Sakho and Townsend were certainly good enough. Unfortunately the former was always injured but the fact Everton picked him up does tell you something. Well it tells me something.

To answer the OP's question - yes we could be in a relegation battle but the core of the team is virtually unchanged. There are exciting players like Olise and Eze to come in and we have 2 central defenders that can actually run - an apparently pass. Which we have sorely missed with Sakho out.

I think Arsenal were seriously undercooked vs Brentford. I'm expecting a proper game against them on Saturday - our players need to be braver, aggressive, on their game and play to our strengths.

COYP!

that's what i said the are not good enough, too old and injurie prone, In my opinion Everton have a worse squad than us, Townsend wouldn't get in our team now, in my opinion

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Townsend has had a very long rest because of injury and pre season. What do you think will happen the next time he pulls or tweaks his hamstring? Out for ages and other things crop up. Plus he loses more of the little speed he has left and becomes more predictable than he will be for the next however many weeks after right backs and right midfielders are given instructions to stop him cutting onto his left and crossing.

It’s never easy to sell a player at the right time because you’ll mostly sell them while they’re still performing, but in your opinion not for much longer at that level. Remember when everyone didn’t want us to sell Luca to Everton for £20 mil? We’ll months later his form dropped dramatically and it hasn’t recovered since.

Plus he’s now too expensive for the reasons I’ve said.

COYP

Possibly, previously we have just about managed to pull things around in the last 3 months of the season. Our problems have always been having a small squad and crippling injuries, which have hampered us.

Nothing has been addressed really and we still have players out injured. Last season I cannot think of one game where we put out our strongest team, not one!

This season will be no different, but we will stay up just about.

Yes!

Everton have a worse squad, are you joking??