EVERTON like to think they have a bit of class about them.
The People’s Club, as David Moyes memorably referred to them at his introductory presser way back in 2002, give the impression they do things the right way.
Everton boss Marco Silva has been treated as poorly as his team have been playing
Former Goodison Park chief David Moyes reportedly wants the security of a long deal if he is to be lured backCredit: PA:Press Association
This week’s shoddy treatment of Marco Silva suggests otherwise.
He is a dead-man walking, forced to take Everton to Leicester on Sunday because the board cannot agree on a replacement.
It is no way to run a football club.
Chairman Bill Kenwright has been wailing behind the scenes as he attempts to manoeuvre Moyes back into the dug-out.
Farhad Moshiri, the man behind all this new money sloshing around Goodison Park, is asking all and sundry about alternatives.
Meanwhile Silva, aware that he has become a patsy for this divided regime, must take charge for Leicester away.
Martin Jol went through something similar with Tottenham.
SILVA CAN’T SURVIVE
He took his last game, a Uefa Cup defeat against Getafe in 2007, just as word flew round White Hart Lane that he would be sacked after the game.
It is no way for a leading manager to lose his job.
Everton could have dealt with Silva at the start of week, making good his exit in a dignified, respectable manner.
Last weekend they lost again, booed off the field by the Blue Noses after they were beaten, easily, by Norwich.
It was the moment to take responsibility for a poor appointment, to move him on and let someone else take temporary charge.
There are enough bodies floating around the place to take a game or two as caretaker manager while their disjointed board work out what to do.
David Unsworth, who briefly took the team when Ronald Koeman was sacked in 2017, is with the Under-23s and available.
Duncan Ferguson, first-team coach under a series of Everton managers, is an alternative.
Instead Silva limps on, with his under-performing players feeding off the uncertainty around the training ground.
Ex-Juve hitman Moise Kean, capped three times by Italy, has flopped at Everton so farCredit: Getty – Contributor
They know Silva is not long for the job.
The fixture list has not been kind to Everton, with the trip to the King Power quickly followed by a Merseyside derby at Anfield.
It is Chelsea at home after that, followed by Manchester United at Old Trafford, and Leicester in the Carabao Cup, then Arsenal both at Goodison.
Silva cannot survive that run.
He has already had a few near misses, notably last April when he was on shaky ground ahead of United’s visit.
Moyes had been lined up behind the scenes, with his return to Goodison Park agreed in principle, as they prepared to fire Silva.
The Portuguese coach threw a spanner in the works by winning 4-0 and kept his job.
He is still in it this week, hanging on, as they prepare to take on Brendan Rodgers’ progressive Leicester side.
Nigeria frontman Alex Iwobi, who joined Everton after four years with Arsenal, is another summer signing to have struggledCredit: Getty – Contributor
Silva’s dressing-room is dispirited and demoralised, plodding through Premier League matches and peering over their shoulder at the bottom three.
There are conflicting reports about Silva’s qualities as a coach, with his work out on the grass at Finch Farm under intense scrutiny.
At Watford, where he won just eight of 26 games in charge, Troy Deeney spoke of him as one of the best he has worked for.
Silva was a snake for leaving the way he did, but he has been unable to promote his principles with Everton’s first-team squad.
Alex Iwobi and Moise Kean — two of his big-statement signings in the summer — have yet to convince their fans.
They are good to their new managers, giving them time to adapt to the challenges of operating in Liverpool’s shadow.
Now that it is clear he cannot break their spell, they should do the dignified thing.
TERRY STILL ALL GOLD
GARY NEVILLE and Jamie Carragher inexplicably left out John Terry from their Premier League team of the decade.
Terry adapted to changing times in the Premier League, remodelling his game to make the most of his career.
To play second fiddle to Vinny Kompany, or even Virgil van Dijk, in a best XI, betrays Terry’s immense qualities as a central defender.
Former England and Chelsea skipper John Terry deserves to be in the Prem bext XI for the decade, above both Vincent Kompany and Virgil van DijkCredit: Rex Features
FERGIE IN WILD SIDE
SIR ALEX FERGUSON spent a good hour chatting in Chris Wilder’s office after Sheffield United’s 3-3 draw with Manchester United.
Fergie has a lot of time for Wilder and was a mentor figure when the Blades boss was working his way up through the lower leagues.
The legendary Manchester United manager asked to be taken down to see Wilder after the game, relaxing with a glass of wine after watching a proper ding-dong affair between the two sides.
No doubt Wilder, who always name-checks the managers who were good to him on the way up, appreciated the gesture.
IT’S PRIME SUSPECT
AMAZON’S access-all-areas pass meant they got the money shot when Mauricio Pochettino walked out of Daniel Levy’s office.
In exchange for £10million, this documentary will tell the story of Tottenham’s dismal start to the season by intruding on a moment of private grief.
There is something deeply uncomfortable about that. It is what Levy signed up for when he took the Amazon coin and few could have contemplated the prospect of Poch leaving Spurs during filming.
Undoubtedly, it will make for good TV but Poch is entitled to be shown a bit of respect in a moment of genuine sadness.
TALK HARD ON UNAI
WE live in strange times when an overseas manager commits to learning English but gets battered for his pronunciation.
Unai Emery’s command of the Queen’s is still in development but he cannot be faulted for trying.
To promote the idea he has lost his players’ respect as ‘good evening’ sounds like ‘good ebening’ is plain daft.
It may help if someone at Arsenal had the decency to correct him then he could be judged on their, admittedly, poor results.
Instead, the word is he’ll soon be out the door.
David Moyes demands long-term stay as Everton and West Ham offer ex-boss Prem return
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
