Ancelotti exit: Everton must have clear identity in replacement
So now where do Everton go from here? As discussed above, I think first of all the club need to define an identity and that for me is to be committed to playing modern, high-energy football with an emphasis on pace and athletic players who can operate a pressing, front-foot gameplan. Do the people running this club understand that?
This approach isn’t the be all and end all and defensive solidity is still of course fundamental to any successful team, but I feel the Toffees really need to find a way to play that sort of football if they’re ever to compete with the top sides in the Premier League.
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That means a coach who can and will look to impliment that strategy. Well the former Wolves boss Santo, currently the bookies favourite, is a capable tactician and built his teams around creative flair and pace with players like Ruben Neves and Adama Traore, both of whom I’d quite like to see at Everton next season.
Although Wolves struggled last season he was missing his key striker and has overall done a decent job I think. But it looks like he’s going to Crystal Palace now.
Another manager who definately fits that identity and profile is the Red Bull Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick who has been a pioneer of the pressing game that is very much the vogue at the moment. But would he consider Everton given the club’s predicament? I think not.
What about Antonio Conte. He’s a top coach with a great proven track record but he’s a tough customer and would demand huge changes and will this club heirachy back him all the way? The evidence indicates they won’t and more to the point is he ever going to consider joining a mid-table Premier League club.
One candidate I don’t want is Eddie Howe. He’s a decent bloke and did a job keeping Bournemouth up for so long but to me he would another Roberto Martinez. Bringing him in would I believe be a backward step.
Then there’s Rafa Benitez who was heavily linked to a return to Merseyside before Ancelotti came. He would though bring a similar type of football to Jose Mourinho, and while it was very much the vogue fifteen years ago, is that what is needed to compete at the top table now.
Another man who would certainly be a fan favourite is Duncan Ferguson and he would reconnect the team with the supporters, something that is much needed after so many dreadful results at home. But can he sustain his sort of fire-in-the-belly type of management style with footballers today and is he ready to take on such a big job?
Well honestly in truth I don’t know where the hell this once great club will go now and how on earth we move forward from this latest disaster.