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.
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In contrast, other ex-Blues bosses, Marco Silva at Fulham, and Frank Lampard who is back in charge of Chelsea on a caretaker basis, can both potentially help their former employers by taking points off other teams fighting for survival. It’s a similar position for West Ham United’s David Moyes, who was in charge at Goodison Park for more than 11 years between 2002-13. But given that the Hammers can still potentially be overhauled by Dyche’s men, the Scot perhaps occupies something of a hybrid role.
On top of all these, there is also the former Everton player Mikel Arteta, steering Arsenal, and boyhood Blue Eddie Howe occupying the dugout at Newcastle United, and both can help the cause if they’re able to defeat other teams at the bottom.
Here’s a full rundown of the nine games that other managers with Everton connections have in terms of potentially shaping the Blues’ future.
Monday, May 8
Fulham v Leicester City (3pm)
Everton will hope Silva can do them a favour at Craven Cottage.
Saturday, May 13
Leeds United v Newcastle United (12.30pm)
Big Sam got off to a losing start at the Etihad and now Blues must hope that Howe’s side can pile on the pain with another emphatic display like their recent 4-1 victory at Goodison Park.
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest (3pm)
After six consecutive defeats since returning to Stamford Bridge, Lampard finally returned to winning ways 3-1 at Bournemouth so Evertonians must hope he can make it back-to-back victories here.
Southampton v Fulham (3pm)
The Blues need yet another good turn from Silva at the only away ground they triumphed themselves this season.
Saturday May 20
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (5:30pm)
Everton must hope that Arteta’s Gunners are still in with a chance of landing the Premier League title by then and go to the City Ground with plenty to play for.
Sunday May 21
West Ham United v Leeds United (1:30pm)
While at the time of publication, the Blues can still overhaul the Hammers, by this point they might be going all out to cheer on Moyes’ boys against Allardyce’s side.
Monday May 22
Newcastle United v Leicester City (8pm)
Dyche will be pinning his hopes on Howe’s Champions League-chasing Magpies looking to go out with a bang in their final St James’ Park fixture of the campaign.
Sunday May 28
Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur (4:30pm)
Allardyce ended up getting sacked by Everton after finishing eighth having taken charge in a relegation fight that turned out to be something of a ‘phoney war’ (the team were in the top half of the table after his first game in charge) but the renowned fire fighter might be chasing points to extinguish the Blues’ top-flight tenure stretching back to 1954 here.
Leicester City v West Ham United (4:30pm)
Could Moyes, Everton’s longest-serving and most-consistent manager of the Premier League era, play a pivotal role in their survival stakes on a potentially drama-filled final day as he takes his side to the King Power Stadium?
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