The indecent haste with which Carlo Ancelotti scarpered for Madrid was, indeed, an insult to Evertonians.
But let’s be honest, it was a no-brainer for him.
As the wind from the Mersey Estuary whipped across Everton’s training ground, Ancelotti’s thoughts probably drifted towards the Spanish capital on more than one occasion.
For all his lovely words about Everton – while he was at the club and after he had abruptly upped sticks – Ancelotti was only ever between big jobs.
The super-coach kept himself ticking over at Goodison Park and that was barely more satisfactory than Ronald Koeman’s constant flattering of Barcelona while he was in the Everton role.
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Since Koeman, Sam Allardyce was only ever going to be short term and Marco Silva impressed few.
At first, Ancelotti seemed a landmark appointment but while he waited for one of the European superpowers to come knocking, Everton drifted.
It might sound incredibly defeatist but that will be the problem if Everton pull off another coup and sign some sort of managerial galactico.
How invested will he be in the long-term?
It might sound incredibly defeatist but Everton do not need someone who believes he is good enough to be managing a Champions League giant.
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Farhad Moshiri’s head should not be turned by fame or, even, reputation.
He should be looking for someone who has the character and attitude to see a project through, to think long-term, to implement a stage-by-stage plan.
And if he goes through a rigorous interview process, it would be Eddie Howe who fits the bill.
The reservations are obvious and understandable.
When he left Bournemouth for the first time, it was for an unhappy spell with Burnley and when he left for a second time, it was after taking them down into the Championship.
But that was at the end of a particularly wretched Covid-interrupted season and Howe is best judged on the job he did in taking Bournemouth through the divisions and how he had his team performing for most of their five years in the Premier League.
He took Bournemouth to another level in English football. The job at Everton is to take the club to another level within the Premier League.
It would be a pinnacle for Howe, not a nice place to keep the engine running before zooming back to the big time.
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Would Eddie Howe be a good appointment for the Toffees? Comment below
It would be the sort of challenge he clearly thrives on. He is bright, articulate, represents his employers well and plays attractive football.
If it went decently, he would be in it for the long, long haul.
The protracted, unsuccessful courtship with Celtic was a little baffling but if it failed because he would not have been allowed to have trusted lieutenants with him, then that is fine.
After Ancelotti, all charm and trophy-studded CV, the appointment of someone such as Howe might seem a little underwhelming to Everton supporters.
It would be a gamble but Howe is clearly a talented, still relatively young, coach, with plenty to prove at the highest level.
And at least he would have the hunger to turn Everton into a modern superpower … and not just bide his time until one came knocking.
