Sam Allardyce warned there's no quick fix to Everton woe by caretaker David Unsworth, as he calls for signings and exisiting players to take responsibility
- Everton are continuing discussions over appointing Sam Allardyce as new boss
- David Unsworth says: 'There's no secret ingredient to come in and start winning'
- Unsworth spoke like a manager who knows he has had his last game in charge
David Unsworth has warned there will be no quick fix for Everton's troubles as the club edge closer to appointing Sam Allardyce.
The former England manager's advisers have been in discussions with Farhad Moshiri, Everton's major shareholder, and it could be that an announcement is made in the next 24 hours.
Until then, Unsworth will carry on as he has been and will take a training session on Tuesday evening for a game against West Ham United that he has described as being 'a must-win' with Everton dangling above the relegation places.
David Unsworth has warned there is no quick fix to turn Everton's fortunes around
Sam Allardyce's advisers are holding discussions with Everton about him taking the job
This has been an abomination of a season for Everton, with the dreams they had in July now replaced by the realism that the remainder of the campaign will be spent fighting for survival. It is why Moshiri wants Allardyce to steer them away from the danger zone.
But Unsworth, who sounded like a man who knows he has taken his last game as caretaker manager in an honest 20-minute press conference, made it clear there are serious issues for the new man to address.
'There is no such thing as a quick fix in football,' said Unsworth. 'There is no secret ingredient where someone comes in and all of sudden you start winning again. The problems have been on the pitch and in terms of performance. We need our best players fit – quickly.
'We need some proven Premier League recruitment in early January – quickly. And we need to win a couple of games and get confidence flying again. When confidence is low it takes a bit of time to build it back up. I don't think there is a quick fix.
'Whoever gets the job, needs time, patience and support. And backing. They will get all of that from me.'
Everton have been struggling in the Premier League and were beaten 4-1 at Southampton
The question of how much morale has been damaged over the five weeks since Ronald Koeman was sacked arose and Unsworth believes there are players within Everton's dressing room who have gone missing during a period in which they have lost five of their last seven games.
'I think when you are in a tough moment, in this day and age the mentality of players isn't what it used to be,' said Unsworth. 'Sometimes players will take the easy way out and shirk the responsibility. I am asking the players to take responsibility to perform.
'We have had numerous sessions where I have come off the pitch and been really impressed. But anyone who has been in football knows you don't want training ground players. You want players you can rely on when the ball rolls at kick-off. I want the players to take responsibility for our great club.'
Unsworth says he is hurting over Everton's current demise and wants backing for the new man
He added: 'I'm hurting. I don't ever want to see Everton lose a single game – at any level. I don't want to see Everton concede a goal. I'm a proud man. I have been in the game long enough and if I have to take the responsibility, that's all well and good.
'I just want the players to stand, puff their chest out and say "I'm ready for a fight". I will stand with them if they give me that. I just want to see them give their all.'
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