Does Leicester sacking Craig Shakespeare send a warning to Everton about appointing David Unsworth as permanent manager?
Bill Kenwright, chairman of Everton, looks on prior to the Premier League match against Stoke City at Goodison Park.
Several senior players also back this decision from Kenwright, which is probably why Unsworth is now the 2/1 favourite with Skybet to be given the job.
David Unsworth looks on during the Checkatrade Trophy group match between Bolton Wanderers and Everton under-23s.
Yet while the Under-23s boss has done great things in the Toffees’ academy, would it be a bit hasty to promote the 44-year-old into the top job when his only first team managerial experience has come during previous interim spells at Goodison Park and Preston North End?
The Merseysiders need look no further than fellow Premier League outfit Leicester City to see the perils of promoting members of the backroom staff into the top job in the dugout.
The Foxes have just sacked their own boss Craig Shakespeare when the club were second bottom in the table having lost four and won just one of their opening eight league games.
Craig Shakespeare looks on prior to the Premier League match between Leicester City and Liverpool.
Shakespeare himself was Claudio Ranieri’s assistant and was appointed caretaker when the Italian was sacked in February, quickly turning their form around and being named permanent manager in the summer.
The problem could be that backroom staff are probably best placed to see where the problems are in teams and therefore are well placed to address them.
That often provides a quick fix and an upturn in form in the short-term, but when further issues arise they do not have the experience to deal with them. This is not always the case, but the Everton fans and hierarchy should not get too carried away if Unsworth has that effect in his first few matches in charge.
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