Pundit and former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has ripped into Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti amid a disappointing season.
The Toffees were again left wanting on the final day of the season when European football faded from view, with Everton just about mustering a 10th-placed finish in the top half of the table.
That prompted pundit Simon Jordan to have his say on Ancelotti, expressing a vehement sense of disappointment in the experienced Italian tactician.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Daily Podcast on Tuesday [12.20], the prominent pundit was damning in his assessment of Ancelotti’s tenure thus far.
“Do we say the Ancelotti effect is bearing fruit because they finished two places higher up the league, they’ve got 10 more points? So the Ancelotti effect, what is he 18 months into his job?
“I raised the point about Ancelotti about six months ago about ‘I’m not sure, I’ve not been sure since he walked through the door’.
“I spoke to somebody quite some time ago, someone very well known, that knows Ancelotti and questioned it, about the whole nature of his appointment and his motivation. At that time Everton were in a little bit of ascendancy, so I got a pile on.
“But I don’t think you can sit here as Everton fans and say that 10th in the league for Everton is a success.”
Read Everton Verdict
Everton fans have every right to be disappointed with yet another campaign void of any European football, but patience should be urged with the project at Everton.
It is unclear if Ancelotti would make it as far as the completion of Everton’s new Bramley-Moore stadium, but both squad and infrastructural investment from Farhad Moshiri points to a club on the ascendency.
Everton will undoubtedly have a handful of positions in mind to strengthen, and Ancelotti’s second successive full campaign next season could prove to be a far more effective litmus test of his potential to bring success to the club.
Put simply, another season could provide a longer-term platform for a more holistic squad-strengthening project to play out.
After all, Marcel Brands’ new deal is a continued sign of faith in the longer-term vision of the club.
