Loads of Everton fans have been reacting on social media after Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling appeared to question the club’s decision to pursue Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti is the primary target for majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and Chairman Bill Kenwright, after the former Chelsea head coach became available following his sacking by SSC Napoli less than three hours after guiding the Serie A side into the Champions League Last 16.
Moshiri had fired Marco Silva on December 5 after the Portuguese ended his 18-months in charge with a run of two wins in 11 Premier League games, which left the club inside the Premier League relegation places.
Reports on Monday indicated that we had held positive discussions with Ancelotti after he flew into England, and that a deal in principle was reached late in the evening that will see the Italian take charge at Goodison Park.
The 60-year-old could now be appointed as Silva’s successor as soon as Thursday or Friday, and be in the dugout when we face Arsenal on Saturday, with whom he was also linked with.
Interim head coach Duncan Ferguson, who oversaw our 3-1 win at home to Chelsea and 1-1 draw with Manchester United, will remain in caretaker charge for our Carabao Cup Quarter-Final with Leicester City on Wednesday night.
Stelling, though, feels Ferguson should be the one named as Silva’s full-time replacement and not Ancelotti.
Taking to Twitter, the Soccer Saturday host shared: “Who would you rather have Everton fans. Duncan Ferguson or Carlo Ancelotti? I would raise an eyebrow if it’s not big Dunc?”
Who would you prefer replaces Silva?
Ancelotti
Ferguson
Ancelotti would be arriving at Goodison Park in the wake of a spell in Italy where he held the second-worst points-per-game average of his managerial career, having taken 1.85ppg with 38 wins and 19 draws in 72 games.
The Italian won the Premier League and clinched the FA Cup during his tenure at Stamford Bridge between 2009 and 2011, though, and lifted Silverware with AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, despite his barren run with Napoli.
Ferguson, on the other hand, has only stepped foot into the dugout as a manager for our fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester United, and ruled himself out of replacing Silva after the Red Devils draw.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Stelling’s comment…
Absolutely love Dunc to the hill and back but even he said we need someone who can take us further and with more experience. Ancelotti’s won the lot, we must get him in.
— Andy Forsyth (@Andy_Forsyth) December 16, 2019
Would love to give it to Dunc until the end of the season but if we can get someone like Ancelotti before he goes elsewhere it’s difficult to say no
— Ben Mitchell (@BenMitchell1992) December 16, 2019
Dunc has done a good job, given the belief, confidence and expects a shift. Exactly what us fans wanna see. Carlo’s CV speaks for itself, he’d raise the profile of the club etc. But he’s a winner, with a winning mentality, exactly what we need after what we’ve had. UTFT 💙
— Tony Jones (@TonyJ1878) December 16, 2019
Dunc as his number 2
— Jay (@jayefc_86) December 16, 2019
Doing a bit of 🎣 there Jeff!
— Rob Fisher (@rob_fisher_efc) December 16, 2019
That’s Sir Duncan if you don’t mind🤨
— Huey Blue (@huey_price18) December 16, 2019
How long can you get by with passion alone though Jeff? Dunc has been fantastic but all the jumping around will soon wear off on the players. I rather have the experienced manager with a name that will attract players to want to play for him.
— Nick Way (@wicknay4) December 16, 2019
Carlo
— John (@JE18781988) December 16, 2019
Which one would Hartlepool choose?
— markwalsh (@madmiyagi) December 16, 2019
Big Dunc
— James turvey (@TopsyT75) December 16, 2019
In other Everton news, a 24-cap Toffees star has received heaps of praise from a leading pundit for his performance at Old Trafford.