The manager simply must go

By Simon P from NSNO - Posted by John P
October 6 2005

He may have been a promising young manager when he came from the lower divisions, getting his team promoted and on the verge of top flight football, but his time is up, he's been found out. The man simply can't manage at this level.

His signings have left a lot to be desired so far, the so-called "Big name" striker who seems to enjoy the atmosphere in the treatment room more than on the pitch will never come good, he sold our best player last season, how we'll compete with them over the park (who have won the European Cup - again) is beyond even the most optimistic Evertonian, surely.

The young lad at right-back just isn't progressing, we need someone with more experience if we are to compete, and the ageing Scot up front is just past it. Everton are fast becoming a joke.

Those were the thoughts of many a blue, 22 years ago, as Howard Kendall struggled to come to grips with life in the "big league."

Kendall had arrived from Blackburn as player manager in 1981 after turning them around in just over 2 years from lower league strugglers to challengers for a place in the Top Flight.

His buys had been questioned, Andy Gray was "a srtiker looking for one last payout" while Graeme Sharp was "injury prone" and some members of the media made comments that "his name did nothing to describe his finishing skills."

Peter Reid had made the step up from Bolton Wanderers, but was feeling the strain, and not making much of an impression, while Gary Stevens was struggling to find form at right-back.

Sound familiar?

Steve MacMahon, one of Everton's most promising youngsters for years, left the club for a steal after the club failed to meet his contractual demands, and a promising right-sided midfielder by the name of Trevor Steven was struggling to make an impact.

Evertonians were in pessimistic mood, some predicted a slide down the divisions and eventually out of business, others declared the club the laughing stock of the league, and crowds dwindled.

Less than two years later Everton had won the FA Cup, had been beaten narrowly in the League Cup Final, and this season were on their way to fantastic "treble" of League, FA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup, being robbed by a late Norman Whiteside in the FA Cup Final, but triumphing in the other two competitions.

What had happened to change all this? Had Peter Reid, who Colin Harvey actually apologised for recomending to Kendall been dropped? Had Sharp and Gray been replaced by younger or more experienced players? Had Sheedy been sent back to where he came from? Had Steven or Stevens been given the nudge?

Had Howard Kendall been sacked?

No. The manager was supported through the tough times, and he kept the faith with his players, that they would gel and form the team he wanted them to become, and Kendall became Everton's most successful manager

Is it time to sack David Moyes?