mgoblue2 said:
Call me crazy but Kone is closer to fitness than it sounded a while ago and he could be the difference. He was one of the few Wigan players last season who were even slightly effective/productive. Whether or not he's good enough to turn in good performances week in week out is probably a lean towards no but is a better option than Mirallas or Naismith and probably better than a disinterested Lukaku as well. That's also a reference from the last couple posts as well, as Kone's 31 I think and signing Lukaku is IMO the wrong way to use 20 million pounds, where it could be spent in midfield. Replace Osman with an all around better midfielder and maybe one of those opening shots goes in and changes the match. A permanent striker is a definite necessity but for every derby double or winner against West Ham (what poetry!) there have been frustrating lean periods. I have my doubts that he's the man of the future.
Also on a side note screw you British media. The Guardian linked Seamus freaking Coleman with Manchester United. Will it ever end with media linking Everton players elsewhere? (No.) I mean, Christ, there was a ten million pound difference this year with net gain/loss and financials look positive compared to the last few years of Moyes. I think RM didn't buy because of his repeated desire not to mess with chemistry.
Sorry, but based on what little I have seen of Kone, that was 5 million pounds wasted on that transfer. Lukaku is apparently a pipe dream (based on what SF121 linked), but to call him the "wrong" way to spend 20 million pounds is disingenous. He is 20 years old and has proven he fits the system and can score goals in the BPL and he is only going to get better. Lukaku is hungry to prove himself and at 20 million pounds would be a steal for Everton. Osman might not be the answer, but provides composure and cover while Barkley is developing. I really like the way Martinez is bringing Barkley along. He allows him to express himself on the pitch, but doesn't run him into the ground or allow him to make too many mistakes. Everton may lack another central midfielder, but they can be found easily at a fair price as well. I think Everton have too many midfielders that are wingers and fortunately when we have had injuries we have had coverage. But imagine a scenario where we don't have as many injuries and now we have players wanting more time on the pitch that is available. IF we should qualify for Europe (CL or Europa League) we will need more players and there will be enough time to go around.
As it pertains to Coleman, I think he should have been the one Martinez looked to lock up instead of Baines. While I thoroughly appreciate Baines and all he has done, Oviedo did a very good job of filling in for Baines and may even fit the system just as well as Baines does. Baines production has been down and I think to sell him to Manchester United wouldn't have been a bad idea to bring in my revenue for the summer window. Coleman is 25 years old and the past three seasons he has been a revelation for Everton and is definitely a keeper.
RM may not want to mess with chemistry on this team, but I think he is starting to see how we need more than 1 or 2 options at certain positions. If Everton can make the CL, the windfall would allow him to expand the squad. I think over the next two summer transfer windows this team will be completely different from the one we see today (as far as personnel).
As far as the financials, maybe the net gain takes into account the sale of Fellaini (27 million), Anichebe (6 million), and Jelavic amongst others. Whereas the spending was lower as most of our "upgrades" were loan deals. Keep this in mind as well as it pertains to Moyes. He
netted Everton money in the transfer market
over his tenure at Everton.
I can't stress how favorable the schedule is for us over the next 13 games and how Everton finishes this year will tell us more about how Everton have developed under Martinez. So far, the style of play is more attractive, but the peripherals are almost the same as last year.