As Frank Lampard faces his first match in charge, today’s FA Cup clash with Brentford, and makes his bow as Everton boss, the club’s CEO claims he was always the board’s choice.
This statement does seem a little at odds with the reality of the situaiton as I remember it! Everton once again appeared to have no clear strategy or person in mind to replace Rafa Benitez when he was finally sacked in January.
Denise Barratt-Baxendale says that the ex-Chelsea manager was the ‘clear’ and obvious choice as they searched for the Spaniard’s successor.
However, in truth the process seemed as chaotic and uncertain as it had been in the past when the club were looking for other previous managers.
First of all came the bizarre news that the Blues were trying to lure Roberto Martinez back to Goodison Park. This ultimately came to nothing as the Belgian FA refused to let their manager do the Toffees job part-time. Again though, what was the thinking and strategy behind all this?
As time went on after Benitez was sacked, several names emerged most consistently in the media with Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Duncan Ferguson, who was again in place as interim manager becoming the three favourites.
With these three there was a certain obvious consistency. Both Lampard and Rooney were outstanding former players and young managers, while Ferguson was a huge fan favourite at Goodison Park and had been earning his spurs coaching at the club under recent managers.
Then, out of the blue came stories that another man had emerged as the new favourite; Vitor Pereira. The Portuguese coach had been interviewed back in 2019, before Carlo Ancelotti was given the job but he hadn’t been a rumoured contender this time around.
This sort of thing strikes me to be the exact opposite of what Barratt-Baxendale is saying. Once more, it seemed Moshiri was being distracted this time by the influence of Kia Joobrachian who has emerged as a key advisor to the owner.
This was disconcerting for many supporters not least because Joorabchian’s input had meant Everton signed a player no one had anticipated the Blues acquiring: Anwar El Ghazi.
The Netherlands forward had arrived as part of the Lucas Digne transfer to Aston Villa and this decision would have consequences for the Toffees transfer dealings later in the month.
Pereira was suddenly the new favourite for the job and it appeared as though Moshiri was again determined to have his way over any potential opposition from others on the board.
Due to a severe fan backlash and a strange TV interview in which he tried to secure the job but only seemed to make it less likely he would, Moshiri backed away from appointing him.
Then Ferguson’s first game back in charge fell flat and Everton were beaten again by Villa. And, Rooney refused to be interviewed as the process went on effectively leaving Lampard as the only real choice.
Well, today’s FA Cup game in underway and we Evertonians all hope it the start of something much better than we’ve seen recently and a long overdue return to competitivness.