EVERTON STUCK IN MOSH PIT
THERE is no hiding place for Everton now, no more excuses.
It’s pretty simple really, they have to start winning matches if they are going to stay up. And no matter how good the opponents are, it means they must beat Chelsea today.
I’m not blaming my old England team-mate Frank Lampard for their predicament, far from it. I put the blame firmly on the shoulders of the owner, Farhad Moshiri (below).
People say it’s the board who are the problem.
But let’s face it, he is the board. He makes all the decisions, he dishes out all the money.
Moshiri is the one who keeps going back to the same agents to sign players... even though the signings have invariably been a disaster. Isn’t that the definition of madness – doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different outcome?
He’s basically wasted 500 million quid on that flawed policy.
And he’s done the same with his managerial appointments too, which seem almost designed to antagonise and disgust the Everton fanbase.
There’s no clear philosophy, no clear identity and no clear long-term plan.
I think that has to change. Even if they go down, they have to stick with Lampard, and give him not only the money, but the tools in terms of structure throughout the club, to change the culture there.
Everton have to join the 21st century when it comes to analysis and recruitment. I’m not saying they don’t have the right structure in place in those departments, I’m saying they have to LISTEN to those departments, and let the manager use them properly.
What is the point of forensic analysis of potential signings, scouring the world to find the right players to fit into a clearly defined system – which should be in place no matter who is in charge – if the owner then goes to his pet agent and signs whoever that agent wants to flog to him for a vast profit?
Things must change. But this afternoon, the only change they can make is in the minds of the players. Unlike their approach at Anfield, they have to believe they can beat Chelsea… because they must beat Chelsea. It’s that simple.