22 Apr 2018 08:05:23
The idea that Arsene Wenger should be offered a role at Everton is muddled thinking in my humble opinion.
He undoubtedly changed professional football in England and was very successful during his first ten years.
However, as many Arsenal fans have said (vociferously and ardently on Arsenal Fan TV and elsewhere) , he has not been as successful since that first decade.
His inability to genuinely challenge the "big" clubs for the Premier League or the Champions League has been noticeable for several years now.
His recruitment of players has been poor of late.
He appears to have "lost his mojo" and not moved with the times while other younger managers - Guardiola, Pochettino, Klopp, etc. - have embraced a newer approach.
Evertonians' wishful thinking about him being right for our club in 2018 should take note that he isn't the innovative manager he was in 1996-2006, but that he is the set-in-his-ways manager of 2007-2018.
We'd love to have won FA cups like he's done in recent years, but don't let that mask how Arsenal have slipped behind the rest of the "big six". The Arsenal fans know that and the vast majority know that he's been past his sell-by date for at least a couple of years.
We now need to replace Allardyce with a forward-thinking, dynamic, younger manager - someone who isn't afraid to be positive and go for wins rather than being defensive and afraid to lose ; we need someone to create an identity for our club's core footballing approach - giving us football we enjoy watching; someone who will recruit well and develop/ improve the players; someone with the ambition to aim for the stars even though it will take a massive effort, on and off the field, to become genuine challengers and a "big" club once again. Wenger might have been that manager twenty years ago, but he isn't now.
Farhad Moshiri, Bill Kenwright, and the board have a huge decision to make about the direction they want to take the club. I hope they are getting the best advice possible and I really do hope they don't let sentiment or wishful thinking obscure their focus on doing what's right for Everton Football Club. Time will tell of course.

1.) 22 Apr 2018
22 Apr 2018 09:14:03
You make some good points but then Arsenal did sell a lot of their decent players over the years and for some good money, mainly to Man City
I just don’t see Wenger fitting what seems to be the plan of a DOF and Manager set up. Although if he would work with a DOF that could take the player recruitment issue from his his duties.
I feel the Arsene links are flattering and more driven by the Moshiri history coming from Arsenal.
Right now the club seems at a crossroads and unsure which direction to take, hopefully as one of the Ed’s suggested Moshiri is taking some advice on driving the club forward and this could be where the Raiola situation comes in to assist getting the player recruitment done even at a price
I just hope there is some positive moves by the club between now and next season and swift ones!

2.) 22 Apr 2018
22 Apr 2018 09:27:55
BobbyC, I agree. What we need is new thinking but primarily Mr Moshri needs to find a very knowledgeable and respected pure football man as an advisor. As to Managers, I do have a preference (Dyche, quite like the Wolves Manager to, got them playing great football) , we do not in my view require a Silva (why should we hire failed Managers, might as well go for Pardew or Hughes if that is the case) and we would be very lucky to get Fonseca (the guy will have offers from dare I say bigger Clubs than us) . We shall see the result of the touted Board Meeting this week.

3.) 22 Apr 2018
22 Apr 2018 11:04:12
I wholeheartedly agree with above on Wenger. He is not right for our club as manager at the moment but his time at Arsenal I feel is being unfairly judged. Yes in the last ten years they have fallen slightly behind even though they were they most consistent team in England to qualify for the champions league.

The part I feel is being overlooked for Wenger is the contribution he made to the club as a whole. In that time they built a new stadium. One of the few the clubs to ever turn a profit. Wenger offered and delivered much more than bring just a manager. He offered a business sense that Arsenal benefitted greatly from. All managers get judged on trophies. If there was a trophy for managers based on their ability to generate a profit for the club Wenger would be unrivalled.

In today's market a manager who is quite similar but more modern is Sean Dyche imho. That is why I would love to see him here next season. One of the Ed's wrote a few interesting points on how he would fit in at Everton. He seems tailer made for our club. His clubs goals against tally is excellent this season. An area we need recruiting in badly with our regular defenders almost all over 30. Dyche it is for me.

He hasn't got a foreign name or comes across as a prima dona. Just what we need.

4.) 22 Apr 2018
22 Apr 2018 11:24:25
Blimey, not successful in last 10yrs. What we'd give to be in Top 4 every Season the last 10yrs! Weve been there once since the Prem started! His first Season this out top 4, and he has won FA Cups aswell. Arsenal have had issues this Season with Sanchez, Ramsey and Wiltshire injuries, amongst other stuff. They say he doesn't spend money, he always goes big spends when he does to get quality. i'd be happy with his brand of footie and quality of players maybe with Unsy and or Arteta alongside .