The Everton Job

Managers in the Premier League particularly, and football in general are an endangered species - but one that can come back from the dead. Each season we see a merry-go-round of managers (and their coaching staff), Arry from Spurs to QPR, AVB from Chelsea to Spurs and Mark Hughes into the football wilderness. This season Sir Alex Ferguson is the catalyst for change, but not at Man Utd. Everton is the club in the media right now and below I discuss the main contenders for the job.

David Moyes, a great success at cash strapped Everton, has the daunting task of stepping into the shoes of Sir Alex. They're very big shoes and the football WORLD will be watching - which no disrespect to Evertonians, will be a huge change for Moyes. Despite having the best team in the Premier League and probably one of the top six teams in Europe under his guidance, following Fergie may be the hardest job in football. Moyes will no longer operate in the football shadows at Everton, but in the spotlight at Old Trafford. The football microscope will be positioned on Moyes, so expect the twice-weekly run down on MOTD, and criticism in the newspapers. Yanited expect the title and always feel they are in contention for the Champions League too. Paul Scholes second retirement, Ryan Giggs nearing his own football extinction and Rio Ferdinand also not far behind will accentuate the toughness of the task. Replacements are required and a raid on Everton must be expected, but Moyes will have riches he's never had before and the appeal Man Utd brings with it to attract talent he never had the chance of attracting to Everton. Interesting times and one to keep an eye on (alongside the football world). Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal have the best chance they've had for a few seasons to knock Man Utd down the table - but that's for another blog.

What of Everton? Apart from being managerless the Toffees do have an exceptional squad of players. Season after season under Moyes they have been able to compete with big spending Liverpool and Tottenham, on occasions bettering the league positions of such rivals on only a shoe string budget. The shoe string budget they have could hold them back after Moyes exit - coaches may think more than twice about trying to follow in his footsteps. Moyes record is more than impressive, and only if Man Utd raid Everton for two or three players will an incoming manager have his own "significant" funds to build his team anything like quickly. Evertonians should try to be patient whatever unfolds. A new coach will have done remarkably to match Moyes, let alone exceed his achievements. If cash does materialise from the sale of players, the gaps left will also need to be filled, and other selling clubs may add a million or two to the valuations of Everton targets. They will be top ten in 13/14 I have no doubt, but maybe top six or higher can only come in 14/15 or later. Consolidation must be in any Everton fans mind. They can't immediately expect to upset the top 5 clubs who are all likely to strengthen their squads further in the Summer.

The contenders for the Everton post seem to be the recently relegated Wigan coach Roberto Martinez, the impressive newcomer Michael Laudrup (at least in the premier league) and the latest entry into the race, German Ralf Rangnick. Evertonians may have breathed a sigh of relief when Mark Hughes joined Stoke.

Roberto Martinez is held in high esteem due to his previous exploits with Swansea and the attractive style of football he has left as a legacy at that club, and now at Wigan. Doubters point to Swansea surpassing Wigan under Brendan Rogers now of Liverpool, and current coach Michael Laudrup also bettering Martinez. Any critic of Martinez also need only point to Wigan's Championship status. Despite a magnificent FA Cup win this season, ultimately hot property and the Premier League's man of the moment, Martinez, took a team of eight premier league seasons into the dog fight that is the Championship. Much bigger clubs than Wigan are yet to return. Leeds, Forest, Wednesday, Wolves all struggle each season to find a way back to the big time. Everton do have more quality than Wigan, so relegation wouldn't be a fear. Martinez could also take the outstanding Wigan performers to Everton too. McManaman, Kone and Maloney will play in the Premier League in 2013/14 and Everton attract them with Martinez at the helm.

Laudrup is seen as more of an outsider but must have good stock at any team looking to attract a young manager working towards great things. So far he has an impressive CV, with relative success at Getafe and recently at crisis club Mallorca and the League Cup this year with Swansea. Attractive football has been a trademark each time. With Michu he also made the signing of the season, and brought in some other exceptional bargains from La Liga. Everton could benefit from Laudrup's style and eye for talent in the transfer window, as Swansea have. Michu will be on a few wishlists no doubt. I'd see Everton as the next step for Laudrup, and despite noting him as an outsider I would not be surprised to see him make the move. If he achieves half as much as a coach as he was able to as a player, clubs should be scrambling for his services. Maybe Martinez would then fit back at Swansea. Let us not rule that out!

Ralf Rangnick is known in Germany as a professor of the game. With Schalke he managed a Champions League semi final but suffered with his health (exhaustion) which took him out of the game as a coach. Management since has only come at third-league Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.

A football-specialist, and an intellectual and wise-man, despite his not tremendous age, he has been a success at Schalke and was able to elevate unfashionable and almost unknown Hoffenheim from league-3 to the Bundesliga. Indeed they flirted with Champions League qualification when they made it to Germany's top flight. His football mind, work ethic and success at unfashionable clubs might just see him end up at Everton and halt the possible premier league merry-go-round. Indeed Rangnick wasn't far from becoming Joachim Low just a few seasons ago. The almost Germany coach has a fair reputation behind him and might fit the mould.

Celtic's Neil Lennon, Gus Poyet of Brighton, Mackay of Cardiff and Porto's Pereira are also in with a shout according to the bookies. With Lennon unchallenged in Scotland until Rangers return to the SPL and unfancied by the fans, Poyet's stock falling after a lack of plan B in the playoffs, Mackay now in the Premier League with Cardiff and Periera with a great opportunity to push on in Europe with Porto, none offer as much likelihood as Martinez, Laudrup and Rangnick in my humble opinion.