Friday’s Toffee Bites: Are Everton feeling the “Allardyce Effect”?

Everton’s European tour is over. It was brief and it wasn’t all that fun. But it seems as though the team learned a few lessons along the way. It feels safe to say that if the Blues are fortunate enough to find themselves back in Europe next season, they will be better prepared.

Ownership and upper management must do a better job of putting together a deep and strong squad heading into the campaign. Injuries to key players like Yannick Bolasie, Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori were well known prior to the beginning of the season. But they weren’t replaced adequately. So, as a result, when senior players struggled, there was no one to push them for their place, and the team flopped.

But that’s behind us now. Onward to the Merseyside Derby!

In case you missed it

Quick bios of Everton youngsters in squad against Apollon Limassol
Experimental squad made the trip to Cyprus.

Koeman wanted Everton to sign Daley Blind from Manchester United
Ronald Koeman identified the Manchester United man as a transfer target.

Apollon Limassol 0-3 Everton - Europa League Match Report
It’s a proud night for Everton’s academy in Cyprus.

Friday’s Toffee Bites

Davies Eager To Create His Own Derby Memories - EvertonFC.com
Mikel Arteta’s long-range goal remains Tom Davies’ standout Merseyside derby moment as an Everton fan – now the midfielder says he is out to create his own as a player.

Vlasic: So Much Young Talent For The Future - EvertonFC.com
Everton attacker Nikola Vlasic says the Club are blessed with a group of talented young players they can “count on in the future”.

Everton plotting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transfer in January - Mirror Online
Borussia Dortmund are ready to sell their prolific striker and the Blues have the finances to make ambitious deal happen.

Everton FC's youngsters praised after Europa League win - Daily Post
Bangor's Nathan Broadhead came off the bench to make his Blues debut in Cyprus.

Davies and Kenny enjoying Allardyce approach at Everton - Sky Sports
Everton duo Tom Davies and Jonjoe Kenny say they are enjoying Sam Allardyce's "straightforward" approach to management.

Blues crave Europe, but they need to build a squad capable of more - Liverpool Echo
Phil Kirkbride sees Everton end their Europa League journey on a high - but it all adds up to one huge disappointment.

Club owners must respect city that knows how to fight - The Independent
Here's a lengthy piece on the upcoming Merseyside Derby.

Mignolet wary of resurgent Everton under Allardyce - RTE
Liverpool's record against Everton will have no bearing on Sunday's Merseyside derby as the resurgent visitors will be looking to continuing building momentum under new manager Sam Allardyce, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has said.

Merseyside Derby: Allardyce effect already clear at Everton - Tampa Bay Times
With recently hired manager Sam Allardyce already working his magic, Everton no longer fears its short trip to neighbor Liverpool despite the team's dreadful recent record in Merseyside derbies at Anfield.

What and How to Watch

La Liga: Deportivo Alaves vs Las Palmas, 3 p.m. ET, fuboTV
Bundesliga: Stuttgart vs Bayer Laverkusen, 2:30 p.m. ET, FS2
Ligue 1: Bordeaux vs Strasbourg, 2:45 p.m. ET, beIN Sports
NBA: Warriors at Pistons, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Celtics at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

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