Farhad Moshiri and his Everton board backed Ronald Koeman to bring in an arsenal of summer signings that saw the club spend a net amount of £142.38m. Despite spending so heavily, the team started off the season in horrendous fashion and were on an endless losing streak. As their form slumped down through a never-ending spiral, it saw the hammer fall on their ex-boss Ronald Koeman. Koeman’s sacking did little to change the club’s fortunes as they continued to lose match after match.
Tipped by many to challenge the ‘top six’, the Toffees were expected to fight for a European spot this time. Currently, Everton are fighting a battle of rejuvenation after having been to hell and back in the early few months of the season. Goodison Park has changed from a depressing arena of uncertainty to a place of tentative hope.
The club has in no way been thrown any challenge to the top six in the first round of the Premier League. Their Thursday night outings in the Europa League were in sync with their disappointing domestic form with the Toffees claiming one win in six matches and ending their group stage second from bottom.
However, as the fans and pundits stood to wait for Everton to disappear into the lower leagues, the board appointed Sam Allardyce as the new manager. Big Sam has a history of turning around fortunes for a club in crisis.
He has lifted the blue team of Merseyside from a relegation threat to a respectable mid-table position.
Everton have now become a resilient team with a good defensive organization. They have a good mix of youth and experience in their defence and the team will be further buoyed by the return of their experienced player in Seamus Coleman.
“Seamus Coleman is due back,” said Allardyce. “He has started training.”
The Ireland captain has been on a ten-month long break after suffering a nasty leg breaking injury while on national duty back in March. The 29-year-old had to stay on the sideline while watching his team miss out on a spot for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.
He has had to work hard alone on his way to recovery and will now be looking to regain his spot in the Everton first team. Jonjoe Kenny who has done well so far this season to fulfil the right back spot will be replaced by the far more experienced Coleman who will add a great attacking threat down the right flank.
