Small squad.. where to strengthen and who?

[Evertonscouser]

With Carsley leaving we really are looking on the thin side.

Position wise here is what we have at our disposal in terms of experience first teamers:

Gk:
Howard
Turner

Rb:
Neville
Hibbert

Lb:
Baines
Valente

Cb:
Yobo
Lescott
Jagielka

Wingers:
Arteta
Pienaar

Central Mids:
Cahill
Osman

Attack:
Yakubu
AJ
Vaughan
Anichebe

Youngesters who could appear:
Gosling
Rodwell
Kissock


We have some utility players such as Jagilka and Neville who can do the job in midfield but we need a good 4 or 6 players in realistically.

With transfer funds of approximately 25million... who do you think Everton should sign? Where do you think Everton need to strengthen the most? Who do you think Everton should sell?

[kyan]

Depending on how much money is available I reckon you should go:

CM (hard-tackling), CF, Winger, CM (creative).

You really need CMs obviously, I still think Fernandes is worth a punt, lots of potential even if he wasn't as good this time round, and there should be someone cheap going in Spain or something...

CF, if Yakubu gets injured you don't have any consistent goal-scoring strikers, you need back-up.

And same goes for Arteta and Pienaar, noone similar to replace them when they're missing and it hurts you.

[The Rule]

You need a defensive minded central midfielder and a left winger for your first team. You need depth in midfield and defense.

Realistically you need 6 players. 2 starters and 4 reserves.

How about Stephen Hunt from Reading for the left wing and maybe Muamba from Brum for central midfield.

Personally i'd move Arteta back into the centre where he belongs, play Cahill off Yakubu and get Larsson from Brum to play on the right. As well as the two i've mentioned.

You also need to realise that Leon Osman is shite.

[Evertonscouser]

Those players in my opinion aren't the quality we need to improve on where we are.

We need a good mix of quality and depth. Around 6 players is a good mark to aim for as this team is stupidly thin.

Midfield is the biggest worry at the moment. We need a good 3 or 4 more players in, not including VDM we have 4 midfielders, all totally lightweight. I'd love to see Fernandes come back next season and the signs are looking good, it does seem we want him. We still need to replace Carsley though with a general in the middle to accomodate our aptly named 'midget gems'. Names are being put around like Bradley, Diarra and Cana on Everton boards, these are players we need to aim for. We need a good winger aswell ontop of that and it looks like we are addressing this if rumours about Joaquin and Arshavin are to be true. Also Gera in to add depth would be perfect.

Depending on how Moyes rates Turner or Ruddy wemay need a new backup keeper.

Defence could maybe do with an extra man in as a reserve centre back, another deal like the Anthony Gardner would be good, but I doubt there are many players of decent ability who would want to come and be a reserve centre back.

To help funds it looks like the most likely to be sold will be AJ, I'd be ok with this if we could get our money back for him and have a quality replacement ready.

[The Rule]

I think those players are exactly what you need personally.

Everton fans need to realize that without massive investment and a major overhaul, 5th is the best they'll do.

[Evertonscouser]

Originally Posted by The Rule

I think those players are exactly what you need personally.

Everton fans need to realize that without massive investment and a major overhaul, 5th is the best they'll do.

I don't think we need a major overhaul. We have a high amount of top quality players, and we need to add to them to compliment it. We h ave a fantastic manager under David Moyes and under his stewardship we have become closer and closer to the top 4 in terms of quality every season. I dont see Larsson, Muamba and Hunt as players who can come into the Everton first XI and be players who can help us move onto the next level.

[hanuma]

So what's the best XI?

Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Yobo Lescott
Neville
Arteta Cahill Pienaar
Yakubu Johnson

It's decent, to the point where you're really looking for good opportunities in the transfer market rather than focusing so hard on particular positions. Rule is right you need major investment, but it's about the right type of person as much as player and for the right price. Blowing your wad on anyone that comes along is a bad long term policy for a club that has to keep one eye on the long term. That said, a player that has the ability to beat his man and use pace would be great for you. If SWP was at all consistent he'd be a good buy for you.

I see three players there that would be undroppable no matter who you bought in, Lescott, Arteta and on his day Yakubu. Everyone else should feel competition for their place.

[The Rule]

The 3 Hanuma mentioned along with Yobo are the only top quality players Everton have. The actually have 2 excellent left backs, in Lescott and Baines.

If Everton want to be a top 4 club they need AT LEAST 5 top class players, which will cost big money.

[Lower Gwladys]

We need a young keeper. An under-study to Tim Howard.
A right back because Phil Neville and Tony Hibbert are not good enough.
A winger.
A defensive midfielder.
Two central midfielders.
A striker.

[King Kanu]

Originally Posted by Lower Gwladys

We need a young keeper. An under-study to Tim Howard.
A right back because Phil Neville and Tony Hibbert are not good enough.
A winger.
A defensive midfielder.
Two central midfielders.
A striker.

Caught ya.