After Carlo Ancelotti’s shock departure from Everton, Farhad Moshiri will be busy dusting off his contacts book in the hope of finding a new manager.
The Italian’s exit has left the club in the lurch but they are considering a wide array of options for the vacant position.
What’s the word?
Everton have shortlisted a number of coaches with the likes of Rafa Benitez, Steven Gerrard and David Moyes thought to be in contention for the manager’s job.
However, a fresh report this weekend stipulates that Eddie Howe is extremely keen on landing the role.
The Mirror (via Express) suggests that the 43-year-old is pushing hard to become the new boss of Everton and is now desperate to return to management.
Should Everton hire Eddie Howe?
No way!
Yes please!
Howe was on the verge of becoming Celtic manager but a deal collapsed after he’d been in advanced talks with the Scottish club for two months.
As a result, Everton could now take advantage of that situation.
Is he well suited?
The Toffees have reportedly been in talks with former Wolves boss Nuno Santo during the last week.
He departed Molineux following a rift over the transfer budget for the summer window and is now a free agent.
Considering how much Everton have spent down the years he’d have no such issue in Merseyside but Howe could be more suited than the Portuguese.
Nuno developed a counter-attacking system at Molineux but his mantra of consistently playing with a three-man defence led to a style of football where Wolves didn’t dominate possession.
He wasn’t particularly flexible in the Midlands, failing to transition the club into a team that could play with four defenders in a more attacking fashion. For instance, the Old Gold only won four of the 14 league matches they played with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Ancelotti, however, proved he could be flexible while introducing a more pleasing style of football than his predecessors. That being said, Everton did actually have less possession than Nuno’s Wolves throughout 2020/21.
Though, by appointing Howe it could rejuvenate the Toffees. A forward-thinking manager, his style of play is particularly pleasing on the eye.
Bournemouth were a team who loved to dominate possession under the 43-year-old, knocking the ball about in swift fashion along the ground.
This might not suit Dominic Calvert-Lewin but it would appease ball playing footballers like James Rodriguez and Lucas Digne; two players who had spells at Real Madrid and Barcelona.
As Everton strive to become a team that challenge the top six and become genuine contenders for high-level European football, Howe’s brand of possession-based football would be important.
Nuno’s defensive style didn’t bridge the gap to the top six and may well fail to take Everton to the next level as well.
Howe doesn’t have much experience but in the words of Jurgen Klopp, he’s an “exciting” coach.
Moshiri needs to consider the Englishman as one of the club’s options.
AND in other news, Kenwright wants Everton to hire “exceptional” 58 y/o, he’s a great Ancelotti successor…