Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with Andy and George Costigan.
We look back on another heart-breaking day, discuss the game, the manager and who can bring about change at Everton. We catch up on John Textor before discussing an important issue surrounding pies! (plus the emergence of Rebecca, without which TTB would never happen!)
The Talking the Blues Podcast is available, as always, free of charge and advertising on all major podcast platforms, links to which can be found here
As ever thanks for listening – or reading, the written transcript is available here
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Whilst there are positives of sorts, we’re not a bad team, we have a coach/manager that is not seemingly capable of figuring out how to turn this around and get wins. Doesn’t seem to have answers. Is not addressing problems. People are prepared to give him longer (including the club) clearly there was something similar last season. Like you say Paul whether Dyche can see us through the season. I don’t think so. I think if we carry on without proper change (of manager) we will be going down. 3 teams must go down each year. We’ve been circling the drain for some time now. We’ve been a poor team season in season out for years. Sooner or later, we’ll go. We’ll get relegated. If there are ‘some’ positives with the team, the fact is the results speak for themselves. 4 defeats out of 4. Conceded 13.
There is only three ways a team can improve – Firstly, through the Managers ability to coach technical and tactical aspects. Secondly, through player trading, transfers, in and out of the club. Thirdly, and lastly, by a combination of points one and two.
Mr Dyche, has been in charge now, approaching two years. Have we seen a marked, statistical improvement in the teams performances. No. So his ability to improve players is negligible.
Player trading. The majority of players now in the first team squad, are from teams from lower quality foreign leagues, or from English teams, either in the Championship or were Premier League teams relegated to the Championship. Any other players you would deem from higher levels, such as Gaye, are in the twilight of their careers.
We are a team of mainly Championship level players, managed by a Manager who has spent the majority of his professional career outside the Premier League.
As for “last years miracle” which has given him credit in the bank. He has won 5 matches in the league since December 2023? We stayed up last year, in a league, where the quality of the bottom half of the table was so bad, that two teams that were docked points, still stayed up. The teams around us, last year have all strengthened, whilst we more or less just swapped like for like. And the quality of the teams promoted last year, save perhaps Southampton, seem to be of equal if not better quality than ourselves.
The only reason, this manager survives in post, is due to the rudderless nature of the ownership of the club and the financial constraints that places upon us. If that matter was settled, he’d have been terminated from his role either last year, or certainly by now, this season.
For some time I’ve been saying that SD has a number of similar traits as Sam Allardyce. And for me, that’s not a good thing.
He’s at EFC for the same reasons Sam came in, he’s had a situation forced upon him that has bolstered his approach to club management and his commentary supports that arrogant trait without having the track record of other arrogant managers such as Mourinho.
The current EFC issues allow him to constantly point at everything else that has happened, without ever questioning his style or approach to the most important factor – the game!
For what we face today, Moyes is without question a better option – he was before Dyche but he was in the midst of a very successful season with WH. He would adopt a defensive approach but he’s demonstrated with us and WH, that he is capable of attacking with some vigour and get the max out of our current playing staff.
Moyes can rightly claim what he wants, by his own account he’s been let down by Moshiri on two previous occasions, so if Moshiri comes a calling now, Moyes can rightly laugh at him or demand whatever he wants. If he accepted a deal, I’d have him right now – never thought I’d say that even though I was sad to see him leave I was ready for a change as much as he was.
Of course since this podcast aired we have TFG back on the blackboard. Always liked them as an organisation but it may well be that with the moves JT is making, he may well actually be a serious contender. He does say a lot of positive things which I think is a little more than just spin. He does have a real love for the game and he may be the most likely bidder to put the state of the squad further up the list of “need to do”.
What recent developments do suggest to me again, is that we have interested parties who see the real value, understand the potential and have the wealth to get it done. But I’m sure like most, I’m hugely frustrated at the approach they are all taking. This has to be done ASAP.
PS. Love the explanation of Russia’s Court of Arbitration Paul but there is no way on this earth that Moshiri wins or is pleased with that outcome. There is a reason why Usmanov was sanctioned – I’ll leave that there!
PPS. My wife loves the pies at EFC but I’m sorry Andy – in more than 45yrs going the game, I’ve never indulged at EFC or any other stadium.
Regards
Keith