Broken Blues
GLORY DAYS OF THE 80s HAVE GIVEN WAY TO A DESPERATE DECLINE AND EVERTON LEGEND KEVIN RATCLIFFE FEARS YEARS OF IGNORING RELEGATION ALARM BELLS WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT CLUB NOW
KEVIN RATCLIFFE believes Everton have ignored the relegation alarm bells for too long – and new boss Sean Dyche faces a massive task to keep them out of the Championship.
As Goodison Park’s most successful captain when silverware was almost taken for granted in the 80s under Howard Kendall, Ratcliffe is hurting over their sad plight.
“The tell-tale signs that Everton could get relegated have been there for a few years now,” he said. “It’s not as if it’s just begun banging on the door.
“We’ve not really done anything about it. The problems surrounding the club have not been addressed.
“What has happened under Farhad Moshiri’s ownership has been disheartening, to say the least. The alarm bells have been ringing, but the fire has been allowed to spread.”
Ratcliffe fears it will engulf a club – now in its 69th consecutive season of top-flight football – without action.
And Everton’s fate is not solely dependent on Dyche, who was named as Frank Lampard’s successor on Friday after Marcelo Bielsa turned down the job.
Ratcliffe added: “In some respects, it doesn’t matter who came in as there are as many problems off the pitch as on it.
“I must admit, as a former captain, what is going on at the club is hurtful. The recruitment of players in recent times has been abysmal. We’ve been buying Championship players, so where does that take you? Into the Championship.
“Then, if we are relegated, will the players who remain be motivated enough to play in the Championship and win promotion?
“I would bet that none of them have clauses in their contracts which would reduce their wages after relegation, giving Everton more financial problems.
“That can cripple a club if you don’t get back up at the first attempt.
“I’ve heard some people say it would be the best thing to be relegated, so you can regroup, start again and win matches. I don’t agree.
“With Everton in the Championship, it will be everyone else’s cup final when they play us. That puts enormous pressure on you.” Ratcliffe believes that Moshiri (left) has to take a long look at himself over the trigger-happy firing of managers.
“Look at the ones who have come and gone since Moshiri took control,” he added. “I think it’s seven – which is scary.
“We’ve had every sort of manager. It’s been a who’s who of managers in many respects – Ronald Koeman, Carlo Ancelotti, Marco Silva – but look where it has taken Everton. Is that down to every manager?
“And look at the millions the club have spent on paying them all off.
“The first danger signs of the direction the club were heading in was when Sam Allardyce came in as a firefighter [in 2017].
“It hasn’t got any better. At too many clubs, Everton included, owners employ people but don’t allow them to do the job.
“You have that right as the person putting in the cash, but do you have a better knowledge of a player than the manager?”
Dyche will know he’s in for a baptism of fire – first a visit from Arsenal this Saturday, then the Merseyside derby at Anfield.