toffee-L
Player Valuation: £20m
Dismantling that structure wasn't the problem for me as it has been failing us for years, it was the timing. We had a perfect opportunity in the summer to let Marcel Brands leave for nothing when his contract was up and look to implement a new structure. Brands had done absolutely nothing to warrant an extension and with Ancellotti leaving as well as it was the perfect opportunity to sit down and take stock of where we are as a club and plotting the best way forward.
I think retaining Brands was a sign that Moshiri has emotionally and economically checked out of Everton. I think he was hoping that off the field Brands would continue to chip away at the wage bill by getting rid of high earners when their contracts expired (his only trick) whilst in Benitez he saw a safe pair of hands that would be able to manage Everton to least midtable with his eyes closed. Very little excitement about that but it keeps the Premier League money rolling in whilst the stadium is constructed and he could cut his investment accordingly in the playing squad whilst the value of the club sky rockets when the stadium is built where he'd then look to sell up.
I doubt Moshiri for one moment ever thought that Benitez would sail close to the kind of waters were any manager would legitimately deserve to be sacked. For all his faults, Benitez isn't somebody like Carlo Ancellotti who was happy to half-arse his work here because he knew he had an escape clause. Benitez has never been one to just accept his lot at a club, he always demands more from owners even going beyond what they can feasibly do. There's no denying he's a grafter, but also a total narcissist - very happy to call out the mediocrity in others who aren't doing their jobs properly (Brands, Donachie, Digne - there will be more to come) but he never recognises his own short comings and blames other factors for it.
What concerns me though is that Moshiri may be faced with the following decision. Is it more likely that Everton get relegated this season with Benitez in charge or next season with another manager in charge and also a points deduction? None of us know how serious the profit and sustainability concerns are and what the punishments could be for breaking them. There could well be a financial reality preventing us from sacking Benitez, if his rumoured £6m a season contract spread over three years is broken and paid up that could well be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
