City supporter, part-time Everton watcher. Wanted to offer an opinion about Pellegrini really, given he's still being strongly linked with the job. He's been very disappointing here, bar the first season when i feel the players enjoyed being able to play freely after Mancini's demanding and at times chaotic methods. We played some superb stuff that year, but struggled after that and limply surrendered two titles, admittedly to very good sides. From day one he insisted on a very high defensive line which meant we were vulnerable to pacy counter-attacks, we barely pressed to win possession back, and the manager was rarely able to change things from the bench. To be fair, he's been undermined by some horrific recruitment and had an excellent record at building teams at both Malaga and Villarreal, so it's hard to say whether he could work at Goodison or not, but he showed no tactical flexibility at City and didn't really improve any senior players.
Have to say, i'm a bit surprised Emery is the resounding popular choice amongst Everton fans. Obviously winning three consecutive Europa Leagues is a credible achievement, but other than that his managerial career has been mixed. I think Sevilla's recent successes are as much down to other factors such as them having a great scouting system and Director of Football. They've been awful away in the league for a while and are probably the poorest side we've played in Europe. I'd see his appointment as a risk, and not a huge change from Martinez. The Sevilla side we saw against Liverpool bares little resemblence to how they play on a weekly basis.
It may not be a popular opinion, and as an outsider i expect it'll be taken with a pinch of salt, but Ronald Koeman honestly strikes me as the best man for the job. He's done a good job virtually everywhere he's been, bar Valencia and his brief filling in at AZ. He's got experience in the league, comes across well in interviews, his current side play attractive football, he varies formations quite regularly, and he seems to guarantee a level from players that Martinez has generally failed to do. It would also distablise a direct rival in terms of one of the clubs Everton ought to overtake with the new investment.
