Everton need to replace ageing legs

Everton boss Ronald Koeman needs to replace some of the ageing players in his squad for the Toffees to be successful

Everton drew 2-2 at rock-bottom Hull City on Friday night in the Premier League.

The Toffees needed an 84th-minute header from the much-maligned Ross Barkley to rescue a point.

However, substitute Dominic Calvin-Lewin missed a great chance to clinch maximum points for the Toffees.

It would have been slightly unfair on Hull, who had put everything they had into the game.

The Toffees weaknesses were exposed by the Tigers. One of those weaknesses is the ageing nature of the Everton squad.

Too many old players in the squad

Everton have a squad of players that have served them well in the past with Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Gareth Barry key players in recent years. Dutch boss Ronald Koeman then added to the age problem by bringing in centre-back Ashley Williams and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg in the summer.

The Toffees have more players over thirty starting regular games in the Premier League than any other team.

In their last away game at Leicester, the Toffees played with three at the back with Williams, Mason Holgate and Ramiro Funes Mori occupying the centre-back spots. It resulted in a rare clean sheet and a 2-0 win, so why Koeman changed the system has mystified me.

Koeman does not seem to yet know the best system to get the best out of this group of players, which is probably why he has chopped and changed his formations in recent games.

Everton were not completely solid at Leicester, but they looked like they could grind out a win. The system also allowed the likes of Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines to attack from their wing-back positions.

The pair are two of the best-attacking full-backs in the league. Surely Koeman has to play to their strengths.

It will take time to reshape the squad

No doubt it will take time for Koeman to reshape his squad. The likes of Barry and Jagielka look to be coming to the end of their usefulness in the top-flight. Both have been fine servants to Everton and in Barry’s case Premier League clubs in general.

Even the likes of summer arrivals Maarten Stekelenburg only brought in as a backup ‘keeper initially and centre-back Ashley Williams will have to be replaced in the near future. Both were only brought in as short-term measures.

Koeman now has a big job on his hands reducing the playing time of the likes of Jagielka and Barry. However, the Dutchman first needs to find replacements and that will take time.

The former-Southampton boss has used the likes Dominic Calvin-Lewin, Tom Davies and Mason Holgate in recent weeks. However, he has been using them reluctantly. Maybe he believes they are not ready for regular first team football just yet.

However, at the moment may be Koeman should field these players on a more regular basis in the Premier League. Holgate and Davies are players who are highly rated and have impressed immensely in their cameo appearances so far this season.

Neither player has let their team down. Maybe while Koeman tries to work his magic in the transfer market these players should be thrown into the starting eleven more often.

Expectations reduced at Everton

Everton are expected to be one of the most active teams in the market in the January transfer window. Koeman cannot completely rebuild his squad in two transfer windows. The Dutchman needs time to replace the ageing legs in that Toffees team.

The Merseysider’s were regarded as outsiders for a top six or a top four spot this season. However, a top ten spot now looks more realistic for the Toffees, which they are odds of 1/14 to achieve this season.

Koeman will be looking for a higher finish than tenth this season. A few crucial signings in January could well revitalise the Toffees season. However, everybody knows that until the club can replace some of its old-timers they will not be challenging for the top six or top four in the near future.

What position in the table should Everton be targeting?