Alan Myers shares what he’s hearing from Texas amid Everton takeover news
TFG have worked “quietly and professionally” as they enter the home stretch of their bid to buy Everton from Farhad Moshiri, according to Alan Myers.
Writing on the Sky Sports website on 11 December, Myers reported that the long-awaited deal is set to be completed by Christmas Day with Dan Friedkin’s group on the verge of acquiring Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent shareholding of the Merseyside club.
Myers has revealed that he’s heard messages from Texas ahead of the American takeover that suggest that TFG are set to go about their ownership transition in a calm and potentially pragmatic way with their immediate goal being to avoid relegation to the Championship.
The Sky Sports reporter said: “So what can we expect from the Texas-based billionaires when, as expected, they take the reins in the next week or so?
“My understanding is that the message will be one of them looking to strike a balance between a long-term vision and an exciting new plan, and keeping the absolute focus on the remaining months of the current season, one in which much work is still to be done.
“What TFG don’t need is a relegation battle. It goes without saying that losing their Premier League status would put those future plans back somewhat.
“I don’t see a flag-waving, hooting-tooting entrance, or much talk of ‘what we’re gonna do’ statements.
“More likely a swan-like elegance, calm on the surface whilst furious peddling under the water and a ‘get to work’ attitude with a full focus on the immediate job in hand.”
What is Dan Friedkin’s net worth?
Friedkin’s wealth is on another level compared to Moshiri’s.
While the outgoing British-Iranian businessman is a billionaire being worth just over £2billion [Forbes], Friedkin is overall the 359th-richest person in the world.
According to Forbes, The Friedkin Group’s owner is worth a jaw-dropping £6.3billion.
His Houston-based company owns Gulf States Toyota and is reported that he sold $11billion worth of Toyotas last year alone.
Could that be the name of Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock? The Toyota Stadium?
We’ll see but Friedkin has the means to put the Blues back on the map after years of stagnation and decline under Moshiri’s reign.
Firstly, he’ll have to get the Toffees to stay in the Premier League comfortably and then he’ll have to address a spate of expiring contracts, including those of Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell.
The Roma owner will no doubt have contacts and people in mind who he’ll want on Merseyside and we cannot wait to see what he can do.
In other Everton news, Friedkin has been tipped to hire this man at the club after a “bombshell announcement”.
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Everton comparison to Arsenal made in ‘Beautiful’ verdict
Everton were namechecked by former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen after he said set-pieces can be a “beautiful art form” that are now “integral” to the way football is played.
Everton have had plenty of success with set-pieces this season with the likes of James Tarkowski and Ashley Young earning the Toffees points by netting the odd goal here and there.
In fact, Young became the oldest person to score a free-kick in Premier League history thanks to the free-kick he bagged against Wolves on 4 December, showing how important they can be.
Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside’s Total Sport show (12 December), Meulensteen shared his thoughts on Everton and set-pieces in the modern game namechecking the Toffees and Arsenal as specialists in the “art form”.
“Set pieces can be a beautiful art form, it can be. I don’t think it’s ugly football at all,” he said.
“It’s an integral part of the game and it’s very clear that teams that put a lot of effort in it, in terms of the defensive set-up and defending set pieces, they won’t concede a lot of goals and the teams that spend a lot of time taking corners and wide free kicks, especially if you’ve got a specialist, can pay huge dividends.
“That shows with Arsenal and Everton this season.”
Everton need to continue making the most of set-pieces this season
While Everton’s season as a whole hasn’t been the best for the club, their effectiveness from set-pieces is something that has been a plus point.
Granted, the fact that most of their team are tall and physically strong no doubt helps matters and allows them to be dominant in this area.
Dyche’s teams have always been clinical from dead-ball situations and it feels like he’s almost fine-tuned specific methods to get the most out of his players.
Their set-pieces have been particularly impressive to watch this season but that’s largely down to the fact that players such as Tarkowski and Michael Keane are among their ranks.
The Merseyside outfit currently sit 15th in the Premier League table and are looking to drag themselves away from being involved in yet another relegation battle.
Their form over the last month or so hasn’t been the best but if they can perform as they did against Wolves on a consistent basis, it feels like they should have more than enough to stay safe this term.
In other Everton news, Richard Dunne believes Chelsea could look at making a move for a Toffees ace in the near future.
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