The Rumour Mill

Bilic on Kenwright's shortlist

30/05/2013 |

Comments (45)

Slaven Bilic is one of the candidates on Bill Kenwright's shortlist of potential successors to David Moyes according to Russian journalist, Artur Petrosyan.

Petrosyan tweeted that Everton's interest in their former defender is a "fact" and that he would not be surprised if Bilic flew to England after concluding his talks with the Lokomotiv Moscow this week.

Today should be vital for Bilic's future. He's meeting the president. Don't be surprised if he flies to Liverpool straight after. #EFC

@dhg23 Everton being interested in him is a fact. The rest depends on many things...

Bilic took up the reins at the Russian outfit, who have been a mid-table side this season, after a spell as Croatia's national coach.

Original Source: @arturpetrosyan Rumour source ranking:
1 = Poor; 2 = Fair; 3 = Good; 4 = Very Good; Empty (grey) = Unranked

Reader Comments

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Steve Bell
159 Posted 30/05/2013 at 19:38:04

Christ no way, nooooooo. Though Jelavic would be pleased.

Eugene Ruane
162 Posted 30/05/2013 at 19:40:34

Well he's.......erm........um...........NOT Stubbs.

Patrick Murphy
164 Posted 30/05/2013 at 19:41:04

It's no good him flying in to Liverpool Bk's only here on matchdays.
Looks like Bill has been reading ToffeeWeb after all.

Tommy Meehan
165 Posted 30/05/2013 at 19:42:15

Well if "Artur Petrosyan" said it . . .

Jimmy Sørheim
167 Posted 30/05/2013 at 19:42:08

A couple of months ago I would have said "good news"... but, after looking closely at his results as manager, I do no longer think he would be a good fit for us.

I would go for Solskjaer but Martinez could be almost as good.

Chris Regan
181 Posted 30/05/2013 at 19:55:14

Better than Martinez? May be!

Ian Glassey
185 Posted 30/05/2013 at 19:57:42

He raped Everton as a player don't want him doing it again thanks but no thanks.

Paul Dark
189 Posted 30/05/2013 at 20:08:10

Biblic would be a good appointment; he's astute, has a footballing philosophy and is somewhat over-criticized by some Everton fans.

He would be 1000 times better than Martinez.

Chris Regan
194 Posted 30/05/2013 at 20:11:15

The whole process is dragging on too long.

Chris Regan
195 Posted 30/05/2013 at 20:11:15

The whole process is dragging on too long.

John Crawley
199 Posted 30/05/2013 at 20:13:43

We should be interviewing Bilic, a former player who will have an understanding of the club and who proved himself tactically astute whilst managing Croatia.

Phil Sammon
200 Posted 30/05/2013 at 20:14:25

It really isn't Chris. This is an appointment for our long term future. I think it's right that BK is thorough.

Mark Frere
218 Posted 30/05/2013 at 20:34:01

John Crawley 199

Bilic had some outstanding players like Moderic and Mandzucic playing under him for Croatia, didn't even get past the group stages at the Euro's, were very impressive to watch though.

What has Bilic actually achieved that seems to catch yours and other peoples eyes? I can't think of an other manager who gets so much unwarrented praise

Al Reddish
223 Posted 30/05/2013 at 20:49:56

When Moyes was in charge a lot of ToffeeWebbers were calling for him to f**k off so we could get Bilic, Martinez etc into the club. Now reality bites, a lot of people seem to be shying away from the idea. Nowt as queer as folk as they say.

Liam Young
235 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:05:32

Bilic would be a good choice, you cant base his management career on his football playing career, thats dumb, was Moyes a great player?, no. Slaven is a good manager, he was my first thought for new manager, but more and more I have liked the idea of Vitor Pereira. Martinez is not the man for the job though, or ex-everton players, maybe assistand manager at best. Stubbsy would be a perfect assistant manager.

Paul Ferry
236 Posted 30/05/2013 at 20:45:12

Holy Entwistle Batman: Biblic 'would be 1000 times better than Martinez' (189).

Bamm, Biff, Whammo!!!!!!

Erm what fresh twaddle is this? 1000 times better? (Someone in Litherland thinks that he would be 782 times better.)

Martinez 1000 times worse than Bilic? Tosh.

Okay Bilic:

(1) far too many bookings and suspensions

(2) getting Blanc sent off in the World Cup semi afdter Simac 'encouraged' him to fall to the floor clutching his head - fucking cheat

(3) missed first quarter of next season - groin strain - and could not get a regular place down to injuries and suspensions

(4) we cut our losses by telling the crocked Croat that he can join any club s but no-one wants him, so he packs his bags and heads off to Zagreb not playing for a club but playing for Croatia and we are paying him 27000 sponds each week!!!!!

(5) We give him a 1 million quid pay-off to get rid of him as he has 28 months left on his contract

John (199): A 'former player who will have an understanding of the club'

Yeah right, a real true blue who did us great service and left us honourably with dignity showing us all once and for all how much he cares for and understands us and our traditions and cultures.

For me Bilic is one of the darkest memories of a dark age. Don't bring him anywhere near my beloved club so he can what, shit all over us once more?

And, by the way, his managerial record is not exactly sparkling is it, really .....

Mark Pierpoint
237 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:06:31

Mark Frere sums this up perfectly. A few bays ago I posted about Bilic. I am not a fan. His record with Croatia was slightly better than Capello's and Eriksson's at England but it is worse than Igor Stimac (his successor) at Croatia who has won 7 out of 8. This sums it up to me, it is debatable whether he has over achieved. He then left for Russia and has done......nothing. Sorry, I can't see why people think he is a good idea. And I haven't even mentioned his record here as a player. All I will say is that those people who say 'ignore it' I hope you are people who were also agreeing with the same policy when Benitez was available

Paul Ferry
238 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:10:52

Oh and forgot to add:

(5) We give him a 1 million quid pay-off to get rid of him as he has 28 months left on his contract. And two days - yes TWO DAYS - later the cheating conniving shitbag signs for Hadjuk Split.

Shall we read that back lads and Sharon and Frida: he sits on his fecking ass for months not signing for a club living off our 27000 weekly K, gets a million sponds from us to fuck off, and signs for another club two days later

A twat of the highest order

Brian Harrison
241 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:15:24

SSN are saying that BK was interviewing Ralf Rangwick the coach of Schalke

Kevin Day
242 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:16:09

Ralf Rangnick has been interviewed today. Now there's a rabbit out the hat.

Eugene Ruane
243 Posted 30/05/2013 at 20:55:08

Al Reddish - I certainly (over the past three years or so) was calling for Moyes to 'fuck off', but I can honestly say that I have made no real argument for any (other) manager 'out there' and still don't/can't.

I kind of know that nobody we're going to get is going to have (as they say on Britain's Got Deluded Lunatics) the 'wow factor'.

Martinez, Laudrup, Pereira - all fine but I wouldn't be dancing up and down because one got rather than another.

I think with the 'level' of manager we're looking at (ie: not Mourinho) a lot will be down to luck.

Billic?

Again, no idea.

For me, the excitement is that we'll start with something new, fresh, different.

(obviously if it's Stubbs, I will immediately start the aptly named SOB and continue as per)

Kevin Day
245 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:17:03

You beat me too it Brian

Andrew Ellams
246 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:17:33

Never heard of Rangnick, just read up on him and not over excited

Still Roberto for me

Nik Ramsden
247 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:14:46

Sky reporting that Ralf Rangnick has been interviewed. New name into the mix from what I can tell. Don't know much about him to be honest. Any thoughts anyone? Been linked with a few premier league club's previously so should we be taking this more seriously? I'm not keen on Martinez so maybe there is hope.

Mark Pierpoint
256 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:20:24

The guy took Schalke to a Champions League semi final a few years ago. But he resigned for health reasons (exhaustion syndrome) he has since been DoF at Red Bull Salzburg. I am not a health expert and it certainly isn't for me to speculate about someones health but doesn't make comfortable reading? seems to have a decent record but sorry, think it is still Martinez for me.

Patrick Murphy
261 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:26:49

his win rate is pretty decent - 633 295 145 193 1,003 827 +176 46.60 . It looks like he hasn't managed day to day for just over 2 years Spurs were looking at him last season before they chose AVB. I think the net is widening because of the money situation I don't think that RM will come and I felt he wouldn't even before yesterday's interview.

Jamie Sweet
265 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:17:59

I agree entirely with Eugene. I'm most excited about seeing someone breathe new life into the club. Showing us some new ideas, some new tactics, a different approach to training, handling the media, substitutions, defending corners etc.

There is not one man on "the list" that you can absolutely garuntee will be better / worse than Moyes - but they will (hopefully) be different.

It's the same reason there are a lot of divorces after 10 - 15 years of marriage. Not everyone moves on to better things... just different.

I think most Blues are ready for change, hence the weight of support behind Pereira, Martinez, Laudrup... and very little noise being made in favour of Mackay, Weir, Stubbs and the like.

Paul Ferry
279 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:48:36

Nicely summed up Jamie (265): I just want a little new life breathed into our big old club.

James Morgan
291 Posted 30/05/2013 at 21:54:49

I like how we are at least considering numerous decent names instead of just opting for shite like Hughes off the bat.
Not convinced on Bilic. Pereira, Martinez, or Bielsa would be probably my top choices.

Barry Stevens
305 Posted 30/05/2013 at 22:12:40

After what Bilic did to the club as a player, he shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Finch Farm.

John Crawley
308 Posted 30/05/2013 at 22:09:22

Mark Frere 218 - I'm not claiming Bilic is some kind of world beater but I think he did a good job with Croatia. To put it in persepective, he managed the U21's and then brought through Eduardo da Silva, Luka Modrić, and Vedran Ćorluka to the full side. He qualified top of the group for Euro 2008 beating England home and away. He was the youngest coach at Euro 2008 and got them to the quarter final even though they had lost their star striker Eduardo with injury.

He got them to the Euro's in 2012 and they were in a tough group with Italy and Spain. They should have had a blatant penalty when Corluka was taken out (neck high) by Busquets. When he left the Croatia job Domestic media outlet Jutarnji List labelled him as Croatia's only manager to depart on such positive terms and credited him for his strong revival of the national side during his six-year tenure.

Hope that answers your question about why he is at least worthy of an interview. I have said in numerous other threads that my choice would be Tuchel or Bielsa but I certainly think we should be interviewing people like Bilic.

Tony Foxwell
311 Posted 30/05/2013 at 22:23:09

Hope not, I can't stand the bloke. Half-decent player and half-decent manager... better off staying where he is. Not for Everton.

Mark Pierpoint
319 Posted 30/05/2013 at 22:24:19

How much credit can international managers take for 'bringing through' players? really its the clubs that develop them? Not sure myself how much weight I would put on anyone's experience of international management. Look at England, if the players don't give a toss then a manager is largely useless. One thing that Croatia has is because of its recent history, and a long term nationalistic feeling, them players are probably more fired up and prouder than anybody before the manager even enters the room.

Mark Frere
324 Posted 30/05/2013 at 22:25:03

Yes john, Didn't say he had a shocking record with Croatia, but the new coach doesn't seem to be doing too bad with all the talent at his disposal. There's pro's and cons with all available, but Bilic would be one of the most unproven at club level at least.

I'm in total agreement with your views on Bielsa though, he just seems light years ahead of any other managerial candidates

Drew O'Neall
329 Posted 30/05/2013 at 22:37:51

Paul 189, appointing him would be a cock up of Biblic proportions.

Brin Williams
331 Posted 30/05/2013 at 22:39:58

Ian Glassey 185 Fully agree mate - 'rape' was the word that I was looking for and exemplifies the sod - he milked it at GP.

Brin Williams
333 Posted 30/05/2013 at 22:42:30

Barry Stevens 305 Ditto mate.

David Holroyd
371 Posted 30/05/2013 at 23:53:43

Kenwright is going to pick Martinez... he is just streching it out.

Jay Harris
408 Posted 31/05/2013 at 03:39:14

We need someone with a consistent track record of success not a one hit wonder like Bilic or Martinez.

If we are looking at the likes of Pereira why not extend it to Rijkaard, De Boeur, Hiddinck etc.

While City and Chelsea go straight for Pelegrini and Mourhino we are pissing about with a list knowing that Bill is giving it to Martinez anyway and is just dragging things out.

Mike Keating
576 Posted 31/05/2013 at 14:33:53

Paul Ferry @ 236 & 238
Glad I read these first - saved me half an hours rant
Bilic?
Bollocks

Ross Edwards
577 Posted 31/05/2013 at 14:40:05

Slaven did well with Croatia, obviously he's not doing well in Russia but his players are crap there. As long as Stubbs or Weir aren't on the shortlist I'd be a very happy Evertonian.

Steven Telford
999 Posted 01/06/2013 at 12:31:23

I don't rate Billic, I just hope this is decided soon, and that above all else, it's not an internal appointment.

Colin Grierson
163 Posted 01/06/2013 at 20:30:38

I'd rather have a Phil Neville, Alan Stubbs duet than have Bilic back. The man is a mercenary! NO

Alan Ross
399 Posted 02/06/2013 at 15:36:08

Must be a dozen names in the last three. Keep us guessing Bill. You know it makes sense. Every day that passes the closer we get to an internal appointment. When it finally emerges ....."At least I didn't make a snap decision" will be Bill's retort.

Barry Lightfoot
424 Posted 02/06/2013 at 16:38:25

David Holroyd 371

"Kenwright is going to pick Martinez... he is just stretching it out."

Ooh kinky, well that's one way of enticing a new manager in.

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