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Important to remember that Diego Simeone was Farhad Moshiri’s dream Everton appointment

Mathew Nash

Fri 15 February 2019 8:15, UK

Everton’s season has certainly unravelled slightly in 2019. After early promise from which Everton fans were impressed with the style of play under Marco Silva things have gone slightly haywire.

Everton have struggled to find any consistency, cannot defend set-pieces and were plunged out of both the FA Cup and League Cup far too early for the Goodison Park faithful’s liking.

The result has been a ramping up in pressure on manager Marco Silva. Farhad Moshiri, of course, recently came out and gave the Portuguese coach his full backing.

But it is perhaps pertinent to remember that Silva was not his first choice. That title belonged to Diego Simeone.

Everton’s majority shareholder had a dream that involved appointing the Atletico Madrid manager. It always seemed like a massive long-shot. Not only because Simeone is on a reported €22 million (£19.4 million) per year salary, , but because the Argentine is a La Liga winner who regularly operates in the Champions League.

It was an ambitious idea from Moshiri, but one which never really seemed likely. So instead of number one man, Moshiri has had to settle for Silva.

Between the two managers, there is simply no comparison. Everton have certainly played like a team managed by a second-rate option in recent weeks.

But the fact is, if not Silva, then the only other options Everton should genuinely consider are ones approaching the calibre of Simeone. The issue is, they seem to be out of reach.

Everton must instead try and see through a long-term vision with the man they have who, despite the Simeone dream, is still highly regarded by the Everton board.

But, from a fans point of view, if only fantasy could have come to life with the appointment of ‘El Cholo’ at Goodison Park.