Pre-season is done and dusted, and the start of the new Premier League season is now less than a week away.
Everton return with an opening day clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, with a whole host of new signings potentially set to make their competitive debuts.
At last, there is ample reason for excitement around Goodison Park with all these new faces, who offer a mysterious promise of the brighter future their injection of fresh ideas could provoke.
Four new signings and counting, with the window not quite yet shut, Evertonians are quietly hopeful that this campaign could be a huge one.
So, with the new season almost here, we’ve analysed the Toffees’ pre-season and summer activity…
Dyche is happy to mix things up
Sean Dyche has come under some pretty intense scrutiny during his tenure as Everton manager, despite guiding the club through some of the hardest times in its history.
Ravaged by financial issues and subsequent points deductions, the former Burnley boss has remained unflappable whilst steering this ship to safety.
However, he has done so with a regimented approach, never diverging far from his direct play style.
That has been challenged at times during this pre-season though, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin in particular showing his ability to link play with his feet alongside players like Jack Harrison, Dwight McNeil and Jesper Lindstrom.
The introduction of Iliman Ndiaye is only set to further cement their ability to mix things up at last.
Everton’s signings are slotting straight in
It has taken no time at all for Dyche to throw his new faces into the squad, and in the main, all have impressed.
Jake O’Brien seems a more than capable Jarrad Braithwaite stand-in, whilst the two aforementioned attacking stars promise some excitement.
It seems that the Toffees are building for the future with stars for the present, and that should mark exciting times.
Everton still need to use the loan market
However, all is not perfect on Merseyside, and despite bringing Jack Harrison back to Goodison Park as well as Lindstrom from Napoli, the loan market is one which Everton have underutilised massively in recent years.
And, even when they have tried to utilise it, acquisitions like Arnaut Danjuma, Donny van de Beek and Ruben Vinagre mark wasted ventures.
They need to be more intelligent, and with Everton’s interest in Kalvin Phillips unrelenting, perhaps this might mark the perfect example to follow in Harrison’s footsteps.
Everton are building for a brighter future
As touched upon earlier, the many new faces being welcomed into Everton all have one thing in common: their youth.
In the past, in their desperate pursuit of quick-fire success, the Toffees have been guilty of trying to buy older, readymade players, with the intention of skipping a few steps on their way to the top.
Naturally, that has failed miserably, and so a new approach has been forged.
Ndiaye is just 24, O’Brien is 23, Lindstrom is 24 and Iroegbunam is 21. Everton finally building for a brighter future.
Iliman Ndiaye needs to displace Abdoulaye Doucoure this season
The former of those new acquisitions, brought in from Marseille, has arguably the biggest task on his hands to displace the current starter, with Abdoulaye Doucoure a mainstay under Dyche.
Having grown into the club’s chief goalscorer, saving them from the drop during the 2021/22 season too with his final-day scorcher against AFC Bournemouth, his role just behind the striker has become paramount to the team’s success.
However, last season was far from his finest, and as age catches up to him, so too does his technical attributes seem to be faltering as well.
Although he may start the season as a starter, it should not take long for Ndiaye to quickly displace him.
Everton still lack strength in the right-back area
For all their new signings, the right-back area remains a real position of concern.
After all, their two main players are 35 and 38 respectively in Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young, with Nathan Patterson still drastically unfavored.
With Dyche clearly not wanting to risk the Scotland international, but severely blunting the team by starting one of these two sluggish veterans, it could be an area that haunts them this season.
Next summer, or perhaps with what is left of this one, it really needs sorting.
Jesper Lindstrom looks perfect for Sean Dyche
Whilst all the new signings have had their chance to impress in pre-season, Lindstrom seems yet to get that sustained run to allow him to show his true talents.
However, that being said, the Danish creator has already shown signs to suggest he could be perfect for Dyche.
Yesterday, against a well-drilled AS Roma side, he came from the bench to chase relentlessly, a trait that the 53-year-old adores.
And, with real quality to pick a pass too, this injection of creativity and work rate could revolutionise their attack.
Jarrad Braithwaite’s injury absence sparks fears
It has not been all sunshine and rainbows this summer though, with the continued absence of Jarrad Braithwaite one outstanding fear.
Given the defender has been constantly linked with a departure from Merseyside, many feared that his lack of presence at pre-season hinted at a future away from the club.
However, it has since been revealed that he has sustained an injury, and will therefore miss the start of the new Premier League season.
Fortunately, O’Brien seems a more than capable stand-in, but Dyche will want Branthwaite back as soon as possible.
Tim Iroegbunam could be the surprise pick of the summer signings
Shockingly so given the questionable nature of the signing, early doors it seems like Iroegbunam promises to be the most revolutionary addition of the summer.
A progressive, powerful, midfielder who is desperate to push forward, against AS Roma he broke the lines brilliantly with the manner in which he shifted the ball to bypass the midfield.
He could pick a pass and run with the ball, and enjoyed a faultless ball-winning display too to cap things off.
Despite spending big on adding solidity and attacking magic, it could be their sole midfield addition that steals the show this season.
Everton’s midfield depth is hugely impressive
Speaking about Iroegbunam, his arrival has only added to a wealth of midfield depth that Dyche now has at his disposal.
Also, with the additions of Lindstrom and Ndiaye, it frees up Doucoure to play deeper alongside other stars like James Garner, Idrissa Gana Gueye and even Harrison Armstrong given his fine form.
This is a particular area of strength for Everton.
Kevin Thelwell has taken no risks this summer transfer window
Although some of the fees spent this summer might have stunned some fans, none of these signings have been made with a large risk involved.
After all, such is their age profile, a failed move to Everton would not be the end of their careers.
They would still boast solid sell-on value unlike some of their purchases of the past, and thus they can be safe in the knowledge that there is little pressure on these new faces to deliver.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract remains an urgent worry
However, as the window drags on, so too does Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract saga.
A protracted endeavour, the Englishman seemingly refuses to sign a new deal amidst uncertainty around Goodison Park, yet is not willing to engineer a move away either.
At present, he is due to depart for free next summer.
Thelwell cannot allow that to happen.
Everton are still lacking a winger after failed Wilfried Gnonto pursuit
The fact that Everton are yet to acquire an out-and-out winger is really disappointing, given the targets mentioned and the lack of signings.
Jaden Philogene was their first target alongside Yankuba Minteh, both of whom joined alternative Premier League clubs, before Everton started trying to sign Wilfried Gnonto again too.
With that also hitting a stumbling block, Lindstrom remains their only wide option, despite preferring to play through the middle.
This remains the only outstanding Thelwell failure from this window.
Optimism is building ahead of Bramley-Moore Dock stadium move
Evertonians cannot let this transfer blunder get them down though, as it is now just one season until they officially leave Goodison Park and move into the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.
A state-of-the-art arena set to revolutionise the football club, this promises to be a hugely emotional but cathartic campaign.
As such, optimism is rife, with these new transfers only adding to the excitement.
Everton look set to benefit from a few top youth prospects
Whilst their signings have all been young, it seems Everton’s academy has been working overtime to produce a couple of prospects potentially set to challenge their spots too.
After all, this summer has marked a breakthrough for starlets like Roman Dixon and the aforementioned Armstrong, the former of which boasts blistering speed from full-back.
Meanwhile, the latter, a classy yet combative midfielder, has earned rave reviews from journalists and pundits alike.
Perhaps he and Iroegbunam could be the future of Dyche’s midfield.
Dyche and Thelwell have been backed at last
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Dyche and Thelwell’s summer and pre-season has been important because it marks the first where they have both been backed.
Although there is seemingly no owner to afford them funds, the sustainable efforts made in recent years have allowed them the leeway to actually try and improve a squad lacking depth and quality.
Thus far, they seem to have achieved that with ease, and can now look ahead to forging a brighter future with a squad somewhat built in their image.
Previously, they had been working with a team thrown together by various different managers.
Now, at last, this is starting to be moulded in an intelligent way, with a long-term strategy in place. Long may this continue.
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