TalkSport pundit Simon Jordan has offered his views on the job that Carlo Ancelotti has done at Everton.
It has certainly been a disappointing season for the Toffees all things considered. Having got off to a rather incredible start, even getting to a stage where some were considering them for a title challenge, they couldn’t even end up in a European spot as they slumped to 10th in the table.
It is a step up from where they finished last season when they ended up 12th, but having been near the top for so long this season, to end up where they did does seem like a failure. And as heard on the TalkSport Daily Podcast (12:20), Jordan claimed that despite that improvement in the league, this season can’t be considered a successful one:
“Do we say the Ancelotti effect is bearing fruit because they finished two places higher up the league, they’ve got 10 more points? So the Ancelotti effect, what is he 18 months into his job?
“I raised the point about Ancelotti about six months ago about ‘I’m not sure, I’ve not been sure since he walked through the door’.
“I spoke to somebody quite some time ago, someone very well known, that knows Ancelotti and questioned it, about the whole nature of his appointment, his motivation. And at that time Everton were in a little bit of ascendancy, so I got a pile on. I don’t think you can sit here as Everton fans and say that 10th in the league for Everton is a success.”
Do you think Ancelotti underachieved this season?
No, he is just laying the foundations
Yes, he could have done better
TIF Thoughts on Simon Jordan’s comments about Carlo Ancelotti
We think there do have to be some questions raised about Ancelotti and the job that he has done at Everton this season, especially when you consider his track record of success, for them to end up out of Europe altogether, questions have to be raised.
And it probably leaves Everton and Ancelotti in a very difficult situation heading into next season, where he might have to repeat the start that they had this campaign in order to convince the board that they are moving forward with him in charge.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t totally blame them for pulling the plug on the whole idea sooner rather than later.
In other news: Exclusive: Pundit says Everton target would add “more flair” for Ancelotti, he’d only cost £17m