Ray Parlour backs Rooney as Rafa Benitez replacement for Everton
TalkSPORT pundit Ray Parlour has named Wayne Rooney as Rafa Benitez’ replacement as Everton manager.
With the Blues’ poor form continuing into 2022, Benitez finds himself under increased scrutiny.
The players and Benitez were booed off the pitch yet again following their 3-2 defeat against Brighton at Goodison Park.
The club are looking for a lift in the January transfer window, already signing Vitaliy Mykolenko.
However, their record of one win in their last 12 is enough for some to question whether Benitez is the man for the job at Goodison Park.
He said live on talkSPORT: “Certainly it was going to be a tough job for [Benitez] when he was first appointed at Everton because of his Liverpool background and some Everton fans weren’t having him from the start. Then it’s all about results.”
Parlour added “Whether they’re going to sack him, I don’t know. Whether there are options behind the scenes [I don’t know]. They must be looking around now, the Everton board, saying, ‘well if we do pull the plug on Rafa Benitez we’ve got to have a plan, who is our number one target?’
“Would it be Wayne Rooney who is doing a wonderful job at Derby County? Would he want to go to Everton with Duncan Ferguson as part of that backroom staff still?”
Unlikely
Rooney is doing a great job at Derby, but he is nowhere near ready enough for the Everton job. The Premier League is a different kettle of fish and the scouser should look at former Derby boss, Frank Lampard if the speculation does gather momentum.
The former Everton player doesn’t seem in any rush to manage in the Premier League and is happy biding his time whilst picking up vital experience on the job.
A very smart move as one wrong turn could completely derail a managerial career.
In terms of Benitez, he needs at least until the end of the season. He has unfairly come under criticism since joining the Blues as he has had one hand tied behind his back from the start.
That isn’t to say the results have been good enough but now he has the financial backing of the owners in January, he must be able to show what he is capable of with his own team, not a mismatch of players from the five managers that came before.
If things continue the way they are going though he will likely be out of the job come the summer. Will that be enough time for Rooney to ready himself?
In other Toffees news, Rafa Benitez questions Everton fans after boos vs Brighton.