DESPITE the Toffees not being able to beat a plucky Oldham side at the first time of asking, a favourable draw means the Blues are just two winnable home ties away from a possible Wembley double header in the coming months. However, the hottest topic of debate this week concerned what happens post-summer.
The conjecture followed David Moyes confirmation that there would be no decision on his future until the end of the season, with many fearing that his time at L4 may be drawing to a close.
Clearly, the Chelsea and Manchester City jobs are up for grabs at the end of this campaign, and a man with the drive of Moyes would rightly fancy his chances of at least making the shortlist for one or both positions.
The job Moyes has done at Goodison amidst testing circumstances has been superb; however the belief that if he left the club would somehow implode is not something that should be subscribed to.
Yes, if he did walk it would be optimistic in the extreme to think a new manager could come in and transport us to the so called ‘next level’. Indeed, unless a superior manager of a similar pragmatic style came in there would be a period of transition, but the football club has been around a lot longer than eleven years.
It’s no certainty that this chain of events would transpire though. After all, Everton have been as good for Moyes as he has been for the club and there are few sides in Europe’s top league’s where the manager role commands a salary and mandate over player recruitment and running of the club that is comparable to the Goodison position.
It’s a similar situation with Fellaini, who we are told is also ‘weighing up’ his options in the summer.
Both characters are massive for the club but also have their flaws and whilst the duo could cite ambition as their motive for moving on, it’s debatable either would be afforded the key role they have here elsewhere, or go onto better things post-Everton.
What is more worrying is what the club is doing behind the scenes to mitigate the impact any potential departure would have on next season. Is there a four-man shortlist being prepared against a specific criterion to ensure the continuity which has been the club’s key strength in recent times isn’t compromised? Or are the board simply waiting until June when it’s arguably too late to bring in anyone of the stock required to take the club forward? What is for sure is that the next few months look crucial for the Toffees’ future fortunes both on and off the pitch.
