Brands details ultimate Everton squad goal, transfer spending so far

Everton are holding their Annual General Meeting this evening with various Board members speaking on their different roles. Director of Football Marcel Brands had to deal with some surprising opposition even before his turn to speak came up, with professor Tom Cannon standing up to speak early on the in the AGM.

“I think it’s inappropriate for the director of football to be on the board. The appointment of directors of football at this football club have been an unmitigated failure.

“Even if you move beyond the signings, I’d like to know what has happened to our scouting system. We used to be able to find people like Mikel Arteta and bring them through to the point within minute we were singing their songs.

“Remember those days when Tim Cahill would come on and terrify them? Where are those players now? We don’t seem to have a scouting system and frankly I question whether this approach should be on the board.

“I don’t object to Marcel Brands being director of football, but I do object to him being on the board.”

Despite his plea though, Brands was unanimously returned to his spot on the Board with only one vote against, from the earnest professor.

Brands’ segment focused on mostly transfer activity, highlighting some big numbers from the time he took over as Director of Football. He indicated that this was his fourth transfer window at the Blues, and in those 19 months the Toffees have made over 70 deals, an unsustainable number for a club the size of Everton.

• First transfer window, summer of 2018 - 19 deals with a net spend of £59m
• Second transfer window, January of 2019 - 2 sales and 11 loans out
• Third transfer window, summer of 2019 - 31 deals with a net spend of £35m
• Fourth transfer window, January of 2020 - 3 loaned out, 1 loan recall and 1 signing

The Dutchman also set some realistic expectations for what kind of player in the transfer market Everton would be in future transfer windows -

“It is not realistic for Everton to go for £60m, £70m, £80m players.

“Hopefully we get more stabilised and Everton should get to a situation where we do two or three deals in, and two or three going out.”

He also reviewed his goals by position for the last transfer window -

• Goalkeepers - create competition and develop talent.
• Defenders - Loan out Jonjoe Kenny and find a replacement, Sign Kurt Zouma or find another central defender, Mason Holgate loan return, renew contract of Leighton Baines.
• Midfielders - Sign Andre Gomes permanently, sell James McCarthy and find a replacement, a replacement for Idrissa Gueye, add experience and leadership.
• Attackers - Sell Ademola Lookman and find a replacement, sign a new striker.

Brands’ ultimate Everton squad would comprise 23 players - 3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 6 midfielders and 6 forwards.

“Why a squad of 23? We think that’s enough to have a good squad to compete and also gives an opportunity for those in our academy.”

The DOF also touched on a number of other topics and players, a summary of which is below -

• He is excited with the signing of young defender Jarrad Branthwaite
• Everton yet to decide whether Joao Virginia stays with the U23s or goes back out on loan after his early return from Reading loan
• Deals being worked out to ship out Cuco Martina and Oumar Niasse
• Anthony Gordon is getting closer and closer to the first team squad, ‘knocking on the door’
• Cenk Tosun was loaned out because of his expensive wages
• Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin continue to improve, and he’s convinced they can be of great value to the club in the future
• He also confirmed the formation change to 4-4-2 under Carlo Ancelotti, with the knowledge that squad depth was lacking at centrehalf and right winger
• Says “We’re always looking for new players. But we are also looking at the numbers and we have to be careful with that.”
• The Wilfried Zaha rumours were unrealistic - “If you look at our numbers, that is not realistic.”
• On Big Dunc - “The most important thing was that he brought back the belief and desire. I also want to mention the three guys who assisted him in that moment - Alan Kelly, Franny Jeffers and John Ebbrell.”
• On getting Ancelotti - “When we had to look for a new manager, you have to be a bit lucky, for the right moment. He was still at Napoli when we started looking. Then he was available. You still don’t believe he could be manager of Everton. Everyone is happy with this appointment, I am very proud to have this manager in our club.”

(Some quotes via the Echo)