Everton 2020-21 Season Review: Weaknesses of Squad Present & Future

We continue our review of the past Everton season, this time looking at the squad in depth.

You’ve seen the strengths, so let’s take a look at the weaknesses. I must say, this piece was a bit easier to write than the strengths one, as this past season was pretty dire for many reasons.

By the time you finish reading, hopefully you will be left with some promise and ideas for how these weaknesses can turn into positives next season.

Wingers

Photo by Emma Simpson/Everton FC via Getty Images

I wrote another piece on the state of Everton’s winger predicament. Anthony Gordon is still too young, James Rodriguez has fitness concerns (and now that Carlo Ancelotti is gone, who knows if he’s staying), Bernard looks on the way out, and Alex Iwobi is, well, Alex Iwobi.

Everton have seen too many so-called ‘promising’ young wingers come and go in the past few years (Ademola Lookman, Nikola Vlasic, Gerard Deulofeu, etc.) and unless Marcelo Brands and co. make some moves this summer, Everton’s winger depth looks bleak.

Centre-backs

Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images

The longer that Michael Keane and Mason Holgate continue to start for Everton, the more I am convinced that their time at the club is coming to an end.

Promising youngsters Lewis Gibson and Jarrad Branthwaite both had challenging loans last year; Gibson featured sparingly for Championship side Reading while Branthwaite started off the season strong for fellow Championship outfit Blackburn, but ultimately succumbed to a spot on the bench and a season-ending injury.

The main bright spot seems to be Ben Godfrey, who unfortunately got switched between centre-back and full-back at least initially, which I will touch on more below.

Right-backs

Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images

It seems like the talk of the town this past season was about finding Seamus Coleman’s successor.

After seeing Lucas Digne fill in so well for Leighton Baines, it only seemed right to bring the attention over to replacing Everton’s right-sided talisman. Coleman will be turning 33 in October and there is definitely a sense of urgency to discovering his replacement.

Unfortunately, his ‘original successor’ Jonjoe Kenny seems to have not had the best time on loan with Celtic and may find himself surplus to requirements with Everton. Godfrey, meanwhile, is somewhat wasted at full-back and should be solidifying the centre-back role for years to come.

What are your thoughts? Any other weaknesses we might’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below!