Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has been branded a ‘nitwit’ for his decision to sack director of football Marcel Brands.
Brands departed Goodison Park earlier this week, agreeing a mutual termination amid growing unrest at the club.
An angry confrontation with an Everton fan in the stands following the heavy defeat to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby appeared to be the breaking point for the Dutchman, who replied angrily when asked about transfers by the irate fan.
He appeared to reply to that response, ‘is it just the players?’, hinting at issues behind the scenes, particularly with manager Rafa Benitez.
It has since been reported that the Dutchman had felt a growing rift with the Spanish boss, who was hired against his wishes, or at least without his approval, by owner Farhad Moshiri.
That led to his departure this week, with several Brands appointments also leaving the club and Everton ordering a review at all levels.
For many Everton fans, the decision to get rid of Brands is the right one, but journalist Henk Spaan is having none of that.
“If you can get Strootman and Mertens to PSV, you have knowledge of football, and you possess persuasive power,” he wrote in Het Parool.
“Brands did the same in 2020 at Everton, when he bought Allan from Napoli and Doucouré from Watford. Again, these were players from the sub top who had more qualities than reputation, so bargains.
“Unfortunately, Everton is owned by such a billionaire with no footballing brain. (It is not always so. The emir of Qatar scouted the Italian Verratti nine years ago at Pescara).
“On Monday night Everton deservedly won from Arsenal. A few hours earlier, Moshiri had fired Brands. After two goals by Richarlison were disallowed by VAR, Demarai Gray shot on the bar. Richarlison headed in.
“Shortly before the end of the match, Gray scored the winning goal. In July, Brands had bought him from Leverkusen for a pittance. Only a nitwit fires such a technical director.”
