Those on the Everton board may have a big decision to make after the World Cup, as defeat last Saturday left Frank Lampard’s side just one place outside of the relegation zone in the top flight.
After narrowly escaping relegation last season, it was hoped that the Toffees would be able to push on under the former Chelsea boss this year but results and performances have been far from good enough in recent fixtures.
Last week was certainly an embarrassing one for the Merseyside outfit, as they fell to consecutive heavy defeats against Bournemouth, losing 4-1 in the Carabao Cup before being trounced 3-0 once again on Saturday afternoon, which left fans extremely frustrated after the final whistle.
For all the criticism aimed at Rafa Benitez last season, the Spaniard now boasts a better points percentage than Lampard at Goodison Park, with the 44-year-old now ranked as the 20th-best manager in Everton’s history, suggesting that a sacking could certainly be on the cards if their poor form continues after the World Cup break.
Therefore, those associated with Everton may well be wishing that the club had controversially appointed Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira when Benitez was sacked in January, as the 54-year-old arguably boasts a far more impressive résumé than Lampard.
Graffiti was sprayed on walls in protest against his appointment, with the fans seemingly preferring Lampard. However, he may well have been a better fit, after all.
The Corinthians boss was described as the leading candidate to take over at Goodison Park earlier this year and even had an interview before the Toffees pulled away from the deal.
Pereira has averaged over 1.6 points per game in all of his managerial positions bar a brief spell at 1860 Munich, whereas Lampard has managed just 1.13 points per game at Everton, and only just managed over 1.6 points per game during his spells at Derby County and Chelsea.
While no realistic Everton fan will have been expecting to win the league this season, Pereira would have brought title-winning experience with him had he joined the Toffees in January, having won four separate championships during his time with Porto, Olympiacos and Shanghai SIPG.
Therefore, considering Everton’s woeful recent form, which suggests that another relegation battle is on the cards, Farhad Moshiri will be ruing the fact that Pereira could have joined as Benitez’s heir.
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