran Duffy. He is too short to be an effective centre back but there is time to retrain him as a defensive midfielder - he’ll really have to work on his passing ability.
View attachment 146901 Koo Ja-Cheol to View attachment 146900 £3 million
​
The South Korean attacking midfielder completes a move to Galatasaray in a deal that will eventually be worth £3 million.
 
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Friday 17th August, 2018
EVERTON vs READING
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
Goodison Park, Liverpool. Att: 35,183.

View attachment 146896vs View attachment 146895

Pre-Match Odds
Everton: Evens (fav) Draw: 11-5 Reading: 11-5​
The only change to the team that began the match at Derby is Patrick Roberts coming in for Arnaud Lusamba, so he can play the role as a left winger rather than an Inside Forward. I have him on support duty to allow for Leighton Baines attacking down that side on the overlap. Our other new signing Douglas is on the bench.

Everton take the game to the visitors in search of our first win of the season:

17’ - Cauley Woodrow heads over from close range, getting on the end of a deep cross from Patrick Roberts on the left. Brandt was also attacking the cross and was probably in a better position to score, but I’m not going to complain about my striker trying to put the ball in the net.

42’ - Instructed to attack for the last 10 minutes before the break, Everton press Reading in their own half of the pitch and Ryan Ledson steals the ball from Ruben Loftus-Cheek before playing in the unmarked Brandt on the right side of the penalty area. With Cauley Woodrow occupying two defenders in the middle, Brandt races to the byline before crossing to the far side - as per his tactical instructions - where Patrick ROBERTS has the freedom of Merseyside to register a goal on his Everton debut. 1-0.

78’ - A high looping cross from Reading’s right back Solly is met at the far post by Sio but his header is narrowly over the bar.

84’ - Another right wing cross from Solly is cleared at the back post but the ball falls to Adel Taarabt whose ferocious volley fizzes just over the crossbar.

I switch to defensive, time-wasting tactics for the remainder of the match with Douglas on at right back for the subdued Calum Chambers. We see the match out to claim all three points.

FINAL SCORE
View attachment 146892 1-0 View attachment 146891
View attachment 146890 View attachment 146889
I took notice of the pre-match report and knew that Reading were susceptible to conceding goals in the 15 minutes prior to half-time and it was while we were on attack mode that we scored what proved to be the winning goal. Our midfield was dominant with Ryan Ledson performing well again and Patrick Roberts deservedly picked up the Man of the Match award to go with his debut goal. Julian Brandt is proving to be a creative influence on the right wing so Aaron Lennon is going to face stiff competition for a place in the team when he returns form his broken shoulder. By virtue of having played on Friday night, we are temporarily top of the Championship table.

​
 
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Tuesday 21st August, 2018
SHREWSBURY TOWN vs EVERTON
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
The Greenhous Meadow, Shrewsbury. Att: 9,158.

View attachment 146854 vs View attachment 146853

Pre-Match Odds
Shrewsbury: 7-4 Draw: 11-5 Everton: 5-4 (fav)​

I make two changes to the staring line-up from the side that beat Reading. Douglas comes in at right back and Jamaal Lescelles will also make his full debut at centre-back, with Calum Chambers and Milos Veljkovic dropping to the bench. Cauley Woodrow has been strong in the air in our opening matches and makes me wonder whether I should develop a two-up-top formation to make the most of his flick ons. The scouting report identifies Shrewsbury as being vulnerable to balls into the box, so I’m hoping for Woodrow to make hay at the Meadow.
Everton go for a stroll in the Meadow - and get beaten up by the Townies:

22’ - A right wing corner from Bigirimana drops perfectly for Knight-Percival to volley at goal from 7 yards but his shot hits Leighton Baines on the goal line and is scrambled clear.

45’ - Woodrow shoots just wide from the edge of the area when the ball pops loose from Brandt’s attempted dribble into the area.

HT - We have dominated possession and had more shots, but there isn’t much in it. But Shrewsbury’s players are already starting to tire and the pre-match report identified them as being vulnerable during the 30 minutes from half-time to 75 minutes, so I switch to an attacking stance.

47’ - Jason McCarthy heads narrowly wide at the back post from a Leighton Baines corner from the left.

54’ - Brandt takes possession in a crowded D on the edge of Shrewsbury’s area. He pushes the ball wide for Douglas and then gets his head to the ensuing cross, forcing Burton to athletically tip the ball over the bar.

56’ - A Shrewsbury free-kick from deep on the left is headed towards goal by Bodurov and Boyko has to push the ball over the bar.

60’ - A period of Everton dominance results in a corner on the left. Baines floats it to the near post where Jamaal LASCELLES climbs highest to head at goal. Burton got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out. 0-1.

65’ - Substitute Omar Rowe sends over a corner from the right hand side and Lussey loops a header onto the top of the crossbar before Brandt clears into touch.

75’ - Collins has four Everton players around him when he takes the ball under control on the edge of the area with his back to goal and lays it off to the right wing for Woolford. His cross is controlled by Delfouneso before Collins hits a shot against the underside of the crossbar, the ball rebounding onto the heel of the prone Denys BOYKO before trickling over the line for the Shrewsbury equaliser. Own goal. 1-1.

81’ - Saville frees Demetriou on the left wing and the full back’s high cross is met by a thumping header from Woolford. Boyko does well to parry the ball but it falls to James COLLINS two yards out. 2-1.

85’ - A right-footed effort from Baines flashes across goal and narrowly wide of the top right corner.

90’ - Nathan Delfouneso gets in down the left flank and crosses for Collins who beats Lascelles and Baines in the air but directs his header just past the left hand post from 6 yards.

A frustrating defeat from a match we should have won. Shrewsbury proved dominant in the air in their attacking third and were well drilled in getting high crosses into the box from advanced and deep areas of the pitch. Our own attempts to get crosses in were not successful. I would have rather played the Shadow Striker formation which I think would have hurt them more, but neither Boateng nor Naismith are fit enough to participate at the moment. A setback but not a disaster.
 
borofan12 said:
Really liking the story and the layout! Keep it up

While ur at it, take a look at my story,

Israel - The Promised Land Awaits!
Click to expand...

I saw your story yesterday. I have been to Israel twice and I adopted Beitar Jerusalem as my Israeli team, just because I liked their black and yellow shirt which I bought from a sports shop in Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. I also have a Beitar coloured handball which I was going to upload a photo of into your thread but my iPhone didn't have the storage to take the new photo. I'll sort that out at some point. I have since discovered that Beitar's support contains a vociferous far right fascist element, though, so I'm not quite as keen on them as I used to be!
 
Saturday 25th August, 2018
EVERTON vs BRISTOL CITY
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
Goodison Park, Liverpool. Att: 37,358.

View attachment 146841 vs View attachment 146840

Pre-Match Odds
Everton: 4-5 (fav) Draw: 2-1 Bristol City: 3-1​

Douglas retains his place at right back after an impressive full debut at Shrewsbury. Milos Veljkovic returns to partner Lascelles at the heart of defence, with Jason McCarthy dropping to the bench. Nicola Murru rotates in at left back in place of Leighton Baines. A switch to 4-4-1-1 sees Arnaud Lusamba take on the Shadow Striker role behind Cauley Woodrow as the Deep Lying Forward. Ryan Ledson has been playing well but will begin on the bench with Tom Cleverly getting the nod to start in midfield.

A dominant display from the home side gets us back on track:

9’ - Tom Cleverley advances into the Bristol City half and plays the ball square to Lusamba. His pass finds Woodrow 30 yards out and the former Fulham striker hits a shot on the turn that has the keeper flying across the goal but it whistles wide of the right hand post.

30’ - Murru and Roberts combine on the left and Roberts send a high cross into the area from deep. Woodrow thumps a header at goal only to see it smack against the right hand post, before it’s scrambled clear for a throw-in.

43’ - Murru’s cross from the left wing is headed away but he retrieves the ball and lays it back to Roberts on the corner of the area. Roberts spots Julian BRANDT lurking at the far post and whips a cross onto the German’s right foot for a simple volleyed finish. 1-0.

HT - The stats show us to be totally dominant but we only have the one goal to show for it at the moment. Bristol City have been spreading their players out across the width of the pitch but we have managed to connect with a couple of crosses.

62’ - From the centre circle, Cleverley sends the ball out to the left wing for Patrick Roberts. Roberts hugged the touchline as the full back Ayling came to challenge him, before whipping a fierce cross to the far post for Julian BRANDT to tuck home his second goal of the match from 3 yards. 2-0.

68’ - Patrick Roberts tries his luck from a free-kick, 30 yards out just left of centre. His shot flew over the wall and was low enough to give Dahne a problem in the Bristol City goal. The keeper could only parry the shot and Arnaud LUSAMBA was the first of the on-rushing Everton players to get to the loose ball, firing it high into the unguarded net. 3-0.

76’ - Ledson and Lusamba worked the ball across midfield with the Bristol players pegged back into their defensive third. The Frenchman spread the play to the right for Douglas, pushing forward from full back. The Brazilian had time to take a touch and look up from the byline before sending a looping cross to the far post, where Roberts leapt high to head the ball back across goal. Dahne tried in vain to reach the ball and could do nothing when Julian BRANDT, on the angle of the six yard box, smashed the ball into the top left corner of the goal to complete his hat-trick. 4-0.

We were struggling to find a way through in the first half, with Bristol City sitting so deep, so the goal coming just two minutes before the break helped us massively. In the second half, we totally dominated possession and were constantly switching the play from one flank to the other, pulling the City players out of position enough to do some damage with balls into their box. Patrick Roberts assisted all four goals and Julian Brandt’s hat-trick takes his season’s tally to four goals in as many matches. This is much more like it, but I can’t see many teams being as accommodating as Bristol City. An excellent win, though. Kevin-Prince Boateng came on for the last 12 minutes as he continues his return from injury.
 
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Tuesday 28th August, 2018
EVERTON vs BIRMINGHAM CITY
CAPITAL ONE CUP
Goodison Park, Liverpool. Att: 15,547.

View attachment 146753View attachment 146751View attachment 146752
Pre-Match Odds
Everton: 4-5 (fav) Draw: 2-1 Birmingham: 3-1​
I don’t expect to do much in the Capital One Cup this season, so in order to rotate players and maintain their match fitness I have made several changes to the line-up that did so well against Bristol City but I keep faith in the 4-4-1-1 formation with Arnaud Lusamba in the Shadow Striker role. I have left out Cauley Woodrow to give Patrick Bamford a starting place with Florin Andone among the substitutes. I hope to get Kevin-Prince Boateng and Aaron Lennon involved to give them some match time as they complete their comebacks from injury.
Pick up where you left off, lads:

1’ - I told the players to pick up where they had left off and they took me literally! Centre back Jamaal Lascelles picked out Leighton Baines on the left wing and he released Patrick Roberts behind the full back. Roberts sprinted to the byline, inside the area, and crossed to the far post where Julian BRANDT arrived to volley the ball into the roof of the net with just 59 seconds on the clock. 1-0.

5’ - Birmingham defender Caddis plays a long ball into the inside right channel for Cotterill whose angled shot from 14 yards is parried by Boyko. The Russian keeper parries Cotterill’s follow-up attempt and even blocks his third effort, low at the near post.

13’ - Lascelles advances from our defensive line to press Gleeson in midfield, allowing Clayton Donaldson to exploit the vacated space with McCarthy and Baines both playing him onside. They both close him down as he enters the penalty area but not before he stings Denys Boyko’s palms with a well struck shot.

14’ - From the corner, Ryan Ledson heads the ball away at the near post and Roberts latches onto it, advancing the full length of the field down the left wing before crossing low to the far post where Brandt’s shot strikes the right-hand upright.

26’ - Roberts wins the ball from Cotterill in midfield, moves out to the left and sends a cross from deep into the penalty area. Patrick Bamford heads at goal but Agazzi makes a smart save diving low to his right.

39’ - Lusamba and Brandt link up well in the centre to play Bamford into the area just to the right of the penalty spot, but his low angled drive is well saved by Agazzi.

HT - An excellent first half showing in which Patrick Roberts posed a constant threat with his raiding down the left wing and crosses into the danger zone. Birmingham have had more shots but we have been the more dangerous and deservedly lead at the break.

64’ - A long throw from Sean Morrison deep in the Everton half is cleared and Bamford holds the ball up in midfield before spreading the play out to the left wing. Roberts knocks the ball out of his feet and runs at two Birmingham defenders, laying the ball off to the overlapping Leighton Baines who attacks the byline and sends over a cross that drops into the six yard box for Patrick BAMFORD to volley home. 2-0.

90’ - After a throw-in from the right wing, Arnaud Lusamba controls the ball inside the area only to be tripped by Browning. The referee points to the penalty spot and Patrick BAMFORD sends a left footed shot into the top right corner, although Agazzi did get a hand to it. 3-0.

Another dominant performance in which our wing play was key. Roberts and Baines seem to be developing a real understanding down the left wing and Julian Brandt is thriving on the end of their crosses. Calum Chambers was excellent at right back and Bamford opens his account for the season with a healthy brace. Boateng got 20 minutes but there were injuries to both McCarthy and Baines that I’m now going to have to sweat on until the physio can confirm the situation.
 
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Tuesday 28th August, 2018

CHEWED TOFFEES
Jason McCarthy will be out for a month with a twisted ankle, while Leighton Baines will be missing for two months with strained knee ligaments. The loss of McCarthy is bearable; Milos Veljkovic and Jamaal Lascelles are fit (touch wood!) and I still have the veteran Phil Jagielka and the promising youngster Mason Holgate to bring into first team action. But the loss of Baines is more of a blow. Nicola Murru has started the season well but Championship life is too intense to just have one player per position. I thought Calum Chambers might be able to switch to the left (which I'm sure he did IRL at one point while still with The Saints) but his scouting report identifies left back as a weak position for him (and actually, now I come to think of it, Nathaniel Clyne was the one who switched to the left to accommodate Chambers on the right when Luke Shaw was injured). Besides, it's an important position in my formations because I require the left back to constantly overlap on the attacking foot.

There are two players in my U21 squad who play left back. Daniel Herbert is an 18 year-old New Zealander and Jorge Munoz, also 18, is a Spaniard currently on loan at Mallorca. Both have the potential to become good players in future but neither is anywhere near ready to make the step up to the first team now. I still have more than £45 million in my transfer kitty and the transfer window is three days away, so I called an impromptu meeting with my Assistant Steve Round and my Chief Scout Ian Atkins:

rocheyb (RB): "Leighton's injury means that we've only got Nicola Murru at left back. The U21s lads aren't good enough for the Championship and we're going to need someone who can provide cover for at least three months while Bainesy regains full fitness. But we've already got quite a big squad and it will be difficult to rotate three left backs when they're all fit. Ideas?"

Steve Round (SR): "Does it have to be a specialist left back? While Oscar Lewicki has been out we've been using Veljkovic as a makeshift DM during matches, as the only cover for Lorenzo Reyes. But McCarthy is crocked as well, so Milos is going to have to stay at the back and Oscar is still at least three weeks away. If we can bring in someone left-footed, who can play at left back and defensive midfield, they can provide cover for both positions - and that will help the new player to compete for a place when everyone is fit or slot in as cover in the midfield."

Ian Atkins (IA): "Didn't you try to sign Jack Colback from Crystal Palace a few weeks ago?"

RB: "I did, but we couldn't agree terms."

IA: "Well, he's been placed on the transfer list since then. They're asking £1.4 million for him. The fact that the transfer deadline is looming might focus his mind a little and make him keener to do a deal."

SR: "And he'll also see that we've made a decent start to the season and have a realistic chance of getting promoted. He could be straight back in the Premier League next season."

RB: "You're right, Steve. The fact he can play left back or midfield will make it easier to use him when everyone is fit. I've got some doubts about his quality in the Premier League but I'm sure he can do a job for us this season. I'll make an offer first thing in the morning and if we get to sit down with him, I'll try to get him to agree to a two year deal."
 
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Saturday 1st September, 2018

TOFFEE NEWS IN BRIEF...

The draw for the 3rd Round of the Capital One Cup gives us an away trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland. They're currently just below us in the Championship table - we're 4th, they're 5th.
That draws my attention to the fact that I haven't shown the Championship League Table so far, have I? Here it is. I will incorporate it into my ongoing reports from now on, together with the full classified check. Julian Brandt is among the top scorers in the division and the Average Rating and Assists charts confirm just how good a start Patrick Roberts has made to his Everton career, albeit only on loan.
On transfer deadline day, four of our fellow Championship clubs have made bids for Steven Naismith. He's 31 years old and plays in the Shadow Striker role that is important to my preferred formation. But he hasn't featured yet due to injury and I've got Kevin-Prince Boateng and Arnaud Lusamba who can both play there. A comparison between Lusamba and Naismith shows that the Scot has the advantage in terms of mental stats but Lusamba is the more technically gifted and will become the fitter specimen as Naismith continues to age. Plus Lusamba will need game time if he is going to fulfil his potential. So I'm going to accept those offers and clear the way for Lusamba to be more frequently involved than might otherwise have been the case.
I have rejected loan offers from Ipswich Town for Ryan Ledson and from Aberdeen for Mason Holgate. Ledson is now part of the first team rotation and I'm planning to bring in Holgate now that McCarthy is out of action.


A comparison between Holgate and Phil Jagielka shows what you'd expect - Jagielka is vastly more experienced but Holgate is fitter and technically comparable. It's time to give him a chance and to aid his development into the player I hope he will become. Having seen this comparison, I have asked Jagielka to tutor Holgate and help him to become that better player.
Transfer deadline day reports are linking Tottenham Hotspur manager Josep Guardiola with a late bid for Patrick Bamford. No bid has been received yet, but I promised Patrick that I would let him go if we received a suitable bid for him and I expect the Spurs boss will stump up with a decent offer if he does decide to press ahead with a deal. Blocking a move back to the Premier League for Bamford could cause problems throughout the squad, so although I don't want to lose him I think I might have to sanction his departure. I could accommodate the loss of Bamford - I have Sam Gallagher and Florin Andone still waiting to make their Everton debuts and Cauley Woodrow has begun to settle in, too. But if I'm going to be letting both Bamford and Naismith go, I might be inclined to bring in one player who can play both the Shadow Striker and Deep Lying Forward role, if such a player exists.
View attachment 146603 Steven Naismith to View attachment 146591 £99,000
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The Scotland international agrees terms with Sheffield Wednesday for a nominal fee.
Ryan Ledson has reacted angrily to the news that I have rejected an offer, potentially worth £2.4 million, from Premier League Burnley. I've been impressed by his early season form in the centre of our midfield and I want to keep him at Goodison Park. But the player is demanding to be allowed to go to Turf Moor and during a heated discussion on the matter, I was unable to convince him that he'd be better off staying put.
Age: 28; Nation: England
Utility man Jack Colback has agreed to join Everton from Crystal Palace. The fee is £1.4 million. Colback can play in midfield or at left back. He's a former Sunderland player who had two loan spells with Ipswich Town and then caused controversy in 2014 by joining The Black Cats' arch rivals Newcastle United on a free transfer. His stay at Selhurst Park was not a happy one and after being transfer listed by Alan Pardew he now drops down a division to assist with Everton's Championship title-winning bid.
The last few hours of the transfer window were frantic, mostly because several Premier League clubs were trying to sign two players from our youth ranks who are both Hot Prospects for the Future with no immediate desire to leave the club, so I just had to remain resolute in turning down the offers from Newcastle, Norwich, Swansea and Middlesbrough. Burnley did not come back with a second bid for Ryan Ledson and Pep Guardiola never did lodge any kind of bid for Patrick Bamford. So I hope that both players can now get their heads down and continue working hard for the Everton cause.
Julian Brandt and Patrick Roberts have deservedly been rewarded for their fine starts to the Championship season by being voted Player of the Month and Young Player of the Month, respectively.
 
TRANSFER WINDOW REVIEW

A total of 34 players left us during the summer transfer window, with 16 new players coming into the club. We raised £112 million - although several of those sales include additional performance related clauses that will deliver more cash into the coffers when achieved - and we spent just under £33 million. That leaves £44 million in the transfer kitty. I don't usually do any incoming business during the January window, unless I need to address an injury crisis, so I will aim to keep the money until next summer when I will hopefully be shopping for players to grace the Premier League.
 
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