Whoever it is, the board need to sort it out quickly.

Is Kia his agent? Honestly the board need to wake up. I know they say any news exposure is good but they are just embarassing themselves with the sort of coaches being considered. Things need to be concluded with a new coach / manager, a successful manager without a negative past, a new hope resulting in an immediate improvement in results.

Feeling a bit drained by the antics of the Kenwight and Moshiri show. The diverse list of managers names mentioned shows they haven't a clue...

They are not going to hire anyone until the transfer window has closed. They will use this opportunity to save money. Have a feeling that they might sell someone though. Possibly on the last day of the window.

I doubt Richarlison will want to remain after the summer. I'm expecting him to push through a move in a World cup year.

Not sure why but I have a good feeling about Cannavaro.

I know we need a new manager and quickly too so I hope that they can get this one right for a change. As well as a manager we are desperate for a creative midfield player, you could see yesterday that there was nobody to get the ball forward quickly enough and as a result we were to slow, we need to get the ball forward much more quickly and then maybe we’ll be able to score some goals.

Tony (2) you say they’re embarrassing themselves but as far as I’m aware they haven’t confirmed who they have or have not interviewed. So most of these names were being linked to are purely speculation. We’re getting to a stage as a fan base where if a paper or journalist on Twitter links us with a manager we don’t like we all start screaming blue murder about how badly run we are etc. majority of the time these names are not, or never where, in the frame.

We actually don't know who's on the list and who's not...papers just trying to sell copy.

His average tenure is 15 months, should fit in well.

There seems to be little, or no, contingency planning. Yet another name we are interviewing or talking to. Not far behind the manager appointment is the need for at least one possibly two central midfielders to play with Allan or stand in for him, as he likely won’t play all our remaining games.

Doucoure is then more released to support attacks picking up the space behind DCL.

We have to be constructing a team that plays 433 as it plays to our strength. Richie DCL Gordon/Gray as front three.
Then a midfield three with two engines (Allan+new signing) and Doucoure with the license to attack.

It’s best that the new preferably interim manager until June, or permanent manager, has a say in this, so they really have to be making a decision next day or two at the latest.

Operating without a proper functioning engine room in a relegation battle is very risky. We have eight days to address it.

I know very little of this guy but have just looked him up, if he is to be our next manager we are going down

I don't think we should be hiring someone without Premier League experience. My choice would be Lampard, surely he would be able to sort out our midfield, which is the main problem in the team.

None of us are privy to who is being interviewed, or who is on our “shortlist”. Dependant on which report you read the list is different. If there is any truth in the Cannavero rumours a number of Everton supporters are already “dissing” this because he has never managed in Europe or the Premiership and want us to get a manager with this type of experience. But haven’t we already followed that path with our last 5 managers and all have failed. When Arsenal brought in Arsene Wenger he had never managed in Europe or the Premiership, only in China (much like Cannavero)but he completely rebuilt Arsenal. Similarly Graham Potter had not managed in the Premiership before Brighton engaged him. Maybe going for a totally left field appointment is just what we need as our current manager model is fatally flawed. Whoever comes in has to work with the current squad and the “experienced” managers will, because of the available players, all play with similar systems to those used by Ancelotti and Benitez, so I am sure an Italian defensive specialist could at least make us harder to beat irrespective of where he has previously managed.

I’m too depressed to care who the media speculates is on the managerial shortlist.That’s not the real problem.
Our immediate problem is to sign two decent midfield players before the window closes.
If we fail to do this,the consequences are likely to be dire but I have no idea who’s job it is to recruit players given the shambles in the club at the moment.
Have we got anyone on the radar?Can we sign them in time.?If not why not.?
Does anyone in this club care if we are relegated?
It’s a good job I’m not allowed access to sharp instruments !

Tony@10 is spot on about desperate need for midfield reinforcements. I think our season will hinge on this far more than it will on the next manager (providing we don’t pick a disruptive dinosaur like Benitez again)

Next manager needs 4 immediate attributes, in no particular order:

1) Galvanise and motivate the squad - as Reidy says about Kendal, someone they’d run through a wall for.

2) Press opponents high and capitalise on their mistakes too.

3) fix set pieces and make defence solid.

4) Learn to keep the ball, and know when to make opponents chase it, and when to move quickly and incisively.

Genuinely think ANY manager we’re linked with will be a big risk.

Rooney - inexperienced
Lampard - can he deliver 1&3?
Duncan - seems to not fancy it or not be fancied.
Pereira - China is not same level.

…..so, I really don’t care now. Just appoint one and stop dragging it on. For the love of god tho, buy a midfield in next 8 days.

Hope the interview question is “which CM would you buy”, because we have no DoF, no manager, and no head of recruitment to pick appropriate ones to go after.

Simon # 7. Absolutely spot on mate. People have dickie fits every time a new name is mentioned, with absolutely no basis whatsoever for that name. Time yet again, to dig out those defibrillators.

Out of all the names mentioned it’s Lampard for me

What’s Pereira like?

Tony #18
Amongst other things...Italian fashion, Japanese food and Lady Gaga

I’ve been checking Paddy Power bookies on a daily basis and did not even see Victor P’s name on the list of candidates yesterday.

Now he is the favourite for the Everton (manager’s job / hot seat / short term tenure / huge pay-off for simply turning up/ talking media-trained bollocks wearing rose-tinted specs/ fitting-in somewhere in an undefined role between the boardroom and pitch/ using phrases such as “in a good/bad moment” and “that’sh footballsh” when asked “How disappointed are you after that defeat?”/ signing shite players for huge amounts of money that defies any reason or logic other than “he’s available and he fits in to my undefined plan”) - delete as applicable.

The “No Plan” plan appears on track.

Anyway, whoever we get is up against it regarding keeping us up.
But whether he succeeds or not, he will never need another job again as long as he lives.

Cynical?
Blame EFC.

The managerial candidates for other clubs are aligned with their style of play / status.
Our managerial candidates look like a bunch of desperados given there is no over-arching footballing style of play and we’ve been going nowhere fast for a quarter of a century other than down Memory Lane.

Rant over.

But the point about aligning our candidates to style of play / status is valid if we can hire RM, RK, SA and Benitez.

We’ve gone OTT on diversity.

I agree at least 1 midfielder is absolutely vital. Would it settle nerves if we could bring in a couple of quality prem experienced midfielders and see if Dunc can get us over the line? I’d see this as preferable than panicking and bringing in an unknown quantity who will need time to adapt? Question is, who are the players who are gettable and will improve the team straight away?

Gary Jones you obv need to do some research about perreira if all you know about him is China.

He’s a multiple league winner in different countries and plays proper modern football.

His porto team were a joy

This is the longest shortlist I've ever seen

I’m guessing it’s because he’s out of our league but why hasn’t ten Haag been mentioned, he seems perfect.

Pereira did well in Portugal with a fine Porto team but hasn’t pulled up many trees since.

Wouldn’t excite me personally but then not many of the options do! Lampard is vastly overrated for my money and Rooney is very risky given his limited experience.

Kovac and Favre remain the more attractive, experienced options though I agree that hiring someone with no experience of English football might be dangerous given our position. Tough decisions to be made.

I wanted him after Silva was sacked,his Porto team were excellent to watch and he seemed to me a pro-active Gaffer who got maximum effort from his players add in he takes no shit too and his press conference whilst with a middle Eastern club made me chuckle...he's seems a bit mad though,should fit in the hot seat here perfectly!.

Peter@24. Ten Haag will end up at a top Champions League team next season.

Mike # 20 ] He wasn’t on any of the bookie’s short lists mid-afternoon today.

If Moshiri and agent Kia make the managerial decision we're screwed. How can he keep making disastrous decision after disastrous decision and expect it to work.

The more he keeps meddling the further we get from having any identity other than that of a 'laughing stock' of a club.

The damage that he (and the boards) incompetence has caused, have brought us to the point that any respectable manager wouldn't look twice at us. The only experienced managers will come for the money and any failure will bring them closer to another large payoff.

How many more decisions before he realises he's tearing the club apart?

The culture at the club is now 'It's ok to fail' from the board to the pitch, no one seems bothered to lose. No one cares if we play awfully or continually under perform, I wish there was someone there that hates to lose but we don't have anyone with a winners mentality and it shows.

He needs to appoint a director of football and let him identify the right manager to take us forward. He needs to appoint a chairman who wants to drive the club forward and a CEO with experience of running big clubs and how to run them successfully.

We need to rediscover our identity, we need to reunite the fans and until any of this happens, whichever manager comes in, we are destined to fail.

Paul @27, I thought that, he was widely mentioned when Ancellotti went, should have gone for him then.

Mike #20
Pariah (see what I did there?) has been strongly linked with the Everton job in previous times. It didn't come to pass...hopefully it won't this time either.

Will the folks in the Main Stand react well to being told to "Shut up" by the potential new manager?

Link

Am I being completely ridiculous here? But how about going all out for…. Dare I say it… Diego Simeone.

Would he come? Probably not… however money talks and if we offer him a good amount would he not consider it? His Atleti team not doing amazing this season and maybe it’s time for a change?

I’m having a £1 bet tomorrow (I don’t piss about, you know).

A treble.

By the end of this week:

Russia move in;
Boris moves out;
Everton are still without (a permanent manager).

(Well, go on 50p then.)

Pereira clear favourite with the bookies.

What is the fixation on this guy? Like, seriously? Last time it felt like we were feigning interest as a favor to his agent to help leverage a better deal in China. But here he is, back in the frame yet again.

Doesn’t matter who we choose, not everybody is going to like him.

True Rob #37
But this guy's getting 1% on the ToffeeWeb poll...and we're supposed to be a very knowledgeable bunch.

Reports this might actually be a done deal!! Yikes!!

Sam, have you ever seen one of his teams play? I haven't, and I'm probably the only one here who has watched the Chinese League.

If he can keep us up. He will do for me.

Mike, I saw his Porto team play. They were very good. But it was a good time for Porto in general.

Who ever manages Everton will have quality players shortage, as Doucoure is now injured with a groin strain. Although Iwobi will be back soon from the African nations cup when Nigeria was knocked out by Tunisia.

Steavey #43

"Doucoure is now injured with a groin strain.

Although Iwobi will be back soon from the African nations cup "

Two bits of bad news then?

Sam@39. Yes, reports in Portugal saying it more or less done.

It’s a pity that Iwobi’s red card doesn’t count here.

Looks like " Silva lite "

Well if we do indeed have a new manager announced in the coming days at least it may give us some chance of bringing in a midfield, probably loan deals I would think.

Not that I claim to have the answer, but this feels like a hopeful visit to one of the the last remaining categories we haven't tried: foreign manager without prior experience of the British game. There's only "Young upcoming British manager" to go then.

After that, it's one of the fans.

Looks like it’s Pereira, so now he can liaise with the ‘other people’ and hire a couple of midfielders. I’m not convinced but I will get behind him 100%, its do or die time. Of the names we have been associated with Kovac I thought was the most interesting.

Reading about Periera, was said to be on 30m a year in China, so maybe he’s not entirely coming here for the few million pay day. Wants the challenge of a club in the toughest league in the World?

This was an interesting clip from the article;

“Though Everton fans will draw inevitable comparisons between Pereira and the man he could be about to replace at Goodison Park. Like Silva, Pereira earned his stripes as an exciting young manager in Portugal, won the Greek title with Olympiakos and then found himself suffering relegation (swap Hull City for 1860 Munich).”

VP is now 4/11 on Paddy Power.
In that case, I may now delay my £1 bet until conducting further due diligence tomorrow.
“Risk off” as we pros often say.

Agree Will #49
When I look at him...I think "Macbeth". Didn't end well...

What would be your return on them odds, Mike? About 30p? I’ve no idea.

Everton have reportedly reached a 'full agreement' for Vitor Pereira to become their new manager.

That's according to Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda, who has claimed the 53-year-old will fly to England tomorrow with his technical team to sign a contract with the club.

Pereira's last job in football management was at Turkish side Fenerbahçe. (Echo)

Rob - you are correct - 30p-ish.
Although a double with him signing then resigning with a pay-off by the end of the season might inflate the profit to nearer a quid.

Mike, go for it - easy money

Will #49, they will probably pick one of us out of the hat (so to speak), with the second pick getting the DoF job

Allen, yes. Sacked a month ago.

Mike, I'm not well up on betting. What would be the tax implications of such a win as yours?

Brendan & Neil,

The more I think about it the more I want to leave it with Ferguson. Another screw-up would be a monumental mess.

Much as those at the club get flak, I wouldn't want to be the one making the decision at this stage!

Saw this on Twitter from a Greek football fan about VP: “ One of the worst coaches Olympiacos had in the last decade imo. And I am against criticising coaches.”

VP was followed and outperformed by a certain Marco Silva.

If true, this strikes me as an appointment somewhere between risky and bizarre.

Jeez, Sam!

Not feeling too inspired here...

Will, nor me

It seems this board is determined to take us down ASAP! Vitor Pereira ffs! Best candidate to relegate us.

Brent #59 - Good question.
After the Inland Revenue stop laughing, I’m not sure.
Betting is tax free in the UK.
So “fill your boots” as us high-rollers often say.

Second in the betting has drifted to 6/1.
Nothing on the BBC website though there may be an announcement on MOTD 2.

I don’t have a good feeling about this though none of the candidates fill me with confidence given who is making the appointment.

Just hope we survive now.

Concerned. Kia Joorabchian has his fingerprints all over this.

Mike, a mate of mine is a serial gambler, though how you can bet on corn flakes, weetabix etc is well beyond me!!

Positive is that other teams have shit managers too yet 17 sides stay up? That’s my best positive spin on the older less accomplished Marco Silva

Now it all makes sense, I’ve worked it out.

Mr Moshiri has looked at the ToffeeWeb poll preferences without his glasses on.

Vitor Pereira - 1
Roberto Martinez - 2

I've been reading up for the past hour.

To summarize, Pereira's never managed in a top-level league, never managed in England, likes to play 3 at the back and has interviewed with Everton at least two and maybe three times over the years, starting in 2013 when Moyes left. Having had tremendous success in his previous tenure at Fenerbahçe, he returned last year and lasted just 17 games.

Wow, the exact list of qualifications I was hoping for in our next manager.

Suddenly I'm a big Duncan Ferguson supporter. Oy vey.

Rob - he probably goes to the corn exchange. Or William Trill.

Mike

I was reading too. Things turned sour at Porto when he benched James Rodriguez. That was when Rodriguez was young and fittish. He basically maintained a successful team in Porto for a bit, won the league in China. That’s about it if you exclude failures and sackings. A Pepe Mel type

I think the only remaining hope might be, the players finally say "Enough of this shit", and just go for it big time. It's a long shot, but...

Some reports coming from Portugal saying its a done deal.

As someone else said. This has Kia Joorabchian's fingerprints all over it. I seem to remember he helped to take West Ham down with some of the players he recommended them back in the noughties.

Ffs hope this is not true but hey they'll probably give him a 3 year contract, sack him when we are relegated ( or 5 games before the end ) and give him a massive pay-off. Just about sums up the Moshiri era. The man is a charlatan.

Tony #69
Cracker!

Carl Manning, you obviously need to understand difference between a bullet point text summary, and a lack of research.

I hope you’re right that success elsewhere will be success here. I’ll get behind him if he signs, simply because no one else other than Duncan is either likely or exciting.

If he likes to start a match from the first minute that’s a start.,

There are already a few toffees on Pedro Sepulveda twitter account asking some valid questions. Link

Some interesting comments about him in there:

"Replying to

@ToffeeIts

@FenerliDK

and 2 others

For Everton fans my opinions of Vitor Pereira:

- develops young players

- good eye for talent in transfer market

- clear vision he wants to implement

- high level of discipline

negatives:

- clashes with star players

- way too stubborn

Don’t judge off Fener, was set up to fail"

There is a BBC article on Vitor Pereira now by McNulty. No mention of ‘done deal'.

Hasn't he just got all the credentials so precious as a manager to Moshiri for a professional football club that is one of only twelve that created the professional game for the entire world, a club who's historic, viable (until Kenwright got involved) motto is "Only The Best Is Good Enough"?

NSNO now stands for No Sodding Nouse Onboard. SIGH!

Not what we need at all so will probably get the job!

Hope just a slow news day. I’m more interested in our main striker starting to score and get fit to get us out of this.

I hope this fella has got thick skin if he does get the job because this is going to be his biggest task ever to turn this club around.

We've already heard Benitez say he didn't realise the magnitude of what was needed, and that was a previously very experienced manager at this level

Pereira will never have had a crop of underperforming players like we have, a combination of mental weaklings and players that don't like to be worked too hard.

Other clubs get these kind of appointments right, Bruno Lage has done a good job at Wolves for example.

No doubt we'll balls it up.

Pep or Klopp would struggle with this lot...both on and off the field...any A. N. Other from the B or C list will stuggle even worse.

DBB to R2D2...Obi Wan, only you can help us now, crackle...Obi wan

Mike Hughes

That's worrying though because McNulty usually keeps his powder dry unless something is happening. If he's writing about it then if nothing else it's being seriously considered. Prior to that, the only sources I saw were The Sun and Mail, both of which are known to publish fiction.

Hope his English has improved. There's a rather comical post match press conference on YouTube where he's arguing with his own clubs press officer at the Arab club he was managing for trying to censor him.

Search.' Vitor Periera, I speak the truth' and you'll find it on YouTube

Hope this is complete bollocks !

Kia - Hi Vitor. Got some fab news. Remember that mug, sorry meant to say Moshiri ? Well I've got you the gig at EFC. Also I've got 2 players on loan all arranged and another guy on a free.

Vitor - who are the players.

Kia - Don't worry about that.

Vitor - but Kia, I've never manager in the EPL and EFC are shite.

Kia - Don't worry, when u get relegated he'll sack you and pay you millions in compo. If you don't get relegated he'll give you millions in bonuses. Its a win win !!

I'd have offered Lampard a contract until the end of the season, to attract at least one decent midfielder to go straight into the first team, possibly a forward in on loan as well to replace Rondon. Bring in Tim Cahill onto the coaching staff.

The board's reliance on Duncan, I believe, is unfair on the man, we need a completely different approach.

I believe we need a british manager to keep us up,first & foremost, then we can evaluate in the summer.

Vitor Pereira would be a very serious mistake. His only achievement of note (although a remarkable one, I concede), was to win the Portuguese league with Porto two years on the trot with a single defeat in those two seasons put together. He was André Vilas Boas number two at Porto when they won the Europa League in 2011 (and another Portuguese title undefeated), and succeeded him when he left for Chelsea. Since leaving Porto, he has coached in the Middle East, China and Turkey, as well as his above-mentioned very poor stint at TSV 1860 Munich.

What I've always heard about him is that his teams play the most awfully boring kind of football. He seems to get it right at the back, and that's about it.

Please no!

Just imagine we go down so Morshi sells the new stadium to the RS and we end up back at Anfield...

Jack Convery

Spot on

Vitor Pereira will be in England in the coming hours to meet with Everton board. Contract, staff and details to be discussed in order to make the final decision. Blue circleFlag of Portugal #EFC

Key hours/days ahead to find out new Everton permanent manager.

Fabrizio just tweeted

Looks like it could be a goer unfortunately blues. Biggest decision in moshiris Everton stint and it looks like he’s letting the parasite kia make it. Grim times.

David, you need to go back and read up on Vitor Pereira. He won 4 league titles.

He was Villas Boas' assistant. AVB went to Chelsea and Porto all but imploded. They were selling off the Crown Jewels like Falcao. It's the Portuguese way so Vitor took it in his stride. Bear in mind this was his first job as manager and the top club in Portugal so the pressure was on.

Anyway, he had two seasons in charge. Won the league in both. Lost just one league game in 60 games. Conceded about 30 goals. It was a job very well done considering AVB's big name players were all departing.

Then he left and Everton was a possibility but we went for Martinez. This is key because it means Kenwright liked him before Moshiri came on the scene.

I only follow Portugal so the rest of his career I rely on journalists. He went to Saudi Arabia and showed his fiery temperament falling out with the board and leaving.

Then it was Greece and Turkey. He won the league in Greece. This was taking over in January from Michel who had his side struggling in second. Vitor got them back in 1st and did the double, so job well done.

Germany was a disaster as he had a 6-month stay at a troubled 1860 who got relegated and then went into admin, but he can't be blamed for the off the field issues.

China was interesting. He broke the monopoly there and won the league ending 8 titles in a row. There was more Everton links and he became the reputed best paid manager in the world in 2019. But not sure that's entirely true.

Lastly he was back at Fenerbahçe. I was on Twitter spaces tonight and heard a few Turks who came on and raved about him. So they think he's decent even if the club weren't performing.

When he first left Porto, when Martinez came here, he looked a real managerial prospect. He's failed to live up to that. He's not my first choice. But I'd take him over a novice.

The downside to him is his own temperament. He's one of the most fiery managers you will ever see. If we win a derby with him, then expect him to do worse than Klopp did. He'd go fully down the touchline doing a mad dance.

He got heckled by fans at Fenerbahçe. His own fans. He turned to the crowd mid-game and told them to do one.

He takes on boards, he takes on fans, he takes on the press, he certainly puts players in their place. He's a man with balls of steel. He never lacks for confidence. He's a real character.

I think he's too much. A bit too fiery. But maybe we need that. Maybe he can do what some thought Benitez could do and shake the club up in a good way. Maybe he can fire the players up like Ferguson was meant to do but failed. Maybe he can get through to them.

Benitez was a bit too cold and lacked passion. This guy is the opposite of that. He won't give a player the cold shoulder and silent treatment. He'll give them what for. That could be what we need. But it could be too much.

He might be Portuguese but he ain't no silva. He's not attacking minded. He builds from the back. That said, his Porto side were a decent watch. The Turks said he played decent football. Gone was the 4-2-3-1 of Porto and he used a 3-4-3. He turned ineffective wingers into wingbacks. They were very impressed with that.

He's a pragmatist. He will adapt to what he has. He will change formations and won't stick to a single vision.

When I think of the alternatives: Rooney, Lampard, Martinez, Cannavaro, and Ferguson. Well, no thanks. All rookies and no experience. Except Martinez and he's already been here and didn't do well enough to be welcomed back by all. I'd have Pereira ahead of all of them.

It's just a shame the club aren't looking at other names who would be better, like Amorim if they want to go Portuguese again. Gallardo is still my favourite. Others suggest Marsch, Hutter and Kovac. Maybe they'd be better but they're not in the running either.

If it is Periera, don't despair. This guy has four league titles, balls of steel, and more passion than any manager you've ever seen. It certainly would not be dull.

Steve Ferns

I wondered if you might resurface on this news with your knowledge of Portuguese football. Welcome back mate. You’re “he’s better than the other options” doesn’t fill me with confidence but hey if it’s him or then then beggars can’t be choosers.

I am building up an irrational dislike of Kia Joorabchian!

In light of Kia Joorabchian's business methods and some of his transgressions - demonstrated and alleged - I'd say your dislike was eminently rational Steve Brown.

I can only echo Kieran's welcome Steve, you have been missed, especially with your knowledge of Portuguese Football, which I know you follow alongside Everton, if you can call it Football recently.

I, like many others, lost any faith in Silva, but whether that was premature and hypothetical or not, only time will tell. It's one thing Managing a Championship Club and getting great results and score-lines, but that rarely translated to The Premiership upon promotion.

How many times have we seen a side run away with The Championship Title, get promoted then struggle or go back down in one or two seasons ?

Getting back to Vitor Pereira, I know little of him, but what I have read he is even more animated on the touchline that Klopp or Conte, has a fiery disposition and temper, but is very good at promoting youngsters. So some debatable points and possibly a good one or two.

Now as many have already pointed out, he has had no Premiership experience, although even the successful ones must have started without that ! Whether he is what we need or want is another question. My only other and main trepidation is that Slimy Character Joorabchian is involved again.

Seems like a massive risk by Moshiri. I thought he was an accountant. Moshiri and Kenwright waited far too long to get rid of Benitez, and now they ‘re supposedly hiring a poor man’s Marco Silva. WTF 🤬

I have no faith whatsoever in Moshiri and Kenwright, they’re the Laurel and Hardy of the Premier League.

You would think that an owner in Moshiri's position would start to research best practice procedures adopted by foreign owners of successful clubs in the Premier League.

Instead, he seems to rely on the counsel of people like Kia Joorabchian, a player agent who by the way, negotiated the £34-million pound transfer of Alex Iwobi and counts Vitor Pereira as one of his clients. I fear that this club might become trapped in the Joorabchian web.

The obvious questions that have to be asked about Pereira are:

Does he have a successful track record coaching quality clubs?
Answer: No, not recently at least. He won 2 of the last 9 games at Fenerbahçe before he was sacked in December. Since 2011 he has coached Al Ahli, Olympiacos, 1860 Munich, Shanghai SIPG and Fenerbahçe, all respectable clubs no doubt but not at the level a successful Premier League club would aspire to.

Will Pereira have the drawing power to bring quality players to the club?

Answer: On the strength of his record and the quality of the clubs he has managed, he is not in a position of influence nor does he have a glowing reputation, so the answer is it would be difficult for him to attract top players.

Follow-up question: Given that Pereira might have problems attracting quality players will it be up to Kia Joorabchian to provide some of the lesser talents from his stable?

Are there better managers out there willing to take on this squad?

Answer: Probably

My preference would be for a manager on the upward trajectory. For this reason, I would take Rooney over Lampard. Lampard faltered with a quality list of players. Despite managing in a lower division Rooney appears to be bringing out the best in the squad that her has.

Another preference would be Ange Postecoglou at Celtic. His trajectory has been upwards. He has a talent for bringing out the best in underperforming players. He has taken Celtic from being a club in the doldrums to being a genuine contender in the Championship (remembering that Rangers won the title last year with a 25-point margin).

I would take Postecoglou over Pereira any day of the week, the only problem would be getting him away from Celtic. Unfortunately, or fortunately, both Rooney and Postecoglou are not represented by Kia Joorabchian.

Seeing how these players have successfully got rid of numerous managers maybe it’s best to ask them who they want ? Maybe they’ll start to play for the club then.

Steve #96, thanks for that valuable input -- and the reassurance! Glad you checked in, mate.

Simon #102, I'm amused by the TW fascination with other clubs' managers. You've added another name to the list.

We need a new manager now. I'd prefer a qualified, experienced guy we don't have to buy out. Save that money to spend on a midfielder.

Steve #96, Hope you’re well. Great insight into Pereira, he sounds like a bit of a nutcase. A pulp fiction adrenaline shot to the heart for us? Or another divisive, confusing manager who’s tactics our current players cannot respond to on the pitch.

I think his passionate personality will be a temporary tonic after Benitez, the fans will love it. I like it when the manager can become a twelfth man on the touch line, players respond to it mid game. The crowd gets engaged by it, and it can help drive the team especially at home games. The reality is though, that’s all froth. Can he do the hard bit and get results?

It looks like we are in business with Kia Joorabchian so this manager may come as part of a package he is proposing. A player or two heading here from his stable maybe thrown in.

The appointment looks like it won’t be a stable one, but will be a right old rollercoaster ride , one where we’ll have to cross ourselves and look to the heavens before each game.

Soren (79) - the positives all sound good (assuming they're even true), but "way too stubborn" is a massive, massive red flag in my book. This is where we always run into trouble - managers who are too intractable to change things, even when it's all falling apart around them. I mean we just went through this crap with Benitez, we don't need a sequel.

Steve #96 - and that's way some of us miss you, Steve. Great information and insights; great contributions to debate.

More!

A midfielder who is also one of Jooranchian’s, I think, is Bruno Guimaraes. It would be interesting if he was part of the equation. There have been rumours we were interested in him, but Lyon are asking serious money. 30-40m. Maybe to be funded in the summer through sales. Also, highly debatable that the player would he want the move.

Moshiri, our board and Joorabachian will be fully aware that we need more than just a manager. We need definitely one, probably two quality midfielders to best guarantee a safe passage back to mid table security.

Next season we could build on it.

Gavin#88 - l looked him up on yout tube as syou suggested:

"I speak the truth"

I like him - but then again I like Neil Warnock. There is something about a nutter that appeals to me.

Steve # 96 - good to see you back. Gallardo! - now there is a manager who could turn our fortunes around. I would sell the farm to get him in but he has just signed a one year extension.

There's no denying that if Periera is appointed then it shows once again, and arguably for a final time, that Moshiri just doesn't know how to make football decisions.

Periera is a manager that apparently had been interviewed for the job at Everton in 2013 and 2019 respectively but clearly didn't impress enough then to get it, now it just smacks of "he's out of a job so get him".

We need to get behind him, but much like our players that come in from overseas with no experience here, I imagine he's going to need time to know the English league.

Sadly one thing we don't have right now is time.

Good luck to Vitor Periera is all I can say.

What Jim said.

We have become a poor man’s Watford.

Welcome back Steve Fernes, very interesting insight. Sounds worrying, but less worrying than the other candidates!

Thanks for the insight Steve.

Obviously everyone's instinct will be to point at the level of experience in the top leagues, but that's not always reflective. I know it's a one-off, but Arnse Wenger didn't fair too badly when he came back from Japan.

And yes, he managed in France, but if I recall at the time, the French league could be compared to the Portuguese one in terms of standard? I leave that to those who follow.

I'll be honest, I know little, if nothing about this guy, so appreciate the detail Steve.

Let’s face it, there is NO manager we’re going to get right now that a large number of fans aren’t going to moan about.

This guys got no prem experience (ignore Poch, Wenger, Pep, Tuchel, Mourinho, and at least a dozen others who came here in same boat).

Ferguson’s apparently tactically limited.

Rooneys too young, and likes older ladies.

Lampard apparently failed at Chelsea by not winning the quadruple.

Martinez didn’t know how to defend 7 years ago.

……etc. etc.

The only time we’ve ever really just backed a manager was Carlo. Even he had his wingers on here after results slid a bit. We ain’t getting another Carlo, not without a 5 year £200k+ a week outlay, and a £150m war chest. Pipe dream.

So, for me, as long as a) not an ex red, b) doesn’t play defensive kitap1 football and c) can coach pressing and keep the ball…..then let’s just hope they pick quickly and get behind anyone who comes in.

There is a sure fire way to know quickly if Pereira (or anyone else) will succeed.

If he clears that bench and replaces the entire coaching and development staff - he has a chance. If they are still sitting there for game 1 - he is doomed.

You can save yourself millions with that advice Mr Moshiri.

After reading that post Steve F, I think you’ve sold this fella very well. A lunatic is coming into the asylum, to either wake us up, or find his spiritual home, maybe.

An appointment that seems like the desperate billionaire hasn’t got a fucking clue, or maybe it’s in the contract that the only way to get rid of Bill Kenwright, is by relegating Everton FC?

What do we actually know about Pereira, his style, his vigour, his understanding of the game. Clearly he's a winner from the past and he's younger than the last couple of managers we've appointed but what makes him tick? and can he get good results quickly? We need a quick fix first of all and then a solid plan of how to improve the playing squad.

Another bloke who has overseen a club's relegation and with references from his Agent! Does nobody in a responsible position see a pattern here, or at least a conflict of interest?

Given how useless Moshiri has been, it is hard to believe how he got rich.
Once again Moshiri has all his eggs in one basket and obviates his responsibilities to Kia.
And surprise surprise we end up with one of Kia’s clients.
Everton truly are the gift that keeps on giving

Apparently it will be confirmed today.

I have every confidence in Moshiri to make the WRONG appointment. The man is totally clueless when it comes to football matters.

Sometimes I wish we had just kept Marco Silva and allowed him to see out the bad run of form and maybe develope.

The madness that has unfolded since just hasn't been worth it.

Alan@119 - Wenger, Klopp and Conte all examples of those who’ve been relegated too. Wenger credits his as “the making of me”, so not sure that fact alone is a legitimate discredit.

I'd like to see Frank Lampard but Steve Ferns assessment makes him interesting and might be the shot in the arm the players need right now. Will Duncan still be here, probably. Does that mean no real change, perhaps

More bad news. Nigeria have been knocked out of the African cup so Iwobi will be on his way back.

When people moan that managers need PL experience have a look at Ranieri. He won the PL with Leicester and now he is failing to get a tune out of Watford.
Previous PL experience really doesn't mean much.
What we need is a guy(or gal) who can walk into the training ground and get those lads up and at it, full of confidence, with a clear method.

PL experience or not , we need to get the best person available.

For me ,we should go for the guy at the top of the poll.
If we want Potter, we have to go all-in and get permission to speak to him, pay him very big bucks and compensate Brighton.
It might save us a fortune in the long run.

Even more bad news, Anthony. As Joorabchian is now running the show, Iwobi will be made club captain and be given a 20 year contract.

The owner. The board. The club. What a sick joke we’ve become.

Firstly I don;t have a scooby who we should appoint. But whenever I see the name Kia Joorabchian linked to a player or a manager, I get a sinking feeling. Can anyone tell me anything positive about Mr Joorabchian, because all I've read are negatives?

Great to see you back onto Steve F.
I guess it could go either way with this guy but get it wrong and we may well be relegated.
It's going to be a risk whoever we appoint as things stand at the club and while I haven't a clue as to who it should be, I'd take a gamble on Carnavaro.

I hope we don't force Ferguson on too him. Any manager needs to bring his own staff.

Technically, Alex Ferguson never managed in the top flight of English football until his first gig. I never like that argument. It doesn't wash with the vast majority of successful English club managers over the years; certainly not the modern era.

I agree with Bob @118, my concern here is we need a quick fix, not the next manager / coach only to change again in the summer anyway or this time next year because it hasn't worked.

Strategy. Short-term is caretaker & regroup in the summer in my opinion.

To your point Jim Bennings; stick with a plan, even when it seems to be going wrong. See it through. But that comes back to getting the decision right in the first place based on the strategy.

Scattergun, shooting from the hip. We might as well get Clint Eastwood in to manage us. Focussing on the manager isn't the right place to right the wrongs of Everton.

Moshiri is the problem, inept almost indifferent, he alternately retreats then bungles

Being involved with this dodgy businessman is not going to end well. It’s just getting worse and worse.

Welcome back Steve F, hope you’ve washed away all that egg. My only question for you is, can his teams defend set pieces? Does he do zonal or man to man?

Steve F 96

Your description of Vitor's personality seems to be spot on.

My concern is, if it's true, he has been sacked by 5 clubs after spending less than a year there. So how long would he reign here?

My son lives and works in Turkey, where Pereira managed Fenerbahçe twice. He left in December (not sure whether he was sacked or not), and the fans were not overly vociferous about his departure (again).

Big risk if true, but I can see it ending in tears.

Personally I hope it's media hype, but the way this circus is being run, bring him in to join the other clowns at the top.

Will probably give Kenwright a heart attack. I don't wish that on Kenwright, but he might just be too much for him too handle, albeit I'd love too see the back of him.

We shall see.

Colin agree, its embarrassing. The way the club is run is in the media every day. You can even pick up the exasperation in every Phil Mcnulty article that is published. Too many times now the quote from the teary one "What would the Everton Board do" has been seen. All this during a week when Liverpool yet again get to another cup final.

Maybe you get what you deserve as fans, and too many have accepted Bill's cozy Everton set up for years. I'm not sure if the latest manager we are being linked to could manage a relegation scrap, we are certainly in one. For what it's worth I want Lampard, but it's a huge task.

No fork in the road way!

About 8th choice 5 years ago and his only real league experience since was in Germany where he got 1860 Munich relegated.

Michael (129) re. Kia Joorabchian not just in the world of football either. He tried to buy West Ham blagging he had the cash. The company he owned at the time Greens of Rainham (Vauxhall dealership) went belly up. Didn’t inform the 70+ workers who were never paid.

Link

Pereira is doing a lot better than Roberto in the poll.

95% didn’t want Bob, Only 78% don't want Pereira.

The board are making progress!

I agree with what Danny is saying about needing an interim appointment. Focussing now solely on stabilising us, signing a midfielder, maybe two, and having a strategy to keep us safely in the Premier League.

Appoint a well thought out DoF in the months ahead and procure a a manger to work with him from June. The incumbent should be seriously considered based on his results and progress.

It’s actually quite straightforward.
If Duncan Ferguson is retained, as I’m sure he will be, it means the new manager is yet another stooge.
No serious manager would allow himself to be dictated to and have Ferguson by his side.

Justin - Klopp got Mainz relegated in Germany. Wenger and Conte just two other examples too. Again, there are a dozen+ premier league manager winners who’d had no prior experience here.

I’m sick of all these managers wanting to give us good times. Would rather a steady mid table year instead of euro and Wembley visits all the time. Kenwright out.

'Interim appointment'

Have we had anything but in the 6 years since we sacked Martinez?

My reaction to this is 'meh, he'll be gone in 12 months anyway'

Maybe this guy is the real deal, I, like everyone else, don't know.
However, just now we need someone, regardless of their football philosophy, to grind out points asap.
Personally I just can't see a foreign manager with no PL experience doing us much good at this present time and us in this present position. Sincerely hope I'm wrong.

The stench of corruption/falseness/hype/cronyism surrounding football generally and Everton is beginning to clog my nostrils up - - seriously thinking of blowing the whole "snot show" into my paper hankie and throwing it in the bin.

It would not be an Everton managerial search without Vitor Pereira raising his head given who owner Farhad Moshiri listens to. Out of work, chequered career, no Premier League experience, huge risk - so only a fool would rule him out of. Source: Phil McNulty via Twitter.

George @145

I believe your sentiments are shared by many fellow Evertonians. The club does appear to have adopted the 'if you can't beat them – join them' brigade and has lost so much more than money or points in doing so.

Pereira (if appointed) should only get a six month contract and them (if half decent) a rolling one year contract. Hopefully, Moshiri has learnt his lesson (£40m+ in severance pay) and stops this insane managerial merry go round.

On another note. Condolences to me old mate, Iwobi. For the first time in his career he tried to make a tackle, fluffed it (no surprise there) and got a red card! Time for a career change, Alex. Professional ballroom dancer?

Short term keep Ferguson. The players in my opinion certainly responded and put the effort in.

If not, the only sensible appointment if you think relegation is a real threat would be looking to Sam or Warnock.

But we need to bring in a midfielder. I can see both Doucoure and Allen spending more time on the sidelines.

Loan Lingard or similar, it is what we need. Pace, movement and can run with or without the ball.

Whosoever takes over should be given a contract no longer than 18 months, but Koobaichan always punts for "his" clients to get longer contracts for which he gets a bigger "wedge". Bloody agents. Who'd have 'em ?

Regardless of who becomes the manager, or whether or not we get relegated, we need a succession plan: I can see all of our South American contingent leaving this summer
( Richalison, Mina, Rondon, Allan) regardless of whether we go down or not, and it also seems DCL is being wooed by West Ham and Arsenal. There's also the end of contract people like Delph, and the unfortunate severance with the "Nameless One" to come. We will be desperate for midfield recruits.
Any incoming manager will therefore need to be looking at a complete rebuild, I hope very much this is going to be based on young, hungry players.

Joe # 137 ] As an Evertonian himself, Phil McNulty will be finding current proceedings as frustrating as the rest of us.

Although many TW posters dismiss the teary one's "What would the Everton Board do?" quote, I find it totally believable. I can imagine that if I was a senior board member at Leicester, Brighton etc I'd love to know what the Everton Board would do - to reassure me I was right in doing the complete opposite.

At least we seem to be making progress wit the vacant DoF role. Kia Joorabchian seems to be doing the job!

2 weeks ago we were told Lampard is to be interviewed. Has that happened ? have we turned him down ? has he turned us down ? I was lead to be believe that the reason Nuno wasn't hired was because he didn't want Ferguson on his backroom staff. Not so much " I don't want Ferguson but moreover thanks but I have my own backroom staff"
Is this the sticking point for some potential managers when they are interviewed. I'd be keen to ask Bill and Moshiri " What is the deal with Duncan ?"
Is Duncan the elephant in the room ? I'd like some clarity. Do other clubs have a Duncan who is always there as managers come and go ?
The most worrying comment made by Dunc last week was when he was asked " do the players know what it means to play for Everton ? and he replied they " they do now"
Does that mean that at no point during his time with the past 5 managers that he hasn't seen any real desire. Does this mean he's not seen it in their eyes before ? I found it a very telling comment. He was essentially telling me " I've just shouted at them and told them off" Wow, is that it ?
Get Lampard

Gary($124);And when are we interviewing those three? Although I get your point.

Obviously, Farhad Moshiri is in thrall with Agent Joorabachian whose client has less to offer than even Silva. Kenwright will know this would not be the right appointment and, if he really loves the Club, should threaten to resign if the Portugese is appointed.

What a bleeding hope!

Yet another thread but somehow some posters want it to be Kenwright related. Just to be very clear I don't give a fuck for Kenwright, but right now, he isn't our biggest problem: Moshiri is. He appointed Allardyce and Benitez and allowed Benitez to get rid of people in key positions.

He now has a horrible little shit like his Iranian agent friend having a major influence in who manages the club.

I want Moshiri and Usmanov gone asap, don't care if that means the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is put on hold for another year or so. Even if we avoid relegation, these people should not be anywhere near our club.

The video showing Vitor Pereira in a bust up with his PR man at his Middle Eastern club is for the kids.

For the adults, check out the following when he provoked a serious full blown riot before his Olympiakos team's derby with Panathinaikos.

He is the man in the long green jacket deliberately approaching the goal where the Panathinaikos ultras gather.

Pereira Provokes Riot

He subsequently said of the incident:

"I come here to play, with my team, and I can't go on the pitch, see the state of the pitch and see the goals? Can't see how things are? Yes I made a gesture when a Panathinaikos fan approached. When he came in, I wanted to tell him that I'm not afraid. Know why? Because I'm a man! I'm not afraid. Not of him, not anyone else here."

Panathinaikos won the game 2-1, but subsequently were docked 3 points, had the stadium closed for two games to spectators and fined 100 million euros by the Greek FA.

Later, a Greek court gave Pereira an eight months suspended prison sentence for inciting the riot.

I'll wait to hear the confirmation of his appointment before commenting on his coaching abilities.

And welcome back, Steve F.

With your interest in Portuguese football and coaches, are you keeping up to date with the Tuga, Abel Ferreira, at double Libertadores winners Palmeiras here in Brazil?

Also a very intense coach who is winning big trophies in the here and now.

A European club is going to get a very good coach when he returns to Europe as he inevitably will.

For some reason, the Daily Mail are also yes-men to Kenwright. Headline saying Pereira is a serial winner with nine trophies. No mention of being sacked five times.

This could be our curtain call in the Premier League if true… or maybe for once we have stumbled on the next Conte?

Why take this risk now while we are hanging by a thread?

Phil Kirkbride reported in September 2018:

Richarlison and Bernard have representatives of their own but multi-million pound deals, which include complex negotiations with clubs at home and abroad, often involve a network of people to ensure they get over the line.

And this is where Joorabchian, and his Sports Invest UK Ltd company, became involved with Everton.

Richarlison was brought to England in the summer of 2017 by his agent Renato Velasco, of the Velasco Sport Group, but official Football Association documents confirm that it came with the help of Joorabchian's company.

Agent Nojan Bedroud, of Sports Invest UK Ltd, is listed as one of the two 'Registering Club' Intermediaries and his expertise helped Watford, and Marco Silva, bring the forward in from Fluminense in an £11.5m deal.

It is believed that Velasco Sport Group and Joorabchian's company again combined to bring Richarlison to Everton in a deal worth £40m from Watford in July.

Super Agent?

I just don't understand why the club is rushing to make a decision. Surely from a football, financial investment and risk assessment, then Ferguson should be named till the end of the season. It would give the board and owner time to assess whether he is up to the job or not and also provide more time and (more likely) more options to assess if he is not.

Whilst we didn't get the result, I took a lot of positives out of the Villa game in terms of performance compared to the recent games. At least the fans will back him regardless knowing he genuinely wants the best for the club rather than someone just after a pay cheque.

Gary 142. I have no issue with managers having the odd relegation on their cv but they should at least have shown some loyalty, stability, organisation and won something.

Klopp and Conte had done this including winning promotion and doing well in the top tier of high standard leagues.
Wenger admittedly was a massive risk that turned out unbelievably well.
All had squads far better and more competitive than ours is now.
Even ex-Man U Ferguson may not survive his first season these days.

We have too often gone for a second rate Pep style manager, without the stature, structure, players or funds available to change much and Pep would struggle with.

High energy, getting the ball forward quickly, keeping compact and simple at the back. That is our squad. Get the best out of them keeping it simple.

Dunc did well. He saw we couldn't compete playing it on the floor or through midfield and changed things. Players responded well and we just needed to take our chances.

Brian post 156. Wanting new owners. That is for another day or year and wastes valuable energy as Newcastle etc have found out. It’s the here and now we are terrified about we are stuck with Moshiri so let’s focus on getting a safe and competent manager wether it’s Dunc or not. See you on Wembley way. Good times.

Good to see you back Steve Ferns- stick around!
This guy does sound interesting. I think we need someone who will make an immediate impact and shock the players out of their comfortable routine. I only know what I’ve read but whoever we get has to be prepared to blood youngsters as we don’t have the means with FFP to buy a team. He has to be able to motivate a bunch of apathetic millionaires and prepared to ditch those who won’t buy in to the regime.
No premier league experience is a concern but Rooney,Lampard and Ferguson don’t have much.
If we can fix the compensation to be low then he could be worth a throw of the dice.

If Pereira comes and he can't keep us up.
We either sack him, or he walks?
You couldn't make this shit up.

When Moyes left in May 2013 I argued with a friend who wanted Martinez that Pereira appeared to be a far better candidate; he was winning titles with Porto at that time.

Typical of Kenwright, 9 years later after trying and thankfully failing to get Martinez back, he returns to Pereira despite the obvious facts from his cv that his career has flatlined.

I am in total despair that Moshiri is still listening to the moon-faced buffoon.

Whoever comes in, it’ll be the most important managerial appointment in the clubs history. The poor running of the club is reflected in the lack of contingency given the appalling run we have been on. The shortlist of managers lacks due diligence and a professional approach - just throwing a list of familiar contacts down is lazy at best and negligent at worst. We are gambling when we should be pragmatic and methodical - no plan whatsoever. I cling on in the vain hope that we’ll bring in a couple of signings who will make the difference regardless of manager as this could be the route out - and it’s also true that no one can be sure how it will turn out in the coming months whoever takes over, but personally I’ve sort of accepted our fate after Saturday.

I think every managerial appointment is a gamble to some extent, but I would look upon the appointment of Pereira as more of a gamble than Wayne Rooney, who has done a terrific job at Derby.

If we really want to go left-field/wildcard, then let's go for the likes of:
Gary Rowett, ex-Everton player keeping Millwall comfortable in mid-table with limited resources;
Micky Mellon, who has got eight wins and a draw out of Tranmere's last nine league games following a mediocre start to the season;
or John Coleman, who has defied logic and gravity by taking Accrington Stanley from the Northern Prem to the Football League and now has them comfortable in League One.
The latter is a red, I know, but I use him as an example of a manager in the lower leagues who must be very good at his job.

Unfashionable, and they won't get a look-in, but they all know a heck of a lot about British football, would be much less expensive, and I am pretty sure they can organise a team. But, oh no, we've got to go for someone out of a football fashion catalogue.

That said, if Pereira comes, I'll endeavour to give him my full support. Without fans backing the next manager, we'll be in even more trouble than we are now.

But does Pereira know what he's walking into? That fella shouting 4-4-2 is nothing compared with an Everton crowd in full angst. Perhaps he should be shown some video clips.

It's all too much for me. I'm going for a lie-down.

157 Pereira provokes riot - fabulous, I've just been won over. Beats Klopp's silly staring from the centre circle, what a sissy he is!

Steve, thanks for the low down on VP. He will certainly have his work cut out if he comes to Goodison Park in the coming days as he is joining a club that are in a relegation scrap.

I have no doubt that we have enough up top to survive but we have major issues in the midfield sector which might ultimately sink us.

Sacked twice by Fenerbahçe, and took 1860 Munich down to the German third division – yeah, he's perfect for us isn't he.

This board haven't got a fucking clue.

He's a nutter as well, he'll fit right in.

Looking increasingly likely that Vitor Pereira will get the job, I just hope he sorts the many problems out on the pitch and saves us from the unthinkable. I also hope we are not saying further down the line " I don't believe it !" we would have been better off hiring Vitor Meldrew. :-)

With Big Dunc obviously not in the frame the choices seem to be this guy, rooney and lampard. All three are huge risks.

Mike 168 , Steve Cooper deserves a place on your unfashionable list . He’s made a big difference since he joined Forest with the same players as the previous manager. He’s got them organised and looking like a team again.

Like the inclusion of the word ‘endeavour’. I’ll have to remember that caveat when I’m expressing my loyalty to whoever turns up.

Jay # 157 - very subtle opening remark😉

The more I see of him the more I like him.

Link

I wonder if Farhad Moshiri is on the wind up. I don’t care get him in - he will stir them all up including us.

Derek, there are plenty of “Vitor Meldrews” on this site!

At this moment I have less interest in who will be the new manager, if anyone is appointed, my primary concern is who is looking at bringing in a central midfielder or two in the next seven days, these signings are absolutely and desperately needed if we are to stay up, the midfield area at the moment is the weakest in the premier league and if no new players come in then I think we will go where we all dread we will. Is anyone at the club working on this? Does anybody at the club realise how urgent this signing is?

My news feed from Liverpool Echo is stating terms have been agreed

Tony 174, Cooper, yes, there are quite a few out there.

And I'll do my very best to give the next manager my full support, but I may be reduced to just sitting there with my head in my hands.
My well of Everton optimism is running low. But still hoping the FA Cup will spark some positive vibes among us all.
Am off for that lie-down now.

Another wild gamble from someone who knows nothing about football, advised by someone else who knows nothing about football. We need someone with PL experience, in touch with modern players, knows a bit about our current deficiencies and can get results quickly. There's no time for assessing a squad. Results before April vital.

Maybe just maybe the guy comes in a does a good job.

Very passionate and volatile bloke, I am warming to him. Combined with Duncan, we'd have the hardest and most combustible management team going!

Seriously, where is all this going? Manager update announcements from Goodison should come with the Benny Hill theme tune playing in the background.

Derek

I was on a stag night in Edinburgh years ago, a few of the lads half drunk were waiting for the hotel lift. The door opened and there before us was Richard Wilson. We got in and he looked nervous and was waiting and waiting. Then just before the lift stopped, one of the lads let it rip …
…” I don’t believe it “ …
Poor Richard was not amused.

Colin (149),

I agree, poor Alex. It wasn't even a tackle, he had the ball and was just protecting it from a tackle. Strange yellow, staggering to look at it again and change to red.

Maybe it will work to our advantage and he'll come back angry and nobody will want to see an angry Alex Iwobi!

Another Portuguese manager and in my opinion a complete disaster, he won with Porto years ago, managed in China, and then sacked by Fenerbahçe.

He has no Premier League experience, and we're in a relegation battle, definitely heading down if he's hired. I thought Sharp was elected to the board to give the fans' view? Have Lampard or Rooney even had an interview?

Moshiri is in cuckoo land, has he learned nothing from the Benitez fiasco. Our board is like Monthy Python's flying circus. We're a laughing stock.

Lots of interesting and useful thoughts there, thanks everyone! Gary #115 especially. I'll keep it short

I want Zidane. Just need to find the unicorn stables he must be managing and persuade him he needs a bigger challenge.

OK, so not happening. Dunc til the end of the year? Finding a dodo is more likely (unless one's hiding at that unicorn stable).

OK, so not happening. Two choices then: go for some one left field (aka no previous EPL experience) - my vote goes to Erik ten Hag. Or go for someone with EPL experience - my vote goes to Lampard and forgive him getting sacked for not winning the quadruple for Chelsea. Not saying there aren't better managers, but those managing teams above us aren't coming here, and why do we want those below us?

OK, probably not happening. Final thought - back to Gary #115's first sentence. There's no one most people aren't gonna moan about! But the list of names in the media is getting longer and progressively more desperate looking.

Paul# 181 - you never know lets hope so. He is definitely different.

Dave# 177- yes we need two midfielders alright. I wonder if Pereira has them lined up?

Get Lampard, get Lingard, stay up. Stop fannying about Everton.

It’s a yes from me. I don’t want a novice coach. Dunc/Roon need to prove themselves in management elsewhere before even being considered for such a massive job. Kudos to Wayne for the job he’s doing at Derby, but as one poster, Sam I think; stated, it’s a very niche situation and almost pressure free.

Can't say the the thought of hiring someone who previously turned us down to take the money managing part time players in China fills me with confidence. We need someone who is going to inspire confidence in these players, has a clear plan and tactically aware. I habe no idea who that is mind when I look at the list of managers there are out there.

Peter - we have 3-4 people who can score goals in the team (Richarlison, Gray, Calvert-Lewin, Gordon)…..the problem is we have no one who can thread a pass to them. How would Lingard solve that?

He gets the goals himself and a few assists. Even with our midfield I think he would score.

Why the rush? We can't spend any transfer money so leave Dunc and Baines in charge and see how we go. It can't be any worse and there were improvements against Villa. Repeating the same mistake over and over is mind numbing. Also next manager has to be a keeper so let's get the choice spot on!!!

Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin are far more prolific scorers, and can't get goals because they are not being setup with chances.

I can't see anything in Lingard stats that say he's a prolific assister. He's another Townsend, occasional brilliant goal, hard work, and that's about it.

For West Ham, 16 games, 9 goals, 4 assists. That would do, wouldn't it? I think he would be on the same wavelength as Gray and Gordon too, quick passing, good movement.

Not sure what wavelength Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison are on. There never seems to be much connection between them.

Rob @ 176, " Derek, there are plenty of “Vitor Meldrews” on this site! "

Rob, I DO believe it ! :-)

Justin@162 - so, relegation now irrelevant, so given trophies in Portugal, Greece and China don’t count….you will only accept people who’ve won things in Germany/England or stayed about at a club for a while.

So that’s either a) nobody who’ll come or b) Sean Dyce then…..great. Unless I’m missing someone?

It's Lampard for me with 19 months contract

If our transfer and managerial appointment strategy is down to Kia Joorabchian, then that parasite needs to be ran out of town. How can Moshiri give so much credence to an agent, he's always going to be looking after his own bank balance above everything else?

Anyone with China on their CV is another no surely. He's also the same age as Rafa and Carlo who were considered dinosaurs by many.

Peter - absolutely that’d do! But his overall record is about an Assist every 10 appearances, and a goal every 7 appearances.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d take anyone likely to help us survive, and on 6 months loan he’s worth a go. But if we only have space for one or two more, he wouldn’t be a priority for me……we need a DCM or a genuine playmaking CM.

This feels like yet another roll-of-the-dice appointment if it goes ahead. We’ve got to get out of that cycle and find a safer, long term option who will be up for the challenge and bring the whole squad with them (not alienate).

Lampard seems the obvious choice, much respected, already shown a lot of potential and hungry to prove himself and - importantly - age on his side so he won’t be looking to do one if he does a job for us.

James 199, totally agree. Bad company corrupts good decisions. If Moshiri is listening to this parasite, apparently in the directors box vs. Villa, it is bad news for the future of the club.
This board has learned Jack Squat after a series of duff appointments and is on the highway to the Championship.

Peter @ 195, You're not Jesse Lingard's Agent are you ? :-)

Moshiri: "What's his name?"

Board: "Wayne"

Moshiri: "Nah - next one?"

Board: "Frank"

Moshiri: "No thanks - next?"

Board: "Duncan"

Moshiri: "Nope - next?"

Board: "Vitor"

Moshiri: "HE'S PERFECT!"

Keep Duncan for the rest of the season, swallow our pride, bring Allardyce in as defensive coach for same, working with Duncan. It would be ugly, but we'd not lose close games like against Villa. Sam would do it if asked too, he has already offered to help Dunc. Chances of staying up much improved and at minimal risk of financial loss.
Stands back, dons tin hat. I don't really care for our current squad much, but I do care that Everton FC don't sleep walk into oblivion, which is what happened to Sunderland and Forest.

Peter (188),

I'm not sure we need another winger/forward. Remember we have a very similar player on loan - El Ghazi who will now be available for the remaining 18 games of the season. Having said that, I would have preferred Lingard over El Ghazi. But let us not go there.

What we need now is a boss midfielder - someone like McGinn at Villa or Bissouma of Brighton. Well, I can dream, can't I? As someone suggested on another thread, even Luka Milivojević at Crystal Palace would be an improvement on what we have.

A fool and his money are soon parted… and Moshiri is as big a fool as one gets. He is totally destroying the club.

Gary, I think his West Ham record is more relevant as a regular starter there. He would hit the ground running, and it would have the added attraction of stopping the Saudi Barcodes from getting him.
Derek, I'll take less than 10%.
Ajay, I forgot El Ghazi, how did that happen?
It just seems like the most no brain no brainer to me. If Man U let him go (they might not) he will score goals.

A photo has emerged of the real contenders for the manager's job at Everton, the list is alleged to be down to four. I can't quite recognise them though, can anyone else identify them? I'm guessing the guy in the blue hat is Roberto?

Who to choose?

Gary 197 almost.

Winning in China is not relevant. It was all about mega money, in a poor league until the government changed the rules.

Greece & Turkey isn't meaningless but I'd put more relevance on Portugal but that was 10 years ago.

I would prefer a current 'successful' manager in Germany, Italy, Spain, France or Scotland with ideally 5 or more years experience.

Steve Ferns, nice to see you back with sensible ideas and detailed information as always. And some more positive spin on VP.

I've done a bit more reading on him now and am not feeling quite so gloomy. He's volatile but also pragmatic and though he likes 3 at the back it seems he is decent at picking a formation that fits the team in question.

I'd expect him to tighten us up considerably. We may not win a great deal but we'd lose a lot less. Not sure how he is on set pieces.

If the options are Lampard, Rooney or VP then he certainly brings the most experience to the table (though admittedly not the Premier League variety).

I still think the board should be talking to a DOF simultaneously to or before picking a manager.

Looks like a Portuguese version of Rafa! We are going down

Barry (210) brilliant that.(still cant choose)

Dave A @ 177

I think if they were clued up the midfielder situation would be done and dusted by now. The manager, DoF, the left back hoo ha, now the never ending multiple interviews. The most important business has been well and truly forgotten about. If it is not addressed even the best manager is going to struggle, especially if key midfielders Allan and Doucoure get injured.

I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a midfield player (or two) coming in with Pereira though. The question is, will they be what we need and hit the ground running? This time next week we’ll know.

Peter @ 188 and Alan @ 198, if we just keep posting Frank Lampard perhaps it will start to trend on social media, is that how it works ? It's a no brainer. He is available. Did well with Chelsea with a transfer embargo held over him. Knows the modern game, is no mug, has worked under class managers, did really well at Derby and formed the basis of what Rooney has now inherited. Get him in, get Jesse Lingard in, stop fucking about with this sort of choice ( Vitor who ) and slowly turn this club into a forward thinking, youth heavy team with Lampard at the helm. He wants a project, let him have this one
LAMPARD, have I said it loud enough !!!!

In terms of managers, Rooney I getting praise fr the job he's doing, but arguably the manager of the season in the Championship so far is Steve Cooper at Forest.

They were miserable at the start of the season, been in a bit of a rut for a long time, going through a number of different managers wth differing yet negative approaches (Karanka, O'Neill, Lamouchi, Houghton).

Cooper has come in and transformed them. Playing good football and climbing the League and pushing for the playoffs, as well as knocking out Arsenal in the FA Cup.

Would probably suit the job better than any of the names currently linked with it.

Or tip Moshiri off about a manager who has been in China for a few years, very good, won things way back... Francesco Lampardo.

Theoneandonly via GOT saying it’s a done deal - 1 year with option of a second. Normally a reliable source if I remember correctly

Let’s bring them all in to one interview and whoever is left standing at the end gets the job. Bill and Farhad can be the refs just to witness the chaos that they have caused.
Kin idiots.

One big issue with Lampard. At Chelsea, his biggest weakness was defensive organisation, they were very poor at the back, very por on set-pieces. Lampard was often criticised for not having the knowledge to remedy this. Tuchel camein and transformed that side of things which was teh basis of then winning the Champions League.

We need someone now who can sort out our shambles of a defence, especially at set pieces.

VP has experience overseeing relegation. Just the man then.

Japanese food is amazing Brendan (19), so I cannot wait for this guy then.

SSN saying no deal is imminent. Other candidates still to speak too.

'Pereira has apparently impressed Farhad Moshiri' - Well Vitor, you should get the contract signed quickly because the next one through the door will also impress him, so will the one after that and the one after that and.....

We've got 2 Arsenal fans taking us out of the league while we move to a stadium built on sand is this actually happening??

So now they say this loser to be appointed or failing that Frank Lampard? If you think that cockney twat would feel bad about taking us down then where the fuck have you been?

Moyes, all day every day, players that are brought in to do a job and they actually do it, crazy I know but it seems to work for most of the other teams in the league

Fran, There will be a few premier league clubs taking note of Steve Cooper. He’ll make the step up and we’ll probably be after him in two years time when he’s the new manager of Brighton. Could work well and fit into a structure , like Potter, with the right DoF.

Why not? What Kia Joorabchian wants he gets. He is affectively running the transfer business of the Club at the moment. So why not the Manager selection process.

Unfortunately Everton do not have the structure, , personnel, organisation or know how to stay in the Premiership at the moment.

I could even see the second coming of Big Sam such is the horlicks and shambles that has been made of this Big Club.

Maybe this guy had some Big Sam experience.

Rooney is only being mentioned because he's Wayne Rooney. It has nothing to do with sensible reasoning, and everything to do with teary eyed Evertonianism.

If it was another manager doing what he's doing at Derby, nobody would mention it.

Steve #96, thank you for providing full details on Pereira. I had forgotten about his title in Greece, and I don't think China is very relevant.

He does seem a bit of an oddball!

Pat # 223. So has Allardyce now, yet some are calling for him to return!

I have no clue as to whether or not Pereira is equipped to turn around our troubled club. It feels like yet another huge gamble. If what Steve Ferns (96) says is true, that he is a pragmatist who builds from the back, it would seem he is what we need at present although his failure at Munich 1860 is worrying.

If he tells the fans some home truths that might be entertaining but would probably make his tenure a very short one. The banners would be unfurled before you could say ‘get out of our club’.

As others have said, unless we bring in a couple of hard bitten midfielders any manager is destined to struggle with the current squad. Managers are neither magicians nor messiahs, something which too many fans and pundits still refuse to accept.

Okay Justin @211, now you triggered me with the mention of Germany, Favre is available as far as I know. Yes, I know he is Swiss, but he was scholared in Germany mostly.

Good record at Dortmund, although it ended badly, but then Klopp's last season there wasn't the best, even though his overall win v loss record is good.

Look more at what he done with Hertha Berlin and then Monchengladbach. Teams at the time in not too dissimilar positions we find ourselves in. He's also coached in France, achieving decent success.

There is also the young coach who bailed out Dortmund after Favre left and won a trophy; Terzic.

And a DoF just 35 miles down the road at Old Trafford who maybe available in the summer.

I'm repeating myself. But as someone said, if I keep shouting it, maybe someone will listen? I doubt it but I'll keep saying it.

Premier League knowledge / experience doesn't feature for me. Klopp, Guardiola, Wenger, Mourinho and god knows how many more Premier League Winners. Didn't have Premier League experience until their first job in the Premier League. Who was the last manager to win the Premier League with previous Premier League experience? Without looking for assistance from Google, probably Ranieri, but let's face it, who at the time would have called for him and called that? It's an irrelevant point for both players and managers.

Go German. Or Germanic. The last 3 Champions League winners. They invented gegenpressing. They are both aggressive and technical.

Hassnhuttl anyone? Done a fine job at Leipzig and not doing to badly at Southampton.

Inhaler.

The only sensible person is Lampard, young up and coming manager. Knows the Premier League, did well with Derby and Chelsea. Give him a 18 month deal.

Barry # 210. The one second left is the one eyed get!!

I remember reading book on interview technique many years back. It advised against cracking jokes, as interviews are a serious business. They are especially serious for the interviewer, after all what happens to an interviewer who consistently hires the wrong candidate.

At Everton it's different because it's always the same guy and he hasn't learnt anything over the past 6 years. If he wasn't the owner he'd have been drop kicked out the front door long ago.

Danny 234, as always I read your views on German football with interest and respect. The name I keep hearing as a manager to watch is Bo Svensson at Mainz. That club certainly has excellent recent pedigree.

Agree Paul 235, unfortunately we have a bloke in charge who takes his cues from football agents.

I just hope his recent debt to equity conversion is a sign he may be open to offers to sell up and leave us all alone.

Nice to see Steve Ferns back, but Pereira's managerial career has gone backways in the last few years, would be a disastrous signing, and no Premiership experience. Lampard for me, did a great job with Derby and unlucky with Chelsea, and bring Terry with him to sort out our defence.

Given our current parlous state and the real and present danger of relegation, any right minded owner would put a manager with relevant experience in charge even if temporarily/short term. To consider appointing Pereira at this stage is utter folly. However, this is Moshiri's Everton.
Cross your fingers. Cross your toes. Pray if you must. Just let common sense prevail.
P.S. That is not code for ignorant Fat Sam !! If challenged I would still support Duncan but would be highly relieved by either Lampard or Rooney if Moshiri is adamant on a permanent appointment.

Fran @221 you say the problem with Lampard is his defence. Did you see Everton under Ancelotti, under Benitez, in fact under the last 5 managers
You could argue that if they couldn't sort out the defence nobody ever will. Give Lampard a go. He has not been given a fair crack of the whip.
Lampard for me
Best for of defence is to do what ? People are underestimating the job he did at Derby and Chelsea. Anyway, I'll shut up now. Pointless me keep barking out his name. We're bound to go for a celebrity has-been. We'll never give youth a chance, it's the Everton way
Lampard for me, enough said

Lampard looks like he's more likely to replace Ranieri at Watford, Mark, so you're probably wasting your breath.

There are two angles to that shout Gerard.

Mainz indeed have an eye for a coach having given Klopp and Tuchel their first major platforms (Tuchel a prodigy of Rangnick by the way).

And aside for Svensson being an up and coming coach, he is Danish, which is a great market to tap into. Look at Brentford and how they have used it to their advantage to get them to a place they would never have dreamed of 10 years ago.

The more I think about it, the more I favour Lampard. We can't have another foreign manager taking time to assess the squad and familiarise himself with the Premier League. We haven't got time. Whoever comes in needs to hit the ground running.

Give it to Lampard………. I cannot see why some fans are against this but happy to give it to 4-4-2 Dunc…….not for me. He’s a winner was dealt a blow at Chelsea but he could turn us around and one to be with us for many years……. He ticks so many boxes but I have read comments he’s southern and a Tory…………not sure I even care if he gets Everton going again.

Danny @ 234, how about Seb Hoeness at Hoffenheim?

Up to now that is close to 250 plus posters who are just as confused as I am. Due to Everton's inability to choose a manager over the last ten years I don't think ANYBODY really has a clue on who to choose.

As the old adage states "There is company in misery" so I do get some comfort in the fact that there are people in the world of football that are as disappointed, naive and confused as I am.

Grasping at straws. To see how Everton's problems are compared to the WORLD problems I mentioned to a NON footballing friend that Everton could be relegated. He just stared at me and said "Who are they?".This may add a dose of realism to the significance of Evertons"s plight, but it is of NO comfort to those whose first thought when they wake up in the morning is "EVERTON". Unfortunately I am one of that cursed group. HELP!!!

Kill Bill 3 is annonced!

Lampard for me as well. Guided Derby to the championship play offs, losing to Villa. In his first full season at Chelsea, guided them to fourth place and the FA Cup final. As far as I know was only sacked by Chelsea because Tuchel became available (happy to be corrected if that’s wrong), but left behind a squad that went on to win the Champions league. John Terry is also doing nothing, so maybe he could tag along. Needs sorting PDQ though, because any new manager is going to need one or two midfielders, and we only have 176 hours and 15 minutes to get them!

One thing that has confused me in all this talk of Rooney is how he's described as 'a club legend' in th media etc

Rooney was a Man Utd legend, not an Everton one. In reality, we are a mere footnote in hi story. Like Lampard and West Ham, like Raheem Sterling and QPR, like Alan Shearer and Southampton. Although all of those actually played more for their first clubs than Rooney did for Everton.

So I don't get this teary eyed adulation of a a rookie manager as if it is 'fate'.

Madly passionate fans+madly run club+mad foreign Gaffer=it might just work!.

What gets me (like so many too) is that when we hire a manager our style of play doesn't seem to change one iota,we have no guille to our play, we seem to just plod on with the type of style of play previously,slow build-up as well as slow starts,way too many back passes,poor set plays (attacking and defending),very poor decision making in the final third,shoddy crossing,we always seem to start playing well when we're 2-0 down,we hardly ever have pot shots from range (though Gray and Townsend help there), we just have no decernable style to our football and are usually painful to watch (fuck knows what neutral fans think about us?) add in my ultimate bug bear losing to poor teams early doors in the League Cup which then impacts on our League form too (I've NEVER heard a word from Kenshite about disgraceful L.C record too!).

I might be in a tiny minority here folks but I voted for Pereira on the poll as I think Rooney is not ready YET and we'll only get so far with big Dunc,as for Lampard I just can't see him here,he'll get another Championship club next methinks,we just need points on the board ASAP...but first up we NEED to beat Brentford in the cup to get some confidence and belief back!.

COYBB

Graham @ 161 - exactly how I feel.

Jay @ 157 - Riot? Call that a riot? At Goodison Park, in the early afternoon of Saturday 22nd January 2022, both a drink in a plastic bottle and a hotdog (heated) were thrown onto the pitch! Bottle struck two players (Magic bottle theory). Reports too of a plastic lighter!!!

The Duncan Ferguson issue is odd.
I don’t see what he adds. He’s clearly not a very good coach as I can see no improvement in any of the players.
It would be so Everton if we lost out on key managers because they want to bring in their own back room staff but are told Ferguson must stay

Jonathan, in the situation we're in I fear the disruption of a new appointment may be too damaging at this stage. Particularly an unsettling psycho nutter tearing through the place with a trail of fire off his heels. Sadly I think the spirit of the squad is as yet too fragile for that.

Mistakes made Saturday perhaps (judged without knowing the full fitness status of the players) but corrections made with subs that had a marked effect. I say we deserved more than we got by the end. The team were better than recently.

It's just my sense really, that it would improve enough with Ferguson over a couple more games - enough to avoid the unmentionable outcome. Obviously, all faith-based as usual!

I think I would go with Lampard on the shortest contract we could get away with.The main reason for me being that he was a great midfielder,we need at least 2 in the middle before this week is out and I would trust Frank to get a couple in that would do a job.

Matthew 252 "Madly passionate fans+madly run club+mad foreign Gaffer=it might just work!" well who could argue with that logic? ;) you made me laugh.

Jonathan 254 agree mate, it's a weird one, does Big Dunc want it or not? He seems to send out mixed signals, would he prefer to keep his cushy role/job for life? I expect so. He knows if he is the gaffer he will get sacked at some point so I do understand his predicament. The coach for life thing (as much as I love the big man) is embarrassing really and the club should be backing each manager with their coaching team. I would love for us to get in a top coach. Not knocking Dunc mind, I really have no idea if he is any good or not.

I don't get the calls for Lampard, why? Surely not much more experienced than Wayne and not an Evertonian. If it is to be Frank then I would rather have Rooney. Personally, I would still be going for Favre or Kovac but understand the reticence of some to "go foreign" at all. Wenger as DOF anyone?

Bill to Lampard " will you work with Dunc ?"
Lampard " but I already have my own backroom staff, we have simply been waiting for an opportunity like this, we're ready to go"
Bill " but I've said he can stay forever"
Lampard " let him join the scouting team or something else"
Bill" but he loves match day"
Lampard " I'd sooner stick with my team"
Bill " thanks anyway, don't call us, we'll call you "

Am I a million miles off ?. I think not

Surely Lucien Favre is a sensible shout. He is a very experienced manager who has managed good teams and bad teams and has never to my knowledge had a real car crash of a job so far.

He is steady, plays decent football, likes young players and had a better points per game ratio at Dortmund than Jurgen Klopp.

He's getting on a bit (64) and may not be 'glamourous' but he's a smart guy who could help us this season and beyond and would seem a much more stabilising option than Pereira; whilst being infinitely more experienced than Lampard or Rooney.

Ferguson is kept on because he's seen as the conduit between 'us & them'. Them being the board, us being, well, us.

I loved him as a player (yes I know he was injured/didn't score enough/a liability etc), but I was a starry eyed twentysomething in the 90's (sometimes a bit more than just stars in my eyes) so my view of him is happily tainted. That said, now I'm nearly 50 it just looks like Duncan is onboard for sentimental reasons alone.

His coaching doesn't appear to have done anything, he's useless with the media (a big deal in todays game - y'knaa whut a mean like) and none of us have a clue how he deals with players. I assume he just shouts at people, which in todays game also won't cut it when you're dealing with a room full of young squillionaires.

We're stuck between a rock & a hard place for sure this time. The job is increasingly becoming a poisoned chalice and any manager coming in will know he has a gun to his head from day one, with trigger-happy Moshiri at the reigns.

It’s a pity we’ve never done one of those behind the scenes reality tv shows. Just imagine, it would be worse than any Greek tragedy. Dante could’ve scripted it.

Everton mustn't force DF on him as assistant, Dunc needs to go out and get some experience other than La La land.

In our current plight, any plan that involves appointing a manager with no Premier League experience is verging on insanity. Leave it with Duncan, let’s find out once and for all what he can do. If you can’t stomach that it has to be Lamont’s or Rooney. Without claiming drastic improvement, I felt the team looked better on Saturday and the first two subs took us up a gear. Alan obviously wasn’t started as recovering from COVID, but both he and AG looked good when they came on. With Ducoure’s injury it’s going to be hard to find a midfield tbh, but something has to be conjured out of the best combination of Gomes, Iwobi (if back) Townsend playing inside, Allan, Onyango and Gbamin and wrap them in cotton wool for Tuesday against Newcastle, along with DCL & Richy. Desperate times and Brentford in the Cup has to be the lower priority, let’s see how some of the kids go, both new young full backs, Branthwaite, Dobbin, Simms etc might put on a performance.

I really hate we are being linked again with someone who managed olympiacos in the past, I hated when we actually hired someone who managed olympiakos in the past (marco silva) and if it is some kind of prerequisite for our next manager to have managed olympiacos at the past at least go for Valverde who was the best of three by a mile and he is free. (pereira was the worst of 3)
I have very low expectations for the future.

Even Chris Beesley in the normally supine Echo has spoken out against the possible appointment of Pereira.

Quite honestly I have no confidence whatsoever in any name bandied around after the abyssmal failures of all the appointees over the last ten years.

Martinez, Silva, Koeman, Ancellotti and Benitez have all failed miserably so why would we feel confident about anyone right now,

Big Dunc. as been on the staff for a while and whatever influence he had hasn't helped so why would we expect anything different going forward under his control.

Okay, without total control Dunc. may have had little or no influence on what's gone on before and judged on the Villa game alone it may be harsh to judge him yet.

Whoever get's the job has a big task getting this team organized just to avoid the drop zone so the presure will be immense.

I think we are all quite nervous at the moment.

Moshiri best get the appointmen right and sign some players to keep us up otherwise you can forget Bramley Moore and he will take an absolute bath on what he's put in so far.

We are bang in trouble in the epl, and if we go down to the championship, we will struggle to survive. This is fucking serious.

The club is desperate. They will take any decent manager who says yes.

Jay Wood [BRZ] @ 157

I want this guy!

If we're going down this season let's go down with a full scale riot at Analfield, he might just turn around and savage the board and its hangers on also.

Marvellous!!!

Joe (200) He' s 53. Benitez is nearly 62 and Ancelotti 63 shortly. Pereira not really ' dinosaur " territory.

Everton need to hurry up and appoint a manager until at least the end of season before the transfer window closes. Everton need at least another centre-half and defensive midfielder.

Ferguson as care-taker manager did not do himself any good when he picked a team which was not good enough to beat Aston Villa. He left out Allan, Gordon and Keane who would have done better than Gomes, Townsend and Holgate.

Although Holgate is underrated as a full-back and is much better than both Kenny and Coleman, especially, when dealing with corners and free-kicks into the penalty area.

A long read in the link below, but it's a warning of how having the wrong people as owners can have devastating effects on a club.

Sadly, the downfall of 1860 Munich is entirely self-inflicted. The club committed an absurd number of mistakes. But the disgraceful relegation campaign and its aftermath is primarily Ismaik’s fault: He and his confidants compiled a disjointed squad and established a climate of anxiety within the club premises.

Delusions of grandeur

I think Carlo was a great appointment at the time and still think what he was doing was well planned and in line with a stated 3 year plan.

Its was realistic and what most fans wanted. Organise the defence, recruit a new midfield and give the strikers confidence and more chances to score.

I also think Duncan had the players playing to a plan and certainly put in plenty of effort and fight. 2nd half hd changed the game plan and players responded well.

I'm happy for him to remain in charge for a while and see who is available in another month or two.

As clubs get ko'd from European competition you never know who will soon be available.

Having read through the comments and watched a few links I can’t help but think hiring this guy would be fun if nothing else.
He showed more passion in 2 minutes worth of clips than or last 6 managers combined.
This lot (both the players and the board) need a rocket and he may just be the answer.
For anyone worried about his lack of Premier League then just take a look at Bruno Lages CV. He’s done very little in comparison but has managed to change Wolves style of play with very few signings.

I have said for a few days that the best option is Lampard, he did a good job at Derby, then went to Chelsea were in his 1st season finished in the top4 and got to the FA Cup final and lost to Arsenal. Following season by December they were top of the league and also topped their Champions league group.
But then only won 2 of the next 8 and Tuchel became available and Lampard was sacked. That for me is a decent CV plus with us having none or very little money to spend he knows what talent is in the Championship and also he will be well aware of some Chelsea players that he may get on loan.

I say let Big Dunc have it for the rest of the year. He'll have the players grafting and won't play anyone who won't kiss the badge. There will be efforting, thumping tackles and long-balls down Route 1. It will be fun as I watch with the sound down and listen to the Psychedelic Furs on my Walkman.

Seriously though, until a complete clear-out or overhaul occurs it just does not matter. Any manager who achieves a modicum of success will be nothing but a band-aid over a festering, gangrenous wound. On a scale of one to ten, who we pick as a manager has me at a three.

What is more important is hiring the best possible person to put in charge of the entirety of the organization and let him or her do her job.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin being heavily linked with a move to Arsenal or perhaps West Ham, which manager is going to have the cajones to break that news to an already aggrieved fan-base, if it happens? Perhaps that's why Duncan is less enthused about taking the job full-time, or even for the rest of this season?

It's possible that losing Dominic Calvert-Lewin in this window wouldn't cause as much furore as it may have done in the previous one, because he's missed so much of the season, but having Richarlison as a central striker for Everton, doesn't seem to bring out the best in the Brazilian and if Dominic was sold, I can't see who Everton could buy at a reasonable price, to replace him who has similar attributes.

There are so many areas of concern for us fans, and it would seem not too many palatable solutions either.

Lampard for me too. Adding John Terry to sort out the back four could be beneficial.

Favre or Kovacs would be okay.

Mark Ryan @258,

I think you have it absolutely correct. This is Catch-22.

We need a proper manager but the owners insist that Ferguson has to stay, so we up end up with another stooge. Part manager, part lackey to the owners.

Is it any surprise that the club is in such a mess?

Barry (272) thanks for the article, well worth reading. No shock to find footballs Zelig, Kia Joorabchian, involved in the disastrous advice.

Zelig, ha! Nice reference Peter.

@Barry 277 just on the DCL and Richarlison front I just get the feeling that those 2 don’t get on. They rarely combine well together and don’t seem then talking to each other on the pitch at all.

Not a comment on who should/shouldn’t be sold but your comment about Richarlison up top by himself doesn’t bring the best out of him made me reflect on the fact that I think he’s not suited to a partnership with Dom and is better coming in from the left. Maybe playing Gray in behind with DCL may work better.

Long term selling 1 of them may help us to think about players who compliment each other and function as a team rather than the squad of component parts who don’t seem to gel.

I haven't read the thread but it does sound like there are advanced negotiations. I don't know anything about him but if he's not got it in 2013 and in 2019 what makes him any good now? The club is in a worse state now.

What's happened to the suggestion of getting Ashworth from Brighton and that could pull Potter in?

Barry (#272) the link you provide should be required reading for any Everton fan. Joorabchian, our potential new Portuguese manager and a lunatic, wealthy, foreign based owner devoid of any notion of football know-how or governance are all name-checked as destroying the proud club that with Bayern were responsible for establishing the city of Munich as a centre of footballing excellence world-wide.

Scary stuff!

If I had to sell DCL or Ric, Ric is gone.

Gray, Gordon and Townsend are better wingers and by that I mean they deliver more crosses and passes into the box for team mates.

Ric has been good and when he first came was without a doubt our best player. That's no longer the case and in all honesty I don't think anyone believed he would spend the rest of his career here.

DCL is an improving converted striker that offers something we don't have and is harder to replace.

Either way, we should start at £100M but could settle at about £80M. Talk of £60M is far too low.

Digne was undersold by £10M. We can not keep under estimating our players. It's disgraceful.

Andrew (282) I agree. There is something not quite right with those two. They should be a formidable partnership but they don't seem to get assists for each other, don't combine much and don't seem to communicate much on the pitch either. No rapport. Don't like each other? It's been like that for a while. Did Richy comment on the height of Dom's hemline?

I have a soft spot for Duncan. I remember him scoring a belter against Man Utd but I do question if he can "save" us. He's spent a long time at GP and you would think he'd know the players well and what needs to be addressed. He's only had 1 game but the players still looked slow by PL standards.
I don't know anything about the latest candidate but personally I would opt for Lampard and, if he'll tag on, John Terry who will put some steel in to the defence. As a Long term alternative we should certainly have Rooney in mind.

With DCL and RIchie, it depends how we're set up to play. Big Dunc had us playing Route One on Saturday, which suited DCL better. Having said that, his timing was way off so he was constantly jumping for balls that had either not yet arrived, or already passed him by. Under a more progressive, modern system, I'd have Richie up front on his own. He's got a better touch in front of goal and I'd say he's also better at finding the net with his head.

What I wouldn't have is them as a strike partnership. As others have said, there's absolutely no rapport between them. I dunno, they might be big mates off the pitch but on the pitch they're strangers.

Ranieri been sacked he has prem experience and likes Japanese food.

According to some reports - well a reporter in Portugal - Pereria has been offered a 4 month contract with a twelve-month option following the initial period. I think Lampard will rock up at Vicarage Road now that they have sacked the Italian.

Barry you may be right, it's looking very grim. Newcastle will land Lingard, they are not going down, while we piss fart about. But why am I moaning, the last 27 years has had some many good times, according to the teary walrus.

I honestly believe they use rock paper scissors to appoint our next manager! I don't buy all this " we are interviewing the candidates" bull!

Tomorrow's headline 'Ranieri has apparently impressed Farhad Moshiri'

Barry (272) very interesting article.
Some phrases jump out;
'Shady business dealings' - Jorabchian
'Portuguese hot-head' - guess who?

Barry

If true, at least we won’t have to make another payoff. Plus it incentivizes him to do a good job and earn the next 12 months. The question is though, is he up to the job?

It's a shame Paul Daniels is no longer with us...cuz right now we need a Magician to get us out of this hideous mess

Lampard to Watford?

Michael, 289, you are right, they have never looked right together and never gelled. Two individuals. I posted last season that one of them needed to go.

"...teary walrus."

That one might stick, Joe.

Barry 291 it’s just about believable with a hefty bonus for keeping us in the PL.

Our survey said ; 2000 Evertonians voted and 99% of them would rather have someone else.

But that won’t matter much if he gets us playing like a team and winning football games.

Christy #185, I see it the same way as you. Monty Python's Flying Circus, coming soon in Portuguese.

Just read about Ranieri.

Just when we look like we're performing in at least something, i.e. the manager sack & shuffle, Watford strut back in and remind us who's The Daddy.

I mean I don't see why we don't look to the lower leagues and find somebody doing well down there... How about the guy that's 8 points clear at the top of the Championship for example...

Oh.

There's a common thread with all these Everton managers' problems and it's playing Keane

Just to keep the lujdicrous manager firings in perspective this is the Watford team, inspired by the genius Ranieri, who managed to beat US at Goodison 5-2. They were able to score FOUR in about ten minutes.
URGENT: We may have missed out before but sign Ranieri now while he is still available. All problems solved!!!

What idiot would want to be the next Everton or Watford manager? We’ll soon find out, but whoever we and they appoint, I’d advise them both to look for a nice Airbnb rather than buying a house.

Listened to the Royal Blue Podcast earlier. They noted that Pereira had done reasonably well with Olympiakos and Porto, but so do all managers of those clubs.

He then managed 1860 Munich - the older but less successfully of the two clubs from the city. One European final to their name. Took over in January and they were relegated from the Bundesliga. Some slightly worrying parallels there.

On another note - and I’m not advocating this - what is the general opinion on Sam Allardyce right now? Plenty of Premier League experience. Great track record of keeping struggling clubs in the Premier League. Prioritises organisation and set pieces.

Yes, he’s a reprehensible character and has never won anything of note. The thought of him managing Everton again makes my skin crawl. Is there any chance he might be the man we need, even if he is clearly not the man we want?

Bill to Ranieri " will you let Duncan stay"
Ranieri " of course, he likes Pizza Yes ?
Bill " oh indeed he does"
Ranieri " bellissimo"
Bill " jobs yours Claudio"

What a shambles we are. Watch Watford snap up Lampard

Pereira could be the second coming or a future Watford manager. You just couldn't guess this one (but think it may be closer to a Watford style appointment).
Appears to be slightly off kilter or maybe just crazy.
I would have no argument with Frank Lampard with or without John Terry. Knows his away around the Prem and will have a knowledge of players with promise or ones that can steady a listing ship.
As good a punt as anyone else available.

Danny (305) many a true word ….

Well at least we have a new vid of Bramley-Moore Dock on the OS to keep us happy.

Let’s just get big Sam

Bobby @ 313, Wash your mouth out mate ! :-)

Derek,

We might all be washing our mouths out soon?

If the Blues don't win a couple of league games in February he'll be here in March after the Citeh/Spurs games. Although Kia Joorabchian may have other plans.

Reports in Portugal saying he will sign a contract till the end of the season. Then review in the summer.

Eat GLASS or appoint SAM I choose the glass

Good call Steve Brown @247. Hoffenheim are another club that has a good eye for a coach.

A club Rangnick established in the Bundesliga just as he did Leipzig. Now there is someone who knows how to invest his benefactor's money wisely and bring on young coaches.

Nagelsmann was at Hoffenheim and then under Rangnick at Leipzig. Hoeness followed what is becoming a very German trait to go into coaching young; still only in his 30s and also worked in the youth setup of Leipzig; more Rangnick links. As well as moving onto coach Bayern's youth and "B" team. I mention Rangnick that much I bore myself now.

I have my views, as do others, but I want us to look further and at the structure of the coaching and management setup at the club.

That's why I'd rather wait until the summer and spend time on this rather than rush through another doomed to failure band aid / sticky plaster solution.

We've got enough to see this season through.

And win the FA Cup.

Everton are in a relegation battle right now.
Our next four games are simply massive.
Of all the names mentioned Lampard is the man I would want in the dug out for the barcodes game on the 8th February, Ferguson is not the answer in my opinion.

No matter who's in charge, losing against Newcastle and we are in serious trouble.
A huge game for both clubs, and they will have signed a few more players by then, while we look forward to Iwobi returning.!

Allardyce failed to impress last time, I doubt he's got any better since.

Don Wright (312)

We should just give Hakan Elmali the job now and save all the fannying about

Rick@297: We'd like that, not a lot, but we'd like it.

Pereira been for the interview...been a day now, and:

Moshiri "What do you reckon then, Vitor...?"

"Well - Thank you Mr Moshiri. I might be mad, but I'm not that mad"

Next - Benitez to Watford.

For a whole lot of reasons but certainly one that would stand out and get the whole world talking about Everton, how about hiring a female coach?

The national coaches have changed and I'm not upto date with the current setups but in general the USA, Sweden, Australia, England, Brazil (a few others too) have good experience, teams play some great football, they know and understand the game just as well as anyone.

Having international experience can help short term because its about getting the most out of players in the short time they have with them.

Otherwise Claudio Renieri would do for me. I'm surprised he has done so badly at Watford, but they always look competitive.

I think winning the Premier league with Leicester will always be a huge achievement that he's unlikely to ever surpass. But despite the last few years, he's still a good coach in my eyes and would probably come short term.

Watford will have a new manager before we do.

Joe #308, Actually when Pereira took over1860 Munich they were in the bottom 3 of the 2. Bundesliga. Not in Bundesliga.

Also reports in Portugal saying we will sign him first, interview him later.

Justin, no, no and no

Justin is that a post to get the thread going! There’s being desperate and wanting someone just because he’s available after being sacked an hour ago. I’m sure he would come for a few million.

Despite that he’s as credible a name as most mentioned over the last week.

Justin 327

Why would Emma Hayes take the job, if offered?

We are fucked here. Checkmate. Rien ne va plus.

Pereira wasn't good enough for his last 2 interviews… so why bother now?

In common with Martinez and Rooney, it smacks of a lazy, unimaginative board peeling grapes while avoiding decisions and hard work. Who next? Silva? I hear he's doing good things in the Championship, but I feel like I've heard of him before.

Something to do with mind-numbing sideways football – the powers that be have awfully short memories. Van Morrison, as the Rev George McCane might say

Anyway. Who would I appoint? Fucked if I know. I gave up when they got Benitez. The worst thing for anyone without power is to try to influence anyone who sees you as a minor inconvenience, like a mayfly or a speck of dust. It kills your psyche to sustain any pretence that people listen, so why continue?
I've lost my club. My club is dying.

ps: I've given Steve Fearns the benefit of the doubt here by not reading his post about Pereira. While this seems counter-intuitive, in my defence I can only cite his ebullient praise of Silva and how that contrasted with the reality of what Silva produced.

Danny (323) that fella driving the dozer seems to know what he is doing… give him the job?

Not necessarily Emma Hayes but to put it simply the opportunity, the money, the prestige, to be there first female coach in ths English game, a trailblazer, a genuine chance of proving herself in the most competitive league in the world.

I didn’t think this 10 years ago, but I do now think it will happen in my lifetime, probably sooner than many think.

For Everton, can you imagine the publicity, the commercial interest and uptake of new supporters!

From a footballing viewpoint all coaches need to be respected. If you give someone who's proven to be good at what they do better tools and opportunities, why would they not continue to be successful?

Our fans deserve all they get. Moaning endlessly about a manager that has back-to-back titles in Portugal, won a title in Greece and managed in the Champions League. But they would sooner have a Championship manager with no Premier League managerial experience.

I heard Sam Allardyce saying that our fans have a protest banner for every manager. He even mentioned they dusted off an old Martinez one last week.

Just calm down and give whoever the new man is a chance.

Ian, no fans will gave played their part if we are relegated. Just another silly piece of nonsense. Some, a few, one, might like it. Told you so etc. Honest to God, Ian, next time you see the submit button, leave it alone.
"Our fans deserve all they get"
Fuck me, I am embarassed that I defended the bullying you got on the live forum. Bullying is not always wrong it seems.

Emma Hayes. The club's already in a mess, without putting a woman in charge.

Paul -1

Aye, Paul, all those men we've appointed have done a fantastic job!

Dennis Stevens @ 321

"Allardyce failed to impress last time, I doubt he's got any better since."

How can you say that about our most successful manager since Joe Royle?

In very difficult conditions and dealing the Board of lemons we now know we have, they said: "Keep us up, Sam!".

This he did with no thanks whatsoever, Just as the board said to Joe Royle: "Win us something, Joe"; this he did with thanks.

The board said to Moyes: "Win us something, Dave!"; this he didn't after 11 years and attempting to in 45 competitions.

Ian @336

Not picking you out for any personal reason, but the phrase "Our fans deserve all they get" is a trite and silly phrase because as fans we mostly get what we are given. Do City fans deserve what they get nowadays with such a fantastic team and manager?, as it wasn't always like that was it?

Remember they had dropped a few divisions before the money-men arrived did they deserve what they got in those bad days for the Citizens, because many who go to the Etihad nowadays also attended games at Maine Road.

As fans we don't choose the Everton manager, we probably would come up with a whole variety of preffered candidates but we don't have a say, only the owner and the board and other well connected people get to influence such a decision. Fans can hasten the demise of a manager, but only if the teams run of form is poor and only if the owner and board listen to the malcontents.

As far as I know, the appointment of Pereira isn't a done deal yet is it? Besides which anybody representing the club, is open to be debated about with some folks supporting and some people criticising it's been like that since 1878.

Ian - what nonsense is that mate - this support has stayed loyal through thick and thin despite being taken for granted and treated as though we were some new kids on the block lucky to have a seat at the table not one of the aristocrats of English football

Barry 272 - very very scary - with a little editing I fear we will be the subject soon

Paul #339
Nice try but you'll never make a fisherman.

Easy, Tom. Despite far more favourable circumstances, Allardyce performed no better than Unsworth had.

Not too sure of the relevance of the comparisons to the previous managers you selected. I was just considering his performance during the season he was here & although they may have said: "Keep us up Sam!" It seems to me Unsworth had already done the hard part, with "no thanks whatsoever" & Allardyce carried on in much the same manner, almost identically so & for great reward.

As you raised it, I suspect Royle also had the instruction: "Keep us up!" & the Cup win was a hugely unexpected bonus. I also doubt Moyes was appointed with any instruction other than to "Keep us up!" & despite the many years he remained I suspect any kind of trophy win would have still been considered an unexpected bonus. Competing to be "best of the rest" seemed to be entirely acceptable & I can't help but wonder whether that would still be the case now. Stay in the top flight & compete for the chance of sneaking into UEFA's minor competition - job done.

Barry and Ken

The point I'm making is that our fans will moan about whoever is appointed. Every name mentioned brings an outcry.

Make your point without pissing people off and we're fine.

Justin Doone @ 335

Holy Moly!

Emma Hayes?

What's wrong with DBB herslelf if we're going down that route, Anne Widdicombe isn't not doing much at the moment? How about Jordan she'd have the them up for it before the game.

The club would have to get the organisation and timings spot on around the dressing room so she doesn't catch sight of all those big strapping lads in their birthday suits.

The club doesn't do organisation or timing very well, this why its arse is hovering over the relegation zone with only 18 games to go whilst having no credible manager to guide us out.

Dennis Stevens @ 347

Hello Dennis,

You get where I'm coming from though? He should have had a touch more appreciation than he got.

The fans also need to stop hanging on every word of some random anonymous twitter account of someone named after a bobble hat.

Allardyce didn't save us from relegation. We weren't in the bottom 3 when he took over. Please stop mentioning that fraudster - the Trump of football.

Allardyce was brought in as there was a fear of relegation. Just because we weren't in the bottom 3 doesn't mean we weren't in danger. He also left us 8th and in a far better position than when he arrived. Another Manager that our toxic fan base forced out

I don't blame Allardyce for taking the job, Tom - easy money for him. Although, I don't think he really set out to try & convince Moshiri to let him continue beyond the end of the season, just happy to know he was due a ridiculously large pay off come the summer. Moshiri was at fault with the appointment - mind you, at that stage we didn't realise this was a condition that now looks like it could prove terminal!

Ian @352
On this thread the only mention of 'Bobble Hat' is by your good self.

I'm really sorry but we have two types of Everton supporters or two types at all clubs. We have those who generally believe that the club is doing its best and that they will support the club on this basis. They mutter but don't boo the players. The believe that support means provide every level of encouragement possible. These are lampooned as happy clappers. We also have supporters who expect and demand success regardless as a right from a club that was once "Big" or because of our motto regardless of our ability to deliver success in any way, they boo the team. My son's an Evertonian but living down South means we don't get to many matches. He reads feedback of the games on SM and he said to me that he thought the Everton fans who took to SM were the worst of any other fans. That disappoints me so much, well, if you know your 'istory it would. Have the latter type harmed the club? I say yes because some players are affected badly by this. Have the Happy Clappers ruined the club by accepting mediocrity (I kid you not) ? Not a bit, they have shown real loyalty not by just ticking the box every week but going to the game and supporting the team. Have type 2 even damaged the club by demanding the sacking of a string of managers when there was still a chance of redemption. Our managers last 15 months when Klopp had 3 years to set things up at Mordor. We need both types but SM dictates that we have a balance?

Have we been linked with Ranieri yet? He’s free so expect his name to be added soon.

According to comments on FB we are interested in Jesse Marsch - who is he?

Danny # 234 - I watched 25 minute highlights of City v Southampton. Hassnhuttl has them playing very good football - they could easily have won that game.

He has done a great job at Southampton after a torrid start. He won’t be coming to us though - he has got a good job already.

My initial reaction after Benitez went was appoint a top DOF and leave Duncan in charge for the rest of the season. It looks like that isn’t going to happen now.

My view is we have to adopt a new approach because what we have tried for the past 6 years has failed miserably. The common denominator between all those managers was that they had premier league experience so like you Danny I don’t think it is a “must have”.

Apparently this fella has accepted a 4 month contract with a one year option. If that is true then it suggests that Farhad Moshiri has adopted a “try before you buy”approach this time round. Perhaps he is learning?

What does it say about Pereira though. To me one of two things:

He is desperate for a job OR
He is backing himself in.

I hope it is the latter. Steve Fearns reckons he has got “balls of steel”. In my opinion we need someone like that now.

It also seems he can organise a defence and knows how to set up three at the back. I look at our squad and can’t help thinking they may be suited to 3 4 3.

He seemingly is not scared of playing young players either. That might be good news for the two young full backs that we have just spent 20 or 30 million quid on.

As for the DCL rumours I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if we could get 60 million for him and spend it in the midfield as long as we keep Richarlison.

Good to see the Board have moved quickly to replace Marcel Brands with a new Director of Football in Kia Joorabchian!
This is why we are in the mess we are in when we are being “advised” by a football agent who is pushing all his clients onto us in not only potential managers but players.
This is the same Kia Joorabchian that represented Arsenal in the sale of Alex Iwobi.
The same Kia Joorabchian that was involved in the Third Party player ownership of Carlos Tevez and Javier Macherano to West Ham in 2006 and the same football agent Kia Joorabchian that was appointed “football advisor” to Newcastle in 2010.
If you look at those signings he has been involved in we have paid massively over the odds … £35m for Iwobi and it is clear he has Moshiri’s ear from his Arsenal days having been heavily involved at Arsenal too.
Could it possibly be we have wasted £500m and paid massively over the odds because Moshiri is listening to somebody who doesn’t have the best interests of the club at heart because he doesn’t have his own strategy? It’s ok though because “we’ve had some good times”. Well we best remember them because the next good one will be the play offs!!

Total myth that Allardyce saved us. His points per game record was fractionally better than Unsworths. Once we'd beaten West Ham in Unsworths last game and Huddersfield in Allardyce's first, all talk of relegation was gone.

Aye Chris, but we spent a fortune on Allardyce, Tosun & Walcott simply to maintain the points per game return we were already getting with Unsworth. A triumph of panic over optimism an the part of Moshiri, but then he who pays the piper

Barry 356. The threads on here are full of posts using conspiracy theories from twitter.

Have to say, other than Martinez, Lampard and Rooney, I'm really not too bothered who the next manager is. We've tried some big names and they've failed, tried some lesser names and failed. Had loads of money and failed, had little money and failed, just one constant though.

The only way the club moves forward is once the likes of Kenwright and our 'intrepid' CEO are moved on and people with professionalism, tenacity, know how and real drive are brought in to take the club forward. There is such a deep rot in the club that has set in over the years that all that matters currently seems to be avoiding the drop. Very few of the players have a winning mentality and most seem to be in a comfort zone, happy to take the wages, not really bothered about results. Leadership comes from the top and if it's lacking its no wonder the club is languishing.

I'm pretty sure we'll avoid relegation (because there are worse teams and a lot of our best players are not fully fit) and the new manager will then ask for funds to buy 'his' players in the summer. Just hope the family jewels don't need to be sold to accommodate him. At least we'll have sizeable wages to offer as the likes of Delph, Coleman, Tosun and others leave when their contracts run out.

Next season will likely be more of the same and if we have a bad run of injuries/results, we'll be on our 7th manager in almost as many years.

Allardyce forced himself out. Mid-table and a chance to show what he could do. What followed was the dullest, most boring football I have ever seen at Goodison. He couldn't do it because he was clueless. Everton's history should show no manager from November 2017 to May 2018, like Lance Armstrong's Tour de France wins - not recorded.

Ian - I suggest you revisit the late John Moores quote about what Everton fans expect - I and many others still aspire to that level of ambition for the club.

Whilst not wanting to criticize the two strikers (who have missed many games this season) I have to agree that Richarlison doesn't give me a lot of confidence.

He can score goals as we all know but his body language at times and his whining suggests all is not well with his attitude.

He could be a much better player with the right attitude.

DCL has had a bad injury and needs a few more games but even with a walking stick he is better than Rondon.

The lack of unity in midfield and errors at the back have been evident all season and we are probably the worst team in the Prem. at present.

We know what has to happen and soon.

Ken 367. I agree and so do I. But fans can't say they aspire to that when they spit venom about the Manager of Belgium or someone that has managed Porto in CL but instead find it more acceptable to employ a seedy inexperienced Championship Manager.

Ian, you spat venom on Ancellotti. Who, wrong as he was for Everton, has more talent in the skin of his arse than the manager of Belgium.
Ian, why not stop calling Evertonians toxic. Oh, forgot, it's attention seeking. Will just ignore your nonsense from now on.

I’ve no idea whom, will get the managers job, but less than a week to do any business to strengthen the squad, but based on Everton’s FFP performance, it looks like loan deals, but who knows.

Bouncebackability, grit and guts are needed and real character. The new manager will be in the fight of his career, and I Hope lessons have been learnt from past mistakes.

We shall see.

Andy Crooks,

He also called Everton fans "Chavs". Surely he's a wind-up?

Ian#336You talk about the fans deserve everything they get, because they’re not impressed by a manager like Periera, who won league titles in Portugal and Greece. Do you not remember the fabulous CV Ancellotti had? I think you called him a dinasour?? Be careful what you wish for. Lampard please

Why are we considering this fella ? He's record stinks.

The simple reality is you will never get a managerial appointment who the entire fan base want or like. The only unifying factor is the support to the team.

Okay, in my lifetime.

Gordon Lee. My dad was toxic. He totally disliked him from the start. His only get out was Duncan McKenzie and Bob Latchford.

Howard Kendall (first time). I was a "happy clapper". Many called for his dismissal in that toxic amosphere of the Kendall out winter 1983.

Colin Harvey. We wanted him to succeed and we tried to back him. A fantastic coach and Evertonian but not the main man. Parallels to Duncan?

Fast forward, some of those now calling it toxic were equally toxic about Ancelotti. And as for the past few months; I don't remember it being that bad personally. Certainly not from the match going and in particular the travelling support.

Different views, different opinions. A manager will never get total full support until they win. And win consistently.

But to do that, we need to make the right appointment and give it time. Years not months.

I'm stating the obvious again. Sorry

Colin 374, we like Ian even though he gets it terribly wrong from time to time.

Dale 😬

"After another traumatic weekend at the club, where defeat by Villa brought home the now very real threat of a relegation fight, Moshiri and his backer Alisher Usmanov spoke to Pereira in Monaco."

Just got this from the Mirror (yes sadly), what the fuck do Moshiri and Usmanov know about football? One is a gangster and the other a bean counter. Every other club has a top DOF or a brains trust to handle this, we've got those two, Blue Bill, Sharpie and sales girl of the year, the delectable Denise Barrett-Baxendale.

We're doomed!

Tom, I'm more surprised to see Usmanov being so openly labelled.

Listening to “A view from the Bullens” latest Twitter space tonight is truly terrifying, the information The Bobble was passing on is daunting to say the least.

I’ve never been so worried for the future of our club, well worth a listen for blues if you can't get it up.

Danny, the "Latch" and McKenzie were signed by yet another failed manager who, as an ex-player, obviously "got" Everton according to the boardroom. He failed.

Nearly 50 years later our boardroom persist with this failed obsession, at Finch Farm at least, in reportedly seeking Rooney as a fully-fledged Premier League manager for instance.

Latchford was a good centre-forward but by no means a legend. I attended every game in those days. McKenzie refers to him as "roots-in-his-boots" for good reason. He was way better than Ferguson though. Latchford made an effort as a player, and scored way more goals.

McKenzie was simply born at the wrong time. The cloggings he and other ball-players received at the time exceeded criminal. He quickly wilted, sadly. Helluva'n after-dinner speaker though - a legend perhaps.

But for all my ramblings on our distant history we've never had a hierarchy as thoroughly inept as the current one. By miles!

PS folks, please read the attachment at (#272) for an insight on the plank we're now walking courtesy of our hierarchy, whilst allegedly en route to the Bloody Meaningless Dockside stadium.

"...for blues if you can’t get it up. "

What the?!

Don,

"Legend" is overused of course but Latchford was pretty damn good - no-one else scored the 30 goals, did they? I think his heavy build slowed him off the mark but he was hard to stop when going. One of the best at his job of no-nonsense goalscorer in that time, I think.

Me and hundreds others was on the pitch after his 30 th goal v Chelsea. He was powerful and hard to stop in full stride. Oddly never scored in a derby same as a true great Alex young. The real Duncan was a joy to watch when talent wasn’t as protected by refs as much as now.

Haha my bad Will, I was meant to say if you CAN get it up as in load it up on Twitter 😂

It certainly won’t help getting it up.

There are 3 teams worse than us. Who are these teams ?

Watford maybe, who put 5 past us in 10 minutes.

How about Norwich, who recently beat us 2 - 1.

Burnley ? They will scrap til the end and although we beat them earlier this season, I wouldn't be too hopeful of beating them if we played them anytime soon. Their defence defend like tigers. Just ask Richarlison.

Leeds. An up and down team. They beat WHU away recently. Hands up who thinks we could do that.

Brentford. Very limited team but they too have beaten us.To put it frankly we were rather sh*t that game.

Newcastle. A pity we couldn't play them when Wilson and Sain Maxim were both out. Our games against them this season will have a big bearing on which of us stays up this season.

A couple of questions.
Will we have a manager soon ?
Have we signed a couple of decent midfielders yet or is BK watching his favourite DVD - "EFC The Good Times", whilst EFC burns ? It features our best 10 throw ins of the 21st Century. 5 corners we defended well ! Penalty Rows featuring, Mirallas and Richy. Also best value for money buys - a 1 minute section ( blink and you'll miss it ). Brands with a Fan. A full 10 minutes on James. yes James played here. Waving Lukaku off as he headed East. Koemans red Xmas Tree. Away day at Millwall in the Cup. etc etc. The DVD has the Tag Line - Gets you right in the heart.

There are not at the present time 3 teams worse than us.

Ranieri's available!

Great to be a Blue, eh?

From biting your nails to tossing and turning trying to get to sleep, caught between Purgatory and the deep blue sea… I would have sooner waited till the Summer, but we haven't got that luxury of time.

Duncan has said loud and clear he doesn’t want to be our manager, full stop. How can we buy, sell or loan players before the window shuts? The players we have on the books could, with the right attitude and fitness, get us enough points to stay up but we realistically need two players in now.

We still haven't seen what El Ghazi can do, or even young Patterson. I know we are clutching at straws here, I’m doing my head in at the moment, sweet dreams, fellow Blues.

Albert @ 388. YES he is. But, wait a moment. It was Watford that sacked him and they are below us in the league. Not a good CV moment is it?

I stopped following all Everton related news early yesterday as I find it, sometimes, too emotionally draining. It’s like being stuck in quicksand or on some loop where the same things are repeated over and over again and you can’t escape.

But, I am glad to say, at least it seems we’ve pulled back from another poor managerial appointment by our very own Mr Bean. Pereira, by all accounts, could’ve been another Moshiri disaster.

Just give the sodding job to Rooney and Duncan until the end of the season and hope for the best.

He couldn't get the job previously when the two others were Moyes and Benitez.

So for that reason – I'm Out.

I've stated this time and time and time again during my loooong life. it's not the manager and it's not the players, it is the bending between the manager and the players. Heaps of egos in there.

I remember one time in my coaching, when I was using rotation to keep as much momentum in the team as possible without ruining the performance. One player of Serbian background was fairly key to our progress and we were top of the league at the time. He'd said to me that he understood the rotation but please don't sub me when I'm having a good game. On this occasion, we were 2-1 up and he'd scored both goals and was playing well. At about 65 mins I subbed him and he walked past me at the side line and said "You can go get fucked".

When it came to the next training, he was late and I'd already posted the next game team sheet (unusually early). He read it at the end of the session and came up to me, saying, “I can't understand you. I told you to get fucked but you've still put me in the team for the next game. Any coach I've ever had would have banned me for a month or three.”

I just said, "Z' do you think I've never played and been pissed off with being subbed? Just go out there and do what you are good at". That year we won the league without a loss.

I relate this story because good managers and good teams work well and hard together to achieve as a team. The egos should go out of the window.

There has clearly been a problem within our Everton Football Club for quite some years. We need to appoint a manager who can manage without using massive ego and a playing group that has a desire to wing and won't allow their individual egos to get in the way.

I was hoping that Rafa had the balls and the time to sort this out but his handling of Digne showed that his ego was getting in the way.

Fresh start need and let's hope we can start with appointing the right kind of manager, who will weed out the egocentrics that ruin team performance and either bring them to task or get rid.

Sorry to have gone on and on but I'm sure I am just as frustrated as the rest of us on here.

Bob.

That worked at the level you was coaching but these modern day players are so brittle (especially ours) and they can't or just don't accept any criticism or run to their agent or their little groups to whisper loudly.

I don't know (eg) say Calvert-Lewin as a person but I bet a bollicking off a coach like Dunc would have a completely different reaction to 18 months ago.

Gerry 389. “Caught between purgatory and the deep blue sea “… I like it, sums things up at the moment.

Patterson was introduced last night for the u23s and played an hour. He looked very good, especially as it was his first competitive game for a month or so. On this showing could well get a start against Brentford. If he did I be more excited about it than worried.

For me, despite their inexperience it's Rooney or Ferguson. The rest won't be given the time by the owner or the fans including Lampard.

Victor P has no experience of the Premier league, doesn't know the players and hasn't lasted 2 minutes anywhere else. He may as well be Marco Silvas uncle.

Lampard has no affinity with the fans or area. Good managers do. They buy into the whole thing, and there's a two way relationship from the start. Itll be fat Frank and Tory bastard in a short period of time.

Rooney and Ferguson, and the fans are onside and the players know it. The players won't be able to throw them under the bus. Put some experience with them, and that gives us a start.

Sorry Ian, I just don't like that argument; the fans and the area thing.

Different circumstances, but go through the Premier League. I don't believe Pep had any connections to Moss Side. Klopp as far as I know doesn't have distant relatives in Kirkdale. Alex Ferguson no previous in Stretford or Salford. I don't think Tuchel frequented Battersea High Street in his youth and neither am I led to believe that Arsne Wenger lived in Islington and had a Highbury season ticket before taking the reigns at Arsenal.

The only team the Dudley fireman got relegated was a team from his Black Country home. He knows that area and the fans arguably better than anywhere else.

Not having a direct assault on you Ian, just that dated argument. It plays to the Kenwright narrative and to be honest with you mate, irks me.

I don't care who they are, where they come from, who they supported or who they previously played for. Just appoint the right person with a plan and stop doing what we've been doing.

And sort the board out.

Dogs. Inhalers. Fresh air needed.

I'll bet that Rooney won't be on Watford's list. Which begs the question?

Danny 100% correct. And yes Pep has never lived in Longsight. Rusholme or even Crumpsall either.

Like you say, it plays into Bill's narrative. It's this romantic Idealism that it's still the 60s. I'm going to annoy many now but this is exactly the reason I cannot stand the Z-Cars music.

Watford after Lampard. That's one we will miss out on.

Just get Frank signed up. Even if the worst happens be better with him.

Watford make our manager's position look stable. Let's be positive about it, whoever they appoint it's one less dud for us to choose from.

David Maddocks from The Mirror is suggesting that Lampard will be having an interview with Usmanov and Moshiri. When our main sponsor interviews candidates then a decision is close.

Although Watford would be an easy commute for Lampard and would cause little disruption to his home life, I think Everton would be more of a draw.

If we miss out on Lampard, I'll be furious. What are they waiting for? He ready and available.

Watford have apparently appointed Woy. So let's get Lampard... he seems to be the only one in the frame that might just work.

Top six in the betting markets are now

Pereira
Lampard
Rooney
Rudi Garcia , gap then to Duncan and Kovac at 11/1

Got to be a decision very soon , to give the new manager a fighting chance to sign a couple of players.

I haven’t got a clue out of those six who would be a success but I’d be asking each of them - who can you bring with you to make our midfield stronger ? Because without a couple of new midfielders any of them will struggle to make an impact.

Right now that answer could sway a decision, as it will, in theory, solve two problems in one stroke.

From reading some of the seemingly informed comments and if they are valid Tony @406, as well as recent experience, it won't matter who the manager is or when he is appointed.

Our owner and Chairman will be out looking for players without having spoken to themselves let alone any future manager or DoF, temporary or permanent.

They know football best right?

I would like to think there is a well thought out process in play regarding the selection of the next manager, however, that does not seem to be the case. I would also like to think that all currently unemployed managers would have an interest in taking on the job but I doubt if that is the case also.

Either Moshiri or Kenwright will be making the call, how depressing is that! I would appoint an interim manager until the end of the season, appoint a DOF in the coming weeks and let the DOF appoint the next long term manager at the end of the season.

With the Transfer window closing next Monday night and the club in dire need of upgrades in the midfield sector we are not well placed to bring in the necessary additions. We play Newcastle in two weeks time in what is a must not lose encounter, the club needs to get it's act together!

I don't know whether to feel angry towards Moshiri or sorry for him. We are in chaos, he knows precious little about football, that much is obvious, and at a time when he needs expert advice, for example from a suitably qualified DoF, he has none. Instead he has Kenwright and Sharpe. Maybe our CEO is a secret expert on managerial talent though I doubt it.

Voids tend to get filled, in this case it seems by Joorchabian who, to be blunt, has a less than exemplary record in delivering talent and points to us getting the managerial equivalent of Alex Iwobi. I fear for our future, we are on the precipice in my view and it's a long way down.

Unfortunately our owner chooses to listen to poison from outside our club.

Danny (234), Germans will of course have been the first to apply the label gengenpresse when referring to their pressing tactics, but I'd argue that it was HK who 'invented' the high intensity press some 38 years ago. Best example, the ECWC semi at Goodison.
(sorry, can't continue - starting to cry just recalling it )

The problem is that there are two power blocks at Everton Kenwright&Co who want a symapethic manipuable Manager and Moshiri who want to have the Manager responsible to him. Performance on the pitch is a minor consideration

It appears that Moshiri interviewed Pereira himself in Monaco, which hasn't gone down well at Goodison, according to report. IMO this confirms my earlier statement.

By now the dogs on the street know that this in not going to result in a proper selection process. Whats more because of the shambles that Everton is no Manager can fulfil the role of Managing the team.

Even if a Manager is appointed, anyone guess, I fully expect Everton to limp on and scapegoat after scapegoat being sacrificed, gradually moving it's way up the heirarchy of Everton. It will be a long and painful process for the surpporters.

Moshiri has effectively lost control of the Club he has a 94% shareholding in. It is argueable if he ever was in contol. #27 years has the right idea, but the problem is they( I include myself) are trying to help Moshiri, who cannot help himself. He is more likely to fall into the clutches of Joorchabian as Mark#409 states. Anyway who he appoints will be sabatured by Kenwright &Co as fast as is possible.

The 27 year group will no doubt grow and grow and embarrass the club and bk if results don’t improve so it’s a golden opportunity to make him step down. It’s all double edged because any upturn in form that’ group will be isolated and shouted down again as if they are extremists. Can’t win.

Watford have a new manager lined up before they sack anyone.

Ian @396, you say good managers have an affinity with the club. Not sure that's at all true. What affinity with the area or the fans did Matt Busby have, Alex Ferguson, Shankly, Kopp, I could go on. You would choose Rooney over Lampard based on what fact ? The fact he walked out on us or that he supported us as a kid. Lampard would soon get me on side if he gave youth a chance and played modern, pressing football. Why dies the Manager have to be linked to the club or the fans ? I don't get your logic. This nepotistic "blue" blood attitude is what Kenwright bases every one of his decisions on. It doesn't work. Why not let Frank become our Boss ?

Couldn’t agree more Mark and I don’t consider Rooney a blue.

Sure it’d be great if Dunc, who has a clear connection with the club, got the job on merit and was a success but the decision can’t be based on who someone once supported.

On Rooney, didn’t he take the Derby job with them reasonably high up the league only to bring them to a last day escape?

Alan (414) Exactly. They sack one at tea time and replace him by breakfast time (almost). Meanwhile our clueless fools must have seen the possibility that they might have to sack Benitez in early December - any plan B? Of course not.
Poor Dunc. If he had taken the Gerard route 3 years ago it would probably be falling into his lap right now. He would only have needed to be half good for Everton to come running. I wonder if he regrets that? Now, there are just too many flaws in his case.

I was unbelievably worried yesterday with these reports that Vítor Pereira was looking likely to become our manager, having been pushed by Moshiri's mate Kia. Today it seems that Farhad is backtracking on this idea. I do wonder why Moshiri would do this and the only thing that I can think of is that Kenwright has steered him away from such a risky appointment.

Although I am all for a huge shake up in the boardroom, I do worry about the decisions Moshiri would make if he didn't have somebody in his ear that isn't just one of his rich pals. So, I'm not completely convinced that our efforts should be focussed on getting rid of Bill at this point - let's get rid of Kia & co first. Then, perhaps if we are really lucky, Moshiri will hire a DoF and listen to them instead.

Steve ~ 411 It was Colin Harvey who introduced the high press when he was coaching the reserves, It was a natural progression for it to be adopted in the first team. Howard and Colin always bounced ideas of each other which contributed to their successful partnership.

Steve @411. Now you've made me sad.

I'd go back further than that game. Obviously not as much footage as now even though football was being televised more then, but "that" Oxford game.

Adrian Heath is credited with saving Howard's bacon, but watch the high press from Peter Reid to force the error and back pass that presented the chance for Inchy.

I feel even more sad now than when I started this response.

Steve (257): "I don't get the calls for Lampard, why? Surely not much more experienced than Wayne".

Let's just think about that. Rooney has managed Derby County in the Championship for a season and a half. Lampard matches that, but then there's the small matter of him also having managed in the PL and the Champions League for a similar period of time.

Danny, on the pressing thing, the first team don't press as a team and we are poorer for it.

Watching the U-23s v Spurs last night they did. And got their reward time and again.

Peter Clarke, the co-commentator, mentioned it.

'The press isn't about the first player doing the pressing. It's often the second or third player that benefits from it.'

And doffed cap to Clarke. Aged 40. Still turning out regularly for promotion-seeking Tranmere Rovers in League Two, having played 700+ league games for a full golf bag of clubs.

Well done, Clarkie.

Geoff @419, it wouldn't surprise me if Colin Harvey, a scholar of the art of football, recognised that combing skill with intensity was a successful formular. We talk a lot about the DoF model (well I do). Can you imagine Harvey operating under that framework and his remit being to just coach the players? I think he would have been awesome. Management wasn't for him. But then he was appointed when the board failed to capitalise on where we were due to their rest on our laurels short-sightedness.

I played football in Germany as a youngster and later as an adult. They've always done the pressing thing. It used to be more of a man marking game. Once the opposition lost possession you would literally have a player glued to you, following you around the pitch until they got the ball back. It used to frustrate the hell out of us British players. Fly in the ear, wasp buzzing around your head. And they're physical as well as technical, so don't mess around in letting you have it. But their intent & principle on losing possession has always been to get the ball back as quickly as possible. The levels of fitness were unreal.

What's changed is they have introduced a different level of intensity to that. They still hunt the ball as they always have done, just at a different level.

Some say that is inhaler or caffeine induced. I have no evidence. I have inhalers and boots though.

Undecided on my Puma Kimgs or to borrow my son's Adidas Kaisers while he's away.

Geoff and Danny (419 and 420) you are both right of course.
On the origination of the HK/CH press I recall a chat some years ago now with Sharpy on the matter of how long it took for the players to get it, in particular how they initially would press singly (and so prove easy to by-pass) rather than in packs.
Unfortunately we appear to have returned to the one-man press -- and even that has become half-hearted.

Yes Steve, and as Jay says, it has to be done collectively as a team.

Done in isolation, you leave gaps and holes. As we have been doing.

It has to be done as a unit.

But then hasn't football always been a team game?

Brian, 413, Kenwright will never step down, it’s not in his nature. He would have to be forced out.

Danny, the Kendall-Harvey pressing team of the 1980s was actually quite novel for English football.

In our Championship winning season in which we won the crucial game away to our only challengers Spurs in the run in, a good friend and Spurs season ticket holder was at the game. Barely missed a game, home or away, all season.

They had had a helluva season, but he was bewildered and impressed in equal measure how we always seemed to have 2-3 players hounding the man in possession.

He was used to seeing Spurs dominate every team they played. Everton was the only team he saw that season that totally strangled 'em.

I can't help looking at Fulham and their stats. Top of the Championship by 5 points with a game in hand. Goal Difference of 48; Blackburn Rovers in 2nd have a GD of 15!

I 've said on another thread, that I'm not advocating the return of Marco Silva, for several reasons; what baffles me, is that, with that recent record, nobody and I mean nobody, [pundits, fans, journalists] is suggesting his return.

Instead, we may be about to recruit a different Portuguese manager, with no such recent evidence of ability... Strange how these things work!

Danny~ 423 Yes big mistake not strengthening in Harvey's first season, especially when you think of how the RS spent the Rush money. Unfortunately

playing catch up we ended up with clicks in the dressing room, something that wouldn't have happened under Kendall.

Nicolas 428

Silva was the victim of the Zaha Summer. At the end of the previous season he had finally got the team and all his hardwork and long hours had paid off. But players where leaving and he needed replacement. He tries to work with Brands, but Brands proved not to be fully in control of transfers, when his beginning of the Summer prudent pronouncement, seen to go by the wayside. Silva's requirement got lost in the fog and he was not in a strong enough position to demand.

He headed into the next season with a inadequate squad, and unfairly paid with his job, for reasons that where not of his doing. Everton is even worse now in that Benitez appears to have had no input into the January Transfers window IMO, and probably why he took the opportunity to offer to go with compensation, as was report.

I fully expect Silva to do very well. He is certainly capable, but like all Managers needs a Club that is ran professionally. Everton isn't, as Graham Potter insinuated in the reason he will be staying with his present Club.

Silva should never of been sacked if whoever had the final say had backed him I think he’d still be here now

Silva was the most hopeful i've been about an Everton manager since Moyes. He seemed a really good coach and likeable man as well.

The end of his first season was possibly the best and most consistent we have looked for the last few years with wins over Chelsea, Arsenal and Man U though a bad result against Fulham I remember.

That summer he was badly let down by recruitment as we lost Gueye and Zouma (along with Lookman, Vlasic and McCarthy) and brought in Iwobi, Kean, Gbamin, Gomes and Delph. Injury immediately restricted Gbamin and Delph and Gomes (who had never especially convinced me) struggled even before his injury.

In losing Gueye and Zouma we lost massive amount of dynamism in the spine of the team (which has never really been replaced). Add to that our problems from set pieces and some bad reffing decisions and soon we were in the mire. Silva did not help himself with his inflexibility but perhaps it wouldn't have been an issue if he had got better players bought in. Whose fault was that? Brands? Moshiri? Maybe Silva himself? Difficult to say but i've no doubt Silva is an excellent coach, as he is proving at Fulham.

Silva was the most hopeful i've been about an Everton manager since Moyes. He seemed a really good coach and likeable man as well.

The end of his first season was possibly the best and most consistent we have looked for the last few years with wins over Chelsea, Arsenal and Man U though a bad result against Fulham I remember.

That summer he was badly let down by recruitment as we lost Gueye and Zouma (along with Lookman, Vlasic and McCarthy) and brought in Iwobi, Kean, Gbamin, Gomes and Delph. Injury immediately restricted Gbamin and Delph and Gomes (who had never especially convinced me) struggled even before his injury.

In losing Gueye and Zouma we lost massive amount of dynamism in the spine of the team (which has never really been replaced). Add to that our problems from set pieces and some bad reffing decisions and soon we were in the mire. Silva did not help himself with his inflexibility but perhaps it wouldn't have been an issue if he had got better players bought in. Whose fault was that? Brands? Moshiri? Maybe Silva himself? Difficult to say but i've no doubt Silva is an excellent coach, as he is proving at Fulham.

Terry/Sam

The thing about Silva was that pressure piled on as we seemed to keep making mistakes and despite "working hard in training" we just didn't seem to ever improve. But, whatever faults lay with him, the same has been true with Koeman, Carlo, Rafa and it's the same suspects (Keane, Holgate, sometimes Pickford). But somehow the players live to fight another day despite seemingly having zero ability (Pickford apart) to show courage and learn from their mistakes. It's like trying to get blood out of a stone once they get into these gormless funk.

Just over 7 days to go before the transfer window closes.
What are Moshiri and Kenwright doing?
Sell Digne to a rival, who then provides the assist for Villa’s winning goal.
Two days after selling Digne they sack the manager.
Unbelievable, unprofessional, and quite frankly amateur by the board.
The silence in respect of what is going on is deafening.

Ray#435

All the transfer business is probably done paid for by Digne transfer fee. I can't blame Rafa because I think he was sidelined.

Sam, with respect, let's not sugarcoat Marco Silva's time at Everton.

He won just 19 of his 53 PL games with us. In 28 of those games in which we conceded the first goal, we NEVER recovered to win the game. Indeed, we gleaned just FIVE points from a possible 84 points in such a scenario. Salvaging just five draws whilst suffering a wincing 23 defeats.

His 'tactic' when chasing a game was to put as many forwards on the field as possible regardless of how such substitutions impacted on the overall shape of the team, or its detriment.

He never resolved our woeful marking from dead ball situations. Ancelotti sorted that immediately when he came in.

From a very benevolent opening fixture in his second season, we lost nine of our 15 fixtures, scraping just 11 points before his final 5-2 loss against t'other lot.

I'm happy for him that he has recovered his mojo at Fulham. Possibly reflecting on his failings at Everton has made him a better coach.

But by the end at Everton, he had to go.

Sam I think that just about captures it for me.

Extending that thought, I've come to think most managers are much of a muchness.

They have a decent spell fairly early on in their careers and dine out on that reputation thereafter - often being repeatedly sacked for failing to replicate initial success.

They fail to replicate success because (a) the drive and motivation wanes, even with serial winners like Mourinho (b) they were often never that good in the first place.

Instead that initial success came about through inheriting an excellent crop of youngsters, a bunch of players who click or some lucky signing who makes it all work. Where, for example, would Potter be without the consistently good players he has been given by a DoF?

Then there are also the unsung heroes on the coaching staff. Silva seemed to deteriorate when he lost his more experienced number 2 to a managers job with Famalicao (or however you spell it) in Portugal. That also made a big difference I expect, along with the bum deal he was handed in the transfer market.

That's why all the names we're presented with are underwhelming for me - and, unfashionable though he is, I quite like the idea of Dyche stepping in.

He has genuinely got Burnley to massively outperform the quality of the playing staff and level of investment for many years.

He's about the only person I can see us appointing now who might get us to about 8th next season. Although it might not be fun or progressive, it's not like we've been served up anything but occasional quality in the past 30 years.

Jay@437, I totally agree. Silva definitely had failings; most specifically in game-management and problems at set pieces as you say. But it was also the closest I have felt to us 'cracking it' over a sustained period (the last 12 or so games in his first season).

By the end he had to go and I wasn't arguing against it; but I felt that if we had got the recruitment right in summer 2019 (instead of BADLY wrong), we might really have been onto something.

The question that has to be asked to any potential manager, how are they going to get Everton away from relegation danger.

Jay@437, I totally agree. Silva definitely had failings; most specifically in game-management and problems at set pieces as you say. But it was also the closest I have felt to us 'cracking it' over a sustained period (the last 12 or so games in his first season).

By the end he had to go and I wasn't arguing against it; but I felt that if we had got the recruitment right in summer 2019 (instead of BADLY wrong), we might really have been onto something.

Kieran
i agree with most of what you’ve said there and if you look at his Fulham side now they do concede goals quite easily but fortunately they seem to outscore the opposition more often than not something I think all Evertonians would settle for now ?

Robert, its a good point about Silva's number 2. His leaving seemed to have a detrimental affect. As always there so many factors its hard to know what or who to blame.

I'd be intrigued by Dyche. Don't think it would be a popular appointment but i'd back him to keep us safe. The issue might be next season when he could be expected to play some more attractive football. Is he capable of that? I'd take Dyche over Lampard currently.

This sentence by you Robert expresses my concern about hiring Vitor Pereira:

'They have a decent spell fairly early on in their careers and dine out on that reputation thereafter.'

Pereira benefited from inheriting a highly functioning Porto team which, in the season before Pereira took command, had won the Portuguese league under Villas-Boas at a canter. In a 16 team league - 30 league games - Porto were undefeated, gleaning 84 points from a possible 90. Second placed Benfica were 21 points adrift on 63 points, Sporting third 36 points behind on 48 points. Porto won a treble under Villas-Boas that season, adding the domestic cup and the Europa League.

Pereira's two titles and one defeat in the next two seasons looks impressive, but I lived in Portugal at that time and he was never widely liked by the Porto fans, who thought he was simply given a steering job of carrying on with Villas-Boas team.

The same could be said of his title at Olympiacos. EVERY manager wins the title with them! In 14 of the 16 seasons before Pereira, Olympiacos were crowned champions. They won it again with Pereira. They won it the next two seasons after he left.

It would be another very disconcerting managerial appointment if he got the gig.

Dyche would be interesting. He reminds me somewhat of Moyes. There have been occasions where his Burnley teams have played some nice stuff. The majority of the time he plays what my son calls Brexit football.

I’d back him to get us defending properly. After that, it’s a big step into the unknown

Pereira is a fancy Dan…which probably means he’s our next manager!

If I may, I think what is being described is organisational knowledge that walks out the door chasing a better deal or looking for expanded control of their inputs. The influx of money has likely covered up some of these losses with the incoming worldwide talent. At the club level it becomes obvious that the chemistry that is working is broken up early many times by the lure of a better deal that does not come to pass.

Dyche is a younger Sam but no bloody way would I except him as manager.

A good man-manager, good tactically but plays the brand of football I would not pay to watch.

He's a great fit for Burnley as Sam was Bolton, a smaller club with little expectation allowed to grow and build slowly.

When they sell a player, they have 3 or 4 candidates lined up that can play and do all the same simple thing's well.

It will eventually catch up to them in that club or manager will want a change, but like Sam and Pullis at Stoke change doesn't mean better or more successful. It's usually linked to money and ego.

Damn, we missed out on Hodgson.

I guess Watford have seen the safety light, preferring Roy over Frankie.

Will @ 449
Perha;ps, Frankie's coming to Hollywood?

Barry :) - "...are we living in a land..."

Yes Justin, it is a fascinating debate. I think Dyche has another level that Burnley's budget doesn't showcase. Clearly his ideas on the back seven are solid and enduring but has he ever had a front three he could set loose?

Against this, I suppose one could argue that is where it comes into view. Could he keep things tight at the back when he opens up the offense and maintains more possession in the final third?

I can only say that experiment has not been run but I'm with Sam, I'd take him over Lampard.

Wayne@418
Pereira was reportedly a front runner when Moyes left in 2013 so your idea that Kenwright could be responsible for steering Moshiri away from appointing him doesn’t hold water.
It is more likely that both of them are stupid enough to rate him.

Danny #423, the Kaisers. No contest. I've been wearing various versions of the old Beckenbauers since 1976. Never a blowout or a blister.

Sam/Jay/Robert, good discussion regarding Silva. It's important to note that we did not "lose" Zouma -- he was a loan and never ours to lose -- and that we had kept Gueye an extra year on our promise to sell him to PSG. The other three were good sales and likely would not have been important parts of the club going forward -- none is a bigtime player today. The problem, as you say, was that summer's recruitment. But I still believe Gbamin would have been a mainstay for this club had he not been injured, and likewise Kean but for the bad attitude. They were good gambles.

The Portuguese candidate is cheap and a nobody. The players will make clear that's how they see him and that he knows it.

Once the Russian money is called in to make war on their neighbours, the football businesses will become flippery and the For Sale notices will go up without delay.

How much is Chairman Bill's house worth now?

Just get Lucien Favre on a 6-month contract then evaluate, for fuck's sake! He is available and ready to take over. Everton board must be deaf and blind lazy bastards!

Justin # 448. During the last 30 years I have not seen a great deal of Champagne football. I've seen dogs of war, dogshit and KITAK1. A few good patches under Moyes, a great season under Martinez and a few good patches under Silva and Ancelotti. That's it.

In fairness i've enjoyed some of the gritty backs to the wall stuff. Equally I've utterly despaired of the appalling spectacle we're often served up.

I would accept the appointment of Dyche, not that he seems to be linked, on the basis he would be motivated, has something to prove and has earned it. He's actually achieved something outstanding with Burnley because his playing staff and budget are such that they should be nowhere near the Premier League.

If he serves up crap football then it is simply a continuation of Ferguson, of Ancelotti's last 6 months, of Benitez etc. If we were winning games, competing, working hard, defending properly etc then I would cope.

If you want someone to step in and deliver good football with this squad and no budget then think again. But we might be able to do that after someone has stopped the rot.

I couldn't give a flying you know what who we get.

I've come to the conclusion that these players don't give a toss, they are the most unintelligent bunch of wasters I've ever seen pull on a blue shirt.

I've re watched our last 3 defeats and they are brain dead as far as football is concerned.

I'm fed up with the lot of em.

Soren, if... if we had to bring in a foreign experiment, then he would be my choice. Or should I say, leap of faith - for that's what it is.

Foreign managers seem to be flavour of the month, reading many of the posts on ToffeeWeb, but I seem to recall 10 or15 years ago we recruited a small, ginger Scotsman from Championship Preston and many Evertonians have been very vocal in calling for his return.

The point I am making is that there are still young, talented managers in the Championship. Isn't it worth having a look at them?

Scott Parker is doing well at Bournemouth,and the Fulham team Marco Silva is having so much success with is largely the team built by Parker

Steve Cooper is also doing well with Forest and I am sure there must be others.

Funny old world isn't it? Just saying!

Stu... if Scott Parker built that team why didn't he get it to play the way Silva has it playing.

I never quite get why the Bundesliga is held up as a shining example? Yeah, I know it has the super club, but is it that great a league?

I haven't got records to hand and It may be pure perception on my part, but, if you take Bayern out of the equation, has the Bundesliga produced more European Champions than say... The City of Nottingham?

Soren @456;

I've said this a few times. If Favre is available and interested it would be madness for him to not be on the shortlist at least.

This guy got more points per match at Borussia Dortmund than Klopp and has done well in a number of leagues at a number of clubs. We'd be lucky to have him I reckon.

Darren @462,

Hamburg beat Juventus in 1983; Dortmund also beat Juventus in 1997 and that's it for victories in the European Cup for German clubs outside of Bayern Munich.

I don't remember either of those games, mind you apart from Everton's 'exploits' in Europe I paid scant attention to the European competitions in general.

Stu 460

European trophies won this century by nationality of manager

Spain 16
Germany 5
Portuguese 5
Italian 5

English 0, nil, nada

Maybe there just might be a clue there

I don't consider it flavour of the month Stu. As previous, I have no concern who they are, where they were born or where the come from. The right person.

Interesting reading the comments on Silva and Parker. Are they genuinely up and coming or the next version of the previous iteration of managers that used to bounce up and down and make a living out of making their clubs exist?

Silva got Hull relegated and had Everton in a precarious position despite a positive second half season prior to the one he got sacked. That was after leaving Watford in dire straights when he unprofessionally switched off following Everton's initial approaches.

Parker; relegated (yes as caretaker and inherited the situation). Promotion at the first attempt. Relegation at the first attempt.

Back to the point on foreign managers. I don't really care where they come from, but statistically, it is blatantly obvious that successful top flight English clubs don't have British managers.

Stu (460) Unfortunately our owner, like many of our fans, has been seduced by the idea that the club will take a Great Leap Forward under a foreign manager. First and foremost we will only achieve progress of any sort if we have the right structure and support in place. Without that every manager, hailed as the messiah, is destined merely to become the next scapegoat.

Hey, to me, ALL these managers are "foreign"!

But seriously, football is so internationalized now that I think manager nationality is irrelevant. There is no longer a clearly German style or Italian style or Spanish style of play, or management. Most top clubs are a mix of players from multiple countries and most managers speak multiple languages.

Familiarity with a particular league certainly helps, and I'd rather have a manager who has worked in the Prem before, but it's not a disqualifier if they haven't.

John - yes the wrong target (I know repeat). Let's hire the next scape goat and change it again in 12 - 18 months while the real target dodges another bullet.

Darren, I would agree in the super club domination of the Bundesliga. No denying that.

I would however argue it provides more all round competitiveness and entertainment and unpredictability beneath that. The atmosphere in the stadia is fantastic as well.

Not just a surge of noise at walk out to respective club's walk out tune followed by mostly library type atmospheres. Not just on occasion or through certain periods of the match when the ref riles the crowd. It's pretty constant. Great day out and I totally recommend it to any follower of the game.

Oh, and I have to get this one in. I can take a McDonalds like carry tray of beers back to my seat and watch the match with them rather than cramming them in at half time or being denied because I had been waiting 15 minutes on a crammed Bullens Road concourse. Sorry. I know I keep going on about that.

The irony, if I throw a plastic beer cup towards the pitch, it would be empty and fly away before it got anywhere near a player. However in England, I can buy a bottle of coke or even better, a hot drink and take it back to my seat to use as a much more effective weapon if I was that way inclined. The irony

I digress. The Bundesliga is not and never has been the standard of the English league.

But they and German football do produce better players and coaches on a more consistent basis. Especially in recent decades and in my lifetime.

Nobody does it better than the Germans imo Danny. They seem so thorough, and it looks like they add loads of common sense, to what appears from the outside, to be mostly methodical methods, which help to simplify a very simple game?

That’s how I see them anyway!

Sam #463, He IS available and according to reports from today he WANTS the job! No idea why our owner and Ill Bill are pissing about tbh! The lack of effort from the people in charge of our club is pissing me off! Where is the new DoF? Louis Campos (just to name one) is available and he would be a great signing if, and its a big IF, we want to progress.

Barry #464, Schalke 04 won UEFA cup in 1996–97 Beating Inter Milan. Probably there are more trophies won by German clubs. Needs investigating lol.

Graham @465

No problem then,your stats imply we should be looking for a Spanish manager. Oh wait a minute haven't we just sacked one? And a Portuguese one? And didn't our Italian manager do a runner recently Leaving an awe-inspiring record?

I'm simply saying it may be worthwhile considering homegrown managers; after all, they can't leave us in a worse situation than the recent crew!

Stu

No I think we should be looking for a manager with some proven experience and a history of being able to implement his footballing philosophy regardless of his nationality.

Of all the candidates I’ve seen mooted Favre would be my preferred choice.

See club's around us are signing new players, and we still don't have a manager.

I don't think we have time to introduce an overseas manager.
We are in freefall and it will take time for a guy who has little or no knowledge of the Club or the players and try and instil a "system" and get us points.

Right now we need someone who is aware of our situation, knows the weaknesses and strengths of not only our wasters but also the opposition.
We don't need fancy intricate tactics and formations we just need someone to pick a team who will give everything and the wherewithal to get points on the board and away from the bottom 3.

All the fancy foreign guys from Spain, Germany or wherever can wait for another day.
First things first

Portuguese press saying 4-month deal done and option of a further year...

Jesus H Christ!!

Soren,

I think Darren's original question was about the European Cup/ Champions League, I have no doubt you are correct about German teams doing well in the other European tournaments.

Mark @ 476,

I would think that report is either from yesterday or a re-hashed version of yesterday's report.

I hope so Barry. Just feels flat to me. We have to be capable of doing better than that.

Give it to Dunc until the end of the season. Hire Ralf Rangnik as DoF. Let him reshape the club and appoint the manager. Simples.

Very high stakes now for Everton. Time is against the club in view of any new manager coming in, this week.

If Rooney had a couple more years under his belt, based on his Derby County achievement in adversity, I believe he’d get the squad into shape and motivate the players, and make a fight of it.

It ain’t gonna happen, so the gravity of the situation, warrants some serious manager recruitment plan by the Everton board.

I hope it’s not Moshiri using his contacts just to get some one in, to fill the void for the sake of it.

But days left in the transfer market and will Everton bring any more players in?

Mark # 476 and Barry # 478. According to The Mirror, it looks like Moshiri is going to pull the plug on appointing Pereira.

Everton pull away from naming Vitor Pereira as next manager opening door to Wayne Rooney

GO AND GET COOPER!!

Went to Swansea - they got better.

Gone to Forest, saved them and now pushing for promotion.

He is the man.

John, I agree.

Time is short. It's not ideal, no guarantees, no sparkling first game victory, but I still feel Ferguson has to be left to it. The disruption of a new appointment and change of style is a major consideration.

Doesn't seem we're going to do much in the market so no real difference to playing staff, no "His own players" element.

I know there's a risk - is it more than bringing in a new man, for the largely basics and blood & guts task we have 'til the season's end? There is no place for complication and subtlety - we might be asking a new manager to change his own football ethos for the very unfamiliar purpose of survival in a new league.

As has often been asked before - could Guardiola do anything with these players? Yes, eventually with enough time and more money. Would he be guaranteed to keep us up in these few months? I'm not so sure.

We saw that Benitez was failing. That's as close as we could get to "Knowing" (Guessing) it would end in relegation. We can't know Ferguson would fail any more than we know a new guy would succeed.

Pity Chris Wilder blemished his record with Sheffield United - I like the cut of him. He would be my pick for a British manager.

Rob #482 Romano posting tonight Pereira and staff flying in, hope it's yesterday's news.

Everton is perfect club to come to. Underachievers, incredible fan base, owner with deep pockets. We’re been so bad some people think Silva, Martinez and Moyes were great days - Kenwright included. If you fail you get minimum £5million pay off.

The supporters will be as patient as any other club with a manager they like - you only have to see how we were with Ancelotti who played rubbish football 90% of the time.

I don’t know much about managers out there. Is there a good one in Championship? Out of all the names banded about, Lampard interests me but we will wait and see.

Paddy Power latest betting:

Vitor Pereira 15/8
Lampard 5/2
Duncan Ferguson 9/1
Nico Kovac 9/1
Rudi Garcia 11/1

Claudio Ranieri 33/1
(It would not surprise me in the slightest if the Moshiri is eyeing him up. He might even have a sneaky bet at those odds to offset the compensation.)

I know it's only January, but I'm getting those sick Wimbledon / Coventry feelings already.

The medics will have a syndrome named after us soon.

Where's your 50p going on amongst that lot, Mike?

Barry, You're right. I missred it.

Woohoo, thanks Mike Kovacs and Garcia closing on the outside. Lampard is the sucker bet. May the football gods make the best of this.

I think it's most likely that Moshiri or should that be Kia has got his way, and Pereira will be appointed in the next 24 hours, perhaps, Duncan was a sticking point assuming he'll be retained as the managers assistant.

Sorry about that it wouldnt let me edit that second one but hey something has bothered me for some time and I thought TW would be the place for such a weighty question.

What does the H in Jesus H Christ sfand for?

Any cheapshots will be well received, have at it.

Rob - I only bet on the horses. No confidence in anything Everton at the moment. Not to the tune of 50p anyway!!!

"Kia not welcome" banners are out.

Dale - the H in Jesus H Christ stands for Howard. Thought everyone knew that.

Our Father who art in Heaven
Howard Be Thy Name

Excuse my ignorance lads.
What's KIA

Dave
The super-agent Kia Joorabchian who apparently influences the owner.

I really despair at the state of our beloved club at the moment. Can I ask if anyone with any football knowledge will have an input in the selection of the next manager? I know that Graham Sharp has recently been appointed to the board, but is there any other football knowledge there. If we end up with Pereira we're done for. Any new appointment will be a risk, of all those mentioned my choice would be Favre, but he doesn't seem to rank too highly with the bookies. Maybe that's because they know the clowns that will make the choice.

Fancy because they are foreign?

In Pep I see passion and a desire to win. Nothing fancy, just someone who knows and understands football. Had no connection with his current club or the English League prior to joining them.

In Klopp I see passion and an implementation of a pretty ruthless form of football that bypasses midfield and is is effective in winning games. Had no connection to his current club or the English League until joining his current club.

In Tuchel I see a European Champion who applies intelligence and a thoughtful approach to the game. Had no connection to his current club or the English League until joining them.

Foreign fancy Dans?

Let's get Mike Bassett in. That will sort it.

Flippant of me, so I apologise. To reiterate, it doesn't matter where the manager comes from. It just needs to be the right choice.

If you want an English born dyed in the wool Liverpool born Evertonian, appoint me to compliment our apparent dyed in the wool Evertonian Chairman.

Forget nostalgia; leave that to me.

On sky bet, lampard is the favourite at 6/4 and pereira is 5/2

Soren@472; if we were to appoint Jorge Campos as DOF and Favre as manager I would feel infinitely more optimistic about the future of this club!! Though having said that I felt similarly about Silva and Brands and we know how that worked out (possibly due to interference from above).

I'd take Lampard over Pereira, in fact I'd take Danny over Pereira. No insult intended Danny.

Damn, TW is pretty powerful.

I just saw Danny listed on Paddy Power at 11/2.

Now being reported that it will be Pereira. Apparently Moshiri has overruled the board and gone with his choice.

Sam, I just don't think Favre and Campos (though the one I refer to is called Louis not Jorge lol) are comparable to Silva and Brands.
Have you read these articles about Campos and how he goes about with his business? Link and Link

Danny’s dog as number two? Add a bit of bite

None of us will know who is right for the job until he's been in charge for at least half a season.
So all the debating about who would suit is pretty pointless at the moment. They will pick who they want and not give two fucks about what we think.
However we definitely need one maybe two midfielders with a pair of bollox, someone who cares and will take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Mike @ 497, I thought it was Harold...Our Father who art in Heaven, Harold be thy name !! lol...I think it actually comes from Jesus Hebrew Christ. In other need Wim Jansens passed on RIP Wim

I agree Ted! Moshiri dosent want to listen to anyone but Kia! Personally we need an upcoming young manager like a lampard or Rooney. But hey what do us fans know Moshiri! Feel sick that it looks like it is going to Pereira. Deeply worrying with the route this club is going.

Thanks for the dreaded vote of confidence guys.

The dogs would certainly incentivise. I would just need to hold them on the leads. They like to hunt.

Their poor Evertonian souls will be out with me in several hours listening to my rantings. They are Evertonians.

Brentford to look forward to. That's what the boy tells me!

If Duncan is not going to be left to try and rescue this shit show then of all the names being thrown around I would definitely get Frank Lampard in.
He’s a very intelligent and mature young manager. He brings youngsters into the team and knows the premiership. He’s also from London which ticks the Foreign box with some of our support.
If we do go down, which is a big possibility right now then he would be prepared for the battle to build us up again and I can’t see him coming for greed.
For me he just ticks most of the boxes and I don’t think he’s connected to the super agent prick.

Tomorrows papers say it’s on for Vitor. Four month contract with an extension if we survive. All courtesy of Kia. Social media blues not too thrilled.

Moshiri is on another planet. Does he have any dialog with fans groups ? No.
Is this the way to run a business? No.
If he employs this fucking loser, it's Moshiri out.

If Moshiri was a cat then he's surely on his 9th life now.

It's yet another unpopular and divisive appointment and one fraught with the most risk of all the candidates in my opinion if Vitor Periera comes in.

You are giving this fella who has never had any kind of experience in this cutthroat league, a massive task of turning the fortunes south to north of a dying club on its knees caked in toxicity.

If this goes belly up then I hope Moshiri has got a "get me out of here quick" plan because the shit really will hit the fan this time.

Is this Kia Joorabchian geezer our new Director of Football?

If not then why the hell does he seem to be running everything we do these days?

We really have got our kecks down as a club now haven't we?

If I was a betting man taking a look from the outside in, I'd put a wager on us being relegated with Watford and Burnley.

Siren # 507 - thanks for those links. I hadn’t come across Campos. Going by that he is just the man Moshiri needs to take charge of the Football side of his business.

I sometimes wonder if Moshiri would be better off taking advice from some of my fellow ToffeeWebbers.

Colin#515 - “tomorrows papers say” - can you check out the winner of the 3 o’clock at Royal Ascot.😉

We are screwed. Goodnight.

The clown has taken over the circus. Even the theatre impresario can’t match this showmanship.

I can only think its the Iranian connection between Moshiri and Joorabchian. Everybody knows this guy is poison.

I wanted Lampard when Ancelotte walked out. He did a fair job at Chelsea in difficult circumstances and he would be a good fit now IMO.

Pereira may turn out to be a good choice, but is too much of a risk in our present situation.

Soren @507, yes, Luis! Not sure Jorge would be much help thought he was a good goalkeeper in his time!

I still don't see the love for Lampard! What did he do that merits this enthusiasm?! He took a talented Derby slightly higher up the Championship and his time at Chelsea was very unremarkable compared to what his successor managed with the same squad. Chelsea, despite having some great defenders, shipped goals freely under Lampard! What is the attraction other than his reputation as a player (which we've seen countless times means very little).

Thiago Silva looked like an old has-been under Lampard, exposed by the non-existent cover in midfield.

He's been magnificent since Tuchel arrived.

The football might be pretty but Lampard can't organise a defence.

Laurie #518, no problem mate. Sometimes your wonder do they even bother google it, let alone doing a proper research lol!

Haven't seen him mentioned but for me a natural appointment would be Peter Reid.

And of course we could get to sing... "Cheer up, Peter Reid!"