2018/19 Everton Grades

A year of growth with a Silva lining

To describe Everton’s season in word for me, it would be: progress. Go back twelve months and Everton had just been beaten 3-1 away at struggling West Ham with the away end baying for the blood of Sam Allardyce. At that time, the club seemed at odds with its fanbase. Everton had been used to false dawns and disappointment but many viewed the 2017/18 season at Goodison as one of an utter neglect of responsibility from the top of the club, to the various managers we had and ultimately the playing squad.

Marco Silva’s first season at Goodison has not been perfect let me start of by saying
but it has been much different in so many aspects to the wretched tenures of Roberto Martinez, Sam Allardyce and the prophet of gloom, Ronald Koeman. The latter’s failure at Everton made Marco Silva’s task near on impossible this season to achieve anything tangible add onto that period of Allardyce and you have an instant up hill task for the Portuguese.

Then, if the failures of those from previous managers had made it tough, factor in the fact that the core of our team did not have a full pre season and you suddenly find it to achieve any form of success. So, when judging Marco Silva this season you must consider the issues he had to inherit plus issues within the season. Looking back, he will not only use thirteen players over Christmas next year. Zonal marking will not be an issue you would like to hope and in game decisions you would think will improve from Silva.

It’s not been a bad first season whatsoever for Marco Silva. At home we have not conceded since Gabriel Jesus scored for the champions. Away from home we now attack the opposition as opposed to sitting on the edge of our own box. We now watch a better style of play and we now favour the idea of giving youth the chance. Realistically, there is nothing much more I could have expected apart from the derisory performances in the cup competitions. I do not want to dwell on the issue but our performance in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup must improve next year. We are definitely good enough to win both cups yet we always lose to limited, nondescript sides who offer little but direct football which gets the better of us, see Lincoln, Southampton and Millwall.

I am going to judge each player individually now I do promise, here goes.

Goalkeepers:

Jordan Pickford: 7/10. Pickford has had a good year. His mark will be dampened by performances at Anfield and St James Park but we have kept a lot of clean sheets and that has to be down to Pickford’s goalkeeping.

Marteen Stekelenburg: N/A.  Hard to judge Stek but fair play to him for being apart of the squad, I guess.

Fullbacks : 

Seamus Coleman: 6/10. Coleman has come into some really good form since the seventeen day break, getting back to his old habits of overlapping the winger and providing an attacking threat. He also embodies Everton as a man, he demands success and for that has to be apart of our squad next season.

Jonjoe Kenny: 4/10. I have been disappointed with Jonjoe. I expected more from him under Marco Silva. Defensively he has been poor and going forward he has always offered less than Coleman. If a new right back comes into the club, Silva and Brands could consider the future of Kenny.

Lucas Digne: 9/10. Lucas Digne is magic. The perfect replacement for Leighton Baines and has been incredible. Definitely a mainstay for next season.

Leighton Baines: 4/10. I would also give Baines another year. Still has quality but the energy is not there anymore, but for sure a fitting backup for Lucas.

Central defenders:

Kurt Zouma: 7/10.  Zouma has to sign in my opinion. He and Keane have become apart of one of the best defences in the league. Defensively we look formidable.

Michael Keane: 8/10. Excellent season from Keane.

Yerry Mina: 5/10.  It has been a year of learning for Yerry Mina. Despite the fact he has not broke into Everton’s side, without doubt Silva will put him through his paces for next season and hopefully we can get the very best out him.

Phil Jagielka: 5/10.  I feel Jags will be leaving. Legend in my eyes and I hope Chris Wilder signs him.

Central midfielders:

Idrissa Gana Gueye: 8.5/10.  If this is to be be Gana’s final season at Everton, a lot will be absolutely devastated but also will wish an incredible player and a top man the very best for the future, wherever that may be. Personally, I adore him and would love him to stay, but I guess it is up to Gana.

Andre Gomes: 7/10.  I also really hope Gomes decides that his future is at Goodison. Again, if not, I only have the very best wishes for him but for him to stay would be amazing.

Morgan Schneiderlin: 6/10.  We also need to Morgan Schneiderlin to stay at Everton. When his attitude
is good, he is a very strong member of our team.

Tom Davies: 4/10.  Tom is apart of our side too now and it is important he rediscovers some form next year.

Gylfi Sigurdsson: 8/10. Gylfi has had a great year too. Imperative to the way we play.

Wingers:

Richarlison: 8/10 .  For a lad who ‘ruined the transfer window’ Richarlison has been outstanding for the most part. He had a bit of a run of poor during the winter months but has been outstanding either side to that.

Theo Walcott: 4/10. Walcott has been a little disappointing but not for one minute do I think he is as bad as people say.

Bernard: 7/10 . Bernard will get better with a pre-season. Been very good at times this season.

Ademola Lookman: 3/10.  I would look to move Ademola Lookman on. He does not want to be here and I would look to replace him with a similar type of player but someone we cam rely on having a positive attitude, maybe Dwight McNeil from Burnley, as a suggestion.

Forwards:

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 7/10 . Dom has genuinely had a very good season. Each week he has gotten better as a player and definitely has to be apart of our long term plans.

Cenk Tosun: 3/10. Tosun has been quite frankly awful. Brands and Silva have to move him on.

The Manager:

Marco Silva: 7/10 . Marco has had a good first season. It has not been perfect, but it has been positive and the way the club feels is infinitely better than one year ago. With a good transfer window and a good start who knows what he can achieve next season.

Big thank you from me personally to both Ped and Baz as well as all of you who have read all of my write ups throughout the season. More to come next season and throughout the season.

Up the Toffees.

Owen Parkes