Previewing Everton 2017/18 Premier League Season

After having a strong 2016-17 campaign, Ronald Koeman is looking to have bigger results this 2017-18 campaign especially after the flurry of moves that were made during the Premier League offseason. However, these moves felt unfamiliar to Toffee fans as Koeman grabbed players that essentially were moves clubs like Manchester United or Liverpool would make in order to win the Premier League championship. Usually Blues fans are used to seeing them develop players and then sell them, but at least stay competitive. This felt more like the ownership and player personnel were more serious about not only finishing in the top four, but also winning it all. Koeman has said that the team is still not quite there, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do big things. With that, lets look at the roster.

Goalkeepers

Jordan Pickford

Joel Robles

Maarten Stekelenburg

Pickford transferred over to be next big thing. The man to replace Tim Howard a year late. His abilities to man the net are unheralded as he looks to be one of the best goalkeepers in the league. Robles is very solid backup goalkeeper and would fill in nicely if injuries should happen. Stekelenburg had a great season last year, but he will also be expected to fill in when needed.

Defenders

Leighton Baines

Michael Keane

Ashley Williams

Phil Jagielka

Cuco Martina

Seamus Coleman

Ramiro Funes Mori

Mason Holgate

Jonjoe Kenny

One of the strongest parts of the roster as they have great depth here. Jagielka and Baines have been on the team the longest, but they are solid players who have fortified the backline for a very long time. Williams came over last season and showed that he could be a stable player, plus has lots of experience. Keane was brought over for this year and looks to be a strong contributor in the starting four backline. Coleman has dealt with injuries, but when healthy, he is one of their better defenders. Funes Mori has shown to be solid defender, but he will likely be a contributor in spot starts and off the bench. Martina has lots of speed, but will likely have to fill the same role as Funes Mori. Holgate will gets lots of starts, but also has the ability to play midfield. Kenny is a talented defender who will have to play off the bench.

Midfielders

Ross Barkley

Aaron Lennon

James McCarthy

Idrissa Gueye

Davy Klaassen

Muhamed Besic

Tom Davies

Gylfi Sigurdsson

Morgan Schneiderlin

Barkley was supposed to be a superstar, but has sorely disappointed and could be on his way out soon. Lennon is an experienced player that should help the team in crucial situations. McCarthy is very talented midfielder who could become a star if he can stay healthy and given the opportunities. Gueye is arguably their best midfielder as he seems to bring a different dynamic out there on the field. Klaassen came over this offseason in order to shore up their offense as he could be a difference maker in crutial situations. Besic will likely get some spot starts and be a solid contributor off the bench. Davies is an exciting player as most think he could be the next big thing. Sigurdsson was the hottest name on the rumor mill for Everton. No one was ever sure if he would come or not, but he is now on the team and has already made an impact. He could be one of the most important signings this team will have made. Schneiderlin when healthy is one of the most important players on the field and when he was injured last season, his absence was noticeable.

Forwards

Yannick Bolasie

Sandro Ramirez

Wayne Rooney

Kevin Mirallas

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Ademola Lookman

Oumar Niasse

Bolasie came over last season and was a helpful in creating scoring opportunities for Romelu Lukaku and looks to do the same with the forwards on this team. Sandro will be the main scoring threat for Everton as he is a very talented player who looks like he fits Koeman’s offensive scheme better than Lukaku. Rooney is back with his hometown team for which whom he got his career started with and the hope is that he provides leadership and still has some talent to work with. Mirallas is a disappointing player as he was seen as a top player, but he at least is solid off the bench. Calvert-Lewin and Lookman are two exciting players who have the potential to become stars. Niasse was once thought to be leaving the team, but looks to be a player to play a role off the bench.

Out on loan

F Henry Onyekuru

D Brendan Galloway

D Tyias Browning

D Matthew Pennington

Onyekuru is a very talented player who transferred over during the offseason and was then loaned out in hopes that he develops. Galloway, Browning, and Pennington are all talented defenders (I personally love to watch Galloway play) who they hope will develop more out on loan.

Losses

MF Tom Cleverley

MF Gareth Barry

F Gerard Deulofeu

F Arouna Kone

F Romelu Lukaku

Cleverley was hurt most of his time with the club, but when healthy he is a very stable player in the midfield. Barry was an experienced player who played with the squad for a couple of seasons, but he is getting up there in age. One of my favorite players was Deulofeu who I thought was very creative and a great presence out there on the field, but he didn’t seem to fit Koeman’s scheme and left the team for FC Barcelona. Kone turned out to be a bust after he was deemed to be a very talented player. He just never amounted to anything outside of a hat trick against Sunderland in the 2015-16 season. Lukaku is a superstar striker who could have won a lot had he stayed, but he wanted to play for a bigger club (Manchester United) and he got his wish.

While it hurt to see some players leave, it is very exciting to see the direction of this club as they could make some noise. I truly believe they will finish in the top four as they seem too talented to finish only fifth or sixth on the table. If they don’t this season and with another load of transfers to come in for next season, they will get there. Things are very exciting for the “other” club in Liverpool.