There were talks to bring Richarlison back to Everton at the end of the transfer window
There were talks to bring Richarlison back to Everton at the end of the transfer window
View Image
After a three-week absence due to the new-look, extended international break, Everton return to action at Hull City on Sunday, unbeaten after seven matches in all competitions so far this season.
A chaotic deadline day of the summer transfer window left the Blues with just 18 outfield players but so far, they have beaten Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town, drawn with Bournemouth, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur plus advanced passed Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Ahead of the trip to the MKM Stadium, the ECHO sought to address your latest questions below. And if you'd like to submit questions for next week, you can do so HERE.
What’s the latest on Mykolenko? Is he fit for Sunday? Ray66
Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak miss Liverpool training but Andoni Iraola gets huge Man City boost
He has to be a doubt. David Moyes will surely be asked about this in his pre-match press conference today, but even then, he could play his cards close to his chest.
What we do know is that Vitalii won his 55th cap for Ukraine as he played the entire game in their 1-0 UEFA Nations League B away win over Hungary at the Puskas Arena, Budapest, on September 25, but he was then absent for the last three matches with an unspecified injury.
After he missed the goalless draw in Georgia, Ukrainian news outlet UNN reported national team coach Andrea Maldara as saying in his pre-match press conference to preview their 3-0 defeat in Northern Ireland: “Unfortunately, we cannot count on Mykolenko, he is not feeling very well. We do not want him to suffer an even more serious injury.”
While in an ideal world, I’d like to see Everton get an upgrade in the position, right now, Mykolenko remains a key figure for the team as he’s their only recognised left-back and has played every minute so far this season. Therefore, I think he’ll be given every chance to try and prove his fitness.
If he doesn’t make it, I’d rather see James Garner deputise for him rather than Jarrad Branthwaite. Not only do the Blues have far more options in central midfield, I’d be wary about seeing ‘The Carlisle Kaiser’ who was restricted to just 10 outings last season due to hamstring problems, potentially straining them again by bombing up and down the wing.
It looks like everyone bar Rohl is fit in midfield now. When he’s back, what do you think is our best midfield? Blueboy77
Like Mykolenko, we’ll have to wait and see if Merlin is fit for Hull City, but when Everton released their pictures from training and their behind closed doors game against Blackburn Rovers last week, he was nowhere to be seen. In contrast, the club seemed to be making a big song and dance about Christian Norgaard’s long-awaited return as he was not only taking part in full contact group sessions at Finch Farm but featured in the friendly with the Championship side at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
I guess when everyone is fit, on reputation, Norgaard should be in there, alongside Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall but as much as Moyes has brought him in after doing a deal with his old pal Mikel Arteta, to provide that shield in front of the back four now that Idrissa Gueye has gone, others have stolen a march during his absence.
While he was one of the main men at Brentford and ended up as their captain, the former Denmark international only played 101 minutes of Premier League football for Arsenal last season, so he might have to wait his turn. For me, Harrison Armstrong has shown just how at home he is at this level and despite almost being sold to Nottingham Forest ahead of the transfer deadline, the home-grown hero has emerged as one of Everton’s main men so far this term and the shirt is his to lose.
There’s got to be a huge sanctions coming Man City’s way if their appeal fails. We seemed to be very harshly done by with what happened to us. What do you think City should get? Colin
I agree with both points. Firstly, Everton were very harshly done by. Even though the Premier League wanted to punish them even more severely, their initial 10-point deduction was, at the time, the biggest sporting sanction in English top flight history until 'Super Silk’ got four points knocked off at appeal and that was just for a single PSR breach.
Then Nottingham Forest breached bigger than the Blues and got a lesser punishment.
In my opinion, Manchester City’s sanctions need to be forward facing.
Given the magnitude of what they have been found guilty of, the owners need to be removed from the club and banned for life from football. I don’t care how much money, power and influence they’ve got – in Manchester, the UK or globally – and the infrastructure they have built around the Etihad Stadium, get them out of our sport.
I’d also stick City in League Two. A single season out of the Premier League is not sufficient for the magnitude of by how much they have been found to have cheated.
I am also really coming around to the idea of stripping them of all their honours won over the period in question. However, if this happens, I don’t think they should be handed to the respective runners-up.
Instead, they should be left blank for those years as those who they beat ultimately weren’t good enough and having no champion sends a far more powerful message.
Thierno Barry has done well but we definitely need another striker in January. How close did we get to signing Richarlison back? Think we’d go back in for him? Harry
Richarlison certainly seemed to have a chance of returning, especially if Manchester City hadn’t come in for Iliman Ndiaye and the Senegal international had chosen to go to Tottenham Hotspur instead. Ultimately though, despite his 'Big Blue’ credentials, I understand the former Goodison Park fans’ favourite couldn’t agree personal terms.
Once the English transfer window had shut, the same went for a proposed move to Trabzonspor in Turkey and then a return to Brazil with Vasco da Gama, leaving Richy in football purgatory.
On the one hand, he should be desperate to get playing again and Everton are desperate for another striker – like you say, as well as Barry has done, it’s ridiculous only having one recognised centre-forward – but personally the Richarlison ship sailed a long time ago for me.
We all love what he did during his time on Merseyside and the genuine mutual affection between the player and Blues supporters but he’ll be 30 before the season finishes, is no longer in Carlo Ancelotti’s national team squad and seems to lack the hunger he once had.
Everton’s recruitment team should be scouring South America looking for the next Richarlison who is still yet to hit the big time, not looking backwards again.