Has the game passed by Everton manager

There’s no doubt that better players would make a difference, or at least you would hope so, but is it just that simple? My worry is that perhaps Ancelotti’s approach is five or ten years out of date and his essentially cautious instincts are no longer in sync with modern football.

There are on paper anyway, better, more talented players at the club now than there were at the end of last season with Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez having joined. And then another summer signing Ben Godfrey also forced his way into the team as well.

They have joined three established players who are or have been, the side’s best recently. Those players are Lucas Digne, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

That’s seven leaving at least three other outfielders to find. In truth though I think the Toffees need four or five new outfielders at least.

But as important as new players with more talent and ability than current players, is the right attitude and the sort of footballer who can help transform how the team play. That means real pace, athleticism and leadership combined with a desire to perform consistently at their best, something too many of these players don’t have.

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Everton must also find a way to shift to playing a much more high-tempo and pressing game particularly at home, something that seemed to be happening to some extent at the start of the season.

When the current campaign kicked off the Blues were playing a 4-3-3 formation that I thought would be the ideal one for the team. It worked well at first when all the three high-profile signings were fit and started well and Everton played some outstanding attacking football.

However, that start proved fragile and as soon as injuries hit it fell apart. This is a key problem as Ancelotti had taken a gamble with players that were older and had a history of injury problems, especially Rodriguez.

I don’t think the Colombian can ever play more than two thirds of a season and so the Toffees can’t really build a team around his talents. In addition, he isn’t a quick, direct attacker and for all his talents doesn’t suit playing a high-tempo pressing game.

Creating such a much more dynamic, high-tempo game must be the priority during this summer’s upcoming transfer window.

Ancelotti and Marcel Brands have to step up and successfully manage this transition by signing the right players and transform this team’s football otherwise Everton are never going to be competitive again.