Adrian Durham thinks that Everton should appoint Chris Wilder as manager and sign John Egan.
Marco Silva is under pressure at Goodison Park with the Toffees just one place outside of the relegation zone currently. Only five Premier League teams have conceded more than them.
In contrast, the Blades have the joint best defensive record in the division so far this season. They are sixth and one point behind Arsenal after an impressive start to the new campaign following promotion.
Egan has started all 11 of their league outings, while Wilder has been earning increasingly more praise for his innovative and attractive tactics.
“The result against Sheffield United (a 2-0 home defeat to the Blades) has lead me to the conclusion that Everton need Chris Wilder,” Durham said on his talkSPORT Drive show.
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“They also need John Egan because they need a leader at the back, that’s what they’re missing.
“(Jordan) Pickford is taking on that role when perhaps a centre half should be taking on that role. I don’t think they have a vocal enough leader at centre half. They’ve got some decent centre halves – (Yerry) Mina and (Michael) Keane are OK – but they need leaders in the John Egan mould.
“I don’t know if Chris Wilder would swap Sheffield United for Everton, but he should be in the mix for that job. This is an established Premier League club and maybe that’s the next step for him.”
From not good enough to Everton for Chris Wilder
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
This is quite the turnaround in opinion from Durham in comparison to what he said about Wilder’s side just a few months ago.
Ahead of the new season – the Blades’ first in the top flight in 12 years – he did not feel that the south Yorkshire club were ready for the step up.
“Sheffield United are going down. They’re not even taking the Premier League seriously,” he said.
“They’re underestimating the jump from Championship to Premier League and I feel a bit uncomfortable about it.”
An interesting change of heart from Durham. As for Wilder, as he has done throughout his career the 52-year-old will continue to defy expectations.
