Here are your Everton morning headlines for Wednesday, 21 October.
European Super League of little interest to Everton at present
After Project Big Picture was kicked to the curb, the latest game-shaking news to be floated is the concept of a European Super League.
It’s hardly a new idea, and it will be of little interest to Everton and their supporters at present, as the Blues wouldn’t be part of such a competition as things stand.
If anything, the suggested alterations to the Champions League – where qualification will be based on performance over the preceding three years, rather than for finishing in the top four of the league – are of greater concern to Everton.
Phil Kirkbride has taken a look at how these various proposed changes would affect the Toffees, and his thoughts are well worth a read .
Everton’s Premier League squad confirmed
It’s far from the most important day of the season, but it’s always an interesting one when Premier League teams confirm their 25-man squad lists for the first half of the season.
Clubs must include no more than 17 players who do not meet the Home Grown Player (HGP) criteria, and Everton have shaped their roster accordingly.
Who made the cut? Who has been left out? You can see who Carlo Ancelotti has selected for his squad for between now and the start of February here .
There are no inclusions as eye-catching as Chelsea’s decision to incorporate retired goalkeeper Petr Cech in their group, but there are still some well-known players left on the outside looking in.
Contract decision for defensive duo looming
While the first team squad are obviously of the most immediate importance to Everton, the club has plenty of exciting young talent in David Unsworth’s under-23 team.
Two of the defenders in the side will be soon approaching the end of their contracts, and the Blues’ hierarchy will have to decide whether or not to offer them new deals.
The men in question are Ryan Astley – who featured in pre-season for the senior team last summer – and Con Ouzounidis.
Unsworth praised their performances after they kept a clean sheet against Tottenham on Monday, and you can see what he had to say here .
