What Happened to Everton?

Shortly after the transfer window opened in July, you couldn’t move for reports that Everton had “won the transfer window”, after spending mammoth amounts in transfer fees which, at one point, had them as one of the highest spenders in world football.

Just six months later, the feel around Goodison Park couldn’t be more different. The optimism that Everton are on the verge of cracking the top six and even challenging for silverware has long since dissipated, with gallows humour now ruling.

But while Everton certainly haven’t closed the gap on the top six – they still remain in midtable – which although disappointing, is far from disastrous. So why is this such a dark time for the Blues’ fans?

Well, cautious optimism has reined Goodison Park since David Moyes took over at the club in 2002, turning them from the Premier League’s perennial relegation candidates to a side that is on the verge of returning to former glories.

The feeling grew considerably under the first season of Roberto Martinez’s tenure, when the Toffees were desperately unlucky not to secure Champions League football. Indeed, Everton’s tally of 72 points in 2013/14 would have been enough to land a top-four finish in any season in Premier League history bar that one.

The feel-good factor stagnated under Martinez, but returned with the arrival of a billionaire investor, Farhad Moshiri, who promised to bankroll Everton’s return to the top. And the plan seemed well on course last season, with a positive debut season for Ronald Koeman ending in a seventh-place finish and a return to European football.

Much of Everton’s promise when Moshiri took the reins hinged on the club’s three-star young players: John Stones, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku. A little more than two years have passed since Moshiri’s arrival, and all three of these players are now plying their trade for other Premier League clubs.

Somewhat strangely, Evertonians were not too concerned with any of the three departures: John Stones was susceptible if promising, defender who created as many problems as he prevented. Romelu Lukaku, while a goal machine, often looked disinterested during matches and had long pushed for a move to another club anyway. And, Ross Barkley? Remarkable ability with no idea how to use it. All three were deemed flawed players, who will have to iron out their games away from Goodison Park.

But with these three “flawed” players moving on, Moshiri’s millions would surely help Everton kick on to the next level with some fresh new faces…

The likes of Davy Klaassen and Sandro Ramirez were hailed as bargains when they were picked up in the summer, but neither has been able to hold down a place in the squad, let alone the starting eleven.

Indeed, established Premier League players like Gylfi Sigurdsson, Michael Keane and Wayne Rooney have run hot and cold this season, with only goalkeeper Jordan Pickford being an undoubtedly positive signing despite over £150 million being spent.

But Everton’s squad is again full of potential. Along with Pickford, a string of highly promising young players are amongst the Everton ranks, including Tom Davies, Mason Holgate, Nikola Vlasic and Ademola Lookman. However, Everton seem so set on firefighting, they aren’t prepared to give these players a real run in the team, something which was the latter move on loan to RB Leipzig on deadline day, where he subsequently scored a stunning solo goal to win the match on his debut, while, at the same time, an incredibly defensive Everton side – containing the likes of Cuco Martina – were battered 5-1 at Arsenal.

Hope is smouldering beneath the ashes at Everton still, but a summer of evolution – not revolution – is needed at Goodison Park, with somebody needed to provide a true vision for the club.