Nil Satis Nisi Optimum--official Everton Thread

Anyone have any thoughts about next month's Asia Trophy?

Everton, Arsenal and Stoke plus a Singapore Best XI which is apparently mostly the Singapore national team.

Obviously a relatively unimportant competition, but a chance to blood some of our young players. Also new signings, I suppose, if they're fully transferred in time (which, now that I say that, feels unlikely).

I'm no big fan of authoritarian, hypercapitalist Singapore and also no fan of LIBOR-fixing Barclays (can't wait for the 2016/17 EPL season where they drop Barclays as a name sponsor).

But, anyway, thoughts? Meh?
 
Keith Putnam said:
Anyone have any thoughts about next month's Asia Trophy?

Everton, Arsenal and Stoke plus a Singapore Best XI which is apparently mostly the Singapore national team.

Obviously a relatively unimportant competition, but a chance to blood some of our young players. Also new signings, I suppose, if they're fully transferred in time (which, now that I say that, feels unlikely).

I'm no big fan of authoritarian, hypercapitalist Singapore and also no fan of LIBOR-fixing Barclays (can't wait for the 2016/17 EPL season where they drop Barclays as a name sponsor).

But, anyway, thoughts? Meh?
Click to expand...

Pretty meh for me. I don't think of it as much different than any other preseason competition, and judging by how Roberto treated preseason last year I don't imagine he'll be too passionate about it either.
 
More transfer rumors!

Tottenham are supposedly interested in James McCarthy and Kevin Mirallas.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...tenham-prepare-bid-frustrated-everton-6049134
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...tenham-boss-mauricio-pochettino-steps-6049718

And Roberto Martinez reportedly wants to bring in defender Nemanja Vidic from Inter (in case Stones leaves, speculates the Star) and, on loan, midfielder Sergi Roberto from Barcelona.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/453252/Everton-former-Man-United-defender-Nemanja-Vidic
 
Keith Putnam said:
More transfer rumors!

Tottenham are supposedly interested in James McCarthy and Kevin Mirallas.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...tenham-prepare-bid-frustrated-everton-6049134
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...tenham-boss-mauricio-pochettino-steps-6049718

And Roberto Martinez reportedly wants to bring in defender Nemanja Vidic from Inter (in case Stones leaves, speculates the Star) and, on loan, midfielder Sergi Roberto from Barcelona.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/453252/Everton-former-Man-United-defender-Nemanja-Vidic
Click to expand...

Who knows about the Spurs bit. I'm convinced that the Mirror just puts a bunch of players and clubs up on the wall and throws darts at them to come up with transfer rumors.

Vidic I hadn't heard about before. I don't really see how a 33 year old is a replacement for Stones in any way. Roberto would be a fantastic move if we get him on loan.

Also rumors of David Ospina are popping up here and there. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-a-great-possibility-says-9630679
Wouldn't mind Howard having some legitimate competition for the number 1 spot at this point. Plus it would allow us to send Joel out on loan to get some more first team minutes.
 
Ahab_Flanders said:
Wouldn't mind Howard having some legitimate competition for the number 1 spot at this point.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was super unhappy with Howard for most of last season, and preferred having Robles in when he was (though I'm sure over a long enough timespan Howard is still probably better). Ospina would be a great addition, and it does seem likely that he'll be the keeper to leave Arsenal rather than Szcezny (sp?).
 
So evidently Everton has rejected a £20mm bid for John Stones from Chelsea.

Now, obviously I want Stones to stay, BUT if we were to cash in in the £20-30mm range, what do you all think would be the best use of the money? New striker partner for Lukaku? New starting keeper? Other? Defense and midfield feel pretty solid, so it seems like either a goal-scorer or a shot-stopper would make a difference.
 
Keith Putnam said:
So evidently Everton has rejected a £20mm bid for John Stones from Chelsea.

Now, obviously I want Stones to stay, BUT if we were to cash in in the £20-30mm range, what do you all think would be the best use of the money? New striker partner for Lukaku? New starting keeper? Other? Defense and midfield feel pretty solid, so it seems like either a goal-scorer or a shot-stopper would make a difference.
Click to expand...

Can't disagree with any of that. First priority would be to keep Stones at this point, but with that money I'd look to either an effective keeper or a striker who can take more of a support role. Lukaku would be much more effective playing target man/poacher in front of someone who could make some space for him.
 
So we got pretty well torn up by Arsenal in the Asia Trophy final (a fixture, by the way, which neither Whoscored? or ESPNFC even recognized as existing), 3-1. I'm glad we played it, as it was illustrative of a bunch of issues which need addressing ahead of the start of the season.

Our positioning was confused, our formation was too fluid. We kept getting outpaced by Arsenal; all of their players just seemed faster and sharper. Our attack lacked bite, though Martinez didn't even bring Lukaku or Mirallas or Barkley in until the second half. Set pieces weren't dangerous enough, but then again Baines was out recovering from surgery.

Posession and ball movement were decent a lot of the time, but we kept getting stripped in the final third and in the box.

In short, Everton did not look ready for the season and Arsenal did. It was nice seeing Cleverley and Delofeu out there, but the team hasn't gelled yet with the new members.

Lots of work to do before we face Watford, and after Watford we have a tough run for a while.
 
Man U are now also bidding on Stones, it seems.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-enter-john-stones-6138782

We may have to get used to the idea of losing him... unless Martinez can put on his best "you'll be better off here" face and scrape up whatever salary money is still in the bank. "Next year you'll be even more valuable". I dunno. How would you keep him, in the face of a bigger payday at one of two legit title contenders and Champions League participants?
 
d129a49853904eb4b9425e89791466c5.jpg

New third kit for 2015-2016! I've only spent ten minutes aware of it so far, but I think I dig it? More interesting than black was, anyway, and most importantly (of course) it's colors that would probably look good on me.
 
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Keith Putnam said:
d129a49853904eb4b9425e89791466c5.jpg

New third kit for 2015-2016! I've only spent ten minutes aware of it so far, but I think I dig it? More interesting than black was, anyway, and most importantly (of course) it's colors that would probably look good on me.
Click to expand...
Hmm. Like the green, not crazy on the black shorts. It's cool to see them experimenting with the third kits though
 
Why are Everton players being picked off by other bigger squads? Isn't Everton a top 5 club? Or is that a notion of the past?
 
Z4CH3B99 said:
Is it a money factor that keeps them from retaining players?
Click to expand...

Yeah, there's a big revenue gap between the top 6 and the other 14 teams.

Manchester United - $700m
Man City - $550m
Chelsea - $515m
Arsenal - $480m
Liverpool - $400m
Spurs - $290m

Newcastle and Everton are the next highest with about $200m, the new Premier League TV deal starts next year and it will give every team an extra $50m-$60m, there's some talk of a new stadium in the works too, there's a lot of room for Everton to grow and when they do they'll have a much better chance of keeping some of their best players.
 
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