The Blue Frontier - American Everton Analysis

Everton’s winless run against Aston Villa in the Premier League stretched to 13, as the Toffees settled for a 0–0 draw at Hill Dickinson Stadium. On paper it looked like a stalemate, but the match itself told a different story: 20 shots, 46 touches in Villa’s box, and over 2 expected goals: evidence of a side creating plenty, just not finishing it. Emi Martínez, inevitably, played spoiler with another standout display. On this episode of The Blue Frontier, James, Shan, and Ryan break down the fine margins. Beto’s chaotic afternoon, Michael Keane’s unexpected threat at set pieces, and Iliman Ndiaye's awkward fit on the right all come under the microscope. There’s praise for James Garner’s resilience out of position, cautious optimism around Merlin Röhl’s full debut, and frustration at David Moyes’ conservative substitutions. With Villa undermanned yet still unbeaten in the fixture, the crew ask: was this two points dropped, or proof that Everton are steadily climbing? And with the Merseyside Derby at Anfield looming, the conversation turns to how this deeper, still-unbalanced squad might fare against far sterner opposition.   Links: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier

Deadline Day is in the books, and the full TBF trio takes stock of Everton’s summer. James, Ryan, and Shan walk through the full window position by position, testing their own preseason assessments against what actually unfolded. Merlin Röhl’s late arrival from Freiburg, the sale of Youssef Chermiti to Rangers, and the splashy additions of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish headline the discussion - but so do the gaps left untouched at right back and defensive midfield. Along the way, the panel weigh Everton’s €120m net spend against squad balance, highlight which misses were blessings in disguise (no Soucek, no Aké), and consider whether patience with Tyler Dibling and other young signings points to a longer-term plan. Listener polls and comments from the Blue Frontier Discord bring fresh perspective on how fans grade the business and where they expect the club to finish. It’s an audit of Everton’s window: not surprisingly, there are some different grades and viewpoints on how successful the Toffees have been.    LINKS:  https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  

Everton’s August renaissance rolls on. A 2-3 win away at Wolves makes it three straight victories in all competitions. Almost unbelievably, that means as many league wins in August as the previous four years combined. Beto bullied Wolves’ back line for the opener, Iliman Ndiaye leaned into the banter with a wolf-themed celebration, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall unleashed a bullet on the volley as good as any the Toffees have seen in some time. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Defensive lapses let Hwang Hee-chan and Rodrigo Gomes drag Wolves back into it, exposing Everton’s ongoing right-back and center-back depth issues. Jack Grealish again stole the show: dictating play, winning fouls, and racking up another 2 assists, looking every bit like Everton’s new potential talisman. James Garner’s bite in midfield, Beto’s hold-up play, and the away support also earned high marks. With Branthwaite’s return looming, Tyler Dibling pushing for minutes, and transfer rumors swirling (yes, Tomas Souček…), the squad balance debate rages on. Shan and James dissect the win, the wobble, and what Moyes’ Everton are becoming.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier

Everton made it ten straight wins in their League Cup openers, seeing off League One Mansfield Town 2–0 at the Hill Dickinson with second-half goals from Charly Alcaraz and Beto. It was more “professional” than thrilling, but hardly short on storylines. On this episode of The Blue Frontier: American Everton Analysis, James, Ryan, and Shan dive into a night of rotation and returns: Vitalii Mykolenko back at left back, Seamus Coleman making his season debut in his 17th year with the club, and teenager Tyler Dibling getting his first senior minutes. Harrison Armstrong’s poised midfield display takes center stage, while the debate rages on between Thierno Barry’s promise vs Beto’s end product. The trio weigh Moyes’ lineup choices, the value of squad depth that finally looks like depth, and what these performances say about Everton’s evolving balance ahead of Wolves in the league and the looming close of the transfer window.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  

133 years after Goodison Park first opened, Everton christened their new Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 2–0 win over Brighton. The Blue Frontier crew break down a landmark day: goals from Iliman Ndiaye and makeshift left back James Garner, Jack Grealish’s impressive debut in blue, and Jordan Pickford’s penalty save that sealed the occasion. We dig into the tactical wrinkles: N’Jai shifted right, Grealish roaming the left, and Moyes’ new-look 4-2-3-1 holding firm despite Brighton’s pressure. Tyler Dibling’s £35m signing also gets the full treatment: upside, risks, and how he fits into an attack suddenly packed with dribblers. We separate noise from numbers, debate who looked ready for prime time (Keane??), and ask whether Everton’s luck finally turned.  LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  

The Blue Frontier crew casts their gaze over the Premier League’s “other 16,” dissecting the transfer whirlwind, tactical shifts, and last season’s form shaping the mid-table and relegation scraps.   Newly promoted sides load up on youth, like Sunderland’s Diarra-led charge, while Bournemouth’s press (1st in PPDA) keeps defenses sweating. West Ham’s PSR woes expose a creaky midfield, and Palace’s European jaunt tests their depth.   With stats and analysis to back the banter, the hosts weigh who’s built to climb and crash, all while pondering if late window moves at Finch Farm can offset a grim Leeds loss. It’s a macro look at the Premier League’s underbelly, spiked with a Blue-tint and glimmers of hope with under two weeks left to dictate EFC's fortunes this campaign.  Teams Discussed (in order) Sunderland   Leeds   Burnley   West Ham   Wolves   Brentford   Fulham   Bournemouth   Everton   Brighton   Crystal Palace   Manchester United   Aston Villa   Nottingham Forest   Tottenham   Newcastle LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Get in touch: bluefrontierusa@gmail.com   Intro composed by Steve Barkwill, voiced by Laura Lockwood

Everton’s Premier League season opener at Elland Road ended in familiar fashion: August defeat, a handball controversy, and a fanbase perhaps already questioning the transfer committee. In the the first post-match recap of the new campaign, James and Shan break down Leeds United 1–0 Everton, by the numbers and by the VIBES. James Garner’s surprise turn at left back, to Beto’s isolation, to Ndiaye battling triple-teams, to Jack Grealish’s anticipated debut, the pod digs into every angle. Was Tarkowski harshly punished for “making himself bigger”? Did Everton’s midfield look as lost as the numbers suggest? And what does this say about a recruitment team that has addressed everything except Everton’s glaring needs, with just two weeks left in the window? The duo dives into it all on this one. Producer's note: Missing Ryan’s tactical brain this week and the match was during work hours - apologies if the analysis isn’t as sharp as usual. LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  Get in touch: bluefrontierusa@gmail.com Intro composed by Steve Barkwill, voiced by Laura Lockwood

Back from Atlanta and back behind the mic, the Blue Frontier trio break down Everton’s 2–2 draw with Manchester United in the final match of the PL Summer Series. The conversation covers tactical shifts, including James Garner operating as a deep midfielder, Charlie Alcaraz forced wide, and a promising first look at Adam Aznou. But many of the usual issues remain. The right side of the pitch still looks unsettled, and Beto continues to work in isolation. Off the pitch, Everton becomes the first Premier League club to receive Living Pension accreditation. The Budweiser stadium deal and ongoing public transport concerns also come under the microscope, with Bramley-Moore's opening just around the corner. In the final segment, the group examines Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s arrival, the stalled pursuit of Tyler Dibling, and rumored moves for Dion Lopy and Jack Grealish. As time runs out in the window, the strategy behind Everton’s recruitment becomes harder to pin down. LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Get in touch: bluefrontierusa@gmail.com Intro produced by Steve Barkwill, voiced by Laura Lockwood

Everton are set for a US roadtrip, and The Blue Frontier crew is riding shotgun. In this special Summer Series episode, James and Shan go full tour guide, handing the mic to Evertonians from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Atlanta to spotlight fan-led festivities across the US: from five-a-side footy and boat cruises, to all out Southern-style tailgates. They preview the events and the Toffee spirit ramping up spectacularly in each city, and get a little bit of background on each group's history. In the final segment, the hosts also break down Everton’s early preseason (spoiler: don't draw any conclusions), Mark Travers’ surprise arrival, kit discourse (finally, a win), and a few links with legs: Takefusa Kubo and Adam Aznou. Tactically light, community heavy - this one’s for the badge-kissers and the Discord lurkers alike.   James - NY: (01:47) Henry - NJ: (09:11) Tony - CHI: (18:47) Bridget - ATL (31:26) Shan/James Segment: (41:44)   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  SUMMER SERIES FB GROUP FOR ALL INFO: https://www.facebook.com/groups/768603562263241 

The Blue Frontier has reached the FINAL FRONTIER in its 2024–25 Everton squad assessment series with a deep dive into the club’s most critical remaining gaps: right-back and goalkeeper. Building on the tactical and data-heavy groundwork laid in Part 1, James, Ryan, and Shan kick off with news on Idrissa Gana Gueye and Michael Keane re-signing, as well as the incoming Thierno Barry (who got a full breakdown an earlier episode). From there, they turn their attention to right backs and keepers, applying their consistent scouting framework: starting with free agents and relegated bargains, before digging into names identified via custom models, Wyscout data, and Discord community contributions. This episode surfaces high-upside young right-backs like Tiago Santos, Wesley, and Juanlu Sánchez; weighs short-term fixes like Kyle Walker-Peters, and touches on intriguing (and sometimes chaotic) goalkeeper options to back up Jordan Pickford following the departures of João Virgínia and Asmir Begović. As always, there are no agendas, no fake hot takes: just data-literate, realistic, and out-of-the-box thinking. The pod mixes tactical nuance with a few laughs, a touch of shade, and a whole lot of grounded analysis. If you’re looking for Everton insight that’s civil, smart, and more serious than silly-season rumors, this one’s for you. LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Email:  bluefrontierusa@gmail.com   Intro: composed by Steve Barkwill, voice work by Laura Lockwood

Part 6 of The Blue Frontier’s 2024–25 Everton squad assessment series takes on a big brief: left backs, center backs, and all the latest transfer noise. PLUS a new theme song to set the tone (thanks to Steve Barkwill and Laura Lockwood, links below!) James, Shan, and Ryan kick things off with reactions to the kit reveal (Stake-free at last), the Seamus Coleman extension, and updates on Jarrad Branthwaite’s looming five-year deal and Gana Gueye’s still-pending renewal. From there, the crew dives into positional analysis, blending Wyscout data, scouting models, and sharp tactical logic to evaluate what Everton really need in defense. While LB and CB are both positions of need, the trio consider that Everton may want to allocate more funds to other positions and have adjusted accordingly. They weigh up Vitalii Mykolenko’s year, question the resource allocation for rumored signings like Thierno Barry, and explore wide-ranging fullback options—from free agents and relegated bargains to promising South American talents like Vanderlan and Esquivel. Also discussed: Galatasaray’s Jelleur, Southampton’s Wellington, and MLS alumnus John Tolkin. And as usual, light on the agendas and intentional hot takes, heavy on different ideas, out of the box thinking, and surprising names that make a lot more sense than the silly season rumor mill.    If you would like to find a group of guys that attempt to keep it civil – with an exception or two in this episode - and realistic, we encourage you to give it a listen.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Get in touch:  bluefrontierusa@gmail.com   Steve Barkwill Composition: https://stevebarkwill.com  Laura Lockwood (Lockwood Voices): https://www.lockwoodvoices.com/ 

Just when you think it’s not possible, The Blue Frontier brings to you their biggest list of names yet – almost 70! - with Part 5 of their 2024–25 Everton squad assessment focusing on CM/DM.  If you want some in depth analysis on a massive position of need for Everton, this may be your podcast.    Building up on their initial team analysis in Part 1, James, Shan, and Ryan try and find CMs and DMs to address Everton’s massive needs for better progression, retention, and defensive solidity.  And they legitimately spend almost 2 hours going through almost 70 names for multiple midfield roles.     But as in the previous episode, the podcast starts with looking at the performance of existing players – Gana, Garner, Iroegbunam – that could be options at the position, and moves on to consider players beginning with free transfers and relegation bargains and moving on to players identified via a combination of scouting models, Wyscout data, and quite a few contributions from our Discord community. In this episode, The Blue Frontier gets into many names in considerable details in order to finish with a few recommendations to transform Everton’s midfield. And as usual, there are no agendas, no intentional hot takes, but plenty of different ideas, out of the box thinking, and some unusual names that make a lot more sense than the silly season rumor mill.   If you would like to find a group of guys that attempt to keep it civil and realistic, we encourage you to give it a listen.   Get in touch:  https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Email: bluefrontierusa@gmail.com

Part four of our 2024–25 Team Assessment digs into Everton’s creative conundrum. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s exit all but official, the guys evaluate potential reinforcements up top, headlined by the links to Villarreal striker Tierno Barry. Is he worth the €40M plunge? They then dive into the main course: central attacking midfield, where Charly Alcaraz, McNeil, and Ndiaye are all "options"... for now. James, Ryan, and Shan run through free agents, relegation bounce-backs, and rising stars who might finally bring some spark between the lines. Bilal El Khannous? Martin Baturina? A wild Grealish rumor? It's all on the table. Plus: tactical needs, financial tradeoffs, and which prospects have world-class ceilings (and which don’t). Smart, skeptical, and as always, backed by data, this episode is your blueprint to Everton’s options at CAM this summer.  Get in touch: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier bluefrontierusa@gmail.com  

The Blue Frontier’s 2024/25 Squad Assessment continues with Part 3: a deep dive into Everton’s biggest attacking void, the right wing. James, Shan, and Ryan bring their trademark blend of rigor and realism to a position crying out for pace, 1v1 threat, and open-play creativity. Building on Part 1’s tactical framework (goal threat, progression, structure) and informed by scouting models, Wyscout data, and Discord contributions, the trio sort through nearly 40 potential solutions. From high-ceiling targets like Johan Bakayoko and Karim Adeyemi to versatile fits like Geny Catamo and Abdul Fatawu, this is a wide-ranging but focused search for not just one, but possibly two new signings. Free agents, relegation bargains, and out-of-favor top-league talents all get a look. No agendas, no fluff, just sharp analysis and unexpected names that make more sense than most tabloid chatter. If Everton want to evolve, this is the spot they have to get right. Get in touch: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Email: bluefrontierusa@gmail.com  

In Part 2 of their 2024–25 Everton squad assessment, The Blue Frontier team turns its attention to center forwards and wide attackers, offering the kind of detailed, data-driven analysis you won’t find anywhere else in the Everton media space. James, Shan, and Ryan build on Part 1’s tactical themes (goal threat, progression, structure, and more) to evaluate how the club can strengthen its attack this summer. With Beto showing flashes but limitations, Calvert-Lewin’s future still unclear, and Chermiti largely untested, the hosts ask a simple but often overlooked question: what profile of forward actually fits the way Everton want to play under David Moyes? From aging free agents to versatile forwards and emerging talent across Europe, over 30 potential targets are dissected with the help of custom scouting models, Wyscout data, and community input from Discord. It’s methodical, candid, and refreshingly agenda-free. If you’re looking for smart, grounded transfer discussion that treats Everton’s future seriously this is where you’ll find it.   Get in touch:  https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Email: bluefrontierusa@gmail.com