Everton mentioned as a possible destination for Blanc

Be surprised if there's any mileage in this.

Would he be any better than Koeman?

Why not go for Conte?

Tony, doesn't Conte (and his wife) want to return to Italy?

I think there will be many names mentioned by the press over the coming weeks, but I think it is between Fonseca and Silva. He approached Fonseca after Watford refused to let Silva go, and considering he was prepared to offer £10 million for Silva I make him favourite.

With the speculation Tuchel is in at PSG, I’d love to see Unai Emery at Everton.

I really hope this is just paper talk. Not a good manager, has a similar attitude to Koeman.

I don't pretend for one moment I have a stand-out suggestion for our new manager but I know two things; Allardyce should not be here this summer and he should not be replaced by Blanc.

Years ago we were playing Man Utd away, and gave them a good game despite eventually losing 3-0.

I nearly died laughing when commentator Alan Smith said "Wayne Wooney has turned Wowwan Bwonk inside out there. He's given him a towwid time tonight"

Not for me. Get Fonseca. Now please.

John 6

We have got more chance of getting Dick Emery.

Rather have Fireman Sam than Blanc, I sincerely mean that, and I‘d rather have almost anyone than the Big Sam.

Like Brian, I would be surprised if it wasn't Fonseca or Silva. If Fonseca doesn't take the bait by Moshiri's deadline, it will be all systems go with Silva.

I can't see us getting rid of Big Sam. His derby record alone makes him worth keeping. Only lost once. Only conceded 3 goals. Guardiola would love a record that good against the shite. 7 goals in his last 2 games against them. Shocking. Martinez clone if you ask me.

Really Grant!! Nobody has touched Blanc since he got the tin tack at PSG. Talking of clones, Big Sam is a clone of Sam Allardyce yet we still recruited him with a massive salary. Next appointment is crucial.

He’s a stiff who considers himself an intellectual. Cold and aloof by some accounts.

Homesick? I thought Conteh was from somewhere around South Liverpool.

Ah... wrong Conte!

I think Blanc is another Koeman. I hope they read the French Press especially L'equipe. The Spain press were full of spot-on analysis regarding Koeman. No-one at Everton bothered to do the research. The same thing seems to have happened on the appointment of Big Sam.

Why are we mesmerized by continental managers? Martinez and then Koeman turned the club into the present sorry state.

What is wrong with looking at home for new manager... like say Howe, Rowett, Dyche etc???

Sad isn’t it Joe.

How far the club has fallen behind the top English clubs and despite getting a millionaire, 2 years on we have seen absolutely no progress whatsoever, no miracles were expected but going upwardly forward and progression surely was by now?

But no we get nothing at all to show there’s any signs of life at this once proud club.

I actually feel sorry for whoever gets the Everton job now because I feel he will simply be fighting a losing battle.

Good shout John Pierce. I was hoping we would get Emery instead of Koeman at the time with Monchi as DOF. Would be great to reunite these two again now though.

Everton don't even have to play and you're ten-folding it Jim. Feel sorry for the next Everton manager? Fuckin hell mate, it's a fuckin cracking job Everton, so let's just hope we get a fucking cracking manager, to stop us all cracking up!

Jim, I like a good moan. I am a natural "glass half-empty" sort of guy, but, by fuck, I am the laughing policeman compared to you. Here' s what's good:

• We are looking at a new stadium and we have people of influence supporting us. Yes, it may go wrong but we are on the way.
• We have, despite some really disparaging, demanding, unrealistic and utterly deluded commentators on here, some really good young players.
• We have some talented international players who have, frankly, been coached by a series of the worst coaches in our history.
• We have a majority shareholder who has shown that he will get rid of the inept when he deems it necessary.
• We may appoint a new coach this summer, who might make the adjustments required to get us moving forward again.

Not that long ago we were all signing our names to a thread pledging money to save the club. Well, not anymore. I bow to no-one in pessimism but we are not all doomed quite yet.

Jim 16, not light years at the minute mate just a good manager and a few good signings I'd say more like couple of years.

Cheer up, we are are not yet completely kaputed. Looks like we will avoid relegation with a degree of comfort to boot!

However, if Big Samuel is manager on June 2nd, I'm afraid the end is nigh and we're all doomed.

I get sick of hearing "who would want to come to Everton?".

We're a top half team with money to spend. We must be in the 20 richest clubs in the world? Great fans, new stadium coming, and our history makes us footballing royalty.

That's all a fact isn't it?

Can't be that tough a sell can it?

So if I said there is a young English manager in the Premier League that has guided his team to 3 promotions and has managed 3 consecutive seasons in the Premier League (and over 440 Games total); that in 3 seasons in the Premier League he has finished 16th, 9th and currently sits 11th (3 points behind big-spending Everton); and that he has done this at a club that boasts a home stadium with a capacity just over 11,000. Oh and he also plays an attacking exciting brand of football... and – wait for it – he is a boyhood blue (My Everton dream - and how I started supporting the Blues) wouldn’t you at least think this guy should be interviewed and considered as our next manager?

But, according to the rumour mill, we aren’t we in for him? He is a young, hungry manager who would love to build a lasting legacy at our club (unlike messrs Allardyce and Koeman who are/were only in it purely for personal gain). Unfortunately, Moshiri’s delusions of grandeur mean he will take another punt on an unproven ‘next Mourinho’ type instead of looking two spots down the table and making the obvious and I believe outstanding choice... Eddie Howe.

Rich,

Would Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea consider a manager that has never won a single trophy, highest league placing is 9th and is currently 11th, and never managed a single match in Europe? The answer is absolutely no they would not.

Enough of this “he's a blue” nonsense. Wenger wasn't a Gunner, Klopp wasn't a red, Mourinho wasn't a Chelsea supporter nor a United supporter, and Guardiola was not a City supporter. We need a proven manager to push forward.

There is some merit in the Eddie Howe shout, and he's definitely someone who'll make a move to a bigger club fairly soon, but ultimately I'm in agreement with David Barks. I just think we need a ruthless winner who will not see finishing 7th as a major triumph.

I want someone who will drag the board and fans who have slipped into a state of mediocrity acceptance up to their level. I can't name someone but would like to get someone in ASAP as it's a World Cup year, so whoever we get will have a job on their hands familiarising themselves with the squad during the summer

Where were Howard Kendall's Blackburn when we too him away?

This is Everton, my friends, and “Nothing but the best” is a long forgotten motto for most of us. When potential managers are being touted by football clubs, they are going to consider all things before taking it on.

Club, prestige, location, players and attraction for players and obviously the big one which is salary. We are way down on the list in nearly all of these so who are we going to get.

We will only know what Eddie Howe has got if we give him a go. A bit like any other manager we have ever had I suppose.

Marco Silva is obviously the next man in. That's who Moshiri wanted 6 months ago. I don't think anything has changed and now he hasn't got a club trying to keep him. Hopefully he'll get us playing some bloody football at least. Not sure what we're doing at the moment!

It's easy being pessimistic after the season we have had to endure! It's also with impeccable timing our red cousins reunite with the devil and we all know what's coming...

However, Everton are a massive club. We are mid table in the Premier League. We have money, we are in the top 20 clubs globally. The interest in the Premier League alone makes every job attractive. Outside of the top 6, Everton is the best and biggest job in England. We also have potential to grow. We pay top top dollar to coaches. There are a lot of reasons why coaches would love a crack at the Everton job.

Our emotional suffering at present forces us to see all the negatives. Throw in a potential ground move to an iconic stadium and some talented young players and you'll find no shortage of interested coaching applicants.

The club need to be extremely sharp if they are, as we are to be believed, to change the manager.

In the last wee,k as many leagues are decided, the shortened off-season, and World Cup circus traipses through the summer, many clubs will be anxious to get their new managers and players sorted.

The right move imo is to remove Allardyce now and make our intentions clear to the open market.

Unless a deal is already done, Everton might already have left it too late.

The increased speculation around the job, maybe that or Everton will get left behind.

I have some sympathy for Moshiri as it is not going to be an easy job choosing our next manager.

It's hard to quantify how good some of the continental managers are, as many manage teams in leagues where only 3 teams in the division are any good and the rest are cannon fodder. Can anyone be sure how a successful manager of Paris St Germain, Ajax or even Juventus would fare at a cold rainy winters night in Stoke? I like the idea of a competent continental manager who brings exciting talent in but do we want Koeman & Klaassen Mk 2?

The Howes and Dyches of the world have demonstrated they can make average teams competitive in the Premier League but can they attract the level of player we want at Everton and does their appointment display the level of ambition we want the club to portray?

We certainly don't want another journeyman mid-table borefest manager like Allardyce. If we do decide to go with someone with knowledge of the English game than there's no better than Benitez – regardless of his previous positions. Further afield, Slavisa Jokanovic is doing a job at Fulham: 20 games unbeaten and playing good football.

Mick McCarthy parted company with Ipswich after last night's game, but maybe Allardyce is on some kind of bonus for getting us into the top half of the table? Who knows?

But one thing Evertonians need right now is a big lift, and hopefully “the Allardyce percentages(!)” are the only thing stopping it happening right now...

In typical Everton fashion, you wouldn't be too surprised to see them leave a decision on the manager until after the World Cup.

It could depend on whether Moshiri wants another summer of spending or not; the later he gets a new manager in, the less we spend.

Roberto Mancini – the first and last name on my shortlist. It's shocking that we are back in this position but we need a proven winner with Premier League experience.

I don't want this to be an annual saga and there's always an element of risk but we don't have players or recent history of playing the beautiful game or long/direct football.

We are not a team full of pace, strength, height or skill. We are a mixed bag that needs an experienced sensible manager who will train, improve and hopefully over a couple of seasons, start to develop an identity.

Yes a Pochettino would be ideal but I currently don't see another that's available especially one with Premier League experience.

Dyche is doing a great job but he's basically Sam at Bolton, not the football I want to see. It's great for the underdogs to have a go but it soon gets boring.

Howe is similar to Martinez, he will not change, defenders overplaying and making mistakes, just as likely to be relegated as challenging the top sides. More suited to Arsenal with technically better players.

Watford seem to do okay whoever the manager is so it's hard to think Silva would be any better than Flores or Mazzarri. Their owners seem to identify a manager with similar styles, something our board need to learn. Benitez would be a good choice if it wasn't for his red past. He ticks nearly all the boxes.

So Mancini is the only realistic choice for me, I've wanted him for years and hope this could be finally his time. He needs rescuing from Russia and given a fresh challenge in a league and country he knows and likes. NSNO

Not in a million years. He is just looking for a way back into management. Never stood out as a manager and had mentioned before probably now even up to Koeman standard. For me it would have to be Fonseca, Silva or Emery.

We need a totally fresh start and a manager with Fresh ideas. I would think Emery would be out to prove something as would Silva and Fonseca is doing a great job at the moment.

Mancini never did anything special at Man City considering the money he had, while lots of the other so called big names want to spend lots of money on big name players which would be a gamble.

I can understand some fans wanting an English coach to try to get a bit of stability to the club but I suspect that doesn't excite many of the fans who are looking to play good attractive football with a bit of a swagger again.

Let's hope its sorted soon and we can all settle down to looking forward to next season.

COYB

I have mixed feelings about all of this. Whilst I will not be claiming to want Allardyce to remain in post (I never did and still don't), I will still offer my support to whoever is at the helm. I do, however, see it as a strong possibility and one which may prove part of a larger plan.

We are due (hopefully) to move into a new ground in the next three years or so and this chopping and changing unsettling nature can not be doing us any good.

All I ask is that, if we do change manager, we do it in the very near future. We need to give the new gaffer as much time as possible to make their mark, to settle into the club and build on the reasonably solid foundations we have.

Like someone mentions above, we have a billionaire owner who will spend more money for player acquisitions, we are in the top 20 richest clubs, we are hopefully moving into an iconic ground within 4 years and – despite the woes of the last couple of seasons – if someone 5 years ago had offered us a top ten position in 2017-18 with the aforementioned moves on the very near horizon, then most would of taken it.

Despite the doom and gloom of this season, we are in a transitional period and errors will happen like any other business wanting to be the best and be profitable. We are on the up and need to start now building momentum...

The money the new stadium will generate in ticket sales, corporate, concerts will all come into play and the newness and fashionable dockland element will massively play into our hands. The RS deep down know this and despite us being shit at present they will be worried and looking over their shoulders.

If we make a managerial appointment it needs to be the right man who can build on that momentum. Once we start, things will fall into place quicker than you think and the attraction element to players etc will quickly come into play.

Let's hope that no stone is unturned and the right person is chosen. No more rushed appointments.

Tony @20 cracking mate

Conte, Emery, Ancelotti are just three managers who will probably be available in the summer.

I have reservations about Blanc (French for White, link to Moshiri?) – which goalkeeper is going to play for a manager who kisses the top of his bonce before every game.

It turns me off more than Theresa May at the Boat Race waiting to kiss the Cox of the winning crew.

Right, Steve #38, and Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence, Gigi Hadid and Heidi Klum are all single.

I'm as likely to date any of them as Everton are to hire any of those three.

Larry White?? Hmm... smashing player but, as a manager, I think the Jury is still out, could be another Koeman.

I suspect Phil @ 29 is probably right and if and when Allardyce departs, Marco Silva will get the gig.

Quite what our 'owner' sees in this guy – a failed Watford manager – I have no idea, but it may well be that henceforth we can expect at least a couple of new faces each season until Kenwright finally persuades his moneyman to 'Give it to Moyesey!'

My gut feeling is that the top managers likely to be available in the summer – including the likes of Ancelotti, Emery, Conte and Luis Enrique – who are out of work or maybe out of work, will select their next move based on where they have the lowest probability of muddying their CV.

Even if Moshiri hands over another £200M and the keys to the new stadium, these guys will know that they will be joining a league where Mourinho, Klopp, Guardiola, Pochettino are already plying their trade and unless its an Arsenal or Chelsea doing the hiring, beating those 4 will be very tough and may take a few years of moulding.

A bad start to the season and, like Koeman, they could be axed, with a big dent in their egos and CV.

I think these guys are rich enough to sit back and wait for the next job managing Bayern, PSG, Marseille, Real, Barca, Sevilla, Chelsea, or Arsenal.

Why stick your neck out for Everton?

I think the point Paul Tran made about City chimes with this – they had to hire and fire Eriksson and Hughes before they landed Mancini who brought them a title. Then they kept moving until finally landing Guardiola.

We may need to do the same – keep hiring managers until a managerial title winner decides we are a safe enough bet where he can risk his reputation.

Alternatively, along the way we hire an unknown who ends up transforming us.

So, frankly, if we hire Fonseca, Silva, Blanc or Howe could be moot for Moshiri. If they fail, they will be moved on, if they succeed they will become top managers at Everton.

It will cost him compensation but I imagine he will drive some harder bargains than he did with Koeman or Bill did with Martinez. I think he made a blunder with Allardyce but that is down to the panic he showed. A daft and costly mistake.

Spurs also appeared to have followed the same path.

I think the era where waiving a fat contract and transfer budget in-front of someone to brings in a proven trophy winner is gone. These managers make so much money they have no need to take jobs with top-half outfits like us. They can wait.

My view is, and remains, this.

Moshiri has to treat this like a key appointment in any other business. We need a manager with a clearly defined vision for this club in the medium term, a manager with a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this organisation, and a clear plan on how to rectify the problems. I feel Moshiri needs support from football people – in a headhunting/consultancy role maybe, in finding this out. I don't believe that Kenwright, and certainly Elstone are this.

For me, I don't see name and Premier League experience as the be-all and end-all. I do believe they need the vision, tactical/coaching acumen and personality though.

From what I know about him, I would be happy for Howe to be a candidate. I accept though that the answers to my questions are not going to be available to the average fan, making any discussion hard. For me, on a purely footballing standpoint I see the following as the most likely:

1) Fonseca
2) Silva

One thing is for certain, due diligence needs to be done this time. Not like when Moshiri got this idea that it was Koeman before evidently even interviewing him last time. Moshiri has to go into this with an open mind. From that, pick the person who delivers the best chance for success. From what I have seen, I would be inclined to go for Fonseca as a preferred choice. Ambitious, tactically good and someone who I feel could deliver a new-look Everton.

Someone mentioned above Gary Rowett and I think that could be a good shout. He's young, done a good job wherever else he has been, and is an ex-player! We took a risk when we got Moyes and that paid off.

John (#45), that final sentence will signal the earth tremble, birds fall from the skies and lions walk the streets of Rome when Tony Marsh reads it.

Adam (#44),

Absolutely spot on with that post...

Claudio Ranieri for me. He knows the Premier League, has won the league, liked by the media, and has an international reputation.

Amit (#43) – good post but failure at Everton FC didn't harm the CVs and job prospects of Messrs Martinez and Koeman!

Except, Martin, the only jobs they could get were those for which Everton FC paid their salaries... or most of it!

Gary Rowett?! Claudio Ranieri?!?! Jesus Christ!!! I am sure some of the posters on here are actually board members posting under pseudonyms. It would certainly explain a lot.

Where is the ambition?

Emery, Simeone or no-one. Thanks.

Grant, I agree. Fonseca is my initial first choice but, upon reading that Unai Emery could be on his way out at Paris St Germain, I think we should try and get him now. I'm sure he would like a crack at the premier league.

He was also my first choice after Martinez, particularly after watching his Sevilla team dismantle the RS in a Europa League final.

Could be a return to acquiring Silva but who knows.

Everything is a gamble especially after the quick demise of Koeman who many thought was going to be the answer.

I think the truth is: we don't know.

We don't know if the dynamic of a new man will work.
We don't know who is willing to come to the northwest.
We don't know what contracts people are under or what their demands would be.

We can dream... we can speculate... but a lot of people were happy when we signed Martinez. Even more thought Koeman was the messiah. At least virtually nobody thought Fat Sam was anything other than the answer to a bloody stupid question.

Leadership is not about getting it right all the time but more about seeing when you've got it wrong and making the change necessary. We need to be bold and decisive. If that means hiring another allegedly proven foreign coach, or taking a punt on Howe, Arteta or whoever, we need to do it sooner not later.

We then need to back the decision. And give it time and money. Leaving the change that surely has to be made till late will frustrate fans and put pressure on the incoming manager. Doing it by the start of June will show that we mean business and show the new manager that he is wanted, not an afterthought. Only then will we have something and someone the club can get behind.

John Clowes: How did getting Mr Zero Trophies Moyes "pay off"? Are you out of your mind?

As I've said before, it would not matter if Jesus was our next manager, if we do not sign players on par with the top 6 teams, we will always be a nearly club. A full team or squad I'm talking about.

Anyone think we will?

Mike (#40), such typical small time thinking. That is why we are 9th with Allardyce and Liverpool are 4th with a Champions League semi-final to look forward to under Klopp. I really despise that mindset.

Before hiring any new manager, the club has to identify what has gone wrong, and what needs to be addressed in the short and medium term.

We can start by saying for certain that we've performed really poorly in the transfer market. There are too many ex-players around the place, all with their own little cliques. There is no team spirit, and the side has too many players in certain positions, and no cover for others.

We have been forced to throw youngsters in who clearly are not ready, or are seriously overrated by someone at the club. We have far too many first team players who are past it or not good enough. There is an interfering Chairman, who acts as a frustrated manager, constantly phoning whoever is in the hot-seat.

That's just on the field. A massive job for someone. Who on earth will fix that little lot?

There's a fine line between ambition and hopelessly misplaced wishful thinking.

There's a fine line between being realistic and being downright negative.

But the finest line of all is being willing (or unwilling) to see things from another Evertonian's point of view when theirs is diametrically opposed to your own.

When the seagulls follow the.....

We'll get the right man in shortly for sure... Hold on – a white van just pulled up out my window and there's men in white coats knocking at my door. Just a minute...

Raymond, I don't know if we will, but we can.

You fall into the Steve Walsh trap of thinking we have to sign players who are top 6 ready. That's not the case. If we sign players for now, then they will not be top 6 ready.

We made the mistake of signing the likes of Sigurdsson, who flopped at Spurs, Rooney who was not good enough for United anymore, and Klaassen who captained the Europa League runners-up.

You can't chuck a load of players together and fashion a team in a few weeks. There is so many examples in sport of a team being greater than the sum of its parts, and teams, like Everton now, being less than the quality of players that they have.

We need to sign players on potential. We need to identify the best kids out there, and whilst others dither on whether we are worth it, we gamble and sign them, and then actually play them.

In the summer, we looked to have got a lot right. Pickford, Keane, Klaassen, Rooney, Sandro, Henry onyekuru, even Martina. Right up to the signing of Sigurdsson. I won't argue the signing of Sigurdsson was wrong, or that he cost too much money, but up to this point we were signing decent players who were improving the squad and making us capable of chasing the top 6. But for me, it all went wrong when we fixated on Sigurdsson and didn't sign a striker. Had we pulled in Tosun in the summer, then maybe things could have been a little different.

We also needed to keep the team from last season as much as we could. We should have approached the season with the following side:

Pickford
Holgate Jagielka Keane Baines
Gueye Davies Schneiderlin
RW CF LW

In keeping the base of the team from last season we could have kept the defensive solidity we had. We also keep the formation and the shape and it makes it easier to bed in new players. So, this meant playing the likes of Holgate at right back (where he finished the season).

Up front, out went Lukaku, Mirallas and Barkley. Although the latter two were still on our books until January. We should have gone between Lookman and Sandro for the left forward, replacing Mirallas. Tosun was signed in the summer in this example, and so he is centre-forward with Clavert-Lewin his stand-in. Then right wing, there is no Walcott so it's between Lennon, Lookman and Vlasic.

For me, all of our problems come from the fact that Koeman thought it was possible to change:
1. the personnel - 9 new players nearly all straight into the first 16
2. the formation - from 433 to 4231
3. the style - from high tempo to slower build up
4. introduce a playmaker - Rooney, Sigurdsson, Klaassen
5. go into the season with no real captain - Jags phased out and Baines given the armband

Lessons need to be learned. We need to stamp an identity on the team, so we have a recognised style of play and formation, the players know what their jobs are, and what is expected of them, and what to expect from each other.

Spurs tried to do what we did and like us, they failed. They then did things the way I want us to do it. They got a hungry young manager in, who stamped an identity on the side, and brought in young players with potential and then developed the side. The players brought in fulfilled the needs of the team, rather than just being a good player.

Klaassen is a good example of this. I expect that he will leave us in the summer. He will then turn up somewhere like Napoli, and we'll see him in the Champions League and our collective jaws will drop when we see what a great and clever little player he is. That said, he's a square peg and we have round holes, and unless the new guy wants to completely revamp the side to play in a way that Klaassen will excel, then there is no point in keeping him. I don't think his one touch game suits the Premier League and it does not suit the team that we have.

I sincerely believe that we have 8 or 9 players who can be developed into a top 6 side, but they need to play regularly, and the team needs to develop as a whole. This means transfers need to be kept to a minimum and only the best quality should be brought in.

IF the season tickets for 2018/19 have sold as well as we are led to believe, it is not inconcievable that Sam will retain his position until the end of next season. Moshiri has so many plates to spin, he may decide to stick with his manager as the other areas of the club are given greater priority.

Another twelve months of Sam may be too much for many or even most of us to bear, but Moshiri may believe that there is a business case for allowing Sam to continue his tenure to provide some stability and to reduce the size of the first team squad.

Let's be honest the top brass have created a right mess and any self-respecting top coach/manager will think twice and twice again before considering taking on Everton. Perhaps, the 'Firefighter' is still needed, before the club can think about moving forward.

It isn't what I advocate but I can't see a stand out candidate who will be readily available and more importantly willing to take us on at this moment - I do really dislike being a blue sometimes, because things never seem to take on the shape that many of us would wish to see.

Lawrence, no one I know has renewed. Everton are bombarding us with calls to do so. Why would they be doing this if they have sold well, and there's a big waiting list to take their place.

Everton are being told by lots of people that they will only renew when it is confirmed that Allardyce is gone. I am told that the club has heard this loud and clear.

We will soon find out who's correct on this, but it seems strange that I'm being told the opposite of what you were told.

Steve 62,

I agree 100%.
We need to build a team gradually, not look for the quick fix.
My first signing would be James Maddison from Norwich.
This kid has got the lot.
If we don't then somebody else most definitely will.

Summing up, Moshiri has done great by Kenwright, making him richer than he could ever have dreamed. But by Everton he has been a total disaster with almost every decision creating a worse situation than existed before.

As a consequence, we have seen only disappointment on the field and an on-going muddle off it. Of course, as Evertonians, we can only continue to hope that NEXT season things will be different. Because we are conditioned to see hope over achievement. Conned yet again? You can bet on it!

Good post, Steve, I like your positivity. Problem is, when we develop a star player, the money clubs come sniffing around... and invariably they're off.

The only way I see us ever being classed as on par with Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and them that shall be nameless is by being bought by a multi billionaire. The game is dominated by money and a lack of enough of it puts the club under too much of a handicap.

As a club, there is plenty of room for improvement, especially on how the club is run, but without changes at the top, it's more of the same, I'm afraid.

Make no mistake: there's very many clubs envious of our status in the game, but it's that last step which we find hard to make.

Conned = confidence trick.
By who?

Not sure who you aim that at Phil?
Can you expand please.

Which comes first... a DoF ( technical director or whatever you wish to call it) or Manager?

Would a DoF have some input into who was appointed manager ?

The most important overhaul needed is that ANYONE who had a say in possibly the worst transfer window business in the clubs history, is removed from ever having any input again.

A 5-year-old playing Football Manager for the first time could not have made a bigger mess. No pace, no width, no Number 9, four Number 10s for God's sake!!!

Koeman was not the only one responsible; even he said with weeks to go that we needed a top striker in, but he alone took the fall.

Regarding the next manager, if they have not got Champions League experience with a decent club, then they shouldn't be on the shortlist. We have seen what wannabes do with lots of money.

No more getting In Rolf Harris to paint the Sistine Chapel – it's about time we employed a professional.

Jay Woods I agree with you that Moyes didn't bring us a trophy, but he certainly stabilized us from where we were when he took over and left us with a team high up the table and on a limited budget.

The reason I thought Rowett was because I'm trying to be realistic. Let's be honest, Simone isn't going to come to us when we aren't in the Champions League, neither is Emery. We can't attract the players they can attract at their current club. Yes, they'd get well paid but guarantee they'll get frustrated and soon jump once a Champions League job comes around.

I'm not for one second saying Rowett should definitely be our next manager, just that if we want a young manager to hopefully improve the team over the next 5 years, there are worse choices out there.

Sorry!

Mr Davies @ 69. The introduction of Moshiri was said to be for the benefit of Everton FC. Little or nothing has improved and teamwise things are worse.

Thus I believe the only real winners were Kenwright and his merry band of shadowy backers.

Confidence trick? What confidence trick, indeed, sir?

Wrong Mr Davies Phil.

Very unusual for you to be incorrect 😁

Phil,

It's hard to poke any holes in your searing incineration of Kenwright's motives underlying the much-hyped share buyout and credit swap that bought Farhad Moshiri into the club.

It amazes me how little was made, at the time of the buyout, of the incredible financial profit Kenwright was making on the back of years of abject failure, underlined by the mediocrity of his puppet Moyes. [Sorry, all you Moyes lovers out there, but crowing about 4th place, "Champions League" (– NOT!) and a disastrous FA Cup Final simply cemented our position as mid-table cannon fodder.]

All of the stories focused on how much Moshiri was putting into the club: none of them analyzed how much Kenwright was trousering, and the incredible Return on Investment he had secured through Moshiri – I estimate it to be an astounding 12.6% APR for him... and an even more astounding 17.4% APR for Robert Earl!!! This is through the worst financial crisis in living memory, and austerity measures that are still perpetrated on the hoi polloi by our beloved Tory grandees in Central Government.

That man has done more than anyone to ensure our current poor status within the game, as we slip further behind, looking on enviously at the top tier of the Premier League.

Best interests of EFC? Or best interests of BPB?

69 has never been my lucky number, John. Sorry !

Phil,

Hahaha. Very good. 👍

Michael Kenrick, 74

Take a bow Sir.

Mid-table is consistently finishing 5th or 6th with no financial muscle? Looks like Moyes was a genius relative to the shite we put up with since.

Giving him a budget of £200m, I'd fancy he'd done a bit better than the calamity that has arrived pre and post.

There is a horse in Saturday's grand national called Out Sam. Will probably be the favourite come the start of the race if we all throw a few quid on it. 😂😂

Another runner Rob.
Relentless Dreamer.

Sam can take him with him.

Michael Kenrick, simply brilliantly said.

Ian, if Moyes was a genius or not, it doesn't take away from the fact what Michael is saying in his last post.

Moves was indeed Kenwright's puppet, in bed together, and both of them used the other it seems, and it's made them very rich.

Plucky little Everton... sometimes I wonder what some Evertonians have become?

John.

Both them horses are only in a reserve list of 23, of which four will be picked tomorrow and then hope for withdrawals from the 40 listed for the national. FFS, can't we get any enjoyment from Sam?

I'm just waiting for a Gold present Rob, but then I think about how much money, certain individuals have made out of Everton Football Club, and then I sink into depression, thinking about that relentless dreamer who has played us all for fools!

Tony, that's bollocks. Moyes was an employee. He did the best with what he had, with a clear instruction that he'd never have a lot to spend. What was he meant to do resign in protest that Kenwright had no money, or couldn't convince an oligarch to take over?

If that's the case for Moyes, I've never seen the calls for Ferguson, Sheedy, Royle, Unsworth etc to have done the same... still on the payroll 'taking Kenwright's dirty money'.

He got LMA 3 times from people who appreciated he did a good job with fuck all to spend. If he had the same resources as the top 4, then maybe he just might have put some silverware in the cabinet and regular Champions League. Football is firmly about money. Look at Man City pre and post Arabs.

Ian,

He had the resources of the top 4 at Man Utd and, unless I am mistaken, never won a carrot.

It proved too big for him, John. He wasn't backed in the transfer market, and was set up to fail taking on from the greatest manager of all time with a squad that had badly aged and wasn't interested in him.

Does that mean he couldn't have done something at Everton? We will never know. He wasn't given the resources to have a fair go.

It did prove too big for him, Ian. And that after he went behind the backs of the club to negotiate the Man Utd job. £65 million spent on two players wasn't bad backing though.

All opinions, Ian, mine is that he was always too scared to risk a defeat by going all out for a win. Never lasted 12 months in any of his next jobs after Everton.

Michael Kenrick (74), fantastic post. Nothing else needs to be said!

I think we always had a decent starting XI, but we had never had the firepower to bring off the bench like the rest to win the key games.

A couple of key injuries, Arteta, Jagielka, Yakubu, and we were always bang in trouble. That never happened at the top 4 as they had deeper squads, and money to invest in every window if that was threatened. Ours was sell the training ground and hope for the best.

We had a period of time where we didn't spend any money in the windows, how the hell was the club going to compete under that financial straight jacket?

Ian, why would he resign, when he had a free reign at plucky little Everton, especially with everyone saying he was doing a great job?

Never had money to spend, he made some good signings, but I'm sure he came close to where Everton's wage bill dictated in this money driven sport.

An Everton manager, who never won a thing, but was allowed to stay in the job for eleven years, is what I would call bollocks, Ian, and the only Evertonian that Moyes did a great job for was the man who made millions out of his shares.

Ian (several posts) – time to let go. He was Everton manager for 11 years (think about that for a few seconds...)

Eleven years is a long time to get some things right. David Moyes is yesterday's man, look what he did to Sunderland, signing past-it injury-prone has-beens. Time to move on.

Michael,

As you know I am a long time admirer of Bill Kenwright!!!! But you have summed up the feelings of many of us in a couple of short paragraphs. Well done.

He did win one trophy while with Man Utd, John G... do you remember?

He also won one trophy with Everton, but no-one ever seems to remember that!

Steve (#58), you're welcome to hang out in Fantasyland if you like (I'll send you a Heidi poster) but I choose to live in the real world. There's no way Emery is going to move from Sevilla to Paris St Germain to Everton (sorry Rob) any more than Angie is going to reply to my letters, outside of the restraining order.

It seemed like the golden years in the comparison to the current dross.

God I hope we get it right this summer, and start looking forward to a Saturday.

Michael Kenrick, may I congratulate you on the neutrality you have held on this site for many years. You must have been busting to elaborate on post #74 for some time.

Andy - fan websites such as Bluekipper were as complicit in the downplaying of expectations as anyone in the boardroom. Absolutely incredible how a few signed shirts and complimentary match tickets can make people sell their soul.

These people wouldn't even publish posts that were too critical. The general message was; "Look where Portsmouth are now."

Personally, I've always thought; "Look where Arsenal are now."

Suppose it depends where you set the bar.

Michael (#94),

Mingebag of the Year 2009?

Mike (#95).

Like there was no way that Benitez would go from Napoli to Real Madrid to Newcastle?

Grant (#100), Benitez was hounded out of Real Madrid after six months by his own players and fans with his reputation in tatters. He needed a job.

Emery is leaving Paris St Germain as the runaway Champions. He's being pushed out by the various prima donnas in his program because he wouldn't kowtow to them. He is universally respected and can choose any job he wishes. He has zero need for Everton.

He's got a good track record, but I'm not sure he fits the bill.

We need someone who can change a mediocre team into a feared team, someone who can build and have a real plan, someone who can change the club's real ambitions. Someone who's not accustomed to eat cake every day, and gets everything he points at.

A warrior genius, with tactics and player knowledge with the best of them. Also someone a bit likeable.

Who? Perhaps Laurent Blanc? Don't know him so don't really know. If he fits the bill, it's okay by me. But perhaps the fella at Shaktar Donetsk?

Mike (#101). Sean Dyche it is then. :(

Michael Kenrick, if what you say about Kenwright is correct, he is a total scumbag and until he is gone, anyone would be a mug to renew their season ticket.

Desperate times.

Grant, who said anything about Dyche? Not me. Ever.

Hi Mike. This time last year your great adventure was starting mate. Come back soon, but don't bring Blanc with you.

They must think Everton has a Blanc Chequebook, don't know if he would be a good fit for us at all. Seems strange that he has been out of the game for almost two years.

The next Managerial appointment will have to be the real deal, having had a miserable run with the last three, whilst all the time, losing any chance of competing with the Top Table.

If this guy was to get the job and fail, would we again be accused of firing Blancs?

Conte would be my first choice.

I know we all love the club but let's be realistic, why would Conte, or even Simone or Emery choose to take over Everton next season? Conte, if he gets sacked, will go back to the Italian national side or Seria A. All managers want Champions League next season; it will take us at least a few years to get to that position.

John . If it's as cut-and-dried as you make out that a Champions League-level boss wouldn't look at us then Eddie Howe it is then.

Unless Moshiri is more savvy and persuasive than we think, although so far we have witnessed the opposite, partly because of the people he has as advisors .

I don’t know about Blanc. He did a great job at Bordeaux and won stuff at PSG as expected but he has been out of the game for 2 years. French football is shit apart from the national team where nearly every player plays in other leagues plus there aren’t many great French coaches. He could be another Koeman which is something we don’t want.

I think Howe, Dyche and Hughton are the best to offer from these shores and I think they’ve earned a better job. Howe is like Martinez but he doesn’t talk like a fucking lawyer or academic and bullshit like Bobby Brown Shoes plus he’s beaten the Red Shite a couple of times. Dyche has steel, he’s actually like a young Moyes but he has won against the big teams. Hughton is a wildcard but he is a coach which is what we need.

Other guys would be Marcelino at Valencia, Jardim at Monaco, Insaghi at SS Nazio, Mancini, Enrique but is unlikely. We could go back in for Emery who hasn’t done great at PSG but Neymar has undermined him and his job at Sevilla was phenomenal to quote Martinez.

Fonseca and Silva are the favorites and Portuguese coaches seem to be the thing. They are young and progressive and have European experience plus Fonseca could bring in a few Brazilians to add much needed guile and flair into the squad.

My top choice is still Simeone but whether he’d leave Atletico to join us is another matter but there’s no harm in trying. Remember Moshiri wanted to rival our north west rivals with their coaches so Simeone would belong in their table.

The main thing is Fat Sam, Little Sam, Shakespeare and Big Dunc need replacing with the board members and other leeches.

Next Manager? Chris Wilder for me.

Long article by Paul Joyce in Times, mentions source all is not well behind scenes.

Other sources: Sam definitely gone at the end of the season. Fonseca remains the No.1 target but interest also in Howe and Arteta. It's still not clear whether Elstone is staying or going.

I think it's going to be Silva, partially due to him still being unemployed. There's been a number of jobs come up both at home and abroad over the last few months that I could have seen him taking, but he hasn't been linked to any of them. Even with the few relegation candidates changing bosses, you would have thought his experience with Hull would have made him top choice.

While the Watford debacle slightly muddied his name, he is still highly regarded around Europe. I have a feeling he is holding out for or already has been promised the Everton job.

I also think the idea of Emery coming here isn't as big a long shot as others are saying. He was heavily linked with us before taking the Paris St Germain job. We've shown that we pay very well (and compensate even more) to our managers, and have money to spend. In the end of the day, managers are like players and go wherever pays them the best.

Lastly, it always makes me laugh when people reminisce about Moyes and what he could do with with the money we have now. While much of the money he had was from sell-to-buy deals, a large majority of the time he had a decent amount to spend on players. He was great bringing in bargain players, but was terrible when shopping at a higher level. He blew the majority of the Lescott money on Bilyaletdinov and Heitinga (but got a bargain in Distin for only £5M).

The £12M he spent on Yakubu got us one season of goals, but we ended up taking a 90% hit on his value about a year later. He got it right with Fellaini but that was after spunking huge amounts at the time on Krøldrup and Beattie, who were absolute disasters. Even though we somehow made a profit on Johnson, he gave about one decent season for a club record fee. I'm not surprised Man Utd limited his spending as he proved he couldn't be trusted.

Kristian, I may be wrong, but am still not totally convinced that Silva is the right man for the job.

Although it's ironic really, that the Board were willing to allegedly pay Watford compensation of @ £15M, for his services, had they waited a tad longer, they would have had their man, and we wouldn't have been lumbered with Allardyce.

Admittedly I think he would be better than Allardyce, but I'm still circumspect. Then again, it's always a gamble appointing anyone, I still firmly believe, that regardless of credentials, Managers are similar to players in the respect of, 'horses for courses'.

Derek, to be honest I'm not totally sold on him either. But Saints, Stoke and WBA have all recently had a management change and he wasn't even mentioned for any of those roles, which is strange after his experience with Hull from the previous year. There's been a number of open jobs across Europe as well but his name hasn't been touted for any of those also.

I think it's either chairman don't actually think he's that good, or his agent has something else lined up for him.

I feel we have more chance of attracting Champions League manager than Champions Lleague players.

Each club can only have one manager and there probably won't be that many top, top clubs who can pay what we can looking for new gaffers this Summer.

At this point, I'd be happy with anyone else which is always a dangerous starting point. I like Silva and Fonseca but feel the former would have us playing prettier football. I think Emery and even Conte could be worth sounding out. Simeone is an unlikely dream. Dyche and Howe are both very solid options though i'd worry that neither have proven themselves outside of their current longstanding jobs.

Fonseca is the current favourite and I think would seem a decent if unspectacular option. He's done good work in Portugal and Ukraine though it concerns me a bit that his highest pressure job at Porto was his biggest failure. Like Silva he's never spent more than a couple of seasons at any club.

Blanc spent three seasons at Bordeaux and did remarkable work there. He's a very smart guy who was extremely highly rated a few years ago; perhaps he could be teamed with someone like Arteta; an interesting blend of defensive and attacking nous? I think he'd be a bold choice that could prove inspired. Or could flop badly. T'was ever thus.

Make a Nigerian witch doctor manager and see if he can turn our players into a top 6 quality team. He'll need pretty strong medicine mind you.

Whoever they get, the betting should be on how long he lasts:- evs 18months. 2/1 2 years. 5/2 12 months. 100/1 3 years. 1,000/1 4 years.
any price 5 years+

I remember very well what a mess we were in during the 90s and 00s. A complete mess on and off the field.

Things have improved believe me but it will take another 5 to 10 years of continuous improvement to really challenge. That doesn't mean we can't compete and win something in the meantime with a bit of luck and a good manager.

Moyes was fantastic for the time and utter mess he came into and done a great job, end of. We moved on, he moved on, the Premier League has moved on.

For me Mancini can use his experience, tactical nouse and still relevant style to move us forward immediately. Very little risk but will need backing. He likes wingers and clever forwards. I'm up for what that brings in style and excitement.

He'd get the most out of Walcott and Tosun, younger players would need to step up but I believe they'll play a part.

Go get Mancini NSNO

I do not want Mancini at all. He looked good in charge of a multi billion dollar club, but my Nan, Henri Mancini or even the Pink Panther would have equalled his managerial skills with that financial clout.

With us he would sink faster than Ronald Koeman in charge of Sunderland FC.

Not sure why Howe isn’t seen as a more viable candidate. I am just watching Bournemouth take the game to LFC quite comfortably.

Michael,

If by 'take the game to them', you mean losing 1-0, then yes.

David with a little more composure, Bournemouth could have been level. Have you seen our shower recently? We would have been about 4 down by now.

At least Bournemouth are competing and having a go. Plus they have a bit of pace here and there as compared to EFC whom have absolutely zero in that regard.

Michael,

They’re losing, with their defense being shredded numerous times but the chances just being wasted. It could and usually would be 3 or 4 nil by now if Salah and Mane hasn’t been wasteful. They’re being beaten, comfortably.

Michael,

If Klopp could have asked Bournemouth to play in a certain way, he would ask Howe to attack them.

Stephen (#113).

Thank fuck for that. I've not read the article but I'm delighted that things are bad behind the scenes. I would be apoplectic if I thought that crowd of shysters were happy with the way things are.

Stephen (#113), Elstone has gone, or is going. He's agreed to take over the Super League next season so we will need a new CEO.

I also read (in the Daily Mirror) that super slob, Mino Raiola, is to be in charge of recruitment. God help us is all I can say if we are now to be run by a guy who has consistently derided us over the years and who is a complete mercenary.

I really fancy Marcelino to do a great job for us. Currently at Valencia, he did wonders when he was in charge of Villarreal.

Personal picks, Fonseca and Emery, with a very outside and unlikely go for Leonardo Jardim... and it seems rude not to talk to Silva.

In the dark days that have represented this season, I'd gladly have had Moyes back.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion but the manager recruitment fiasco we are going through at the moment is mind-numbing. We are not going to get a top draw manager, we haven't got the team to draw one in. I'm sure we would encourage some nearly man, who would take the job, for the money we throw around. At the moment, this club is like a Ferrari with a diesel engine, plodding along.

I think Howe would be a good choice, a few new players and let him build. Work in progress for a couple of years then manager and team can grow together.

Guardiola and Mourhino, are good managers, but put them in charge at West Brom or Stoke, and the story would be a different one.