I'll nail my colours to the mast right from the start. Up until two weeks ago, I was a fan of David Moyes, despite all the noise surrounding his current tenure, and his past at Everton. The fan base once split 50/50, now the majority want change.
I think the marriage is over sadly, and The Friedkin Group should pull the plug on his reign, and the search for a new manager should begin in earnest. So why the change in opinion?
There comes a point in a manager's time at the club, when he reaches the point of no return. I remember the late Walter Smith was sacked on the 13th March 2002; three days earlier, his Everton team put in a woeful performance in the sixth round of the FA Cup at Middlesborough, going three goals down before half time.
I was there, and the travelling support was livid.
Whilst one game won't decide Moyes's fate, I now believe the majority of fans would genuinely like to see a change.
The realistic prospect of qualifying for Europe just two months ago has been thrown away, and in ironic fashion, Sunderland, the team invoved in the Championship play-off places last season, have leapfrogged us and, probably, can't believe their luck.
Soft touch or what?
The mighty Crystal Palace, once a yo-yo club, up and down the divisions, are in touching distance of winning their third trophy in three years. Let that sink in.
Back to Moyes and my change of heart. It was like death by a thousand cuts on Sunday. So predictable, Spurs could not have wished for a more passive team than Everton, to play against, to ensure they extend their time in the Premier League.
No shots on goal until the 75th minute. After Spurs scored from a corner (once again) from some dreadful, lackustre defending, they could have sent their fans home and started the celebrations early; we were never going to muster two goals in return.
Sorry, West Ham fans.
But back to our manager, and his selection 'blindness' — that's all I can call it. The same players who have struggled for form, some embarrassingly so, get selected week after week, no matter how poorly they perform.
Jake O'Brien was cautioned on Sunday after 13 minutes, for yet another vain attempt to pull back a winger who had sped past him. I actually felt for the player; his confidence must be shot. Yet, our manager steadfastly refuses to play him in his chosen position of centre-back. He simply doesn't trust anyone else in that role, or refuses to try them. Plain stubborness on his behalf.
Merlin Röhl was like a frightened rabbit all game; the occasion was simply too much for him. When eventually replaced by Harrison Armstrong, the difference was immediate. Again, I'm fearful of an experienced manager not being able to see what everybody else can.
The selection of Thierno Barry over Beto, was equally baffling. He stunk the place out for a whole 75 minutes before being hooked. The introduction of Tyrique George immediately added pace and, for once, there was a threat down the Everton left, but the manager didn't believe he was worthy of a starting place. Incredible.
It is actually alarming to think he just didn't have the tactical nouse to try something different. He's now classed as one of the Premier League's most experienced managers, but his reputation as being 'overly cautious' in both tactics and team selection is actually true. It's just taken me until now to accept it.
There are younger more progressive managers out there. It's easy to name who they are, but the likes of Adoni Iraola, whose brand of open attacking football is a joy to watch, will have his choice of football clubs from all over Europe, not a basket case like Everton.
Why is it Bournemouth, average attendance 12,000, can out-perform us, and choose and recruit a manager, many of us had never heard of? Never mind recruiting players like Antoine Semenyo, Junior Kroupi and Rayan, all given the opportunity to play by a manager who trusts them.
I believe Moyes (and his recruitment team), spent something in the region of £130m on players in the last 12 months. Only a couple can have been deemed successful.
He clearly does not trust young players, instead going for the 'steady Eddies' , who won't 'let you down' in the hurly burly of the Premier League.
The treatment of Tyler Dibling has been disgraceful. Whatever has gone wrong in his development, the rift between player and manager is as wide as it's ever been. What a waste of a young player's career. He must be so disillusioned.
He doesn't even get on regularly as a sub anymore.
Apparently, Vitalii Mykolenko is about to sign a new three-year deal with the club; another 'steady Eddie', his three assists in three seasons must be a club record. Not the best example of a modern full back.
To lose eight games at home this season is a disgrace, to collect just three points from the last 21 available is, in my opinion, good enough reason why TFG must make the change.
Moyes won't change; he doesn't like the word, it's not in his dictionary.
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