Perhaps the only good thing that can come out of having a terrible run in the Premier League for Everton is that we are at the beginning of the season. After 4 games played only Everton and Southampton are yet to earn a point but despite this Everton are only one win away from 14th place. That is the good news, the bad news is that for their last two games at least the Toffees haven't even played that badly to justify a loss- they have just collapsed. Their defeat against Bournemouth was a real shocker, and that hasn't happened too many times in the top flight to be two goals up by the 87th minute only to lose 3-2. However this past weekend Sean Dyche's side repeated that trick albeit Aston Villa's comeback began in the 36th minute. It was a surprise to see that Everton had taken an early two goal lead in fairness away to Unai Emery's side. Just before the hour mark it was 2-2 and it seemed inevitable that a fifth goal of the game would be scored and it was going to be Villa doing the hurt. In the end Jhon Duran scored perhaps what will be the goal of the season, unleashing an incredible shot that took some of us back to the glory days of Brazilians Falcao and Socrates. It was that good.
The buck always stops at the manager and Sean Dyche's future with the Toffees looks in doubt. It's not only the results but the fact that some good news might be round the corner for the club who may finally have an outright owner in John Textor. Talks are ongoing but Textor has said he is 90% certain to take over the Toffees, the deadline for this is at the end of November. History tells us that a new owner almost always means a new manager, especially if that manager is not getting the results. It is questionable that if Everton were not to have found a new owner this season that Dyche would have had more time in his role. After all, take away the points deduction from last season and the club would have finished mid-table. When he took on the job 18 months ago he knew the financial problems and the lack of quality that he had in the squad and then came the points deductions, so it has been one problem after the next for him. In fairness Dyche has had to work with a handicap such has been the problems with the club on and off the pitch but at the same time even if he is not the first problem, he has not been able to take that step forward either, granted it has been tough, but even a small step forward would have been a huge boost for the club. To put it bluntly a club who are facing relegation do not need a manager who has never had a better win rate tha 35% in his career and currently with Everton that stands at 33%. With 68 games managed so far he has lost more (28) than he has won now and if the Textor deal does go through it seems that Dyche will be sacked, and he is currently the favourite manager to go next. Everton will next play Leicester away.
Another manager who will start to feel the heat is Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou. When he came into the club it was expected that he would be able to make the change for the better and progress them. But not much seems to have changed and the mentality of the club seems as fragile as ever. There have been moments, there always will be with Tottenham and the quality that they have. The club come across like Marseille in the French Ligue 1. A great stadium, passionate fans, some really genuine world class players but a failure that lies within the depths of the club and this season it has been in defence and especially with set pieces. Any club that has a few set pieces against Tottenham are going to fancy their chances. It will be disappointing for fans to see that their team are in 13th place and have only 4 points. We are only a month into the new season and Tottenham are already 8 points behind the league leaders Manchester City. At the weekend they were beaten in the north London derby 1-0 at home, which would have hurt. Postecoglou is remaining defiant though telling the press that in his second seasons he always wins trophies. While the league title won't be one of them they are involved in three cup competitions, so there is a possibility of some silverware which the fans would gladly welcome of course. But this has not been the best of starts. Postecoglou will be given time but of course that is dependent on results. In their next 3 games they will play Brentford at home, Manchester United away and Brighton away. Tricky fixtures indeed for them and the focus will then come down to getting a result at home to Brentford.
The Champions League kicks off this week and no longer can fans laugh about their rivals playing on a Thursday evening. This bloated edition of the competition which is scheduled to run for at least 3 years takes in Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There are 36 teams in one league table who play 8 games but do not play home and away. It's a different format that is promising more interesting big time fixtures so we should give it a chance, let's see if UEFA has got this one right. It does feel that they are bowing down to clubs more who keep threatening to breakaway. In UEFA's defence when people complain of more club games, this isn't their fault, this is the fault of rich clubs wanting more and more revenue. What the competition needs is more interest from games and the worry is that the league stage may not be able to provide that, as it goes on until early next year.
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