Reports claim approach made to Martinez over Everton role

Speaks volumes for the level of planning. We are a joke of club at the moment.

Ferguson – has very little experience managing. Would be very risky but might get Goodison going? Fine as interim but not established enough to get full time gig to my mind.

Mourinho – more of the Benitez medicine? I've never especially wanted him but perhaps he could be well suited to this gig as he seems to thrive on toxicity! Not sure why he'd leave Roma other than obscene money and could very easily go badly wrong.

Martinez – would he leave Belgium? His best season with us was built on a Moyes organised defence, which soon unraveled. This time he'd be inheriting a shambolic defense, is he the man to fix it? I'm not sure.

Lampard – is overrated in my opinion. Struggled with a star laden Chelsea and perhaps should have done better with a very talented Derby team containing Champions League talents like Mount and Tomori. Decent with young players and is at least available.

Rudi Garcia – An experienced and safe pair of hands. Has done alright at a few clubs but not often helped teams in as dire straits as these. Doesn't inspire me much.

Potter – We'd be so lucky frankly. He's doing great work at Brighton, not sure he'd jeapordise that for this mess. Could have and should have landed him this summer.

Galtier – See Potter.

We probably need a DOF before a manager. Otherwise who is making decisions? Moshiri and Kenwright? Terrifying.

Think I'd try Niko Kovac.

If we are appointing permanently rather than going for Big Dunc, then I am with you, Kovac is my choice and available.

Please can everyone stop talking about Potter, Galtier etc, they would never come, not in a million years, not whilst employed and we are such a shit show. Let's keep this conjecture realistic.

Kovac was a joke at Bayern and Lampard has done nowt but mediocrity. Bobby's record has been 'phenomenal' everywhere he's went.

Despite having some of the best players in the world at his disposal he’s flattered to deceive with Belgium and their golden generation.

As for Rooney. I’d take a punt on him with Big Dunc on a six month contract. The two of them could squeeze some life out of this bunch of zombies. My only concern would be that Wazza becomes a Kenwright pawn and standards drop after he’s awarded a 15 year contract.

Of all the names mentioned, Kovac would be my choice. He plays high energy fussbal, is a no nonsense Fergie type and doesn’t suffer fools gladly - he’s got no chance then.

A word of warning. I hope we don’t put Bainsey in any coaching capacity. He was a great player but he’s as meek as a mouse and this lot would eat him alive. Better he sticks to his music.

He can't defend, and our team has the worst defenders in the league.

If we hire him, I am done.

The lunatics who cannot fathom loanee trading does not make for a feasible long-term plan are still here. They will refer to Wigan relegation rather than his transformation of Swansea or winning of the FA Cup till their maker calls them. I'm convinced they believe he bought McGeady and Niasse out of choice rather than desperation.

Swerve it, Bobby – go to a club with a more deserving fanbase.

Rooney has done wonders at Derby, he had practically no team, built one, then got 21 points ripped off him but now, after all that, only 8 points adrift. I'm sure he has learned a hell of a lot through all that.

With Dunc as his number 2, I think we could regalvanise the supporter base and players. Everything else has been tried... now give it to the boys in blue.

Coleman played 30 plus games the year before Martinez came while Hibbert played just six so a little more than a “cameo in midfield.” In RMs first year he played just as much but Jags, Dustin, Baines and Howard all played 30 plus games, Stones just 26.

I am absolutely disgusted with Farhad Moshiri, Bill Kenwright, Andre Gomes, Michael Keane, Mason Holgate, Seamus Coleman, Solomon Rondon, Alex Iwobi, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Rafa Benitez, Ronald Koeman, Marcel Brands and Steve Walsh. The list goes on.

I really worry about Martinez. I think I'd rather have Ferguson.

Not sure about Rooney. He's doing a good job but he's very short of experience.

Ferguson - if it’s not him, he has to leave otherwise what the fuck is going on? I would take a punt on him as at least he’ll add some much needed passion. We’ve tried and failed with everything else - young up and coming manager….done that, arl arse relegation battler….done, European elite manager…done, European ex great player….done etc etc. The only thing that seems to work is having an inside man. And the reason for that is really the foul and lingering stench of Kenwright, and his whole tired, cliched narrative. We could only ever truly change with him and the other parasites cleaned out but that’s a long way off because the majority of the fan base just won’t act upon it, given his vice like grip. Astonishing really given what he’s overseen and what his weak as piss mentality has turned us into.

Although as said before, maybe a new Technical Director might best be the first thing to look at.

Phill Walling will be spinning in his grave if Bobby brown shoes returns.

He is a nice guy and has always spoken highly of us. Belgium he has done well, but could be viewed to have underwhelmed considering the 'golden-generation' - however i'd say his golden generation was lacking in defense which has stopped them winning.

They won all games in the Euro's until losing to the eventual winners in a tight game. They were excellent in the 2018 world cup, knocking out favourites Brazil, only to lose to Eventual winner's France. And they won all their qualifiers and scored bucketfuls of goals in the process for both these. Won all but two of their World Cup qualifiers for the WC.

So he's proven not to be inept. Maybe he has learnt and is a better manager than he was all those years ago.

BUT, it would be a big risk.

Even more left field names like Steve Cooper at Nottingham Forest are being mentioned. He has made an impressive difference there in a short space of time, and will get a PL job soon, a young Moyes?, but would be a huge leap in the dark coming to Everton. Another interesting proposal and big leap in the dark would be the young up and coming Brazilian manager Jay Wood Brz mentioned yesterday. Abel Ferreira? He also has made an impressive difference.

Not sure about Duncan either, he has been Assistant Manager throughout this shockingly bad period. Is he completely Teflon blameless? Has he rocked the boat to change things in recent months or put his job on the line? Or just fallen into line and backed Benitez for the quiet life ? Rooney is doing ok, just ok, and is really inexperienced. Martinez has tried and failed with predicted defensive frailty taking centre stage.

Favre, Kovac, Galtier would they come ? Would they need time to acclimatise? Maybe one of them, could be the silver bullet we are looking for. Mourinho eventually failed at Man U then at Tottenham. The Pl is too hot for him these days.

Conclusion, I’ll support whoever comes and be praying that we get lucky for once in that he is the right man at the right time.

And therein lies the madness of appointing Martinez. The schizm that hung like the sword of damacles over Benitez would continue with the return of the Bobster. No leeway at all for the fella but it sounds like it could be him or Wayne

Let the fans have Big Dunc and pay the consequence.

Rooney is too raw, and would be too emotional. He needs more time to finish the job he's started at Derby.

Lampard, seemed tactically naive at Chelsea. Could be trusted to promote youth. But could equally be a disaster.

Garcia seems a solid, unspectacular choice. He's do a decent job.

Potter won't be coming. But should have been our no1 choice in the summer.

One person who looks exciting:

Ruben Amorin. Young, dynamic manager of Sporting Lisbon. Portugal has an excellent record at producing managers (Bruno Lage the latest doing wonders at Wolves). He's 36 and has a 75% win record for Sporting over 2 years. Hotly tipped to be manage the big boys in the future.

This surely has got to be a joke, but then this is Everton.

Moyes was excellent for us in my opinion but he constantly slightly overachieved playing percentage based football which only takes you so far despite his consistency. Roberto played a more risk and reward type football and as you point out he was the creator of his own demise in his desperation to try and win something for us.

He would be coming in at a low where all our footballers look shit. He will improve the likes of Gomes,Richarlison and Holgate immediately with movement everywhere. His Belgium team also play with a much higher intensity than Martinez mark 1 did here.

I am excited at the prospect of his return as our youth will flourish and he will have a great understanding of what the squad needs unlike an outsider.

He wont walk away from Nice till the summer and so far he has shown no inclination to manage outside France, and I don't think he speaks English. But if we can stay up he is a manager we should be talking to.

Martinez seems a nice guy but when I remember his final year, I recall just what a fuckwit he was with his bullshit talk.

Maybe we've all been beaten into submission. It was the fans who got rid of him. I thought the appointment of Sam was the ultimate piss take on supporters but obviously the FSW exceeded that. I hoped that was the lowest point but it seems I might have been wrong.

Whoever was responsible for the plane carrying the banner Martinez must go please fly over Goodison on Saturday with one saying Martinez no. Of course it could be too late by then.

NO. Please, NO NO NO.

So if either Ferguson or Rooney then land it, most will be happy, rather than having Bobby in charge again.

Right now we need fight and a settled team not another clueless defence organiser with his constant team changes that disrupts team progress and does not 'refresh the players' as Martinez used to say.

International football isn’t the same as the EPL. There’s enough BBS, to last a life time, in his stint between 2013-2016, and those games at Watford, and a few others, plus Leicester and then Sunderland were not far behind the last few games for venom level, from the Evertonians, and rightfully so, as the team had lost faith in his tactics, and were rank piss poor.

But, God only knows who, how and why, will get the role, but surely it’s too early to get a new management team, in for Villa.

We do really need to start to examine ourselves as a fan base - as Chris James has observed on another thread.

Who is this unicorn of a manager who will transform us and give us everything to which we imagine ourselves entitled?

I thought Benitez should have been backed once he was appointed, I thought he was the best option at the time - but reading The Telegraph article, it paints a deeply depressing and dysfunctional operation at Everton... well beyond what I think any of us could have guessed...

I'd go for Ferguson until the end of the season - try before you buy, get it announced Monday - we have a week to prepare for Stevie & Digne... bring in a DoF between now and the Summer. We don't have much time to make a change to make an impact - its an alarming slide and we are heading towards a shit fight with paddles. I would have said there are three teams worse than us, but we just got easily beaten by one of them...

This would be insane on both sides.

Roberto would be fuckin' nuts to leave Belgium right before the WC.

And we'd be fuckin' nuts to hire him back.

Is Moshiri trying to annoy the life out of the fans or has Bill gone totally doolally in his old-age, or do the leaders at the club want to see us in the Championship? Even if he could bring Lukaku and De Bruyne with him, I still wouldn't want Martinez to manage Everton again.

Would it be incorrect to suggest that nobody of note wants the Everton job? Hence the less than stellar names being linked to the hot seat.

He plays great football, he's experienced in the Premier League so requires no 'settling in period' and he's young, fresh and ambitious.

We should have got him in the summer.

He always conducted himself with professionalism and decorum, even at the end.

His sides are capable of playing beautiful, flowing, attacking football too, which is always a positive.

His biggest asset has to be his style of man-management. We’re in the position we’re in not least due to the lack of effort by some of the players. The hands-off approach of Ancelotti and the disciplinarian approach of Benitez have each failed to work. Martinez is a much more “arm around the shoulder” manager which I could see the players responding to.

As for whether he’s learned how to set up a team up to defend… I don’t know. But I know that if I went back to a job I’d left six years ago I’d definitely be keen to learn from my mistakes and make a better fist of it.

Don't often agree with Christy [58] but this time I do. Very few options out there, and of the few that are even vaguely possible, I'd be tempted by Lampard. Look, there's no-one any good who doesn't have soime history with one club or other. In the time he had at Chelse, he took them forward for a good while, but Chelsea seems a toxic managerial environment so hardly surprising how it went. At least he's a clean slate for us.

Really all that matters is that we can back him, and he has some power to carry on shaking things up. Ideally is demanding and won't take sh*t. Back to Zidane! Now, where do we find a unicorn?

A man who stated that he didn't work on set pieces, whose whole career the goals against column is horrendous. A man with the best national side in the world and has won nothing.

FFS we're leaking goals and they're considering him. Just when you think it can't get any worse.

And no, Dunc is not an option, and neither is Lampard.

And no, Dunc is not an option, and neither is Lampard.

But imagine what he'll do with Gray, DCL and Richarlison. I think Gordon and Gomes would also really benefit.

However none of this deals with any of the root cause problems at the club. Everton's very own Doug Ellis keeps his trainset, Moshiri will continue to shoot from the hip and the board remains an ineffective crony filled laughing stock.

Einstein said the measure of intelligence is the ability to change. Moshiri doesn't appear to be changing much and that worries me far more than Roberto's defending.

Here we go again.

Whoever comes in next is going to have exactly the same problem with those players unfortunately.

,

This club needs a true leader with the tactical nous to get the best out of limited players. It wasn't Benitez. It also isn't Martinez.

I write as one of the main opponents of his management on here in years 2 and 3.

His successful first season here was built on the strong Moyes structure that already existed, and to Martinez's credit, he initially bought better players to complement that: Lukaku, Barry, McCarthy, Deulofeu etc were all good additions, as was promoting Barkley to the senior team.

Unfortunately, by year two of Martinez's tenure, his unsound methods (with the same group of players) had set in. There was a rapid decline in the fitness of the players. The once fairly solid defence had crumbled and we started conceding goals for fun... many from set pieces that Roberto even admitted they didn't practice in training. Our football became slow and ponderous: lots of sideways and backwards passing... Possession without any purpose. There was no pressing of the opposition without the ball! It was atrocious to watch.

Moyes wasn't perfect and we did need a better manager to take us to the next level, but Roberto wasn't that. In fact, he just dismantled every that was good that Moyes built. We should've appointment a manager like Bielsa who would've further improved the already top notch fitness levels of the players, as well as taking us to the next level on the playing side.

If he isn't getting the gig now, He isn't getting it

It’s got to be Duncan, because he’s already seen off six managers, and must get a proper chance one day. If he fails, we can just appoint Rooney, because I’m sure he wouldn’t mind appointing Ferguson as his number two, if things don’t work out for the big man.

All else has failed, so I’m thinking it’s got be those two now, but who’s going to be number one, and who’s going to be number two, because that seems to be the harder decision to make imo.

The simplistic analysis is Martinez originally benefitted from Moyes marvellous defence 😆😆 then they forgot how to defend because Bobby didn't practice corners yep!! no other explanation.

Hang on - unless Moyes set out the 11 to hold on for dear life and hope to nick something on the break, "KITAP1" was it? And Bobby didn't. Thus defenders stripped of protection proved not to be quite as good as some would have you believe.

Oh! another thing, his Belgium side with decent defenders have always looked pretty damn good to me.

Don't come ffs Bobby they will kill you

After you have answered that - is Martinez going to solve that problem?

If you answer is yes, then I think you need your head examining.

Martinez is not the perfect choice. There is no perfect choice. But his style of man-management is in stark contrast to the methods which have failed so far.

Guy performs miracles with Burnley and is one who knows the league inside out certainly wouldn’t allow players to go missing, would like to think we could do better but we could also do a lot worse

Belgium have just 1 game between now and end of season. Very curious, never seen such a situation before.

Everton are a basket case.

But Martinez may at least bring 'feel good'. Which is clearly missing.

The idea that the players need 'a boot up their arse' is as outdated as 4-4-2.

Managing modern players is more nuanced than the 'hairdryer treatment' of before. Discipline, yes, but also respect, nurture, and essentially, they need good tactical guidance and good coaching. This is what hs been lacking

The Martinez of his first season would excite me. He made two big mistakes - he publicly said he needed seven players and assumed Kenwright would give him the budget for it. When that backing didn't come, he was stuffed with that dressing room. He never recovered from that.

I don't care who we get, as long as they get the team playing with some energy and purpose. Haven't seemn that consistently since that first season of Roberto's.

A sensible owner would get Ferguson in till at least the end of the season, hire a Director of Football, bring in some proper directors and let them all get on with it.

But we've got Moshiri, so Christ knows what will happen!

This Martinez rumour has to be a piss take.

Oh F@^#

Minimum salary, maximum bonus!

People keep mentioning Potter (why I don't know). But he ain't leaving Cosmopolitan Brighton on the sunny South Coast for project Woodison. For me Dunc till end of season. He will keep us up, and has our first Saturday home game for nearly 4 months to start.

I never honestly cannot believed half a million could be squandered so easily in 5 years. Its pitiful, and once again we can thank the teary one for making all this happen. Yet again the club is a laughing stock.

Allardyce, Carlo, (arguably), and Benitez fit that bill perfectly, and they are all reflective periods of horror.

Ffs grow some balls, let’s find someone who tries to win games, and gamble. I’d rather go down having a go than suffer the perpetual mundane we’ve had under this lot.

If they have the temerity to even discuss the position with MArtinez I will be finished with the club until Moshiri and Kenwright are gone.

Time for new owners with a new vision.

If you honestly believe Potter would not leave Brighton and Hove Albion to join Everton football club the. You know absolutely nothing about football. He’d leave in an instant, it would literally be a non decision.

But then again, who knows??

Martinez keeps his role with Belgium pro tem but supports Duncan on a part-time basis until the end of the season when, depending on performance, the DOF and managerial roles are confirmed.

The job role: To keep a bunch of underachieving, overpaid layabout frauds in a division above there ability.
The company: A divided management structure with a sentimental old fart talking about players from 60+ years ago.
The benefits: World class training facilities (hardly used). Close to international airports (for when you need to leave quickly).

That would make him a contender for some big jobs - especially those that work on an effective DoF model, with player development focussed recruitment. He's already been abroad once, so we're not just talking Premier League.

He would be risking a season or more in the Championship to leave Brighton for Everton - rebuilding a tarnished reputation - and I doubt we could afford the severance package anyway.

Unfortunately Tommy, Everton might be a prestigious job in your eyes but it's a bum job right now.

I would be staggered if Potter is remotely interested.

Dave. Come on.

He manages Brighton and Hove Albion. The opportunity would be to manage Everton FC.

It’s as simple as that.

Lampard can't understand us Norven carrot crunchers, Mourinho is a busted flush Potter has removed himself from contention.
So now we are down to Woy Hodgson (if he can find his bus pass) Slavering Bilic Uncle Joe Santos Colin Wa*ker.

If Martinez is brought back then not just English Football we'll be the laughing stock of WORLD Football. Why don't we ask Everton what they'd do.

Ferguson has been a Coach for 5 awful years. I hope the next Manager kicks him to the Kerb.

They've scored bucketfuls of goals, played great football, and despite being much lauded, it's not like their 'golden generation' was so much better than every team Just in the context of Belgium.

Their squad is always quite thin with average players as back up, and key players like. de Bruyne and Hazard suffering injuries at tournaments. Also, their backline was good 10 years ago, but no good young defenders have really come through. But a 75% win record is impressive.

Again, I'm not sold on him being manager. But he has done a solid job as Belgium manager.

What we want is a manager that will play good attacking football, someone who shows passion, integrity and someone you can rely on not to blame injury’s etc when we get beat. I would say Duncan Ferguson showed more passion in 4 games in charge than I seen from Carlo and Rafa put together. The running down the touch line, lifting the ball boys up, wearing Howard Kendall’s watch, tricking Sky into his formation against United away, celebrating with the fans at United away, beating Chelsea at home, bringing Moise Kean on and taking him off after ten minutes for clearly not following his instructions…. To me all of this is what we want! Passion… however..

Is it what we need?

Right now we are facing serious relegation worries. Is Ferguson the man who can get us some wins and keep us in the league. What if it goes wrong? Will the fans moan at Dunc if he makes the wrong sub? Or if we lose a game that we should of won… I’M not sure if Duncan is what we need but to me… he’s clearly the best option for now. It’s just crazy though how teams like Villa, Liverpool, Arsenal, etc all seem to of found good managers and yet here we are again… sacked him, massive pay off (wonder how much he will donate to Everton in the City, like he did with Liverpool and Hillsborough) and we seem back to square one.

I do feel like last year we had so much promise under Carlo, we had Digne, James Rodrigues, Allan and Doucoure etc. yes he lost some stupid games but I feel like we are miles and miles away from this now. Why did we even bother with Rafa? What was the point in the last 6 months? What’s better…. Nothing! It was a complete waste of time. We have let our left back go and then 4 days later we sack the manager who he fell out with. All seems so typical…. Everton.

If it is Martinez he will bring back Barkley!

Lastly and I know it will not happen so don't jump down my throat, I have mentioned my support of Bielsa everytime we are looking for a new manager.

NB: looks like Fulham will be back in the Premiership next season under Silva. Someone Richie looked upon as a father-figure when he came to UK.

We have no money to spend, are currently flagging, a club in chaos and even much less historic clubs have greater appeal. I think Kovac and Lampard would be mediocre appointments but why would they come here? It's only those that love the club that will stand forward at this time.

Martinez is statistically our fourth best manager and had Ancelotti been here much longer he would be higher. He loves the club and will no doubt have been scrutinising us closely.

Likewise if Dunc or Wayne got it they would have a clear picture of the task they face. Most are underwhelmed by the candidates, I am more optimistic than I have been for a very long time.

I put a fiver on him at 20/1. More in hope than expectation. Just the thought of us playing entertaining, modern football drove me to it.

If we are going for the full shit show, lets fill our boots.

What is Mcgeady & Besic upto these days?

I used to always think that the easiest job in football, must be, to be a reserve goalkeeper, and then Moshiri came along.

A Board which comprises of Billy Bullshitter, DBB who knows as much about Football and Everton as Ronald McDonald, the newly appointed 'Yes Man Sharpie' now which way do you believe this ' Think Tank ' (???) will take us ?

Says it all for me.

None of the current prospective managers are ideal and none fill me with confidence. The fact that we are even considering Martinez shows that the club is in a complete bloody mess and I don’t know who will be able to turn things around with the squad we have. However, Out of all the recommendations, I think Martinez on paper has to be the best option. Potter will not take the poison challis now and Lampard was unable to get Chelsea firing with all of their stars. Whoever it is, we need to get them in quickly so we can purchase some recruitments as Benetiz has really shafted us in that capacity having the club get rid of Brands. Let’s get Martinez in as an interim similar to what has happened at UTD and then look for somebody long term. Unfortunately, I am fearful of the future and cannot believe how on earth Everton have fallen to the depths we have. The club is a joke at the moment and all the pundits know it.

Benitez was shocked, and actually didn’t believe the agent, because not one single person had knocked on his door and told him Dobbin, never had long left on his contract, but it turned out the agent was correct.

Hating the manager is one thing, but not helping him out, even for the good of our football club, is why I feel nothing but despair

Yes Everton is a big job. Successful, your have a statue! Don't and get a lovely pay off!

The next manager now has to get wins. No ifs and buts! This is big pressure and must be able to tell players to work harder. Is this the job for a young and up and coming manager currently? We need more experience now!

The next appointment is the most important in the club's history! It's a crises appointment but not forever. If we are considering Martinez and Ferguson. Sorry no. I want big Sam to come in, get positive results and keep us up! This allows the board to set out a plan of appointing the next manager.

Gut feeling is Martinez has agreed to take over as his name has been mentioned widely! It's back to church and hope the great man can help us again!

Lukaku lightening won't strike twice

Martinez got lucky, he inherited some Moyes pragmatism, landed Lukaku and Barry, then proceeded to philosophise his way to relegation...if you're 3-0 up at home Vs QPR after 60mins and the home fans are booing - you're a deadman walking.

The one (only?) good thing Moshiri has done was to sack him...all down hill from there.

Even Man U. didn't (don't) have a clue about who to hire so went with an end of season temp, albeit a very fancy one.

If the choices are Martinez or Ferguson...well it shouldn't be Martinez.

Just like if the choices are Moshiri or Kenwright.

Least worst option - Ferguson for 19 games...how hard would it be to average 1.1pts per game over 19 games??
Oh and a nice little fist pumping cup run...preferably under lights for the full effect, with us cast as some over achieving lower league side who some how get to the 6th round, but get gallantly defeated.

Meanwhile - all the problems that got us here are still there in the back ground.
Tweedle dum and Tweedle dumber are still pulling at the steering wheel, like Laurel and Hardy.

92 percents not withstanding, while we're on duos and double acts; mystic meg and nostradamus couldn't say who will be in charge come July - on or off the field.

"Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose."

One issue I keep bringing up is who's going to handle the rest of our crucial transfer business in the January window. The previous decisionmakers are gone. And the idea that Roberto would be in charge of selecting our incoming talent should scare the living shit out of everybody here.

His previous signings:

Niasse
McGeady
Kone
Alcaraz
Tarashaj
Leandro
Byrne
Eto'o
Robles
Cleverley
Holgate
Macca
Deulofeu
Lennon
Galloway
Funes Mori
Lukaku
Barry
Sambou
Henen
Foulds

...and a couple of keepers we never saw.

In that entire list, two unqualified successes, Rom and Barry. And some legendary catastrophes.

I didn't want Martinez to go at the time since we had the new owner and dosh promised. However, should he return it would be to operate in similar circumstances to when he left.

Please please please just give it to Ferguson so everyone can get behind him and then see where we are. Get it done.

Martin Reppion @ 143:

'All this 'great first season' rubbish that is spouted simply ignores that although we were in the top 3 at Xmas we plummeted in the 2nd half.'

and

Paul Dewhurst @ 93:

'We did not finish the season great but had started well so got away with it, however we never got a run of wins from him after that first 6 months.'

and again @ 189:

'Go check the results after his first 6 months we where God awful.'

I rather think it's you guys who need to do your fact checking on Martinez's results in the 2nd half of his first season when he garnered Everton's record haul of 72 points in the PL for a 5th placed finish.

Our record for the final 12 PL games that season read:

P 12 W 9 D 0 L 3 F 24 A 12 Pts 27 (average: 2.25 points per game)

In that run we put together SEVEN consecutive wins, kept six clean sheets, scored 3 goals in four games, 2 goals in five goals.

The 72 points we won that season would have comfortably seen us qualify for a top four finish in 21 of the 25 PL seasons played with a 38-game season.

No. I don't want Martinez back. Just want to add a bit of truth to an oft-repeated myth that the rot under Martinez already started in the second half of his first season.

It didn't.

We need hard work and graft to do the simple things repeatedly well.

No trying to change our players into Brazil 1970 or Barca 2011 overnight.

We need a good but practical coach and manager, not a style or nice guy.

In reality it's probably a short term manager to steady the ship.

Ferguson/Rooney feel like pandering to the fans and whilst they’ll both be fan favourites, there’s still question marks over experience.

Potter won’t come and even if he did he’d need control which moshiri won’t give him.

I’m hoping whoever gets it can get our misfits playing aggressive football and bring back some pride, get rid of the cowards and make Goodison enjoyable again.

Plus side that’s the end of Paelladyce.

Fat Sam can pick and manager our defence, Bobby brown shoes can do the same with the midfield and Dunc can be our forwards manager. I'm joking of course but hey, with the clowns we have running our club anything is possible.

The sad thing is id have Martinez over any manager that’s come after him which shows the dismal state we’re in.

(He would also get a massive pay-off for failure.)

Sorry, not all bad, just read Alex Gray's sensible balanced view.

Will be quite an intriguing process and decision. And will it come before or after we find a DOF?

Potter has already (understandably) distanced himself so my dream of him and Dan Ashworth from Brighton is over. Campos? Monchi? Rangnick?! Zorc? Doubt we'd get any of them. Ramon Planes? Maybe.

https://sport.optus.com.au/articles/os26285/luis-campos-lille-monaco-transfer-news-juventus-real-madrid#:~:text=Campos%20picked%20up%20where%20he,and%20sold%20for%20big%20money.

Martinez.

Not Roberto. Diego.

What he did at Granada was extraordinary, and he absolutely loves the Prem:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/nov/29/diego-Martinez-i-saw-english-football-and-i-had-to-experience-it

And my second choice would be another guy nobody here has talked about... Nuno.

I hugely respected what he did with Wolves, and people forget how Spurs exploded out of the gate this season with three straight wins. But then they derailed, and not having been the guy they wanted anyway, Nuno was doomed after ten games. But I still think he's a fine manager.

For what it's worth. Nobody considering either as far as I know.

Alan Myers suggesting should go for Galtier.

Barry #230, I thought Roberto was the worst manager I'd ever seen at defending corners until Silva came along. We couldn't keep out corners under Marco because our defenders didn't jump. They were bent over rolling out red carpets for unmarked attackers. But Roberto's backlines were pretty bad too.

Not sure if I could put up with another stint of tippy tappy sideways football under Roberto.

If Moshiri and company continue to create mayhem, there wion't be many fans in the ground or on social media for people to blame for the club's demise.

So very true. Just look at the continuous negative comments on Live Forum from certain posters. Not mentioning any names, Ian.

The club is toxic at the top and brimming over with nepotism and corruption, the players aren't good enough.

I don't want to see these two decent lads suffer what could be one of the worst events in the clubs history, if the players aren't up for a fight. These two will bravely accept the challenge though.

I think I'd rather see Bobby Brown shoes have a phenomenal second go and tell us in the last day of the season interview how phenomanel the Championship will be next season!

Would that be where we we acquired that Dumpling Rondon from ?

I've got it now ! :-)

Hopefully they can persuade Potter, but heaven forbid Bobby Brown ones.

Dear Denise,
Since the email below was received, there has obviously been a major upheaval at our club, with the departure of Mr Ancelotti.

I appreciate you will probably be bombarded with emails advocating this manager over others, indignation over possible appointments, and general angst from us long-suffering supporters. This email is probably no different, but I hope to at least point out a balanced view from a long standing fan who started the Cumberland Supporters Group in the 1990’s, and who still travels – Govt permitting – a round trip of 300 miles every other week to take up my seat in PE2 at Goodison.

As I see it, Marcel Brands is our Director of Football. The footballing model we should be following is one where Mr Brands, and Mr Brands alone, has the final say on transfers, and identifies what and who we need. We then simply (?) require a coach and motivator to work with the team of players that exist within the club, with incomings and departures being the remit of Mr Brands.

While Carlo Ancelotti was the sexy name that Mr Moshiri seemed to desire, I am not sure that it was the correct appointment in that he had never built a team, or joined a work-in-progress such as us. He - and Benitez - has followed exactly the same path, went to teams with the playing structure already set up in only requiring fine tuning. Everton at the moment needs an engine overhaul. Rafael Benitez will not work. His underwhelming job at Newcastle proves this, and at the first sign of things going wrong, those fans that may have grudgingly accepted him will absolutely turn against him. Nor should we allow to let Bill Kenwright get all misty eyed about getting either David Moyes or Roberto Martinez back. Nuno Espirito Santo does not float my boat to be honest, as his back room staff demands seem to be yet another wholesale upheaval, and a raft of Portuguese players on the books of Jorge Mendes will probably follow suit. We would be starting again from scratch.

Mr Brands obviously had the word on the transfers of Jarrad Branthwaite (lives near me, and I played rugby with his dad), Ben Godfrey, Niels Nkounkou and Moise Kean. These are the players we should be going for, as the first three should become Everton stalwarts for a number of years, and even if we cannot turn Moise into the player we need, we will more than re-coup our expenditure on him.

Virtually every fan in my social media groups and those I speak to are in full agreement with this, and the unanimous choice of our next manager is someone we feel will fit the coaching requirements, and also has a superb eye for young players is Christophe Galtier. Despite his apparent lack of English, in tandem with Duncan, I believe he can be the man to work with Mr Brands to restore this club to our proper position at the top table of English and European football. We will also have a young, vibrant team that can continue even if managerial changes are made in years to come, instead of being left with dead wood older players with no re-sale value which were brought or bought by previous managers.

I’m sorry for the seemingly random rant, and I will be renewing my season ticket regardless, but I think the optimism created if Monsieur Galtier landed would be tangible this season.

Yours faithfully,

Keith Harrison
COYB - NSNO

From: Denise Barrett-Baxendale
Sent: 22 May 2021 10:31
To: Keith Harrison
Subject: A message from Denise Barrett-Baxendale

Dear Keith,

First of all, thank you. Thank you for your ongoing support and the patience you have shown during this most unusual of seasons.

The sight - and sound - of fans back inside Goodison on Wednesday evening was glorious. And, as our manager commented after the game, the role of supporters in providing the team with a vital edge cannot be underestimated.

Victories at the Grand Old Lady have been all too scarce this term – but, when fans have been present, we have a 100 per cent win ratio in the league!!!

It has been a campaign of contradictions - with our disappointing home form in stark contrast to our very impressive record on the road. As a result, the victory secured over Wolves means we go to Manchester City tomorrow with something to play for - with European qualification still possible.

There has been clear progress in Carlo’s first full season in charge. Not only is he one of the most successful managers in the history of the game, he is also the perfect fit for our Club. He embraces our Club’s values and rich history - and has connected with Evertonians. The prospect of his evolving Everton team taking to the field in August with the Goodison roar back at full volume really is something to look forward to – and we do that with optimism and belief.

We have one of the world's finest managers, our exciting new stadium project and, as always, tremendous and unstinting support from our owner and our Chairman.

And we also have a firm belief in the principles of sporting merit which make football a sport in which you can not only dream - but in which you can make your dreams a reality through fair and open competition.

As I have said consistently over the last few weeks, the very real threat to the integrity of our game presented by the European Super League has to be dealt with. And the future of our game must be protected.

When I last wrote to you, I confirmed that, in conjunction with the Everton Fans’ Forum, the Club was embarking on a fan consultation to inform and guide us as we contend with the challenges facing football. We are at a pivotal point in the history of our game and it is vital your views are heard.

The Fans’ Forum has gathered many hundreds of emails and letters from supporters and has also conducted a series of workshops with independent fan groups, including the Everton Shareholders’ Association and representatives from across the network of Everton Supporters’ Clubs. In the coming weeks, I will be meeting with the Fans’ Forum and representatives from across the fanbase to review the findings of the consultation gathered to date. The findings from those workshops will be used to structure a survey that will be distributed to you and tens of thousands of fellow Evertonians next month.

Your input into that survey is vitally important - it is an opportunity to play a part in helping shape and protect the future of our game.

With that in mind, I’m also pleased to share with you that I have been invited to join Tracey Crouch’s Advisory Panel, which will provide expert advice to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Fan-Led Review of Football Governance.

Rest assured, the voice of Evertonians will be heard. YOUR voice will be heard.

I feel honoured to have been selected to represent Everton and the wider football family and support Tracey Crouch MP and other colleagues as we undertake what is a hugely significant and very important review of our game. I will be proud to share the principles, practices and processes we have developed at our Club, and will take the responsibility of playing a part in driving positive change across the game – and representing you - very seriously.

So, as we prepare to bid farewell to the 2020/21 season, thank you for the role you will play in delivering a brighter future for our game. And thank you for being an Evertonian.

NSNO

Denise

Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale
MBE, DL, EdD, MBA, BA (Hons), FRSA.
Chief Executive Officer
Director
Everton Football Club

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Spot on Alan. Galtier + Luis Campos can't go wrong.

I read Denise's June response twice, and somehow none of it surprised me a bit. I'm sure when she wrote "the voice of Evertonians will be heard"... this weekend isn't what she had in mind.

Sorry about your Galtier dream, but as I've posted here before, from the moment he left Lille, he publicly proclaimed his interest in only one job... Nice. And that, of course, is where he went. He'll never leave France.

He'd lost the dressing room and arguably never had the fans.

Good shout too on Galtier, who I remember I was hoping we would get some time ago, but the Genius Board opted differently ! Like I have said in my previous posts, the fans (although divided) have a much better idea who we SHOULD get, to move the Club and team in the RIGHT direction, but as long as we have a dysfunctional Board anything could, and sadly most unfavourably will happen.

While I was never a fan of Benitez, and furthermore didn't want him in the first place, it's interesting that Banners have appeared advocating his exit (which have worked) but yet when the 27 / 27 protest was allegedly in force not one that I could see said KENWRIGHT OUT ! (Apart from my own )

Like a new Roller Coaster Ride. Sit tight (white or brown knuckles) nothing that's round the next hidden corner would surprise me tbh.

If Martinez is where they go, I'm done. What is the thought process that could possibly lead you there?

Utter idiots.

Throw it to Rooney. At least if we go down it’s with an ex blue and not an ex kopite 😂

COYB ⚪️🔵

I suppose it takes a dubiously credible alleged billionaire to install and then breathe life into our new club motto - Nil Satis Nisi Clusterfuck.

And who got him involved with us of course, becoming a mega-millionaire in the process whilst our club plumbs new depths? I'll just let you guess!

"Throw it to Rooney. At least if we go down it’s with an ex blue and not an ex kopite"

Joe, I remember Rooney's behaviour at Allan Ball's memorial game against Man U, he really showed his true colours that day, what a classy lad and true blue!!!

That's a no from me (for what it's worth).

I think you may have misread, DBB's email at the bottom was the first communique to me, my response to her was the one above!! No-one at the club replied addressing my concerns at the choice of manager, and believe you me, I was very restrained in my choice of words for Benitez. The thick skinned imposter still does not believe he personally was at fault for anything this season, and if we re-appoint Bobby, the same thing will happen.
It's maybe the Spanish equivalent of the Gallic shrug?
If Potter won't come now, get Cahill in to assist Dunc - who has his badges - until the end of the season.
If naught else, we'll die with our boots on.

It wasn't the "genius board" that opted differently on Galtier, it was Galtier himself. In 13 successful years in Ligue 1, he has never entertained an offer to manage in any other league. But of course a fluent Francophile like yourself already knew that, n'est-ce pas?

I did misunderstand. I thought she was replying to you, not the other way around.

I think bringing in Cahill -- who also has all his badges -- to help Ferguson is a capital idea. Tim has a much greater breadth of football experience than Dunc, as well as established international ties.

At this point in time we’re deep in the proverbial and facing the similar challenges. I’m not suggesting Martinez is the answer to all our prayers, however he may be the only credible option.

I think it’s time our fanbase got realistic as to who we can attract. The club at this point in time is considered by many in footballing circles to be a huge poison chalice.

There aren’t too many candidates out there who I believe have the belief in their own ability to turn things around given the names of those who’ve already tried and failed and that’s a major problem.

I'll settle for a New Board, and forfeit my Prize if that's okay !

Slightly digressing, but last year when I was organising the TW Golf Day, I contacted EITC, I wasn't asking for a lot just a bit of support and maybe a Celebrity to turn up and make it a chance for those participating to meet 'whoever'.

I also asked to borrow a couple of advertising Banners, and I was going to get the Local Press to cover it, and promote EITC into the bargain. Guess what ? Despite 4 or 5 emails, I had no replies whatsoever !

I arrest my case M'Lud !

In his last two seasons at Everton, 76 games, his win percentage was 30%. That's even lower than Benitez (31%). It's one of the worst stretches in Everton history. Certainly the worst in recent history. Consider that Koeman and Silva both won 40% of a similar number of games, and they stunk.

Last guy in the world we should be considering.

But the 2nd half of the season was 34 points from 19 games 1.78 point per game Not as awful as I thought but more realistic than your 2.25

I think I am not the only one who needs to do some fact checking pal

In that run we put together SEVEN consecutive wins, kept six clean sheets, scored 3 goals in four games, 2 goals in five goals. We also benefited Own Goals in 3 consecutive games on that run

Arsenal Away Lost
Cardiff Home Win
Swansea Home Win
Newcastle Away Win
Fulham Away Win
Arsenal Home Win
Sunderland Away Win
Crystal Palace Home Lost
Man U Home Won
Southampton Away Lost
Man City Home Lost
Hull City Away Win

The final 12 games the only result that stands out is Arsenal at home

It’s painful being a supporter of this club how unfortunate can we be Moshiri’s ridiculous tenure is on a par with Ashley’s at Newcastle the only difference he’s spent half a billion!

Unbelievable! Bill Kenwright and Farhad Moshiri need to go! The stadium wont be happening anyway if we go down!

I would never want Koeman, Ancelotti or Allardyce back yet would consider Martinez.

Yet, if you recall, he didn’t hit the ground running the first time. It took a few matches for the players to get on board. We don’t currently have time for a phenomenal Martinez project. We are not in a good moment.

We need 6 points on the board in the next 4 or 5 games otherwise we are going to be slugging it out with the relegation zone sides until May.

Martinez was prone to the sublime to the ridiculous. We cannot afford the latter at the moment. If we had no league matches and were in a Cup competition then he would be my man but that’s not where we are. Bread and butter points are needed and sharpish.

We're a soft touch, can't defend and the midfield is vacant. Oh, and those dead balls he doesn't practice.

Can you imagine Michael Keane playing under him? High line, space in behind, full backs miles away.

We're going down under this ownership. Its inevitable.

I would be stunned if we brought Martinez in. At least it would be an entertaining relegation battle.

He'd get more out of the current set than Benitez but whether it would be enough is the gamble...

N
Perhaps not my first choice because of defensive tactics. Can a man change? Evolve? Know where he went wrong and come in fighting from day 1?

We don't know the truth in this. Perhaps it will be till summer which allows him to resume his WC bid with Belgium.

We will see. Beneathus has left the building, with pockets bulging from saved wages from Bernard and James etc.

He will play joined up, front foot, possession football and will coach the kids. And lets get to Wembley.

Never forget the soul destroying football we played in his final season, playing like city with 34 passes, only to still be on the halfway line with the ball! genuinely some of the most mind numbing football I have witnessed as a blue, & as we all know, we've been served up some fkn dross in these past 30 + years.

The board are an absolute disgrace to the badge & it's loyal fanbase, ineptitude is an understatement. A basket case of a club who look increasingly like QPR before they went down, there is similarities, clueless owner etc.

Give it to fergie, bring in Cahill & let these lads keep us up & revaluate at the end of the season. Regardless of any long term plan, we just need to stay in this league, never ever think that we are too good to go down, this squad is worse than what we had in 1994 & in 1998, just my opinion.

The season is already a write-off, so appoint Duncan until the end of the season and focus on hiring an empowered DoF and putting new governance in place. He should then have sole responsibility to decide on the manager hiring.

One thing is for sure. Love or hate Martinez, he would be a divisive choice and we cannot afford that again. No former managers should be considered, because it never works and the fans will fall out over it again.

No matter who gets the job... we have not got the players to fight off the drop... Rafa was right Everton are a small club...run by small minded egotists...

“Our fans are toxic”? Is this your confessional after last season’s relentless abuse of Carlo regardless of results along with Darren Hind? How did your dream of getting rid of him work out?

All of us have seen Everton's best team and runs under his managerial stewardship, and we all enjoyed the brand of football he brought in the main.

I'd be very concerned with the defending this time around because presently we're a train wreck at the back.

But I'd be squarely behind a man who loves the Club, represents it brilliantly, is seemingly a very nice fella (which I think we need after the last jackass), and would at least play to win and go forward.

I'd also go back into hibernation on TW. There's people on this site absolutely triggered by Roberto. I've no idea why, but its foaming at the mouth, he'll ruin the Club kind of stuff. I just couldn't take the constant stream of vitriol and vinegar all over again.

I'll get right behind Roberto, I love the guy, and I'll dodge the negative juju sure to come his way.

I want Dunc at this moment. It's his time to see if he's "got it" or not. But if he isn't in the mix and we go Roberto Pt II ?

UTFT! Let's go.

We shipped goals for fun under Martinez so what's the point in bringing in someone like that to ask us to solve our defensive frailties.

Dunc til the end of the season, then Rooney if he keeps Derby up. Otherwise Graham Potter or Moyes in the summer if either of them would come.

Interesting fact on Rooney. Derby have one of the best defensive records in the Championship and have only lost 7 games out of 26 this season.

Ahem, 'pal'.

Your list is wrong.

You head it with the loss away to Arsenal in the FA Cup. We drew away to Arsenal in the league 1-1 earlier in the season a few days after the Bryan Oviedo1-0 win over United at Old Trafford. We absolutely schooled Arsenal for most of that game.

The true list is:

H WHU w 1-0
H Cardiff w 2-1
H Swansea w 3-2
A Newcastle w 3-0
A Fulham w 3-1
H Arsenal w 3-0
A Sunderland w 1-0
H Crystal Palace l 2-3 (he tried to get funky with the line up and paid the price)
H Man Utd w 2-0
A Southampton l 0-2 (both own goals against us, as you are adding them to the mix)
H Man City l 2-3 (both at the match and here on TW Blues were booing our goals and cheering City's goals as they preferred to lose the game, rather than see the 'bours win the title. Go figure)
A Hull City w 2-0

So my 2.25 points per game in those 12 games is correct. Calculated over a 38 game season that returns 85-86 points. Title winning form in many seasons, never mind top four form.

Nor can you count very well. We got 37 points from our first 19 games, 35 points from our remaining 19 games. Nothing in it, is there? Certainly not the complete collapse you implied, and most definitely nothing like your earlier claim that 'We did not finish the season great but had started well so got away with it.'

You are simply wrong. You were right on one thing, 'pal.' It was NOT as awful as you thought.

Unity comes from the top and EFC are not a unified club. Not by a long chalk. Benitez coming divided fan from fan and fans from the board and owner. It divided the squad too. If BBS turns up, this scenario will repeat its self. I am in the no camp for BBS, for reasons given in many posts above.

For now a temp appointment needs to be made. If its DF so be it. He will get the support of the vast majority of the fans and the players.

I have no idea how many clicks there are at EFC be it behind the scenes or withing the playing staff. There must be quite a few, given how dysfunctional we are. Its obvious to me that BK is the leader of at least one of them. The fact that he appears to undermine Moshiri tells me, that at least one of them will have to go before any type of unity can be restored. Maybe BK now sees Moshiri as an idiot, when it comes to football matters or Moshiri thinks BK is an idiot, for wanting an EFC of his youth back playing the EFC way again, ie the School of Science. Whatever it is, that ails them, it is killing the Old Lady faster than a double dose of cyanide. So please fellas sort it out before its too late.

After the season ends, then get the permanent manager in and fingers crossed we all sing from the same hymn sheet and move the club I love forward at long last.

NO!

Last time he stepped in to halt the free fall, he didn't lose a match. He had the crowd buzzing and he moved us up the table, but to listen to some on here, you'd think he killed a priest.

The chalice has been poisoned still further by Carlo, fuckedofflikeathiefinthenightio and Red Rafa instilling spoiling, zombie tactics into the entire team. Half of these players will have forgotten what to do with a football.

Mind you. the thought of " amateur " Duncan stepping in to reintroduce passion and pride and finish higher than these two cowards does give me cause to smile.
Especially when I think of the likes of Kinsella willing him to fail.

Hope to fuck he gets it

Unfortunately, the people who sacked the DoF a few weeks before the failing manager have the task of finding the right man, 8th time lucky?

Who says I’m willing him to fail? If Dunc wins I win as I support Everton. If he fails I guess my consolation is that you look like a plonker. Win win?

I would also imagine any Manager whether ambitious or not, would view the Job as a Toxic Teacup or a Poisoned Chalice, and it obviously isn't the easiest one going, although it does pay well. Which I hope the Board, if you can call them a Board (joke really) is to make doubly sure they get the next appointment right.

I don't think any of us will be holding our collective breaths !

What we actually need is someone to bring the fans together, unite the players and bring about a bit of fire and passion. Duncan is the man to do it, certainly in the short term and have a word with Rooney to join at the end of teh season. What he has done at Derby given the problems and lack of investment is remarkable. We could do a lot worse. like rehiring Martinez

My opinion is that we're not going to attract anyone decent until the summer so this needs to be a temporary fix.

Martinez? No for me. I was nervous about his appointment first time around. And besides that, I'm very superstitious with football. As much as I'd like a trip to Wembley in May and a trophy, I can just see him repeating the "feat" he achieved at Wigan in his last season there.

Tony, the squad in 1998 was atrocious. We were down there because of some really poor players.

The current squad is full of seasoned international players.

In 1998 the team that took to the pitch to save us from relegation had a total of 36 international caps between them. 12 of those belonged to 36 year old Waggy who’d collected the last of his caps 10 years prior.

He continued to gush,

“There is no magical ingredient to what we do at Everton," he said. "We’re a football club and we recognise the fundamental importance of our manager. And, when we find our man, we empower him.

“We support and provide him with everything at our disposal. We commit to our managers, and we’re immensely pleased that Roberto has committed to us. We want the best because only the best will do.

“Unswervingly, we trust Roberto Martinez to take our club forward. To use one of his favourite words we are ‘excited’ about our future. We have Roberto at the helm. Sólo lo mejor!”

18 months later we were leaking goals and playing mind numbing sideways football. Possession football in our own half until we gave it away and conceded . The fans eventually were so chronically bored with it they forced the issue with his removal. There were three years of his new contract left to pay.

So what’s changed ? He’s a bit older and wiser maybe but does his job with Belgium pass the “Nan factor” ? Ie Anyone’s Nan could manage Belgium, with their superstar squad, to do well in a tournament. He’s done little more there than was reasonably expected.

So Bill’s voice is still the loudest in the boardroom. He’s won the power struggle to get Moshiri’s ear, and we are back to square one.

All of which makes me feel completely despondent, if it was possible to give up I would, but it’s not, on we go. Our fans are the best and maybe the most committed in in the country, warriors led by donkeys. All deserve better, especially our unrivalled away support.

Ironically, the situation is better than square minus one which is where we were with Benitez’s increasingly erratic selections. And maybe Martinez is promising it’s nailed on that he can bring two or three quality players to the club if appointed.

Talk about clutching at straws!, but I’m searching for some hope here.

Even if they employ some boring old 'experienced' safety- first has been, I'm not done.

If I had the chance to watch a game anytime, anywhere I would. Even at the expence of seeing friends and family. I see them the other 6 and a half days a week. They sometimes console me.

I don't know how it came to this. But I'm not done.

P.S. I was dragged to watch Bath play rugby once. It was like watching the hippos at Chester zoo. Funny for a time with the yokels and great for the arl fellers with caps and the kids. But ultimately boring. Not an event for me.

So, yet again, I announce to the world. I am not done. Never will be.

I'm not done.

Get those planes flying above Goodison.

"Kenwright & Moshiri get out of our club."

There’s no solution when the problem is the bloke with all the money. We are doomed.

Rooney with Ferguson will at least get most of the fans onside, but that’s about it.

Moyes is doing pretty well.
Ancelotti is doing alright.
Allegri is improving Juve

I'm not in favour of this appointment, but it's not a write off cause of 'second time around'.

1. Proven World Class - They're not coming.
2. Proven PL Level - They'd be mad to come to this basket case club.
3. Proven PL Merry Go Rounders - we'd be silly to take them
4. Unproven but with relevant experience at a high level - your Arteta, Lampard or even Ferguson type appointment.
5. Promising at a lower level - example when we nabbed Moyes, or maybe even stretches to a Rooney.

To me, it's category 4 or 5 all the way. I don't just want someone else's failures. If we were looking for a player we'd try to identify talent. So let's do that with the manager.

Figure out what we want in a manager and then scour poorer leagues looking for the right fit.

There are a couple of blokes with blue blood in those categories. Great, if they tick the rest of the boxes, but they shouldn't get the job solely on account of their Everton support.

Good points there but as you can remember Martinez was worse than any other manager in how to teach defending.

We are in a relegartion battle now I am afraid and no time for pretty tippy tappy football that all Martinez will want to do.

We need Ferguson now until we find the right appointment, as Alan Myers is saying prefered choice of many is Christophe Gautier who is doing wanders at Nice and also did wanders at Lille.

Either that or Rooney but obviously with Rooney he does not have the experience

Bill; See, told you, should've listened to your Uncle Bill.
Moshiri; ok smart arse, you pick this time, I'm done. (if only it were true.)

Ferguson should be able to beat or at least equal 1Point per game, hopefully.
And 38pts should be enough, especially if we can get some new coach bounce.

We're reduced to this.

The expression “That’s pissed on your chips” springs to mind.

Another risky Benitez appointment will lead to serious fan unrest and likely result in relegation. I despair, and remember the late Jimmy Greaves saying that " football was a simple game " sadly he wasn't talking about Everton.

More than happy to take on your season ticket.

If Rooney comes, I don’t believe he will have any real affection for Kenwright, but I’d expect Duncan to stay on as our first team coach once again. I believe the club is going nowhere fast so why not give it to Ferguson now and let’s see what he can do.

Honestly that’s where it’s at for me right now, and after trying everything else, and I mean nearly everything, (except the most fucking obvious) then let’s see the club rise or fall, with a man who is an Everton legend to many, and a man who never got the most out of himself because of a lack of professionalism, to the rest of us.

It won't be a decisive as Benitez, but not by much, but it's just plain wrong.

Why would he suddenly be any better now? Plus he would be another divisive appointment (like Benitez and Allardyce). We need someone who the vast majority will get behind.

There is no way Martinez would get a tune out of this current squad as he is too laid-back. This batch of players need someone who they truly respect and who frightens them enough to put in consistent performances!

Only one person for me – Big Dunc. He is direct enough and tough enough to get through to this lot and get them putting some effort in. Give it to the big man! Look at the effect he had last time he was in the hot seat and not an assistant with his hands tied.

However judging by fan reaction on here I am being won over by Steve Browns point that we need a unified fan base and for that reason it's probably best to side with Big Dunc so everyone will put together.

I really thought there would be less hostility and a little reflection on Roberto's time here with what has prevailed since, even a so called World Class Manager struggled, and for what he has continued to do in his career (arguably Wigans greatest manager, undeniably Swanseas and Belgiums greatest ever manager and statistically fourth best on our list).

But when posters have told you he has failed with Belgium because they didn't win the Euros with defenders like they have, you just know he will never be accepted. When posters keep reminding that he got relegated once in his career despite his impressive CV and winning the FA Cup with a minnow like Wigan (no other since Portsmouth in decades) and getting Everton to two semi finals in a season. To put that achievement in context Man City hadn't done that until 2018 even with all their resources.

He said something like, “We don’t worry about results. We worry about performance.”

Well, it is only about RESULTS now.
Scrappy, jammy 1-0 wins will do for me. I don’t care about stringing 105 passes together - it is flattering to deceive without an end product.

Please NOT Martinez.

Whatever we do at this stage the is a risk involved but let's not do something that increases the risk level and unfortunately bringing back Roberto does that. How could any sane manager who has a realistic chance of winning the World Cup in December jump ship and come and manage us with all our problems. He did not have the know how to solve our defensive problems during his first term and given our current issues at the back I cannot see how he could sort things out now.

Our former manager was gracious in his statement last night and I am sure he could not believe the problems he faced when he got his feet under the table. He did not help himself in recent weeks but he did leave us Gray and Townsend and I am grateful for that.

I agree with the poster yesterday (I think it was Andy C) who said this squad is the most disconnected from the fan base they had known. Any manager who can turn that sad situation around gets my fulsome support

Roberto destroyed a sound defence within a season. We are now in a relegation battle that requires building a functioning back four - he is not the man.

In his favour I think he 'got' the ethos of our club and fell in love with it. But that's not enough.

Duncan and Bainsey for the rest of the season. Then make a decision.

Moshiri should play no part in footballing decisions, only accounting ones - and even then, given our horrendous financial circumstances, I doubt him on that too.

What a time to be without a Director of Football. A guy who was never allowed to do the job he was brought in for. Always overuled by the whims of a clueless billionaire.

A sad, sad joke.

Added to this Koeman alone spent upwards of 150+m during his spell in charge and the others were heavily backed in the transfer market. I’m guessing one would expect some degree of correlation between spend and performance so hardly surprising, though not in the case of EFC.

We can all be guilty of choosing to use stats which we feel support our own particular narrative, none of us are alone in that respect. You clearly are not a fan of Martinez I get that. However, I believe he served up a brand of football I’d not seen since the mid 1980’s and still wonder what he may have achieved if he’d received any thing like the financial backing of his successors. Your focus is on how his tenure ended my point is if he’d been given the financial backing it may well have ended very differently.

I've said it till I'm blue in the face, our problem is we cant get a really top player to sign for us, or if we produce one they want to join one of the Champion League clubs.
The players we sign are second tier, the players the top teams don't want.

How do you expect to break into anything with inferior players.
Changing the manager doesn't really change anything.

I can't think of one good reason to manage Everton at the moment, which is why it'll be Duncan in the short term, possibly medium term and then who knows. Even Rooney surely won't leave Derby to come to us now - that would be him 'doing a Lampard' ala Chelsea and joining us for no other reason than sentiment.

Rooney knows if he keeps doing well at Derby he'll get his chance at Everton down the line - more likely when we're in the new ground than floundering at Woodison.

Nuno is a maybe I spose, but again, why take up a poisoned chalice?

As someone just said on twitter (which made me laugh) was lets have Martinez now as he will probably be sacked by November so he can still take Belgium to the world cup

Seems entirely like paper-talk to me

You indicate you picked up the irony of my 309 post. Well not enough. In more transparent language. Spare the rest the sanctimony and flaunted grand exit. Just go.

Enjoy the fishing and rugby. Pipe and slippers available at Marks.

Short term, it's Ferguson with help for me. To galvanise the fans and perhaps get some fun back into it. Maybe Rooney in the summer. But no more old, 'experienced' has-beens who can no longer run or relate to young players.

I am working on the basis that whoever comes in will give us a short term lift and the few wins necessary to stay up.

Can't bring myself to see it any other way.

Could you imagine us getting to this position from where we were at the end of Silva's first season?

Surprisingly I find myself gently lukewarming to the idea of Martinez, who I really was sick of by his third season. Maybe it's just morbid curiosity. Any chance we could pair him with Davide Ancelotti?! That could be a good combo!

If we were to wait for the summer who would be the target that would be available then but not now? Perhaps it makes more sense but I never love the idea of interim managers. In short, I'm very confused!

It's actually Blue Monday today as well. Lets see a New Order at Everton eh?

So I'm back to Ferguson. He's got some limited experience, he's been alongside umpteen managers now and must have learnt a thing or two. But most importantly, he'll get you out of your seats, the crowd will be with him, he'll communicate what he needs, we'll actually use the attacking firepower we have got and if we are in a relegation dog-fight, it's goals that will get you out of it.

Then either Big Dunc has proven worthy of the job or offer Potter the earth in the summer.

We have half decent players who are underperforming. Shame Digne left and shame we don't have James because Martinez might just have got the best out of them.

I'll leave now...

Forget anyone for future boss just yet, poll based solely of trying to get a quick fix for now.

If no poll then it’s a yes from me.

No to Lampard.
No to Rooney.
Dunc - maybe give him a run?

Didn't they name the Traffic Speed Cameras after him ? (I'll get my Coat)

Moshiri is a basket case of an owner

What is wrong with this club?

To everyone else: We are NOT getting a great up and coming manger or any manager on an upward trajectory, Gaultier included. They will wait for another opening instead of taking ours.

Graham Potter said no to us because he's smart man and has a real future as a manager. Why take this job when a better will open. No one any good should want us.

The main criticism of Martinez, is that he couldn't teach our players how to defend. How about Martinez, with Jagielka as a defensive coach; Duncan as the forwards coach; Tim Cahill coaching the midfielders and Tim Howard as the goalkeeping coach? Simples [as they say]!

That's not exactly news - Jagielka plays for Stoke City now. He played for them on Saturday (and won with a clean sheet) so I don't think it was quite the shock to him or Rooney that perhaps people think it was. Derby are a mess.

Martinez would be an absolute disaster, especially with our current defence and I don't think I could bear to hear his after match bullshit excuses again, it would be utter madness. Moshiri take note ! There has to be some form of consultation with the fan base if we are to ever get this right !

Moshiri

As for those national pundits who beleve that Benitez was forced out of the club or could never survive the toxicity of Evertonians, I ask them to ponder whether their favourite club would keep a manager in place who had lost 9 of 13 league matches, would the fans of said club be rallying round the man responsible for those results - I think not.

We only need a new manager until the end of this dreadful season. Avoiding relegation has to be the only worthwhile goal. That is how sad it has become.

I am not about to make any suggestions because nobody really cares what the average dyed-in-the-wool Evertonian really thinks. Besides that, the only thing I have on my side is the experience of being a long time supporter.

Whoever is picked will be criticized until we actually win a game. I will always be an Evertonian and threats to stop supporting them are as ridiculous as those who think that anyone can magically turn things around.

Get the ball in the box more often, where things happen, is what I would like to see, forget trying to play the fancy stuff. Our defence doesn't inspire much confidence though, which is a worry.

Moshiri has been very badly let down by the so-called experts that have been around him. We have signed too many very ordinary players for too much money.

We should have enough though to get us out of the shit.

Moshiri has mismanaged us to the point that any experienced manager will only come to us for a lucrative contract and will know failure is an option. An option with a massive payout.

More import than a new manager, is a new chairman, new CEO, board members who know how to run a successful club, and a director of football.

Even more importantly, the club needs to rediscover its identity and convey this with the fans. We need to know where the club is heading and what they are doing to fix all the problems we've made up to this point.

Unless any of this happens, it's going to be Groundhog Day and we'll be having the same conversations in 6 months time when we sack the next manager.

We know that Ferguson can be a good motivator. He got a very good initial response when he took over from Silva, but he did only manage one win from four, albeit undefeated.

Being a manager, particularly of a side in a top division, is about so much more than motivation. Does he have the tactical acumen? Does he have the respect of the players? Can he build an effective back room team? Can he identify effective transfer targets?

I would be so much more in favour of Ferguson if he'd gone elsewhere for a few years to show what he can do. As it stands, we're in a relegation fight and are likely to appoint an almost unknown-quantity as manager. Unfortunately there isn't a laundry list of candidates and we're now almost certainly unable to attract some of the names that would have been available to us a couple of years ago.

We don't necessarily want or need a manager who can bring us long term success. We absolutely need a manager who can keep us in the Premier League this season, which would also give us time to properly assess our options heading into the summer.

Is Ferguson the safe pair of hands we desperately need right now? I have my doubts, but there are very few of those available right now.

Think it was mentioned earlier that Ferguson's reluctance to become manager when he took over as caretaker was probably down to him knowing that Carlo Ancelotti had been approached.

Personally, I am not sure how appointing Ferguson would pan out, but I think now is the time for him to be given the interim role. I can't see him and the team being unable to get to 40 points, which I assume would be safety. Not advocating that 40 points would be the best we should strive for but the current situation is what it is.

Ferguson and Everton is a little like Shearer and Newcastle. Unless Ferguson gets his opportunity, there is always likely to be a clamour for him by the fans to appoint him.

Having said that, it didn't work out that well for Shearer and Newcastle. In his defence, he only had 8 games to turn it round!

I can still remember travelling all over the country in the late '60s watching that wonderful team and listening to his show, and many records still remind me of the 1968 and 1969 FA Cup runs.

I digress slightly just to think back to those happy times. The key point is the name of his show was “Children's Choice” and I find the irony of that title and the current Board's approach to our choice of managers over the last 5 years too close for comfort. I am hoping and praying the next will be a grown-up decision.

This from an Evertonian in South Africa who has seen at least one game per season live for the last 25 years, up to Covid, and who was brought up on Merseyside and weaned on the Holy Trinity.

My despair knows no end at the moment but, much against my better judgement, I still think there is a tune to be found with this team, and just for Saturday, let Dunc and the Goodison bear pit do its job.

I didn't want to put the lad under pressure by asking him the ins and outs of what's happening within the club, that would have been unfair on him and I told him so. Besides he mightn't even know.

Anyway, I told him that Benitez was simply the wrong appointment, and that he was playing players who shouldn't be anywhere near the first team. Without naming names, he agreed with me, and I think he knew the players I meant. I was also honest with him when I said Kenwright should be nowhere near the club. Obviously he couldn't comment, but I got the impression “Silence is Golden”.

As for the new manager, he asked me who I would like. I told him Paulo Fonseca. His reply… "Who's he?" Jeez, am I getting old? I told him the clubs he had been to, and that he almost joined Spurs in the summer.

Surprisingly, Anthony said he would like to see Rooney given the job. I'm not so sure I replied. I know he's done a great job at Derby considering the position they're in, but the Premier League is totally different to the Championship, and besides, Rooney is still relatively raw in terms of management.

Finished off by saying I thought he had a decent game at Norwich. The number of fouls on him was a joke, and he said it even got to the stage where the full-back was laughing because he was getting away with murder. Overall, a decent lad although a bit on the shy side. But being in the limelight now, it's something he will have to get used to.

I thought I'd give my opinion whatever it's worth.

Martinez - No thanks. I don't believe he has what it takes to make us any better than we are. I, among others, was becoming exasperated towards the end of his last term with the slow sideways football and very leaky defence.

Rooney - No thanks. Hasn't proven anything, and more importantly will divide the fans again.

Ferguson - I'd be okay with this. Especially in a 'til the end of the season' capacity. I believe he'd get us the points we need to survive, and instill a bit of passion in the players and around Goodison. Whether he can do a job longterm or not is another question, but we'd know better after half a season in charge.

Potter - We have no chance of getting him, so no point.

Galtier - Again no chance. Why on earth did the board not make him number one priority in the summer... Blinkers on and looking at Benitez for some reason.

Kasper Hjulmand - Yes, I'd be okay with this. Denmark have really improved under his charge. Don't really know much else about him though

Frank Lampard - No thanks. Not the worst choice, but hasn't proved anything and there's no real reason to believe he'd make us better

Paulo Fonseca - Hmmm, I'm on the fence here. Not convinced either way.

Nuno Espirito Santo - No thanks. Would probably be my least preferred candidate. I don't think he's got much about him other than a link to an agent.

Jose Mourinho - Oh, no actually he's my least preferred candidate. A big no. Not that there's any reason for him to leave Roma for Everton anyway.

My preference of all these would be a temporary gig for Ferguson, then re-evaluate in the summer.

I didn't predict Martinez but still have my money on all my predictions: Moyes, followed in quick succession by Ferguson, followed soon after by Boris Johnson (now eerily becoming more and more available by the day!).

A bit misleading about Ferguson only winning one from four, Joe, considering the teams he played against: beat Chelsea, drew with Man Utd and Arsenal, lost on penalties against Leicester in the cup.

However, even if Duncan starts well, I think that we will be far from safe. Take a look at our last 8 fixtures and try to work out where the 8 or 10 points that we may need in order to stay up will come from.

Most likely it will be the results at home that save us... so surely we need to go with someone who will unite the majority of the fanbase and create a more intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams. Hardly the School of Science but needs must.

As with any interim appointment, the job would be his to loose. If we only just limp over the line or he doesn't want it, then personally I would want Wayne Rooney in post for next season.

Rooney has had to deal with significant off-the-field challenges at Derby County this season but he's made them very difficult to beat and is apparently very well respected by their players and fans. They're on a good run and getting them even close to staying up will have been a massive achievement.

Rooney's won everything in domestic football, has played under some top managers and is currently doing a good job managing at a basketcase of a club. Perfect preparation for taking over at Everton.

If we did get Mourinho, I think this shower of shit that we have would do well under him. No big names for him to manage ego-wise and I think he knows what he's doing... pus, he would attract players. None of the others would attract players including Ferguson.

The loonies really are running the asylum!!!!

Ferguson and Baines until end of season, which gives the loonies time to plan ahead! That would be novel under the current regime.

If it wasn't that serious I'd laugh. 😂😂😂

Your conversation with Anthony Gordon has only strengthened my feelings for Rooney as manager.

Perhaps it's no surprise that Gordon would favour Rooney given his reputation amongst players of Gordon's age. Imagine the impact Rooney might have on players like Gordon, Holgate, Patterson, Godfrey, Davies and Calvert-Lewin.

Add in his knowledge of those rough diamonds playing in the Championship we could be on to something – confident young players who are coached to be tough and resilient with a bit of flair thrown in!

The next thing we know, they will be asking Slippy 'G' to take the reins.

Talk about backward steps. Martinez has done nothing and inherited a Belgian team full of talent, especially the best player in the World in De Bruyne. His pedigree is flawed and should never be considered as our next permanent manager if there is such a thing.

Whilst Moshiri and Kenwright are there, we will struggle to compete.

We should also see what Big Dunc has got in his locker during that extended period. If he does well, then it's a shoo-in for him; if not, a new man should come in and Dunc should leave too.

Who is making these decisions at our club and why do they never learn?

It's a no for 'phenomenal' Bob from me.

"I am very happy here, one of the best run clubs in the Premier League, with a fantastic owner, chairman, CEO, sports director, great people at the club. A nice environment to work in. An ambitious club."

Just shows how embarrassing and fed up I am of the hierarchy of Everton Football Club.

More than anything we need Moshiri and Kenwright out of the club. Only then can we expect some sanity and credible decisions.

I'm not sure Henry's is still in the Belgium set-up, I couldn't blame him, even if it is an easy gig. There is only so much listening to that prat before dark thoughts take over.

Next, please let there be a next!

Yeah, I can see it now:

"Play your arse off, lads, and you too could play for Man Utd. I'll put a word in for you. Put in some proper performances and you too can go up the road to Manchester!"

Do you not see that happening? And I'm being serious. He showed no real desire to stay with us. Is he not the template for players to try and move on to other clubs?

Good shout, but the operative phrase is “sensible approach”. This is Everton we are talking about!!

I don't mean to be disrespectful to the lad, he does that all by himself, but he's not the type of person I would want.

My thoughts exactly, no panic button presses, like in the past, where, even when they seem to have deliberated, they have still got it wrong.

Rob @ 431,

Phew, I had to read your post twice. I initially conjured up a mental picture of Anthony Gordon 'dogging with his girlfriend' in the Park and you tapping him on the shoulder, asking him about the Managerial Conundrum at Everton. ("Not now, Rob, can't you see I'm busy!")

Thankfully, on re-reading, it all fitted into place! :-)

Then, would you Adam and Eve, it went according to plan! The week after, the same thing happened... then the week after that... then after that.

And that's his philosophy and he isn't going to change. Personally, I think a team needs Maldini, Van Dijk etc to play out from the back. The thought of seeing Keane, Godfrey and Holgate trying to do Beckenbauer impressions frightens the shite out of me.

This is a perfect example of the Einstein maxim. I've never slagged Blue Bill but, on this occasion, just fuck off.

Just because he's said he'd be up for the job doesn't mean right now – look at the way Sky report it, the wording they use is so ambiguous. Sky Sports News is basically like reading The Sun – about as much use as toilet paper at best.

"Martinez would welcome Everton return" they blast across the site – bullshit. He hasn't said that he wants to come to Everton at all. They just make shit up like The Sun do. He may have said he'd be open to it in the future, but that's not the same thing at all.

I just watched that and I was sat there shaking my head thinking if only….how hard can it be? Removing the obvious obstacles is and has been the problem all along.

Someone once said if you love something enough you would walk away. Clearly Kenwright doesn't and is just in it for limelight and the money.

The only logical choice is to give it to Ferguson, not just till the of the season, but tell him, "There you go, earn yourself a 5-year contract!"

I think you're right. I used to defend Kenwright but now I have just lost any patience with him. All his decisions seem to be based on sentiment, again because Martinez is a lovely guy, let's get him back! No football reasons at all, I don't think!

Alternatively, he might be the new hungry manager appointment that brings us success. Who are the alternatives?

You advocate Mourinho above. Seriously? Do you honestly think he would show more loyalty to us than Rooney would if he was appointed?

He failed at Man Utd, failed at Spurs and is now struggling at Roma. After Ancelotti and Benitez, he would be yet another "yesterday's man" appointment.

Link

There is a list as long as your arm of ex-players going back to manage their old clubs and being complete failures and getting the chop. It's just romanticising and wishful thinking. It shows how bad Everton's reputation has got when, within a year, we have gone from multiple trophy winner Ancelotti to considering Wayne Rooney who has managed Derby County for about five minutes.

The best reason for giving him the job is that he's a fan of the club and played for us in his teens before jumping ship to Man Utd.

If you were going in for surgery, would you want a surgeon doing his first operation or a guy doing his 1,000'th? Yet apparently experience counts for nothing when it comes to football. All you need is a tattoo and a loud voice.

Like it or not, there is no manager on that list outside of Martinez and Potter that has any managerial reputation at all and Potter plainly isn't interested.

Kind words for Bill and an honorary role that has no place in the board-room.. Appoint an experienced DoF to oversee recruitment, training and youth development whilst hopefully Dunc steadies the ship and either proves himself and takes the role full-time or moves on to gain more experience elsewhere whilst the new manager brings in his own assistant.

And finally, re-appoint Alan Myers as director of communications.

Please save us from the one with brown shoes...

The errors of the last 6 years are enough to make anyone doubt if they will get it right this time, or any time.

Much as we didn't like Benitez, it should be the board who are tendering resignation en masse. Until the Kenwright clique is gone, nothing good will emerge from the bottom of this pond.

When they appointed Potter, their owner said that they scout managers (as well as players) as contingency planning so as they are ready to replace any current manager quickly if need be. Can you imagine our club being run with this sort of forward planning that should be standard as part of any good business??? Nope.

Instead, we are left with a relic running the club like a corner shop. A good CEO, given the same remit as Levy etc, would change the whole structure of the club and mitigate the chances of us making poor decisions time and time again on managers etc as we do now.

Without this change, even if we do stay up this season, we are destined to be relegated in the coming season or two, regardless of who we appoint as manager.

"I think Germany have had Roberto Martinez in charge for the last 30 minutes".

I do not want that Spanish space cadet excuse of a football manager anywhere near our home dugout.

If this happens, then the sooner Moshiri fucks off, the better. Our Boardroom are not fit for purpose and we are becoming a global footballing laughing stock.

Darren Farley will be pissing himself (even more) if this comes to pass!

So why not just for once go down the Duncan Ferguson route, on a month-to-month basis, just try something different.

Rooney had no experience, until he took the Derby job, so why not just for once be bold and try something different. If results go our way, keep extending his stay, if we get a few months or longer out of him, then gives us breathing space. If he does a decent enough job, keep him on a short term interim, at least then, there will be no compensation to pay.

After all the managers we have had and failed, I just cannot see by giving Dunc a stint, how it could possibly be worse.

The fans will back him, he will get the respect of the players, but if we do not try for longer than a few games, we will never know.

I would forget Baines for number two; I would bring Tim Cahill in.

Why are we living in the past?

How did it ever get to Kendall Mark III with Beagrie on loan?

Why is it always a mooted return for Moyes, Barkley etc.

What on earth happened with Rooney turning up at the same time as Klaassen, Sigurdsson and Vlasic?

Why is Ferguson still here?

Why are we back in for Martinez at a point in time when our key issue is inability to defend?

We are the weirdest club.

He's saying all the right things in favour of the fans and should go for Fergusson and Baines as well as Rooney. He says Everton have done nothing since Moyes left. I wonder if they can get Big Nev and Reidy on for their views?

When asked about Martinez, he laughed and said, "What a joke."

Ian #420, that would be the best news I could imagine. Cahill could be a positive influence on the entire club structure, not just the team on the pitch.

Dale #466, hah! But I am now a huge Belgium fan for the World Cup. Thank you to De Rode Duivels for their intransigence.

This is the Premier League. No one feels sorry for you. Maybe staying on the front page a while will teach this guy how it works.

In summary, he's saying we need to accept our place in the world.

I know, I know!! But a sobering read.

That said it doesn't excuse 27 years of mismanagement from Kim Jong Bill and his motley crew, stumbling from one transfer window to the next with injured players coming back as new signings, the ground problems, the overdraft etc etc.

He got lucky with Moyes in so much as he kept us afloat. But my God it was a shit show.

So how do we get rid of them?

There should be a sanity test too, because nobody could have seen the possibility of a return of Bobby as a realistic option this time last week.

It doesn't look as if it will happen now, thank goodness, but that doesn't remove the feeling that our ownership and board is living in a parallel universe.

However, his last months in charge brought turgid football, alleged player revolt, sit-in protests and "Martinez Out" banners – including one flown over Goodison.

Since he walked away with his massive pay-off, he's had a part-time job coaching Belgium's golden generation. To bring him back when we are on the brink of a relegation battle would be ridiculous.

Thank god that it appears that the Begium FA will put an end to this madness.

Sometimes bad players make the best managers.

Marc #397 and Paul #400, yes, Gattuso is a nutter. He is also an excellent manager who puts out highly organized, motivated teams. He replaced Ancelotti at Napoli when Carlo came here. Won 46 of 81 games and an Italian Cup. But we would never hire him because he takes no shit from club management.

If this happens, I am truly finished with the club until Kenwright is gone.

We should be well off for managers then – there are plenty of bad players hanging about the club.

So it will be Rondon, Tosun and Iwobi (when he comes back) taking the reins.

In fact when he was asked specifically if he was saying 'No', he declined to confirm that and instead he just said 'I'm saying that's my answer'.

It's clear that if Everton are interested in him and went big on him he'd definitely be interested.

However, no doubt it would be easier to get the chosen one in at the end of the season, so if we can't get whoever that is now, then stick with Duncan and Bainsey for the next 19 games. We need 6 wins from that which, even with this underperforming squad, must be achievable.

"The reality is I'm at a really good football club that helped me. I'm not here because I'm that good, it's because I'm at a good club and I have good support.

"I have people that allow me to do my job, that give me support, give me trust and these things are important. There's an organisation around the club."

He has a realistic perspective of himself, and the value of a well organised, committed and supportive club within which to work in. And therefore, what he wouldnt get here.

This is a black and white balance sheet exercise to enable him to make a profit at some point in the future. He is not a supporter, he will never think or act like one.

I am heartbroken at what we sold our souls to, but I will be there at the weekend giving 100% to the team because, if we go down, we won't come back. COYB

I know it's unlikely and I've banged on about it since Moyes left at every opportunity, but I read first rumours of Rangnick now not staying at United after this season. Even the suggestion he may not last the season. He was only doing so in a consultant role anyway. I guess it will depend on who they have or had lined up.

Ralph the builder please as DoF / Sporting Director for the umpteenth time. Younger first team coach under him.

Everton won't phase him. He's taken teams from effective non-league to Europe and top flight with the backing of a rich benefactor twice.

And he won't have to move far.

What is the thinking behind that and why on earth do Kenwright and Moshiri think Belgium would do that in a World Cup year? It is mind-boggling!

A young scouser would like Rooney – I wonder what the other players think?

Of course he'd be interested. We always get the same old "he'd never come here" line every time.

Laughable considering he spent a decade or so claiming he was waiting for the right billionaire.

I just hope the stadium gets built and we're able to see it through in the Premier League and hopefully get it right. In the meantime, it could be a rough 3 years or so.

In the summer, we can probably be more ambitious. I think Potter will stay where he is for now and choose his next move carefully.

Looking around now, if it goes pear-shaped for Eddie Howe, I could see Newcastle making that move.

Martinez was sacked following a poor run of form, with the club in 12th position (with one game left in the season) where they reached the semi-final of both the FA Cup and the League Cup. This was the season before the club went on to spend £500m+ and finished: 7, 8, 8, 12, 10 - with nothing better than a quarter final cup game since.

Martinez is the club's 5th most successful full-time manager from a points per game perspective, behind Howard Kendall (based only on his 1st appointment), Harry Catterick, Carlo Ancelotti and Colin Harvey.

In the last ten seasons Everton have not finished higher than 5th place or got a return of 72 points or more. Both achievments from a full season under Roberto Martinez.

Of course, it would be easy to point out that Romelu Lukaku was also present at the same time.

I am revisiting my expecations for the club over the next three seasons and I would welcome back Martinez, alongside some club stability and the chance of a Top 8 finish and a good cup run or two!

Lewis #500, all true, but I would point out that all that success occurred in Roberto's first season. His next two seasons were among the most dismal in club history. He won 23 of 76 games, 30%. I believe no Everton manager has ever done worse over a full two-year period.

Everton can confirm Francisco de Miguel Moreno, Antonio Gomez, Jamie Harley and Cristian Fernandez have left Everton's First-Team technical staff with immediate effect.

De Miguel Moreno (Assistant Manager), Gomez (First-Team Coach and Senior Analyst), Harley (Head of Sports Science) and Fernandez (First-Team Rehabilitation Fitness Coach) worked alongside Rafael Benitez who departed the Club as First-Team Manager on Sunday.

Not sure if you had that in the States, but the Boy Scouts used to do odd jobs for people, for the old shilling to raise money, and the nickname for a shilling was a 'Bob'!

I'm probably reading too much into it but is Moshiri finally getting emotionally involved or (and more likely) was Kenwright the author?

On my walk with the dog just now I was thinking about it. It surprises me that Anthony didn’t automatically say he would want Duncan Ferguson as manager seeing that he works with him every day. Instead he said he’d want Wayne Rooney.

Benitez rolled out a tweet ostensibly blaming everybody but himself... but it's in Spanish. Can anybody post a translation?

Gracias a todos los que apoyaron desde el principio

We knew it wouldn't be easy, and that it was a big challenge, both emotionally and in terms of sport. My love for this city, for Merseyside and its people, made me accept this challenge, but it is only when you are inside that you realise the magnitude of the task. From the very first day, my staff and myself worked as we always do, with commitment and full dedication, we didn't only have to get results, but we also had to win over people's hearts. However, the financial situation and then the injuries that followed made things even harder. I am convinced that we would have been better once the injured players were back and with the arrival of the new signings. The road to success isn't easy and sadly, nowadays in football there is a search for immediate results and there is always less and less patience; unfortunately circumstances have determined the results and it won't be possible to continue this project.

In any case, thank you to the Board, to the staff, to the players, and to those fans who have supported us during this time.

My best wishes for EFC.

Rafa Benítez.

Hopefully not Bill Kenwright!!!

I was thinking exactly the same as you. Not once through out the interview did he say no to the Everton link. He said what any manager would say, ie, I cannot comment on speculation linking me to another job.

Of course, he goes on to say he's happy where he is, and fully focused on the job in hand. If he says anything to the contrary, what would the Brighton hierarchy think, he wants out?

That bit at the end, when asked specifically if he was saying 'No', he declined to confirm that and instead he just said 'I'm saying that's my answer', I can't work out for sure if that's a definite No, or not?

Brighton manager Graham Potter distances himself from Everton job

For a long time Everton were a club who battled on admirably despite a comparative dearth of resources. Since Farhad Moshiri became the club's owner in 2016, though, there has been a net spend of a little over £200m. That's not enough to challenge for Champions League qualification, but even after the tap was turned off this summer, the first year of Moshiri's reign when a cash profit was made on sales, it is not a level of expenditure that should see the club anxiously glancing over their shoulders at a possible relegation fight. Spotrac suggests Everton have the seventh highest wage bill in the Premier League; it's a long time since they have played like it.

But is this really our path forward?

"...it feels as though there has been a fundamental failure to accept Everton's place in the modern world. Cosplaying being a big club has simply wasted money. Clubs like Everton can thrive only by buying young prospects and then selling at a profit. It's unpalatable, but that's the reality of the financing of modern football for those who are not superclubs.

To do that, though, requires a proper structure and a proper philosophy. Under Moshiri there has been none of that, just a club ricocheting between approaches... The people who could have instituted a proper transfer policy, Steve Walsh and Marcel Brands, never seemed entirely happy fits. Walsh left in 2018, Brands in December citing “a clear difference in the vision and direction” with the board.

Perhaps Brands wasn't the right man. Perhaps Walsh wasn't. Ultimately Benítez clearly wasn't. But who can be? What direction is there at the club at the moment? A former manager has privately observed that Moshiri is unclear in his own mind, too reactive to the shifting tides of fan and media opinion. But until there is a clear vision it is hard to see how Everton move forward, and that begins with an acceptance of their place in the world.

It's usually written into settlement agreements that any statements that can be reasonably construed as being in any way derogatory to the former employer will result in any payoff being cancelled or clawed back. Which is why it's usual practice to take the money and say nothing.

His statement displays the arrogance, hubris and lack of self-awareness in the guy. Good riddance.

"So long suckers, I really enjoyed toying with Evertonians emotions during the last few months, I could have done more to annoy you, but I soon realised that the club didn't need my help in upsetting the fans as it has people in much more powerful positions to do that on a much longer term basis.

"Adios Bluenoses!"

Tony, interesting point.

They have won 1 match all season, we rarely see them even score a goal. Lowest goal scorers every season and every year exiting the cups early to lower league opposition.

Last week it was at home to Huddersfiled infront of a crowd of 7k. Even Burnley fans are sick of him.

Sean Dyche is a football neanderthal, no way. My wife doesn't want to go again until he's gone, next season in the Championship. Maxwell Cornet will be off, their only hope is him but he's at Afcon.

Potter will not give an absolute no to the job; by doing this, he's probably hoping he can panic Brighton into a pay rise to keep him.

I don't know whether Potter would consider coming here, Brighton gave him a 6 year contract thats commitment, and long gone are the days since Everton was an attractive proposition.

Also given our position in the league why would anyone come here knowing if we dropped into the bottom 3 they would be sacked? Even if they just stayed up there is no guarantee they would be kept on.

Also because of FFP we have financial constraints maybe even hampering signings in the summer. Moshiris turnover of managers in his 5 year reign is staggering and not one that any young coach would feel comfortable coming into that scenario.

You only have to look at who is being touted: Martinez, and if rumours are right they were prepared to let him job share doing the Belgium job, you couldn't make it up.

Not only have we squandered hundreds of millions on players, the money we have spent on sacked managers pay out is astronomical.

They obviously don't seem to have a lot of confidence in Ferguson as they would already have made that appointment, even if it was only as an interim manager. But maybe Duncan has turned it down, I have no idea.

But Everton is a basket case of a club and is it any wonder that the supporters, although pleased Benitez has been kicked out, are still very fearful of what the rest of the season holds for us.

A better protest would be for everyone to be silent for 90 minutes too close to the Bottom 3.

Let's see how that unfolds. If it does at all.

Dyche not for me, John. I've just spent the best part of 2 years moaning about a deep sitting defence and not playing on the front foot. He might do a job for us right now, but I can't see him taking on a temporary caretaker role.

To cap it all, Belgium reportedly want £2M for Martinez. No end in sight to this madness.

Fans will get behind most new appointments and, if results don't improve and the worst case scenario happens, then the issue will be Rafa and the damage done pre Xmas, or the focus will centre on the board issues, and less on the manager.

Whereas, if they can turn us around and get some more wins on the board and back to more like mid table then it lays the foundations for them to be given more freedom in the summer to bring in who they want.

Either way, they are likely to be given more time than someone like Rafa was ever on.

With this in mind, the board should be bold and go for something different and new. Not looking back at Martinez.

Although, if that's who they bring in then he will have my support for the rest of the season as we need to change the atmosphere around the club and us as fans play a big role at the matches and on social media to help make things more positive.

Vision, Strategy, Governance, Structure.

And the right people at all levels to deliver on that, not just think about the next match.

Why would we go back to a manager we sacked a few years ago? And why would he in a Workd Cup year leave Belgium? He is manager for a team who can realistically win the World Cup.

Why would he leave that to join Everton. Where is the upside from his point of view. Even if he had Everton winning the Premier League, the World Cup is still bigger.

There is no logic in this rumour. And you can trust my logic because yesterday I reasoned that Benitez would not be sacked a week after selling Digne!!

But at least I won't have to travel far to watch us at my local club Bristol City in the Championship next season. And probably Bristol Rovers not too long after that.

I think the answer as to whether Potter would consider the job or not, lies directly in the post above yours.

I didn't know Brighton had given him a 6-year contract, more fool them if that's the case. I remember Newcastle giving, I think it was Alan Pardew an 8-year contract. One almighty compensation payoff when he was sacked a year or two later, but no doubt some kind of clause would have been written into his contract to cover such a scenario, and you'd think Brighton have done the same.

Brighton will finish mid table this season. Won't qualify for Europe, and won't be relegated, but what happens if it all goes pear-shaped next season, and they are fighting relegation? Will they sack Potter and then be faced with a massive compensation payment? All hypothetical of course, but could easily happen.

I keep reading, and being told, players will want to go to Newcastle simply for the money. Managers are the same as players, ie, mercenaries. They don't give a toss about the club they are at, as long as they're getting a good wedge.

If Everton offer Potter double the money he's on at Brighton, and Brighton don't at least match it, what will Potter do? I think if it was me, I'd take a chance to double my salary, also knowing there's a hefty payoff coming my way if I was sacked. Win-win situation all the way and also a very good chance of another job to follow soon after.

Finally, you say Everton are no longer an attractive proposition. That may well be the case, but I think we're a more attractive proposition than Brighton, and money does talk, despite what many think.

We'll actually put three central midfielders in a formation that isn't certifiably stupid, and down to that single change we'll play much, much better.

I'd bet the house on the above.

I can't see that as our midfield players are just not good enough. If the three includes Gomes and Allan, we'll be overrun as they are far too slow.

Martinez: No. Only signing of Lukaku was good judgement. The other signings were like gambles. Will take us down and we'll be lost for a decade at least in internal changes and more manager changes.

Rooney with Dunc all the way. Training ground respect, off the field done it all, tactical respect, played against Messi and Iniesta, played with Ronaldo, worked under Sir Alex Ferguson, played when the chips are down, managed when the chips are down, hounded by the media for mistakes and handles it calmly (no worse than some government leaders, so we should let Rooneys bygones be bygones), captained in big competitions. It's all there.

Finally, if the lads play for Rooney and Dunc, with players like England's No 1 and Brazil's No 9 in the team, we'll win a few games and end up mid-table. There are good players here already, just need a manager the lads really want to play for.

So, as I said earlier, you can all put your defibrillators away.

I think you should read Potters reply when asked about the Everton job. He is well known in the premiership and is tipped for a team in the Top 6 when one becomes available

Sometimes money isn't everything, and as strange as it may seem there are still some people with principals. As he says he is happy with where he is, he is with a well run club, and enjoys working with the chairman and the rest of the staff. So why would he ruin his reputation going to a basket case of a club?

I believe that Everton will find it very difficult to find a manager with another club to leave and join them, unless it is for a fee that he will get if he doesn't turn it around and is fired. This, to me, if it happens, is just hiring another mercenary who is just in it for the money.

It appears that the general consensus at the moment is for either Ferguson or Rooney till the end of the season and, as Tim Sherwood said, Rooney may be a risk but surely he couldn't do any worse than Benitez.

Belgium must be bloody stupid. Best squad in the World and they can't win a carrot. I would railroad him out to Everton.

Hopefully this is all true and we can dodge the bullet.

Evidently Graham Potter is happy at Brighton. Wouldn't know who could do this job long term and make it a success.

Poison Chalice of all Poison Chalices. Any new Manager would be working for a Board of lunatics.

I recall from my youth that we came close to appointing both Don Revie and Bobby Robson at separate times but both processes were scuppered when they each withdrew when news leaked out ahead of completion.

(Amanda. If you are reading this. I can provide you with my contact details... 😉 )

I'm still not sure about Potter. Nice football, but I just don't see him winning loads of trophies soon.

Jason, but you can see us winning lots of trophies?

Methinks we need a dose of realism here. This isn't the '80s, we're an also-ran and have been for a long time mate.

Yes, we are fucked.

He will be selling Moshiri dogshit as caviar and clueless unfit unmotivated hapless individuals as ‘phenomenal moments', that the cacophony of boos is really praise for our chairman who is not but naked but resplendent in the finest hand crafted garb.

If this was another club, I would be pissing myself.

Maybe gone are the days but, when Walter Smith stood down, a young Championship manager with a growing reputation came in. Within a few years he banished those dark days of when will we be safe.

Yes, he upset a lot of people on here because he seemed to lack the ambition to challenge the very top and for a while he was quite defensive in his tactics.

But wouldn't we all cry out now for a similar scenario. 2-3 years of stability and knowing the big "R" is out of the question and then move on and up again.

So who is there in the 3 divisions lower that you would suggest? Who are the European managers in unfashionable clubs? And let us forget for a while the Hollywood managers with big reputations and termination packages to match.

My crystal ball had a little rub. Rooney has a midas touch in football as a player and won everything at club level. Hopefully as a manager as well at club level.

But yeah... who am I kidding! Even Martinez isn't that positive.

“How about Franny Jeffers with Jose Baxter as his assistant?”

“Most Everton fans would rather have syphilis than Martinez”

Managers with sense backing off – why would they want to manage a club like us? While other managers know what ever happens it's money, money, money.

I think we're utterly clueless and rudderless. Before long we're going to be up the old creek. I'm seething at the joke way the club is being run and we the fans are just an after-thought.

I don't doubt his ability but he's very comfortable at Brighton, why would he take a chance on us?

"If Everton go back in for Martinez, it's a joke, simple as that. Why? he asks, it's just a joke"

Well said, Vic, good on yer. It beggars belief that Graeme Sharp, who has just joined our board, has agreed to this. I don't see any rumblings saying the board is split or he's already walked.

Who, in their right mind would sanction this as even a good idea, never mind approaching him, for fuck's sake???

Our board are clueless. We are doomed if Graeme Sharp, Kenwright et al cannot see that Martinez is not the answer.

Even Vic called it: "What has Martinez won with Belgium? Nothing!!" he said. He has the best 11 players at his disposal but they are not a team. <>Phenomenal!!!!!

This club has never felt so unprofessional, or had a squad of players with such limited pragmatism, or so many people involved, appearing to protect their own interests.

Those rumours make sense Soren, because just like Kenwright, I've heard Joorabchian is also very good at playing Moshiri.

I can't accept a split role though, where he isn't 100% focused on us, and only us.

The last thing we need is procrastination at this stage. If there are any blockers at all, then stop fecking around Everton and appoint Duncan and/or Wayne – No!!

Don't give any indication that it's only short term, if it's dunc or Wayne then give at least an 18 month contract, and make it clear to the squad that they are the boss. Let them be as ruthless as Benitez was with anyone not giving it all.

My personal belief is the atmosphere in the squad is unbelievably bad because of Rafa's personal gobshite style…. players dropped without explanation, absolutely nobody praised when they do okay, micromanaged instructions drilling out any freedom of thought and expression, etc.

Despite all the negativity about players (even if still too many to be negative about), in Pickford, Mina, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Doucoure, Allan, Richarlison, Gray, Calvert-Lewin, Gordon (and hopefully the two new fullbacks) we've got the tools to get out of the shit we are in. The ingredient is a manager who will positively motivate them.

I think Bobby, Dunc, or Wayne will all do that… so just get on with it, for fuck's sake, Blues.

The plonker awards have all long since been presented and you cleaned up.

If Ferguson did get the gig, he would be trying to stop the slide which started back in March with the fella you happy-clapped till your hands were sore. That slide has not just continued, it has gathered pace.

Ferguson would not have any money to bring in his own players. He would have to halt the free-fall with the same players your boys didn't have the courage to play football with. In other words, he cant fail. Carlo and Rafa have already done that on our behalf.

The hilarious thing about this, is you and a couple of others on here have hammered Ferguson for non-footballing reasons. Proper vindictive stuff which has nothing to do with Everton. Now the future of the club may lay in the hands of an Evertonian you clearly despise. The real plonkers (you) are very easy to spot on here. They're the ones standing in the corner they painted themselves into.

You only have to read these threads to see the call for Ferguson to be given the job has reached something of a crescendo and that is spreading through Evertonia. Tens, hundreds of thousands will be worried sick to think that Kieran Kinsella will see them as plonkers if Ferguson didn't rescue us from this nightmare on a budget of nothing.

Win-win? Not for you it ain't.

In all seriousness I reckon Chris Wilder would do a decent job. Maybe Mark Warburton or Valerian Ismael? Or of course Rooney.

In terms of unfashionable managers maybe Ange Postecoglou or Uri Fischer or Sebastian Hoeness?

I'm over these defensive dinosaurs who offer nothing but dull game after dull game. I recognise we're not an attractive proposition currently but, after Ancelotti and Benitez, you'd think we'd learn.

Podcast on YouTube summed it up. “I was overjoyed for about an hour when Rafa was sacked... only to realise the Board have to pick someone else.” Say what you want about Kenwright (who I want out), at least Moyes and Martinez had positive periods. I'd argue every single manager since has been a disaster.

The suffering of us fans will go on and on if these two buffoons continue in their private pantomime. I have enjoyed many of the insightful posts above and as Jamie points out, the simple plan of a 3-man midfield will be a huge and obvious step in the right direction.

The pig-headedness of Benitez was his undoing. He realised that fundamentally the set-up was flawed. He was his own worst enemy, his heavy-handed player relations merely illustrated that his particular style of control-freakery would not galvanise the group, only split them like the fanbase.

Ironically, he could probably have sorted out the mess he inherited. The on-field mess was one he made worse. Change scares people. Players see their comfy worlds challenged.

Bielsa and his ideas seem to inspire his Leeds players, Her Klopp and his Jeckle and Hyde puppetmastery can cajole or bully his players. Martinez blew smoke up their arses and Rafa pulled no punches. Neither worked.

Players have to buy in to the project. It's so easy for them to down tools and get their boss sacked. The new man needs to have a vision, a plan, a way to play and open to give all the players a chance. He needs to keep them on board until he can get rid of a few. Potter, Ferguson, Rooney would all stand a chance. Our biggest problems are in the boardroom and the players know this too.

The problem that we are left with is that now the whole world and Danny's dogs know that our club is structurally unsound and the owner is slowly becoming known as not just the man who pumped in £500M but the idiot who paid various men to waste it for him.

We will find it very hard to attract anyone with real kudos.

But Martinez would be sheer lunacy. The current administration sacked him for fucks sake. I’ve never heard anything so fucking bonkers in all my life. Even worse there’s talk of him continuing with the Belgium job. How quickly Moshiri has taken a stable if averagely performing club to one that is now a shambolic laughing stock.

Personally, I think he would be taken more seriously if he didn't have a ginger goatee and a silly voice.

Despite being very unglamorous, he has achieved much more with Burnley than some of your decent shouts have.

His problem is that his tactics and approach is suited to average players, and it wouldn't obviously translate well to better players. It's a bit rudimentary and unsophisticated. As Danny says earlier in the thread, it's more depressing low block football (although isn't that also what Ferguson did?)

His benefit is that he can organise a defense, motivate a side and find a way to score goals.

I could see him getting a decent return from a 4411:

- Pickford
- Patterson / Kenny / Holgate
- Mykolenko / Godfrey
- Keane
- Mina / Branthwaite
- Allan / Davies
- Doucoure
- Townsend
- Gordon
- Gray / Richarlison / El Ghazi
- DCL

It would be a climb down, an acceptance that we're not going to trouble the top 4 (or 6) any time soon or even attempt decent football.

But having seen Ancelotti give up on decent football, I wonder what any manager is going to achieve.

Interesting how Anichebe is not keen on the manager that sold him practically as soon as he could.

Some good judgement from Martinez on an extremely limited player who somehow survived at Everton for so long on very lucrative contracts.

Yes

Would be a massive risk putting him in charge if it suddenly went sour or he’s caught in a hotel with his pants down again.

It has to be Ferguson until the end of the season.

Around 3-4 yrs ago I’d have considered Dyche but not now his team and style of play is out right thuggery. Football has now passed him by.

Dyche would probably get us safe. He deserves plaudits for what he’s done at Burnley but I don’t know that his style would endear him to the Goodison faithful. Maybe he’s capable of better stuff with better players but I dunno if we could offer him that!

To be honest this a mission impossible; even Pep might struggle to get a tune out of this lot so I’m finding it hard to know which direction to go in. My gut says Dyche would not be a good fit long term but who knows?

Fucking idiots all of them who sit on the board with Kenwright and Moshiri the biggest of the lot.

After Benitez going I was actually looking forward to a bear pit atmosphere on Saturday but if Martinez is installed it'll be awful.

I'm just stunned they're even considering it. They seem to forget that Martinez started the toxic atmosphere at Goodison and its not got any better since. Stupidity at its finest

I’m surprised you didn’t give Steve Coooer a mention. He has turned around a basket case malfunctioning Forest into a competitive football team again, from relegation play off possibles, just saw of Arsenal in the FA cup.

Coming up against our Wayne Rooney this weekend, it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top. By the way I’m not advocating him, just flagging up that he has made a noticeable managerial impact. Must be doing something right.

Anyway, I'd be fine with Dunc getting the gig for the rest of the season. Like many, I have questions about how sustainable his approach is (fueled heavily by raw passion, which already seemed to be running on fumes by the Arsenal match)... but it's not like I don't have serious questions about everyone else that appears realistic.

Andrew Lloyd Webber will be appointed manager during the international break. He’s kenshite’s bezzie.

At the moment, we're looking at a 6 month stop gap or (based on most names in the hat) someone likely to be sacked before the end of next season.

Dyche is one of the only ones we could realistically appoint now who I can see having a chance of grinding it out for much longer than 18 months (the record since Martinez left).

I take the point Clive #583 but who would you rather have organising our defensive set pieces? Martinez or Dyche?

This is not me getting evangelical about a new ginger messiah, but worrying about the very real limitations of more glamorous names.

I think it's also reasonable to say that the Goodison Park 40,000 would be less likely than contributors here to regard any of the appointments under consideration with vitriol. For example, Benitez got a decent reception in game 1.

As one of the 40,000, I'm heartily sick today of hearing self-appointed supposed spokespeople for the fans on outlets like Five Live and Talks**** pontificate as if the vast majority of Everton fans would oppose Roberto Martinez's return. It's not true, the great majority would welcome him back.

Utterly bizarre thought processes.

We can't defend now and we couldn't under him, he started this all off. We can't keep mentioning all of these top-flight managers who are use to quality players, not the crap we've got.

We need a good, pragmatic manager who can set up a good defence and hope to catch teams on the break and at least give us some stability. Search the lower leagues surely these types should be around!

Anyone who doesn't pick Rondon, Keane and Gomes would be a start. I'll be at Goodison against the Villa, hoping for big Dunc to get the crowd up and play some youngsters.

COYB – stop breaking our hearts.

Too many short cuts, not enough substance.

How about Erik ten Hag? We can talk to him in the summer if we survive this season!

In reality there is not a huge amount of depth in Belgian football, and without six or seven star players (De Bruyne, Lukaku, Mehrtens, Hazard, Tielemans, Witsel, Courtois) their squad is fair to middling. There are some good young players coming through (like Doku, De Ketelaere and Verschaeren) but they have an ageing squad and their golden generation is nearly over. There is much greater depth in Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, and England - and even though they may lack the usual concentration of “big name” players I’d say that Italy, Spain and the Netherlands are also in better shape for the next four-year cycle than Belgium are.

He’s not got experience? He’s never left the club and has no ambition?

He’s a huge Everton fan. The club saved his career. He may feel obligated to stay as long as he’s wanted. I call it loyalty.

How is he to get experience without the opportunity to gain it?

If I was Moshiri, I’d tell Duncan he has until the summer to show what he can do. If he gets midtable, he gets a two year deal.

It’ll be pleasing to know, if these cowardly fucks we call players put in a shitshow, he’s gonna give them both barrels. No commitment in training? You ain’t playing son. No commitment in first 45 mins? You’re coming off son.

Just give him the fucking job!

But having seen Ancelotti give up on decent football, I wonder what any manager is going to achieve.

And that brilliant point is the best argument for why Roberto is NOT the right pick at this time.

Anyone on this site knows I was, and still am, a Roberto fan. I've stated the reasons ad nauseam here and won't do so again.

But with the state of our defending, and how close we are presently to the drop, I fear Roberto would try to implement his brand of football, and that is not what we need at this moment in time.

It simply has to be Dunc. He'll bring passion back, and you'll see the player's effort increase. A more simplistic, but most importantly a non-boring brand, of football will be played under a fella who conducted himself marvelously in his cameo as manager.

There's really only one choice in my mind.

IF Roberto comes back, I'll be genuinely scared of what could befall us. But I will, without question, be 100% behind him.

But Dunc for me all day long. Right man at the right time.

Also Andrew @ 602 - marvelous points, great post. The depth of that squad is threadbare. One red, never mind a string of 3 games in 7-8 days in these major tournaments, hurts that talented starting 11 of Belgium. I don't know how you lay that at Roberto's feet.

Trained at Sevilla under Emery and Sampaoli. Got Granada promoted into La Liga and won almost half his games there, including quarterfinals of the Europa League. Currently unemployed. Effusive in his enthusiasm for English football... recent tour included taking in a game at Goodison and marveling at the sheer volume of Everton's fans:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/nov/29/diego-Martinez-i-saw-english-football-and-i-had-to-experience-it

I'd pick him above any of the other names I've seen here. But you guys see more managers than I do. Whattya think?

When Koeman was dismissed, the same situation as now arose, but significantly earlier in the campaign, and Unsworth oversaw quite a few games before Moshiri eventually appointed Allardyce,

I would argue that the board have to bite the bullet on this and appoint the best available candidate ASAP.

Offer an 18 month full-time contract to Duncan Ferguson and if he turns it down, ask him to leave the club, as his refusal would make it clear that he doesn't have the self belief or desire to be more than he is now and his removal, wouldn't saddle a new manager with a perhaps unwanted assistant.

The club do have a small window following the Villa game, but seeing as every point is vital, it has to be resolved by the end of January at the very latest, but how many managers are willing to take over at the end of the transfer window, knowing they can't make any changes to the squad as it stands?

To other posters regarding Dyche, I guess the point is that he's done what Ferguson is likely to do from a footballing perspective - but with a track record.

I don't want him as our manager, I want a progressive DoF and a talented young manager / coach to work alongside. I've given up much hope on that score though unfortunately.

I suppose there is some vague chance of that materialising in summer but honestly of all the names I've seen linked I expect all to last no more than a year or so.

Ferguson might be right for the next 6 months but that's it. I'm marginally in favour of him being our least worst option of those reputedly in the running.

I just find it surprising (or maybe unsurprising) that Dyche never gets a mention.

What a mess.

Dread to think what is going through Mykolenko's mind right now.

If we want to see the likes of Simms getting game time he's more likely to do it. The primadonnas in the squad probably won't like him as he'll be a "who is he" but we're more likely to see the youngsters getting a look in, especially the likes of Branthwaite.

However, I do believe that none of Silva, Ancelotti and Benitez are atrocious managers - and I also know that the behind the scenes situation at Everton is very seriously wrong and has been for many years.

Therefore, I have no hope someone like that has much chance of succeeding where others have failed. Not right now anyway.

The club management is the real problem.

I've said many times on this site that often ordinary managers get a lot of credit for what's been put in place at some well run clubs - like Wolves, Brighton and places like Ajax.

If we get the behind the scenes stuff right, we might suddenly find that our managers become much more competent of a sudden.

Fonseca, Garcia, Martinez etc would just be the next problem to solve in 12 to 18 months' time.

So Ferguson for 6 months while we do some soul searching and figure out a proper solution.

Swiss Ramble EFC financials

So get yourself over here and listen to the people who care most about Everton Football Club. The Fans.

The game was up when he received his payoff.

The players were onto his lack of interest in basic fitness, and our defensive organisation was poor.

Didn't his sycophantic side-kick have a row with some of the players towards the end? It sounded pretty toxic.

We are a joke of a club.

Two years on, things look a lot different, but it's hard to imagine he'd have succeeded if he'd come back then.

What about Christian Streich at Freiburg? Another leftfield option?! Has been described as a modern day Brian Clough!

Crazy idea, but I'm an Evertonian so what do you expect.

Anyone else will be sacked by the World Cup anyway so better to care and share rather than churn and burn.

Happy with Niko Kovac, promising career so far with big club and international experience.

Such a good piece, I really enjoyed reading it. He is a student and philosopher. An interesting person who I bet can work on players mentally very well. He certainly done well with Granada . He would surely be a gamble too far for Moshiri though, saying that no other names are dead certs either.

Another reason Roberto is not the right man for the job at this moment:

The number of posts vehemently opposing his appointment, and I mean in the vein of "absofuckinlutely not" kind of protest, is simply off the charts.

This Club needs cohesion from top to bottom, especially within its fanbase.

If we appoint someone that divides opinion, after ridding ourselves of the most controversial and dividing appointment possibly ever in Rafa, we're fucked.

We need somebody we can ALL get behind. Unity, at this juncture, is simply paramount.

Martinez appointment is a smoke screen. Wait for the son of Everton to come home on the white horse! Enter Wayne!!! Bill is a showman! Raise the curtains!!!

That's a NO frome me which is why it will happen.

This will get worse before it gets better.

If the board are considering him they are absolutely crazy.

But no ….it’s more of a case of Moshiri gets out of bed and goes that’s enough and then kenwright starts going through the list of ex managers he still has on his mobile.

It would be a stupid decision of course, but there's nothing in our recent history which tells me we're capable of making anything other than stupid fucking decisions.

Yep. Kenwright in true hollywood style pronounced when he took over in 99 that he would only be a temporary "custodian" and that he would make it his priority to find a new owner with investment.

22 trophy-less years later he is still around and the club is arguably in a worse place now than it was then. At least Johnson didnt waste away £600M for zero return.

This is what we're dealing with. The reform the club is crying out for cannot happen until he and his mate are removed.

Ped on toffeetv actually called him a cancer on the club last night. Strong words for sure but I think we all catch his drift.

Do they spread out this rumor so we as supporters would be happy "with anyone else" as a manager?

I mean clearly, Roberto Martinez is incompetent of running a club. He fits good as a manager for the national team, because then he is not responsible for building up the players (which he is incapable of).

If we want to spiral downwards in a quick fashion, then hire Roberto Martinez. That would be like throwing in a hungry fox in a disorganized henhouse.

We’ve got no choice to support whoever our enlightened sages deem is best, as it’s the support that will get us over the finishing line this season. But an 85% poll rejection won’t make life any easier for the manager or supporters in adversity . It should make them think twice before re-appointing Roberto.

No more Hollywood managers,
No more ex players with no experience
No more terrible managers
Just an up an coming manager with some real experience for a reasonable number of years to get us some points
Someone who can get the best out of average players and allows us to play some nice football. Someone who can build a team slowly and gets Everton and has some passion...right I have no idea who that is but I bet the board will work their way through all the not wanted options first...

Enough of this nonesense I just hope the Belgian FA don't relent.

We need a manager confident in his own abilities with a win rate of around %50 plus who can coach various tactical formations and handle the drssing room.

I said a couple of days ago that I didnt have the answer but Ive been doing a bit more research and I believe Ten Hag could be tempted. The only thing against that is the high failure rate of the Dutch in the English leagues.

Steve Cooper would be a solid if unspectatular appointment.

Could Pochettino (Man U?) or Simeone be tempted?

Is Christophe Gaultier a possibility (He was my choice before Benitez) but again it is a risk.

There are plenty of names out there but there are no guarantees especially with the setup at the club. If ever we needed a "Moyes" type this is it.

We could advertise the job and see who applies.

We could interview the three best applicants.

Then we could decide who was the best applicant and appoint them.

The club is in debt and sorry God knows how much?
Five hundred million pound stadium being built.
No player has a relegation clause to take a pay drop.

Oh yes 6 points off the bottom three with the form of 3 leg horse. We are in shit street here. Wake up everyone!! The league table doesn't lie. We need experience and style of football that gets wins!! Not pretty, but dogs of war mentality.

The board please pick up the phone and call Sam Allardyce. Stuff the snobbery this is reality. We don't have time for a manager to get to know the club and make plans. Points mean premiership status next season!

This is the most dangerous period now in the club's history. Very few big clubs like Everton ever recover from relegation. Do the right thing bill. Sam Allardyce must be hired for six months with a £5 million bonus to keep premiership status next season.

It's more like...

We could advertise the job and see who applies.

We could interview the three worst applicants.

Then we could decide who was the worst applicant and offer them the job..

Then change our minds and pick a terrible manager no one wants based on a recommendation from one of my mates...

People have labelled our last few managers Dinosaurs and maybe with justification because of the style. Maybe the realisation kicked in that they needed better players and reverted to what we had.

Allardyce. A dinosaur, but a Mike Bassett (shamed) England football manager type of dinosaur. Who has now actually been relegated.

I am firmly of the opinion that, based on his experience as both player and coach, he has a fair degree of understanding as to why the club, as a unit, is currently, and has been for some years, not functioning in a way that is acceptable to its loyal and dedicated support.

More importantly, he may have a detailed grasp of the root cause of the present woeful form and how, with the current players at his disposal, combined with the necessary slice of good fortune, he can halt the present slide towards relegation. In his last spell as caretaker manager he displayed an ability to be able to instill sufficient passion and self belief into the squad to achieve a respectable set of results. He may not want the job permanently and that is his prerogative.

I have to confess that I have not been to Goodison for almost two years because, living in north west County Clare, the risk of contracting covid 19, on what is a fairly long return journey, has inevitably made me extremely cautious about rail and air travel. Consequently I am reliant on the media and contributors to Toffeweb in particular for an insight into just how horrendous things are with the club that I have supported for just over sixty years through thick and thin.

In terms of a permanent managerial appointment, I am, however, absolutely astounded at the rumours, and I desperately hope that that is all they turn out to be, about the possible reappointment of Martinez. Of all the Everton teams I've watched in person I can honestly say that, during his tenure, things disintegrated to a level that I had never previously witnessed and hope never to again. He inherited a very decent squad from his predecessor and within two years had undone all the hard work of the previous eleven with only his overdue dismissal preventing a likely relegation. The reappointment of Martinez would make the club a laughing stock.

I realise that I am very much in the minority and will probably attract a barrage of criticism but I honestly believe that an approach should be made to West Ham for permission to talk to David Moyes to see if he could be induced to return to Goodison which he still regards as his spiritual home.

There can be no doubt that he has been the most successful Everton manager of the last twenty years. His ability to work within tight financial constraints and find very capable players at sensible prices at Everton is supported by the evidence. His record at West Ham has attracted criticism by a minority in these columns despite the success he is currently enjoying. I find this disparagement extremely difficult to understand as it is not supported by any objective assessment.

The club is in a very precarious position and relegation must be avoided if at all possible. Nothing is guaranteed but surely the focus must be on the appointment of someone who has solid experience of the Premiership and has achieved a reasonable degree of success. In the current situation the club's survival in the Premiership is surely the most important immediate objective.

At the press conference " I'm so happy to be back to manage this phenomenal football club with the most incredible owner, chairman and supporters - I promise phenomenal football that will make you proud and I look forward to amazing moments on the football pitch".
Jesus, Mary and St Joseph !

"I am ambitious. I want to succeed. But I am no magician. I need help. To be successful as a coach, you need good people around you - staff, board, CEO, the strategy of the club, the structures around it, the players. I have got senior players here who are so helpful and supportive.

"We have a fantastic chairman who provides the clarity, vision and support for us all and allows us to get on with our work.

"Everything around the club gives you a chance as a coach."

Well said Mr Potter, for stating the bleeding obvious to everyone not in charge of Everton.

Make Everton Great Again!

MEGA

It is, of course, blue. As all proper hats should be.

Derby County are in a hell of a mess. The EFL want assurance that they have the cash flow to finish the season but the administrator cannot guarantee that. They are under a transfer embargo and they had to let Jagielka go last week. A payment from Everton to buy out the remaining 18 months of Wayne's contract might save the club from being kicked out of the EFL. Unfortunately Moshiri is reported to want the "special one"

A brilliant player/scorer/playmaker in his entire career, Charlton was found out to be a mediocre manager at best.

Rooney has addressed basic shortfalls in the players at lowly Derby County admittedly but how that equates with getting any sort of successful tune out of an Everton squad he showed his contempt towards when trying to allegedly get sex whilst "injured" from an alleged lass-on-the-make is beyond me. The squad will remember this.

The squad is now the obviously dysfunctional product of five or six (who's counting by now?) managers kow-towing to ineptitude above them.

Is there therefore a credible manager on the planet with the proven credentials to make things right before the so-called (yet to be funded) "glittering prize to ensure our future as a viable European contender" stadium even begins to rise from the sand?

Let me know folks, because I think the last viable contender was crucified 33 years less (allegedly) than 2022 years ago.

That's the depth of the shit our top brass have engulfed us in.

If Moshiri wants Mourinho he's either certifiably insane or a crack head. His wages alone are beyond our budget. The fact he makes Rafa's football seem exciting is the icing on the cake.

Darren Hinds loved to call Carlo a busted flush but Jose is more like an overflowing cess pit. He had success with a dour style at the end of the Man Utd and Rivaldo's Barcelona all-out attack era. Now he's just a washed up bitter old man with no plan B.

We are in a bad way, it is obvious, but understand what the board is trying to do. Support them. We need to be together here. This is tearing me apart to see so many fans hate what is going on.

Did you disagree with the appointments of Martinez, Koeman, Silva, and Ancelotti at the time? Of course not. Sam was always a stop gap. Rafa was a gamble that sadly did not pay off. I wish it had but it didn't.

Yes, it has not turned out the way we want, but please, we need to stick together, back to the hilt whomever the board select as our manager. If it is Roberto, support him. Get rid of those banners.

We are getting a new stadium, don't forget that and don't forget who is getting us that stadium. Do you remember the King's Dock fiasco? The ridiculous Kirkby move. They have the best interest in our success. Get it. understand it.

I live in the USA now and I wish so much I could be at Goodison Park on game days. But I can't. So, get behind the team, get behind the manager, and get behind the club.

That is brilliant! Too funny.

I think we all need to recognise there's a variety of opinions. There's also a section of fans who really couldn't give a rats arse about a new stadium, or long term commercial vision etc, but rather want the instant gratification of a win on a Saturday against the likes of Brighton or Norwich, followed by a decent night on the ale in town after.

In my view, the next banners to appear will be against the owner. He's been tone deaf to the views of fans for a while now. Whether Martinez has "learned and developed" as some might have us believe, a lot will regard it as a retrograde step.

If only we had a decent team to take our minds of all of this tumult within the corridors of Goodison.

The current priority is the appointment of a manager whose first job is to avoid relegation and going backwards to a manager who couldn't save Wigan when they needed something like 4 points from their last 3 games does not seem to be the right appointment and I have no qualms saying so.

As for support of previous managerial appointments, I wanted them all to succeed as it means Everton succeed. I had my doubts about Martinez first appointment as he had just seen his last club relegated. Similarly with Silva as he had seen Hull relegated and Watford were not in a great position.
I was more willing to see Koeman given the job but it soon became clear with his man-management and then lack of application to the job that he had to be replaced although some of that may have been because of interference from the same Boardroom that is now searching for a new manager.

Yes, I want a total clear out and reorganization of the club at all levels but that is not the immediate problem which is not being helped by what seems poor, knee jerk appointments for the position of improving the core business, results on the pitch. And I don't see sitting quietly and hiding our disappointment as any sort of answer and which, hopefully, the club is monitoring.

I've also been following Everton since the early 70s so I’ve seen my fair share of shite. I always back the club even when I don't agree with the manager, especially Martinez Mk 1. I didn't see what the bloke could offer the club but backed him because he was our manager.

Doesn't please me to be proved right; however, if the club are going to make that mistake again, then that's just negligence. I don't see what the board is trying to do apart from trying to rip the fanbase apart at the seams.

This is not the fans’ fault, all this is on the board for making awful appointments and sanctioning awful transfers. We are in a shit load of trouble and it’s entirely their own making.

We have a right to finally say enough us enough. This is our club, they are just custodians, we deserve better than this. We turn up and pack the stadium week after week and always fill our away section. We can't just blindly back every move they make especially when we are in such a mess.

They've managed to turn a well run, competitive club into a laughing stock in 6 short years. Enough is enough.

NB I’d prefer someone ‘like him’ rather than who is him, but he’d still be a breadth of air given the dross we’ve had since. The idea of a hate mob trying to stop him coming in is for ToffeeWeb not real world.

I'd like to suggest players who should be omitted from the shit heap.

Pickford, Vytalli (sorry if I got spelling wrong), Paterson, Allan, Doucoure, King, Godfrey, Townsend, Richarlisson, DCL and perhaps Seamus (he's ageing but has been a good, true blue). With these players there is a decent base to build upon.

Coming back to the manager, I don't want Martinez on the "you never go backwards" principle. If he has the balls he should say to Everton -Go to the far end of the queue - i.e. Far que! anyhow.

For the life of me, I think very few decent candidates would apply. So, I suggest giving the caretaker role to Duncan until the end of the season. Problem I see here is that most managers now seem to bring in their own entourage of backroom staff and Dunc possibly doesn't have this.

We might have an ET situation - IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?

Not starting the 2 named defenders will save us a few goals.

Seeing as there has been a lot of talk on here and elsewhere of an ongoing war within the corridors of power for a few months, would it be beyond the realms of fantasy to see a certain chairman up to his old tricks?

As I said it is all most likely a made up story and has little substance, but it is concerning that at a time when we all need to be laser focussed on the results of the team, that there could be more discord at the top than any of us may have imagined.

I have no doubt he has matured as a manager but he was sacked and left under a cloud and not only that, he sued us!! So, sadly, it’s a NO from me.

We have to be bold. No more Hollywood managers. No more flavours of the month. Rooney and Ferguson or, Ferguson and Rooney. They will die for this club and won’t see us as a stepping stone or a free meal ticket.

Potter would be amazing but like posters above have shown with his quotes, there's no way he'd come to us right now and I'd probably question his judgement if he did.

Forget this big name crap, we need to look for the next Potter, someone who can build a club. For once, think outside the box a bit rather than take the next one of the tired old names that are trotted out when we sack the manager once a year.

When you see Wolves doing well with Lage for example, I wonder whether our board would have even heard of him or bothered with him.

I can't profess to be an expert on managers but then I'm not a board member of a Premier League club, they should surely be able to do something more imaginative than a man we fired 6 years ago or Benitez mk.2 in Mourinho.

I think we should be looking at someone like Steve Cooper. It doesn't have to be him but surely someone young, hungry and innovative rather than the tired old usual shit.

But I have absolutely zero faith in the board to makea bold decision, it's like they just have a list of a few names on a scrap of paper that Moshiri wrote when he first took over and he won't make any changes to it.

In the short erm I'd just give it to Duncan for the rest of the season, he'd keep us up just by scaring the shit out of the players. That'd buy us some time to try and start on the clearing up the boardroom dysfunction and get a proper manager setup to come in the summer.

I've been slowly falling out of love with the Premier League and even Everton over the last few years, if we appointed Mourinho I honestly think that might be it for me.

Barry don’t worry about the team getting supported on Saturday we really love this club and know the wretched state we are in so all of us will be roaring our heads off trying to get a vital win.

I know, this is...

I don't mean on here necessarily but even as clickbait. Totally lacking in charisma of course, but then when did charisma win anything? It seems Moshiri is seduced by charisma when you think about it – Martinez? Ancelotti? Koeman? Silva? – but no to Moyes, Potter etc.

Just pondering, like, and as I say not advocating but it crossed my mind while we're mooting all sorts of ideas worthy of a David Lynch production..

Thanks for correcting me – Gray and I can't blame auto spell, only senior citizen syndrome!

BTW. Has anybody worked out why the hell Benitez would have picked Rondon for the Norwich game? The guy must have been on something "weerd" to think this would not have had him sacked!

From my previous postings you might know that I am no fan of Keane. I feel he is generally weak and indecisive plus very seldom plays out to one of his own team. I think we need to replace him with a strong, tall central defender, with great character and significant pace.

How many ex-players have gone on to lead their clubs to great progress and success in the modern era? Pep is the obvious example but then he did just as well at Bayern and Man City. Zidane perhaps? There's certainly a lot of cases where it didn't help.

Yes it may get the crowd behind them initially and that can be useful (especially in our situation) but results and to a degree performance will dictate ultimately.

As interim, of course, Ferguson makes sense but for a longer contract the job must be awarded on the basis of someone's management credentials rather than their history or affinity with the club. We must let go of romantic notions.

If Ferguson does well over the next few games, then perhaps that adds to his decent showing last time but such appointments go wrong more often than they go right. For my money, he needs to prove himself at another club before getting the job full-time.

I'm not saying that replicating this in the modern era will lead to success, far from it, but I think the club would be better off going down this route, for a while at least before bringing in some other fella who talks about “projects”.

Beyond that, a Potter or a Rangnick would still need lots of time to turn it around and even then I don't think we have the right structures (yet) in place to make it work.

At Arsenal he had no power and so it must have been all so easy – turn up, drinks in the boardroom, status, admiration from peers, meeting famous people. Now he's got to sort out this shit show. No thanks.

Surely there's a bunch of human rights abusing autocrats out there who'll buy it off him! Dammit, Newcastle got there first. How about that guy in Belarus?

I'm not convinced it's Lage that deserves credit for Wolves this season.

I just see Wolves as a very well run club, with a clear and successful agent-led recruitment strategy.

Obviously the players need to be organised into a team but it's all very cohesive and everyone is pulling together.

I'm not convinced Lage is a better coach particularly than Benitez. He's just at a better run club. We're a very badly run club. I'm not convinced at all that Lage would have achieved good things with Everton had he been appointed.

I'm coming to the opinion that we should take our time, we have a squad to avoid relegation and Dunc deserves a shot here.

It doesn't really matter, I don't know much about him and he could be rubbish for all I know. It was more just using him as an example of a bit of creative thinking rather than going for tired old names. And whether it's him or the board, it seems to be paying off.

When will it ever end?

Now this Martinez link has his emotional dabs all over it. Another lazy call with no vision for the future. Just a stab at the past with someone he knows won't say boo to a goose.

Nothing new or profound in this post. Just another Blue who knows even if Pep was appointed, nothing would change until we somehow force him out.

That's fucked that then! Don't waste your time, Frank.

Or, if common sense prevails and he's given till the end of the season, then the cards will fall as they may. If so, we can exorcise this theory that Dunc is or isn't the answer.

I hope we don't pay the ultimate price but I have a feeling (or hope) that he's more savvy and ready than we think.

Will this self-governance come to the obvious conclusion that Kenwright, the CEO, and all he employs need to be replaced?

Turkeys voting for Xmas. We can dream...

Too risky, as it will get terribly nasty if we don't improve under him i.e. he has learnt nothing.

I am still scarred by the first half of the FA CUP Semi and a capitulation at home to Watford, that I think was Phil Neville's effective last 'stand'.

Firstly, is he experienced enough and the type to get us out of the situation we're in? Although I would imagine the players would respect him, possibly not right for right now. Mark down.

Secondly, he promotes the introduction of young players. That could be both ours and maybe getting others from Chelsea, even if on loan. Mark up.

And here's a final thought to put out there. Lampard brings in Rooney as his second. Debatable that now, having had a taste of being number one, Rooney would go for that. But he might as he kind of got thrown in at the deep end and probably wasn't planning it so soon. And its Everton. That's a don't know.

So, with my basic voting system, I'm proper on the fence with that one!! Feels like a summer appointment again.

You have reminded me about what they used to say in the BBC whenever things went wrong:

"Deputy Heads will roll."

In fact that reminds me of many years prior standing on the Gwladys Terrace when an out-of-sorts Everton, with 4 full backs across the back 4, lost at home 1-5 to Norwich, and the guy in the other dugout was to become our next manager.

So if the credentials for the new manager is you must've given us a hiding on our own turf, there should be no end of candidates. Just not Ranieri either please.

2) Ronald Koeman was a freeloading baboon and should not have been touched by Everton with a 10-feet pole. He didn't leave behind anything good.

3) Sam Allardyce: He was the most sensible appointment but it seems the Board has something against British coaches. They should've given him another season and I am sure he would have done wonders.

4) Marco Silva: Really don't know why in God's world did the Board appoint this clown. I really really cannot comprehend his appointment. It's like the Board had gone insane and decided to appoint crap managers just to prove a point.

5) Carlo Ancelotti: He was a scoop but he could not wait to leave the Club on the count that he knew things were heading South in the coming season. Lucky bastard.

6) Rafael Benitez: I really think senility was starting to set on him. I think Farhad was unlucky in that sense. He should have told Benitez to undergo a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation before appointing him. If it had been the Benitez of 10 years ago, maybe things would have been different.

I mean right from the get-go, this dude was feuding with the players. He was feuding with Jamie Rodriguez from the start and basically forced him out. Then with Brands and then with Bernard and finally with Lucas Digne,

It's the classic sign of senility setting in when the slightest thing sets him off. It was not the same Benitez that we have known all these years.

The Esk: Profit and Sustainability

Moyes was not successful as Everton manager, except in stringing Kenwright along and in convincing a significant wedge of fans that being regarded as the 'Best of the Rest' passed for success in the eyes of those who'd accepted that was the limit of any fan's reasonable expectations for pluky little Everton.

Let's not perpetuate this lie about him being a success for us in any way. We never won even a single domestic trophy; we were just a little bit better than we are now. That is all.