Decision Time

Although in truth there is no decision to be made. Kenwright, Elstone, Walsh, Allardyce and many others have to go. And that's before getting anywhere near the playing staff.< If Moshiri has genuine ambition, there is no place for any of them.

Replace them with genuine, proven professional people. The next few weeks will be very telling.

As David says, your knowledge and understanding of the real issues put your stuff on a different level to the rest of the shite we read.

There's too much talk about replacing the manager, that is only one piece of the jigsaw.

The appointment of Walsh has been a big a disaster as recent managerial appointments.

Moshiri is now 2 years in. Now it is time for him to take full control and bring in an experienced CEO and relegate Bill and his mate Woods to PR reps.

Personally I am not enamoured by a DoF. As far as I am concerned, the manager/coach dictates the set-up, tactics and playing style of the team; therefore, he and he alone should decide on the players he wants to play that way. To me, a DoF may give him an obstacle he could do without.

Moshiri needs to clean up the old boys club we have at present. If we want to progress, we have to be more professional

I have just been involved in a long discussion with some Redshite supporter colleagues and honestly, I feel ashamed to say it but I admitted a grudging admiration for how Liverpool recovered from the Hicks and Gillette farce that was played out a few years ago.

Central to their recovery was not the manager, but the board of directors who put in place a strategic development plan, which not only included appointing a competent and inspirational manager, but also followed a step-by-step recruitment strategy with players of the highest quality and complementary skills assembled in a sequential brick-by-brick process. This highlighted the utter stupidity, bad choices and naivety of the "instant fix" approach followed by Everton.

Amazing too that the logic of player purchase was to focus on a recruitment target and follow it through eg, Van Dijk, and select young quality players with clear potential eg, Robertson. Strange how Everton's logic has been the opposite and a complete fiasco by comparison.

I think the best we can hope for is Moshiri retains his strength of character and commitment and:

1) removes Walsh as soon as possible;

2) removes Allardyce when his productive expiry date has been reached (soon I expect);

3) together with his trusted advisors organizes the departure (or sidelining) of Bill Kenwright, and

4) a high quality manager / team is brought in as soon as practical; (Fonesca would seem to suit) and we move forward.

Another perspective on the future positives for Everton and Moshiri is the burgeoning quality of the U23s but this should not become the mantra of progress. The youngsters will only take us so far. One or two contributing to the first team every season together with quality and appropriate signings will be the way forward. A winning team comprised almost entirely of home grown players is totally unrealistic.

Also, no more romantic 'understanding' Everton bullshit. Just expert objectivity, listening to and learning from those who have knowledge and wisdom such as the fans and their forums, and catching some luck along the way.

I was surprised to hear (grudgingly) from my Redshite colleagues the acknowledgement that Liverpool have been favored by the media. They see some connection between this and success, being a general increase in the collective confidence around the club which transmutes into the quality of play in some way. Central to their philosophy, however, was a passionate commitment to attacking football, but not quite as reckless as Martinez's approach.

So, if Everton adopt a strategic development plan at director level with the priority targets of Walsh out, Allardyce out, new manager, re-booting the playing staff in a more selective and complementary manner ,and the fans will support will not waver.

The new ground is essential but secondary to the success on the field of play. Also, Everton in the Community is a precious value to keep the Club spirit strength and moving forward with the correct priorities.

COYB.

2 years into Moshiri's reign and he faces the mother of all decisions. Not to get rid of Sam – in my view, that's an already done deal – but who should succeed him?

You have to sympathise with the enormity of his challenge. He must already be fully aware of the mistakes he has already made in running the club... PR and communication disasters, DOF and recruitment, limited commercial improvement And yet, all Evertonians can admire and be grateful for his massive commitment to our club and his vision for our future. He at least knows where we all want to be: to re-live our history of success and realise our dreams of future triumphs.

This is the acid test for him, can he find the man, who Evertonians can believe in and get behind. To build a team we all recognise as Everton, those of us who have lucky enough to see the best teams of the sixties and eighties, we've seen it and know it, just like our grandparents over the many decades before.

I believe he can do it and can't wait to see who he picks!

We are happy with a draw against teams who historically finish above us. We are happy with "a good run in the Cups." We are happy with players who run about like headless chickens. We accept all of those as fans and a club.

Until we demand more, the owner demands more, and we sign the players who don't expect to lose when they cross the park, then we are stuck on this permanent trip of mediocrity.

It is the people at the top who set the tone. It is they who demand their managers and players perform to expected levels. Now, we are a club who pay our managers and players top six money, but who is setting the targets and asking these people if they have earned their extortionate wage? Moshiri must now understand he cannot possibly change the culture at Everton until the dreamers and shirkers are shown the door.

A new manager alone cannot deliver success. It requires the whole club to raise expectations and demand people perform to their optimum level. Until these changes take place, the "legends night on a loop" will continue. We are currently a poor tribute act to teams of the past.

To even have Allardyce associated with this club is disgraceful. Time to vote with the feet and make the feelings clear, Allardyce, Walsh, Elstone, Woods and Kenwright and the rest of the deadwood at the top all to go. A thorough clear-out is needed once and for all.

At £6M a year, I would expect any manager of Everton to know which players to sign.

The familiar and popular line trotted out by some of Allardyce's supporters is that Everton can't attract a big name as manager. That's absolute garbage. Money talks, and we have money. Top class managers will go to a club where they will be allowed and able to spend money on players. We must get this right.

It seems that the time will soon be due to start fresh... It must happen.

"when younger, more dynamic and potentially more expansive [managerial] candidates who could institute a coherent, patient five-year plan are potentially available elsewhere"...

Here's the dilemma for me. On the one hand, we've been through a relatively short period of time in which we've had several managers – as opposed to the sort of stability we've often been used to.

On the other hand, a further managerial appointment made with the implied expectation that relative success might come only after that "patient, five-year" period could well hit the buffers of impatience that have assumed an increasingly short-term horizon.

It's doable for Everton but Moshiri needs to grab the bull by the ears and appoint a Top Champions League manager and be prepared to spend nowadays £130m per year.

No mean commitment...

Over the last 2 years Guardiola has spent £400m on players. This is the commitment Moshiri will have to make as well as spend £500M on a new ground.

It will only work if he starts by getting a Top Champions League proven manager, who will bring his own successful staff and Everton will have to say goodbye to Allardyce and his full back-up team, Duncan Ferguson, 3/4 of the playing staff and I suspect the majority of the Corporate staff.

It is an absolute huge commitment, far more than the Abu Dhabi lot have done at City. It will also take another 3-4 year plan, nothing comes easy. Will he commit £20M on staff revamp, £150M per year on players and £100M of his own money on the ground.

I'm just playing devil's advocate. This surely rules out Marco Silva, who seems to move on every 12 months.

In the summer, we need to re-evaluate. I don't like the thought of having a clear-out – I'd rather we change progressively and always think there is a massive danger when there is a revolution – a bit like we have seen over the last 2 years. I almost think we need someone to come in and steady the ship and unite the club again. I just don't know who is out there. There seems to be no obvious candidate for me.

Hopefully the board will come up with a plan. And hopefully Steve Walsh will not be involved. Judging by what he has done so far, he seems to have the opposite of the Midas touch. If we do get a new manager, let's hope Steve Walsh isn't picking him!

A well-intentioned Moshiri has attracted more greed than potiential. The appointment of Koeman was a shot in the dark, with little research into his Management history. Martinez was sacked without a plan, let down by certain players. Similarly Allardyce was appointed after and an unsightly chasing of other managers with little research, similar to The Koeman approach, showed nothing had been learnt.

Transfers have been a disaster. Walsh showed promise initially, but has succumbed to wrong influences, among some good signings. His canvassing for the appointment of Allardyce, I never liked. It was the transfer of Rooney that spelt out for me that Top four ambitions didn't exist and greed had taken over.

Koeman showed he hadn't a clue midfield-wise. I believe the transfer of Rooney, he would be probably now thinking things went wrong. Also, he fell for the Arsenal liar.

Worrying is the team's or individuals ability to abandon Managers in difficulty. This showed that there is an element in the Club who should not be near an Everton shirt. They even shafted Unsworth. Kenwright, if he was involved in bringing in Koeman and Rooney, should be shot.

I am less optimistic than Lyndon. I think there is something rotten at the core of our present squad and management team, carried on and added too over the last three management regimes. Allardyce has added to this rottenness, and has played to the gallery they are in. For too long, the Club accepted Moyes's glass ceiling, and a comfortable entitlement set in about Everton. To change this is going to cost Moshiri a lot of money.

The issue now, having spent a lot of money for what we have now (not worth tuppence), is will Moshiri have the stomach for the inevitable money loss resulting from the ruthless decisions needed? My advice is to identify the scum and get rid as soon as possible.

We're approaching the two-year anniversary of Lyndon's invite to, and speech at, the Liverpool Cathedral gathering of Evertonians.

He didn't win a lottery to garner that invitation. He was there because of his site, ToffeeWeb. Someone in the Everton hierarchy keeps a lookout for what Lyndon has to say. Hell, there's a photo of Elstone with his arm around Lyndon.

He's written several columns along this line regarding the state of Everton Football Club. As always, Lyndon's columns, in this regard, are incisive and to the point. Consolidating we ToffeeWebers' crying out for something better than what we're getting.

You manage to express our cursing, damning, pleading, screeching laments of the current state of things, without the damning, pleading...

So, keep them coming Lyndon.

Throwing more money at it and trying to bring more players in only adds to the problem – it doesn't solve it. We have to be more pragmatic than that. A new Manager has to be able to encourage and cajole his squad into a team with a certain style of playing that remains constant for most of the time, save when circumstances may dictate otherwise.

Martinez was too quick to praise players and performances when it was undeserved, Koeman and Allardyce share the traits of plain speaking but that never seemed to be aimed at helping the players or the team but more a case of self-preservation and self-promotion.

How do we manage to attract somebody who will put the team first and be successful yet selfless? It's difficult to know which direction to take with regards to who is appointed.

The current players may be below the skill levels to match the top four or even top six, but surely they have more to give as a collective than we have seen over the past few seasons?

Change is required at the club but whether we will see the removal of certain people in the next 12 months is open to debate as there are other considerations to be made not least the move to the new stadium. I would think that the stadium is uppermost in Moshiri's thoughts before he even contemplates a cull of those who have spent many long hours of time and energy trying to fulfil the dream of a move to the docks.

Most of the deficit comes on the footballing side of the club and that is where most of the energy and time, if not hard cash, should be spent in the coming weeks and months. Moshiri may have to create a dedicated team of people to pull the playing squad into line with his own lofty ambitions; leaving it to those who have thus far failed on an epic scale is not an option.

Lyndon, if the board don't act soon, God help us in the coming games and for the club's future.

EFC is a Biblical-scale challenge to turn around, just to get even, let alone a successful business.

Hope eternal in the thimble glass.

Some of the signings over that period have proven to be abysmal decisions by the manager and his cronies as some of these players have just not proved their worth and we fans cannot understand why.

For instance Besic had a great World Cup but has not shown anything like that form after coming to Goodison.

Klassen as we all know was a Koeman choice but has been less than average.

They have signed two strikers who are both not up to Premier League standard and we are already getting excuses about Tosun who has just arrived.

Walcott has proven credentials but has been out of favour at the Emirates for too long which is strange considering how poor the Gunners have been this season and the fact that rubbish Mikhitaryan was favoured as a better choice.

The money paid for Sigurdsson was disgusting and they could have stuck with Barkley from what I have seen but Koeman pissed him off big time.

Gana works hard but along with Davies fail to have any offensive impact. The goalscoring fell to Rooney early on but he has faded and Niasse always has a goal in him but only off the bench.

With the season winding down as far as Everton are concerned the only thing left would be to get Seamus, Bainsey and/or Funes Mori back to full game fitness in readiness for next season.

Sadly, however, it's for sure some more miserable games will be in store for us fans before May.

And regards Sigurdsson, when he has actually been played in his best position, he has done well.

If by being 'pants' you mean he's been injured, then yes. Other than that, agreed there was no sticking with Barkley as we didn't have any option. He was out of contract and wanted to leave.

I suspect Tom is saying Koeman's attitude is what sent Barkley away but that's just simplistic and a fantasy. Koeman's tough attitude certainly wouldn't lead you to Conte for a warm and cuddly alternative. In reality I think Barkley saw the declining state of the club and bounced when given a better opportunity.

I don't think Man City are the best example to compare to at present, as another poster mentioned they spent £400 million or so improving a team that spent an average of £100 million over 8 previous years. If we had spent £500 million over past two years there would be a potential comparison! They have also got probably the world's best coach and his staff.

Simply put they have bought some of the best, at premium prices so often that even some their fringe players would be star signings for Everton. Even Chelsea look modest spenders next to them. As someone else mentioned they were effectively given a stadium. If they hadn't been bankrolled the way they have they would probably be in a similar position as they always have been.

I think Spurs are a better comparison, their record signing was £36m, and taking a look at their high end purchases they have bought very well and never really gone for big name signings, but have built a good squad with a good manager and play some of the best football in the country. Their big advantage is being in London.

Or even comparing our stats to the likes of Burnley or Leicester, because that's where we are at present!!

And also a great collective here of very good posts which add even further incisive good points to your overview.

I myself personally wonder if Moshiri does actually feel isolated now with all that's on fire and burning around him?

I am in total agreement with a poster on a similar thread who reckoned that Moshiri had been lured into the club by True Blue Fagin and the Artful Elstone and treated him like Oliver Twist and set out to get all they could out of him makes a kind of sense now?

Back to isolation, he may also be wondering (surely by now???) What the fuck are our fans thinking?.. He would have to, simply by being human, you would think.

And therein lies the conundrum of the last 22 years, wherein a club that was once so proud with a suitably titled motto literally stack themselves both home and away in the grounds, supporting every match through thin and thin, and yet virtually without a wimper??

If he has ever observed the goings on at other clubs in strife, eg, even Liverpool with their ticket walkouts etc, what on earth must he think deep down of our seeming surrender by the fans in these times to not kick-off at such an obviously appalling state of affairs?? (I know put piss-poorly mildly.)

It gets tiring sometimes continually mailing the same good points about the same old shit against the same old scenarios, and we can only hope that Moshiri can see through the crust of True Blue Apathy and identify a large growing colony of dissatisfied fans who are on his side. But let's also hope he dosen't need a magnifying glass to do it.

Fast forward a few years... Kane's ‘world class', Southgate's England manager and I've got egg on my face. I stand by it though, he was a shit footballer for a long time.

The only plausible explanation is some sort of Faustian pact that ultimately condemns Kane to the fiery pits of hell.

I wonder if he was hoodwinked into investing in the Premier League 'dream' and now wonders why it's turned so sour. What can he do except – possibly – make a killing out of Bramley-Moore?

Watching our team at the moment is like watching a load of impostors. My connection is lost. I can see the blue and I can make out the tower but I don't recognise most of our players. Where have my heroes gone?

I want our next manager to be my hero as well and I want his appointment announced the minute we are mathematically safe.

A poster above makes a great point, a point that is critical to our future.

We have got to lose this "ah but he gets us. He understands what Everton means" mentality. It has been used as a cover up for mediocrity for too long.

Many top managers have done this since football began. They don't necessarily have the best individual players for each position but they get the best team.

In my opinion, this has been the only failing so far of Moshiri: his team is faulty.

In any business there can ultimately only be one decision making boss, taking all advice from his team. Moshiri is getting advice from a bunch of second-rates.

Elstone is best at somewhere lie Tranmere. Walsh, possibly there with him. Bill well let's' be honest he's well past his sell-by date as is his mate Woods.

Moshiri has to ditch those who have failed this Club and bring in top professionals.

Regarding allowing managers to come in with 5-year plans and sticking with them regardless. Well, that's okay if a club is stable or doesn't mind yo-yoing for a few years but we have to be mindful of a Martinez situation.

I would go further, Lyndon and be openly critical of his suspect judgement and potential inability to achieve the targets he himself set on taking over 2 years ago:

1. Moshiri has chosen to keep a structure which is at odds with the ambitions he outlined on taking over. Whilst he has put his money where his mouth is, he has complacently persisted with a structure that is not fit for the purpose of creating an ambitious club capable of challenging the big 6.

2. Yes, we all recognise that investing £150M of his own cash is no mean feat, but that is surely only half the job of achieving what he set out to achieve. The other half is actually investing the time and effort to create a structure to maximise the non-financial assets the club has: a huge and loyal fanbase (which will feed the club's identity); a legacy and history which provides the bedrock for an increasingly valuable brand in a world of wall to wall TV and Internet coverage; and potentially the support of a local authority which for years had not exactly been accommodating over the club's various stadium proposals.

3. As you and other posters have noted, he needs a far more professional set-up than what he has allowed to exist during his 2-year period as the main shareholder. He must constitute a business board which has to do better on the commercial aspects – some of the commercial foul ups occurring have been embarrassing, and our non broadcasting revenues are still far too small to remove the lingering worry over the influence Sky have on the league. The more independent we are of Sky, the more we can worry the big 6. I am trying to find an article I saw some time back (if you find it, please share), which showed a strong correlation between Spurs rise in average league positions and growth in their non-broadcasting sources of cash – be it commercial revenues, player sales, bank funding. They do not allow themselves to be bullied by anyone as they are a hulking revenue generating machine in their own right.

7. The football side has been a well-documented disaster, with Allardyce and Walsh possibly the most under qualified individuals to have taken such significant positions at a major football club. The football department has overseen the most disastrous series of transfer windows in the club's history (is it 4 out of 23 players bought that have been deemed a success in the Guardian article?). That is saying something considering some of the duds we picked up in the the mid 90s to early 2000s, when we became perennial strugglers. There is a lesson from the past Moshiri must heed.

8. Two years into Moshiri's ownership, the real question for me is whether the man and his team are really up for the job of achieving the targets they set. It appears that they have found the task beyond them so far, and allowed complacency to set in. They have resorted to a mixture of toning down expectations and throwing money at the issue.

9. I do not accept that our situation can be compared to Manchester City. It will not take us 3, 4 or even 10 years to achieve the same heights unless Moshiri wakes up and puts his back into it (and not just his wallet). City had a stadium in place already and went further in the commercial sphere by expanding their global appeal through the franchise partnerships in USA and Australia. The signal of intent to become a globally appealing brand allowed them to attract Txiki Begiristain, with a plan hatched to bring in the world's best coach, Guardiola.

10. The Abu Dhabi wealth greased the wheels for this to happen, but it also took vision, competence and persistence. Where Guardiola came, some very good talent followed, and players who had under-performed hit new peaks.

11. The Premier League is big business and there are hard-nosed, highly skilful operators driving the show at the big 6. Moshiri in two years has fallen woefully short when it in comparison.

12. He is spending the money, of that there is no doubt, but he is wrongfully believing that cash alone is enough. It is clearly not, as has been proven over the last 2 years. What is more, we achieved more in the 5 years prior to his arrival with less money; do we honestly believe we are positioned to achieve consecutive top 6 finishes in two of the next 3 years? If we don't, the last 5 years of Kenwright's stewardship would arguably have been more successful than the first 5 years of Moshiri's. What a sobering thought.

I also agree totally with Peter (#38). Until I see a sea change, I won't be renewing next season.

It's not often you read an article and the thread is just about 100% in agreement. The key here is the next management appointment and in my humble opinion the removal of a DoF and replaced with the old fashioned Chief Scout, whose title defines and limits his role to what it is supposed to be.

A good strong midfield player and possibly captain is the start, then get the spine of the team sorted out. The goalkeeper is already there, maybe the centre-half is as well, a good striker is imperative, there are young players coming through and gradually a team to hold its own and better will take place.

The priority now and this season is staying up, then we can start the build up of the modern Everton.

Great article Lyndon to get the ball rolling. I hope the national press take notice and continue to criticise the way this club of ours is run; we all know it has been allowed to go on for far too long. Hopefully we can move on from here.

Once Everton stay in the Premier League the gravy train of riches will continue; hence the appointment of Allardyce.

The only richer summit is the Champions League, because the domestic cups and Europa League competitions don't return a great investment, even for the winners.

Therefore staying in the mid table of the Premier League whilst working on the new stadium, maybe all that's realistic and required at this time.

Not great to hear but I suspect not far from the truth.

Lyndon, do you think that James has a good point there. I know that balance pays an important part on the site but I think we have reached a point where many Evertonians want action. In my view ToffeeWeb could provide a focus for dissenting views and way to get them heard where it matters.

Would you consider turning the heat up with a further series of articles expressing what many of us feel but in the way you usually do it. Not blind criticism but constructive yet heartfelt opinion.

What is happening at our club is becoming unthinkable: Sam Allardyce managing Everton producing some of the worst football in our history!!!

Lyndon, we need a leader of the opposition.

There are very few top class players out there of which the very best will be shared between Barca, Real, Bayern, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, AC Milan, Juventus and PSG (mostly for money).

The rest of the top players will go to the likes of Arsenal, Spurs, Atletico, Valencia, Dortmund and I'm sure there are more before a top player would decide to come to Everton.

There are even less top Managers out there who are mostly employed by the top clubs and even less for us to choose from. It also seems, when we do get somebody in, then it's a short-term plan of some kind and that's not healthy and makes us look small.

Personally, I would like to give Eddie Howe a chance as he has done brilliant for a young man with little class in his team. It would be one to steady the ship and look to the long term; otherwise, we pay massive money for a mercenary who sees us as a stepping stone.

One way or another, Moshiri has to get a better team behind him to run this club because the recent one has failed big time.

I was reading about Dixie Dean, in the echo yesterday, and whilst I was reading the article I thought to myself, he's planned this day. I carried on reading and members of his own family, actually felt the same way.

It's hard going to Goodison, but it is such a really special place, that I know when the time comes to leave, it's going to be a fucking nightmare of a week.

Moshiri needs educating off more than "Mr Romance" – he needs to be made to realize that our last few years at our beautiful dilapidated stadium (thanks bill) need to be made special. Let the kids who have never seen us win a cup, see the absolute joy, and let's go out of Goodison Park, with the loudest bang Walton has ever heard, and not with the fucking whimper we are witnessing right now!

Sorry for going off track, but after Lyndon's great piece and David's post at number 1, covering everything-then I think our owner needs to be given a lesson on why Evertonians are being so loyal right now.

Here are my thoughts:

To those who say the DoF role is a waste in English football, and for Everton in particular; I counter-argue this will be the most critical position for Everton and Moshiri in the coming years. As Kenwright's role in Everton diminishes, Moshiri will need a proper footballing man to advice him on footballing matters, especially given that his focus over the next 2-3 years will (hopefully) be on delivering the new stadium. The Job Description of DoF at EFC would read as follows:
- Be the go-between the EFC board and the Manager, advice the board calmly and dispassionately about player and managerial decisions
- Take the pressure off the Manager when results are not going well – as will inevitably happen over a lone tenure. Advice the Manager as well during moments of crises.
- Keep track of the latest developments in the footballing world and be the person to communicate Everton's stand on those matters (VAR technology, for instance. Or quality players coming through from a particular country/region).
- Be responsible for footballing philosophy at the club, from the academies to the women's team.
- Player recruitment

In short, the DoF would be a well respected figure in the world of football, who represents the Everton Footballing Philosophy and Values, leaving the coaching, and day-to-day training, team preparation, motivation, identification of recruitment targets, etc to the Manager.

I have been thinking about possible names for the DoF position -
- Wenger would be good, but after having built-up a legacy at Arsenal, would he come to a competitor?
- Pellegrini – sounds interesting, a shrewd operator with experience in the Premier League apart from other leagues
- Claudio Ranieri - with his Premier League experience and success with Leicester
- Moyes??

For me, the Manager would be a youngster, having achieved success (not necessarily winning silverware), ambitious, good footballing philosophy. Names on my list:

- Silva
- Fonseca
- Arteta
- Howe
- Dyche

For me, the prospect of a Moyes - Arteta combination would be intriguing, although not necessarily exciting. Moshiri may only consider Moyes, if he wishes to hunker down on spending big on player purchases until the stadium gets built and delivered, and the only intention during that time is to ensure that Everton stay in the Premier League.

Interesting decisions ahead for Moshiri, one that will well determine his success/failure at Everton and the future of our beloved club.

Two huge decisions loom; the next manager has to be someone who sparks the imagination and gets the project back on track. Bear in mind how the new-money clubs have struggled, hired and fired before finding a good fit.

The second one is getting the day-to-day running of the club done properly. Let's have some robust management with clear goals and targets. Let's know what everybody's role is and how they're going to work together. And let's get some proper PR, so we hear things quickly from an authoritative club source, rather than Moshiri's drunk uncle act (Alan Myers?).

I'm comfortable with Moshiri on the business side of things. I just hope he gets it right with the next manager.

It's financial return is minimal too, and way too little to pay for the squad additions to try to make us competitive in the hugely increased number of games, and we cannot rely on Moshiri alone to mega-spend again because he simply isn't that rich according to what's publicly available. I commend his commitment to spending thus far but the ineptitude still at the top of our club has inadvertently, or at least I hope it was inadvertent, caned him financially.

In my estimation he needs to try to find the footballing alchemy that propelled Leicester to the top, by-passing any involvement in the Europa League beforehand. How to do that is the $64 million question though isn't it, which is more or less the reward currently being paid to the European Champions as it happens.

It's interesting that you mention David Moyes as although he didn't always set the world alight in the bigger fixtures, he had a method and was meticulous in regards to player recruitment even though he did buy the odd pup here and there.

The scatter-gun approach to recruitment of Steve Walsh et al as David Prentice calls it hasn't worked and it is unlikely to in the future.

Walsh is under scrutiny

Moshiri should have a read, it covers the issues and feelings of the vast majority of us.

First priority has to be to find a manager who will give us some stability as a club. Someone young, hungry and ambitious who can build some solid foundations for the team. We have the funds to break the top six, and to win a trophy. We have great young players to introduce into the team.

All we need is an inspirational manager that the players can respond to. With the right man and a few changes to the squad addressing key positions, we can be much better season next season and make an important step forward to where we want to be as a club.

We must also be crystal clear that the problems run deeper than bussing in new players regardless of the cost. We have now gone through four managers, any number of backroom staff and at least £300m worth of players who would currently struggle to give a decent League 2 team a fight.

There is something fundamentally wrong at Finch Farm and the boardroom; we cannot spare the time to analyse it, nor can we simply appoint a new manager and hope he fixes what looks like a deep-rooted problem.

So clear out the top team and clear out the backroom. Whoever gets the job must be surrounded by new blood, we cannot afford to see an EFC bench populated by the same hangdog losers anymore – no matter how many of them are true-blue hangers.

So Bill is in London, but in telephone contact with his manager & the DoF daily. Moshiri still has his own business interests and resides in Monaco. Elstone, has absolutely no input into anything football related. Therein lies the problem. Because of Kenwright's utter refusal to let an 'outsider' into the fold, the club is in permanent limbo.

We are run so amateurishly it is quite shocking. We need a full time CEO who can command respect and run the whole club, not just one who can cite how many pennies in every pound are being squandered, complimented by a highly competent team around him who can get things done without interference from above.

The club is crying out for modernisation behind the scenes. That needs to be addressed before even thinking about anything else.

Hopefully, as you intimated, Moshiri will realise the monumental, and extremely expensive mistakes he has made, and I assume he is astute enough not to repeat them.

I think this weekend, and possibly the next home game, will determine how soon Allardyce has left. Losses, or even boring draws will surely signal his premature ejection, costly again I know, but this season, apart from Premier League survival, is well beyond redemption anyway.

The manager sets the tone for the whole club, not only in style of play but in the type of players bought and sold. I think Moshiri likes the idea of a DoF, but for me the manager has to be the one who ultimately decides and not in conjunction with the DoF as exists now.

Guardiola has proven what world class managers can bring to a club; he is in my opinion a class above every other manager in world football. Now, I know we cant possibly attract him or people of that talent, but we should be looking for people who can play a similar style. The problem being we know that Simeone or Sarri would be looking for a team that regularly competes in the Champions League, sadly we haven't qualified for this competition for decades.

Getting back to Moshiri, only time will tell if he is here for the long haul or if he is here to usher in a new ground then make a quick sale. Hopefully he is here for the long haul and plans accordingly.

Despite the purchase of the land for the new ground, we still seem far off actually starting the construction. Again further delay in progressing the new stadium will have fans questioning if it's ever going to happen.

But the position of the new manager puts all other decisions in the shade – get it right and maybe we can with Moshiri's backing start challenging the top 6 then maybe the top 4. But get it wrong and maybe Moshiri will think enough is enough, so we could end up with no new ground and a club going nowhere – which would be the worst of all scenarios.

As some have already said (I've only read about a dozen comments so far), it all goes beyond the obvious move of replacing the manager. The DoF should have a lot to answer for, too.

On the subject of the DoF, I think it is a position which makes sense in these times of globalised football. When recruitment was restricted to the British Isles, a manager could control that without too much trouble, but we shouldn't expect him to be aware of all the talent available on the Continent and elsewhere. A DoF fills this vacuum perfectly.

Besides, I don't think there needs to be a clash between the two jobs, as long as the manager can also suggest players to be signed and has a veto on anyone the DoF wants to bring in, apart from the academy, which I think it makes sense to leave to the DoF alone.

At this stage, I don't think Sam Allardyce will be here next season, and if the board, Moshiri, or whoever, have already made that decision, then they have plenty of time to bring in a suitable man. Even with tried and tested managers, you never know how things are going to turn out, and so a bit of luck is also required. For all he has already given this club, Moshiri deserves to be third-time lucky. And so do we...

Some very serious thought needs to be put in by Moshiri as to how this mess can be turned around and put back on track or there'll be many empty seats at Goodison next season as some fans will totally give up on the Blues as a lost cause.

Then get Sean Dyche in. Young, committed and knows how to work on a budget. Let him rebuild the team over a 5-year period and see us into the new stadium. We need a complete rebuild over at least 4-5 seasons so we need a young manager with some Premier League know-how.

Sean Dyche or Eddie Howe make a lot of sense. Personally, I prefer Dyche over Howe – I think he's made of sterner stuff. Howe reminds me of Martinez as his teams have had a few hammerings.

Sam Allardyce claims Everton in ‘very good position’ and hits back over style

Let's not also forget that it's taken Man City a decade for them to get where they are today.

Once the camels trotted into town it's taken approximately a billion pounds to become the club they are now. Prior to that they were a small club with decent support, forever, apparently, in their red neighbours shadow.

I was taking the urine out of a City fan some time ago and asked why there are three stars on their badge. He didn't know, so I told him it's to represent the three divisions they've played in. (It has no significance, apparently, purely for show.)

I remember when Aidy Boothroyd was the next best thing a few season back...

Dyche and Howe have done nothing in terms of what would be expected at Everton. That would just continue the same sad, midtable existence that has been our purgatory for years now. I don't want to be “tough to beat”.

It hasn't taken Man City a decade to get where they are.

They won the league twice before Pep got there. He's about to get their third in seven seasons. They've won the FA Cup once in the past 8 years and the League Cup three of the last five years. They didn't just arrive this year after spending all that money.

They've been successful for the past decade while continuing to build and become the dominant force.

The only thing that concerns me is the very mild mannered tone of the comments listed. Now I'm not proposing rebellion or anything of its sort but we as supporters are at serious fault here. We have accepted mediocrity and interim type managers since Howard in the 80s.

Moshiri and Billy's crew at the top table don't give a flying fig what we think. They know, week-in & week-out, they will have Goodison full, no matter. The soul and ethos of this once great club has been traded for the standards of Allardyce and the midget Sam.

Other clubs listen to fans venting their anger but we sit so politely on our arses at Goodison. Maybe we can get a decent price for Goodison off one of the religious orders when we leave? It is now effectively a church.

Andy Crooks I wouldn't hold my breath, lad, waiting on the hierarchy to read and respond to us. No offence Lyndon. Dissenting voices must be heard. We all can't be church-like.

Apologies if I have offended, and will duly take my two Our Fathers and two Hail Marys, but I will be praying for change, mind.

Throwing money at a squad with such wobbly ageing foundations is suicidal. That's why our next managerial target won't be a fantasy football "name" – such as Enrique or Tuchel – it will be someone prepared to build and grow with the club.

Howe? Why? Because he is an Evertonian?

If that's all it takes, I propose Dave Abrahams. You can't get a bigger Blue than him.

No to Silva, no to Wagner, no to everyone who's already relegated or is about to relegate a Premier League club.

Assuming the big names would have to be out of their minds to come here, or would only be coming for the payoff when they get sacked after six months, I would go for a punt on Nuno Santo. If we're going for a flavour of the month manager, Silva has gone stale – Santo is the man.

David, prior to 2008 they had won the League in 68, the FA Cup in 69 and the League Cup in 76. So, it has taken them the last decade to "get where they are now", ie, a top club who can dominate the Premier League for some time.

It has taken them the last decade to accumulate the current squad, the Club set up and infra structure and the trophy haul of two, soon to be three, League titles, one FA Cup and three League Cups.

But you’re ignoring the fact that it only took a few years to win the league! That’s not a decade!

They've been successful for the past seven years, not just the last one, which is David's point. But they are getting even better than ever this year, which is your point.

Problem is the phrase "it's taken them the last decade" – implying the process started 10 years ago and has taken 10 years. That's simply not true.

And now, with the Sky money the rules have changed. More clubs have more money. So, City have spent the thick end of a billion pounds to reach their present state and will take some catching. They have more than a head start.

Have to disagree on Moshiri 'not giving a flying fuck'.

He didn't have to put his money where his mouth is. He could have sat tight and watched his 'pension pot' grow steadily each year without this hassle.

Also, don't kid yourself Goodison will be full every week, now and in the future; take a look at the Emirates last night, it was half empty, and it wasn't just due to the cold weather either.

Moshiri has been let down by those around him, and admittedly by his own inexperience of basically running a football club.

Think it's a tad unfair to cast him in the role of 'one of the bad guys'.

A great read and bang on how we all feel, one of the best you have written, and believe me you have wrote some good ones.

Keep the faith, you'll be able to get all those things you dream about in the new Platinum Lounge at Bramley-Moore Dock. I'm starting a 'savings club' soon for all ToffeeWeb members, or you can pay by D/D over 11 months

I'll get my coat...

"Howe? Why? Because he's an Evertonian?" . .What an ill informed idiotic post.

Howe took over at Bournemouth when they were handicapped by a 17-point deficit and were 1/50 to go out of the football league - they survived.

Despite transfer embargo's he took Little Bournemouth up through the divisions until they astonishingly ended competing against some of the richest clubs on earth in the premier league. Even more astonishingly he kept them there, playing a brave brand of open football against teams with vastly superior squads. Their 4-3 victory over the shite was one of the best Premier League games ever.

Much as I respect Dave Abrahams, I don't think he would have been given the Bournemouth gig, let alone be crowned "Manager of the Decade" by the football league.

That Eddie Howe is an Evertonian is a good thing, but I don't see a single post claiming that would be the reason to appoint him.

The biggest thing Howe has going for him is not his fantastic record, nor is it his determination to play with style... it's the fact that he is not one of the soul-sapping anti-football merchants you have spent the last few years praising and apologising for.

He has experience when things are going against him and manages to turn it around. He seems to be a good man manager of players and they enjoy playing for him. Our young talented players would benefit from his impressive coaching. He will get a bigger club soon – I just hope it is to us.

I'm in full agreement about how we all feel about EFC. Problem is who's listening?? Certainly not those who should be, and who, for the last few years, have blatantly ignored any suggestions put forward by the hoi poloi, who they regard as illiterate morons, and sadly, to date anyway, this includes yourself.

Fan input means absolutely nothing to them. Our feelings of frustration and anger at the chaos they have created in to our once great club falls on deaf ears as they continue to make us the laughing stock we are now regarded as in the game. No wonder Jesus wept.

That's a huge commitment admittedly but getting rid of Martinez, Koeman and Allardyce has/will have cost more than £30mill minimum, apart from exorbitant wages. But with a contract of that length at least the present and future squads would then know who they'd be face-to-face answerable to today, tomorrow and for the next thousand and a half days. That should concentrate their minds and performances.

There'd be no cozy Finch Farm hiding place with one of Bill's good-ol-boy "coaches" because they'd be gone. There'd be no club appointed DoF to go whinging to either. Hopefully Kenwright and Elstone would be history too and the prospect of going to Moshiri to whinge about his manager should be as welcome as a dose of cyanide.

Yes we'd lose some more loser attitudes from the squad but so what? Easy for me to say I know but Moshiri says he's in it for the big-time and he surely knows by now that he loses if he backs the judgement of almost anyone currently at Everton. He should show the world his own determination to strike out on a different path of his own personal construction. If it works out he's quids in. If it doesn't, the compo package will be little more punitive than Martinez's. At least he'd have been true to himself though.

I would of thought our next manager whoever he is needs to be a step up not sideways as I stated last night he left Bournemouth went to Burnley and failed. so where is the evidence to suggest he will take a massive club like us compared to both Bournemouth and Burnley up the league challenging for top six? Isn't that were we want to be?

Just because he saved Bournemouth from league two and brought them to the Premier League how does that make him deserving of our club. Managing our club brings so much pressure from Day One, especially from the supporters. More experienced managers at the top level have failed miserably.

Also, if we want to attract the better players like the majority of us do, what's he going to say "I was at Bournemouth and saved them from going out the Football League and have done alright in the Premier League, oh ye I got manager of the decade from the EFL". Just what a quality player wants to hear.

Just by chance we could attract say a Fonseca or someone of his ilk it's just an inkling that they would have more of a chance of attracting the better players. With his experience of winning trophies and Champions League.

Before you shoot me down refusing to accept we have no chance of getting his calibre of manager who have won trophies and experienced Champions League "How do you know". You don't so until that avenue has been explored Eddie Howe shouldn't be on the top five of managers we are looking at. Just my opinion lads.

I know Pottechino hadn't the experience but, let's be honest, Eddie couldn't hold a candle to him; Spurs got lucky.

Will the stadium ever see the light of day, now that the Commonwealth Games stadium and infrastructure will largely have to be paid for out of their own pockets?

Meanwhile Goodison can rot as it has for years while they conveniently have the latest plans on their desk. Thank God for Joe Anderson who at least provides a ray of hope.

The club still stinks of Kenwright bullshit. Selling Lukaku and bringing Rooney back after Man Utd have squeezed the pips out of him convinces me of that.

Martinez attracted Lukaku. At that point he was the manager who took the FA Cup holders down.

Sam has just attracted Walcott, a pacy attacker. Sam is a long-ball, stats manager.

I think the transfer fee & package we offer will have more to do with the calibre of player we can attract.

That's not to endorse Howe. I am not sure whether he is ready to step up to a club of Everton's stature or not. The current state of affairs at the club are more likely to be the reason we lose out on players.

I did not sing the praises of a "committed blue" That's just you trying lie your way out after making the idiotic statement that people were suggesting Howe would be a decent choice simply because he was an Evertonian.
You must think people give as little thought to their posts as you do

I have said on at least a dozen occasions who I personally would have as the manager, but seeing as I don't get to choose. I would be more than happy to see Howe on Moshiri's short list too.
Being an Evertonian is not sufficient enough reason to be considered for the Everton job, but you need to realise it is not a reason to rule him out of it either - You already did that with another guy this season and look at us now.

Howe is not a lower league manager (you may want to take a look at the premier league and educate yourself on that score) He is a proven winner and only a fool would fail to recognise his achievements.

Bringing Rooney back was always going to be stupid - overweight & overpaid - our highest paid player! That deal in mid-July when we danced to MU's tune (like Bill K always does) defined our season.

Until we sort out the club off the pitch, it'll never move forward on the pitch.

All 3 managers this season have had their faults, but the current - not disastrous by any means, situation is not entirely down to them.

Ron K was very right about one thing at least - the mentality of many of the players here at the start of the season (including the likes of Barkley, Baines & Jags) was very weak. The whole club needs to toughen up, and it never will with our current chairman.

What a touchingly naïve concept.

Top footballers are not as daft as you seem to think they are. They know when putting pen to paper, that the chances of the guys they are signing for still being at the club in a couple of years are slim.

They sign for the money. If Tony Pulis offered twice as much as Pep Guardiola you can be very certain the player will sign for old bullet head.

You dismiss Howe's achvements as if he has taken Bournemouth. on a decent cup run. It's so much more than that.
Whilst people talk about how incredibly difficult it is to get out of league one and two, Howe has taken Bournemouth from the very bottom and powered through both leagues. While other clubs (many former giants of the English game) have found it impossible to get out of the championship, Howe took the team he put together on a shoe string straight into the top flight. Then he performed the real miracle . .He has kept them there. If the premier league was a handicap, Bournemouth would be giving most of the field two stone in weight and a twenty length start.

I don't know if Howe would be able to manage a footballing institution the size of Everton, but I do know the "proven" appointments have all failed. if he hasn't earned a shot at a big club, then who the fuck has ?

As for Wallcott your right he came here for Sam god only know's why?. He is a good player but we have to question his reasons on that score.

I'm not saying Eddie Howe couldn't attract some players especially as the club would put together a hefty pay package.There are a lot of mercenaries in football so it's not inconceivable we could get some decent players in. But I was talking about his ability to attract and convince the better players to come especially if we do improve. Will they be convinced by his management skills and past achievements?

Look we won't know unless he was given the chance i'm just not convinced Jim. I do see the points Darren Hind said but I just don't have the same belief he would be able to make us better. who''s right who know's but if he did come I would be disappointed are board never went after a trophy winner with European experience.

I would fully support him and if he did succeed and I would be the first to say to Darren and other Eddie Howe supporters I was wrong. As all I want is success no matter who is in charge.

Lets just agree to disagree, it's a matter pf opinion you have yours I have mine.

So on that point why take another leap of faith yet again on a manager with no experience of being at a massive club with huge expectations and absolutely no experience dealing with the calibre of players that is needed to achieve this.

I just don't get it as firstly shouldn't we explore the chances of getting a manager with experience of the above. As you put it if players go for the money Darren why wouldn't the managers?.

Around the time we took Koeman from Southampton I used to participate in a Saints discussion on one of their fans websites, just to gauge their opinion of Koeman. (Their opinion of Everton was pretty low, too, but nowhere near as low as theirs is of the RS)
When they discussed their choice of replacement, Howe was mentioned by quite a few Saints fans, but there appeared to be a consensus of opinion from some of the seemingly better informed fans that he was settled on the South coast and at Bournemouth and would not want any disruption to his family life, children's schools, potential for abuse from disgruntled fans etc.
This may be just conjecture on their part but if it was from (apparently) newspaper quotes then it would appear to have some basis in fact. Maybe he wouldn't come if he was asked. Maybe he doesn't have that much ambition and is enjoying his cushy south coast lifestyle.
Seems a decent chap though and his team plays nice football.

Allardyce will go. But I hope that we already have somebody lined up. I hope that he is watching Everton now and checking out our players and what they can or can't do. No good coming in and assessing the players at the start of the season .
I don't particularly want a manager to get Everton.
When I'm having an operation I don't care what the doctor gets as long as he's the best for the job.
That's what I want for Everton.
Tottenham did get lucky with Poch. but only because they recognised his ability.
Wagner is being dismissed out of hand but he has ability and has his players playing as a team.
Fonseca ? Silva ? all has gone quiet with him.All the good /big teams appear to have a decent management/scouting structure. Everton don't.
Mosh has put a lot of time and money into EFC and for it not to succeed will make him look foolish and a poor businessman. He won't have that.
I think and hope that before the end of the season we have a 'Night of the long knives'.
Come on Mosh find our Alexander.

Brian.#85. You wouldn't have your smoking jacket on you'd just be smokin.

He has had and has many, many problems .Most of them of his own making.

He has been kicked from pillar to post by the tabloid press. He is I hope getting some help and support to rid him of his demons, part of Everton's care of its former players. I don't see it as stupidity but as care and kindness.

As I have said in a previous comment, Moshiri should concentrate on the new stadium. The matter of a new manager is an awkward one in the form of who next?

Allardyce and Koeman had one thing in common: they both showed no commitment to the club and managed from a distance. Moshiri will learn from those two errors. The question is can he be third-time lucky?

I enjoy your posts and agree with most of your views regarding EFC. Don't forget that when we had the famous Dutch coach he was able to attract players like Williams, Keane, Klaassen, Sandro, Martina, Schneiderlin and Bolasie. Enough said.

I thought we had agreed to disagree?

I use the words "powered through" because that's exactly what they did. Look at the timescale. There was barely any acclimatising to new divisions once promoted, simply another promotion.

Given the plight of clubs like Leeds, Villa and Derby, I do believe he is performing a football miracle. Don't agree? That's up to you.

I'm not a "Howe supporter" as you put it, but I am an admirer of his style of play and, unlike you, I grasp the enormity of his achievements. I recently confirmed he was an Evertonian and the expected idiotic response from a certain poster wasn't long in coming – watch out for more of that.

Given the names being bandied about and the sorry line of failures which have gone through an ever-quickening revolving managerial door, I felt it worth pointing out the absurdity of ruling out one of the most promising young managers in the game.

Howe would not be my first choice, he wouldn't even be my second, but looking at some of the alternatives being put up there, I would feel a relief if he was to be named and would have absolutely no hesitation in welcoming him to our club.

A left-back, two centre-backs, a strong technical midfield player, and a striker are the minimum.

I can't put my finger on it completely, he just has beautiful loser written on him for me.

For over three years we haven't seen any semblence of a team representing the club, that's all I want to see in the near future, and if success and flamboyant football come at a later point so much the better. Right now we are getting nothing that will lead to success in fact we are seeing the very opposite.

No ands, ifs, buts or maybe's he doesn't have what it takes to get this club back to normality.

Surely Moshiri has realised the almighty clanger he has dropped in getting Allardyce.

I know hindsight is 20/20 but I don't think Unsy could have gotten this bad.

This managers heart is not in the club as he is just winging it for his pay packet. He says he was brought in for a specific job to do and he says that was to improve the defence.
Well, he has failed miserably !

Sadly the season isn't over yet and more misery will follow before it is.

I know many have touted Eddie Howe but I see the same similarities to Mike Walker, he had Norwich playing great football on a limited budget, and doing well in Europe. But he found Everton a very different beast to Norwich. Even Howard Kendall having been a great player for the club found it very hard and was within a game of getting the sack before it all turned around for him. Although I think appointing Harvey as first team coach was a big reason for the turnaround. We never seem to get the very best even under Moores he bottled getting Brian Clough. We always seem to take a punt on someone hoping they make the step up, but expeirience tells you it very rarely comes off.
You only have to look at the managers that win the league, yes they all have massive budjets but they are also the best managers around.

So I would suggest we go for the most successful manager we can attract, now I am realistic enough to know that Simeone or Sarri or Conte is way out of our league. So look at the next tier of successful managers. Because I don't think we can take a chance on the next appointment so no taking a punt on the next manager please.

What really worries me – is it the club paying for all this with his money he's loaned to the club? If so, if he bails out and demands re-payment we really are in the shit!

Currently vacant, stand-in struggling to cope, claimed to be a manager, but subsequently failed to live up to alleged experience. Only proven candidates need apply.

One unproven candidate that would be acceptable would be Arteta. However, why should he leave the Champions elect, and further experience for his CV next season?

I can't see him leaving Man City under any circumstances. What a grounding for the future, but by then we will be lucky to still be in the Premier League.

That idea must have come from all those failures he hasn't suffered.

That idea must have come from all those failures he hasn't suffered,,michael.kenrick@gmail.com,1,21:02:29,,2.219.53.180,ok,13643,03/04/2018 21:02:29,lauriblue,reader,, 903495,36346,toffeeweb,04/03/2018,John G Davies,jdavies150@outlook.com,"Michael (#72),

Pickford will be a top keeper in my opinion.

He was at fault with the first goal as he should have been at least level with the penalty spot as the play developed. His starting position was far too deep.

As for the second goal, he instigated the contact and barging with the Burnley player. The lad was just standing next to him. He was preoccupied with him when the ball sailed over his head.

How does this happen? I am not sure. Is it the manager? Is it the players? The board? Is it modern-day football?

What I do know is EFC is probably the worst thing in my life right now and that is fucking it... I mean fucking it, they are shit and I mean shit. Fuck this shit.

I don't think many people wanted Sammy Lee, but I wasn't that bothered because he's always been very professional, but watching yesterday's game, even he looked like he didn't care anymore?

It's a shambles, and I just don't think enough of these players care. Three different managers can't all be wrong, but too many of this squad don't even appear to have any professional pride?

A creative midfielder that we have been crying out for for years, as above no. Barkley in isolated games looked the part, but they became more and more isolated.

Potent attack, we looked dangerous in attack in Roberto's first season but, apart for Lukaku in recent seasons, we have faded away in that department also.

In short, we have a very moderate squad.

I think we can forget about attracting a top manager, as we have not been a "big" club for 30 years, so it is highly doubtful any name manager would come here, no matter how much cash is waved at him, which is why Eddie Howe is a decent punt.

Can Howe cope with the pressure of being Everton manager? We won't know unless he (or any other young and ambitious coach) is given the chance.

As for the DoF role, if the manager comes from a culture where that is the normal practice, and wants one, then fine. Horses for courses, and all that.