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In some ways it's understandable that there is a growing section of the Everton support that want David Moyes to leave in the summer.
If nothing else, the constant speculation about bigger and shinier clubs trying to nick their manager every year must get trying, to say the least. When you throw in a man stalling over his future and the notion that, after 11 years with the same man a change might liven the squad up a little, the conclusion that it's time to say 'Thanks David...' is an easy one to reach.
However, if there is ever a case of 'Be careful what you wish for', then this is surely it. In the past five seasons, Everton have finished 7th, 7th, 8th, 5th and 5th. In that time they have paid over £10million for players just twice - Yakubu and Marouane Fellaini. In this era, that's fairly remarkable for a side consistently around the upper parts of the league. Players like Mikel Arteta and Joleon Lescott have been sold, and the money gained from those sales has largely been reinvested wisely, but Moyes has been forced to be prudent.
Of course, transfer fees are not always the best way to measure things. In general, wage bills have a more accurate correlation to results, and according to the most recent available accounts (from last year, admittedly) Everton paid £58million in wages. That's only £2million more than West Ham, the same as Fulham, £3million less than Sunderland, £25million less than Aston Villa and a whopping £77million less than Liverpool. And of course, it's light years behind the salaries paid by Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.
As with any managerial change, the question should not necessarily be 'Should the incumbent go?' but 'Who could replace him and do better?' With those resources, which realistic candidate could do better with this Everton side?
It's perfectly possible that Moyes is actually suffering from having such a good start to the season. As we all know Everton usually begin campaigns in a rather sluggish manner, before coming good in the latter stages, but this time they started well and their slump came later on. It is inevitable that a squad as relatively thin as Everton's will have bad spells at some point, but this time it has just come at a relatively unusual time.
Of course, Moyes isn't perfect. His tactics are occasionally iffy and his persistence with players like Steven Naismith (although even his signing was due to enforced austerity) is frustrating. Plus, someone is responsible for those seasons of poor starts, and that someone is probably Moyes.
Still, while winning one game against Manchester City isn't necessarily proof of anything, it did display that even after blips, Moyes still knows how to get the best out of his side. Quite possibly by scaring it out of them, admittedly, but whatever works.
He said after the game: "The players knew that we were rubbish last week. We've been very good all season and you're watching a very good Everton side - the best I've had.
"Their football is excellent and we've got internationals in pretty much every position. We've created as many chances as most teams in the Premier League, so there's a lot of good things about Everton."
One of them is Moyes, and they will miss him if he goes.
Nick Miller - follow him on Twitter
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