According to reports from various media sources, including Sky Sports, Everton are set to announce Sam Allardyce as their new boss in the next 48 hours.
It is an appointment born out of necessity, rather than desire. Hardly any Evertonian out there would say that Allardyce is the boss they want for their beloved club.
However, the Blues fans are now begrudgingly coming around to the idea, as the former England boss may be the boss the club needs right now. The team is a shambles and look to be heading for relegation.
Sometimes you have to take two steps back to take one step forward. However, you cannot take a step forward if you are on the ropes, which is where Everton are at the moment.
Getting back to basics
Saying that Everton have been a shambles in recent games would be a massive understatement. The Toffees have been unable to attack and quite worryingly unable to prevent the opposition scoring goals at will.
The fact that the Toffees have conceded two or more goals in their last night games in all competitions is simply shocking. Even goal-shy Southampton managed to put four past the hapless Everton defence. For the Saints, the Everton game was Christmas coming early.
When asked a while ago about Everton’s problems, Sam Allardyce said the team needs to get back to basics. Just managing to pass the ball to a player in the same shirt would be a start.
A good man-manager
Everton’s current squad is full of big egos. Players who think they are better than they are. I am looking at you Kevin Mirallas and Morgan Schneiderlin.
Players with big egos tend to hide when the going gets tough because they cannot accept that they are part of the problem. Well, guess what, you are and you need to be part of the solution.
Sam Allardyce is a good man-manger. He will not play up to big egos, though. During his Bolton days, he dealt with like Youri Djorkaeff, Ivan Campo and Jay-Jay Okocha and got the best out them.
All three players had played at big European clubs, yet seemed happy working with Allardyce and at Bolton. The 63-year-old gets the best out of players and leads teams to over-perform.
I have no doubt that Sam Allardyce will have a big effect on the players in that Everton dressing room. I cannot see the team continuing in the similar vein under the experienced Allardyce.
Big game for Everton on Wednesday
Everton host fellow strugglers West Ham at Goodison Park on Wednesday night. The Toffees actually head into the massive game as favourites at odds of 13/10 to win the game.
Former Toffees boss David Moyes returns to Goodison Park looking to heap misery upon the Merseysiders. However, the Hammers currently find themselves 18th in the table and struggling for points.
The game is a massive one and looks set to be interim boss David Unsworth’s last in charge. A win against West Ham would be the perfect send-off for the loyal Unsworth.
He deserves credit for being so dignified in the last couple of weeks. The players have let him down. Unlike previous boss Ronald Koeman, the Blues losing games seems to hurt Unsworth. No doubt, he is out of his depth with the current group of players.
However, he has been a good servant to the club. Hopefully, he can gain success elsewhere or retain his position as boss of the clubs under-23 squad.
Meanwhile, if as expected Sam Allardyce is appointed along with former-Liverpool star Sammy Lee (dear god, no, why!) then Everton fans will have to come to terms with the reality that the appointment at this stage is necessary.
Allardyce does not have a history of quick starts at clubs. However, he will need to have a quick impact on the Everton players, as his appointment is just a marriage of convenience in the eyes of most connected with the club.
It is Allardyce’s big chance to prove his doubters wrong. If he can improve the team and build for the future, then he may not turn out to be a terrible appointment after all.
Does Everton need to appoint Sam Allardyce?
