Stan Collymore predicts Everton to finish seventh or eighth
Stan Collymore has urged Everton fans to give Rafa Benitez enough time as the current squad is not good enough to challenge for the European places.
The Spaniard joined the Toffees in the summer as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor, but things have not gone well in recent weeks after a bright start to the season.
Everton were hamstrung by financial fair play restrictions in the summer, only able to spend £1.7million, and Collymore believes Marcel Brands is partly to blame for their current mess.
He wrote in the print edition of the People [November 7, page 56].: “Everton aren’t finishing above Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United. And below them you have got Tottenham, who were in the Champions League final two-and-a bit years ago and now have a serial winner in Antonio Conte at the helm, Arsenal who are on an upward curve and West Ham doing well.
“That means there are seven teams for starters they have to break past and it wouldn’t matter who was in charge, Everton, with this squad, aren’t doing that. So finishing seventh or eighth would be very acceptable and I guarantee that’s where Benitez will have Everton come the end of the season.
“What really needs questioning is the recruitment that has gone on at Goodison Park these past few years under director of football Marcel Brands. And with that in mind, I would urge patience from the faithful, who should only really judge Benitez three years down the line when he has had time to get rid of the deadwood and bring in his own players.
“If, by then, he has provided them with a club that are competitive, aggressive, plays front-foot football and can get into the conversation with one of the north London clubs and West Ham about maybe finishing sixth, then they should be happy.
“Because there is no chance that he’s taking them into the Champions League or even fifth with this squad – they simply aren’t good enough.”
Reality?
The Premier League table is starting to take shape 11 games into the season, and while it is still early days, the Toffees are not looking like top-six favourites right now.
Benitez’s side are currently 11th heading into the international break.
Not only do they not look stronger than any of the teams above them in the log, but the three teams (Leicester City, Southampton and Brentford) directly below them also look more promising.
Injuries to key players in key positions have not helped, but it is clear that there is not enough quality and squad depth, and that needs to improve first.
Playing European football next season is possible, but it will take a lot of consistency and some top recruitment in January for that to happen.
Everton will also need to avoid injuries, but from what we have seen so far this term, luck does not appear to be on their side.
Benitez has a tough job on his hands, but the fans are not likely to be patient enough, which could do more harm than good.
In other Everton news, an injured Toffees ace is expected to return after int’l break amid fresh update.
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