2019/20 Marcel Brands

[Deco]

Longer interview now available for members. The extra detail..

Overall thoughts: 20+ players have left and similar last summer. Wants to have 2/3 in, 2/3 out each summer to bring stability. Exciting window and he‘s happy overall.

He and Marco met months ago with his scouting team to put together the plans and they were close to hitting all of their targets. Only failure being CB.

Has to be careful with club finances and it’s not so easy. Farhad is very ambitious but it’s not as easy as the owner putting money in, you have to be careful as we’ve spent a lot in the past and will need to think in future seasons to make sure we meet rules and regulations.

On CB: Really wanted a CB and in particular Zouma but it didn’t happen because of Chelsea’s ban. Gives Holgate an opportunity and says he is a very talented player. He also thinks Gibson can step up after a great pre season which he thinks is important as it gives perspective to the academy that players can come through.

Thinks it’s very important to spend money only in the right way. If they need to buy at a level lower than they want it’s better to not spend money and to give young players a chance especially when we have players close to the first team.

On average age: wants to buy at value, whether it’s younger players with future value or older players at the right price.

On selling players/Gana: sometimes it’s not easy and we refused the offer in January and we promised Gana we would consider selling him if a good offer from PSG came in again in the summer. We have to be fair with players when clubs like PSG come in.

He loves Gana as a player but it can be the right time to sell a player at the right age and replace with a younger player.

On Marco and their way of working: always try and bring in players that they both agree on - would never want a player the manager didn’t want. They plan together and as DOF his preseason starts from 1st September preparing for future windows as it takes time to get the right players for the positions they need.

Very happy working with Marco and thinks that he is a manager that improves every player like he did last season.

On the window: business started later than usual in England and then big transfers happen such as AWB that trigger the rest of the window. He doesn’t like waiting until later in the window to buy players but for example some targets were held up by Arsenal’s business (Pepe/Iwobi).

It’s a tough role as DOF and high pressure but he’s used to it with 20+ years in the job.

On Moise Kean: took months, started speaking to Juve/Moise in January about a loan but he then started playing in their first team and it wasn’t an option. Thinks he is a great fit for the PL. Kept an eye on his performances for Juve/Italy and though his great performances would make it very hard to buy him.

Says Moise was nervous about moving but he convinced him by saying he would be given time here and the fans would love him.

On Gbamin: Tried to buy him for PSV before he went to Mainz but Mainz paid more at the time. He’s done well since going to Germany. When there was interest in Gana he pushed for Gbamin but it wasn’t an easy transfer as there was other interest in him.

Thinks he has the right profile/physicality to do well in the PL, they have a detailed process looking through stats to judge whether a player can do well in the league/squad. Also takes character seriously to make sure each player is right for the dressing room - which is what Marcel thinks we did well with last summer.

On picking loans for young players: Steinsson is his main man for picking these clubs and he takes a lot of care in this as picking the wrong club can ruin a career.

On watching players on loan: make a detailed log and he/his team watch them closely. He has a “loan group” who have their own responsibilities including the non-football matters which he thinks is important - they meet at least monthly but discuss each player regularly.

CB.. @davek

 

[davek]

Longer interview now available for members. The extra detail..

Overall thoughts: 20+ players have left and similar last summer. Wants to have 2/3 in, 2/3 out each summer to bring stability. Exciting window and he‘s happy overall.

He and Marco met months ago with his scouting team to put together the plans and they were close to hitting all of their targets. Only failure being CB.

Has to be careful with club finances and it’s not so easy. Farhad is very ambitious but it’s not as easy as the owner putting money in, you have to be careful as we’ve spent a lot in the past and will need to think in future seasons to make sure we meet rules and regulations.

On CB: Really wanted a CB and in particular Zouma but it didn’t happen because of Chelsea’s ban. Gives Holgate an opportunity and says he is a very talented player. He also thinks Gibson can step up after a great pre season which he thinks is important as it gives perspective to the academy that players can come through.

Thinks it’s very important to spend money only in the right way. If they need to buy at a level lower than they want it’s better to not spend money and to give young players a chance especially when we have players close to the first team.

On average age: wants to buy at value, whether it’s younger players with future value or older players at the right price.

On selling players/Gana: sometimes it’s not easy and we refused the offer in January and we promised Gana we would consider selling him if a good offer from PSG came in again in the summer. We have to be fair with players when clubs like PSG come in.

He loves Gana as a player but it can be the right time to sell a player at the right age and replace with a younger player.

On Marco and their way of working: always try and bring in players that they both agree on - would never want a player the manager didn’t want. They plan together and as DOF his preseason starts from 1st September preparing for future windows as it takes time to get the right players for the positions they need.

Very happy working with Marco and thinks that he is a manager that improves every player like he did last season.

On the window: business started later than usual in England and then big transfers happen such as AWB that trigger the rest of the window. He doesn’t like waiting until later in the window to buy players but for example some targets were held up by Arsenal’s business (Pepe/Iwobi).

It’s a tough role as DOF and high pressure but he’s used to it with 20+ years in the job.

On Moise Kean: took months, started speaking to Juve/Moise in January about a loan but he then started playing in their first team and it wasn’t an option. Thinks he is a great fit for the PL. Kept an eye on his performances for Juve/Italy and though his great performances would make it very hard to buy him.

Says Moise was nervous about moving but he convinced him by saying he would be given time here and the fans would love him.

On Gbamin: Tried to buy him for PSV before he went to Mainz but Mainz paid more at the time. He’s done well since going to Germany. When there was interest in Gana he pushed for Gbamin but it wasn’t an easy transfer as there was other interest in him.

Thinks he has the right profile/physicality to do well in the PL, they have a detailed process looking through stats to judge whether a player can do well in the league/squad. Also takes character seriously to make sure each player is right for the dressing room - which is what Marcel thinks we did well with last summer.

On picking loans for young players: Steinsson is his main man for picking these clubs and he takes a lot of care in this as picking the wrong club can ruin a career.

On watching players on loan: make a detailed log and he/his team watch them closely. He has a “loan group” who have their own responsibilities including the non-football matters which he thinks is important - they meet at least monthly but discuss each player regularly.

CB.. @davek

That CB explanation is lame. Basically expects us to swallow that Zouma is the only CB outside the club there is and that failing to get him we we're then best going to Holgate/youth. How on earth can that be justified?

Also, there's goal posts being shifted on squad age: in the spring there was talk about getting the average age down, now he;s saying the age doesn't really matter as its all about value for money.

 

[Dymak]

I do think people are easily impressed by someone that dresses smart and speaks confidently. Let's see how agreeable everyone is about giving Holgate an opportunity when it inevitably becomes a reality, and we end up with the same 7th/8th placed finish that has already been achieved during the last two God awful seasons.

As for raving about signing midfield players from the Manchester based clubs, its not exactly novel, is it? I doubt Delph will be anywhere near as successful as Barry was just a few years ago, and won't even be as successful as Neville if he can't remain fit for five minutes.

Do you know, I can remember a time when Manchester City used to sign our leftovers. City were full of our leftovers in the late 80's, early 90's.

 

[Nymzee]

That CB explanation is lame. Basically expects us to swallow that Zouma is the only CB outside the club there is and that failing to get him we we're then best going to Holgate/youth. How on earth can that be justified?

Also, there's goal posts being shifted on squad age: in the spring there was talk about getting the average age down, now he;s saying the age doesn't really matter as its all about value for money.

I don’t think you’ve properly understood what Brands’ has said here, David.

 

[Tony1985]

He’s done a decent job overall. Unfortunately questions need to be asked when after 3 transfer windows we are starting the season with dcl, Sneiderlin and 2 senior centre backs.

 

[Blue Roo]

That CB explanation is lame. Basically expects us to swallow that Zouma is the only CB outside the club there is and that failing to get him we we're then best going to Holgate/youth. How on earth can that be justified?

Also, there's goal posts being shifted on squad age: in the spring there was talk about getting the average age down, now he;s saying the age doesn't really matter as its all about value for money.

Its easy to justify. Why just buy in average players for the sake of it.
The market for CBs was very poor this window.
So do we bring someone in that is going to end up being the type of transfer where two years later we can't off load, like we already have?
Or we should just get a average player on loan. The players we want would not generally agree to a loan
(Sidibe could be good, a risk worth taking esp considering his views on JJ)
Would we have got someone better on loan than Holgate, also requiring extra energies to settle in and getting to know it all

There's also the added motivation and impetus/ momentum this puts through the youth side.
Brands is taking the policy that we'd rather rely on Gibson than do a half arsed deal.
And also that Gibson might come through and show he's good enough
You have to manipulate things to allow the stars to align.
It might be Gibson, it might not, but do we not want to allow for the possibility for these things to happen?

Also there is less wriggle room giving the amount of players we don't want still on the books.
Given, we can't have it all right now.

At the end of the day we are not there yet with the whole top 6 thing.
I don't think we should make an arse of ourselves trying to buy instant success.
We're getting there in a measured, sensible, assured way. We've improved in other areas.
If the side does well this season we're def getting a good CB next season.
Whether it was Kenwright not willing to spend the cash or Walsh pissing it away, this seems a hell of a lot better.

 

[Zezti]

That CB explanation is lame. Basically expects us to swallow that Zouma is the only CB outside the club there is and that failing to get him we we're then best going to Holgate/youth. How on earth can that be justified?

Also, there's goal posts being shifted on squad age: in the spring there was talk about getting the average age down, now he;s saying the age doesn't really matter as its all about value for money.

Oh, the irony.
If we had spunked £30m on a foreign defender, you'd moan about not giving the youth a chance.

 

[Dymak]

We're getting there in a measured, sensible, assured way.

The method that is guaranteed to bring success. Patience is the key, if I remember correctly.

 

[blueblueday]

It's very easy to criticise from the comfort of your armchair. As fans we can construct all manner of twisted narratives to satisfy our ego. Nobody really knows the truth though, not unless you are right there in the belly of the beast!

My uneducated opinion is that him and his team do work hard in a very competative and challenging arena. It can take months to convince one unexperienced player to join us. As for any top tier statement signings I just don't think we have that kind of finance or pull/attraction yet.

We are for all intense and purposes a sell to buy club and this is were Brands excels. He's not there yet but the transition has started. He will shape us into a self sustaining tight ship eventually. I belive in years to come we will make large player profits and will be admired for doing so. You see we are not a commercially successful club so I'm afraid this is how it has to be. If course we will never win the league with this new model but it's a move in the right direction.

Brands was up against it when he first joined. The poor decisions of Mr Moshiri, Koeman, Walsh and Allardyce really set our club back. He knew it would take years to remedy the damage caused. He has to carefully budget according to financial fair play regulations. This he is most certainly doing but it has and will take 4 or 5 windows to fulfil his objectives

At the end of the day the story very much remains the same in some respects. We wait until all the big boys have done their business and then compete with the rest for the scraps. This includes paying mouth watering sums for young prospects that the elite do not want to risk in their first teams yet.

Incrementally we will improve if we keep Mr Brands captaining the ship. Patience is a virtue in this game but in five years I believe Everton will have a new identity. We will be mixing it with the top six for sure and stronger as a business.

 

[Deco]

That CB explanation is lame. Basically expects us to swallow that Zouma is the only CB outside the club there is and that failing to get him we we're then best going to Holgate/youth. How on earth can that be justified?

Also, there's goal posts being shifted on squad age: in the spring there was talk about getting the average age down, now he;s saying the age doesn't really matter as its all about value for money.

He was pretty open about the fact that CB was one of the key priorities and that he failed. His point about youth is a valid one especially with Gibson being so highly rated and Holgate still having the potential to be a good player.

It was definitely a failing and he hasn’t hidden from it at all but he/Marco obviously feel confident enough in our options to not have to spend £20-30m on someone that isn’t good enough. One of his main points was about spending money wisely.

As for average age he’s still continually brought it down each window. The idea that we shouldn’t go for good value experienced signings such as Delph is short sighted - look at Milner for them lot, he’s one of their most important players.

 

[BernieH]

Its easy to justify. Why just buy in average players for the sake of it.
The market for CBs was very poor this window.
So do we bring someone in that is going to end up being the type of transfer where two years later we can't off load, like we already have?
Or we should just get a average player on loan. The players we want would not generally agree to a loan
(Sidibe could be good, a risk worth taking esp considering his views on JJ)
Would we have got someone better on loan than Holgate, also requiring extra energies to settle in and getting to know it all

There's also the added motivation and impetus/ momentum this puts through the youth side.
Brands is taking the policy that we'd rather rely on Gibson than do a half arsed deal.
And also that Gibson might come through and show he's good enough
You have to manipulate things to allow the stars to align.
It might be Gibson, it might not, but do we not want to allow for the possibility for these things to happen?

Also there is less wriggle room giving the amount of players we don't want still on the books.
Given, we can't have it all right now.

At the end of the day we are not there yet with the whole top 6 thing.
I don't think we should make an arse of ourselves trying to buy instant success.
We're getting there in a measured, sensible, assured way. We've improved in other areas.
If the side does well this season we're def getting a good CB next season.
Whether it was Kenwright not willing to spend the cash or Walsh pissing it away, this seems a hell of a lot better.

What's this to the tune of mate, can't figure it out

 

[davek]

It's very easy to criticise from the comfort of your armchair. As fans we can construct all manner of twisted narratives to satisfy our ego. Nobody really knows the truth though, not unless you are right there in the belly of the beast!

My uneducated opinion is that him and his team do work hard in a very competative and challenging arena. It can take months to convince one unexperienced player to join us. As for any top tier statement signings I just don't think we have that kind of finance or pull/attraction yet.

We are for all intense and purposes a sell to buy club and this is were Brands excels. He's not there yet but the transition has started. He will shape us into a self sustaining tight ship eventually. I belive in years to come we will make large player profits and will be admired for doing so. You see we are not a commercially successful club so I'm afraid this is how it has to be. If course we will never win the league with this new model but it's a move in the right direction.

Brands was up against it when he first joined. The poor decisions of Mr Moshiri, Koeman, Walsh and Allardyce really set our club back. He knew it would take years to remedy the damage caused. He has to carefully budget according to financial fair play regulations. This he is most certainly doing but it has and will take 4 or 5 windows to fulfil his objectives

At the end of the day the story very much remains the same in some respects. We wait until all the big boys have done their business and then compete with the rest for the scraps. This includes paying mouth watering sums for young prospects that the elite do not want to risk in their first teams yet.

Incrementally we will improve if we keep Mr Brands captaining the ship. Patience is a virtue in this game but in five years I believe Everton will have a new identity. We will be mixing it with the top six for sure and stronger as a business.

There's some truth in that. However, the fundamanetal point re,ains that the DoF has stated that it was Zouma or go with what we had. So you can talk all day about former regimes and needing to clear up the mess inherited, but that act of vandalism is down to him.

 

[Nymzee]

There's some truth in that. However, the fundamanetal point re,ains that the DoF has stated that it was Zouma or go with what we had. So you can talk all day about former regimes and needing to clear up the mess inherited, but that act of vandalism is down to him.

He never said that at all.

 

[davek]

He was pretty open about the fact that CB was one of the key priorities and that he failed. His point about youth is a valid one especially with Gibson being so highly rated and Holgate still having the potential to be a good player.

It was definitely a failing and he hasn’t hidden from it at all but he/Marco obviously feel confident enough in our options to not have to spend £20-30m on someone that isn’t good enough. One of his main points was about spending money wisely.

As for average age he’s still continually brought it down each window. The idea that we shouldn’t go for good value experienced signings such as Delph is short sighted - look at Milner for them lot, he’s one of their most important players.

Yes, it's not ok though that he admitted his failure on CB....if he'd been close on a few others and the bids failed then that would be bad enough. But we hear it here from the horses mouth that he targetted Zouma from last September when he was first brought in and didn't broaden out his search for a CB beyond him...the strategy was that if the Zouma bid failed then Holgat was there....someone we all know to be an adequate stand-in only....and what was alarming to me was that he never mentioned the January window upcoming. So I dont believe he's targeting thjat month to fix the problem.

He went and did an interview with the OS precisely because he'd have been pushed on harder on the CB strategy and the January window.

As said, his shifting of the goal posts away from the recruitment of younger players to a recruitment that focuses on value is a u-turn and that does not fill me with confidence on Brands.

 

[davek]

He never said that at all.

That's what @Deco s transcript said. And some of us are relying on others like him for the full interview because we cant get access to the OS for it...which is a bit 'kin snide BTW.

Maybe they just want to communicate with the smitten?