What can we offer a new manager?
I would like you to imagine that Roberto Martinez gets the sack this afternoon. First thing tomorrow morning the Board meets to draw up it's list of managers that it would like to approach in order to replace Martinez. By the mid morning coffee break, they have come up with two lists.The first list will include Hiddink, Mancini, Pellegrini and Mourinho as their first choice five-star managers that should be approached.
The second list will include De Boer, Koeman and Simeone.
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Following the coffee break, the meeting begins again and the Board draws up a list of what it thinks they club has that would attract a manager. The list includes:
- A famous, full of history, 40,000-seat stadium that is a bear pit and a fortress when the team is playing well. However, it is a decrepid stadium all the same with only 40,000 seats, 4,000 of those being obstructed view seats. Also, the fans have been unsettled all season and are currently close to mutiny. In fact, over the last two months they have been a complete pain in the ass. This has made the stadium more like a morgue than a bear pit.
- A decent squad that has some high quality players. The squad has shown itself to be capable of playing very good football. However, it is very low on fitness, togetherness, confidence and motivation. As a result, a lot of work will be needed in preseason to bring this squad back up to where it should be on these issues. Also, many of the better players feel that their reputation has been tarnished by the last two seasons at club level. These better players are going to the Euros and may look to move away from the club by trying to have a good tournament. A new manager will also need to work on convincing these players to stay.
- A top class youth academy that has been challenging for honours at youth level on a consistent basis for a number of years. This is starting to bear fruit with a number of players on the fringe of the first team. Many of these players on the fringe already have first team experience with the club or have been playing regular games all season out on loan.
- A top class training facility at Finch Farm. While the club may not own the facility outright, it has spent a lot of money on making it the perfect environment for the players.
- A decent transfer budget, made up of both a huge TV rights deal and a majority share holder with deep pockets. However, the majority shareholder has no proven track record of signing cheques, all the other Premier League clubs get the same TV deal and the club's other revenue streams are poor quality.
- European football next season. (Oh no wait, we don't actually.)
The Board breaks for lunch having drawn up the list of what it thinks the club has that would attract a manager. Following lunch it restarts it's meeting by compare the A-List of managers against the list of club attractions. The Board thinks about what all of the A-List managers had at their previous Sky Four, Champions League Darlings clubs in England and across Europe. The room breaks into an uneasy silence and each Board member mutters the word 'bugger' under his breath.
A few minutes later, the Board regains its composure and gets talking again. It compares it's B-List managers against the list of club attractions. This discussion goes a lot better. These managers are used to less shiny things than the A-List managers. They can work without £50M transfer fees, Olympic stadia and a £10M-a-year salary. Happy with its days work, the Board meeting ends with a decision to break for dinner.
The Board meeting conclusions are that the Board will ring the A-List managers first thing in the morning. The Board members don't think the club really has enough to attract any of these managers but it will look good to the fans and the national media. The national media,by the way, has also been a royal pain in the ass these last two months. The Board will then get in touch with the B-List managers. The Board members think that the Board has a much better chance of attracting one of these.
I have obviously written all of the above in a jokey style. In all seriousness, though, as much as I would like us to approach someone like Gus Hiddink, I don't think we have enough to tempt the likes of him or Pellegrini. This isn't me being small minded, having an inferiority complex, or knowing my place as a fan as a supposed small club. I just think that this type of manager is used to working with bigger everything than what Everton has to offer at present. While we might still be a challenge to savour, I think that a Hiddink or Mourinho would easily get a better offer elsewhere.
With the likes of Koeman and De Boer, what we lack compared to Champions League clubs in terms of stadia and transfer fees wouldn't necessarily hold them back from the club. Both managers would appreciate the training facilities, the current squad and the youth academy. Both managers would have what it takes to move the club forward with what we have to offer and — for De Boer and his coaching staff especially — it would be a step up from the Dutch League in terms of a challenge.
If you were to ask me, I would say yes, think big. Why not discretely ask Hiddink. He is living in the country already and may surprise us by saying yes.
But I would say that we should also think in terms of realism at the same time. Realism still doesn't have to mean selling ourselves short. Giving our all to get De Boer or Koeman in would still both mean thinking big as either one would be a class act.
Reader Comments (58)
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2 Posted 10/05/2016 at 14:17:03
3 Posted 10/05/2016 at 14:45:34
We fans are never going to agree on a manager (I don't see any attraction in Pellegrini, for example). So for me, far more important is how we hire, rather than directly who we hire.
In other words, a well defined search with clear criteria, defined requirements that we search for and interview for, hiring for long term success based on clear strategy.
4 Posted 10/05/2016 at 15:11:05
5 Posted 10/05/2016 at 15:28:24
The former's stock is on the wane a little, will soon be unemployed and is looking to stay in England. The latter are being looked at by the best clubs round Europe and are both at clubs where they are loved and are doing very well (an understatement for Simeone).
My shortlist would be something like Koeman, De Boer, Cocu, Tuchel, Pellegrini, Emery, Favre. The safe (Moyes) options would be Dyche or Howe. Or Moyes (joking...sort of).
6 Posted 10/05/2016 at 15:38:46
He's the clear example of an English name being considered less interesting than a foreign one. He's basically a more consistent Pochettino before he joined Spurs.
Wouldn't necessarily be my choice at this stage; but he gets a lot of stick as if hiring him would be some clear failure on our part, which I don't think is the case.
7 Posted 10/05/2016 at 15:42:49
8 Posted 10/05/2016 at 15:45:45
We have become so far down the pecking order during Kenwright era, I do worry being realistic if we really can entice a better standard of manager than the dross we've had for decades, so much damage has been done. We are putting a lot of hope in Farhad Moshiri. Why on earth have we put up with Kenwright for so long........
9 Posted 10/05/2016 at 15:46:29
10 Posted 10/05/2016 at 15:48:05
Isn't his contract up after the Euros? And if not, he'll be sacked after the usual poor England performance.
11 Posted 10/05/2016 at 15:48:14
2) De Boer
3) Pellegrini
12 Posted 10/05/2016 at 15:55:55
Simone is pure utter fantasy, a sheer dream that will not come true.
Eddie Howe is too much a risk, another who's only used to working at a small club, Mike Walker, Martinez-esque. He may in time become a fine manager at a top club but for where we are now, we need a strong experienced leader of men to stamp his authority on big egos.
13 Posted 10/05/2016 at 16:11:28
Anyway, if we get Pellegrini we might finally sign Riquelme...
14 Posted 10/05/2016 at 16:20:01
Come on, lads, get a grip and get real, this is a vital time.
15 Posted 10/05/2016 at 16:23:15
If that is of interest then advise what sort of transfer funds he can expect.
Finally, the circumstances under which a contract may be terminated.
Then do the same for your secondary choices.
That should keep the Board busy and allow the new members to work out who stands where.
17 Posted 10/05/2016 at 16:32:45
Any appointment will come about as a result of Bill ringing round his contacts and then asking the others if they want to leave it all to him. They will probably all be happy to do so although Moshiri will refer to his boss Usmanov for a name or two.
Several weeks will go by and we MIGHT get news that a decision will be made once the Euros are finished. Then, probably because they live handy either, Moyes, O'Neill or even Benitez will get the not.
'I knew he was my man as soon as I saw the glitter in his eye', will say the Chairman and things will get back to normal in no time !
18 Posted 10/05/2016 at 16:46:38
19 Posted 10/05/2016 at 16:56:55
"Well, actually, that wasn't on our list" is going to go down like a lead balloon. Followed by Hiddink (or whoever) giving it full on Vincent Hanna as they head out the door:
20 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:07:10
Cheers Phil. I'm now imagining a three way conference call taking place between Kenwright, Michael Crawford and Derek Hatton.
21 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:08:10
Fancy the job 🙉
22 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:24:05
23 Posted 10/05/2016 at 17:24:24
We lack total leadership on the pitch, the gaffer must have a fucking grafter on the pitch, a "main man", controlling things. We have no Plan A never mind a fucking Plan B, we are a fucking laughing stock.
Soft as shite to play against, no shape, direction, motivation, no element of surprise, class, skill or pace, we never shoot on sight. Our discipline is shocking, our defending even worse. We bore the arses off Premier League fans the world over, we are big time bottlers living in the past... fuck, we have NEVER won the League Cup were teams that couldn't hold a fucking candle to us have.
Our chairman is a prick; the silence of the board is deafening. We are going fucking nowhere without the likes of De Boer at the helm... NO WIN AT ANFIELD SINCE 1999... I rest my case!
24 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:14:51
I think we made a blunder not going all out to sign Van Dijk before he signed for Southampton too.
25 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:36:08
My guess, this is how TW would have reacted a year ago, had anyone asked 'what about Ranieri?'
I mention this to illustrate that all the confident 'he'd be a great manager' ideas and all the 'he'd be shite' theory, is ultimately nonsense.
On this thread alone, for various reasons, Pellegrini, De Boer, Hiddink, Mancini, Simeone and Howe can all basically get fucked (Simeone because he's not very nice).
For your own peace-of-mind (blood pressure etc) I'd suggest you remind yourself that if (IF!) we get rid of this feller, we'll have no say in the next man in (just like we've had no say in the appointment of any Everton managerever) and all you/we can actually do is is hope we get lucky and support whoever it is until such a time as he appears not able to do the job.
To paraphrase William Goldman (replacing films with football), 'Nobody knows anything. Not one person in the entire football world knows for a certainty what's going to work. Every time out it's a guess and, if you're lucky, an educated one.'
27 Posted 10/05/2016 at 18:58:50
Managers from overseas tend to do well when they come to teams that our doing well; they then do some fine tuning and things go well. Maybe this would have been good after Moyes.
Now, however, we could go down next year with the wrong man so we have to get it right; we cannot afford a gamble. Many overseas managers have come here and taken over poor teams and they have gone down.
Taking this into account here is my choices,very different to most
In order of preference:
1. Ronald Koeman
2. Martin O'Niell
3. David Moyes
4. Shawn Dyche
28 Posted 10/05/2016 at 19:55:08
For instance "eh Murphy, you are completely out of your depth, fancy picking five forwards and no holding midfielder, OK you managed to scramble a point at Burnley but that was mostly down to the decisions of the referee." "As for your pressers, how come you didn't mention the fans? You've quickly forgotten where you've come from you dolt.
29 Posted 10/05/2016 at 19:57:34
30 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:25:07
This team doesn't need much to turn it round. Maybe 2/3 signings, a good pre-season building up the morale and fitness. Sort the defence out. That is half the battle. We are a good proposition for managers looking for a job. We have a lot of talented players and a new chairman looking to invest. Let's face it, after the last 2 years, the fans would be delighted if we finished anywhere near the top 6 next year. So there is not a massive pressure to win the title or anything like that in the short term. Any new manager will be given time.
Things aren't as bad as we think right now. It can be turned around quickly once we get rid of the current clown in charge!
31 Posted 10/05/2016 at 20:49:10
Hiddink and Pellegrini a big no thanks. Both massive failures this season why would they be any different for us with a worst squad than they have had?
Mancini, Koeman, De Boer, Favre, Bielsa - one of those would be the best option. Proven at the top level and all leaders of men.
32 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:11:36
I like Mancini, a bit of a crank and a proven winner, the perfect mix to manage a football team.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, I like Lauldrup, much more cool and collected but managed in a lot of countries and still young, would have a good world wide knowledge of players and has to be respected.
Koeman im going a little stale on, reason being his signings seem to blow hot and cold, plus he doesn't seem to blood many youngsters. Players like Pelle, Tadic, Long etc seem to be more a fits and starts type of players rather than the type who cement there place.
De Boer is also a good choice, again he's a respected name and his backroom staff are formidable, they'd gain respect with sheer presence, plus if that didn't work Jaap stam would just pummel them.
33 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:16:37
34 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:18:57
All the time Koeman was managing in Holland and not winning anything of note he was up against........a certain Frank De Boer!
I say go with Frank and his backroom staff of Stam and Bergkamp who are 100% better than what we have here now.
35 Posted 10/05/2016 at 21:50:30
First two signings: Rooney and Carrick!
You couldn't make it up... or could you?
36 Posted 10/05/2016 at 22:20:56
37 Posted 10/05/2016 at 22:26:05
38 Posted 10/05/2016 at 22:30:15
39 Posted 10/05/2016 at 23:08:17
With regards to Rooney and Carrick they maybe just the old heads the youngsters need to instill in them the will to win and how to win too. After all they had learnt how to get ahead in games, just not how to hold on and see games out - the latter being RMs faulty philosophy.
In my best period as an Evertonian the 1980s HK brought in two old heads in Gray and Reid, both of whom were considered on the way out due to injuries and age. They were leaders and just what that young team needed. The rest is history - I just hope todays young Evertonians get to witness a team as good as that one. The players have the potential, they just need to be lead in the correct way.
40 Posted 10/05/2016 at 00:02:17
Carrick is not the player he was. I'd stay well clear. Too similar to Gibson and Barry. Not as good as Barry though, in my opinion...
41 Posted 11/05/2016 at 00:36:32
42 Posted 11/05/2016 at 01:07:24
1. Ronald Koeman
2. Martin O'Niell
3. David Moyes
4. Shawn Dyche
Well there's no element of gamble there, in fact I reckon all four would guarantee success and there is no chance of any or all of them being complete shite. Let's just hope Moshiri/BK choose one of them.
(rolls eyes so far back, they come loose from their stringy moorings and drop into my tea)
1) Ming The Merciless
2) Fred Gee
3) Plastic Bertrand
4) Duane Doberman
43 Posted 11/05/2016 at 01:35:46
Please remember, MON paid £12 million for Steven Fletcher, and even though Sunderland need goals he is out on loan (that's how good he is).
I've seen Burnley a few times this season and Sean Dyche has done a great job, but the football has been awful to watch. I know he's had a much smaller budget than many other teams, but please not Dyche at Everton at the moment. I admit he was unlucky to be sacked by Watford.
David Moyes, No... Please No. I think 11 years of knife to a gunfight, Andy Johnson running to the corner flag to get the ball, no wins at Anfield, Osman on the right wing and no silverware has just been blown away by Leicester City's manager. He has also been sacked from his past 2 jobs in less than a season (although it says more about Everton under Kenwright that).
44 Posted 11/05/2016 at 05:01:16
- A split fanbase regardless of who is appointed.
- Planes and banners if he doesn't start winning immediately.
- A transfer budget to rival Watford and Swansea (maybe) unless he cashes in on our only saleable playing assets.
- Boys Pen Billy to welcome him at the Press Conference.
We'll be beating the applicants off with a shitty stick.
46 Posted 11/05/2016 at 06:39:15
No thats not what we do. I have been going to watch Everton for 40 odd years now and whilst we've had our moments with managers in the past, never have I seen the level of unrest with a manager as what we have now. This is down to lots if reasons. Yes lack of winning is a factor but its also the lack of fight, lack of desire, no heart, dreadful awful stale tepid boring footnall and last but not least, a complete lack of effort. There is absolutely no pride in the jersey. Moyes generally got so much leeway due to his teams at least, for most part, putting in maximum effort for the 90 minutes. This guy has put everyone to sleep, including the players. Evertonians will forgive most things but a lack of effort is just not tolerated and we see that on a far too often basis. The players and manager just don't seem to give a shit, that's why there are planes and banners everywhere. Ffs get a grip and actually see whats happening as opposed to just having a pop at the fans. Most other teams fans, well the fans of top clubs who win things anyway, will not tolerate players and managers who don't give 100%. Thats why they are in the healthy state they are. We just moan about it "not being the Everton way" no wonder we win fuck all
47 Posted 11/05/2016 at 07:23:23
(I know it's a very smart reword of JFK, but, I like it all the more for that. It should become part of the Everton ethos, just as NSNO and ".....those who know...." have, well said.)
49 Posted 11/05/2016 at 10:12:05
- Persistent booing of any youngsters who make mistakes
- pressure to make us be like Leicester right from the get go (we have better players damn it - never mind so do many other teams)
- Creaky stadium with blocked views
- Complaints if he's perceived as too nice, complaints if he's perceived as too much of an arsehole.
50 Posted 11/05/2016 at 10:34:53
Support that will love you if you are honest and competent but will crucify you if you start fannying about. The chance to rouse a sleeping giant. A tremendous weight of expectation.
The fact that, even if you are a twat, you will be better than what we have now.
51 Posted 11/05/2016 at 13:13:13
2 mike Bassett
3 roy race
4 Bertie Bassett
55 Posted 11/05/2016 at 14:08:04
Sfx: Family Fortunes wrong answer noise.
My list?
It wasn't my list it was Milo's, that's why my post (42) begins 'Milo..' and takes issue with his list and the reasons for compiling it.
Nb: My list is at the bottom of my post - it's the one that seems nonsensical, but in actual fact is no more/less nonsensical than any other names being lobbed about and given the thumbs up or down.
56 Posted 11/05/2016 at 14:40:39
However this morning I caught that gobshite Mike 'Porky ' Parry refusing to support Martinez publicly.
When you've lost the support of the biggest brown-nosing lickspittle ever to cadge a free plate of sausage rolls from the Boardroom after game buffet you are probably fucked.
57 Posted 11/05/2016 at 14:58:59
If Porky Parry isn't backing him, he's gone. He's got a direct line to BK.
58 Posted 11/05/2016 at 15:43:06
59 Posted 11/05/2016 at 16:49:37
Might not be the first choice but Benitez is a football manager and if professional will not be concerned about playing the RS. Players move but its their job. Benitez knows the city the supporters and would be up for it.
I only want people with a pedigree what does it matter if he managed the RS so long as he does the business at Everton.
My other choice would be Wenger he is 66 and has the knowledge. Seems he may be stood down at the gooners.
I want the owner to do a complete business review from top to bottom. Every aspect of the club. Transfers Training Sponsors Tv money stadium. A complete audit of every thing they do. Look at the culture of the organisation. How do we measure up to clubs above us.
Once they do that we can identify the manager to take the club forward. The school of science should remain open we just need a professor to take charge not a high school teacher. No offense to teachers but you get my drift.
Hopefully Moshiri will have it all in hand.
60 Posted 11/05/2016 at 18:23:56
If what you're saying is don't get carried away with a CV that only boasts Eredivise titles. Then I'd agree. But I think most of us just like the cut of de Boer's jib. I know a lot of Arsenal fans would go for him right now too.
61 Posted 12/05/2016 at 00:47:18
62 Posted 12/05/2016 at 02:17:38
You see these so-called class managers can't use the old excuse of "Give me three years and I will have a team challenging for honours" anymore, Leicester have ended that myth for good, or has the greatest league in world football finally been found out?
63 Posted 12/05/2016 at 02:21:58
64 Posted 12/05/2016 at 03:56:16
Might not be the first choice but Benitez is a football manager and if professional will not be concerned about playing the RS. Players move but its their job. Benitez knows the city the supporters and would be up for it.
I only want people with a pedigree what does it matter if he managed the RS so long as he does the business at Everton.
My other choice would be Wenger he is 66 and has the knowledge. Seems he may be stood down at the Gooners.
I want the owner to do a complete business review from top to bottom. Every aspect of the club. Transfers Training Sponsors Tv money stadium. A complete audit of every thing they do. Look at the culture of the organisation. How do we measure up to clubs above us.
Once they do that we can identify the manager to take the club forward. The school of science should remain open we just need a professor to take charge not a high school teacher. No offense to teachers but you get my drift.
Hopefully Moshiri will have it all in hand.
65 Posted 12/05/2016 at 15:57:02
Make the "Sky Babies" shit their wet pink knickers and say "Oh fuck no ! Everton are back !".
Then fill the trophy cabinet.
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1 Posted 10/05/2016 at 13:55:10
We need a manager who has a track record in a top league.