5 Positives Amid The Negativity For Everton FC

Everton Football Club relieved manager Frank Lampard of his duties earlier this week in what was the latest action indicating the troubling times at the club.

Lampard’s sacking came on the back of a 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers West Ham which left Everton level on points with Southampton at the bottom of the PremierPINC
League table.

As the week progressed, there were more signs of negativity throughout the club as the incoming loan signing, Arnaut Danjuma, having already completed a medical and certain media formalities ahead of an official announcement, changed his mind at the last minute in favour of Tottenham Hotspur.

Then came the news that the supposed number one choice to replace Lampard, Marcelo Bielsa, reported back to say the squad would need improving, specifically in terms of adding pace to the team, if he were to join. On the same day, a new report suggesting the club is up for sale emerged via the Guardian.

There is a string of negativity attached to the club at the moment, and while it is difficult to find any positives, there might be a few things for Everton fans and their club to cling to in this difficult time.

Chance to Implement a Strategy

The departure of Lampard, a manager who wasn’t hired by current director of football Kevin Thelwell, in theory, gives Thelwell a chance to perform the most important part of his job and appoint the next manager.

There were reports that Bielsa was the choice of owner Farhad Moshiri, not Thelwell, which indicates the club has learnt nothing from its strategic review of football operations. Still, there is always a chance that Thelwell would also be in favour of the Bielsa hire and that he and the board are on the same page in this regard.

Everton has had plenty of chances to start building a for the future as far as their choice of manager and style of football is concerned, but have so far failed. Now is another chance to put this right.

Making Thelwell ultimately responsible for the managerial hiring would go some way to restoring normality at the club.

Bielsa’s Feedback

One thing that might help Everton this month is the feedback they have already received from Bielsa. The fact they merely spoke to him about taking the job in itself may give them something positive going forward.

The Argentine is renowned for his attention to detail and will have looked in some depth at recent Everton games and the strength and makeup of the squad.

He gave some feedback which made its way into the public domain, suggesting there was not enough pace in the current team. Something fans would agree with.

There would likely have been more feedback in private from the former Leeds United coach, who might also be ideal for refreshing the club’s culture and building a platform for future managers as long as they don’t abruptly change approach when Bielsa himself would eventually be replaced.

Even if he is not hired, the club have some feedback from one of the most respected coaches in world football, and they would do well to heed any advice regardless of who their next manager turns out to be.

A New Stadium

When travelling north out of Liverpool city center, an impressive sight is beginning to emerge on the banks of the River Mersey.

Everton’s new stadium is beginning to take shape, and provides something physical to indicate progress being made, at least in this particular part of the club’s future plans.

The stadium could be one of the best in England, and should it offer views of Liverpool Bay and the surrounding area, could be one of the most attractive in Europe.

In response to those reports that the club is up for sale, Moshiri denied that is the case but did note that external funding may be incoming to help complete stadium construction.

It will be sad to see the team leave its old Goodison Park ground, but maybe the new stadium is the one thing Everton can get right.

The Board Knows What Fans Think

In recent weeks the Everton board have been left with no doubt as to the fans’ belief that the blame for the club’s recent troubles lies at their door.

They are under no illusions as to their popularity, or rather unpopularity, and are now moving forward with this in mind.

The fans played a big part in Everton’s Premier League survival at the end of 2022, and the board owe them one.

Players Have Resale Value

Even though they haven’t all worked out on the pitch, Everton’s recent signings have been more savvy in terms of potential resale value.

Dele Alli aside, the signings under Rafa Benitez and Lampard have either had the potential to be sold on for a reasonable fee in the future or been lower-risk free transfers or loans.

A new manager coming into the club is likely to have funds available from the increasingly likely sale of Anthony Gordon to Newcastle.

Depending on how quickly Everton acts when it comes to appointing the new boss, they may even have time to do a bit more dealing before the January transfer window comes to a close.