With the end of the Season fast approaching I wanted to get some views from fans on this campaign and their hopes for the summer window and next season.
I circulated the following 10 questions to some Evertonians on Twitter.
- Player of the Season?
- Best and worst performances of the Season?
- ?/10 for Koeman’s first season?
- ?/10 how happy would you be with Rooney returning to Everton?
- Which area of the Team most needs strengthening?
- How many signings are needed, given u23s/Academy success?
- How many signings do you expect and what will our net spend be?
- Will Barkley and/or Lukaku be with Everton next season, or neither?
- Name three signings you would like Everton to make?
- What should the target be for next season?
Here is a summary of the results and the responses, with thanks to the following:
- @theesk
- @lizlong2003
- @blackrodblue
- @Paddy_Boyland
- @PartAdam
- @cdsmith789
- @stekellyefc
- @THT1878
- @markthablue
- @PED7
- @PoggyMac
- @bluenose19611
- @daviddownie17
- @lowergwladyslad
- @MattJFootball
- @steviemac2010
Player of the Season?
Only three names were mentioned: Tom Davies, Idrissa Gana Gueye & Romelu Lukaku.
The winner with 56% was Lukaku, with Gana second and Davies third. Most interesting for me was the often reluctant way in which people voted for Rom, few were fulsome in their praise. Although he will probably end up as the leading scorer in the Premier League, it seems that fans have yet to take our number 10 to their hearts: “brilliant and frustrating, but the numbers don’t lie”, “although he’s been a moody get” “despite the circus around him…”
Time will tell if he stays with us next season (see later question 8) but he’s a very worthy winner in my view:
Best and worst performances of the Season?
The best was easy enough, one vote for Palace away, but everyone else went for the 4-0 drubbing of Man City, when that man Tom Davies scored that goal…
Lookman scored on debut and Stones had a mare.
Worst performance was a bit more competitive: trips to Burnley, Bournemouth, Boro & Swansea mentioned in dispatches, Chelsea and Liverpool away came with severe health warnings, but ultimately the cognoscenti decided that Watford away was the low point, just marginally lower than our first trip to the soulless bowl that is the London Stadium (Dan Meis please take note!).
No pictures needed 😦
?/10 for Koeman’s first season?
A very broad consensus that we are happy with our Manager. Over the season he has seemed to assimilate himself more and more with the Club. Post Christmas (once he got rid of those decorations perhaps?!) we went on a great run, especially at home. Of late, momentum (and effort) has apparently evaporated, nevertheless nobody gave Ronald less than 6, some as high as 8.5 and overall his average mark was 7.375.
“But OK: Mission accomplished”
?/10 how happy would you be with Rooney returning to Everton?
Broadly the answer was “not very”. Several gave only 2/10, one as high as 8, the average was just 5.34. Food for thought, although many think it’s a done deal. For me it’s a :-); he’s a winner with great experience who can only help attract other players & develop those around him; he is still England’s record goal scorer after all, and we might sell a few shirts….
Which area of the Team most needs strengthening?
Much agreement here, probably due in part to our very recent poor run, but the clear answer was Defence, starting with a Goalkeeper “something we haven’t addressed for a decade” and closely followed by a couple of commanding, pacy, ball playing Centre Backs. Maybe one of these will get the Captain’s arm band, if we don’t give it to Tom Davies.
How many signings are needed, given u23s/Academy success?
With the outstanding achievements of David Unsworth’s charges it is likely that Jonjoe Kenny and one or two others will join Tom Davies, Mason Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the first team squad. In spite of this there was still a widespread view that between 5-8 additional recruits are needed.
How many signings do you expect and what will our net spend be?
As always with Everton there is a gap between hope and expectation. There are signs, though, that under Moshiri the gap is narrowing. One uber-optimist expects us to spend £150m (Net) over the summer (!), the lowest was £40m and the average £81.5m spread over 6 signings.
Will Barkley and/or Lukaku be with Everton next season, or neither?
Events may have overtaken this one, especially as far as Ross is concerned with rumours rife that he has decided to move on.
60% of respondents did think Ross would stay, and only 20% thought Rom would still be wearing Everton blue in August. If either or both do leave then it must be for top dollar and that money must be reinvested.
Name three signings you would like Everton to make?
As you can imagine there were lots of names, the most popular being Michael Keane, very closely followed by Virgil van Dijk and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Jack Butland was the most mentioned keeper, followed by Fraser Forster and Jordan Pickford. As above with Question 5, defence was the area where most investment was needed, but attacking targets identified included Kasper Dolberg, from Ajax, and Alexandre Lacazette, from Lyon.
What should the target be for next season?
The simplest and clearest message of all:
Win a Trophy!
It’s been too long, more than a generation. The greedy amongst us want this to be accompanied by a Top 4 finish and a League double over our lovable, local rivals.
Hope v Expectation
Twas always thus..
Onwards Evertonians!
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