Kevin Ratcliffe blasts Everton recruitment policy
Everton manager Rafa Benitez has come under pressure in recent days following consecutive Premier League defeats at Goodison Park.
The Toffees lost 1-0 to West Ham a fortnight ago before Watford handed them a 5-2 drubbing last weekend.
It was the third league defeat for Everton this term, and some of the fans are already calling for Benitez’s head.
Kevin Ratcliffe insists any criticism should be aimed at the club’s recruitment policy and not necessarily the Spaniard.
The Blues legend told Sunday Mirror: “Under David Moyes, you felt Everton were getting value for money, but over the past few years, it’s been shocking.
“(Demarai) Gray and (Andros) Townsend have been our best players. And when you look at the bench, there are no real game-changers.”
Spot on
The club have spent around £500million in transfer fees since majority owner Farhad Moshiri took charge in 2016, with Benitez being the fifth manager under his reign (Daily Mail).
Steve Walsh spent a bulk of that before Marcel Brands replaced him as director of football, and it is pertinent to note that the new boss has only spent £1.7million so far.
That was the amount spent on Gray in the summer, and the former Leicester City star and free signing Townsend have both been excellent.
Everton have brought in 44 players on permanent and temporary deals since the summer of 2016, and it is safe to say only a few of them have impressed.
Recruitment has to improve if the Toffees are to ever become a top-six side and play European football regularly, and Benitez will be hoping he can make his mark in that area going forward after some disastrous transfer activities.
In other Everton news, Toffees centre-forward has been pictured in training ahead of Wolves trip amid recent injury woe.
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