5 Premier League managers under the microscope

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 12: United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer waves to the crowd after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Cardiff City at Old Trafford on May 12, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 12: United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer waves to the crowd after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Cardiff City at Old Trafford on May 12, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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HALEWOOD, ENGLAND – MAY 10: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Marco Silva during the Everton Training Session at USM Finch Farm on May 10, 2019 in Halewood, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
HALEWOOD, ENGLAND – MAY 10: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Marco Silva during the Everton Training Session at USM Finch Farm on May 10, 2019 in Halewood, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

Marco Silva, Everton

When if ever will Everton live up to expectations? It’s difficult to tell, but if the end of last season told us anything, it might be that Marco Silva has the team heading in the right direction for the start of the 2019/20 season.

After a disappointing start and a ho-hum winter, Silva’s squad put together a nice string of results come the spring, drawing with Liverpool at home, Tottenham on the road, as well as earning results against Manchester United (4-0) Arsenal (1-0) and Chelsea (2-0) all at home.

There’s no shortage of quality in Silva’s squad, that’s for certain. Brazilian forward Richarlison is the real deal when he’s healthy. Playing both out on the left-wing or in a traditional No. 9 role last season, his length and strength in the box make him a handful for opposing defenders. Icelandic international Gylfi Sigurdsson is quietly one of the most productive midfielders in all of the English Premier League and former Barcelona man André Gomes has proven his ability to pick out a pass time and time again. Throw in left back Lucas Digne, one of the most productive two-way defenders in the Premier League last season, and this is a team that on any given day can compete with anyone.

Like most managers on this list, one of the foremost reason’s why Silva will be under the microscope this season is due to the talent of his roster. It’s there. He just has to tap it and massage it in just the right way to get them to all perform to the utmost. Short of that, Everton may well end up as a middling squad as they have many times before.