Kanchelskis has high hopes for Silva era

Tuesday, 19 June, 2018 42comments  |  Jump to most recent

Goodison Park favourite, Andrei Kanchelskis, says that if Everton can get their recruitment right this summer, there is every chance they could challenge for the top four this coming season.

The winger, who spent 18 short but memorable months with the Toffees between August 1995 and early 1997, says that new manager Marco Silva needs to be given time but he is hopeful that this is the beginning of a long tenure with Everton for the Portuguese.

Speaking to journalist Paul Brown, he says of Silva: “Everyone I speak to says he is a great coach — and I speak to a lot of people! Everton fans must give him ten games and see what happens.

“He needs some time because he has a completely different mentality to the last manager.

Article continues below video content


“I hope he will still be there in five years' time and that Everton will be in their new stadium and competing with the best in Europe on a regular basis.

“What went wrong last year was a mistake of the management, in my opinion. But it will not happen again. They didn't make good signings. But do not blame the owner.

“He has paid big money for a good coach and they will buy quality players. Hopefully next season they will finish in the top four.”

As one of the genuine stars to have played for the Blues in the Premier League era — not to mention a two-goal Anfield derby hero — Kanchelskis remains close to the hearts of Evertonians and he remarks that he gets a better reception on his returns to Merseyside than he does to Manchester, the home of United, his other former club in England.

“Everton is a good club with great fans,” he continues. “I remember so many good times there. They need to buy some good players this summer and they could play in the Champions League.

“Why not? A full stadium every game will help the players and the atmosphere there is always amazing.”

 

Reader Comments (42)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Kunal Desai
1 Posted 20/06/2018 at 06:44:03
Great player Kanchelskis was. Never seen wingers like him and Limpar at Goodison since then.

We all have high hopes this season, same as we did under Koeman and Martinez and look where that got us... hopefully third time lucky under Silva.

Forget finishing top four, even top six for now. He needs to be a realist; we are not going to compete for those positions with the six sides above us in the immediate future.

Martin Nicholls
2 Posted 20/06/2018 at 07:21:25
Kunai,

I agree with you. As I and others have said before, the first step is to make the "top six" a genuine "top seven" as it's unlikely that any one of them will be pushed off the gravy train – what we must do in the short term is create another seat for ourselves on that gravy train!

James Hill
3 Posted 20/06/2018 at 07:34:46
Let's hope he keeps us away from relegation first. Let face it this a massive rebuilding exercise and we need to keep our feet on the ground. Top six is a bonus in my opinion.
Jim Bennings
4 Posted 20/06/2018 at 07:37:01
Kanchelskis and Limpar at Anfield scoring that second goal simply sensational, the skill and pass of Limpar totally ripping up the “Dogs of War” rule book.

Hope Andrei is right about next season but I do think we need to give Silva more the the 10 games suggested.

Time that our players started shouldering responsibility now and not just chopping and changing managers every few months.

Niall McIlhone
5 Posted 20/06/2018 at 07:54:16
One of the highlights of watching Everton on the road in the mid 90s was seeking Kanchelskis smack a rare winner late on at Highbury, sending our visiting fans delirious! What a player, and yes, Kunal, Anders Limpar was similarly inspiring in a blue shirt and both still hold Everton FC in high esteem.

I don't have any worries about our fans getting on Silva's back, if we see the manager setting the team out to win both home and away, and it is clear that the players are motivated, then the manager has done his job, it's up to the players.

Those who have clearly not performed well enough need to show some dignity and accept transfers and loan moves to allow the club to re-build, but we all know that it's far more complex than that.

Steve Ferns
6 Posted 20/06/2018 at 07:57:41
His son is a massive blue and was made up when we got Silva in. He’s worth a follow on Twitter.
Sam Hoare
7 Posted 20/06/2018 at 08:21:44
A nice idea but top 4 will be well out of reach for the next year or two barring something miraculous.

I’d say top 7 next season with a few big scalps, a decent cup run and some attractive football on show would constitute a good debut season for Silva. The next year or two will be ones of transition as we move away from an ageing, underperforming squad and a defensive, practical footballing philosophy full of fear.

I expect there will be some bumps along the way and we’ll probably get a few tonkings but we might also occasionally see our team go genuinely toe-to-toe with some of the best in Europe rather than hoping to sneak a gritty draw or jammy win.

Brands work will take longer to come to fruition and he had slow starts at Alkmaar and PSV before their title wins. My hope is that in 2-3 years we will see a club ready to truly compete at the top table consistently.

Jim Bennings
8 Posted 20/06/2018 at 08:51:41
Sam

I agree with that and to be honest after what I’ve watched over the last 18 months, I’d be quite happy with top 7 and along the way a couple of decent scalps (maybe a derby win or win at Arsenal, Chelsea etc wouldn’t go amiss) and a good Cup run.

I couldn’t tolerate another season of inferiority complex every time we set foot on the pitch against the top 6 home and away.

It’s about time Everton starting getting things together and at least making some waves rather than being the dead wastewater of a team we saw last season.

This is Moshiri’s third summer here and whilst nobody was expecting the League title inside 3 years, I think steady progress and a more ambitious mentality should have been well and truly in place by now.

It’s a big season for everyone but perhaps Moshiri more than most.

Sam Hoare
9 Posted 20/06/2018 at 09:23:48
Yes, Jim I fee a touch sorry for Moshiri as I think for the most part he's tried to do the right things but sadly the decision making, mainly in terms of manager and player recruitment, has been way off.

Presumably these are decisions on which he has taken advice from people with more football savvy than himself? At least he has not suffered these mistakes to hang around too long and hopefully we now have the right management team to move us forward on and off the pitch.

Les Green
10 Posted 20/06/2018 at 09:28:23
I'm relieved to see such realistic expectation on the threshold of the new season.

I agree that we won't be ready to break into the top 4 for a while – the stranglehold on the elite positions from the media darlings is a closed shop at the moment and we're not yet in a position to challenge that. But the pieces are falling into position (wealthy owner, new stadium, revised management structure, new coach and developing squad etc.). It'll happen but not in the next couple of years.

Ash Moore
11 Posted 20/06/2018 at 09:30:20
I think Moshiri believed Bill's bullshit – we only need some readies and it's new digs and top four!

He obviously is a lot wiser – and unfortunately poorer – now. This is a crucial time for everyone. If Moshiri has his pants pulled down on players again, I have stated many times he'll do a Lerner or Short and cut us off.

Steve Ferns
12 Posted 20/06/2018 at 09:54:58
I said before that despite Silva being my man, I still demand 7th as a minimum. Sure, if there is reasons for missing that target (such as catastrophic injuries) then he could be let off, but it'd be hypocritical to give Allardyce the boot when getting us to 8th and then say Silva is fine to bring us home in say 11th.

We must improve on last season, in terms of results, performances, and entertainment. I strongly believe we will. Even if we sign no one. I think this guy is that good as a coach, that the players will respond and the team will hit the ground running and will challenge the top 6, and maybe overtake a wobbly Arsenal or Chelsea.

Sam Hoare
13 Posted 20/06/2018 at 10:30:40
Steve, I think like you that Silva is a good coach but so is Emery. And indeed the excellent Sarri who may be heading to Chelsea. Both those teams have superior squads and financial resources to us. Overtaking them would be a pretty remarkable achievement.
Tony Everan
14 Posted 20/06/2018 at 10:44:37
Kanchelskis is qualifying his top four comments by saying it’s dependent on the quality of recruitment.

Even then it’s a big ask to get there considering the fourth placed club had a goal difference of +60 on us last season. For me 7th is par for the course, sixth is an improvement. Top four would be an exceptional achievement. I’d be happy with solid incremental improvement for his first season, a cup final and a 6th place finish.

Three weeks in (or is it four? ) and I think Brands is starting to see the size of his task and Andrei is highlighting the importance of it.

Steve Ferns
15 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:03:58
Sam, I agree Emery is a very good coach, and Sarri is the best of the trio.

Emery has a very difficult task at Arsenal who are in a mess and Emery will make significant changes. this gives us an opportunity.

As brilliant as Sarri is, Chelsea are in a complete mess right now. Sure, Abramovich might sort everything out very quickly, but there's unrest at every part of the club right now. I wouldn't be surprised if Hazard leaves and sparks an exodus.

I don't expect us to finish above them, I just think there is an opportunity there to do so.

Ian Burns
16 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:04:59
Steve (#12),

I know you have nailed your mast to Silva being our man but personally I would rather finish below 7th with a team trying to play joined up footie than finish 7th with a team Allardyce put together.

Yes a minimum of 7th would be nice but I will be happy to see this season out as a platform for better things to come and that will be evidenced by how we perform; how we grow in confidence and how Silva gets some of the players last year who simply didn't turn up, to play to their potential. If Silva can achieve that this season, results will naturally follow.

On a separate note, I see Schneiderlin is being rumoured to be making a move back to France.

Steve Ferns
17 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:14:59
Looks like it's part of a master plan, Ian. Pretend that we will give Morgan Schneiderlin a clean slate and he'll be a key player, then when his agent gets Marseille to come in, we can get a substantial fee for him (surely not our money back though – French clubs are skint) and he will but require us to pay any wages when he leaves.

Sounds good, but no basis in realty!

Derek Turner
18 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:21:02
Beating Wolves on the opening day will help, we have struggled for a while against newly promoted teams. Set the tone. Closely followed by a few winnable games until Arsenal away.

It's the hope that kills you.

Brian Harrison
19 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:30:39
I really rate Marco Silva and I am delighted the deal has been done and with Marcel brands also on board, I believe for the first time in years we have the right men running the club.

As for where we will finish this season, I think it will be very difficult to break into the top 6. Emery and Sarri will make huge differences to Arsenal and Chelsea, the big advantage for Chelsea is yet again they will appoint one of the best in the World. Chelsea players are used to managers being changed every 18 months, but doesn't seem to stop them winning the Premier League. I think Arsenal will be a more aggressive side under Emery, and if he can add some steel to their footballing skills they will do well.

Although I don't believe this season we can break into the top 6 I will be looking for a much-improved playing style and putting the blocks in place to enable to capitalize should any of the top 6 falter

Tony Abrahams
20 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:30:55
I don't think Top 4, is out of the question, although I am aware that to make great strides, then it's going to be all about the comings and goings, over the next 6 weeks?

If Silva, can really wake up our crowd, then I think anythings possible. We forget how valuable a roaring Goodison can be, and this is my biggest wish for the coming season.

Bill Gienapp
21 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:32:23
"Everton fans must give him ten games and see what happens."

Ten whole games, huh? And then the fans should feel free to bring out the knives if we haven't stormed the top six?

Dermot Byrne
22 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:41:29
Like many things, it is rolling snowball. We are just at the start but a few early wins, more comments like this and the fans on board, things can change very quickly.

Funny old game. Jumpers for goal posts.

Len Hawkins
23 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:48:10
Yes, I thought Ten Games was being a bit tight, could have made it a round dozen. Mind you if Everton aren't 2-0 up in the first 5 minutes against Wolves, the usual suspects could be sat on the front porch sharpening their blades listening to Duelling Banjos.
Dave Ganley
24 Posted 20/06/2018 at 11:49:51
I totally agree with Steve Ferns, 7th must be a minimum next season. We finished 8th last season in what was generally accepted as one of the worst seasons football we have played for years. A lot of the Premier League is shit. The only teams that looked the real deal last season was Citeh and RS. How Man Utd got 2nd is beyond me. Arsenal and Chelski are decidedly average and Spurs just inconsistent.

If we as fans don't have minimum expectation then we are in trouble. 7th is minimum for me. We have let things slide for too long and the incumbents have to be held accountable. We should always expect to win every game even if it may be unreasonable to expect it. Yes, I understand the mess we have been left with but Everton should have lofty expectations. It's the fact that we have downplayed our expectations for years that we find ourselves without any trophies for years.

As it stands, I am quite excited by the prospect of Silva and Brands, they are making all the right noises but now have to show that they can make all the right noises on the pitch. Of course they should be given time to get it right but given the quality or lack thereof of the Premier League then 7th should definitely be a minimum expectation.

Dennis Stevens
25 Posted 20/06/2018 at 12:21:52
Not only should 7th be the minimum acceptable finishing place, but there should also be a massive closing of the gap points wise. There's no point in being "best of the rest" & 20+ oints adrift. We need to elbow our way into the elite group at the top.
Hugh Jenkins
26 Posted 20/06/2018 at 12:46:09
When did Kanchelskis become a Jimmy Tarbuck lookalike?
John Wilson
27 Posted 20/06/2018 at 13:16:17
Allardyce's 8th was circumstantial.

It was the way the teams at the bottom and in the middle were positioned that led to 8th position, besides too defensive/ cautious football and the odd win.

Steve Ferns, it would be wrong to put Silva's and Allardyce's football in the same context. The odds are that the Premier League will not be grouped this season like they were last time, so it would be a wrong comparison to make if Silva could manage 8th. It comes down to the players and recruitment at the end of the day – coaches can give instructions and show players how to play it's whether Everton (the team) can or will comply.

Let's hope Silva's 7th position (if he gets it) this coming season is intended (by him) and applied (actual results).

Derek Taylor
28 Posted 20/06/2018 at 13:39:04
Sam's was not 'a good eighth. His was the proverbial mile behind 'the Big Sixth'who so pummelled the 'also-rans' that they were virtually in a league apart!

I fail to see how people can make judgements on Silva's style and tactics until such time he has worked with the players made available to him at Everton. What he did or didn't do at previous clubs is more or less irrelevant.

I'm looking for a 'good' seventh or eighth with at least 60 points come next May!

Brian Williams
29 Posted 20/06/2018 at 14:05:25
Allardyce's 8th was circumstantial. It was the way the teams at the bottom and in the middle were positioned that led to 8th position,
I hope you'd had a few when you posted that, John. :-)
Paul ONeill
30 Posted 20/06/2018 at 15:27:04
Stick a bet on it Andrei Lad! 😂 Or maybe not!!
Derek Knox
31 Posted 20/06/2018 at 15:42:24
A good endorsement from a former favourite, although he did temper his recommendation, by stating the obvious.

If we get the recruitment right this summer, in some ways it's re-assuring that they haven't dived into the Transfer Market straight away, but frustrating too.

I appreciate the need to trim down and jettison the deadwood, but some targets are being snapped up in the meantime (Maddison, Diop) to name two.

I do hope as well that some of the targets we are being linked with are wide of the mark, Carvalho, Gelson to name but two, look pretty poor in the World Cup. I am sure we can do better.

Jay Harris
32 Posted 20/06/2018 at 16:38:18
I believe Kanchelkis meant after 10 games we would have a better idea of where we were going with Silva and to see how we had progressed.

We need to be realistic. There is a major squad rebuilding excercise to be done and the players need to adjust to yet another style of play.

We are also competing with Burnley, Watford, West Ham and Leicester for the quality additions that we need and so far have no improvement whatsoever in the squad so it is premature to even imagine where we should finish although I doubt it will be top 6.

Hugh Jenkins
33 Posted 20/06/2018 at 18:04:30
For years, on here and elsewhere, Evertonians have been egging whoever the incumbent coach at the time was, to "give youth a chance". Marcel Brands, so it is said, is also an advocate of this and, presumably, so is Marco Silva. So, it may just be that we are all about to get our wish.

Notwithstanding the acknowledged need to trim the playing staff, maybe we are not diving into the transfer market because Silva and Brands think that with the right coaching they can make something of Funes Mori, and by getting Dowel and Lookman back from loan, we have cover at right / left wing and at No 10. With Gueye and Schneiderlin (the latter being given a possible second chance) staying, we have adequate cover in Benny Baningime and Tom Davies.

We also have Pennington, Browning and Galloway returning from loan. All three have previously played in the first team and Browing and Galloway did extremely well – but started to go downhill when they went on loan.

Maybe back at Goodison they can resettle and progress into the type of players they initially promised to be.

I am sure there are others in the ranks of the U23 and below that may be well enough equipped to make the step up – if only someone will put trust in them to do so.

After all, one of the players we have been linked with is an 18-year-old centre-half from Brands's old club and he is being valued at £50 million.

For my money, Holgate played well enough in the few games given to him in his natural centreback position (and also acquitted himself well enough as a stand in right back when called on), to warrant the step up next season.

Why risk, £50 million on a young Dutch centre half that, like poor Davey Klaassen, may not be able to make the step up to the Premiership - when we have Holgate who is older and tested at that level, kicking his heels in the U23s?

We also have Matty Foulds and others of a similar age to the Dutch boy, who are coming through our ranks.

Gavin Johnson
34 Posted 20/06/2018 at 18:49:09
I know we're all getting older but Kanchelskis looks like he's spent most of his time post football in the bookies drinking vodka and smoking 40 tabs a day. You'd never think he was once a professional footballer. I wouldn't have recognised him unless I was told.

Great player for us. Would be in my all time Everton XI. Most exciting player I've ever seen in the royal blue.

David Hallwood
35 Posted 20/06/2018 at 19:29:15
Hugh (#26), I think he looks more like Johnny Cash in his later years...
Tony Everan
36 Posted 20/06/2018 at 22:13:00
David #35

Looks like the mature love child of Robert De Niro and Gerard Houllier’s mum.

Denis Richardson
37 Posted 21/06/2018 at 13:09:03
Andrei and Anders – those were the days. Those two were class and its such a shame we couldn't keep them for longer.

As to league position next season, I think that's not even the 10th concern right now. We have such a massive imbalance in the squad and a lot of senior players who are not needed/wanted/good enough. First focus needs to be on bringing in 3-4 new quality faces in key positions. Second is to trim the squad, especially the vast number of midfielders we have. Then give the manager and new coaching staff time to get the players used to their way of playing. All the above will take months not weeks so right now any league position targets aren't really relevant.

Let's hope we get some decent players in by the end of August and see where we are come Xmas. We need a centre-back, left-back, creative midfielder and a striker imo. Don't have any Europa League games but I question how much longer Baines can go on for. He can't play, week-in & week-out this season.

Also, we need a new long-term decent centre-back with pace. Jagielka and Williams shouldn't be starting on a regular basis and Holgate isn't ready imo. Then we have the usual issue of left midfield, which hasn't been addressed for the best part of a decade. Add to that the need for a decent pacey striker, all be it Walcott could do a job off Tosun.

We don't, actually need that many players, just 3-4 of quality in key positions. The list to ship out, on the other hand, is extensive!

Jack Convery
38 Posted 21/06/2018 at 21:14:58
Loved him and have a signed shirt - that would be a bit small for both of us these days !
Jerome Shields
39 Posted 22/06/2018 at 06:04:32
I would prefer that Everton get a 6th place at best and showed all-round improvement and consistency. To expect higher gets us into unrealistic expectations and ignores the need to plan over the next three years to achieve the level necessary to play in the top four.

It's not that I think the top four are that good, but they are at the top four level and stay there, though not achieving the level to win the Champions League. As I repeatedly posted last season, Everton swam at the shallow end of the league and sunk when they moved into the deep end.

I would be looking for a improvement on that front first. To achieve this, Brands and Silva have their work cut out for them reshaping last season's squad.

Kanchelskis is grateful to Everton, who have remembered and appreciated him.

Pat Waine
40 Posted 22/06/2018 at 08:09:22
Koeman wrecked the Everton dream when the money came in... and it will not be sorted in a year. It will take years to get rid of some of his signings as they are on huge money.

I think the job this season is to start playing football, bring a good system of playing in, a couple of defenders and a playmaker that the team can be built around. In the meantime, try to get rid of the Koeman rubbish – Klaassen, Williams, Martina, and Schneiderlin would be a start. I think Rooney should go too.

Paul Birmingham
41 Posted 22/06/2018 at 22:50:31
For me, getting the basics right, the body language and psyche on the pitch will be positive signs, for this season after the garbage of the last four seasons.

Silva and Brands have a huge task, but I do sense that they will be the real deal, despite Silva not being my preferred manager of choice.

The RS are in usual overdrive, about next season but, if we can send a signal to the rest by beating Wolves away, then I'll take that as a good start. But I don't expect top 4 and, for me, top 6 would be an achievement bar a miracle.

Now to off-load more dead wood... Hopefully to get some proven signings in.

Ed Prytherch
42 Posted 24/06/2018 at 01:41:29
Thanks for posting that, Lyndon. I smiled and felt good when I read those comments from Kanchelskis. What a player and what a club!

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads