Should Everton now replace Silva
After another embarrassing defeat, this time at home last Saturday to Sheffield United, should Everton now seriously consider replacing Marco Silva?
I’ve always had a lot of doubts about Silva’s suitability for the job of Everton boss, even though I was also more than ready to be proved wrong about the Portuguese.
I thought that there were some tentative signs that the Blues were making progress at the back-end of last season and the beginning of this campaign, particularly after a stirring win over Wolves before the international break.
However that progress seems to have stalled and after the losses to Bournemouth and to the Blades at Goodison Park, I am increasingly of the view that a change in manager must be considered. Changing manager yet again is a big decision and it’s certainly not necessarily a panacea but there seems little else that the club can do.
Silva’s imprint is very much seen in the personnel, tactics and approach of the Toffees team. So if there are problems with that team, (and there certainly are), he can’t really evade major responsibility.
The tepid and immensely disappointing performances by the Blues in recent weeks, both away on the south coast and more dramatically at the grand old lady last weekend, raise serious concerns about the future prospects of the club.
If Everton can’t find a significant improvement in form and soon, this season will be another immensely frustrating one that will be gone with no improvement in competitiveness or standing.
The Toffees really can’t afford another campaign that ends in mid-table mediocrity. Given that it is impossible to make any changes to players until January at least, that means the only thing the hierarchy at Goodison can do at the moment is to consider replacing Silva.
Many Evertonians may argue that yet another change in manager will create more instability and they will have a point. But it’s difficult to see how the club can move forward with these kinds of erratic and hugely inconsistent performances.
Silva seems to lack the motivational powers to get the best out of his players. They often appear to be coasting during games, lacking the energy and industry to win tough and particularly to come from behind.
That may well be the case, although if it is the players themselves should surely take some of the responsibility and blame.
The lack of leadership amongst the players is an obvious issue. This is compounded by an absence of experienced and veteran performers who have the football nous to help win tight and difficult games, especially away from home.
However a manager with the ability to motivate, demand and cajole the best out of his players is obviously going to make a great difference to a team’s performances. Silva doesn’t seem to be able to do that.
He’s also increasingly stubborn in his unwillingness to consider reshaping the team and switching formations to try and elicit better results.
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For me though apart from any motivational or tactical issues, the biggest problem is the continuing inability of the manager and his coaching staff to address fundamental football issues, particularly the continuing defensive frailties of the team.
The constant problems defending set-pieces has cost Everton more goals than any other team since Silva took over. It’s not good enough, it’s an issue that has simply got to be dealt with and Silva seems completely incapable of turning this problem around either.
It all points to one thing and that is a change in the first team boss may be necessary for the Blues to have any hope of turning their season around. Silva really needs a good result tonight at the other Sheffield club in the Carabao Cup!