The Fall of Everton in the Post-David Moyes Era

Everton, one of the most successful clubs in English football history, have experienced a significant decline in recent years. This decline began after David Moyes left the club to join Manchester United in 2013.

Moyes had spent 11 years at Everton, transforming the club from a mid-table team into a regular European challenger. He led the Toffees to two FA Cup finals and two Europa League campaigns during his tenure. However, his departure was the beginning of a turbulent period for the club. Everton have had six permanent managers since Moyes left, and none of them have been able to replicate his success. In this article, we will discuss why Everton has been doing poorly lately and how they can improve, all while considering Premier League predictions for the future.

Roberto Martinez was the first manager to replace Moyes. He initially enjoyed some success, leading Everton to a fifth-place finish in his first season. However, the club's form declined in the following seasons, and Martinez was sacked in 2016. Ronald Koeman was appointed as Martinez's replacement. He spent two years at Everton, but his time at the club was marred by inconsistency. Koeman was sacked in 2017 after a poor start to the season. Sam Allardyce was then appointed as Koeman's replacement. Marco Silva was appointed as Allardyce's replacement in 2018. He spent two years at the club, but he was unable to turn things around. Silva was sacked in 2019 after a poor start to the season. 

Carlo Ancelotti was then appointed as Silva's replacement. He enjoyed a successful first season at Everton, leading the club to a tenth-place finish and a place in the Europa League. However, he left the club to join Real Madrid in 2021. Rafael Benitez was appointed as Ancelotti's replacement. He was a controversial appointment, and he was unable to win over the fans. Benitez was sacked after just six months in charge. Frank Lampard was then appointed as Benitez's replacement.  Even he was sacked and was replaced by Sean Dyche last season, who has had a torrid start this season as well 

Scrutinizing Everton's Decline

Now, let's dissect the key factors that have contributed to Everton's current plight:

1. Lack of a Clear Identity

One glaring inefficiency afflicting modern football, particularly in England, is the absence of a clear identity among clubs. Everton's foray into the transfer market has lacked a cohesive plan, resulting in a slew of disjointed signings without a discernible vision.

2. The Managerial Carousel

Everton's search for a steady manager after David Moyes has been like a bumpy roller-coaster ride. They've had many different managers with different ways of doing things, and this has messed up the team's style and tactics. When Moyes left, it was the end of a special time for the club.

3. Over-reliance on Experienced Yet Risky Signings

Everton's habit of signing older, experienced players instead of up-and-coming young talents didn't work out well. These veteran players often demanded big salaries and transfer fees, but they didn't have much potential for the future, which left the team in a risky position. For example, signings like Oumar Niasse for £16 million and Theo Walcott for £20 million didn't pan out as expected.

4. Panic-Induced Transfers

Rather than exhibiting patience and crafting a team-building strategy, Everton resorted to panic transfers in the market. The pursuit of immediate but unsustainable success led to further instability and inconsistency.  eg- Michael Keane (£25.65m)

Financial Shackles

Everton's fall was made worse by money problems, mainly because of the Premier League's rules about making a profit and being financially stable. The team couldn't make a lot of money, so they couldn't spend much on improving their squad.

Everton's slump in the post-David Moyes era stands as a big lesson in mismanagement, lack of foresight, and an inability to adapt to the evolving dynamics of football.

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