I do wonder (and I have to say there is more than a wishful thinking here) that part of our issue is we reach this point, at a similar time with most managers and that we need to persevere with a manager to get through this?
In work places patterns emerge, and the pattern learned is a reset is needed and a new manager arrives.
I cling to the hope that if the manager is kept, some more players are bought in, the culture changes.
Its really difficult, I felt for a long time it was very telling that we wouldnt win away, particularly at the top teams to how we had a poor mentality. This season we have won at Anfield, Emirates, Spurs and Leicester as well as fighting back from 2 behind at OT. So something is there.
I am genuineky quite mystified about the form at Goodison.
I really do hope that that Ancelotti is here for a considerable time to come. If he were to leave in the next couple years, it isn't good for us on any level.
I fear then that we would have this "club that can never be fixed" tag and just continue in mediocrity.
That said, I am concerned. We can't adopt a see no evil hear no evil stance with Ancelotti as problems will come to the fore whether he/we want them to or not. It how he adapts and deals with them. That's where my concern is, does he have that flexibility and motivation?
Players aren't star struck anymore and the younger ones won't have the immediacy of remembering some of his big achievements. For the squad as a whole, it's not the grandfatherly approach they need I think. That's an invitation for more of the same.
Silva had neither the ability nor gravitas, Koeman didn't care, and Allardyce lives up to his Fireman Sam tag and nothing else.
None of us can argue with a manager of Ancelotti's calibre, and I don't think anyone didn't think it wasn't anything other than a fantastic appointment. I'm still very much in his camp although as was going to happen anyway, the gloss has worn off. He won't get infinite patience, not from fans, and not from Moshiri either. It will be dictated by results but we are not near a stage where you could credibly argue that he should go without looking foolish.
He'll be under serious pressure this time next year though if the top six doesn't seem within our reach. And its top six that would pacify the vast majority of us, with good football and also without, probably. We aren't actually demanding the universe within a short time frame. Why bother with the salary outlay if he is not going to better any of his predecessors none of whom could ever compare to him? That's the territory we'll be in within a short 12 months or earlier so the pressure will very much be on from the start of next season.
