With the summer transfer window closed and behind us now, it’s time for David Moyes and his Everton squad to focus on what lies ahead of them. The (in)conveniently-timed international break means managers in the Premier League will not necessarily have too much one-on-one time with their newest additions with players away with their national teams.
A quick summary of all the Blues’ incoming transfer activity shows nine players added to the squad in various positions, of varying ages and pedigree.
Transferred – Carlos Alcaraz (Flamengo – Brazil), Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich – Bundesliga), Thierno Barry (Villarreal – La Liga), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea – Premier League), Tyler Dibling (Southampton – Championship), Tom King (Wolverhampton Wanderers – Premier League), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth – Premier League)
Loaned – Jack Grealish (Manchester City – Premier League), Merlin Röhl (SC Freiburg – Bundesliga)
As we often do here on Royal Blue Mersey, we asked our group of writers to chime in with some thoughts on the summer transfer window. Let us know your answers to the questions in the comments below too.
- Who is your favourite transfer of the window?
- What was the biggest miss of the window?
- Are Everton stronger today than before the summer?
Who is your favourite transfer of the window?
Pat: The easiest answer would be Grealish, but I’ve quite been enjoying KDH’s impact on the team! I can’t say I watched too much of him at Chelsea, but we’ve been crying out for a midfielder like him for far too long and he’s been a joy to watch.
Geoff: Favourite transfer has to be Grealish. Massive injection of knowhow, others around him up their game, the tiny bits of his game (standing still so others move, handing off opponents like Gazza, drawing in defenders) so impressive.
John: I don’t think I will be alone when I say Jack Grealish. A Rolls Royce of a player who I think, so far, seems to be more like the lad at Aston Villa rather than Manchester City. It’s been a while since the fanbase had this kind of player that excites the crowd so much as he has done in the few games he has played. Special mention to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, though, who I feel will surprise a few with his intelligence and ability to adapt.
Brian: Grealish is the obvious answer, but I’m going with KDH. I think at his best he’s got an engine that is a perfect fit for Moyes, and by extension Everton. Even though they don’t play the same role, KDH’s legs can do wonders to save Gana’s legs. Too often Gana was the only motor in midfield and at his age that can’t be a thing anymore. He’s got to be used a bit smarter and KDH should give him that flexibility.
Peter: The obvious answer is Grealish but I would say that my favourite part of this window was the club’s move to younger, creative players who will grow together without losing the immediate effect of their skills and experience.
Kevin: Has to be Jack Grealish. In a window in which Everton seemingly aimed high, only to be frustrated as targets declined to agree terms, getting the Man City player in on loan was a major win in every sense. The first truly elite player the club has had in its ranks since James Rodriguez, the winger has shown his class already and it’s exciting seeing what a game-changer he is, in ramping up the team’s creativity and drawing opposition attention. The Blues look so much more fluid in attack and having a big-name player like Grealish in the side also draws eyeballs and raises Everton’s media profile.
Calvin: Not to be contrarian, but I was very much against the Grealish signing. The version of him we saw at Manchester City was certainly NOT what we needed. That said, the early signs are that this is the Aston Villa version we’ve gotten and I have no problem with that.
However, I am very excited to see what Dibling brings to this team. I remember in the few times I watched him play at Southampton that he looked like a very polished player, and think he’ll bring that same class to our lineup.
What was the biggest miss of the window?
Pat: An easier answer, not signing a right back. I think O’Brien is sufficient in that role, but I feel like there were plenty of young, reliable players we missed out on. With that being said, I believe we’re a stronger side with O’Brien on the pitch, and I don’t see him displacing Branthwaite or Tarkowski anytime soon.
Geoff: Biggest miss for me was not getting a full back capable of operating comfortably on both flanks like Maitland-Niles or Walker-Peters. Primary need on the right for obvious reasons. Coleman may play 8-10 full games this season and be man of the match in them all, he was for me in the Mansfield game, but he can’t do it for 40 games a season.
John: Right back will be an area I’m sure that Moyes and the board will be focused on but I do fear that firepower may be an issue as the season moves on. We have players who can get 10-15 goals, and in Barry, I believe we have a striker with endless potential. However, wouldn’t it have been nice to secure a proven goalscorer, although they are the hardest type of player to find unless you are prepared to break the bank.
Brian: Signing a right back, really any right back. JOB is useful for defense, but one of the best ways this club can improve on offense is by getting the fullbacks more engaged. While the squad is ultimately stronger, a single injury or two to the defense will put us in an extremely precarious position.
Peter: Not signing a right back has to be top of the list but it wouldn’t be a big problem for me. O’Brien, Coleman, Garner and even Patterson are more than enough before we sign a right back in the new year. We lost more than a team’s worth of players at the end of last season and to have addressed so many needs in one window.
Kevin: Failing (again) to sign a right back. Rumour has it that almost every team in world football considers this to be a fairly essential position, but the Toffees continue to forge their own path, instead deciding to go with the stop-gap fudge that is the 6’6 Jake O’Brien — perhaps the most obvious of centre halves you’ll find. Will Pep, Mikel, Arne and the rest take note of the revolution in football thinking taking place at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and rip up their plans to use speedy, agile players who can provide width and accurate crosses, but who can also get back rapidly on defence? Time will tell.
Calvin: With all the focus on the right back position, I would like to talk about defensive midfield instead. Looks like Moyes is planning to cobble together a number of players to fill in the right back position, and the same might be the plan to cover for Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the park as well. Truth be told, there is no replacement for Gana in the squad, and though we can continue to hope and pray that he continues to display the fitness of a 25-year-old, having a like-for-like back-up would have been ideal especially when he departs with Iliman Ndiaye for the Africa Cup of Nations midway through the season.
Are Everton stronger today than before the summer?
Pat: 150%. We actually have some depth now for the first time in recent memory. I feel a bit bad for players like McNeil and Alcaraz who were instrumental to our team and are now likely to take a back seat, but I’d much rather have some competition in the side versus bringing on a fringe player late in a match.
Geoff: Everton are immeasurably better now in creativity than they were at the end of last season. They will win more games and also be pleasing on the eye rather than merely functional. Yes they’re considerably stronger.
John: Without doubt! Moyes wanted players, he got them, We outed a few and brought in more. The squad may be seen as still a bit light, but let’s not forget that one of the most important pieces of business was keeping Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton. His return (fingers crossed it is soon) coupled with more creativity in midfield means that Everton pose a greater threat but are still retaining that solid foundation.
Brian: Absolutely. When you compare the departures to the arrivals this summer it is hard to argue. The one real hole in the squad at RB was there last year, and even the fringe players that replaced other fringe players have more potential to contribute than those from previous years. There is still work to do next summer, but too many fans are discounting the state of the club at the beginning of summer and complaining about missing pieces versus understanding what arrived.
Peter: We lost more than a team’s worth of players at the end of last season and to have addressed so many needs in one window. We are younger, more creative and now have a squad where there is competition for places and quality on the bench. The game against Wolves showed that clearly. I can’t remember when we had a stronger bench. We have also got some real young talent for the future. Dibling, Dewsbury-Hall, Aznou and Röhl are all young and could be with us for a long time.
Kevin: Undoubtedly. Whilst the team is a couple of players short of calling this a transformational transfer window, quality has been added, as well as some exciting younger players, refreshing what had become a stale, ageing squad.
Calvin: While the jury might still be out on some of the younger players and if they will be Premier League standard or not, we are definitely stronger both in depth and in ability. The squad as is has at least two players for each position, when was the last time we had that? As far as talent, this level is closer to that of a side just outside a European berth than that of a relegation-battling side.
