Marcel Brands needs to do more as Everton’s director of football, claims Paul Brown
Daily Star journalist Paul Brown states that Everton director of football Marcel Brands needs to do more in the general running of the club.
The 59-year-old was appointed by the Toffees in May 2018 and was recently awarded a contract extension until 2024. The Dutchman is key in overseeing transfer business and managerial appointments, although the club has failed to push for European football since his arrival.
And speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Brown suggested Brands deploy an all-encompassing approach to how he runs the club, inputting as much as he possibly can to create cohesion and harmony throughout – and eventually ensure that ambition translates into success.
“I just think a better way to run the club would be to let the director of football pick the identity, style of play and the type of player that’s needed for each position,” he said.
“Let that run from the youth team right the way through to the first team. Then you know when a player gets injured in the first team, there’s a ready-made replacement coming through in the academy,” he concluded.
A reasonable scrutinisation
While the expectation of pushing for Europa League and Champions League qualification is sometimes overly optimistic, there is certainly reason to moan at the Everton hierarchy.
Brands has undeniably opted for an expensive and unmeasured approach in seasons gone by, with pricy arrivals too often failing to really hold the significant impact expected of them.
Failures to achieve the league finishes that would vindicate such spending have eventually forced new boss Rafael Benitez to go about his transfer business in a very frugal manner, spending under £2m in the summer window.
And a rocky start to the 2021/22 campaign in which severely notable absences have halted the side’s seemingly promising progression has highlighted the neglect of youth development.
There are only a handful of recent academy graduates capable of holding their own at senior level, with Anthony Gordon looking the sole prospect able to have an influence at Premier League level.
Although general performances have been underwhelming, the overarching issue comes from disorganization in the club. There is an evident goal, but there doesn’t seem to be a certain identity or general direction in which the club is travelling to get there.
Brown’s claims that Brands needs to get a more general grip of matters throughout are completely justified. Once a club starts to move forward as a cohesive collective, gradual development comes naturally.
In other Everton news, Michael Ball has had his definitive say on Michael Keane.