Tuesday 24 April 2018 13:00, UK
Sam Allardyce deserves credit for turning around Everton's season and needs £200m investment to break into the top six, says Tony Gale.
Gale and Shay Given discussed Allardyce's performance as Everton manager on Premier League Daily after the 1-0 win over Newcastle on Monday Night Football.
Everton are eighth in the Premier League but some fans have voiced concerns over the style of football since Allardyce took over.
Asked what more Allardyce could do, Gale said the former England boss had done the job required of him this season and that the style of play was unlikely to change.
"To please the Everton fans he'd have to play a more attractive style of football and get better results," Gale said.
"He can't do that. The amount of spaces they've moved up the league is worth so much in prize money alone."
Allardyce brought in Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun in the January transfer window but Gale thinks the summer window will be crucial for Everton to improve next year.
"To progress in the league next season, it's only Burnley higher than them currently who they could get above because the other six are a given. To make that jump into the top six, you're talking about £200million of investment," he said.
"The recruitment is key in the summer to how they want to play. For now, he's done the job they've asked him to do, kept them in the Premier League and he can't do anymore."
Everton have amassed 30 points since Allardyce replaced Ronald Koeman in November and the 63-year-old defended his team's style of play on Monday night.
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Given thinks Everton fans should remember the situation they were in before Allardyce took the job and be grateful for the current league position.
"Koeman's style was pass pass pass and where did that get them? They were fifteenth in the league and couldn't get a result for love nor money," Given said.
"Everton fans have a bee in their bonnet that Allardyce is not for them and they want someone more attacking and exciting.
"But you have to give Sam Allardyce credit for what he's done, the people at the top of the club were panicking because Everton looked in a bad place and he's got them into eighth."
