“This has needed to happen for a while,” remarked Tim Howard about the recent takeover of Everton by The Friedkin Group. For someone who has spent more than a decade at the Toffees, they would call it a much-needed change for the Premier League side. However, Howard has urged his ex-beloved team to take notes from INEOS-led rivals Manchester United, who managed to create a ‘sustainable structure’.  

Well, he surely isn’t alone; Co-hosting the Unfiltered Soccer podcast show alongside ex-national and domestic teammate Landon Donovan, the former goalie was compelled to express his worry about the Merseyside’s off-pitch situation in the latest episode. Interestingly, as Donovan described The Friedkin Group’s recent takeover as “cautiously optimistic,” Howard chimed in by citing the Red Devils’ takeover.

“Everybody’s got something to say about them. They’re on the tip of everybody’s tongue but INEOS is creating this hierarchy from the top down, from Sir Jim Radcliffe and Dave Brailsford down,” said Howard. “I know they had brought in Omar Bara from Man City and they just fired or let go of Dan Ashworth. But the fact of the matter is they’re building a sustainable structure between ownership and the playing staff.”

Sure, the current scenario may see the red side of Manchester facing multiple sporting problems, including poor on-pitch displays even after bringing in new manager Ruben Amorim. However, Howard, who himself played for Manchester United in his career, believes it is all part of the process. All the efforts from INEOS will surely see United pay off. That’s why he suggested Everton’s new owners follow the same model.

Notably, 99.5% of the club is now owned by The Friedkin Group, in a deal reportedly worth a whopping £400m ($500m). Things haven’t gone well under Farhad Moshiri, leading the Texas-based group, led by chairman Dan Friedkin, to add a second football club to its portfolio, as it already owns the Italian Serie A club Roma.

While Friedkin has been proposed as the chairman of Everton’s board, Marc Watts will serve as executive chairman. The new ownership group has outlined a vision for a “sustainable and successful” future. It will also emphasize key priorities such as bolstering the men’s first team and nurturing talent from the academy.

Additionally, apart from creating fresh sporting and commercial plans for the women’s team, plans are also outlined for helping the club’s home ground achieve its full potential. Though they make all kinds of necessary changes, including the managerial front of their team, Howard believes that change shouldn’t be made.

Tim Howard backs Sean Dyche for keeping up with Everton amid the takeover

Further expressing his thoughts over The Toffees’ head coach, Sean Dyche, Howard praised the current management under the English tactician but expressed his doubts about whether the club would like to continue with him. “They have their work cut out for them. I think Sean Dyche’s contract is up at the end of the season. I don’t think they’ll retain him, not because I don’t like him.”

“I think he’s a really good football manager and what he did over the last three years to steer this football club to safety has been football genius,” admitted the former United goalkeeper. The USMNT icon even reminded everyone of the predicament the club had faced, be it encountering sanctions, getting fined, sitting to sell some of their better players they couldn’t bring in, or getting dot points.

Yet, Dyche was able to keep up with the club. “They have probably three top players and he got them to buy in. So I think that their work is cut out for them. But it’s sunny your days certainly from where this club has been over the last couple of years,” concluded Howard.

Seems like Tim Howard is optimistic about Everton’s good days under the TFG takeover. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.