In recent years, Everton have very much been a yo-yo club within the Premier League. One season they’ll be facing the drop, the next, they’ll be challenging for a European position. Their form over recent years belies the fact that the Goodison Park club have half a good team. But is it a team half empty, or a team half full of talent?

On one hand, Everton have a great solid defensive unit, with the excellent Lescott and Yobo in front of a very good goalkeeper in Tim Howard. Alan Stubbs has always provided apt cover, while recent recruit Phil Jagielka will only increase the defensive strength of the Merseyside club. In midfield, Phil Neville and Lee Carsley put in some real workmanlike performances to protect the defence.

However, that is the real problem with Everton right now, they have a solid spine to their team, but year after year they seem to fail to sign a medley of players who can make a real difference in an attacking sense. There are obvious exceptions however. Andy Johnson was an excellent signing who helped to take much of the goalscoring burden away from Tim Cahill. Both of these players are wasted though, as Everton are seriously lacking in players in wide areas whom can really penetrate the opposition with good movement on and off the ball. Such players would create space and opportunities from which Johnson and Cahill would really thrive and score many more goals. Such players would probably propel Everton into Europe.

There is of course, one special player at Everton who has not yet been mentioned - one Mikel Arteta. Although not offerring the penetration that Everton are crying out for, Arteta possesses excellent technique, and is one of the best passers of the ball in the Premier League. The Spaniard is the player Hugo Viana would had been if he had adapted to English football. Naturally, Arteta is largely responsible for the best attacking sequences seen at Everton in recent years. He has not however reached his full potential playing for Everton, for again, the lack of penetrative wingers, and even the lack of a second striker caused by the regular use of a 4-5-1 formation severely restrict the Basque midfielder’s passing options.

It has been regularly reported at Newcastle that the new management are looking to add one big name, special, world class and exceptionally creative player to the club. Delightful names such as Ronaldinho and Deco have been mentioned. If, as the start of the season draws near, we have failed to snare this big name, Arteta could be the best possible alternative. It would take a significant bid, but Everton aren’t the richest club in the world, highlighted by David Moyes’ recent complaints that the club wont buy him a Mercedes despite buying Andy van der Meyde a Ferrari. Arteta could probably be persuaded to sign for Newcastle if Allardyce sells the club well to him, focusing towards the higher quality of attacking players whom Arteta would be playing alongside.

Moves for Johnson and Cahill should be ruled out as we have too many good strikers to make signing Johnson worthwhile, while if we were to switch formations to accomodate a Cahill style player, Kieron Dyer would probably fulfil the attacking midfield role at a similar standard to the Aussie. Lescott can also be ruled out, for although an excellent defender, the former Wolves player has been at the club a relatively small amount of time, so would probably only be receptive to a move to the top four, or to a part in Star Trek. However Joseph Yobo could be a possible consideration, the athletic centre half seems to rotate between happiness and unhappiness at Goodison Park, and he could be tempted into joining the Nigerian contingent that currently resides at Newcastle United.

Who should we be signing from Everton? Could Arteta be the creative player we are looking for? Have Your Say.

Arsenal
Matthieu Flamini
Justin Hoyte
Johan Djourou
Armand Traore
David Dein (as a potential Chief Executive)

Aston Villa
Aaron Hughes (Has moved to Fulham)

Birmingham City
Gary McSheffrey
Sebastien Larsson

Blackburn Rovers
Ryan Nelsen
David Bentley
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Benni McCarthy

Bolton Wanderers
Nicholas Anelka
El-Hadji Diouf
Gary Speed

Chelsea
Wayne Bridge
Khalid Boulahrouz (Has moved to Sevilla on loan)

Derby County
Giles Barnes
Lewin Nyatanga