Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Arsenal - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - December 21, 2019 Everton owner Farhad Moshiri arrives before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has slammed Everton’s managerial search, with the Toffees thought to be “scrambling around” for their successor to Frank Lampard.
The Lowdown: Lampard sacked
Following a run of five defeats and one draw in their last six games, Lampard was sacked as Everton manager with the Toffees plummeting into the relegation zone.
The Englishman lasted only 12 months in the job after replacing Rafael Benitez last January and kept the Goodison Park outfit in the Premier League last season by four points.
However, this time around, Everton are in deeper trouble, with the poor results mirroring the uncertainty off the pitch, with boos and protests against Farhad Moshiri’s ownership visible during their previous outings.
The Latest: Edwards’ update
Speaking on the BBC’s Transfer Gossip Daily show, Edwards gave an update on their pursuit of a new manager, which is so far proving frustrating as the wait continues thanks to a lack of optimism over hiring the likes of Marcelo Bielsa and ex-Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.
He said: “Bielsa, I don’t think he’s ever taken over a club in the middle of the season, so I think that was always a little bit of wishful thinking – but Hasenhuttl I don’t think wants it either, so I’m not entirely sure what Everton are going to do.
“They are all over the place. They’ve sacked Frank Lampard, they had a while to set something up with Lampard going and haven’t done, so they’re now scrambling around.”
The Verdict: Insult to injury
With Everton in a perilous position in the table, a swift appointment would’ve been something that the club ideally wanted as they now head into the final days of the transfer window without a manager to plan with.
Everton’s attempts to name Bielsa have reached an impasse according to the Independent, whilst Hasenhuttl is expected to pass up the job if offered (via Daily Star 25/01, page 48).
The Toffees are not back in action until February when they host league leaders Arsenal before a trip across Stanley Park to play Liverpool and a potential relegation clash against Leeds United, making their next three games a huge occasion for whoever the new manager is set to be.
But as Edwards highlights, the lack of clarity over a potential heir to Lampard despite a long run of disappointing results points towards disorganisation behind the scenes.
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