In an evertonfc.com column, Everton legend and Club ambassador Graeme Sharp offers his thoughts on the appointments of Marco Silva as manager and Marcel Brands as Director of Football and why it feels like "the start of a new era" for the Blues.
Hope and optimism. These are the words I would use to describe the feeling presently around Everton.
I really believe the appointments of Marco Silva and Marcel Brands are very exciting for the Club.
Starting with Marco, it was important for the Club to be decisive and appoint a new boss quickly, which has happened. What he has achieved in Portugal, Greece and here in England proved persuasive to the decision-makers that he is the man to move the Club forward.
Forming a view based on what I’ve heard from him so far, he appears to be a very positive, forward-thinking manager. I believe he will appeal to the fans, too. I think they will like his passion especially.
Our fans want someone in charge who associates with them, who feels like them and thinks like them. His first interviews since taking the job have been extremely impressive and I’m sure he will be similarly impressive when he speaks in his media conference on Monday afternoon.
I know the players will be looking forward to working with him as well. He is a young guy who has really good ideas about the game and he likes his teams to attack.
When you look at the side he assembled at Watford, it was a strong, powerful team that was pleasing on the eye and it was the same when he came in at Hull. The players all looked up for the fight. You can see he demands a lot from the players and they respond to that.
We have a lot of talented players here at the Club and, from their point of view, everybody starts afresh now. It is up to them to impress the new manager and see if they can get into the team for next season.
Marco promotes a brand of football that excites people and that is what Evertonians want to see. He wants his teams to score goals and play attractive football. All the signs are positive.
One of the things that impressed me most about Marco was when he talked in his initial interview about building that connection between the fans and the players. It is so important that the manager is on the same wavelength as our supporters - and he is.
Our fans want to see the team roll up their sleeves and give it a right good go. They want Everton to play on the front foot and go into every game, whether it be at Stamford Bridge, Anfield or the Emirates, with the belief and desire to win.
If the fans can see that desire, they will back the players 100 per cent. The manager will be well aware of that and, from watching the teams he has managed previously, you can see they were committed, powerful, worked hard and were attractive to watch as well. If Marco brings that to Everton, the fans will be behind him straight away.
I hope that he can make his mark and stay here for years to come. Having that stability is very important. He has signed a three-year contract but myself and I’m sure all Evertonians will hope he is here for a lot longer because that will mean he is doing a good job and we are moving in the right direction. That is what we all want and desire as Everton fans.
Marcel is also an exciting appointment as Director of Football. He is an experienced man and has a record that speaks for itself, with what he has achieved at every club he has been at.
From the interviews he has done so far, I have been very impressed as well. He already knows what the Football Club is all about. He knows the history of the Club and the importance of bringing young players through and into the team, which is all part of creating that bond between the fans and the team.
It feels like the start of a new era. There is a real sense of optimism about Everton now. We are all looking forward to the new season – a new manager, a new campaign and hopefully it can be a successful one. It is a very exciting time for the Football Club.
Hope and optimism. These are the words I would use to describe the feeling presently around Everton.
I really believe the appointments of Marco Silva and Marcel Brands are very exciting for the Club.
Starting with Marco, it was important for the Club to be decisive and appoint a new boss quickly, which has happened. What he has achieved in Portugal, Greece and here in England proved persuasive to the decision-makers that he is the man to move the Club forward.
Forming a view based on what I’ve heard from him so far, he appears to be a very positive, forward-thinking manager. I believe he will appeal to the fans, too. I think they will like his passion especially.
Our fans want someone in charge who associates with them, who feels like them and thinks like them. His first interviews since taking the job have been extremely impressive and I’m sure he will be similarly impressive when he speaks in his media conference on Monday afternoon.
I know the players will be looking forward to working with him as well. He is a young guy who has really good ideas about the game and he likes his teams to attack.
When you look at the side he assembled at Watford, it was a strong, powerful team that was pleasing on the eye and it was the same when he came in at Hull. The players all looked up for the fight. You can see he demands a lot from the players and they respond to that.
We have a lot of talented players here at the Club and, from their point of view, everybody starts afresh now. It is up to them to impress the new manager and see if they can get into the team for next season.
Marco promotes a brand of football that excites people and that is what Evertonians want to see. He wants his teams to score goals and play attractive football. All the signs are positive.
One of the things that impressed me most about Marco was when he talked in his initial interview about building that connection between the fans and the players. It is so important that the manager is on the same wavelength as our supporters - and he is.
Our fans want to see the team roll up their sleeves and give it a right good go. They want Everton to play on the front foot and go into every game, whether it be at Stamford Bridge, Anfield or the Emirates, with the belief and desire to win.
If the fans can see that desire, they will back the players 100 per cent. The manager will be well aware of that and, from watching the teams he has managed previously, you can see they were committed, powerful, worked hard and were attractive to watch as well. If Marco brings that to Everton, the fans will be behind him straight away.
I hope that he can make his mark and stay here for years to come. Having that stability is very important. He has signed a three-year contract but myself and I’m sure all Evertonians will hope he is here for a lot longer because that will mean he is doing a good job and we are moving in the right direction. That is what we all want and desire as Everton fans.
Marcel is also an exciting appointment as Director of Football. He is an experienced man and has a record that speaks for itself, with what he has achieved at every club he has been at.
From the interviews he has done so far, I have been very impressed as well. He already knows what the Football Club is all about. He knows the history of the Club and the importance of bringing young players through and into the team, which is all part of creating that bond between the fans and the team.
It feels like the start of a new era. There is a real sense of optimism about Everton now. We are all looking forward to the new season – a new manager, a new campaign and hopefully it can be a successful one. It is a very exciting time for the Football Club.
