Seasons » 2015-16 » Everton News
Unsworth says new boss has to be a winner


David Unsworth says that whomever Everton appoint as the next manager has to be able to work well with youth players and, above all, win matches.
The 42 year-old is in temporary charge of the first team alongside club legend and former manager Joe Royle for the final match of the season against Norwich City on Sunday but he was asked in his press conference for his thoughts on the man who will permanently replace outgoing boss Roberto Martinez.
Unsworth has managed Everton's Under-21 side for the past two years so his intimate knowledge of the youth system means he can speak to the potential that exists on the club's production line that the new manager can tap into.
“We've got amazing talent here. There's not just one or two in the Under-21 group, there's an abundance of talent that are probably ready to play first-team football.
“What we need is a manager who will integrate young players and top talent and win games. It could be anybody in charge — you have to win games, it's as simple as that.
“Recently, we haven't won enough games so whoever the new man coming in is, he's got top young talent anyway in the first team and he's also got under that an Under-21 group that are nearly ready or ready to play in our first team."
Unsworth agreed that the likes of Ronald Koeman and Frank de Boer, both of whom are being heavily linked with the vacancy, are top managers who could fit the bill but he reiterated that whoever comes in “has got to win.”
“This is a top club,” he continued, “with top fans who demand to win matches.”
In the meantime, Unsworth is preparing for Sunday's game along with Duncan Ferguson, John Ebbrell and, of course, Royle he admits that he is loving working alongside his former boss.
“[Joe is] working for me now,” he joked. “No, it's good. We have a great relationship; we did when I was a player, both here and at Ipswich. It's been brilliant to work with him, to tap into his knowledge and experience over the last few years here with the U21s.
“To have him next to me, to have John Ebbrell who's working with me as well, to have Big Dunc alongside us… you've got four passionate, massive Evertonians who want to see this club succeed.”
Reader Comments (51)
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2 Posted 13/05/2016 at 23:42:14
3 Posted 13/05/2016 at 23:46:41
Would like to see a few kids get a start & show some of our "stars" how to put a decent shift in.
All the best Unnsy/JR.
5 Posted 14/05/2016 at 00:22:00
Stephen, give him a break ffs. Gutted you can't moan about Roberto, so feel the need to moan at whoever else.
6 Posted 13/05/2016 at 00:22:49
What's most important, I hope our new guy puts a lot of emphasis on coaching defenders. We really need that. Stones especially, but young Galloway too. A couple of raw talents to be molded.
With the clearing out about to happen, not sure how our new manager will be able to rely on untested youth thrust into an EPL environment.
Hopefully, well have some surprises.
Didn't we have a U-18 Skipper the U-21s? Who was that?
7 Posted 14/05/2016 at 00:30:48
Good luck Unsworth on Sunday. COYB!
8 Posted 14/05/2016 at 01:17:31
9 Posted 14/05/2016 at 01:27:33
10 Posted 14/05/2016 at 01:40:49
14 Posted 14/05/2016 at 07:00:06
15 Posted 14/05/2016 at 08:08:37
16 Posted 14/05/2016 at 08:21:44
A lot of dead wood in the squad who will either not have renewed contracts or be sold on. I believe we are looking at around ten signings and that is asking a lot for them to adapt with the squad that will remain. We need to give patience to the manager and players next season and hopefully be happy with the transition we see.
De Boer would be my choice, something new to the league with, good back room staff and as Rhino states, a winner.
Mourinho is toxic and Koeman hasn't really improved Southampton and none of his signings really stand out!
17 Posted 14/05/2016 at 08:56:18
Good luck Unsy - please pick a youngster or two!
18 Posted 14/05/2016 at 09:00:25
19 Posted 14/05/2016 at 09:04:47
20 Posted 14/05/2016 at 09:13:37
21 Posted 14/05/2016 at 09:19:32
22 Posted 14/05/2016 at 09:23:08
So the question would be, do we appoint Jose and give him an exit clause after 12 months for the Man Utd job, which he has openly stated he wants? Or do we appoint De Boer now and get on with giving him a 4-year plan?
23 Posted 14/05/2016 at 10:20:12
24 Posted 14/05/2016 at 10:28:21
25 Posted 14/05/2016 at 10:32:09
26 Posted 14/05/2016 at 10:38:42
27 Posted 14/05/2016 at 11:58:19
28 Posted 14/05/2016 at 13:10:35
Would I consider going back? I've said if I get an exciting challenge and something that makes me feel I could get my teeth into it then I would be really interested. When we took over we had 11 great and successful years but we also had to rebuild the club a little bit. I just think now the change has been made and Everton need to now go and do it again. If you give David Moyes an opportunity he tends to rebuild a club and he tends to get it going in the right direction and making sure that things are correct and I'm looking forward to getting the chance to do that again.
29 Posted 14/05/2016 at 13:41:13
Don't remember him missing many.
30 Posted 14/05/2016 at 13:53:37
It is shocking how anyone thinks a guy who has won the Dutch league 4 times is good enough to win the Premier League. You have to judge him on playing the best teams in the Champions League.
31 Posted 14/05/2016 at 13:58:55
32 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:28:19
"Would I consider going back? I've said if I get an exciting challenge and something that makes me feel I could get my teeth into it then I would be really interested.
If you give David Moyes an opportunity he tends to rebuild a club and he tends to get it going in the right direction and making sure that things are correct and I'm looking forward to getting the chance to do that again."
Let's not eh BK/FM...
34 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:39:15
No we fuckin didn't.
Depends how you define success. Moyes and onion head brainwashed the fans into thinking 7th = success.
35 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:39:31
Lucien Favre knocked out man u in champions league. He won both matches againt B. Munich. He wan the cup with Hertha Berlin and 4th place in the league despite they had the lowest budget in the league. etc etc
Also, when he did not succeed of various reasons, he left the club himself. Did not get forced out...like others I have heard of.
Frank D Boer eon the title 4 times a row in the dutch league. I am not buying that the dutch league is not any good etc.
Who do you call a winner?
36 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:40:28
37 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:46:26
38 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:55:03
39 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:57:03
My own feeling is if Mr Moshiri is as good as his word, we need somebody who will command respect the moment he walks through the Goodison entrance.
Mourinho has his issues that's for sure but so too did Brian Cough and Sir Alex but all three have a knack for getting the very best out of players on a regular basis. If Jose came to Goodison it might all end in tears but it certainly wouldn't be boring, which for the most part of the last decade, it has been.
Even if his stay was for only 1 or 2 years he would alter the mindset of the club almost overnight. That is what this club needs at this moment in time, we could gamble on some other manager but none of them will come into the club and own it - metaphorically speaking - Jose Mourinho would.
40 Posted 14/05/2016 at 15:05:32
One man's hell yeah is another man's FFS no.
Whoever it is, whether youre for or against him, we need everyone behind him and given our full support.
Agree with Patrick, Mourinho is and should be the man.
41 Posted 14/05/2016 at 15:14:56
Koeman would be good but I think he will stay at southampton.
I don't want Moyes (will not be the right thing for several reasons), Mark Hughes, Rafa Benitez and Sanches Flores...and many others at the odds list.
Pellegrini could maybe be good. I think the position he has had in man c. was not healthy. If he got the chance I think he will be a good manager.
42 Posted 14/05/2016 at 15:45:56
Success is all relative, what exactly is a winner?
Some of the greatest people in history could be described as losers at some point in their lives. The real winners are those who face adversity and fail but never give in and persist until they succeed. There is no such thing as a born winner, everybody loses at some point.
Wenger created the "invincibles" Arsenal team about a decade ago so you would say he is a winner but many Arsenal fans want rid because hes only won about one trophy since.
Mourinho has won virtually every thing everywhere he has been but he has always had one of the better teams and a shed load of money to spend. But you wouldn't describe him as a winner last season, he did worse than Martinez.
Unsy never actually said we need a "winner". He said we need a manager who can win game. I interpret that as him saying we need a manager who is more interested in results than performance and possession tippy tappy football.
43 Posted 14/05/2016 at 15:48:25
The reason he has not been appointed at manure yet is the conservative backroom nervousness at the cult of personality he carries around with him, and not necessarily an nice one.
At least what is clear is the middle range options will not be considered. I see it as a three horse race, Mourihno, De Boer and Mancini. People considering Moyes, because of his past associations with the Club, or Benitez because of his past association with the City are just not getting the magnitude of the decision.
I trust Moshiri to get it right, judging on the fact he never met Martinez! Absolute class. In bringing him to the Club might just be BK's saving grace.
I think if Mourihno were to come it would be in response to the most unique challenge in premier league history. Just consider the stadium, the dark side, the media bias, the small club mentality, Stones and Lukaku, the in-built prejudices to be overcome, the 2nd choice label etc. . . . Only a guy with the stature of Mourihno would dare to face that. Moshiri might just give him the opportunity.
44 Posted 14/05/2016 at 15:53:54
45 Posted 14/05/2016 at 15:54:42
46 Posted 14/05/2016 at 15:58:59
47 Posted 14/05/2016 at 16:06:38
48 Posted 14/05/2016 at 17:16:23
49 Posted 14/05/2016 at 17:28:11
50 Posted 14/05/2016 at 17:36:40
51 Posted 14/05/2016 at 17:40:06
Why?
Well despite that apparent arrogant ego he needs to feel wanted and loved and I think He would love Evertonians.
He has been successful at whatever club he has been at under difficult internal politics and is a proven winner.
He is loved by the media and would raise our profile.
Ok he has a suspect mental state but that hasnt stopped him winning things at every single club he has been at.
Whoever is appointed is a risk but at least he has proved he can walk the walk in the Premiership.
I am pleased to see De Boers odds going out a bit and Mourhino's odds coming right down to 8/1 with Skybet.
Would we ever have expected to be in with a chance of attracting a manager of this calibre.
52 Posted 14/05/2016 at 17:49:01
53 Posted 14/05/2016 at 18:35:31
My own personal favourite would be Ronald de Boer. I don't know why but he just seems to have something about him.
54 Posted 14/05/2016 at 19:09:50
55 Posted 14/05/2016 at 20:57:03
Let's unite, show him that he's really wanted and I don't think that he'd ever want to leave because we'd be offering him the chance to build a dynasty with one of the great aristocrats of world football. We're old money and we reek of class, I think he'd buy into us far beyond the spivvy nonsense that Chelsea offered; and we'd buy into him.
We need to understand and to sell what our club is about: one of the very greats in world football, one with a pedigree that puts the vast majority in the shade.
We're far too timid and apologetic. We have nothing to fear but ourselves.
Of course, the deadly obstacle is Kenwright who would far rather have charity ballet at every half-time than take on a nasty, winning bastard like Mourinho. I hope Moshiri sees through our fuckwit Chairman's mediocrity asap. If he doesn't, we're doomed.
56 Posted 14/05/2016 at 21:07:28
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1 Posted 13/05/2016 at 23:40:03