The Crouching Wizard — Flavour of the month or genuine article?

Unai Emery is the latest big name to be linked with the Everton job. He has a history of stabilising and improving struggling teams and has now won the Europa League three times in succession. Would he be a gamble or just the ticket to turn the Blues around?

Lyndon Lloyd 22/05/2016 57comments  |  Jump to last

It's natural that Cup success can throw a bright spotlight on a team and its players and make the winning manager the flavour of the month when it comes to speculation around open positions in Europe's biggest leagues. Just ask Bill Kenwright, who was enamoured by Roberto Martinez in part because he had just steered lowly Wigan Athletic to the FA Cup in 2013.

One trophy success is enough to make people sit up and take notice... but three, in successive seasons no less, is the stuff of footballing dynasties and Unai Emery has just achieved that remarkable feat with Sevilla with that thrilling come-from-behind victory over Liverpool in Basel last week.

Bloated by a Champions League-style group stage and then made all the more difficult by clubs from its more illustrious sibling parachuting in at the Round of 32 stage, the Europa League is a gruelling and difficult competition, as Everton found out in 2014-15. Even though they were one of the tournament favourites at one stage due to their brilliant form on the group stage and their destruction of Young Boys of Bern in the knockout phase, the Blues were dumped out on a harrowing night in Kiev.

While Sevilla were one of those teams to drop into the Europa League this season after only finishing third in Champions League Group D, losing home and away to Manchester City in the process, they won it the hard way the two seasons before that under Emery. Los Rojiblancos topped their (admittedly weak) group in 2013-14 and knocked out Real Betis, FC Porto and Valencia before beating Benfica in the final. In 2014-15, they finished runners-up to Feyenoord in Group G but beat Borussia Mönchengladbach, Villarreal, Zenit St Petersburg and Fiorentina before taking care of Dnipro in the final in Warsaw.

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Becoming the first club to win three European trophies on the bounce since Bayern Munich in the 1970s is an impressive feat no matter how you look at it and it has elevated Sevilla's 44-year-old manager to the list of desired candidates for Everton supporters as the club looks to replace Martinez in the coming weeks. If a report in the The Telegraph is true, he has also caught the attention of the Goodison Park hierarchy as well who are apparently keen to talk to him this week.

Whether Emery, who is on record as saying he would consider staying at Sevilla for as long as they wanted him, would be ready to jump to the Premier League remains to be seen but he has obvious qualities that have endeared him to Evertonians, not least his touchline energy, motivational skills (he was able to turn his side around after a toothless first 45 minutes in Basel) and, of course, ability to beat Liverpool! The quick passing and rapier-like moves that tore Jurgen Klopp's side apart in the second half of that final were very much in contrast to the laboured style favoured by Martinez and, yet, they were evocative of the Blues when they were at their best under the Catalan.

The fact that Sevilla failed to win away from home in either La Liga, the Champions League or the Europa League apart from at Bilbao in the semi-finals this season until their triumph on neutral territory in Switzerland last week has been flagged as an issue of serious concern among supporters, however, and it helps explain why Emery's team only finished 7th in Spain this year. Nevertheless, their league record was significantly better over the two preceding seasons and the Hondarribia-born coach has a fairly impressive curriculum vitae that makes him worthy of consideration for a club whose fortunes need to be resurrected in short order.

An unspectacular playing career spent mostly in Spain's second tier after a single season in Real Sociedad's senior side was brought to an end by a knee injury when he was 32 but it afforded him an immediate route to management when he took over the reins at Lorca Deportiva, the club he had played for in that 2003-04 season.

He guided Lorca to promotion for the first time in their history in his first season and almost took them into La Liga the following year but fell five points short. Snapped up by Almeira in 2006, he steered them into Spain's top flight for the first time ever in 2007 and achieved an eighth-place finish in La Primera the following season.

That alerted crisis-ridden Valencia who replaced the struggling Ronald Koeman who lured him to La Mestalla in 2008 and, after stabilising Los Che with a 6th-place finish, Emery managed them to 3rd-place finishes behind Spain's big two in each of the next three seasons, the last of which despite the sale of David Villa and David Silva. That qualified Valencia for the Champions League, injected much-needed funds into the club's coffers and enhanced Emery's reputation but he was unable to break Barcelona and Real Madrid's stranglehold in Spain or land any silverware which led to impatience among Valencia's fans.

I live football as passion and emotion. When I coach, I take that responsibility seriously because I know people have trusted in me and there are thousands of supporters whose emotions are bound up in what we do.

Unai Emery

Still, he had achieved enough in his first three managerial assignments in his homeland that it was he to whom Sevilla turned when they needed salvation themselves following a poor run in the first half of 2012-13. The move in January 2013 was beneficial for both parties. Emery had endured a brief but difficult spell in Russia with Spartak Moscow who had sacked him the previous November and his return to Spain has yielded those three Europa League titles and relative consistency in La Liga with two 5th-place finishes and, now, 7th place.

Described by FourFourTwo magazine as having “the intensity and dry humour of Diego Simeone; the ire and scowl of Luis Enrique; the shrugging, ‘whatever' coolness of the now-departed Carlo Ancelotti,” and compared most closely to Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa given his “obsession with preparation, tactics and an endless fascination with the mechanics of footballing philosophies,” Emery would certainly add a new dimension at Goodison Park.

Nicknamed the Crouching Wizard because of his Bielsa-like touchline squat, he favours quick wingers and playing with two strikers alternating between one striker and a 4-3-3, pressing from the front, flexibility and inter-changeability from a three-midfielder formation, and employs in-depth (bordering on obsessive) research of opposition teams and tactics. And, if that final against Liverpool is any indication, he also possesses excellent man-management skills despite his intensity. Indeed, his team's “intangible ability to come back, to return from deficits, and display the grit and determination” has been noted before.

As an analysis by Outside Of The Boot acknowledges, his career has been notable for the manner in which he has come in and stabilised clubs in difficult fiscal circumstances where performances on the field have been affected as a result. While the financial dimension won't apply at Everton, there is no doubt that the Blues' ship desperately needs to be turned around on the field and Emery's energy would seem to fit in that regard.

With Everton's youth system potentially poised to produce a number of first-team calibre players in the coming years, it's also worth noting that Emery has helped nurture and develop (see addendum) the careers of other notable stars like Juan Mata, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic, Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas, David Albelda and Argentine midfield star Ever Banega who is now a linchpin in his Sevilla side. Gerard Deulofeu, who failed to impress him on loan at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán last season might not necessarily agree but Emery undoubtedly saw the talent in the young winger even if he doubted that he yet had the maturity to put it to good use.

Any manager represents a gamble but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that Emery would have what it takes to succeed in England in terms of his attention to detail and tactical awareness. The fact that he is more attuned to the Spanish game might count against him in the eyes of some supporters but it's pleasing at least to know that his teams like to move the ball quickly rather than rely on the “tiki-taka” passing and possession game made famous by Barca and the Spanish national team over the past decade. Success in Europe means being able to conquer teams of all styles and philosophies and he has proved to be the master of that over the past three seasons.

Despite the fresh speculation that Farhad Moshiri and the Goodison board will hold talks with Emery, he probably remains a long shot given his rising profile and, perhaps, his desire to continue building on his achievements to date at Sevilla. He may have started on his managerial road early but he is still comparatively young, has plenty of time to achieve any wider ambitions outside of Spain and may have been chastened by his experience in Russia.

Nevertheless, the fact that one of Europe's most interesting and desired coaches is even being talked about in the same breath as Everton represents significant progress on three years ago when the likes of Malky MacKay, Alan Stubbs and the little-known Ralph Rangnick were among the leading candidates for the Goodison hotseat. Long may “the Moshiri effect” continue in that regard!

Addendum

I've had it put to me that the influence of Monchi, Sevilla's director of football, in their Europa League successes should not be underestimated and in terms of player development (he will have had an important hand in the nurturing of some of those players mentioned above), tactics and strategy, he would have played a crucial role.

He won't, of course, have come into the equation of Emery's other relative successes at Lorca, Almeira or Valencia, nor would he be responsible for the man-management or game-management that has underpinned some of their European success but it was remiss not to mention his importance in the overall picture vis-a-vis Emery's time at Sevilla.

And, of course, while the former goalkeeper would be highly unlikely to follow Emery to Goodison, the manager would bring a lot of knowledge from working under Mochi with him, not to mention familiarity with a Sporting Director set-up which Everton are said to be considering.

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Reader Comments (57)

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Matthew Barry
1 Posted 22/05/2016 at 20:23:29
Brilliant read Lyndon. Let's hope we get this over the line. If it isn't Emery then DeBoer and Koeman are not bad alternatives.
Chris Kelly
2 Posted 22/05/2016 at 20:25:01
Whoever we get, perhaps we should get our skates on and ready for some contract negotiation. We need to assess and finalise existing squad, identify targets and get some deals done. A decent pre season is essential, with a couple of games againt decent opposition. We cannot afford another slow start and the Euros will only add extra time pressure on players.

There is choice out there, it seems and I am really hoping the powers at be have some sound rationale to assess them all. No single outstanding candidate, just need to get the balance of a winning track record, premier league experience, fantastic potential and good with youth and big names. Oh and they want to come to Goodison. Nah problem.
Colin Glassar
3 Posted 22/05/2016 at 20:40:59
This is the best report I've seen so far. There is one important factor and that is adaptability. I've seen so many good managers, and players, come to the EPL over the years and fall flat on their faces that it's a become a bit of a worry for me.

The fact that he failed miserably in Russia, after being a consistent success in Spain, makes me think that he's ideal for La Liga. However, I think this guy is the real deal and would be more than happy if he accepts our offer.

I believe we have the luxury of taking our time (10 days max) and to interview 2-3 candidates before making a decision. This one is a biggy, don't rush it like last time.

Mike Green
4 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:00:23
Colin - 'don't rush it like last time..' It took us the whole of May to sort it out?
Charlie Lloyd
5 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:04:08
I've wondered for a while why the odds weren't shortening on Emery. He has pedigree and should be given consideration. We could do a lot worse.

Interested to see how this pans out.

Colin Glassar
6 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:04:25
Mike, I think BK made up his mind about RM after the Wigan FA cup battering. He knew by then OFFM was negotiating with his new masters and had Roberto in his sights from that day on.

I just pray to god that this time around BK's got fuck all to do with selecting the next manager.

Charlie Lloyd
7 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:06:25
Forgot to mention. Odds have gone from 66/1 to 3/1 in two weeks.
Ian Burns
8 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:10:00
Yet another terrific article Lyndon - you are in a rich vein of form!! - and once again most enlightening.

Having read the article, the problem for me now is if we don't get Emery, I will be hugely disappointed - only slightly offset if we get De Boer instead.
Colin Metcalfe
9 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:14:41
Barca down to 10 men and Sevilla working very hard pressing Barca all over the pitch ! Very impressive so far ..
Mark Fitzgerald
10 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:17:23
Insightful article Lyndon, and one that closely reflects my own thinking.The truth is I can't make up my mind about Emery.

I don't for a second question his achievements and watched in admirable fascination (and with no small amount of enjoyment) as his Sevilla side tore apart Klopps troops in the second half of the Europa cup final.

To be fair to Emery, I also have the same concern over any foreign candidate; will they be able to adapt to the PL?

Ultimately I imagine whichever manager gets the job will be something of a gamble. And success will be measured by results and (hopefully) silverware.

As I type I'm watching the Copa del Rey final with interest. Emery's side are more than holding their own against the mighty Barca. But I'm most impressed by their work rate and tempo, a stark contrast to the fare that has been served up to Evertonians in recent seasons.
Stephen Brown
11 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:23:52
The more I read about this guy the more I think it could be a good fit!

We need to think and act big! I hope Moshiri is really hungry for success?!

Tony Hill
12 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:28:37
Good piece. I think we'll go for de Boer and I'd be happy with that. Like most of us, I'm broadly happy with all of the main names being thrown about. Any of them could be great or terrible, we just haven't got a clue, though it's nice gossiping.

As for Emery, fine thank you. I'm sure Messrs. Banega and Vitolo would be delighted to join him.

Oliver Molloy
13 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:39:32
No chance.
Gavin Johnson
14 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:44:32
I think we should get him in a heartbeat..But would he want us?!
Steve Jones
15 Posted 22/05/2016 at 21:46:10
He's the real deal, I think I would sacrifice Deulofeu to get him , especially if he brings 3 or 4 of his team at Seville with him
Chris Jones [Burton]
16 Posted 22/05/2016 at 22:22:03
With the latest speculation that Mourinho in charge of Manyoo will want Stones but not Mata (who Lyndon notes has played for Emery before) perhaps a cash plus player deal might be in the offing? Mata might want to play for Emery again and at 28 he likely has his best couple of years to come.

But then would either of them want to come to us if asked?

Jeff Armstrong
17 Posted 22/05/2016 at 22:34:39
Mata is shite, goes missing not just in games, but for weeks, not made Spain squad, brought off twice yesterday. (He was coming off,then scored, came off later anyways.) I'd rather have cash only from Man Utd.
Brian Hennessy
18 Posted 22/05/2016 at 22:58:35
Chris, Mata is certainly the type of player we have been lacking badly the last few years.

I might be wrong but I have a feeling if the right manager was brought in Stones might well stay.

Like Colin said earlier, no need to rush into anything on the new manager, we simply must get the right guy this time

Mike McLoughlin
19 Posted 22/05/2016 at 23:09:41
Well Seville lose the final and end up with 9 players on the field. 7 booking, 2 red cards. At least they showed a lot of passion
Dennis Ng
20 Posted 23/05/2016 at 04:21:07
What I like is that he has consistently worked his magic despite having to sell his best players past 3 years. That shows he can work with any player given to him. What happened to Delboy is unfortunate but I don't think either side bore a grudge for it. Would be great if he signed. I think he can do with the least amount of overhaul needed with our squad and save our warchest for better targets as they become available.
David Chait
21 Posted 23/05/2016 at 04:26:28
The most interesting thing about this article is that Lyndon actually wrote it! A comprehensive article based on "speculation"? Not usual... Makes me wonder!!!
Alan J Thompson
22 Posted 23/05/2016 at 06:03:31
He seems to have the right sort of CV and while I don't always think it is always an insurmountable problem could his failure in Russia be due to language problems?

Interesting to note Monchi/Mochi was a goalkeeper. The only other one I can think of in management was Taylor, Clough's offsider.
Lyndon Lloyd
23 Posted 23/05/2016 at 07:04:04
Hah, don't read anything into it, David (21). Unlike the decision (and its timing) to put Martinez out of his and our misery, I don't have any real info on prospective candidates.

I'm just putting articles together on potential managers. I had a piece on Mourinho half written that wasn't needed (suffice to say, I was lukewarm in the idea of him) and there's one on De Boer in the works, too, which I'll hopefully have ready tonight.

Anto Byrne
24 Posted 23/05/2016 at 07:12:40
If Barkley Stones and Lukaku leave its more than likely they will go to City and United. They need their quota of home grown players. This prospect doesn't worry me as we have Mori Jags Pennington Holgate Kenny Connelly Galloway to step up and even the returning Garbutt. In the last game of the season Barkley chased harried and put in several tackles but then so did Davies and Dowell.

How did Barkley get away with being so half arsed, was that down to Martinez? What other gems do we have in reserve ready to make an impact with the exuberance of youth. Was I dreaming or was McCarthy playing box to box because he looked a different player.

There wasn't any room for Cleverly in midfield not sure he was even on the bench. It would seem the likes of Royle and Unsworth have a different view how the game should be played and playing players out of position isn't an option.

I didn't want Mourhino as the bloke is a first class C#$T, and I do hope it all goes pear shaped at Utd for the classless bas-turd.

So back to Everton, perhaps they were waiting for utd to confirm Mourhino and offer him the job, maybe they will talk to the fat waiter but he is still beneath us. Let him stay at that small club in the north east.

Emery is another Spaniard, haven't we learned our lesson?

Frank de Boar can he cut it in the premiership, perhaps the former Watford man is the go, what can he do with better players and a bigger budget. Has premier league experience and advocates good football.

Its a gamble at Everton whoever we appoint, no-one has mentioned Gus Hiddinck as a possible replacement, His teams do end up playing football.

At least they are taking some time and looking at available candidates or perhaps its the usual smokescreen and they have their man signed and sealed and will just make it look like they are going thru the process as with Martinez.

My preference would be the Borrussia Dortman manager for what's its worth.

David Hallwood
25 Posted 23/05/2016 at 08:06:25
So we're thinking of hiring a manager based on a good cup run........erm we're have I heard that one before.
John Crawley
26 Posted 23/05/2016 at 08:33:47
Colin 3 I don't think he failed miserably in Moscow, just that the club had a trigger finger. In the league he had a 52% win ratio, over all his games a 46% win ratio. Wrong league, wrong club I feel.
Brent Stephens
27 Posted 23/05/2016 at 08:37:30
David - "a good cup run". I'm not sure the two cup runs are comparable. And he has a record of getting teams promoted (have we also heard that one before? or erm...).
Rick Tarleton
28 Posted 23/05/2016 at 09:50:00
The biggest problem is his total lack of English. Working through an interpreter is far from ideal and adds a layer of non-communication.

The high tempo pressing game is easier abroad, both Tottenham and Liverpool ran out of steam in vital games at the end of the season.

Paul Thompson
29 Posted 23/05/2016 at 10:19:15
Another exemplary article, Lyndon. As has been said many time, any manager, particularly from abroad, is a risk. This looks like a risk worth taking, though as you say it's a long shot in terms of likelihood. My only main concern (as noted by Rick #28) is the language issue.
John Crawley
30 Posted 23/05/2016 at 10:28:20
Excellent article, Lyndon, just one very minor point of correction. Sevilla won away at Bilbao in the first leg of the Europa semi-final. Of all the candidates mentioned he's the one that I would go for and it would be a very exciting appointment.

Rick the article from the telegraph mentions that he can converse in English. I know Colin Glassar mentioned in another thread that he'd been taking English lessons but I don't know what his source was.

Dan Hollingworth
31 Posted 23/05/2016 at 10:37:43
Lyndon, what a great piece again, and I look forward to reading your Frank de Boer piece.

I have always liked Emery, but I had no idea he liked things so finely tuned. Think it would be a good move for both him and Everton. We need someone who casts an eye over little detail.

I also think (as much it's going to kill me saying this) it's looking more and more likely Rom will no longer be an Everton player, Emery would be able to bring Gameiro with him.

Tony Draper
33 Posted 23/05/2016 at 11:34:10
Really enjoyed reading this piece, Lyndon. Informative and has me thinking (an achievement in itself).

Looking forward to the Frank de Boer piece, whenever it's ready, with keen anticipation.

Just what's needed during these times of pure speculation.

Dan Hollingworth
34 Posted 23/05/2016 at 11:35:06
Ramos changed everything, Tom Huddlestone came in and said he banned Mayonnaise from the canteen. Someone that militant can't have been fun to play for?

Ramos did win a trophy however.

Christopher Timmins
35 Posted 23/05/2016 at 11:44:14
Lyndon, he would be a very good choice and as you rightly say its good to be talking about managers of his quality.

His record in Spain speaks for itself and he has been a success in all his various managerial appointments to date, however, he was not universally loved at Valencia.

Sevilla had a very poor away record this year though in fairness they did win the away leg of their semi final in Bilbao and even in defeat they played Man City off the park in their away fixture in the Champions League.

The club should throw the kitchen sink at him in an attempt to sign him up. The two most pleasing things about him is his ability to give youth a chance, a must for any potential manager of our club, and his teams play with tempo.

On a completely different track, well done to Stubbs at the weekend, a very good manager in the making and hopefully sometime down the line he will return to Goodison Park.

Anthony Flack
36 Posted 23/05/2016 at 11:58:42
Rick (28) - other than incredible and immense, Roberto's made not a jot of flaming sense when he spoke.

If he is any good I would work around the lingo...

James Stewart
37 Posted 23/05/2016 at 12:04:57
Lyndon another excellent piece, puts the so called main stream press to shame. There was a piece in the Telegraph I think with potential Everton managers which included a picture and about one line of text per candidate.

Like you, I never wanted Mourinho so I'm glad that never came to light. Emery has to be considered for me, interesting how he cleaned up Koeman's mess at Valencia. I'm sure young Deulofeuy isn't too keen at the idea of Emery though!

Nicholas Ryan
38 Posted 23/05/2016 at 14:45:50
Lyndon, brilliant piece, as ever. Calm and insightful .... unlike Fleet Street etc.

Your analysis of the Deulofeu situation is correct. Emery did not think Gerry was no good; rather, he was frustrated that such a wonderful talent did not have the mental maturity required ..... Perhaps he has now!

Sam Hoare
39 Posted 23/05/2016 at 15:17:38
A week or two ago I was all about De Boer but have been very much persuaded by this and other articles that Emery is the man for us. It will be hard to persuade him to jump from a CL club where he is totally adored in his home country to a middling English team but lets hope the paycheck and chance to pit himself against the managerial super team in the PL grabs his interest.
Bill Gall
40 Posted 23/05/2016 at 16:06:59
Mike #4. Re your statement that it took us the whole of May to sort it out.

Martinez was still manager of Wigan on the 14th of May when they were relegated. The chairman of Wigan, D. Whelan ,gave Everton permission to interview Martinez for their managers job on the 28th of May, after Martinez stated that he did not think he was the man to get Wigan back into the premiership. Everton announced on June the 5th that Martinez was their new manager.

According to reports Martinez was the first manager Everton asked for permission to talk to, that was contracted to another club.

Steve Bell
41 Posted 23/05/2016 at 17:51:34
The issue with ToffeeWebbers now is that there are too many candidates, each equally very good and each equally having negative traits. So we are now down to splitting hairs.

I don't remember this much positive choice before Martinez was appointed. Whomever the board decide, they will be damned if they do and damned if they don't appoint the "right person".

So let's wait and see... but make a decision and woe betide them if they screw it up.
Tom Bowers
42 Posted 23/05/2016 at 18:11:01
I would give anyone a shot at the job except Moyes, Pellegrini or Van Gaal.
However, I would still prefer a manager who has experience of the Premiership or an equivalent European league such as Germany, Spain or Italy.
Whilst immediate success is no guarantee with any appointment we would all hope that the appointee would not need 2 to 3 seasons to develop the squad to the level needed which RM couldn't do.
Tony Williams
43 Posted 23/05/2016 at 18:27:26
No, No, NO! I don't think his side is very attractive to watch and they kick anything that moves. I didn't buy a season ticket to watch that.

We seem to be kicking our heels again. Watford got rid of their manager and appointed right away, and so have the Mancs.
Paul Johnson
44 Posted 23/05/2016 at 20:05:49
Superb article Lyndon and it has certainly thrust Emery towards the top of my personal list. That said I think the reality is that Moshiri is working hard to convince Koeman to come to Goodison, I imagine Pellegrini is his second choice (and more likely to accept) with De-Boer a fallback option. Emery is a long shot but like other posters I am just delighted with the quality of names being linked with our club and I would be happy with any of those.

My preferred choice in order is:-
Koeman
Emry
Pellegrini
De-Boer
Maynard Hanna
45 Posted 23/05/2016 at 20:19:08
Enjoyed reading this Lyndon. Really really did. Just one question for you. Amidst all of the ongoing managerial speculation, just who would be your Number One choice for Everton.
Tom Cuffe
46 Posted 23/05/2016 at 20:59:36
Great piece Lyndon,

Was in favour of De Boer, if we were getting his backroom team as well, but that looks highly unlikely,

So now I am swinging towards Emery. Either way we seem to be spoilt for choice,

Emery or De Boer... one or the other, please!!

Tom Bowers
47 Posted 23/05/2016 at 22:36:48
One would have thought that Everton would have had a short list of potentials weeks before RM was finally removed or could it be they were seriously thinking of another season ?
Other teams have already moved to replace outgoing managers,
Manure, City, Watford, Chelski etc. and 3 of those teams finished in the top five.
Hugh Jenkins
48 Posted 23/05/2016 at 22:37:21
Alan (22) Wasn't our own "Mike Walker" a goalkeeper? I'm fairly sure he was.
Tony Hill
49 Posted 23/05/2016 at 22:44:10
Tom (47), a very good point and one which reinforces how damaging the delay has been, not only in wasting the season but in taking us to the brink of the Euros before we appoint, despite Martinez being a dead man walking for weeks and indeed months.

Mind you, Kenwright seemed to be the only man in the world who was surprised when Moyes told him goodbye.

Laurie Hartley
50 Posted 23/05/2016 at 23:32:32
Thanks for a very informative article Lyndon. I think this man is a good candidate for us. I particularly like his quote which you have highlighted about football, passion, emotion and the fans.

I too am looking forward to your Frank De Boer article - are you doing one on Lucien Favre?

  

Mike Green
51 Posted 23/05/2016 at 23:44:11
Fair comment Bill #40. That would have made Martinez our preferred option then, which goes to show if the current favourites are to be believed we're working on a higher level this time around. Thanks for your well made point.
Dennis Ng
52 Posted 24/05/2016 at 00:24:29
Laurie 50, this link is backed up by ESPN now so unless we somehow fail to land him, then we might get to Favre. Then again, Moshiri might just go to candidates he interviewed before.
Jason Thomas
53 Posted 24/05/2016 at 06:22:00
The main issue here is that the transfer window opens next week. Clubs are already signing players and we don't have a manager.
I've no doubt that we're working on it, but I just hope that the new man is in place before the Euros.
Lyndon - I think you've wetted our appetite for this guy though!
Alan J Thompson
54 Posted 24/05/2016 at 06:49:28
Hugh (#48). I wasn't even aware that Walker played the game although his son was a goalie.
Hugh Jenkins
55 Posted 24/05/2016 at 09:17:06
Alan (54). I don't know how to do the "link" thing - but here is a link to Walker's Wikipedia page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Walker_(Welsh_footballer)

Damian Wilde
56 Posted 24/05/2016 at 11:40:35
Emery all day long, outstanding manager.
Joe O'Brien
57 Posted 24/05/2016 at 14:50:52
Just saw there that he said he's happy at Seville... I hope a nice contract with a big fat cheque would change his mind.
Minik Hansen
58 Posted 24/05/2016 at 23:49:58
His experience with a new league (Russia - including managing players that are foreign for him) will help him tremendously, when he joins Everton in the Premier League.

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