January 2018
Everton 6 - 0 Leicester
If this match were an Offspring song, it'd be "The Kids are Alright". With a heavily rotated squad filled with kids due to it being only 2 days after the Stoke match, they bought into the system and had a very impressive performance built on Senne Schoeters's efforts and his amazing plays with his head, picking up 2 goals and 2 assists. Fininho also picked up 2 goals.
Player of the Match: Senne Schoeters (Everton)
Capital One Cup Semifinal
First Leg: Everton 3 - 1 Tottenham
Erik Lamela suffered a serious injury which was the only dark spot hampering this impressive victory. Erik Lamela and Manolo Gabbiadini got Everton off to a flyer with goals, and Souleymane Coulibaly ended his goal drought to pull one back. Fininho scored a goal, volleying off a free kick to get a two goal lead for Everton as they head to Tottenham's ground for the second leg later on.
Player of the Match: Manolo Gabbiadini (Everton)
Injury Update: Erik Lamela tore his calf muscle and will be out 3-4 months.
FA Cup Third Round
Everton 2 - 0 Burnley
It's a testament to squad depth that we were able to dominate Burnley on the pitch even with an almost totally rotated squad. The youngsters acquitted themselves well out there and it's nice to know that I can go without my superstars for these matches. George Green opened the scoring with a direct free kick goal, and Fininho put the game out of reach with his typical powerful finish.
Player of the Match: Everton (Everton)
Everton 1 - 0 Newcastle
We thought we'd never break through, but Newcastle's defense was undone when Shun Kawai took a corner kick in the 90th minute. Gabbiadini got to it first with his head, but it trickled to Rafael Rivas, who volleyed the ball through the tiniest of spaces to get Everton the victory.
Player of the Match: Rafael Rivas (Everton)
Southampton 3 - 1 Everton
Despite having less of the ball Southampton did more with it and spanked us.
Player of the Match: Ciaran Clark (Southampton)
Capital One Cup Semifinal
Second Leg: Tottenham 3 - 0 Everton after extra time
Tottenham 4 - 3 Everton on aggregate
Tottenham just wanted it more. Their players were chasing down balls that we weren't and making plays we weren't making. No amount of yelling could coax a goal when we needed it, and extra time broke us down even further.
Player of the Match: Abel Hernandez (Tottenham)
FA Cup Fourth Round
Carlisle 1 - 1 Everton
We didn't take our chances with the ball and thus we're forced to play 90 unnecessary minutes of football, thankfully at Goodison Park.
Player of the Match: Lee Lucas (Carlisle)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 2 Everton
We were unlucky to draw, every time we took the lead Wolves pulled back level, and they converted both their shots on goal into goals.
Player of the Match: Fininho (Everton)
Transfers
In
- Center back Enzo Iribarne from USBCO on a Bosman.
- Striker Samuel Severini from AC Milan on a Bosman.
- Midfielder Christian Buongusto from Napoli on a Bosman.
- Striker Kamel Larbi from Cheateauroux on a Bosman.
- Midfielder Paul Sanou from FC Nantes on a Bosman.
- Midfielder Juan Francisco Cordorba from Guimaraes on a Bosman.
- Right winger Sante Malatesta from AS Roma on a Bosman.
- Pål Sortevik from Vålarenga for 1.7 million.
- Nur Yagiz from Levante for 3.3 million, the offer met his release clause so it had to be accepted.
- Octavio Tatlot from Paris Saint-Germain for 1.2M in compensation.
- Sebastian Acosta from Lanus on a Bosman. He attained a work permit and will be able to play for Everton when he comes in.
- Marcelo Luiz from Portuguesa on a Bosman, he attained a work permit.
- Marcio has been bought from Gremio for 625K. He did not get a work permit so it will be a while before this one wears Everton blue.
- Pablo Castro from Club Deportivo Junior for 400K. He did not get a work permit, so it will be a while before this one sees the field.
- Paco for 4.6M from Real Sociedad. He got a work permit, but will join in July. He got a work permit so he will be able to play then.
Out
- Benjamin Mendy to LOSC Lille for 250K, 1.7M over 42 months, and 33% profit of next sale.
Premier League Table
We're not doing too bad, but I feel like we should still be doing better. We have the talent, they just have to mature into players who are fearless and can perform at both home and away.