Everton were absolutely right to sack Rafa Benitez after the defeat by Norwich — a result which meant he’d overseen just one win in 13 games.
But, let’s be honest, it’s not the fault of umpteen managers that Everton find themselves in the predicament they are in.
It’s the fault of those who have recruited badly these past few years.
Money has been made available and positions have been filled in administrative roles, which is all to Everton’s credit.
But the results on the pitch have been poor because Everton are essentially Manchester United-lite.
It is a squad which, on paper, can compete, but no one seems to be able to work out where those players’ best positions are.
They are light in key areas, most notably up top, and it’s one of those where you look at them and ask, ‘What sort of team is this, what are they trying to do?’
The biggest question Everton must ask themselves now is what sort of manager do they go for — do they get in someone they trust to do the lot in terms of ins and outs, coaching and managing the players?
Or do they find a top-quality recruitment specialist to overhaul the squad?
Who do you think should be the next Everton manager? Comment below
Look at the job Lee Dykes, the director of player recruitment, has done at Brentford.
He has been responsible for quality recruitment that has been in-budget and to a defined style.
These people are out there and maybe Everton’s personnel recruiter needs to recruit better recruiters.
As for replacing Benitez, putting in an interim manager makes sense and I like the idea of Roberto Martinez until the end of the season.
You need someone to go in and keep the team up, you’re not committed to anyone for a three, four or five-year contract and he could go straight on to the training ground and make things work.
Then you could have five or six months or so with Farhad Moshiri, Bill Kenwright and Denise Barrett-Baxendale identifying between them a manager, director of football and head of recruitment at the same time.
And, do you know what, I wouldn’t be against Wayne Rooney getting the job.
Normally, I’d err on the side of caution when putting a rookie manager forward for a grand dame of a club such as an Everton or Aston Villa.
But Rooney has seen the other side of the game at Derby — the anguish, the lack or resources, the constantly having to pick a club off the floor and having to trust his staff to follow him.
Everton is a different kettle of fish to the Rams, of course, and there’d obviously be a risk to appointing him.
But, you know what, the job he has done at Derby has been remarkable, he hasn’t thrown the towel in, he knows and understands pressure, and he would undoubtedly bring a freshness to Everton as a club.
He’s a hybrid of coach and old-school manager similarly to Steven Gerrard, something Everton need.
He’s a motivator, coach, he can dish out a rollicking or two, and there’s a fear factor he brings as well as the street kid from around the corner.
Go on Everton, give it to him.
