Stan Collymore has torn into Everton on Twitter, criticising Rafa Benitez’s side for lacking an ‘identity’ and questioning the way the Goodison Park outfit assembled their current squad.
Farhad Moshiri appointed Benitez as the Toffees’ sixth manager since he bought a majority stake in the club in 2016. Before the Spaniard stood Roberto Martinez, Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva and Carlo Ancelotti – the only head coach Moshiri did not fire.
Everton have also spent vast sums in the six-years since Moshiri bought 49.9% of the club for £200m. The Daily Mail noted ahead of the January sales their total outlay came to over £500m. They have since spent £17m on Vitaliy Mykolenko and £16m on Nathan Patterson.
The Blues’ transfers include breaking their club-record for Gylfi Sigurdsson in 2017 at £45m and Richarlison in 2018 for £50m. Along with a £34m deal for Alex Iwobi in 2019, who has started seven of his 13 Premier League appearances this season for one goal and an assist.
Benitez has instead favoured free signing Andros Townsend and £1.7m man Demarai Gray since moving to Goodison last June. Gray has scored a team-high five of the Toffees’ 23 Premier League goals so far. While only Abdoulaye Doucoure (4) also has more assists (2).
Collymore issues scathing assessment on Everton situation
Collymore is at a loss to what Everton’s style of play is under Benitez, however. The Blues started his tenure strongly with four wins in six league games. But they have only won one of their following 12, to slip down to 15th in the table.
Everton have also conceded more goals (32) than they have scored (23). Only Newcastle United, Norwich (42), Leeds (37), Watford (36) and Leicester (33) have allowed more so far.
But Collymore does not solely blame Benitez for Everton’s poor form and instead looks at how the club is managed. Moshiri started his tenure as owner by hiring Steve Walsh as the Toffees’ first Director of Football before hiring Marcel Brands in 2018, who left last month.
“Identity,” Collymore said. “What are Everton? Passing team? Get it wide and into the box team? Pressing team? Counter-attacking team?
“What does the football dept want the team to look like? All over the place at the moment, looks like a dozen pieces across the football dept that don’t fit.”
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