Silva 'needs time'? Will it make any difference?

Garry Corgan 27/01/2019 78comments  |  Jump to last

When Marco Silva was first approached and later, when it became apparent we absolutely wanted him, serious questions were asked about his credentials on this forum. This is a man who had been relegated with Hull and been sacked from Watford. Let's look at what happened there.

Hull were 3 points adrift of safety when Silva took over. They were not the absolute lost cause some would have you believe. They simply needed to pick up 3 more points than the clubs around them. They didn't. They went down with Silva at the helm.

Fast forward to Watford. Silva had a good start. He won four of his first eight, losing just one. They went on to lose 11 of their next 16, winning just three. Some say that Silva's 'head had been turned' whatever that means. In any case, it's no excuse – Watford still lost those games.

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So, we appointed a manager whose record in England consists of a relegation, a short decent streak containing four wins, and then a collapse in form to rival any. Yes, I am omitting his record abroad. I believe a manager's record in the Premier League (if they have one) is a much better indicator of their ability than anything done overseas.

What exactly did we see in this guy? I'm sure we could prise Rafa Benitez away from Newcastle if we wanted to. And at some point, Mikel Arteta will surely want to put into practise all he's learned under Guardiola.

It's clear that continually changing the manager at the first sign of trouble is a self-destructive strategy, but so is continuing with somebody who is clearly, clearly out of his depth (if that is the case). At the moment the standard line from the media is that "he needs time". For what? You give somebody time when you see that things are progressing and simply need to develop further. You give somebody time when you believe they're doing the right things but perhaps need more resources. You don't give somebody more time when they're floundering around or fiddling when Rome burns.

It is another oft-quoted opinion that we were doing well until the derby. We weren't. All of the teams we've beaten this season occupy the lower echelons of the Premier League table and perhaps only the Fulham game was what could be called convincing. We have failed to beat Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Watford, amongst others. We may have picked up some good points prior to the derby but we dominated none of those games and could just as easily have lost any of them.

What of Silva himself? Where is this season going wrong? Why isn't he addressing the issues?

Has he made us solid at the back? No, we are laughably poor from set pieces and high balls into the box. He doesn't appear to have impressed upon the players any sense of organisation. In fact, it's as if he hasn't addressed it at all.

Are we good going forward? No. We have some talented attacking players, but we struggle to really break anybody down. Our passing is disjointed and obvious. There's very little movement and everything happens so slowly, it's easy to defend.

Are we just missing a decent striker? Not in my opinion. A decent striker will put the ball away when given the chances, but we're barely creating any chances! Just three shots on goal against Millwall! If we were creating left, right and centre but couldn't hit the target, I'd say we needed proven goalscorer, but even the best hitmen need chances to be created for them, and we're not creating many!

Is he building a close-knit, passionate side? Nope. This Everton side has no mettle and shows very little desire. Not once have we seen an Everton performance this season which showed a bigger will to win than the opposition. Instead, the players look nervous, jittery and somewhat detached. And Silva himself? Most often found at the edge of his technical area, looking like a naughty schoolboy with his arms half-crossed with a curled finger against his lips.

Are we at least getting better? No. There has been absolutely no progress in any of the areas of the pitch since Silva's first league game against Wolves. Whatever he's doing on the training ground is having no discernible effect on the playing field.

And yet, despite all of that I still want him to succeed. Maybe he still will. But for the life of me, I can't see it happening. I expect he'll be given until the end of the season at the very least but I see very little point keeping him on beyond that.


Note: This submission was originally posted as a comment to the match day thread but has been surfaced here as an article in its own right.

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Jim Bennings
1 Posted 27/01/2019 at 08:27:39
When Silva was appointed, I was more than willing to see how he got on; not my unanimous choice but I was willing to give him time. However, things just haven't progressed one jot in the 7 months he's been here.

People are clouding their judgement with a hatred of Big Sam if they really think this football is much improved right now, it isn't. I simply don't see enough variety or flexibility in Marco Silva to suggest that next season will be any different than this.

He believes he only has 13 players to play with and stubbornly refuses to try alternatives. Gomes should have been taken out of the side six weeks ago as it's been clear as day he's been offering nothing since Christmas time.

Baines has been grossly underused and yesterday's match was perfect for him to come in for Digne. Why was McCarthy not considered if he's “ready”?

Why is the striker situation allowed to fester? Silva should be banging on Brands and Moshiri's door saying “you are responsible for this mess up front ever since Lukaku left. Why aren't you willing to solve it?”

I just have major concerns now that Silva isn't going to be the man big enough to drag this club and its limp, half-hearted players out of the doldrums.

Steve Hogan
2 Posted 27/01/2019 at 09:11:28
I honestly don't know at this stage whether Silva has the ability or the character to arrest this 'slump', because that's what it is. His overall demeanour suggests not, as he is now almost introvert, apart from his reaction to the second Millwall goal.

The lack of fight and aggression from a number of Everton players yesterday was criminal and, without sounding alarmist, I do wonder if he has 'lost' the dressing room already?

The players perform with little or no confidence, and performances have tailed off gradually since the derby defeat. I'm not sure he can do a Kendall (Mark 1) and turn things around; it very rarely happens. The new Huddersfield manager must have seen that game yesterday and noted the fragility of our defence from set-pieces.

I believe what will happen that the board will let Silva stay until the end of the season, providing we don't get dragged into the relegation mire, and review the situation then, based on the availability of alternative candidates as manager.

I can't see Moshiri or Brands making any more money available to this guy after the performance yesterday.

James Hughes
3 Posted 27/01/2019 at 09:20:00
it's not time he needs — it's a brain!

A brain that can actually form a game-plan, develop tactics and coach players.

Somebody find the Yellow-Brick Road and send him to the Wizard. Failing that, maybe he can just sod off to Oz.

Derek Thomas
4 Posted 27/01/2019 at 09:45:12
Somebody else said it better, but the gist bears repeating...

The only time he's getting, baring an Ole Gunnar run of wins (Ha!), rightly or wrongly, is borrowed time.

Mal van Schaick
6 Posted 27/01/2019 at 10:00:03
It’s obvious that this season is a write off for any progress under Silva. Recent history tells us that sacking managers and recycling the squad is not neccessarily the answer.
Everton have also changed directors of football and this does not appear to be the answer.
If the fans have discovered anything over the last six or seven seasons, is that if there is a continual uprooting of management and players, there is no guarantee of success or consistency.
I see no point in removing the current management team or adding to the squad this season as it looks like we will remain in the league. The only exception I would make is perhaps signing a striker. Charlie Austin on loan.
Moshri May need to remove the Chairman and get tough with Silva and the players, in order to make any progress in the next season.
We have too many squad players signed by previous managers and we need a clear out again, but any further signings should not be ‘ guesses ‘or ‘ the next best thing ‘, they should be proven quality players.
Ian Jones
7 Posted 27/01/2019 at 10:01:30
Think that just about sums up the situaton well. As has been said on numerous occasions, it's the lack of fight by the players that baffles me.

I was surprised but pleased that we put out the side we did. I assumed it would be a tough match against Millwall, so it seemed we were taking it seriously.

I watched the game on TV with the same detachment that the players showed. Was half-expecting us to lose, so wasn't surprised at the result. Laughed at the BBC commentary when they indicated that this wasn't the kind of game for Bernard to play in. Understand the reasoning behind the comment but players should be equipped for all types of matches, whoever and however physical the opposition maybe.

Think someone suggested in an earlier thread, the time has come to get to relative safety asap then blood some of the youngsters and give them a run in the side, perhaps restore some belief and pride in the shirt without too much ptessure. Doubt that will happen as Managers live and die by the results.

Interesting times ahead.

Jerome Shields
8 Posted 27/01/2019 at 10:27:35
Silva was the only candidate for the job.
Paul Swan
9 Posted 27/01/2019 at 10:29:54
The biggest kick in the plums is that you get suckered in to believing a new manager has a plan, the football is better and your optimism gets the better of you. Players like Gomez was head and shoulders above anyone else when he eventually got into the team. Now he is part of the problem. There is a huge motivation problem at Everton. Every player sinks back to a substandard level of performance which screams out they just don’t give a shit. We are so easy to play against. Pass pass pass at the back, out to Coleman or Digne, stop, pass back and repeat until we loose the ball make a mistake or give away free kicks. With kamikaze defending and a goalkeeper who has the positional sense of a dog turd it’s a guaranteed goal every time. Zero movement from useless bastards like Richarlison and Sigurdson and no centre forward at all in the team. I don’t know who should be the next manager but we need a horrible bastard to come in and light a huge fire under the arses of the lazy players, coaching staff and, yes, the upper management at the club. Benitez? no doubt he’s a horrible bastard but is he the answer? Moyes? No! Mourinho maybe but he won’t come here
James Marshall
10 Posted 27/01/2019 at 10:39:08
Silva is clearly the same as Martinez – he sticks to the same rigid set of rules for his team, regardless of whether it works or not. Did anyone else notice Richarlison shaking his head when he walked off at half time yesterday? Also, the look on Yerry Mina's face sitting in the dugout? I can't help but feel the players know it's not working as well as us.

Martinez's downfall was that he had zero flexibility in the way his team played, and Silva appears to be the same.

I was massively against his appointment, and I haven't changed my mind on that – he looks out of his depth. Zonal marking does not work either and he appears to be having a major problem motivating the players.

A manager has 2 things to do on a basic level – motivate the players and pick a system that suits them. Silva is doing neither in my view.

The problem Everton has is a big one – can we keep chopping and changing managers every year or two? Stability is key when it comes to success in football, something we have not had since Moyes left 5 or 6 years ago.

Pat Kelly
11 Posted 27/01/2019 at 10:43:37
It takes courage to admit you've made a mistake and the snake oil doesn't work. And there's no point in continuing to use it in the hope it'll eventually become effective. The ills are not being cured and the disease is spreading. Delaying seeking a new remedy is just sticking your head in the sand.
Trevor Peers
12 Posted 27/01/2019 at 10:54:05
Football is a simple game: pick the right manager and success will follow. Spurs and recently Man Utd are proof of this.

We've been in this dire position many times before and the only way out is to appoint a manager who is shrewd enough to have a winning game plan and strong enough mentally to get the best out of the players available. Silva is neither.

Kendall was the ultimate man manager and a shrewd tactician, Moyes also had good qualities but not in the same class as Kendall; good enough though to put an excellent game plan into play with very limited resources.

Unfortunately the problem lies with the owner of the club who, thus far, has seemingly taken no advice when selecting his managers, despite pouring millions into the club, for which he can only be commended. Hopefully Brands is shrewd enough to pick a winner, that's our only hope of salvation at the moment.

We can't keep getting it wrong though or we will end up like Aston Villa. As fans, sadly we have absolutely no say in which manager will be picked.

Brian Patrick
13 Posted 27/01/2019 at 10:55:23
It's about time the people in the Academy, Ferguson, the hangers-on are all sacked – they seem immune to the criticism and the manager takes all the crap. But it can't be a coincidence that Everton is a graveyard for managers... I don't know why.

I've said it before – adopt the Leinster bottom-up model, get a real load of scouse talent and give them first-class coaching, real fitness training – not health and safety or Everton in the Community... but we need to get rid of Kenwright, Barrett-Baxendale et al.

Colin Wordsworth
14 Posted 27/01/2019 at 10:57:36
Silva must be the worst pound-for-pound manager we have had! The football is actually worse than under Allardyce last season and at times that wasn't pretty! But at least the team had a pattern, rigidity, and will to win.

Cut our losses and beg for Benitez or Jose to sort the mess out top to bottom!

Alex Gray
15 Posted 27/01/2019 at 11:04:49
Garry, an interesting read; however, I can't agree with your comments about not needing a decent striker based on 3 shots on goal and a lack of chances.

We had 7 shots according to Sky's stats, as you say 3 were on target (2 obviously goals). Surely a decent striker would convert more of these shots?

Then there are 3 good crosses that come to mind that didn't result in shots. 2 in the first half drilled low to the penalty spot from Coleman. Richarlison scuffed the first, Calvert Lewin took too many touches with the second and got tackled. The 3rd cross came from Digne and Lookman took a poor touch. Would a decent striker get shots away on these chances?

To my frustration we also put a lot of high balls into the box which I don't think suits our front 3. Would a decent striker be better aerially?

Drew O'Neall
16 Posted 27/01/2019 at 11:33:44
Balanced article / comments Garry.

I’ll provide a counter to the main thrust of your piece:

‘You give somebody time when you see that things are progressing and simply need to develop further. You give somebody time when you believe they're doing the right things but perhaps need more resources.’

They have progressed massively. The job of identifying the correct players to remain and who were persona non grata was THE critical one for the first phase of this ‘project’ and it was handled in a business like fashion with good communications from Silva throughout. The work he (technically and diplomatically) and Brands (on the commercial front) is nothing short of breathtaking. Yes we would like to have seen more sold instead of loaned but that criticism can only be levelled at Brands.

Second, the players identified by Silva as those to take Everton to the next level and subsequently brought in (Richarlison, Bernard, Gomes, Digne) were, in my opinion, immeasurably better than those identified by either of his predecessors. Furthermore, Silva’s ethos and personality was attractive enough to a high calibre of player for them to want to work with Everton.

Those two things would be enough for me in season one. Anything else would be a bonus. Things were so messed up that he’s at that difficult time now where he needs to cut again, even though the players he will cut are decent but they just don’t quite blend. He has to do this with the backdrop of the spending which has already occurred and fundraising for a new stadium. He has also identified he needs a striker but is remaining diplomatic. The pressure is now back on Brands to create the funds.

Silva needs at least two more windows, probably more, to get his squad to where it needs to be but it’s going in the right direction and we have to temper our expectations while this rebuild occurs.

If results don’t go our way in the meantime I’d rather have us mid-table and working towards a long term plan, removing dead wood and bringing in quality than the short termism showed by a replacement coach trying to save his own skin a la Allardyce and Koeman.

Neil Copeland
17 Posted 27/01/2019 at 11:35:58
Something that really stood out after the game was the fact that Silva chose to mention the second goal and bemoan the lack of VAR ahead of anything else. Yes, the second should not have counted but he is missing the point; they should not have scored in the first place.

He should have said something along the lines of “we cannot give away cheap free kicks and then fail to defend those free kicks. Our lack of discipline has cost us dear and although the second goal was handball we should not have put ourselves in that position. We only have ourselves to blame and I am desperately disappointed with our performance”.

Until Silva grows some balls and admits to our problems I cannot see how we will progress. It is a bit like having an addiction in so much as you have to accept you have a problem before the root cause can be addressed.

I cannot see any real point in sacking Silva now but I would like to think that Brands is already putting together a short list of potential replacements in the summer dhoukdvit come to that. In the meantime I agree that we need to get to the safe number of points ASAP and then give some of young players an opportunity to show what they can do.

Neil Copeland
18 Posted 27/01/2019 at 11:46:34
Garry, sorry meant to add that I think your post is very good. I don’t agree with all of it but thought provoking and a good short read - thanks!
Colin Wordsworth
19 Posted 27/01/2019 at 11:47:56
Drew, extremely articulate reply. The problem is that we have not progressed.

Love him or hate him, big Sam inherited an inferior squad and made it work, he got a tune out of Tosun and Walcott who look pale shadows of the players they were last season.

This team has no energy, no tactics, zonal marking and players playing at their worst. Remember £100 mill was spent in the summer. Behind the scenes we may be better, but surely that is down to Brands and not Silva.

This is probably the lowest I have felt as an Evertonian. I'm sorry but it all lands at the manager's door!

Jim Bennings
20 Posted 27/01/2019 at 11:55:44
I just can't understand why it takes so long to learn the basic art of simple skills like defending set-pieces, taking set pieces and passing and moving the ball on intelligently. It should NOT take 7 months to see these things progressively improving but we are actually getting worse at them.

It should not take 7 months to get a bunch of Premier League players (haha) working their bollocks off for the shirt, even Southampton's new manager has them doing the basics right in a matter of weeks.

Why do our players run, no sorry, trot, around the pitch looking completely disinterested and like they would rather be anywhere in the world but playing in an Everton shirt because that's exactly how it comes across watching it. They haven't the stomach for a fight and it was sadly predicted by myself and many others on here after we lost at Southampton meekly, that we would simply not be up for the battle at Millwall and they proved us right.

Last night needed to first be won mentally and then we should have been making the gulf in class tell but neither happened. It's a disgrace but am I shocked, am I really surprised, am I even that hurt by it? No, because I quite simply seen it coming a mile off — and clearly the BBC did as well.

Ian Pilkington
21 Posted 27/01/2019 at 12:41:14
Martinez failed largely because he had no plan to defend corners and free kicks. Silva is failing because he has a plan: zonal marking. Martinez stubbornly refused to change and it is clear that Silva is no different.
3 wins from 12 matches including a guileless Cup exit against poor opponents, with no apparent improvement in sight, should be enough to have him sacked now.
I think he is a certainty to be replaced, but probably in May at the end of yet another bitterly disappointing season.
Ken Kneale
22 Posted 27/01/2019 at 12:44:00
i engined on another thread, this surely is a turning point in our history and the horrific makings of us being Aston Villa Mk II, a big club with great history but no longer relevant and slowly but surely slipping down the pecking order. Abysmal management of club affairs, lack of ambition and even under Moyes risk averse tactics in the really big games has left us now grabbing for life belts and driftwood in the player and manergerial roles. Older fans look on in bewilderment, despair and real upset added to in my case I was likely responsible for my son following Everton so add guilt into that emotional mix. How many of the clubs we seek to be competitive with would allow the various situations we have witnessed to occur not just once but now being constantly repeated as we spiral down. I really do believe we are in trouble and that in a decade we are going to be where Villa are now without urgent action being demanded by the fans
David Pearl
23 Posted 27/01/2019 at 12:54:03
Millwall are worse than poor, we lost to balls into the box we can’t defend. Allardyce would of been better than this.. any manager would. Gomes needs taking out for a game or two. Adding another striker to this mess wouldn’t change a thing. Another low point and yet another season written off. We have good players that are badly coached. No getting away from that now, it’s a fact. I hate the system we play, it doesn’t suit the players we have and he can’t see it. Change doesn’t do us any good. But I want it. And the sooner the better. And fuck not Rafa. If we get that redshite in l will never watch us again. I’d get Moyes back till the end of the year and see what he does. Long term Arteta for me. All day long
John Keating
24 Posted 27/01/2019 at 12:57:21
Gary
giving Silva time -until the end of the season- will make a difference.

He has to use this time to completely change his idealist beliefs.
He has to change the system to suit the players at his disposal and not try and shoehorn players that can't get his system, into it.
He has to drop players who are underperforming and play possibly lesser players who will at least give 100%

Silva is obviously stubborn and refuses to compromise his beliefs. If he doesn't change then he will be out, simple as that. For sure he will totally lose not only the players and support but also senior management.

Rob Halligan
25 Posted 27/01/2019 at 13:06:13
David # 23. Good shout on Arteta. He's had a number of years now learning from the maestro that is Pep Guardiola. Didn't arsenal want Arteta when Wenger left?

Anyway, like you, I think it's about time Arteta took over the mantle of a premier league team. I sometimes think a person new to management needs to start at a lower league team, but as I've said, he must have learned an awful lot from Pep. If memory serves me correctly, Pep even let Arteta take charge in a few games, such is the confidence Pep has in him.

Also, while we're at it, bring Tim Cahill in as his number two. Like most though, I can't see any managerial changes taking place until at least this summer.

Alexander Murphy
26 Posted 27/01/2019 at 13:09:32
At present I'm sticking by Marco. At present.

I believe that we should afford our manager a season to work their magic.

Well In theory. In reality, I'm inwardly thinking "he's on his way out" (even if I'm doing so reluctantly).

Decades of Evertons "aversion to silver" leave Me increasingly intolerant of any lack of progress. I'm bloody sick of us being shit. Sick of clinging to some fragment of hope in the face of a mountain of mediocrity and crap. The truth is, that I'm deluding meself with that fragment, it's delusion and delirium. It's not real.

They could sack him this week and have just cause to do so. And the reason that many here and elsewhere would see that as wrong is because "it's not Evertons way". Well maybe it's actually "Evertons way" that is the real problem !

Maybe get shut now, give the new guy plenty long enough run up for next season. There, I've said it. Get shut.
Frank Crewe
27 Posted 27/01/2019 at 13:22:03
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Managers sack themselves. Their own obstinacy makes it inevitable.
Silva insists on playing the same players in the same formation week in week out even though it is obvious it isn't working. If we had some top class forward we could play 4-2-3-1. But we don't. We have DCL who is barely out of the youth team and Tosun. A hard working but limited striker.
A good manager comes up with a formation that suits his squad. Our current squad lacks top class strikers so we should go 4-4-2. But it appears such a formation is considered old fashioned these days. Apparently it's much better to go with the latest thinking and get beat every week than revert to an old fashioned way of playing and maybe win a few games.
Just two banks of four and a couple of forwards. A nice simple formation everyone can understand. Also we should put Pickford on the bench. He simply doesn't dominate his area.

Stek (until someone better comes along)
Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne.
Bernard, Gana, Gomes/Sig, Richarlison.
Tosun/DCL, Lookman/Walcott

A straight forward 4-4-2. Something we and the players can understand until we get a top class striker. Then we can consider different formations. Personally I doubt Silva will make any changes at all and will sacked eventually. He'll call it sticking to his principles but it will be obstinacy.

Julian Exshaw
28 Posted 27/01/2019 at 13:29:16
I agree with the comments above. However, besides asking for a change of formation, how can we change personnel? We are extremely limited. Joe Royle had his dogs of war, Silva doesn't. He has a few poodles and a pug or two. That's it! I do feel sorry for him that board maintains it has to sell before bringing someone in. We badly badly need a striker, isn't that obvious to Brands? All this talk of a new stadium and no money for a half decent striker!! Give me a break. Yes, Silva appears to be stubborn, as were his predecessors but to a certain degree his hands are tied with the volume and quality of the squad he has.
Tony Hill
29 Posted 27/01/2019 at 13:30:55
A horrible low point this is, of course. But I still remember that derby game which was, for me, a revelation about Silva. No-one has played as well against the RS this season in the Premier League at Anfield as we did in that game, or for most of it at least. I also repeat my view that no Everton side since the 1960s has played as well against them - I mean in pure footballing terms. It was a crushing blow that match, yet it opened up the possibility for me of recovering the Everton for which we all pine, and which very few on here will actually remember.

The team needs a high class striker which will make a massive difference to confidence and cohesion and I have no doubt we will get one in the summer. We may get a decent loan this month but I would give Tosun a run. That feller has guts and a desire to play for us. I also thought that Seamus had his best game for us going forward for quite a while, for what that's worth amid the wreckage.

I say all of the above as one who strongly thought and argued that we should have kept Allardyce. Much of what has happened has proved me right on that, but there is another way for us and I think this manager may find it, contrary to my initial views of him. There are big problems, but I also think there is a golden chance.

Ryan Holroyd
30 Posted 27/01/2019 at 13:42:04
I don't know if sacking the manager is the right thing to do. For me things run much deeper. Would you trust the people in the boardroom to select the right manager? If any new manager comes in and has a bad 20 odd games do we then sack him /her? New manager means a new set of players normally, do we have the money for this?
Colin Wordsworth
31 Posted 27/01/2019 at 13:44:39
Gomes, Digne, Gueye, who appears to have his head in Paris and Bernard all need to be dropped. Digne has struggled recently and the other three have been virtual ever present and the main problem in this awful run. Bring in McCarthy, Davies and Benninguame and some fight back into the team .can't be any worse than our midfield lethargy, belief and lack of athletisism at the moment. Why people still want Gueye in the team is beyond me.
Tony Hill
32 Posted 27/01/2019 at 13:50:06
Is Baningime injured? That young man is pure class and signed a 4 year contract in the middle of last year. A proper Everton player that kid with a lovely style of his own.
Tom Bowers
33 Posted 27/01/2019 at 13:56:03
Hindsight is 20/20 but his start at Watford was decent like at Goodison but in each case things have gone pear-shaped in a hurry.

It's hard to see in his demeanor and personality anything that can turn this around and methinks he is a phony who is nowhere ready for the Premiership.

Brands may have been right in denying more funding for new players in this window as they may too, have been a waste of time under Silva.

Sadly we may not know the answer to that situation and so we are left with a shambles of a set-up that may continue to the end of the season.

Only Everton could score a go-ahead goal with 20 minutes left against a much weakened, relegation threatened lower league team and then blow it all away.

As I have said for sometime Everton do not have a leader both on and off the pitch and they are crying out for someone like Peter Reid.

Jim Bennings
34 Posted 27/01/2019 at 14:00:05
A gross failure to shop around in this transfer window and try to capture a short term signing that might have pulled us out of the doldrums.

We need a Kevin Campbell type signing, someone to inspire a team that’s dead and flat as a pancake right now.

I’d be looking at the loan option of someone like Austin for example, someone who’ll at least put themselves on the line and not scared of doing the dirty work.

If Silva let’s Tosun leave then we are stuck with Calvert-Lewin, it’s unacceptable.

David Pearl
35 Posted 27/01/2019 at 14:06:52
Rob, 25 great shout for Cahill as number 2.

Silva has just lost it. Managers sometimes need a turning point. (Ala Kendall and Oxford) When will Silvas be? It won’t be in the cup. Maybe it could be the derby but by then if we don’t pick up some results he won’t be here.

The shape is all wrong, it just doesn’t work. Gomes has lost his spark. The confident display against the RS is a distant memory. And Pickford is also a shadow of himself. We kept Stek and let Robles go.

We are in a mess at the moment, on the field... and of course having a whole team of loanees we can’t get shut of. If we could offload them in the summer we can dust down and start again. We also need a marquee signing, oh and better pies. Fucking Everton

Ian Edwards
36 Posted 27/01/2019 at 15:11:33
We've chopped and changed Managers and now some fans want us to appoint Arteta – who has no managerial experience. Absolutely beggars belief.
Ian Linn
37 Posted 27/01/2019 at 15:16:34
I don't think Silva will have a 'turning point', I don't think the issues are the caused by the payers he has at his disposal (Okay, we could use striker) but rather the method of play he is pushing on the players that simply isn't working.

I'm no great football strategist but this ponderous slow passing out from the back isn't working. We don't have skilled enough midfielders who can either get past a couple of opposition players or thread through some great balls to the front line.

We do reasonably down the wings as we have Coleman, Bernard and Digne but many times the build-up is so slow that there are tons of opposition players in the box against maybe a couple of ours. That purple patch we had in November employed this method but we passed and ran exponentially quicker - which you can only surmise has a lot to do with confidence.

Look at the amount of passes we make that go sideways or backwards – I think the players are scared of making a mistake so they always go for the 'easy' or 'safe' pass.

Should Silva go? – well, you have to think that, if he was there next season, would you expect anything to be different? And, would you trust him with him a pile of money, say £150M, to go out an buy the players he wants.

But, above all, we are sooooo boring to watch, it's painful!! I don't enjoy it; I watch out of a sense of loyalty and little else with the hope that we can eke out a victory. My hopes are usually trashed in the first 60 mins. COYB

Neil Cremin
38 Posted 27/01/2019 at 15:24:33
Most successful teams do one thing well: Defend. From boring boring Arsenal to Everton under Moyes to name but a few. They do the basics right usually mostly with workhorse type of players who build a fortress from midfield back. They then have a few talented footballers who once in possession move the ball fast from defence to attack to give forwards time and space to create goal-scoring opportunities.

We have no cohesive defence starting from an erratic goalkeeper who is believing his own hype. Defenders who are coached to attack, which is okay so long as you have a solid mobile and aggressive midfield who can hold the fort while they are attacking. We have none of these in the playing squad and attackers who create movement for the midfielders to create a pass/chance. Funnily, I do see Calvert-Lewin and even Tosun trying to do that but our passing rate is so slow that even slow defenders are able to track and recover the moves.

EVERYTHING IS SO SLOW!!!

Darren Hind
39 Posted 27/01/2019 at 15:26:32
It's amusing when people who always predict doom and defeat disappear up their own arseholes when we win. Yet, when we lose, they start to appear more frequently on the Live Forum as the whistle draws near, and appear on every thread repeatedly to tell everyone "I told you so" when we lose.

Embarrassing really

Neil Cremin
40 Posted 27/01/2019 at 15:34:23
I didnt mean to resubmit my earlier thread but I am going to stick my neck out hear having reviewed some of the posts.

Assuming that we get deeper into trouble over the next few weeks and are in danger of not getting the 10 points we need for safety then what are our options for a manager?

Benetiz would seem to be the safest pair of hands as he is becoming increasingly frustrated at Newcastle and has proven experience in managing at the highest level.

Arteta (who I thought was in consideration after the sacking of Koeman as he did attend some of Unsworth's games) is untried, but also may learn from Pep but don't forget he is used to dealing with a much higher quality of player and I'm not sure whether he could cope and motivate our lot. Maybe... Maybe Not.

It was said in one of the earlier threads is that we need a mean bastard and bully as a boss to get some result from the current squad. At the risk of being inundated with typical TW abuse, one person springs to mind who has recently become availabe, has experience in the premier league and is a non-nonsense demanding manager who expects nothing less than full-blooded commitment from his players: Roy Keane.

(I am now ducking behind my keyboard...) Drastic circumstances require drastic measures.

Steve Barr
41 Posted 27/01/2019 at 15:35:27
Neil @38,

Also, as has been discussed before on this forum, we still play passes behind the player which immediately slows the whole process down.

It's one of the first things any basic training teaches, and another basic skill that appears to be missing at Finch Farm!

What the hell goes on there?

Fran Mitchell
42 Posted 27/01/2019 at 15:42:32
A good manager gets the best from his personnel. Silva is clearly failing.

Each player at this club is viewed as a good player. Digne, Zouma, Mina, Coleman, Keane are all international defenders. Pickford is England No 1. Defending a corner against a lower level Championship team should not be an issue.

Gueye, Sigurdsson, Gomes are international midfielders with values of £30+ million each. Davies is widely regarded as one of the top young midfielders in England. But Silva can't get a tune out of any, the midfield neither presses and win the ball, nor create and hold possession.

Walcott, Richarilson, Calvert-Lewin, Tosun, Bernard, Lookman – you can scream all day about not having the perfect no9, but many a manager would dream of those options. Yet under Silva, they are impotent, static and predictable.

For me he has 4 games to save his job, Huddersfield, Wolves, Watford, Cardiff (Man City a write off already). Any defeats in these 4, and anything less than 8 points, and he needs to go. Get Unsworth until the end of the season, maybe at least a bit of fire in time for the derby. And start a fully researched, detailed search for a new manager. Look at the German, Italian, and Spanish leagues.

Jamie Crowley
43 Posted 27/01/2019 at 15:47:52
James Marshall @ 10:

A manager has 2 things to do on a basic level – motivate the players and pick a system that suits them. Silva is doing neither in my view.

Nothing else needs to be said.

Last one out, please kill the lights.

Paul Tran
45 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:04:02
For me, teams often resemble their manager.

Kendall's team had nous, tactical acumen and loved the club so much they'd run through a brick wall for him each other and us.

Royle's initial team was imposing, incisive and desperate to win.

Walker's team was quiet, scared and clueless.

Koeman's team was thoroughly confused and looked like they didn't want to be here.

Silva's team is quiet, reflective, dull, downbeat, slow to react and uninspiring.

Are there any managers out there with some tactical acumen and the big personality to grab hold of this club, slap it, love it, and make it believe it can be successful?

Hope Brands has told Moshiri that he's looking for one, on his own!

Stan Schofield
46 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:05:17
It's obvious that confidence has gone. When a player has the ball, they look like they don't know what to do with it, looking for options, which is always going to make for slow play. They just look nervous, like they don't want the ball in the first place.

Unless that changes, and the players actually start enjoying the game and believing they can win, nothing will change, no matter how hard they try.

Darren Hind
47 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:10:42
Paul T,

He's been here all along. The panic merchants did not give him a chance because he didn't turn Koeman's Zombies into world beaters in a month.

He'll be back

Peter Mills
48 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:20:24
Did I read that 30 hours were spent at Finch Farm preparing for this game? I pointed out on the pre-match thread that Millwall only had one tactic to score goals, that was to lump the ball to the far post for knock-downs. That razor sharp piece of wisdom was gleaned by sitting in front of the telly with a beer, watching their game against Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago.

Any of the posters on here would have seen the same thing and, if in charge, would have come up with a plan to combat it. Blackburn did it, coming away with a clean sheet, with Jack Rodwell at centre half. But our manager did not.

My concern with this manager, as with Allardyce, Koeman and Martinez, is that it is not in their personal interests to be successful. They are actually incentivised to fail. They pick up their £5M per season, get sacked, pick up their compensation, then some other mugs give them a job.

I fear that, until a highly incentivised contract is offered to someone, we will continue this miserable cycle.

Paul Tran
49 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:20:29
He didn't convince me, Darren, though he could have saved us the expense of hiring and firing at least one manager.
Simon Dalzell
50 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:27:50
Excellent article. I was a little concerned even from the first game against Wolves. We were easily the better team with just 10 men and had a 2 goal lead. Wolves made 3 substitutions which changed the game and levelled the score. Understandably, we were tiring, but Silva didn't change a thing until it was too late. Bournemouth soon after was similar. He seems clueless.

I do think he should be given time: HMP Walton.

Steve Ferns
51 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:28:59
Paul, he has a 100% record at home in the Premier League, and a 50% win ratio in the Premier League. A defeat in the League Cup, defeat to Lyon and a second string getting blitzed in a game only 17,000 went to nailed the narrative that was not quite true. They were desperate times and Unsworth did some good work, that was under-appreciated.

Allardyce's job of "saving us", was basically done for him, and once he beat Huddersfield at home, we were into the top half, momentum had shifted, the narrative set in stone, and Allardyce was on easy street. I think if Allardyce had had Unsworth's games, things would have been different.

Paul Tran
52 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:33:44
Steve, Unsworth did some good work and I said at the time, I'd have given him till the end of the season. I'd have certainly preferred him to Allardyce. For the long term, he didn't convince me, but I wanted him to have more of a chance than he got.
Jay Harris
53 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:38:11
IMO our problems are nothing to do with not having a prolific Number 9. It is to do with tactics, Motivation and organisation.

A good Number 9 would have made little difference to the 12 or 13 goals we have conceded from dead-ball deliveries into the box.

Our centre-forward was not responsible for giving away ludicrous free kicks near the box.

The whole club is a shambles. Kenwright and his hangers-on from yesteryear still have too much influence. Managers seem powerless and clueless to sort things out.

The players won't even look at each other such has been the alarming collapse of the team spirit Moyes painstakingly built up around the whole club.

I will put my tin hat on after this but Koeman is the only decent manager we have had since Moyes but he got pissed off with the politics and sought refuge on the golf course instead of doing his job.

And on another note... what the fuck is Denise Barrett-Baxendale (another Bill acolyte) doing as CEO of a major football club??? For god's sake – running a worthy charitable organisation gets you the hotseat at Goodison Park!! No wonder we are a basket case.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

54 Posted 27/01/2019 at 16:44:31
Well done to the editors for creating a new thread with Garry's post from the match day thread. When I read it yesterday, I thought Garry very neatly laid out the numerous issues which are torpedoing our season and that it merited debate in its own right.

Unlike Garry and others, I don't agree that things were not going well up to and including the derby game.

Even here on TW, there was a majority 'good feel' factor about how we were playing.

The team was keeping clean sheets.

The opposition were struggling to create scoring chances against us.

The midfield and forward line was interchanging and functioning well.

We were compact out of possession, using a 'non-contact' press high up the pitch, challenging sides to pass through us.

There was composed, confident and slick play in possession, even when pressed tight.

All the summer signings were contributing.

What we weren't doing well was taking our chances and putting games to bed when we were on top, but the signs were there that Silva was possibly on a good path.

However, since the 96th minute of the game at Anfield – other than the 5-1 win at Burnley – all of the above has completely unravelled.

I don't intend to analyse that here, but rather, look at the wider implications for the club that are starting to concern me.

It is 3 years since Farhad Moshiri effectively took command of the club. The model he is following is very different from anything under the stagnant years of Bill Kenwright.

He is not afraid to dismiss the manager.

He has underwritten unprecedented transfer fees for Everton.

He appears serious about moving Everton to a new iconical stadium.

He has put in place a more professional management structure.

Only, his appointments and purchases haven't really worked, have they?

He gave a warning shot over Silva's bow publicly at the AGM.

Arguably, our season is already a failure with two early eliminations in the cup competitions that we need to target.

Moshiri is an accountant. He needs Everton to succeed to see a return on his investment. However, he is not an Evertonian in the truest sense of the word. He is not as emotionally invested in the club as a 'born, not bred' Everton fan is.

TW posters are increasingly referencing the likes of Lerner at Aston Villa, the debacle of Leeds, and the sinking of Sunderland, as a possible path Everton are following:

* Continual changing of the manager

* Inflated fees and long-term contracts for mediocre players you then can't get off your books

* Long stretches of games with a low points return

* Little or no sign that things are improving

As a third consecutive season under his stewardship falters, before he ploughs any more money in, Moshiri the accountant and emotionally uninvested 'Evertonian' may run the numbers and think: "Do I need this? Pouring my money into a holed bucket..?"

Now Moshiri for me is as culpable as anyone at the club. All 3 full-time managers – Koeman, Allardyce and Silva - were very much his call. But because of the way things have gone on his watch and because first and foremost he is an accountant and businessman, rather than continue with his 'vision' for Everton, he could equally be contemplating to cut his losses now and walk away.

And if he does, where does that leave Everton in this 'Brave New World'...?

Peter Mills
55 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:08:25
Darren #47, Steve #51, I would like to add to your posts, as one of the 17,000 who attended the Atalanta game with David Unsworth in charge.

I have always felt the result was unrepresentative of the match. It's true that we did not play well, we went 2-0 down, pulled one back, and the players went hell for leather to get an equaliser. We conceded a third on the break 10 minutes from time, then the wheels fell off.

I would love to see the same effort the players put into trying to score that equaliser for their manager in a dead rubber from this current team.

Jay Harris
56 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:15:11
Jay,

He has so much invested in EFC I cant see him just walking away. If he is the astute businessman we suspect and not just a lucky accountant he will be questioning the hierarchy in detail and they will and should come up with a plan to rectify things before relegation threatens again.

Even if he does "walk away", he will want to recoup his investment and sell to a very rich consortium that may well be more capable of running a football club.

My concern is that, in the short term he will refuse to finance more acquisitions, which is what we desperately need.

At the moment, we have a squad of bottlers being run by a manager who is a bottler – with the world's "best" Evertonian still having a major influence on the club.

Steve Ferns
57 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:17:54
That's exactly my worry Jay (Wood @55). Right now we are sat midtable. We are not under any pressure of relegation. The next guy might be as unsuccessful as the last few. Do we keep saying "Next!" until we strike it lucky?

Jay Harris, but Randy Lerner was very good at what he did, was he not? He invested a load and then just pulled the plug? Aren't these successful billionaire business ruthless enough to just pull plugs and cut the investment off?

Brian Patrick
58 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:18:18
I think Paul Tran has a good point. Whenever you see the Everton coaching staff, it's always gormless, unsmiling faces and nobody talks to each other! How can you organise a team without speaking?!

Likewise on the pitch there's no-one rallying the troops, no shouting from the captain. Other teams like Spurs, Millwall yesterday have half a team of leaders!

One of the problems is communication I have heard they don't understand each other apparently?! That's what happens when you have a team of mercenaries...

Kevin Prytherch
59 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:28:43
On the Unsworth note.

His were he only matches for a long time where we played with passion, and he wasn't afraid of outing players who weren't putting in the effort – ie, the Mirallas and Schneiderlin incident.

He also should receive praise for what he's doing with the Under-23s again. Top of the league and without the star players of 2 years ago. He has them playing for each other as a team – one of the key things missing from the first team at the moment.

We panicked getting rid of him. If we'd have kept him in charge, we'd have a far better idea whether a lot of the youngsters would be up to scratch and we'd have saved ourselves £50 million on Tosun and Walcott.

Paul Tran
60 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:28:55
That's a fair point, Steve. I've always been of the view that, like many teams, we might have to say 'next' more often than we like. The thing is, sacking Martinez and Koeman were the right decisions at the time. Hiring Allardyce was a poor solution to a non-existent problem.

As you say, we won't be getting relegated, so do we go for stability and see if Silva turns things round, or do we cut our losses right now?

It all depends on who we could bring in and how we work with them. Would a top-notch manager want to work with this squad and budgetary restrictions?

That lot over the park sacked a manager who got them 2nd because they knew who they wanted and how he operated. They made the right choice.

Sacking managers is easy and cheaper than buying few players. Getting the right one for the right reasons is the hard bit. That'll be Brands's job soon enough.

Jay Harris
61 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:29:06
Steve,

I think Lerner was a very different case.

He was new to English football and Villa flirted with relegation for about 5 or 6 years before falling.

I can't see Moshiri being that patient. He is at least decisive and will take action when he feels necessary – sometimes ill-advised but at least it's action whereas Lerner sat back while the club crumbled.

Steve Ferns
62 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:35:36
I don't know the ins and outs of it, Jay. I just recall them throwing money at it, but struggling to get above us, before it all came crashing down, and now they languish in the Championship. There's others as well, like Sunderland.

My worry is that we cannot afford our wage bill, and if Moshiri walks, then it'll cause us to go into a meltdown that could see us go the way of Sunderland.

Jay Harris
63 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:36:39
Steve,

I also disagree with your view that we are not in danger of relegation. If we can't beat a poor injury-ravaged Millwall team where do the next 10 points come from.

We are 11 points off relegation with 15 games to go and our current form would suggest we are averaging 0.75 points a game.

I am not panicking and would hope we have enough in the tank not to get embroiled in a dogfight but Silva seems to have lost the majority of the support and that does nothing to encourage better results.

Paul Tran
64 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:45:11
Steve, Villa wete 'almost there', but they had a 'solid' manager in Martin O'Neill, the sort of manager that journalists and fans of a certain age could respect and relate to. Problem is, there's a difference between a solid manager and a really good one. That's where Villa's problems lay.

Just like O'Leary at Leeds. The good managers get more out of better quality players. We're the latest in a line of clubs to prove that, when you upgrade your budget, you need to upgrade the quality of your manager.

Steve Ferns
65 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:56:56
Jay, I heard nothing at the last few games to suggest he's lost any support. It's a long way off Koeman's end or what it was under Allardyce.

Disgruntled voices sure, but when do Evertonians ever accept a defeat? Not heard any calls to sack him. Not heard anyone doing anything other than voice displeasure after the fact.

Sam Hoare
66 Posted 27/01/2019 at 17:57:02
I too think Unsworth was sacked too quickly. He had the players playing with real heart, not something we've seen lots of. He got some things wrong as anyone stepping up a level is liable to do but I don't think his results would have been any worse than Allardyce's.

As for Silva, he still has my backing. For now. He'll get the rest of the season to see if he can turn it around and I really hope he can as I don't want our 6th manager in 3 years.

Many will disagree no doubt but for me there were signs of progress pre-derby and we were on course, points per game wise, for one of our best finishes in years. Since then the trains gone off the tracks, big time. It's down to Silva to get back on course; otherwise, he'll be gone this summer.

Jay Harris
67 Posted 27/01/2019 at 18:15:16
Sam,

Being our 6th manager in 3 years should not be a reason not to sack him.

Silva coming up with a change of plan and executing it successfully is a reason not to sack him.

James Hughes
68 Posted 27/01/2019 at 18:29:32
Paul Tran @64. The last part is totally spot on. Whoever has been selecting our managers, they either have dementia or really hate us.
John Pierce
69 Posted 27/01/2019 at 18:59:51
A very good reporter for the Midlands, Pat Murphy, said of Lerner that he realized after his initial outlay that the gap between Villa and the then top 4 or 6 if you like was unbridgeable. He simply decided it wasn't viable. Business pure and simple.

I think Moshiri thinks there is a small opportunity, a couple of those clubs are in a downward cycle. Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea sans Hazard and Tottenham without Kane look vulnerable.

I don't think with the stadium on the horizon Moshiri can afford not to feed the club. It will hurt him too much. And, if he's sick of it, I think he has enough contacts to share the burden.

I might proffer he has changed manager, frequently, in order to find the guy that can bridge that gap. I think he will change again in order to find the manager who can handle the expectations of produce results, that gives him time to imbue their style and finish 7th or higher.

Anything less leaves Everton vulnerable to their better players being poached and many might wonder why stay?

I think that changing now gives you no up side, in fact turmoil and doubt, even though I'm sick to death of Silva's inability to stabilize the slide. I think he will get binned at the end of the season or when 7th is mathematically out of reach.

Options: I think the club will consider Rafa, and timing fits too, his contract expires this season. Brands may look to market he knows and go Dutch (gulp) or German.

I have to say Rafa May well be considered; after the last manager, anything is possible.

James Stewart
70 Posted 27/01/2019 at 20:41:13
@67 Spot on.
Ian Pilkington
71 Posted 27/01/2019 at 20:43:09
If and when Silva is fired, it could make sense to appoint Unsy as an interim manager until the end of the season.

However, are we so devoid of ambition that Unsy or Arteta, neither with any senior management experience, could be suggested as serious contenders to be our next manager? Would anyone consider Arteta if he'd never played for us?

As for the thought of Moyes returning, quite unbelievable.

Gavin Johnson
72 Posted 27/01/2019 at 21:23:02
I disagree with some posters who say the club lacks ambition. Moshiri has pumped millions into the club and we are moving to a new stadium. I don't see us becoming Aston Villa, Mk II either. Moshiri has better people around him now. He'd already made his mind up about Silva before Brands came into the picture. I thoroughly trust Brands. That can be seen by comparing his player recruitment to that of Walsh.

I agree that I don't see any more money being spent unless we offload Tosun or Bolasie and we bring in Batshuayi. Silva needs to get a tune out of the players we have. In all honesty, I don't see that happening.

Zonal marking can work. Pep's done okay using it, as have a lot of other top clubs. Up to now, it hasn't worked for Silva though, so unless there's a dramatic upturn he's gonna have to go.

Conte would be a good choice. Whether he'd want to manage us is another matter. Jardine is available and Moshiri resides in Monaco so he could be in contention if Silva goes. I hope Silva can turn it around but, at this point, it's more like 'when' rather than 'if' he goes...

Ian Riley
73 Posted 27/01/2019 at 21:26:45
The game on Tuesday against Huddersfield town is now our biggest of the season. They have a new manager and will be up for it. We are recovering from a night out in Millwall.

Look, we need to be honest about how good we really are. No leaders, no bollocking each other, no-one organising. How can we win anything with a squad that has not one trophy between them?

Look at Tottenham Hotspur. All that great football, top four but the cleaning lady never bothers with the trophy cabinet. They are getting closer to a final but fail. How many players have won trophies in their squad?

It's difficult to win a trophy when two are available and the top clubs take them as serious as we do. The owner wants success but we have an old ground and a squad lacking real quality. I include leadership in that.

Look at what we have spent? Nothing really over 10 years. Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Man Utd have spent big but have installed successful managers to coach the talent.

I fear changes are coming to quickly. Board room level, and four managers in as many years. I fear change to quickly is damaging us. Silva must be given to the end of the season. At present we need stability.

Do we panic? It's the end of January. No further transfers. A new manager has what he has. Let's give Silva time. Sadly our season is over but staying as high above the relegation zone is a must.

Geoff Cadman
74 Posted 27/01/2019 at 21:48:44
Changing managers every 5 minutes is the road to ruin unless you have real mega bucks and the Financial Fair Play rules also now restrict the practice.

Both Koeman and Allardyce had similar poor runs. Koeman had one win in 10 before finishing 7th. Fat Sam won 2 in 12 this time last year. It's been said Allardyce wouldn't have conceded 3 yesterday... probably not, but I doubt we would have had 3 shots on target.

Silva's preferred system is 4-3-3. Perhaps it's time to move Sigurdsson to the bench. We saw the best of Tom Davies in a midfield 3.

Another factor, confidence, is not helped by all Sam's cronies in the media taking every opportunity to slag us off. Some on social media are guilty of that too.

Finally, when was the last time anything near 40 points was needed to stay up?

John Keating
75 Posted 27/01/2019 at 21:51:52
Slippy G as long as he brings that nasty little bastard Morelos with him.
David Pearl
76 Posted 27/01/2019 at 21:52:45
Ian, what experience did Pep Guardiola have before getting arguably the best job in club football?

We need a manager that inspires the players that they look up to and has some tactical nous. Silva doesn't seem to fit. The next 4 games will decide his future.

Ian Riley
77 Posted 27/01/2019 at 22:41:15
David #76. Pep coached some of the best players in the world at arguably one of the top two clubs worldwide. Nearly 100,000 fans week-in & week-out. Club could pay those top salaries.

I'm all for getting Jose. Even he will need time. Don't think he will get it on here.

Tom Bowers
78 Posted 27/01/2019 at 23:22:16
Arguably Gana has been Everton's best player in the middle of the park which sadly isn't saying much as everyone else there has been so poor for the last 3 months. Sure they all work hard but are just not up to snuff when it comes to creativity or defending when not in possession.

So, if Everton take the money from PSG for Gana, will they spend it on a replacement quickly. Very unlikely.

One assumes that they have known about the weaknesses in the team and there are many so would they have done some homework just in case Gana was to go as PSG have been interested for a while according to the media.

Still, once again it may appear that, at this late stage, Everton will stick and not twist.

Our worst fears were realised on Saturday and it was made worse by the circumstances after getting the go-ahead goal they like so many other occasions don't know how to hang on even against the likes of Millwall.

Losing this game and also at Southampton and Brighton is an absolute embarrassment which may only get worse against Huddersfield as the team is so disorganised.

After last season's debacle with 3 different managers at the helm, one would have hoped that all the fuss to get Silva would pay off but it's been proved so far that he has nothing special to offer and, in adversity, nothing at all.

Kenn Crawford
79 Posted 28/01/2019 at 20:46:21
Thanks for the post Gary a very good read and some salient points. I agree mostly with what you are saying but he has had 7 months to get his team playing his way and if this is his way we are doomed! Some say we are in transition and I agree, under Silva we are in transition from a premier league team to a championship team that would struggle in the championship. so the only way that I can see out of this is to sack Silva now. Options, Arteta, Wenger or even the chosen one but there are options out there but I have little faith in the people who make those decisions.
Martin Mason
80 Posted 03/02/2019 at 13:07:06
Gary, I feel for you and sympathise with your points but my opinion is that sacking Silva now is a further step to Mediocrity (see how I got that in?). Silva is only one cog in the Everton Machine and a smaller one than Brands in the modern set up.

Silva is in a position now that he can't solve and his body language shows that but it is up to the whole management of the club to stand up and be counted. The problem is that we have a massive squad of square pegs in round holes, over-valued, over-paid and a magnificent academy that can't seem to bridge the gap between U23 and First team at the right quality level.

I believe that Brands has to earn his money now. 4 of the absolute dross that we excel in out and one quality player in. No more than 2 in, in any window because more can't be assimilated easily.

If it wasn't impossible I'd set a club mandate of 2 U23 players into the first team squad every season to cover 2 of the dross that we throw out and if they fail given time then they are also culled not loaned.

How do I define dross? Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson. How would that be for a start?


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