2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[GrandOldTeam]

TBF that bench is the one thing that I really wish Benitez would change - I mean half that bench knows they won't ever start or worse still won't ever get a new contract here; there is zero incentive for them to do anything, indeed for those looking to escape in January theres an incentive not to get hurt.

We all know the squad is short, but I'd much rather we had kids on the bench as they are much more likely to be a bit arsed. If we are looking to loan youth out to Div 1 / Championship clubs, they would be better options than (and this is no disrespect to him as I think he's been treated abysmally since he's been here) Tosun.

Agree mate unless they think the academy is so bad they're even worse/no hope.

I've said a few times I don't blame Thierry Small for getting off when we'd be putting 2 keepers on the bench under Ancelotti, and Iwobi/Delph left back ahead of him etc.

 

[zukai12_]

Wonder if him and gerrard will snog when we next play Villa

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Wonder if him and gerrard will snog when we next play Villa

Don't think they get on mate.

 

[Efcjake]

Think it's all shooting from the hip, punditry guesswork nonsense to be honest.

"Football manager needing results to avoid pressure/sacking" - imagine that?!

"I don't know their plan" - Well, maybe he should mention the club's Director of Football at least once then and not the fella who has been in a job for 11 league games.

He's talking about the tactics on the pitch here, nothing to do with Brands that.

With regards to Benitez - considering we're 11 games in, he's spent £1.7m, and has a fair few missing - what "plan" do you (and Williams) expect?

I'm expecting to see us looking like we have some idea of how to get forward and score a goal if Calvert Lewin isn't in the team. We didn't look like scoring outside of the penalty shout for that Spurs match and they were there for the taking.

Injuries are part of the game but how many games in those 11 games has Benitez had the luxury of even having 90% of his first team?

Having senior players like Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Doucoure, Mina, Gomes, Sigurdsson about might have meant we'd have a bit more of a 'plan' - whatever the hell that is.

In one sentence he says Everton have nothing on the bench to turn to, and then says "Rafael is always known for being a great tactician, I am just not seeing it at the moment"

He then says Everton could have done more against Spurs, the game was winnable. Yeah, agree. But whether your Carlo Ancelotti, or Dave from Skem - what do you do to take the initiative with this bench?

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I think it's as simple as we're a midtable team, in midtable.

Valid points about the squad options off the bench but we should be making more for Richarlison than we have done recently.

If we have very few options off of the bench to change a game positively then we have to make sure the starting players are getting the job done before it comes to that and they aren't.

We're in midtable now at 11 games in but we still have 5 of last year's top 7 to play in this first half of the season. I am not confident that we will be looking better after those games in the table than we do now and that is a concern.

If we're only ever going to be able to judge him when he has a 100% fit squad then we're never going to be able to have a discussion about his performance because that never happens.

 

[Efcjake]

TBF that bench is the one thing that I really wish Benitez would change - I mean half that bench knows they won't ever start or worse still won't ever get a new contract here; there is zero incentive for them to do anything, indeed for those looking to escape in January theres an incentive not to get hurt.

We all know the squad is short, but I'd much rather we had kids on the bench as they are much more likely to be a bit arsed. If we are looking to loan youth out to Div 1 / Championship clubs, they would be better options than (and this is no disrespect to him as I think he's been treated abysmally since he's been here) Tosun.

It's a nice idea but no way is a manager who is already under pressure for results gonna boot all the senior players off of the subs bench to give minutes to unproven kids.

From what I remember of Benitez he wasn't really someone who brought through the youth players across the park. He did give some opportunities to Newcastle youth but more out of necessity than anything else.

 

[zukai12_]

Don't think they get on mate.

just stomp all over my dreams why dont you

 

[4737carlin]

But we are 11th, five points off 5th. The squad is a bit thin but the first team is arguably as good as any bar maybe the top two (City Chelsea). I am sure any manager would see the same potential that Benitez saw - unless you think he only came because he lived near by?

Yeah Benitez seen the potential, Carlo was a total failure but Rafael knew he could do better and so do the club, onwards an upwards, the platform is weak, but the determination and vision from the manager is clear

 

[tsubaki]

It's a nice idea but no way is a manager who is already under pressure for results gonna boot all the senior players off of the subs bench to give minutes to unproven kids.

From what I remember of Benitez he wasn't really someone who brought through the youth players across the park. He did give some opportunities to Newcastle youth but more out of necessity than anything else.

That is certainly the logic, but all I'd say is that unproven is quite a bit better than the proven players on that bench. Rondon comes on and most of us know what will happen. Simms does and none of us would.

 

[willo30]

But the point is if the plan was known with an element of fan inclusion would the majority then accept the inevitable bumps in the road?

No they wouldn't. I'm sorry but that is a fact. Majority want a winning team now.

We tried the 5 year plan with Martinez and we are still trying to recover from it now.

You never rip up and start again, you build on what you have and make it better. This is where we are failing with recruitment.

I do agree Brands needs to go though.

 

[4737carlin]

No they wouldn't. I'm sorry but that is a fact. Majority want a winning team now.

We tried the 5 year plan with Martinez and we are still trying to recover from it now.

You never rip up and start again, you build on what you have and make it better. This is where we are failing with recruitment.

I do agree Brands needs to go though.

Dosent matter who the manager is while Brands is here, money will only be wasted, recruitment will never be solid, we wont have a clear plan, i just hope Rafael can see him off

 

[Cool_Blue]

I will put forward an alternative management strategy and philosophy.

I suspect that it won't be popular but we've tried everything else without success.

So imagine that Brands and Benitez are both gone.

Brands replacement , let's say Ralph Ragnick gives the most honest and open assessment of any football club in his first interview.......

" Everton have tried literally everything and it hasn't worked.
We have had world class managers , managers a good CV with local connections.
We have spend huge amounts of money on players many of whom had a good track record in this country.
None of this has worked so we are going to do something completely different.

1. We are going to appoint a young manager with a remit to invest in youth and play progressive attractive football.

2. We will run down the contracts of the existing players all on high wages who contribute nothing

3. We will recruit only young players with no new signing aged more than 25.

4. The amount that we spend on new signings will be capped at £50 million plus the profit from any sales per season.

6. We will look to prioritise Bosman signings but only players aged 27 or under.

This strategy may well result in a downturn in results in the short term and we may become less competitive.

However I can promise you a young hungry team which give 100% and which will play attacking football.

In 3 -5 years I would expect that we would have a team that could compete for the top 4 ".

Would you support such a strategy?

I’m in

 

[jazzy]

No they wouldn't. I'm sorry but that is a fact. Majority want a winning team now.

We tried the 5 year plan with Martinez and we are still trying to recover from it now.

You never rip up and start again, you build on what you have and make it better. This is where we are failing with recruitment.

I do agree Brands needs to go though.

I've always been a disciple of the the great Edwyn Collins...."Rip it up and start again ".

 

[twoblue]

This is good bait.

Do not bite, do not bite…. Jeez I’m going in

 

[GrandOldTeam]

He's talking about the tactics on the pitch here, nothing to do with Brands that.



I'm expecting to see us looking like we have some idea of how to get forward and score a goal if Calvert Lewin isn't in the team. We didn't look like scoring outside of the penalty shout for that Spurs match and they were there for the taking.



Valid points about the squad options off the bench but we should be making more for Richarlison than we have done recently.

If we have very few options off of the bench to change a game positively then we have to make sure the starting players are getting the job done before it comes to that and they aren't.

We're in midtable now at 11 games in but we still have 5 of last year's top 7 to play in this first half of the season. I am not confident that we will be looking better after those games in the table than we do now and that is a concern.

If we're only ever going to be able to judge him when he has a 100% fit squad then we're never going to be able to have a discussion about his performance because that never happens.

Well, no.

The point is to not judge him so conclusively after 11 games.

The irony is Williams concludes with Benitez needs time but Evertonians are spoilt brats who won't give him it.

 

[twoblue]

But we are 11th, five points off 5th. The squad is a bit thin but the first team is arguably as good as any bar maybe the top two (City Chelsea). I am sure any manager would see the same potential that Benitez saw - unless you think he only came because he lived near by?

I guessing if we were to value our best 11 players and then do the same for every other team, we would be behind at least 6/7 teams