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 in excess of £140 million. Despite spending so heavily, they have failed to score regularly and the side were once threatened by relegation.
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. The club has in no way been of 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.
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 became the league’s bashing boys.
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. Despite their mini-collapse in January, they are still way better off than they were a few months back.
Goodison Park has changed from a depressing arena of uncertainty to a place of tentative hope. A month back, Everton were the bogey side teams were craving to face. In the space of a few weeks, the scenario at Merseyside looks to be lifting. However, one player whose luck has not changed despite a change in manager is Ademola Lookman.
The winger has been sparingly used by Everton this season and it was reported that he could be loaned out to get some valuable game time with Derby County linked with him. However, it would appear that Sam Allardyce, has refused to let the player leave.
“He wouldn’t be available on loan because Aaron Lennon went (to Burnley) a few days ago,” said Allardyce. “We got a very good deal for Aaron that was acceptable for us but that then leaves anyone else to go out on loan in that position a no-no, really, because we need the squad to be available to play. We have to try to keep the 25-man squad that he (Lookman) has been in nearly all season together.”
Whether it will be a good decision to hinder the development of a 20-year-old for the sake of a squad who are not in contention to win any major trophy remains to be seen.
