Marcel Brands has left his role as Director of Football at Everton following an historically poor run of form. A statement from Everton says that manager Rafa Benitez has the ‘full support’ of the club.
Everton have gone eight games without a win – the longest winless sequence in the Premier League since 1999.
Everton has been a club in turmoil for some years despite repeated efforts to elevate the team. Their infamous hit-and-miss transfer policy, seemingly a policy of signing technical number 10 types without any real idea of how they fit into the team, has left the club directionless.
Under Marcel Brands, Everton have spent £260 million on transfers since 2018. However, financial fair play caught up with them and as a result, Rafa Benitez was only able to spend £1.7 million when he took over in the summer.
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“A strategic review of the football structure will now take place which will inform the best model for the club to proceed with in the long term,” read the Everton statement.
“In the meantime, the owner and board of directors will continue to provide our manager, Rafa Benitez, with their full support.”
In spite of this, Benitez is still the bookies’ favourite to be the next sacked Premier League manager.
Benitez is renowned for being a prickly character. He likes to win power struggles and he especially doesn’t like directors of football. It was ultimately his undoing at Newcastle despite practically being a cult hero there.
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Benitez was always going to be under intense scrutiny at Goodison Park given his history with Liverpool. Now that he’s won out over Brands, he is the only one responsible for the performances of the team.
He will have no hiding place if results don’t improve. Everton have to find some form, starting with Monday night’s home game against Arsenal.
