After spending in the region of £90 million in the summer, many Everton supporters believed getting into the top four was not out of reach for incoming boss Marco Silva. Yet, in mid January, the Toffee’s inconsistencies have been plain for all to see. Defeat on the weekend to Southampton saw the club drop to 11th, with just two wins in their last ten matches.
Speaking to Goals on Sunday, Sam Allardyce revealed that he knew owner,Farhad Moshiri was going to axe him two months prior to when the verdict was formally made. Eventually, the decision was taken to replace him with the younger, perhaps more modern and innovative Marco Silva. With both having 26 games in their Goodison tenure, how do they measure up against each other?
Sam Allardyce: Won: 10 Drew: 7 Lost: 9 Average Points per match: 1.42
Marco Silva: Won: 10 Drew: 6 Lost: 10 Average Points per match: 1.38
Although there are no real signs of development or any sort of progress, the statistics do not tell the entire story.
Marco Silva looks on as he rues his side’s missed chances (photo: Cryptocasheasy)
Despite results suggesting he did a satisfactory job, the common belief among supporters was that “Big Sam” was not the right fit for the blue half of Merseyside. Many described watching Allardyce’s direct style of play as “horrible” and felt the negative tactics conveyed the mood at Goodison.
A team with an abundance of talent seemingly appeared to be playing with chains wrapped around them. The cautious approach made it a chore for the majority of Everton fans to watch. To put it simply, Sam Allardyce was a stop gap; coming in with the Toffees threatened with relegation, his role was to keep the team in the Premier League. The football was never pretty, but it was effective.
The former England manager saw his Toffees side score 26 goals during his short tenure, a goals to game ratio of exactly one. He did, however, save Everton from what was becoming a disastrous season and lift them to a final position of eighth.
However, Everton had bigger aspirations than treading water, they could not just afford to stay afloat; with the money the owner continues to pump into the club, particularity with a new stadium on the horizon, the Blues had to target qualifying for Europe – prferably the Champions League.
The Blues have only made Europe’s premium club competition once, in 2005. However, their stay was short as they fell to Villarreal 4-2 on aggregate in the Third Qualifying Round and they have seldom sniffed the competition since, a trend the current regime are desperate to change.
Promising Everton attractive, attacking football, Silva was brought in. With a reputation intact despite being sacked by Watford and being relegated with Hull City, despite starting life with the Tigers encouragingly, the Portuguese man was a popular choice.
Silva’s men have netted 34 times in the Premier League this season, but their less-than-ideal current position of 11th will not wash, certainly if Silva is to be given a second season at Goodison Park.
Eight months later, the free flowing football philosophy the manager had great belief in is now lingering in the background. Often accused as rigid with his tactics and stubborn with his substitutions, Everton have failed to string a consistent run of wins over the course of the season.
The failure to find a proven goalscorer to lead the line has been a flaw in the Silva system. With concerns growing over his credentials, there is a case that the former Watford boss could be ill-equipped to lead such a charge up the table.
Gylfi Sigurdsson and Cenk Tosun frustrated after being outbattled by Southampton (photo:The Independent)
A new 52,000 seater stadium planned, Everton are in a period of transition. A club that should be full of optimism is currently in doubt. With a new board and director of football in place, Everton are building for the long term. The foundations that are being laid now should prove advantageous in the long run. An owner that is still willing to plough money into the playing squad should provide the hope to the supporters. In this case, patience with Marco Silva could be key. Although enduring a difficult time of late, if afforded time, the man can make this team his own.
Nevertheless in this day and age, where success can be rare and the pitfalls are dangerous, patience and time for a manager like Marco Silva, usually cannot be afforded.