Everton and West Ham United were widely regarded to have done some of the best business during the summer.
Everton and West Ham may have “won the transfer window” on paper over the summer but it simply has not transferred to the pitch with both clubs in and around the relegation places a quarter of the way through the season.
As a result both Ronald Koeman and Slaven Bilic came under severe pressure, pressure which finally told on the Dutchman when he was sacked last month.
The axe seems to be swinging ever closer to Bilic’s neck too with the under pressure Croatian admitting in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s daunting visit of Liverpool that he must get something from the game to save his job.
For many West Ham fans the fact Bilic has survived this long while the likes of Leicester and Crystal Palace have taken decisive action is a huge source of frustration.
Many feel he should have gone in the summer after a disappointing season. Others point the finger of blame at the board and cite a lack of ambition and too much interference from David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady as the real issue undermining Bilic.
Most Hammers supporters agree on one thing, though, that Bilic should be getting more out of the squad under his tutelage.
With West Ham sitting 16th and Everton down in 18th place, perhaps it is Toffees caretaker boss David Unsworth who has been keeping his former teammate in a job?
Unsworth has proved just as hapless as Koeman when it comes to galvanising an imbalanced squad to get a result.
There has been no visible uplift or honeymoon period like former Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare enjoyed last season.
Three games have yielded three defeats, seven goals conceded and one scored and Unsworth knows that must change against Watford on Sunday if he is to shake the ridicule which has greeted his spell in charge from some quarters.
But Unsworth hogging the limelight for all the wrong reasons can only save Bilic for so long and sooner or later West Ham need a result against the odds to turn their torrid season around.
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