It’s often said that “a friend in need is a friend indeed” but with Everton currently on course for their first relegation in 72 years, can a ‘old pals act’ help preserve their Premier League status given the prominent role that managers with Goodison Park connections will play during the run-in?
Sam Allardyce’s dramatic appointment at Leeds United last week took the number of such bosses to seven and while one of that number, current Everton manager Sean Dyche, insists that his own side just have to do their job, the table is such that the Blues know that they will have to rely on favours from somewhere along the line.
In taking the job at Elland Road for their last four fixtures of the campaign – starting with Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at leaders Manchester City – Allardyce has become a direct rival of Everton in the battle to stay up.
