Everton v Watford – Alex’s XI
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Now that the Everton soccer sphere is once again focused on Everton actually winning a game rather than being terribly conflicted about the greater good, we come up against a small club from the south that all of a sudden is ever so keen to start an internet rivalry with us. This is in no small part to Mr Moshiri taking their manager and their best player in the summer, and for some reason, they haven’t gotten over it.
Of course, their keyboards were reared as soon as things started to go south for Mr Silva, and with their plastic snakes at the ready, they managed to secure a draw at Goodison Park, their biggest result since they lost to Everton in the 1984 FA Cup Final.
However, we are all content to let noises be noises, as we have much bigger problems to worry about than Troy Deeney and his band of merry men.
If the worst happens and Mr Silva is removed from his post, we may just take their manager again.
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GK - Jordan Pickford
Jordan Pickford, if he remains on his current trajectory, will raise an issue for Mr Brands to address in the summer.
However, if the rest of the season is about developing our youngsters, then Jordan Pickford will certainly be given time by me.
RB - Jonjoe Kenny
Jonjoe is going to be a star. If given the time, patience and minutes that Trent Alexander-Arnold has been given across Stanley Park, there is no doubt in my mind that he can become as good as Liverpool’s next big star.
Just because Séamus Coleman has a more famous name does not mean he should be starting anymore.
CB - Yerry Mina
Yerry is back in the squad based on my early-season reasoning. He is an Everton player, and the remainder of the season needs to be spent improving Everton players, ready for a real push under Mr Silva in 2020.
CB - Michael Keane
Michael Keane is slowly creeping back into the abyss, otherwise known as the 2017-18 season. This needs to be rectified with proper defensive coaching, and it can be, but there needs to be a real focus on strengthening this defence, with a marked improvement before season’s end.
LB - Lucas Digne
Lucas Digne is part of a young core of signings that have really excelled since they were brought in during the summer, and they indicate a definite philosophy of Mr Brands, one that is tremendously exciting.
Signing truly elite players before the prime of their career? Sounds like a plan to me.
DM - James McCarthy
James McCarthy, when fit (albeit as sporadically as it seems to be), can offer far more than Idrissa Gana Gueye.
He is a very underrated passer of the ball with tremendous tackling ability, and an engine that can rival Gana’s.
If absence makes the heart grow fonder, we are chronically AWOL when it comes to Mr McCarthy, as every time he comes back, we realise just how much we missed him.
CM - Tom Davies
In ‘sentences I did not think I’d say during 2019,’ episode 1, Tom Davies simply must be in Mr Silva’s starting XI every week, for his tremendous talent that has been showcased in recent weeks, his excellent ‘lead-by-example’ leadership that other Everton ‘captains’ simply do not have, and his world-class potential.
He can be a true superstar when not limited by players ahead of him. He can be the focal point of the team far better than Gylfi Sigurdsson can.
CM - André Gomes
André Gomes, like Lucas Digne before him, is another of the player archetype that I would be desperate to see Mr Brands go after in the transfer market.
He is a tremendously talented midfielder who will only get better when quality player are added around him.
LW - Richarlison
Given how much of a global superstar Richarlison is becoming, it is easy to forget that he is only 21 years of age, much like I just did, and had to Google that fact.
He is an elite player as is, and with increased exposure to high-level Premier League football, along with international experience alongside Neymar, he may become something we haven’t seen at Everton in a long while.
RW - Ademola Lookman
Like I have so ungracefully harped on about, the season is about developing our exciting young players.
Ademola is the absolute epitome of an exciting, young Everton player.
As much as I do like Theo Walcott (believe it or not), Ademola Lookman simply must play.
ST - Dominic Calvert-Lewin
And, in my opinion, the most important player to let grow and develop, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
I truly believe he can become a top striker given the correct nurturing that he deserves.
He has all the attributes to thrive in the Premier League. If he can consistently start to score goals, he will be as good as anyone.
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