Moshiri has a plan – and Evertonians have every reason to be excited via Royal Blue Mersey
Slowly but surely, things are looking up at Goodison Park
Farhad Moshiri hasn’t said too much publicity since his arrival at Everton in February, he seems a man who prefers to be judged by his actions and not words.
But when he does speak Evertonians can’t help but grow giddy with excitement at what the Iranian-born billionaire seemingly has in store for the Toffees.
Moshiri has made just three public statements since taking control of the club, one of those on the day he purchased his majority shareholding at the end of February.
The second came in the form of a short interview after the Chelsea FA Cup win in March before releasing a third statement to Sky Sports earlier this week.
Each time he has spoken of his desire to help the club grow and lift itself out of the stupor it has found itself dwelling in for the past 25 years.
But what makes Moshiri’s arrival more thrilling is that his words carry substance and he is backing up his brief, bold statements with decisive action.
If you look at what he has achieved since his arrival at Goodison Park it’s clear he has a plan that will be executed methodically and carefully.
His first major task was dispensing with manager Roberto Martinez and his backroom team, a costly exercise that cost several million pounds.
I’m sure Moshiri would have preferred to have let Martinez go at the end of the season but he didn’t hesitate in bringing that forward after a disastrous run of form sparked near mutiny among the supporters.
The next task was appointing a replacement. Ronald Koeman was his first choice and although initially rebuffed, Moshiri’s determination and vision won over the Dutchman and he was appointed a little over a month after Martinez’s departure.
The appointment of Koeman was certainly a coup but Moshiri appears realistic and knows the former Barcelona defender is unlikely to stay at the club for more than four or five years.
That isn’t a situation unique to Everton, it is very much how the modern game operates; managers are much more transient and likely to move clubs much more often.
To guard against the disruption a change in manager brings Moshiri quickly highlighted his desire to appoint a director of football.
This would be a long-term appointment and would ensure there would be minimal upheaval and a sense of continuity between managers.
Moshiri’s first choice for this role appeared to be Sevilla’s Monchi, but when that move fell through he quickly moved to Leicester’s Steve Walsh.
Leicester were understandably reluctant to let Walsh go but Moshiri’s determination won over in the end and he arrived just three weeks after Koeman.
With Koeman and Walsh in place attention was quickly turned to the transfer market and strengthening the squad.
Supporters understandably became anxious as the expected £100million bonanza failed to arrive.
We were led to believe a Man City circa 2008-2012 or Chelsea 2004-6 spending spree was on the cards and there was some disappointment when that didn’t prove to be the case.
However, in reality Everton have been much cuter – and classier – than that.
Koeman and Walsh have systematically worked their way through the squad, identifying areas that need strengthening and targeting players accordingly.
Each new signing directly addresses a weakness in the team and looks to be part of an overall framework.
This isn’t scattergun spending for the sake of it, splashing the cash on a “statement” signing to flex financial muscle and make headlines.
This is sensible well-thought out recruitment, albeit with a budget never before seen at Goodison Park.
Critics claim the sale of John Stones has fuelled most of Everton spending so far – like when David Moyes was in the dugout and penniless Bill was on his own in the boardroom.
But it is clear the changes undertaken at Goodison this summer both with playing and coaching staff far exceed the £47.5m received from Manchester City.
With Yannick Bolasie becoming the latest new face this week, adding some much needed pace and dynamism to the Everton team (how we could have done with him in the second half on Saturday) Moshiri chose to speak in public once again.
In a short statement delivered to Sky Sports News Moshiri reassured supporters that the transfer spending would continue, with three or four further players set to arrive before the deadline.
Few would doubt Moshiri to fulfill that pledge.
Off the field work has already begun to give Goodison Park a much needed facelift. A superficial one of course, and one that will do little to solve the creaking stadium’s problems. But it will still leave the old lady looking grander than she has done in many a year.
Meanwhile Mayor Joe Anderson’s recent declaration regarding a new stadium suggests we may finally get that dockside home we’ve all dreamed of.
At times Evertonians feel they have to pinch themselves to check this is really happening.
After decades of decline or merely treading water, Everton finally look to have found a man with the vision and resources to reawaken the sleeping giant.
It is hard to stay patient amidst the excitement and demand everything at once.
But if Farhad Moshiri has shown anything in his short tenure at Goodison Park, it is that good things come to those who wait.
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