Sam Allardyce has said he is worried about Everton’s mental strength as scrutiny increases on Steve Walsh’s performance as the director of football.
Walsh is under growing pressure over the meagre return on the most expensive recruitment drive in the club’s history. Everton have spent almost £200m in the past two transfer windows – only five clubs in Europe have spent more in that period – but are seven points above the relegation zone with 12 matches remaining. It is understood Walsh’s position is under review by the owner, Farhad Moshiri. Marcel Brands, the sporting director at PSV Eindhoven, is a possible replacement.
Saturday’s 5-1 humiliation at Arsenal was the sixth time this season Everton have conceded four or more in a game. Allardyce described that defeat as “a blip” yet conceded the team’s tendency to capitulate is a concern. “It is a worry, it is a big worry,” the manager said. “It is a worry about the application and the consistency levels a player needs to perform at in the Premier League.
“There is great play from Arsenal, there is no doubt about that, but there are times when you have to dig in. We talk about the ability of players but this is about the resilience and mental strength of a player when it is not going your way. Then you have to dig in and be able to stop the flow of the opposition and work your way through that and get back in the game. Not carry on conceding goals like we did.”
Allardyce admits Everton’s new recruits “aren’t gelling together like they should” but claims the expenditure is not as excessive as it seems. When asked whether he expected more from such an expensively assembled squad, he replied: “Yes, but they [Arsenal] had three players worth £200m and they tore us apart. More than that. Ours is £200m but the net spend is £100m-110m max. Arsenal’s is much higher than that. Ours is a big number and we should do better. We should certainly be more consistent but Arsenal have just spent £60m on one centre-forward.”
