To be Frank, Everton need more than new owners to sort their house out...
THE WAVE of euphoria that swept around Goodison Park just six weeks ago already feels like a distant memory.
Back then, in that dramatic comeback victory over Crystal Palace, the only goals that mattered were the ones that were scored against the Eagles.
Now, though, thoughts turn to the club’s long-term goals. And the prospect for the future looks grim – no, horrific.
Rivals
A complex web of problems has shown itself to be very real after Richarlison was sold to Spurs last week.
Losing last season’s leading scorer is never a good look.
It’s even worse when that defection is to a club that, not so long ago, would have been considered genuine rivals.
Now, the north Londoners are so far ahead, they aren’t even in sight. Worse could well follow. Spurs have sunk their teeth into youngster Anthony Gordon, too – a rare bright spot in an otherwise inglorious Toffees campaign last term. Gordon could go as well. Leaving behind him a motley crew of neverhas-beens, never-willbes and bang-average players seriously lacking the X factor.
Look at those released this week as their contracts expired.
Cenk Tosun – signed by Sam Allardyce four years ago as ‘the best striker in Europe’ – has profited only in boosting his own bank balance.
The cost? Around £40million once wages and his transfer fee from Besiktas were taken into account. That’s a lot of cash for just five Premier League goals.
Fabian Delph has been injured more often than not throughout his career. He was signed – at the age of 29 – for £8.5m. Total outlay? Probably £20m.
Decisions like these have brought the club to its knees.
Crass and ill-judged – the worst advice filtering into naive ears of owners and decision-makers who hadn’t a clue what they were doing.
The result is the jumbled wreck of a firstteam squad, a half-built stadium and an unattainable vision with Frank Lampard – who has completed only one full season as a Premier League manager, remember – expected to work the miracle.
What’s more, worse could be around the corner with the Premier League still keeping one beady eye on spending due to colossal losses of £372m in the past three financial years. If Everton fancy opening the chequebook again – they are going to be asked to close it.
There’s a reason James Tarkowski and Jesse Lingard are on the hit-list. They’re free.
The club has been mismanaged to a level of ineptitude not seen before.
Hapless owner Farhad Moshiri (left) is desperately hoping someone somewhere will take the bait and stump up the cash – not just to buy the club, but to stem losses and fork out for the new stadium at Bramley-moore Dock.
Incredibly, there was someone on the hook. Peter Kenyon, of Manchester United and Chelsea notoriety, until he either saw the light – or the books – and got cold feet.
The adults really need to take over in the boardroom – that’s the starting point.
Inevitable
Clubs are cherry-picking Everton’s best talent, the manager is asked to work with one arm behind his back due to restrictions in the transfer market and the owner is considering offers.
That joy six weeks ago may be just delaying the inevitable.
Unless Everton undertake radical and marked change, they can expect more of the same this time out.
ROMELU
LUKAKU was upset at his lack of prominence when Chelsea
sent out a meme on social media ushering in the
New Year. And now we’re supposed to believe he’s still harbouring hurt feelings? Go on,
admit it, you thought Yaya Toure
and his birthday cake snub
was bad, didn’t you?