David Unsworth has conceded Everton are likely to replace him at any moment with Sam Allardyce or another long-term appointment and the caretaker manager suggested some of the players he inherited lack the courage to arrest the team’s alarming slump.
Unsworth has overseen five defeats in seven games since becoming Ronald Koeman’s temporary successor on 23 October, with the latest, Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Southampton, increasing Everton’s desperation to make a permanent appointment. Allardyce is expected to be announced as the new manager this week and Unsworth, speaking as he prepared for West Ham United’s visit to Goodison Park on Wednesday, said: “There were no guarantees five weeks ago that it would last a week, two weeks [for me.] So as far as I’m aware I will be in charge tomorrow night unless somebody tells me different.
“We’re going to do the preparation as we normally would do. It’s already under way. And I’ve already picked the team in my head. If somebody does come in [beforehand], I will shake them by the hand. If they ask for my thoughts, I’ll give them honestly. But at the moment I’m just preparing as I can. It’s not uncertain to me because I’m fully focused on the job, the session, and that’s really clear. And I make that very clear to the players. I can only control what I can control.”
Regarding Allardyce’s candidacy, Unsworth added: “Sam is a top manager but it would be wrong for me to talk of individuals. I have seen the names bandied about. All are top managers. Whether there is truth in some or all or none, I do not know. Whoever gets the honour has my backing.”
Everton’s players were accused of not taking responsibility during their defeat by Southampton. Unsworth is now demanding that they show their mettle. “We need to start winning,” said the 44-year-old. “The home comfort of Goodison has to help us. We need to stick together. We need men and courage and mental toughness. You need top players to stand up and be counted. Those players who do not have the bottle to take on the fight need to be honest, come forward, and say they are not up for it and we will get players who are. We may need to recruit proven Premier League players who are up for the fight.
“When you’re in a tough moment … in this day and age the mentality of players isn’t what it used to be and sometimes players will take the easy way out and shirk that responsibility.
“What I’m asking the players to do is to stand up and take responsibility. We’ve had numerous sessions on the training ground where I’ve come off the pitch with the staff and been really impressed. But anyone who’s been in football or managed or coached will say: ‘You don’t want training-ground players, you want players you can rely on when that ball rolls at kick-off.’ So I want players to stand up and take that responsibility for our great club and we have to do that quickly.”
Everton have 12 points from 13 games and are only two points and two places above the relegation zone. Unsworth, moreover, warned whoever succeeds him will require time to turn the team’s fortunes around. “I don’t think there’s a quick fix in football,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s a secret ingredient where somebody just comes in and all of a sudden you start winning again. The fundamental problems have been on the pitch and in performance. We need our best players fit quickly, we need some proven recruitment in early January and we need to win a couple of games and get confidence flying again.
“When confidence is low it takes a bit of time to build that back up. I don’t think there’s a quick fix, whoever gets the job needs time and patience, support and backing. They’ll get all of that from me.”
