What does the future hold in store for Everton?
For one, a brand-new stadium. Modernistic and majestic, Bramley Moore will come to life with a roaring din of Toffees supporters, charged by an exciting new era.
It may well have played host to Championship football in its maiden year, were it not for David Moyes and The Friedkin Group.
Moyes is Everton’s most successful contemporary manager, leading the Merseysiders across 11 years before being anointed as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United in 2013.
He’s a manager who understands his players, with sharp tactics and strong interpersonal skills that elevate those under his wing, promoting confidence and impacting academy prospects.
He brought West Ham United back to life, and is showing signs of doing the same with Everton. With the Hammers, Moyes brought Declan Rice through, while in his first stint as Everton boss, Ross Barkley was guided through to the first team with a weight of expectation.
Ross Barkley under David Moyes
Barkley has led a storied career with its share of ups and downs, but he’s been resurgent over the past few seasons in English football and he was breathtaking in parts when rising to the fore with Everton after graduating from the academy.
It was Moyes who handed the now 30-year-old his professional debut, placing him on the left wing during a 3-1 Premier League defeat to Queens Park Rangers in August 2011.
He might have lost that one but Barkley made amends against QPR three years later, scoring a thunderous goal that was a staple of his skill set, all technique and power from attacking or wide roles.
The blue half of Merseyside was convinced they had a superstar in the making on their hands, earning understandable Wayne Rooney comparisons as he looked to make his name.
Ultimately, Barkley wanted out and in January 2018 joined Chelsea in a £15m package (plus add-ons) that critics might say derailed his rise.
What Moyes would give to have a young and rising Barkley back in his fold. Actually, he may not need to give anything, with Everton’s new Barkley already in the mix.
Moyes' next Ross Barkley
Moyes saw something in Barkley and invested in promoting him to seniority. Barkley was described as a “special talent” by Moyes’ successor, Roberto Martinez, with his hunger to get on the ball and make things happen something that bespoke his maturity and understanding of his technical gifts, how such qualities could determine games.
Chalkboard
While Everton have an industrious and creative number ten in Dwight McNeil, who has been sidelined with a back injury since December and won’t be back on the field any time soon, Everton actually have another attacking midfielder who could shape into the club’s next Barkley.
Interestingly, Abdoulaye Doucoure has some similar properties, but at 32 and with mere months left on his £130k-per-week contract – he’s the outfit’s highest earner – he doesn’t fit the bill.
However, January recruit Charly Alcaraz could be the man for the job, having made a significant impression since joining Moyes’ cause from Brazilian club Flamengo one month ago, arriving on loan with an obligatory £13m buy option.
Alcaraz is principally found off the back of the recognised centre-forward, with his powerful and aggressive approach perfect for the way Moyes wishes to play, bringing physicality to the midfield battle while balancing it with technical gifts.
And while Alcaraz is only 22 years old, he’s already shown signs of making significant developments to his skill set. Flashes of quality punctuated his Premier League stint with Southampton, but already the South American looks more refined and assured in his football.
Admittedly, we’re drawing from a smaller sample size since the Argentinian talent arrived at Goodison Park, but the improvements across the board are still discernible.
Matches (starts)
18 (13)
5 (2)
Goals
4
1
Assists
2
1
Shots (on target)*
1.3 (0.6)
2.2 (1.0)
Pass completion
78%
82%
Key passes*
0.3
1.4
Dribble (success)*
0.7 (54%)
0.6 (50%)
Ball recoveries*
4.6
5.0
Tackles + interceptions*
0.7
1.2
Duels won*
2.6 (34%)
2.0 (50%)
During Alcaraz’s Southampton days, he lacked the playmaking side that Moyes is currently instilling within him. Alcaraz has also shown himself to be crisper in the challenge and more active in defensive battles.
Combine that with his goalscoring prowess, and you have a number ten with all the qualities needed to rebirth that specific profile that Barkley played so well when at Everton.
Alcaraz started slow against Brentford on Wednesday evening but made gains as the match went on, carrying the ball with confidence and finding promising pockets of space in the second half, two things Barkley did very well when he was cutting his teeth under Moyes’ wing at Everton.
He’s dangerous and hasn’t even been treated to a partnership with Iliman Ndiaye yet, objectively Everton’s most dangerous player this season but sidelined since January after being forced off against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.
After notching a goal on his first start, Alcaraz has continued in a promising vein that suggests he is able across the park, dropping deep and influencing through creativity when called upon.
There’s a lot to like, with his naturally combative style and goalscoring inclination – further evidenced through past Premier League performances with Southampton – highlighting the Barkley-esque qualities Moyes will relish over the coming months and, hopefully, years.
The Scottish tactician did, after all, make Alcaraz the first signing of his new Everton era.
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