Silva: I believe I can win fans back

I don't.

- Schneiderlin is for the most part rubbish

- Tosun is not a rampaging goal threat (nor is he mobile)

- Walcott has seen his best days and his current days are pretty unproductive

- we like to see goals. 1 striker up top doesn't appear to bring many goals

- 4-5-1 or whatever it is that he's trying to play DOES NOT WORK

- Iwobi is one of your better buys - play him every match (preferably ahead of Siggy)

- Holgate ain't great

that means he'll never create a consistently winning team at Goodison and thus won't actually win us fans back

So please please go

Farhad - you may be a nice guy with good intentions but so far your tenure has coincided with the most abject football and most depressing times. You need to act fast to get rid of Silva or we'll be after you

"I'm crap at this management malarkey, as well as being well out of my depth."

He's fighting his corner which we would all do in the same situation.

4-2-3-1 is not working and Silva has never strayed from it.

Schneiderlin has been our worst player for 3 years and he is regularly chosen.

The defence is all over the place. Mina and Holgate both challenged for the same ball for both goals the other day. We can't defend set pieces to save our lives.

We don't know how to attack either. We play too slow.

He doesn't know his best team.

I could carry on but can't be bothered. Time to go.

But as Danny(#11) said, 4-2-3-1 isn't working; it didn't work for Koeman or Martinez either. What is it about the formation, is it written into the contract? it's been a total disaster for the last 3-4 seasons, even so I'm fully expecting Silva (that's if he's still here) to play with 2 holders vs. Leicester.

Why? fuck knows, with all the stats available, he must know that it doesn't get us up the pitch, and if the idea is to protect the back 4, just look at the goals against from the time we adopted the formation.

Does that last part piss anyone else off?

Or am I being overly sensitive?

Bangs of desperation to me, he is a lucky man to be in a job at such a big club, his only saving grace is the board are as if not more incompetant

It just grinds my gears.

So the normal reaction from the fans is vitriolic bile? No it absolutely is not, and it's a disgraceful comment. Everton fans applaud beautiful football. They are massively knowledgable, and therefore they will voice an opinion when the football is dire. Particularly when said football is a result from maddening choices and tactics from the manager.

He's distancing himself from the situation, and slyly dropping in little nuggets of "bitter Blue" stereotypes. Everyone will read them, outside of Everton, and say, "Ya, ya probably. They overreact and think they're a big club."

Twaddle! Evertonians aren't delusional, and they recognize the situation. They're reacting in measure and appropriately. If it were any other Club, I think the media would jump on it, and say, "Aren't they simply reacting to dire football and results?"

We'll get none of that. And Marco forwarding this notion that Evertonians bitching about his reign being a historical norm of behavior, is wickedly sly.

Snake. The King of deceit and lies, who made the pact with the other lot, is weaving his wicked magic through Marco's mouth.

Pisses me off. Have to call it out.

You are performing abysmally at your job Marco, "think I am bad you wanna see the last guy" is the logic

As regards the bitter blues, it is his implication although subtle, The truth is quite the opposite I am sometimes frustrated beyond belief at how loyal some of our fans are to him, our dear chairman etc etc

To note I am not fucked if he pulls some lucky results out of the hat in the next 6 he is a shite manager, out of his depth and will never deliver at this level

I am hoping we give Eddie Howe his long overdue crack at a big club but don't hold much hope

Mike Gaynes also tossed Kovac's name out there. Couple of shout-outs for the man. Piqued my interest. Know very little about him, but seems a step in the right direction possibly?

I would give anything to be able to be a part of a team like the 1984-88 one, but it just seems like such a long climb back to that perch.

Tony @18/Jamie @19 Bayern is my 2nd favorite team in the world, I consider myself fairly familiar with Kovac. But if I'm honest, Bayern has won the Bundesliga for 8 years running, and winning the DFB Pokal is nowhere near as difficult as say, the FA Cup. He also managed to lose the locker room this year, but it's important to consider that Munich is a club who believes "anything but winning the CL" is an unsuccessful season.

And we don't have the best striker in the world, the best right back in the world, and Coutinho, Muller, Alaba, Gnabry, and so forth.

Interesting? Yes. Not sure he's our answer.

I think the damage done by Bill has been almost lethal, I say almost but the standards in any organization have to be set by those at very top, enough said

Had we have gotten Top 4 this year which was very do-able look at Leicester similar squad, similar club, but they have won a PL and are heading to CL this year with Arse/Man maybe Spurs expense, could have been us all we had to do was beaten some teams in the bottom half, What an opportunity totally messed up by a bunch of incompetants, I believe we are still a big club but just need the right attitude and people to put us back where we belong

He managed the German Champions and made a aballs of it,fuck Kovac anybody can win at Bayern is like Scotland over there, and he has even got the bullet. Eddies the man

But lay off the Bundesliga mate! It's actually a pretty great league and a lot more competitive then most are aware. Scotland lol. That cracked me up.

Oh, and I believe.

Who ever the next manager is I feel it wont make much difference until the mentality behind the scenes changes. Big Nev in his Toffee TV sums it up, Moyes kidded us that were we were was about as good as it gets for the money we have, Big Nev say's nonsense Leicter won the league, Big Sam comes in and say's I will save you from relegation, when he should have said I will get you a European spot. At least Martinez came in with the right attitude, shame he couldn't back it up with results

So were all back to living in hope n fear...

So we lost 0-2 at home to the bottom of the table club who had only scored 1 goal away from home all season and you expect us to believe you will put a team together to beat Leicester and the RS.

I have just seen some pigs flying overhead says anyone who believes you.

You have lost all credibility mate.

That (conceivably) snide remark is as close as I've seen Silva get.

Bring in someone who goes f*cking apeshit mental on the touchline when we get a bad decision or players don't perform to the required standard, these are the men who win the league.

Becoming delusional over time, blaming everyone else but oneself, talking shite to the media and supporters and the inability to see or accept that the fault lies with them.

It all points to whoever comes next we cannot appoint a Spaniard or Portuguese, unless his names Pep.

“But” after what I witnessed on Saturday, I have changed my mind because it was one of the worst performances I've ever seen in my life.

Most of the players, looked like robots, that hadn't been charged-up, and talking to someone yesterday, he was shocked when I said that if it asked over the microphone, just before kick-off, if the crowd wanted Everton to play with Schneiderlin, or would we sooner play with ten men, I'm sure the answer would be ten men, and the crowd would be galvanised instantly... it really is that bad.

He shouldn't have been appointed in the first place.

Bill Kenwright has been a director since 1989 and chairman since 2004.

Question: Does he have 30 yrs experience as a director?
Answer: No, he has 1yrs experience 30 times.

Question: Does he have 15 yrs experience as a chairman?
Answer: No, he has 1yrs experience 15 times.

What has he got over Moshiri?

A successful businessman is being led by the nose.

We've been here with Martinez and Big Sam - the fans baying for change. I really don't think bringing either Moyes or Hughes in on an interim basis is going to change the player's attitude or ability, and I can't think of any PL class managers available right now.

Depressing.

There is nowhere tougher for visitors when the crowd's hostility is directed at the opponent.

There is nowhere easier when that same fury is aimed at the home players, and it takes remarkably little for the mood to violently swing. There is an institutionalised pessimism here, doom predicted at the merest hint of a setback. It means when it does go badly wrong it feels rather self-fulfilling. The first boos arrived at the interval on Saturday with the score still 0-0 in a low quality but even contest. By full-time the atmosphere was mutinuous, Silva doing well to survive the night in position. It felt like a temporary stay of execution.

May as well give Silva the rope and see if he hangs himself. 5 losses and we'll be in the bottom 3. Can't argue with that position.

Steve, give him his due, has consistently supported Silva when all about him, the obvious, has been said and shown. The continual failures of Silva over a season and a half have come to that disgrace on Saturday

I think even Steve has now come around to the obvious.
His quietness on here has been deafening.

I think the absolute debacle of Saturday has finally been the end for Steve and a few other Silva supporters

Okay he has a Contract, another act of stupidity by the Board, knowing his Track record why didn't they offer a reduced term Contract, and should he have 'proved he was the right man for the job, incrementally add to it in six month stints?

Unless they are money-laundering, they can't complain about the money that has been proliferated in Compensations alone, let alone inflated Salaries to Staff and Players alike.

It almost beggars belief that a Billionaire who presumably accumulated his wealth through acumen and sound judgements/investments can be so prodigal and spendthrifty.

They're points tally since being promoted in 15/16 is 42 (Everton 54), 46 (61), 44 (49) & 45 (54). So we've finished above them every season during one of the most turbulent periods of the club, with numerous managers all which have been (or about to be) sacked.

If he's such a great manager, playing attractive football, with all his players loving him, why do we consistently out perform them, when we're all over the place?

You say he'll go to a "big club" sooner or later. Who exactly? Spurs sacked Pochetinno and went for Mourinho. Do you think Utd or Arsenal will go for Howe?? Never going to happen. We'd get mediocrity at best.

Bournemouth have spent £160m in the last three years (including £20m) on Dominic Solanke). Not a fortune I know, but not like he's working on a shoe string either.

I don't dislike him, and he's doing a reasonable job, but who you are obsessed that he's the next big thing is beyond me. None of that stats point to that. If you were championing the Wolves manager I could maybe see it, but not nice guy Eddie.

It became very apparent that he isn't going to push the club forward and IMO very early. Any attempts to stick by him, irrespective of any temporary recoveries in results we might see, will only be a blip and delay the inevitable.

In terms of our failings, I don't know where to begin. We are a team that lack leaders. I don't see one. We look frail as a consequence. What's telling with regard to this frailty is that we don't come back when we go behind and we can't win away from home. Our delivery in the final third is woeful as is our defending in the final third.

My understanding is that he has been sacked and Unsworth will take the team. I can only hope that we take our time and appoint the right man. With Kenwrights influence fading I can't see us returning to Moyes or turning to a Hughes type figure. I know we have said this before, but this feels like an milestone moment for this Everton regime. We need a big name manager, even if it's for two years. This next appointment will be an indication of our ambition.

In partial mitigation for Silva's failure this season the midfield has been badly hit by injuries to Gbamin, Gomes, Delph and Bernard. Moreover the role of Mr Brands in failing to sign adequate replacements for players we have lost should not be overlooked. Gueye held the midfield together for three seasons. Zouma held the defence together in the final three months of last season. Lukaku was our best goal scorer in the last thirty years. We have nobody of their quality in the present squad.

Instead we have players overpriced and over here. Schneiderlin earns plenty of flack but Sigurdsson is even worse. Silva's decision to keep him in the team at the expense of Iwobi was ridiculous.

Equally ridiculous are some of the methods employed on the pitch, not least the truly pathetic attempts to play the ball out from the back; from inside our own six yard box! Add to that the sloppiness which players are allowed to get away with, epitomised by Pickford hoofing the ball into the crowd three times in the first half on Saturday. Loose passing, crazy shooting, over hit crosses, under hit crosses, stupid challenges; our play was littered with all those with virtually every player guilty. Yet nobody on the pitch or at the side of it was on their case.

So what do we do next? it probably makes sense to get the next two games out of the way. Both are away against the top two. Anything like Saturday's form will see us lose both. That will then clear the way for a caretaker to take over in an attempt to lift the team before the home game against Chelsea.

In the meantime those fans so inclined can retrieve their pitch forks from the shed to welcome back David Moyes.

We can sack him and get a new manager, and we'll no doubt get a good reaction and some better results in the short term. But I don't think it will address what appear to be big underlying problems at Everton. Unless those problems are sorted, nothing will really change.

A little from column A and little from column B :) You are spot on the players arent arsed but what must they be thinking ??

Silva is straddling the proverbial donkey, its legs are spread out in alll 4 directions, its tongue is hanging out and its eyes are bloodshot and crossed over and it aint going to get off the ground any time soon, ,,
"I will flog it some more and see what happens"

The idea that we take all these embarrasing defeats at home and he goes away for 2 weeks and comes back with more of the same,

To call him a 1 trick pony is to understate, A NO trick pony is more appropriate

@Ian 60

I have laid out my reasons for why I want Eddie Howe on other threads so I am not going to repeat ad neasuem, However if you were to suggest who YOU think we should appoint I am willing to discuss ,, if your not part of the solution your part of the problem :) Name your man and lets discuss ,

By the way feel free to type what you like i am no grammar Nazi as long as i can understand what you mean its all good

Eddies the man

Only two things matter now: how long the board have determined to give him and what the next result is with him in charge. If he gets 4 points at Leicester and Liverpool then he'll probably get some more time. Good results will always win the fans back. But it's hard to see it happening.

Which big club is going to snap him up?? You're stating things that simply aren't going to happen. Everton are by far the biggest club that would go anywhere near Howe.

All that aside, do you think we can just waltz into Bournemouth and take their (amazing) manager? Look what happened when we tried to do that to Watford.

As to who we get, you would need a crystal ball for that. Everything is risk when you're in this situation. Personally, if you offered me Arteta I'd be reasonably happy (although nervous). I'd much rather have Santo from Wolves than Howe. It's a very bad situation, and could go either way.

The problems at the moment are caused by reliance on players signed before Brands was here, and the wages that Kenwright paid them. If Sigurdsson, Schniderlin, Walcott and Tosun were not on silly money, they'd be gone now.

I don't care who some on the board might favour, it should be who Brands favours. The board should focus on what they know and leave football matters to the football guy.

So what are the chances? I wouldn't be averse to Eddie joining us, assuming of course we couldn't attract a high profile name, which unless it was Pochettino, would more likely than not have experience in the Prem, and therefore be somewhat of a gamble.

Eddie Howe, has kept Bournemouth in the Prem for some time now, on a bit of a shoestring budget so has proved his worth in my humble opinion. If we could only convince Mrs Howe or persuade Eddie to divorce her there is little chance of this happening.

We need somebody who will unite the club, Players fans board etc, this stuff matters more than any of the BS stats ( that up till last week proved Silva was doing a great job) Moyes and FSW (Benitez)will divide
Moyes is finished as is Benitez btw but more important Benitez is more concerned accumulating wealth and not arsed about the game anymore ( as proved by abandoning his family to move to 1984 for a fat pay cheque) shocking behaviour

Eddie Howe is the right man to deliver our Great Club to its shinny new stadium playing attacking football, He is within our reach, wont cost a bomb, wont need 200mil on signings(which we wont have FFP), is in his prime as a manager, and is one of US

And he fucking DESERVES it, he has served his apprentiship and would be his dream job, Do the right thing and good things will happen

Eddies the man

If you ask me would I prefer Simeone or Eddie well I will say Simeone but judging by the shocking names being bandied about and the odds on the bookies sites I think taking everything into account is the right time for Eddie

The thing that Howe and Dyche have in common is that no club with genuine aspirations to crack the top 6 and win a trophy would give them a second thought. Given that is our strategy, why are we even discussing managers with this profile? We might as well all sign a pledge to be completely average forever.

The only question is whether or not he is good enough. I'm fed up of reading this crap about his wife. Just because a rumour is often repeated doesn't mean it's true. And even if it was true, he was manager of 2nd tier Burnley and not in the big time in the Premier League.

Thanks Derek, I was hardly gone!

Would you be averse to such a hypothetical appointment?

I must admit he has on a fairly restricted budget in the past pulled off some shock results, beating the top sides, but also been on the wrong end of a couple of hidings.

Bournemouth are as inclined to allow us to have Howe, as Wolves would be to let us take Santo. They are both employed by other clubs.

Bournemouth are very hit and miss and concede plenty of goals. I also don't buy into the perception that they play fantastic attacking football. They look pretty average whenever I watch them.

Iain, why would Nuno come to Everton? He's already on a big wage, he's got wealthier owners at Wolves, his de facto Director of Football is the "super-agent" Jorge Mendez who is giving him the cream of Portuguese football. He's in Europe. He's got the club setup how he wants.

Forget you're an Evertonian, and give one reason why Nuno would leave.

Is there anybody at that club with any sort of a clue what to do?

If you think what Eddie acheived at b/mouth counts for nothing fair enough, he has won promotion and sustained ( is very important that word and means he has faced many challenges, poor form etc and overcome) a good level while having the balls to play expansive football on a shoestring (all relative) Dyche plays rugby league for me btw

When i say he will bring everybody together i mean tthere is a lot of goodwill towards the guy in the game in general and the 2 main candidate are going to divide our fanbases and have questionable character IMO

Arteta has never managed ? When I say I want Eddie I believe he is the right man at the right time, it does not mean he is my dream appointment I am trying to be pragmatic here

In order for this discussion to have any weight can those piping in with negatives at least have the decency to put forward a VIABLE name ?

Otherwise what is the point we have to appoint somebody after all

Everton are a far bigger club, and (if he got it right) he could achieve much more at Goodison than he ever could at Wolves. Taking average managers like Howe or Dyche certainly isn't the answer to this situation.

Did anyone listen to Stuart Webber, the Norwich Director of Football, on BBC 5 Live last month? If not, here's a Link

If anyone does not understand the job of Director of Football, then have a listen, as he explains it very well. He makes it clear that he always has two possible to take over at any given time. He is fully behind his manager (they were doing much better a month ago) but he makes the point that he could become incapacitated unexpectedly (car crash for example) or leave for a bigger club and it's up to him to be ready. I still believe Brands is good at his job and he would have had similar with Silva. Particularly, as no one was too happy with Silva last season. I don't believe for one second that Brands' two names were Moyes and Hughes. I can guess who did have them though.

7/18 - 9/1

Have we ever been so far behind them going into a derby?

1) Howe's Mrs dislikes the North. While at Burnley his mum was terminally ill and he struggled to adjust to life far away from his sick mum. His wife didn't like Burnley too. I wouldn't get to concerned about them getting home sickness IF he joined us.

2) he's an average manager. Well he's got Bournemouth promoted through the entire professional football period and kept them in the Premier league, when they're clearly the smallest and least resourceful club. Year after year.

A pity we didn't get him before Koeman, if you calculate how much has been wasted since his erroneous appointment and subsequent Board incompetence. I believe with funding we could, although hypothetically, and speculatively, Eddie would have had us in a much more healthy position, and would have recruited some good players.

Maybe Steve, just maybe, your Dad was right!

Jesus no. I'd prefer Arteta as he's a sign of trying to achieve heights by tapping into potential, hiring a man who's been second in command for two of the top managers in world football over the last 20 years.

Eddie Howe has done a good job stabilizing Bournemouth. That's the extent of his managerial capability. When I watch his sides, I don't see anything dynamic or overly exciting. I see bang average.

If the height of your aspirations is 7th and Premier League football, Eddie Howe's your man.

Writing that last sentence, I'm sure he's absolutely fucking nailed on for the job, with our Board making the decision and 7th being the highest finish they can fathom.

Surely the main aspect any manager looks at (after the money he makes) is what he has to work with on the pitch, dispite the £ value of the squad we are what we are (crap!) and only so much of that can be heaped on Silva's shoulders.

As a group, they can't defend, dominate midfield or find the net upfront. The next manager will want money to spend. Will Mr Moshiri be so willing to dig deep again a second time around? I believe the new man will be told to work with what he's got and that's when most probably half the candidates will disappear.

It's who we can get and not necessarily who we want, it might be time to moderate our expectations?

Thats a higher net spend for Bournemouth over the period than the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and Lecicester. It's a bit of a myth that they've spent no money.

Should Howe really be celebrated for keeping them mid-table? I don't see that he's done much in the last few years to make him an exceptional candidate.

If Kenwright gets his way then Brands will have no option other than to resign in order to retain any credibility as a DoF. Moyes' appointment would make him a laughing stock. If he is a DoF in anything but name, then he must have responsibility for identifying managerial targets to the Board and no one else.

As for Silva, he should have got the boot weeks ago and it's now too late. For me, getting rid of Kenwright somehow must now be top priority as any manager will fail whilst his malign influence persists.

If Brands does not have a number of candidates actually lined up already, he should be sacked.

The active looking should have been done and it's the late interview stages now.

I can think of loads that failed,(harvey,phelan, hartford, anybody under Sir Bollox Ferguson!) Appoint Arteta if you like it will be a "lottery ticket" appointment he will be learning on the job

The wish is with Mikel is he will do something he has never done before, the wish with Eddie is that he will improve on what he has already achieved over a long period,

@Sam

I am not happy those "net" spend figure are a tru reflection, 50 mill in Eddies pocket does not equate to the same in KLopps ,he is signing 20m here , 15mill there plus he cannot offer the wages or attract the players to B/mouth , As i said before you can skew any figures /stats to sound however you want them to, He is shopping in the pound shop compared to even us and we ended up with a bunch of show ponies

Do you honeslty think Mourinho could get B/mouth into the Top 4 of PL ? Cmon guys

Eddies the man ( Tony Twist you have me sussed !! )

Okay we have a few who I personally would not play, ever! Then again, like has been said many times we have little or no say regarding player selection or purchases in the first place.

While we have few if any, that could be described as World Class, we do have some very decent players, who I believe (my opinion only) would flourish if played correctly and had confidence in whoever is next to lead us.

I also firmly believe we have some excellent youngsters who have never been given any encouragement whatsoever by Silva, or even had a chance as a sub even for only fifteen minutes.

I don't like Eddie Howe, for all the reasons I stated.

In fact, we just need to disagree and move on. I'd prefer, hand on heart, David Unsworth temporarily in charge over Eddie Howe.

At least we'd be saying we want to eventually make the right signing and show ambition. We're not showing any ambition hiring Eddie Howe in my opinion.

As far as I am concerned the ONLY thing that has never changed during 30 years of abysmal times at Everton FC is Kenwright's involvement with this club. Why oh Why couldn't his bloody Uncle have supported the RS.

As for Howe becoming manager that is only slightly preferable to Moyes or Hughes mid table mediocrity may be achieved but I think aiming a bit higher is the preferred option.

Derek, I didn't say they are all crap, I said "as a group".

There are some decent individuals in there, but the blend, that is to say fitting the pieces of the jigsaw together would be difficult for any elite manager.

We need to do a lot of offloading and some buying again.

@Tony 100
I have said my piece I am going to step back, I cant be giving others at the club stick for doing a bad job when I am posting on TW while the meter is running :)

The concerning thing is we could still have Silva at Xmas ho-ho-holy shit

For me managers show their worth when they finish higher in the league than their relative net spend or wage bill would suggests. Its crude but that shows a manager who is getting more out of his players than the market deems they are worth.

Bournemouth are around 13th/14th for wages and higher for net spends. When Howe had them finish 9th I was impressed. Otherwise they have been 16th, 12th and 14th. So pretty in line with their spending and wage bill.

I think he's a decent manager but not done that much in the last two seasons to suggest to me he's the prime candidate.

Sam, you forgot about União de Leiria.

If it's a nightmare scenario and we can only get a bang average manager or a bullshit, Fat Sam-like appointment, would you rather:

1. Keep Marco Silva until the end of the year, or,

2. Fire Marco, and place Unsworth in charge until the end of the year

If you could only choose from the two options, which would it be?

Howe May be, in your opinion, an “up and coming manager” but he's the longest serving current manager in the Premier League. Just sayin'.

As Steve says, the problem is that there are no standout alternatives at the moment. If there was Silva would be long gone. How do you know Howe is "viable" anyway?

I don't know what Moshiri and Brands have planned, or how much money they are prepared to throw at the problem. That, as always, will be a factor in who we end up with. At this point i'd probably go with the caretaker option until the end of the season, with the few to getting someone higher quality in the summer. Yes, getting Moyes back scares the sh*t out me, but getting Howe then sacking him after 18 months also does too. Areta is another risk, but maybe one I'd be prepared to take.

Everton finished above Bournemouth under Sam Allardyce, after another disastrous start. We must aim higher.

"Howe May be, in your opinion, an “up and coming manager” but he's the longest serving current manager in the Premier League. Just sayin'."

Thanks for " just sayin " I will add it in the Eddie plus box :) I cannot believe how easily this is dismissed by some, How many "big name" managers have in 4 season in PL with smaller clubs ran aground, got the bullet or got relegated ( like Benitez did with Newcastle)

The guy HAS to have something about him or he would have been found out

Having said that, Unsie would, in the best interests of Everton, do his utmost to achieve results, and wouldn't be averse to trying different options. Rather than stick to the same old, same old, expecting to achieve a different result!

I dare say too, that he would freshen things up especially in defence and not be afraid to introduce some of the talented youngsters to first team training/sub's bench/playing/

I honestly want them to fire Silva today, name Unsworth in charge temporarily, and find someone before Christmas.

Just show a pair and show your supporters you're willing, you know, and you accept that you have to make a change.? Try to be aggressive and make a move?

"Ah shit, Bill shot Denise. She's dead. Crime of passion. He always wanted her, and couldn't have her. He flipped the dark switch."

"Are we going to fire Bill?"

"Nah. Who would we name as Chairman? Let's not be too hasty and let's think about this for a bit. There's no ready replacement."

You can't make this shit up. It's surreal.

I agree.

That, Paul, was very funny.

TY for making me smile when I want to break something.

If viewed on his record alone he blows out the water all the other candidates (including Poch).

This isn't the time to be taking chances on 'up and coming' types, we've just done that with Silva.

Think the original source is The Sun. So, ya, for once I hope they're accurate.

I'll second that.

Every day he remains increases the damage he is inflicting.
The players, regardless of who the Club wheel out to toe the party line, are not playing for him or the shirt.
Dissent will just grow and increase. Once the booing starts there's very little chance of a comeback. He will lose more of the support each day, especially when he talks his usual shit.

Given your choice it has to be Unsworth until the end of the season.
If Silva isn't binned asap we are going to find us in a very bad place very soon.
As I say quite often losing, like winning, can become a habit

I don't believe Howe has any connection to the NW other than being a boyhood blue. There are many around that age, like myself who don't have a scouse connection but are huge blues. He's got really strong Dorset ties and a very young family, so I can see a lack of interest of moving up to the NW.

John K, 👍😋

2:11 pm in England, and still not a word from our Board.

John Moores would have had the taxi booked for Silva well before the Burnley match and the successor signed up before making Silva pay the fare on his way out.

Anyway, the Board has more important things to discuss like Christmas menus and getting the mince pies exactly the way Bill likes them.

As to the options discussed above, Unsworth has to be given the short straw again as he will at least give it his best shot despite the awful December fixtures. He has also learnt that Schneiderlin must be kept off the team sheet at all costs.

Just can't see how Silva is going to turn this around; we desperately need a Adrian Heath 'Oxford' moment!

Really wanted Silva to succeed, but I'm in the Benitez camp now. He's the best out there that we have a chance of getting in the door and may well be happy to leave China with all that's going on over there - shocking stuff.

Of course there are alternatives, thats what makes the world go round and changes happen all the time in every walk of life.

We need some balls and ambition. Lets give Brands the job of sounding out Pochettino, Simeone, Ten Hag, Van Gaal, Allegri, Tuchel sod it even Emery.

Lets start with an A list which if it doesnt work have a B list but FFS lets have some action and professionalism.

I don't know about dithering Dave we have a dithering boardroom all beholding to the magnificent Bill Kenwright.

No wonder we are a shambles and a laughing stock.

Are we an ambitious club or are we forever in the shadow of Kenwright.

We may have the opportunity to get in first, as it looks like Emery is marginally further away from the sack than Silva. If this is the road we choose to go down we have to act immediately.

Time for Moshiri and Brands to make a decision.

I hope there's more than a few on here read your piece, we are in trouble and most just see the £ value of the squad and think no problem. Far too much complacency.

There is only Benitez, I can't see any other choice, he blows the rest out of the water based on achievement alone. I'm terrified by some of the other choices.

Makes you wonder, eh?

That pretty much sums up about the last 6 seasons or so.. unbelievable, ainnit? Well, it worked in brown shoes' first magical season..

Seems our Board truly believe Silva can win the fans back.

It's 10 am here and I have to work. Is it wrong to crack a beer open this early?

Arteta no experience of the hot seat, atleast Lampard had a year at Derby.

I'd take Dyche and Howe over Arteta, atleast they have proved they can survive.

Silva is about as welcome as turd floating in a swimming pool amongst the fan base at moment.

Given that scenario, I suspect most of us would take the latter option and work in the meantime to identify some really good candidates.

It all logically falls into place what you've said.

I believe the club/Brands screwed Silva in the last window by not getting him a proven forward and CB.

Not sacking him now I believe is an admission of this.

Having said that, he's been poor with what he does have to work with and sending him on looks the only option. As you've said doing this might mean Moshiri has to break his word?

If Moshiri keeps his word there's a real chance with the next 6 fixtures we might be anchored in the zone of death come the new year.

What's Pochettino achieved?

What's Benitez achieved?

1. Keep Silva.

No, I don't rate him not want him here beyond summer. But Unsworth? Naaaahh. Break the cycle.

We are not going to be relegated.

So why care if we finish 8th or 17th?

David, yes it was a serious question.

Pochettino has achieved what Moyes achieved, he was given as certain amount of money and achieved a position in the league commensurate with that money.

And like Moyes he got to the big final and took a "Knife to a gunfight".

We need a winner.

Hard times in the Pierce household.

"We are not going to be relegated." ???????

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."

Bertrand Russell

Remember the good ole days when Everton played Europa league on thanksgiving. heady times.

he took a pretty big knife though. Our next step should be to get back to where Moyes had us year after year. We've spent a fotune going backwards. Poch would do that.

Rob 157
The only plus point for Benitez is that he might eat all the goodisonpies so that non of us have to.

There's winners and there's losers in this world and I have good idea who the winner is out of those two!

Enjoy your holiday. Sounds like you have a lot to be thankful for.

The longer the silence over Silva's position goes on, the greater my disquiet.

We mostly only have supposition to go on, but I think it's pretty much widely accepted that there was indeed a high level meeting of the minds post-match Saturday.

Having appointed Brands as DoF, having promoted him to the board, in a properly structured organization, his should be the most prominent voice in the room.

Some months ago I posted on here that I had to believe that, as well as identifying possible players with alternatives in every position, he was also charged with identifying alternative managers as a contingency plan should Silva be dispensed with.

Now the whispers that are coming out may just be tabloid fabrication. If there is any truth in any of the claims, it doesn't make for happy reading and should be grounds for concern for all Blues. Here is what we are hearing:

* Moshiri is the one canvassing to retain Silva. Others are opposed. What others? Brands? BK? DBB? Moshiri's sidekick Ryazantsev? And were they ALL unanimously opposed to keeping Silva?

Moshiri's track record on identifying and appointing managers is not a happy one. By wishing to prolong the agony and retain Silva, is he calling it wrong again to the detriment of his investment?

* Moyes and Hughes are being mooted as caretaker/full-time replacements to the end of the season, minimum.

I can only imagine one 'actor' on the board principally pushing for this option, and it ain't Brands. If Brands has either candidate remotely on his alternative manager list, or is being persuaded that either would do, that would seriously disturb me as to his qualities and judgement.

* Unsworth is again being put up as a very short-term caretaker should Silva be sacked with no long-term replacement immediately available.

Like many, I willed with all my being that Rhino could take up the reins and step up to land the gig permanently. He believed it himself, saying on his first day: "I'm ready for this."

For many diverse reasons, it didn't happen. That he has not left Everton to try club management as the head honcho suggests to me he has found his comfort zone and is not cut out for the cut and thrust of being a PL manager.

If some or any of the above is true, then it suggests the following to me:

* Moshiri (as some of his previous public statements have revealed) really has little or no clue about football, full-stop.

* BK continues to have too much sway and influence at the club when in truth, he should have been completely - but COMPLETELY - put out to pasture three years ago.

* Brands either has no judgement, or little or no voice, power or influence, if his short list includes the names of Moyes or Hughes or is being persuaded or coerced to go down that route.

If there is any basis of such an outcome, and if (as IMO he should be) Brands is totally opposed to either appointment, then he may decide his own position is untenable and choose to walk himself.

Spurs, with a hugely superior manager to our own, showed us how to do things last week. Everything evidently co-ordinated, planned, signed, sealed, delivered and acted on.

Early evening, the popular and talented sitting manager is sacked, giving the media and the morning papers their headline. Within 12 hours, with many not having even seen the morning newsie, they announce the appointment of a mega-manager.

There is NEVER a good time to sack a manager. A club mostly does so in crisis. But personally, I am totally opposed - should Silva be sacked in the coming hours-days-weeks - to appointing a caretaker manager.

There is still two-thirds of a season to play. Yes, we are just 4 points above the bottom 3, but equally, we are just 5 points off 5th place, so compressed is the league this season.

To appoint a babysitter until May is to effectively concede and write off entirely THIS season. Why do that with so many points and two cup competitions still to play for?

It strikes me that far too many supporters are just regurgitating the names of the 'known'. There is little or no imagination in some of the names being put up.

Nor, IMO, does it befall to posters on TW who give good grounds, for example, on not wanting Moyes back to offer alternatives to him.

THAT is very much the board's responsibility, and none more so than the DoF.

HE will know the profile the club seeks.
HE will have the contacts.
HE will know who is available.
HE will know who is interested.

Again, just last week, Spurs showed a 'B' level club can land an 'AAA+' level manager if you have the vision and boldness to attempt it.

Does our owner, the board, our DoF possess the same vision and boldness to attempt the same for EFC?

Maybe they are going to surprise us, but this protracted silence and inaction doesn't augur well that this is likely to end any time soon, or even well.

Leicester City away
Liverpool away
Chelsea home
Manchester United away
Leicester City home (EFL CUP QUARTER-FINAL)
Arsenal home

7 pts and a win in the cup (minimum requirement) to save his job. Anything less and he's 100% gone. If we lose badly at Anfield he'll be gone though.

To add the coup de grace, its our wedding anniversary today

'shot through the heart and your to blame you give Hibbo a bad name'

How about three top-3 PL finishes and a Champions League final for the first time in Spurs history? And before that, Southampton's highest PL points total ever?

I think that's pretty snazzy.

Moshiri. Jeez what a silver spoon. Silva was never the right man for the job. What was he even thinking. Shittiest manager since Walker. Probably worse.

Read into that what you may, but you would have thought after a long international break and the disgraceful performance at the weekend they would have been in today. I'm actually thinking that the board allowed him to go as they are planning on getting rid either later today or tomorrow.

After having his fingers burned on Koeman, Allardyce and now Silva, I can't see Moshiri throwing that kind of money at any new manager, whoever it is.

. could they???

http://sportwitness.co.uk/portugal-marco-silva-returns-home-country-claims-around-everton-future-rubbished/

Knowing us, I wouldn't be surprised if they told him to go and are planning to do a call to relieve him of his duties as they don't have to deal with the face to face response.

I'm clutching at straws here, fellah!

I keep hoping and waiting for someone like yourself to come up with some good solid inside info, but no luck so far!

Totally agree with Jay Wood. If you act like a bunch of amateurs then how can you attract professionals. Why cant we act like Spurs ambitious, decisive and organized. Why not show ambition and approach all the A list candidates to see what they want.

Who is on the board? Is it just Mosh, dbb, ryz, brands and Bk?

Kieran #193, yes.

Unlike some on here, I don't have an ear into their discussions so can only speculate that the reason we've heard nothing is because they're trying to sign up a replacement before announcing his dismissal.

It would be easy to duck the decision by giving him a few more matches to try to turn it around. The fact this hasn't happened must signal that Silva's time is up.

Until we hear otherwise the speculation on who will replace him is just that.

Speculation.

Have a look at this boys.

The delay, surely, is trying to agree what/who next - but it won't be Silva. Nailed on in my opinion.

I know you said it tongue-in-cheek.

My kid watches that YT channel constantly. There's a ton of good stuff on it.

It's 5:20 pm in England. Nuthin'.

Rob #210, the webmaster just hasn't had time. As part of Silva's separation agreement he's helping him post a LinkedIn profile for a new job, and they're having just a bit of trouble listing his qualifications and getting endorsements from previous employers.

With pending relegation, they've slashed the marketing budget. Weekly updates only on evertonfc.com.

It is really odd they've not updated. But it's probably down to just crap news everywhere.

They should update with a big picture of Molly Pike and highlight the Ladies win this last weekend. Surely better than the Men's side, and at least the site would be updated!

They even have a rumour news section which gets updated daily, often listing the most fanciful of rumours, but since Saturday...it's like George Orwell's Newspeak.

Or more aptly, the first scene in which the penguins appear in the original Madagascar animation, disappearing back down their escape tunnel:

Link

Steve @108. Don't care about his allegiances to the RS. I want a manager who has won things. If he can bring some of that lot's self-belief and luck then I'd take it. He's also managed Chelsea and Newcastle and did better than any of our recent managers. Mourinho has just gone to Spurs despite being a former Chelsea and Man United manager. If he brings them success, I don't think Spurs fans will mind one iota who he used to manage.

The above is tongue-in-cheek though. For someone who isn't as bitter as most blues when it comes to the RS, I find it surprising so many could accept having him in our dug-out, when I can't. I also think that if he recovered us to 8th, as 8th is the norm, and then hit a bad patch, like everyone has done since Moyes, and Moyes did frequently, the fans would be after him quickly. That's a major issue for me. Right now we need stability and the next manager needs to be one who can weather a storm and be here for at least 5 years.

My take is that Moshiri does not want to sack Silva. I have said this for some time. I think that like me, Moshiri will have been shocked at just how bad it was against Norwich. However, he told fans after the game: "We will have better days". That's defending his man for sure, and it's not the words of someone about to wield the axe.

I think the club is remaining silent and just going to get to Leicester with the status quo. Meantime Brands is putting the feelers out to his guys, and no doubt fielding calls from manager's agents. If the board gave Silva the vote of confidence they can't well sack him for losing the next two games.

So, I think it's a case of Silva's on the brink, his head is on the block and he can save his job with a miracle, meantime Brands has some time to get someone in.

Just my thoughts, but is it any more far fetched than the rubbish we've read in the press today?

UNLESS, you believe the other 19 teams can all better their form and table standing, and we're the only one that cannot.

It's basic statistical math that makes that scenario impossible. Everyone plays the same opponents twice. They take points from one another. *shrugs*

The usual endless speculation about which team Silva will pick and a miriad of tactical formations on TW, only for him to play his usual cautious safety first team that scuttles the ball up and down the flanks with no end product i.e. goals. Happy days for the gutless board, another decision dodged another 3 points lost, another load of excuses.

I recall we recently had a conversation about EFC being a transformed team after beating Southampton that had turned the corner?

I can only advice you to go cautiously as I did last time, on the subject of relegation there's quite a few Norwich type teams in this league and the rest of them are even better than Norwich.

Heck look at the table; the fact that only 8 pts separate 5th from 17th proves this out (at least through matchday 13). I can't remember a table staying this tight in recent memory.

My last reason is a bit more wishy-washy. I don't believe Everton is as bad as we've looked, and I don't believe many of the teams above us deserve to be there. There's a lot of parity and bad football outside the top 4 right now. This one is more opinion though.

I am. I really am. I know the easy answer to the above is, "Jamie, it's Everton FFS mate. What did you expect?"

But hand on heart, I didn't see any way that he would survive past Monday. Even Everton had to pull the trigger.

And they didn't! I'm just stunned. It's so unbelievable they'd not show some backbone and balls and make a change after this train wreck of a season, after this weekend!

God bless us, our Board is shite!

Is there a song / chant for that? There should be!

Joe Royle has no qualms and believed in himself and got stuck in. Do you want a guy who is scared stiff of a fixture list?

Watford got their ex-manager in for all the reasons people say Moyes would be good. He's had a nightmare and they look worse. Their fixture list did not help. Imagine Moyes came in and went safety first, and our team got smashed in all of the next five games. That's the new manager improvement gone and a team of players unsuited to the manager we have and a team in freefall.

Sorry, but Moyes is not the answer. And waiting until after the Derby to give the new guy a fair run might be better.

So no to yesterday's man Moyes and no to a foreign untried coach and yes to someone who knows how to operate at this level. We won't get a top guy like Pocchettino but I would welcome Dyche, Howe or Rafa ( who was only telling the truth about Everton's small club mentality)

The only issue with that, is you're automatically writing off 6 points / 2 games. One of them the derby.

The whole point of these grown men kicking a ball around, is to win. If you throw in the towel accepting two losses the next two games, what's the point?

If Marco stays in charge, I have a feeling we are going to get pasted against Liverpool. And I mean a horrific, historical scoreline.

No, we're not seriously considering Mark Fucking Hughes.

Paper bullshit. If he's named manager I will fly over, jump in the Mersey, and run naked through Liverpool. And I say jump in the river first, just to make that very chilly run through Liverpool all the more embarrassing.

It won't happen.

As for the rest of your comments regarding the Board? I'm with you 110%.

I also think that if you look at the numbers, Leicester are in a false position and are set for a fall. Sure, They will finish top 6, but they should be in and around Wolves, not keeping pace at the top. The all bear this out metrics. However, the same stuff also has Everton in the top 6, so yeah, take that with a pinch of salt. But I'd put money on Leicester dropping down the table a few places. Don't forget Rogers has a habit of going on bad runs.

Also, we are due some luck at Anfield. We have to get something there at some point. The Devil can't keep getting his way there.

I know you're impatient about a change, but look at it this way. If you want change instantly, it would have been made already and in all likelihood with someone you would hate (Moyes, etc.), right? The delay is quite likely because the Board is doing exactly what we actually want them to do; carefully researching, contacting, and negotiating with managers/clubs who'd be a heckuva lot more palatable to us.

I'm just throwing a dart here, but I think many are forgetting that the Chinese Super League ends on 30 Nov. Allowing for travel, a short rest from jet lag, and an introduction, the specter of Benitez is possibly looming large. That would pretty much align with after the Derby, before the home Chelsea match on 7 Dec.

Steve - I have no idea where you're getting your positivity from. None. Leicester are where we should be after our "easy start". They might drop, but I'll bet dollars to doughnuts they'll be in the Top 4 come end of the season. And I'm sorry, but even if we did "West Ham Rally" our way past Leicester and into the derby? Dude, we're gonna get shellacked.

Mark - It's not impatience. It's frustration that an uninspiring Board with no motivation is allowing this to continue. Actually, they are motivated. They're motivated to get their new, shiny stadium. But as long as the team stay up, their only motivation is their wallets and that stadium which will fatten their wallets. Because they surely don't give a fuck about the product on the pitch, or the will of the fans. Silva should have been fired Saturday night, and he sure as fuck should have never seen sundown on Monday. It's embarrassing, a dereliction of duty, and a gigantic middle finger (V, whatevs) to the supporters.

I mention this because every time I fire off a letter critical of Moshiri, I feel almost guilty in that it is he who has put his money at risk rather than me. The fact that I'm worth diddly squat some way ameliorates that guilt but you know what I mean ?

But why is it that when the wealthy invest in our game, so many of them leave their business brains at home ? Are they seduced by snake oil salesmen or theatre producers who promise to put their name up in lights ? Or is it the expectation of doting admiration ? Who knows, but relying for guidance from the man who has trousered a big wedge of your 'in' money is not a good start. Neither is (just as with Lerner) forking out big money to sack, engage and sack four managers in three years !

Given the complete lack of fight in our spineless squad, the outlook is far more frightening than it was before Allardyce was called in, when people were panicking too soon (especially Moshiri). This season the threat is far more evident and bizarrely the Board has been less inclined to act.

Complacency is the last thing we need.

I forgot who you're banging the drum over, was it Howe? Whoever it is, would they available to immediately step in?

John @258 while true from a purely "point per game" perspective, that would also assume we wouldn't average more than a point per game in the 10 matches after them. I know that pessimism is an easy path right now, but come on. What exactly leads you to believe that Watford, to use your example, will double their win total during the same timeframe? This isn't like other years. The table is not good, and thus, extremely tight. Norwich, in 18th, is projecting to 30 points. "Magic" 38 pts my tuchus.

Knowing Kenwright as we do he has been the Machiavellian figure at the club since Johnson left and surrounded himself with yes men and accolytes and we wonder why the club is in a mess.

I have a very good friend that was told by Keith Harris he was glad to see the back of Everton the board is the most dysfunctional he has ever seen. Tie that in with Paul Gregg saying he would fund KD if BK resigned and you have an idea of kenwrights reign.

This time around is not a knee-jerk, grab your Fat Sam situation (dirty pun intended).

We are in serious, serious danger of going down now.

I didn't think it was even remotely possible, but it is presently.

And here's the real rub of it all. Look at the players we have. Does anyone think we should be below Newcastle? Does anyone think we should be losing to Villa or Norwich convincingly? Does anyone think we should be in 15th place, with a -7 goal differential, winning only 4 out of 13 games, and staring at the relegation zone with 4 hellish games in our future possibly making it all worse?

No!

How this level of performance is tolerated is just inexplicable.

To be clear, I'm not the least bit suggesting we should pop champagne over this, but that'll be matchday 26. It won't be pretty, but there's very, very little chance of us being relegated. Very little. And all of this assumes it's still Silva at the helm.

Which circles back to our earlier comment exchange, who do you want to come in and improve things, and are they readily available? The idea of a caretaker disgusts me. The idea of a caretaker like Moyes, Hughes, Unsie and the like disgusts me to the point of shoving an icepick in my right eye.

(p.s. we're not getting relegated)

When the manager picks teams with these ineffective players starting how the hell is he going tot get the fans onside?

If players are not producing week after week, give the likes of Anthony Gordon a chance, Play Kean, play Iwobi instead of Sigurdsson... inject something different, create a different dynamic. Why go down the same route of failure?

I just cannot understand the lack of creativity in trying to do something different to get us playing with a bit of verve and energy. It is a fucking disgrace that we cant get on the front foot at home against the likes of Norwich etc., creating havoc and decent chances. It's what Everton at home is about. I'm sick to death of having to put up with the chronic sub-mediocrity of what we are seeing.

Get someone in who can give us our heart and soul back, Marco Silva has fallen way short.

Moyes's time has been and gone, I can't see him connecting with the players. Just because he keeps in touch with Bill shouldn't qualify him for the job. His recent record is abysmal.

Arteta interests me, an intelligent man, schooled by the best, and I am sure the players would respect and respond to him.

I like Tim Cahill too, I think he has got blue blood and loves the club. He is an uncompromising character and has a ruthless streak in him.

It's a big call mid season to hire an unproven manager, but whoever we get in will be risky. Even the safe pair of hands experienced manager like Benitez comes with big risks as it wont take much for the fans to turn on him. He would have to hit the ground running, which may be a plus point. He would have to take a pay cut, but would probably jump at the chance.

Spot on mate

The rest is now..... well, where we are!

We are in SERIOUS danger of the drop. A bad run over the next 7 - 8 games will leave the squad so demoralised it will be hard to pick them up again.

The change needs to happen now.

I went on the record before he joined the club as one of those they didn't want him, and sadly he's been as shit as expected. He's a joke of a manager. Useless motivator, and the tactical nouse of a banana.

Oh, and hang on, where did I say the change didn't need to happen? Since you apparently believe we're certain to be relegated, then who do you support replacing Silva right this very second?

That feels to me like being at least two years ago, maybe longer, but he is still lingering like a bad odour!

Loads of people believe him, I worry that his curse will never end, but his ego is incredible, and I loath standing on Goodison Rd, looking up at the the biggest jinx at Everton, with his face looking down on the ticket office, as he tells us all he's only ever done it for love.

I digress, what I want to say is there is an amateurish ethos at EFC and its been there for years under Kenwright and Johnson before him. Loyalty to blues past and present, always a job available, even if its putting the cones out at Finch Farm and I don't mean on the practice pitches but in the car park.

A Premiership Football Club or any Club for that matter, that wants to be successful has to be totally professional at all times - even if it means saying NO to people - remember Rooney ( 2nd time around ), step out of line with a pair of inflated boobs ? What happened - f all.

EiTC is the Charity side, so let that take care of itself and ex players but the football club must come first, second and third. No more sentimental signings, including Moyes as life doesn't work like that. I hate the RS but would they, if Klopp left say Roy !! Roy Hodgson come on down ! Would City if Pep left get on the phone and say Sparky we need you ! No of course not but with EFC you know they would and that's the difference and the reason Kenwright must quit the board and his involvement in EFC. Moshiri will rue the day if he keeps him around. By all means give him a box for life or whatever but for godsake don't let his ethos continue to permeate throughout Goodison as in my opinion it so obviously does.

Professionalism is required throughout the club and right now its totally missing and we the supporters who should come before favours to past players need to see improvements all round in how the club is run, from the boardroom down. If EFC bring in some one who is not in the Mourinho type bracket ie been there and done it, it would be a betrayal of us supporters and I for one will call it a day. 60 years is a long time to follow EFC, when for the most part they have under achieved but not for a stretch of 25 years, with the football played since Moyes first arrived not being of the highest quality to say the least -one season of Martinez apart, when we actually had a goal scorer - remember what a goal scorer is EFC ? because I'm starting to forget. Though I do recall we once had goalscorers like Dixie, Gray, Vernon, Sharp, Lukaku, Royle, Latchford, Lineker etc etc to name a few.

So get to it and give us a proper manager, a proper team and make us proud of our team instead of despairing as we now do - practically every season.

Believe me I am as 'glass half full' as anyone. To the extent that an almost empty glass might seem half full at times. I have never said we are certain to go down but I do fear we are in serious danger of it. I know you are advocating change but want to wait until Summer (?) I think. My view is that that is an enormous risk and we should pull the trigger now. No-one would be happier than myself however, if Silva stayed and managed to get the results over the rest of the season that we should have been getting so far this year.

As to who at this second I think should come in I have trouble answering. Assuming availability and willingness I'd perhaps say Ten Hag, but of the more realistic nominees being bandied about I'd fancy Howe I guess. At least he might bring Frazer and/or Wilson with him.

Thing is I'm not much of a statto and don't really follow the European leagues other than CL so not particularly informed so I remain happy to trust in Brands if I was confident he was not being shafted.

The only thing I'm advocating for is making the change the second we have a long-term, viable option who is here for the long haul and aligns with Brands vision. If it's tomorrow, awesome, sign me up. If it's summer, well, the next 6 mos. are going to be painful, but I guess it'll have to do.

I hate the caretaker route and would actually say I'd rather be miserable than go that way.

All of the above is because I'm confident we won't be relegated, despite there be a (slight) chance. Anything's possible, I know that. Cheers!

There's never been robust consistency and the unpredictability like at Fulham last season is always likely, just like last Saturday v Norwich.

The board must be ruthless as the shreds of another wasted season are filling up the compost heap again at Finch Farm.

God help us in 2 weeks time at our old ground. If not gone before that game, then surely the Derby will draw the curtain.

The board must act and pay top rate, else risk the very strong fate that belies teams with Everton's form this season.

If Norwich can turn us over so easily, then every other team beneath us can too, as well as the ones above us.

I'd like to see what being coached this week at Finch Farm..If..

We have a total dogshit team, with players who make statues look like they have St Virus's dance, who lost to the bottom of league at home. Yet there's not ONE player in the Under whatevers, in these dire times that couldn't come in, even as a last gasp million to one chance? Not one??...and I don't want to hear how it might ruin the poor snowflakes future development to thrown in the toxic deep end blah blah.

What's the point of the whole set up if it can't turn out somebody with more go in him than Schneiderlin.

Or is this another Silva blindspot to go with the many others?

Another day gone and for what?

Don't assume.

He's supposed to be a hard-headed businessman so for fuck's sake why doesn't he show it, and GET RID.

And then there's the issue of his buyout being voided if he goes to another EPL team this year. Beyond that, with Bayern Munich & Real Madrid very likely lined up as suitors, would you pick us over those teams?

Allegri? No idea tbh. I'd certainly take him and be happy, though he is on record as saying he doesn't want to manage beyond 2021 (he said age 50, I filled in the year). If I were him I'd just sit there on the Italian Riveria drinking Negronis.

We're gonna get Moyes and I'm gonna cry.

A Barbadian goalkeeper I played with used to say, "God don' come, he send." (Usually after making a big save.)

I think now is the time for all of us to repeat it. We'll get a good manager.

But, even if that happens, that will be because the players want to raise their game against such opposition... and so it simply will not be down to the manager!! He clearly cannot motivate these players, and, far more damingly, perhaps, he cannot keep them motivated – even when we have (occasionally!) played seemingly well!!!

For me, as I've said before, this man seems to see 'managing' a football side, as just a video game-style pick-your team, a basic tactic, then watch your players roll out onto the pitch and do their stuff!! FFS. None of the real hands-on work, and certainly no motivational skills considered or applied, in this man's mind, I'd say was increasingly clear!

Hence, we play well, or half-well, when enough of the players, themselves, fancy giving it a go.. and absolutely not when the manager gees them up to do so, as he – as with so many other recent EFC managers – clearly doesn't even see that as part of his job remit!! To me, Silva quite evidently expects that if the players are given what he thinks are some decent 'tips' on what he wants, play-wise, on the pitch, then that in itself will carry them through and serve as all the motivation they need!

Of course, that kind of thinking, despite seeming so stupidly common amongst the modern (but actually mostly just run-of-the-mill!) football team managers, is clearly just bullshit.

Basically, despite a few decent (or again, half-decent) displays, it's clear that our current incumbent does not even get the actual full requirements of becoming a success with his... our great club... and he certainly doesn't get the old inescapably true saying that "All that (occasionally) glitters is not gold'.. especially when its name is 'Silva', ffs!!!

As for Moyes returning, it's his re-run of David Cassidy as Bill once more rises to save our club, speech in hand and microphone in the centre-circle announcing how he will never let this happen again.

As they say in theatrical circles, Bloody Nora!

COYB!

Of course, the stands at Goodison would be half empty, but who cares?

Benitez will be available Monday morning, doesn't it dovetail nicely with sunday's match?

We will know whether they have a clue or not who they're after come Monday, If they pass Benitez by it means there's really no definite candidate and we're rudderless.

Like that time when we were cruising against Palace at home and he unnecessarily brought on Schneiderlin who the fans had booed during the West Brom game weeks before. Even then we managed to go and concede despite his logic in the substitution was to shore things up.

Then there was the garbage about winning the second half in the thrashing at the Emirates. The highly questionable acquisition of Tosun. Airbrushing Rhino from his role in the WHU victory. The huffing and puffing to defeat a soon to be relegated Stoke when they were down to 10 men for an hour.

Even if we had retained him, I very much doubt he would have accepted Brands coming in due to his ego.

We were more or less safe by January that season but still he persisted with the negative hoofball and mind numbingly stupid team selections so we got beat at Watford by a very poor side.

Regarding this thread, a few have alluded to Sheffield and I imagine it's Wilder. I would be interested to know if there is any truth in that one as it would be unusual and, I would think, unlikely.

Are you telling me that Bernard isn't a Big Sam type of player?

The five foot five technically gifted winger who wouldn't benefit from all those high and long balls?

Take it back!

Rafa comes, we stay up. We still might lose the next three but do okay against Man Utd, beat Arsenal and Burnley.... maybe a point at Man City. Rafa keeps us up and mid-table. He's got the know-how. He's done it, seen it, he's got all the tee-shirts.

If he will come on Monday, get him in here, sort it out.

He won't wanna go back down but, if he did, we'd be straight back at the first attempt. If we don't get Rafa, or anyone by 6 January, we are done.

Or will, say, Thursday do?

Last season when we dispatched Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea and even when we played Liverpool at Anfield he did all 3 right. After every match every commentator on TV said the same thing.

This season he has ditched those decisions and is selecting players in the hope they can produce master pieces. Well there is a reason that a desert chef and a main course chef are called different titles that is because they are experts in their own area swopped them and you get a disappointing main course and desert.

With his present team selections Marco may be about to get his just deserts.

It starts with Marcos training he is constantly drilling short passes and Siggy and quite a few of the regulars do that brilliantly and so they are picked for the next game but they are so drilled they cannot see the brilliant opportunities 30yards+ further away and the no longer have the passing accuracy to get the ball there as witnessed in the Norwich game.

When Marco finally decided to drop Siggy telling him early in the week the man takes extra shooting practice and scores when brought on late in the second half. Once again Marco falls back into selecting Siggy for every game. I bet Siggy does not do extra shooting practise any more.

Every attacker should be doing 1 hour daily shooting practise and 2 if they fail to get a shot on goal. These players are on a fortune it is time they stood up and starting at least making less mistakes.

Finally, Pickford, apparently another Everton site said that we are the best team in the league at reducing the scoring chances of other teams so why are they still scoring? Is it the defence or the goalie? Anyone who went to that game saw in the first five minutes that Pickford did not have his mind on that game. He nearly got caught with ball after a pass back to him, his reluctant urgent forward pass sailed into Bullens area. Shades of Zouma and Pickford's mix up against Spurs immediately sprang into my mind.

How many passes did he kick out of play or make it impossible for people to keep in and control? Both goals against us in the Norwich game had attackers being challenged by our defenders and Pickford stayed on his line and did not move out to reduce the attacker's angle.

So is Marco's fate sealed? If he wins against the next five teams the question will be why have you not got the players beating the bottom teams since they are so good? and if he loses then it obvious that he is not good enough. For me his next three games is about pride not keeping his job, I think he knows he is serving his time until January.

For the future sake of this club make him stay and serve his time licking stamps and manager of EFC under 11's. Do not give him a lump sum and then let him jump ship and go and get another payday somewhere else.