With Marcel Brands now officially out of the picture at Everton, the fallout from the situation should make for interesting reading.
The Dutchman’s departure has left more questions than there were during his time in charge, with many now wondering what was going on at Goodison Park.
It’s clear that there was a discord between the manager and Director of Football from day one, with Rafa Benitez not the man Brands wanted and the Spaniard not seemingly keen on having someone dictate above him.
This has come to a head at some point and Farhad Moshiri has elected to back his manager rather than Brands, which has seemingly led to the different visions the latter spoke of in his comments on his departure.
Whether that’s the correct decision from the Iranian businessman remains to be seen, with Everton’s transfer business now in Benitez’s hands for the foreseeable future and Brands consigned to the history books.
His time at the club is one that has fiercely split the fanbase, with there a clear divide between those who think he’s done well and those who think he’s been a disaster.
It’s something that’ll likely never be made clear unless Brands himself speaks, which we’re sure Everton have taken steps to stop from happening.
That won’t stop the speculation, though, and Voetbal International journalist Suleyman Ozturk has shared his opinion today.
“Marcel Brands came over from PSV to appoint trainers and build the playing group together but that’s not what he’s had to deal with and last week it came to a point,” he said.
“Brands ended up with this idea of ‘what do I actually still have to say here at this club?’
“He is judged on the €300m he spent but some of the €300m was spent on players that Brands didn’t want to get at all.
“Alex Iwobi came from Arsenal in 2019 for a lot of money. He’s a fine player but not for €30m. When Marco Silva became manager, Brands came from PSV but Silva was already committed to Everton so Brands became DOF of a club where the new manager was already committed.
“So Silva had his say on transfers and prices and Silva is someone who gets his way. There are views on football and then the vision of Brands.
“Then you also have a chairman who has his very own opinion on football and also likes to push his opinion through. It’s not like Brands has much say at that club. He didn’t have much say if the president thought otherwise.
“This season has become curious. Benitez likes to have total control over his club. He wanted it at Newcastle, only he had to deal with a president who did not want to invest.
“I don’t think Brands was behind the arrival of Salomon Rondon. So we don’t even know who is in charge anymore, what was Marcel Brands function there anymore? It was hard work.
“They also had Steve Walsh from Leicester, who was the transfer guru behind Leicester City’s championship. He was brought in by Everton, who wanted him to shape them into champions, or that’s what the president thought.
“But you have to give them the freedom to make a policy and not the trainer. Policy in the broad sense, so that you really have the technical staff, even if you build the player group.
“But if a trainer comes in and says no, I don’t want him, I want that player. What is your role as technical director at this club. I think that was also a bit of what Marcel Brands was up against.”
