Benitez: Digne wants to leave

I can't argue with that but just hope we will have enough players left if those in the same boat follow Digne! With this approach, Rafa will rid us of the wasters but will he keep us in the Premier League and give us a team worth watching?

Is he still prepared to train and play giving 100% until resolved? If not, fine him. If he is, play him.

I'm presuming the player will hand in an official transfer request to ensure it is official and any transfer is concluded in the right way.

Unlike Trippier, I can't believe a very good international left-back in his prime would accept a lesser club, ie, Newcastle, unless European football is guaranteed.

Which should help ensure we receive a premium, as he is not cup-tied!

To ridicule a player publicly, to put a manager's ego ahead of the team's need, and not play a player, is tantamount to constructive dismissal. To play the ego card and 'ask the fans' is disgraceful, trying to shame a player.

Benitez's job is to manage. That includes man-management, ego or not, it's something once he is questioned results in this. Dreadful, says more about the manager than the player.

Not the first player to strongly disagree with a manager; if the manager backs down, other players will believe he is weak and individual performances will drop.

You can have disagreements between manager and individual players that should be solved between them; if not, one of them has to go. Problem is, sometimes it is the wrong person that takes the fall.

I was a fan of Benitez but probably got that wrong; it's so difficult to work out as he inherited a very poor team and squad.

To see Coutino heading to Villa and now one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League in Bissouma linked when we have Doucouré who is everthing Bissouma isn't, it's embarrassing.

The task at Goodison is immense and the cost of a clear-out is beyond the current finances, that's if anyone wants any of them.

Sky are lauding Newcastle and Villa, they never have done that with us because we are a nothing club going nowhere and no amount of money, as proven, makes a difference here and no so-called world class managers make a difference also.

The answer is beyond us all and undoubtedly beyond the current board, which became more incestuous this week added to the Duncan Unsworth list of What The Fucks.

We are a mess in every way and someone eventually has to realise that history, has-beens and "The People's Club" mean fuck-all to anyone other than those that seem to think 3 years in the 80s puts us at the top of the tree with the big clubs.

"Rest in Peace, Everton FC"

However, this section of the interview makes no sense:

Just to play devil's advocate then, why was Lucas Digne named on the bench against Brighton?

Benitez: Because as a manager you have a responsibility to try and do what the best is for the club. Sometimes you play for that.

Best for the club? How did it serve the club to have him on the bench with a fading right-back struggling in that role? Moreover, with him on the bench, what circumstance would have seen him used if not as a sub when clearly Coleman floundered?

Presumably, even if Coleman got injured or sent off, he would have shifted Godfrey to left-back since he has been chosen him over Digne of late. So why was he there? I suspect because Rafa figured Coleman would struggle and wanted him there in case that happened.

But when it came to it, after fans cheered Digne warming up after 30 minutes, Rafa took that as an affront and decided to stubbornly double down on his original decision. This in my view makes him a prideful idiot.

Beyond that, managing is about getting the best out of your players. It's not about just being an absolute monarch. Plenty of players, most players have egos. But do you figure out a way to communicate and inspire them or do you just write them off? I know what I would do.

This is Benitez, he has a track record at all the clubs he has been at.

Divisive management does not get the best from a team.

I wish the guy well and I hope that things work out for him going forward. Maybe he needs a change of scenery; certainly his performances in 2021 were not up to levels achieved when he first arrived.

Digne, who is a player I like, has been poor for quite a while now, and this is possibly because his heart hasn't quite been in it since Ancelotti left?

Let's not forget that Benitez, in the press conference the day before the Chelsea game, was asked if Digne was in the squad; Benitez said Yes… but today he said he was sick so we had to leave him out. Obviously, Digne is not happy with those comments, tweeted a picture of him and his son at the Albert Dock, showing he wasn't sick.

So Benitez was willing to put him on the bench at worst against Chelsea but changed his mind from the press conference and said Digne was sick, which he wasn't, and Benitez didn't say he had refused to play for the club.

So let's assume Benitez is telling the truth, which is like believing what Boris Johnson says is true, and Digne has since the Chelsea game refused to play for the club; then why include him in the squad?

Also, in the press conference, he said he wasn't interested in stats from a team who finished 10th last season. Well, maybe he needs to look at the stats for this season, which show he is the worst manager we have had since Mike Walker.

How long will Moshiri keep him on? Surely he is getting perilously close to the sack. What happens if we lose lose again to Leicester on Tuesday. I know we play Hull tomorrow… surely he can't lose that one as well?

Actually, Rafa claimed Digne was going to start versus Chelsea:

“Lucas Digne is a good player, he was an important player for us and yesterday we did a training session and he was in the 11 starters”

So was he really due to play? Even though he "doesn't want to be here"? Or was this bullshit from Rafa who acted like he would have played but refused to, so he could justify his further exclusion?

And yeah, Brian, good points on stats. Digne was the top assist provider last season. Now, we are worse than last season. Maybe that's why Digne raised the stats.

I personally think Kenwright already senses this, which might mean this is another thing that Rafa Benitez has got to contend with, because, even as things currently stand, he's only the second most divisive man at our club, a club that has needed shaking up for years.

He'll go to Newcastle if he has to (with an escape clause if they go down). Don't worry – we'll get a decent payoff for him.

I'm totally behind Benitez on this.

I agree with you; normally, if a player doesn't want to play, then it's best you depart. But if a manager engineers it, if he has form for putting his own ego ahead of the teams needs, who is to blame?

We do not know who said what, but fall out with or question this manager and it means you are finished.

He has form. I remember reading somewhere that he once sent Ronaldo a USB stick with videos of how he should improve. Ronaldo sent it back and said he would send him back a USB stick with all his goals on. Ruthless or stupid?

Lots of folks here will want to blame one or the other, but I don't think there's any point in looking for verbal clues to who's at fault for this. What we have is two professionals, a manager and a player, both performing poorly, who can't get along with each other.

Christopher #9 is right. Get the transfer done properly and promptly. Wish Lucas the best to recover his form with his new club. And move on with our new young left-back.

Exactly. Rafa said just a week before this all started that he wanted to sell a good player at the right time. Then suddenly, Digne is a fifth columnist. Totally engineered.

For fuck's sake, if Liverpool can sell some of their second-string players for well over £20M, then surely we have every right in asking for at least £30M for a full French international.

That said, it seems wrong to talk about Digne publicly like this. Would Alex Ferguson have? I think not.

Yes, we should get good money for him.

Maitland-Niles has now gone to Roma so it won't be him. Nor Coutinho (which is probably a good thing). Maybe Van de Beek on loan with option to buy.

Benitez is employed as our first-team coach, which is his sole responsibility, and just like he did in China and at Newcastle, he is failing miserably.

He has hired his assistant manager who was with him at Newcastle, as well as the fitness coach who was with him at Newcastle as well as the sports scientist who was with him at Newcastle. Also, he has signed Rondon who was with him at Newcastle and in China, and Townsend who was also with him at Newcastle, and if rumours are right put in a bid for Longstaff who is at Newcastle.

Given all the appointments from Newcastle, is it any wonder we are where we are in the league? Also, I haven't seen any improvement in our fitness since these 3 coaches have been here.

I know you are hoping he will oust Kenwright; as I have said loads of times, I don't give a toss if Kenwright stays or goes, but it's not the job of a manager who can't do his own job to worry about what a 2% shareholder does or doesn't do.

As far as I know, Kenwright didn't sign Begovic or Rondon – that was down to the Caldy clown.

If he did say he was sick, and then took his kid to the Albert Dock, then he's obviously took the piss, and should never play for Everton again, but if Benitez has been telling lies, then I'd understand Digne never wanting to play for the man again.

Once you cross the manager, it only usually ends up one way, and especially if you have no special affinity to that club, which means there is absolutely nothing left to stay for.

He's putting his stamp on the squad so I'd expect more of the furniture to go and his own people to come in.

I agree with Tony. Put the disruptive bull in China shop in the boardroom for a few hours and let him rip that up too.

In doing this publicly, whose interest does it serve? Not the player, who is tarnished by it; not the club, who could see his transfer value fall? No-one will trust a manager who will put himself above the team.

If this was a one-off, my initial reaction would be you back the manager, but it's nothing like a one-off – the list of players in his wake at various clubs is significant. Morale in his team must be dreadful.

The only mitigation re both of them actually, mindful he was already on his bike, was the injury risk if he played.

"If he did say he was sick, and then took his kid to the Albert Dock, then he's obviously took the piss, and should never play for Everton again".

How many times have fans told their employer they were sick, and then seen on TV at a match. What's good for the goose is good for the gander!! 😁😁😁

Good luck to Digne, wherever he ends up. A couple of good seasons then, for whatever reason, downhill. All the more appreciation for Leighton Baines and his longevity and consistency.

They have thrown 5 or 6 managers under the bus already. Perhaps this manager is not going to put up with it?

He is walking a tightrope now though, is Benitez. The proof as always will be in the pudding, so we shall see.

For me, not a particular loss… not a good enough defender.

I don't believe a word that comes out of his gob. I'm not saying Digne is an angel, but I've never heard him whinging to the press.

Maybe we'll hear what he has to say about all this after he's gone, but I doubt it. Yet another quality player forced out by a massive, stubborn ego, and I'm not talking about the French one.

I personally think Benitez was fucked before he got here, and think the last two words of your post, Brian, speak for a lot of Evertonians, who didn't or don't want to give the manager a chance.

If Benitez stays, I will bet you that Everton finish higher in the table than we did last season with Ancelotti, Brian H – even if I'm glad to hear him saying he's not interested in coming 10th.

I also believe that Benitez was totally wrong to say it at a press conference, he should have kept it behind closed doors, especially because clubs will now offer less money because of the massive fall out.

He could say it if and when he's sold. If Digne has a different version, it could be very messy.

It is very difficult to take Everton at all seriously at the moment; if more of our best players are treated in the way of Rodriguez and Digne, then there's little hope for us.

It's all a far cry from the Everton I grew up with.

My biggest worry is that by throwing Digne under the bus, has Benitez damaged the club by devaluing the price we could get? I know the answer, but I hope there is a club out there that buys him for decent money.

This club had needed a cleanout for years with players who are unwilling or unable to play, just happy to see out their contracts.

When we see the likes of Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Gordon and Coleman pulling their guts out for the club, it shows the difference. I would also add Richarlison to that category.

Then there are players who are just not good enough consistently, like Michael Keane, Iwobi and Gomes and, until this last 12 months, Gbamin.

Now I don't like Benitez and I didn't want him here but we have to stop changing managers and we need someone with crocodile hide and the balls to say this is the way we are doing it and you can get on board or jump ship. That applies to the board also, where I believe he is the sort of character not to put up with bullshit from Kenwright or Moshiri.

He wasn't the best choice of manager but he isn't the worst so lets see where we go with a squad of players that want to play for the club and the manager.

Moshiri said that he didn't expect Everton to win against certain teams, and Kenwright turned us into plucky little Everton, which explains why I'm not happy with the boardroom, mate.

Benitez has been poor since we started getting injuries, but Lucas Digne has also been poor defensively for a long time now and, for a club who need to sell to buy, I think it's better the Frenchman leaves, rather than Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin – I could just imagine the screams if it was one of them!

We all knew some would need to go so I don't get why some are not relieved that it is Digne and not one of the strikers for what's behind Door #3.

That last game was atrocious and the locker room is probably what one would expect of players who've demonstrated they don't cut and now have been somewhat publicly told the same.

These are the ugly things a manager like Rafa can save some time on. This is the Premier League, nobody feels sorry for you as a club.

As for him being divisive, I remember poor Liverpool teams taking us to the cleaners ever time we played them, purely because Benitez got them up for the match in a way that Moyes (who I have great respect for) never could.

I always saw him as someone who thought he is better than the ones around him. Giving out useless and unnecessary free-kicks once and again, always making gestures that the referee was wrong (and not him).

For carrying the armband he many times carried, I think he didn't represent the sort of example I like for my team. Very gifted technically, for me, is not enough if the bàsics are wrong. Probably the lack of a real leadership on the pitch in the squad gave credit to that sort of attitude, or maybe he wasn't the kind of player we originally needed?

But anyway, I believe Everton actually need the sort of Godfrey attitude player-wise. Maybe it wasn't Digne's fault, but I can understand Benitez if he dropped him.

Bàsically, Someone has to take the hard decisions. I think Digne would suit best a Man City or Top 4 team anyway. But not sure he'll make a starting place there as well.

Every club has somebody. The Salah vs Klopp stories have been around for a while now, just not many clubs could afford his fee and salary right now.

If you were Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin, what would you be thinking? Hang in there or get out?

I think that Digne has generally played well for Everton and deserves praise for his time in an Everton shirt. It is now so obvious that, for everybody's mental health, he should leave because there is no other solution.

We must make sure that we receive the appropriate fee. Every player leaves at some time and Digne should no longer be part of any further discussions

If he is still with us when we play Hull and if he is fit, then he probably should play. I just look forward to welcoming our two new full-backs.

But I'm sure you get the gist of what I meant!!

Truth always lies unspoken somewhere in the middle, but it's the team and fans who generally suffer.

If Benitez had a clean sheet of paper and was asked to put a squad on it, who amongst what we have would he keep?

I will tell you, he said a week ago that apart from Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison and Pickford, he would listen to offers for anyone. That clearly sends a message to the squad that everyone of them is on borrowed time.

But he hasn't got a clean sheet of paper, he has well-thumbed yellow sticky notes with names on that he moves around on a whiteboard in an effort to make it look like a team. Clear the dross first, not the quality.

Please, please, please get this odious egotistical kopite loser out of our club.

Now, if it was because of a rift with Benitez, which seems likely, although we as fans never really get to know the proper story, or at least till months or years later, then despite Benitez being a divisive Marmite-like character, he is nevertheless the manager! No player is bigger than the team, or the manager! (Look at Ronaldo and Pogba at Man Utd and the trouble that's caused!)

Without sounding like the "Fox and The Sour Grapes," let's face it, Digne has not been the same player we first had, for quite a while now, and that was well before Benitez arrived, so we can't wholly point the finger at Rafa.

I am not pro-Benitez by any stretch of the imagination, but maybe he is doing what has been needed at Everton for far too long now. "Pull your weight, and work as a team member, or there's the door!"

I cannot imagine how we have arrived at this situation and can think of many more players who should be leaving before Digne. He may be one of the few players who we can sell easily to raise money for transfers but it's all looks like a gamble to me.

If it comes off, well done, the Manager. But this is only a small piece of a big jigsaw and Rafa will be a lucky man if it all works.

Clearly Digne disagreed with Benitez over this and crash bang wallop, it's all gone pear shape. I do recall that Digne pulled out of Chelsea squad with due to an illness, which Benitez questioned on the night. It wasn't Benitez's call but Digne. I suspect the argument and the self diagnosed illness crossed Benitez line of no return. The use of Digne on the bench vs Brighton was foolish and Benitez knows that now “
Mistakes have been made by all, including me” he said earlier this week.

We've all said a real clear out is required and we'll see far more yet, Mina, Holgate, Delph, Gomes, Gbamin, Coleman, Kenny, Nkounkou, Keane, and maybe Iwobi. There's no doubt he's targeting to do it and asap, over 2 years and perhaps this will annoy Kenwright, Baxendale rosy view of Everton's style of management. I think the Sharp move is a clear sign that the above pair want eyes at Finch Farm and a buffer. But Benitez will blast past them all and go direct to Moshiri, and after the past 5 disastrous years Moshiri will grant Benitez all the power he wants. Interesting times ahead - a real Rocky Road ahead, but probably the only way it will be solved.

In the meantime, the team is weakened with an ageing Coleman ludicrously playing on the left. I've given the former kopite boss a fair crack of the whip and before the injuries, I thought we looked okay. However the results have been atrocious.

Digne has been one of our better players since his arrival and an attacking threat though recent form hasn't been the best. Can't blame him for wanting to leave having been forced out by the divisive Benitez.

Many Evertonians, absolutely hated Benitez, and suddenly he became our fuckn manager. I get it, I remember saying to my red mate, who suggested Benitez for Everton a few years ago, that I wouldn't go inside Goodison, if that c**t ever got the job, and I also told him we could never in a million years, accept such a horrible man!

I don't know what changed me, maybe it's because we have been going nowhere, except round in circles for absolute donkeys years, existing just to be in the EPL, and not being a threat to anybody.

I think this must be the reason, because the only thing that ever changes at Everton is the manager, and there comes a time when it's obvious that we have got much bigger problems than just constantly changing the manager?

I could write all night about this subject. When I was a child, Everton never won anything for 14 seasons, and that was considered an eternity for a very, very proud fan base, but some of this current regime have pissed all over this, which makes me ask the question, “what the fuck happened to our pride”?

John B, wisdom comes with age!

I AM SORRY BUT MY SUPPORT, AFTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS, END HERE AND NOW.

PLEASE DELETE MY USER ACCOUNT

For what? Playing to the gallery? Making out like he's of the same mindset as supporters a week after suggesting they were a bunch of unreasonable meffs for being miffed at him bringing a wheelie bin on against Brighton? Once again spouting the ‘truth and nothing but the truth' a mere a day after actually claiming, with a straight-face, that “If you analyse my teams, they are aggressive, they go on the front foot and press, and try to regain the ball high up the pitch, create chances and score goals”?

Would they fuck as like.

If the player is such a malcontent whose bad attitude Benitez cannot abide, then why was he named on the bench for the previous match? Why has there never been the slightest hint that the player is unprofessional, or that his heart isn't in it, from anyone who has ever worked with the player in the past? If he's so desperate to do one and is some sort of disruptive, malignant influence, then why has he kept his mouth shut (other than to offer words of support to the club and his team mates on social media), got his head down and simply got on with it since being dropped and his manager started aiming poorly veiled public digs in his direction?

More likely, the bloke with a win percentage with the blues that makes Mike Walker look like he was the fucking biz has seen his arse over the fact that the player he'd pinpointed as being expendable, and one he's been positioning for a prompt exit, pissed all over his chips by firing chi-latte out his nostrils when asked if he wanted to cadge a lift to Newcastle.

I mean, what is this shite about?

“I want to ask a question to every fan or former player. What would Peter Reid say…?”

Lauded? If Kenwright came out with those exact same words it would cause people to cringe so forcefully they would look the fucking spit of Wile E. Coyote trying to walk a few steps forward after being struck in the cock by forked lightening.

“I want to ask a question to every fan or former player. What would Peter Reid say…?”

Link

“I want to ask a question to every fan or former player. What would Peter Reid say…?”

Well, seeing as you asked, Peter Reid said the following shortly after on Twitter:

“If Digne didn't want to play for Everton and wanted a move, he would not have made the bench. COYB”

If leaving Everton was an option, most of us would have been long gone

He's now saying he only wants to pick players who want to play for Everton, and that Digne has said he doesn't want to play for Everton, and under normal circumstances, he wouldn't even have to explain, but this is Everton, and Evertonians hate this manager.

Smashing player but you can only have one winner in a manager/player disagreement but I suspect he will do well at a better team.

A man who has won the two biggest trophies in European football, is out of his depth at Everton, genuinely explains why the whole club, needs changing from top to bottom imo Stan.

Digne has not aired his side to the media, he has been belittled by the manager in public and, in doing so, made the club look poor. It should have been done with common sense to let him go and maximize his transfer value, not to make an egotistical point.

Come on let's have a couple of verses of "Ebony and Ivory."

It'll cheer us all up, c'mon!

1, 2, 3, 4................Ebonyyyyyyyyyy.

I think he's been poor this season can't speak to much about last season as I have Pov TV so saw what was on EFC TV but the season before, he was poor. I think there's a case here of him thinking he's a lot better than he is.

It seems reasonable to be (with all due deference to Peter Reid) to have him on the bench just in case. Seeing as the club is paying him over a hundred grand a week, sitting on his arse for ninety odd minutes is a hell of a task, the poor man.

I think that Benitez is doing a job that needs doing. He wants players who want to play for our club. and play for him. We've got Iwobi, Gomez, Mina, Digne, Keane, Holgate, Gbamin, and, well, we can't do anything regards a certain Icelandic player but there's a lot of money, being paid out each week. That's for players who aren't good enough, have hardly played more than 10 games in 3 years, are doing well if they play half the games a season and one who well...one more 100 grand a week man who we maty never see again.
On top of that, it's been like the Magic Merrygo Round with managers buying players for exhorbitant prices and wages, who've proved to be incapable of melding into a team that can take us anywhere but mid table at best.

I think our manager is a good manager, certainly the best available when Ancellotti dunnarunna, who I think just decided to bugger off as the job was too hard for him.
As for Rodrigues, he was on £200,000 a week and pissed off to Columbia after being "injured" for half a season. The rest of the team thought a lot of him, I'm sure.

I think Benitez, well I guess it's thereason there's a lot of hatred towards him, because he was the manager of liverpool and said we were a small club, well we are! We used to be a great club. The Geordies would have had him back, we I think have got to get over the hated phrase he made when pissed off with a draw. I remember the Liverpool writer for the Echo saying in his column about us "they'll probably make a DVD of it" after we drew at Anfield.

We get rid of him and that's what a section want, then I think we're in serious danger of going down.

Wekeep him, were in serious danger of becoming a good team again.

It's always the manager's fault at Everton, Stan, it's always the manager who is just not good enough unfortunately.

Christine, if Benitez could sell ten of this squad then I'm sure he would. I agree with you, that he's got a belligerent egotistical side, but he's been getting stick about Digne for a while now, just like he took loads of stick over Rodriguez.

This basketcase of a football club needs changing in more ways than one, and once Digne goes, then he will have been replaced by “two players” and Everton will still have reduced their wage bill.

Benitez says that Digne does not want to play for Everton. It would be more accurate to say that Digne does not want to play for Benitez. As for Benitez accusing the player of catering to his ego, this is ripe. It was Benitez ego that played a formation with two right backs, leaving Digne on the bench.

He has engineered this whole exit and now goes publicly with a rationale that puts all the blame on the player. Disgraceful.

The common thing in this nonsense so far is that Digne has kept silent, maybe out of dignity, maybe because he's been advised to. Sometimes these things come out anyway, somehow.

As far as we know, this player has been a model professional, has been part of the management group,under several managers and captained the team from time to time. Maybe other players there respect him and are thinking WTF and who's next?

Would that be the Hylen Fling by any chance ? :-)

I think he hoped that it would show that he's selling him, because he wants to go, not just getting rid.

We don't know what went on, but personality clashes, wanting to win medals, whatever reason, he wants to go. Personally, I want to see a better full back than him (and younger) playing for us. So, Yes, Mr Benitez, I'd sell him for all I could get.

Who on earth thinks that Lucas Digne is the best defender we have ever had at this club? Likewise who thinks that the two full backs across the park are any better as out and out defenders?

I thought I had seen it all when Clowncelotti played Digne as a third centre half. Now we have this gobshite in charge asking our best assist machine to stand behind a left midfielder who constantly nullifies his attacking threat and play to his main deficiencies. To rub salt in the wounds the fucker deploys the perfect system for one of our few elite players shortly after his polarisation and unbelievably entrusts an out and out defender in the shape of Godfrey to fulfill that brief once Digne has been humiliated.

Yet some of our fans argue "well he has been shit for two seasons", no shit Sherlock, I wonder why!

On this thread we have the usual pie in the sky ToffeeWeb rhetoric "once we get rid of Delph,Davies,Gomes and Gbamin we will reach the promise land". I hate to burst the ToffeeWeb bubble but none of these players had much of a look in this season yet our midfield has been embarrassed week on week with Fucking Brighton the latest to swagger all over us. Oh the likes of Schneiderlin and he should not be mentioned must be pissing themselves as they were previously the 'it's all your fault brigade'.

Incidentally I hate to bring realism to the party but in the two seasons where Gomes had a strong involvement (Silva first season and last season) our midfield was at times decent. During the year of his horrific injury and this season the midfield has been a complete shambles.

Just to touch back on Digne. The idiot in charge has for the last month or so denegrated the player both personally and professionally. Can Digne's biggest critics honestly say that this guy has ever showed anything but desire when he pulls on the blue jersey?

This is Benitez flexing his muscles in the power struggle with the player. Personally I think Digne has acted with great integrity in keeping his counsel despite this dreadful bombardment from this parasite. If Benitez was digging out players who aren't putting in a shift fair do's but this is a player who had the temerity to question the all knowing wally on his ridiculous tactics, not a guy who has downed tools.

Sydney Pointer great actor, one of his best, for me, was The Defiant Ones with Tony Curtis as the runaway convicts and Theodore Bikel chasing them as the detective.

Well, he did ask!!

At least fucking kick someone

Benitez will no doubt be sacked fairly soon, so much of this debate is academic, except that the damage will be done by then.

while we, Great club that we are have won one cup final and fuck all else since Howard was our manager. To call this man useless, seems a touch illogical.

He'll have a hard job getting rid of the players that are nowhere near the class we need to get our club on ther up. He has to stop the rot first and all these fellers like Conti, Ancelotti, and the resdt, want to walk in to a club with lots of top players and lots of money. At the moment we've got a colection of lead weights, some good players, some good Young players, but not enough yet to make a good team. I want to se what he can do in the next couple of windows. I don't see him producing miracles, just a good team in a year or two.

According to proven behaviour, Out of Benitez and Digne, only one has every shown any kind of contempt or disdain towards out football club and that was Benitez.

Benitez has had 6 months in the job and has performed badly and whatever excuses are made, that is the reality of the situation.

The reality of the situation is that he took a club that last Christmas was 4th in the table and 6 points off top spot, to Christmas 2021: 15th position and 31 points off the top.

This is just the reality of the situation.

Besides the reality, and more personally, he denied me the opportunity to watch James Rodriguez play at Goodison Park for Everton. And I am regretful about that.

Onto Digne more closely. I have never sat at Goodison Park and thought to myself ‘this guy is not giving 100%'. Ever.

Yes he has lost form. But he's also had some very good spells of form for everton. And I have to say that I was glad that he came in to replace the best left back in the history of out football club.

However, I am also a pragmatist and I understand that he is a player who generates interest and has good resale value. Unlike players such as Iwobi, Cenk Tosun and others who will generate no interest and have virtually no resale value.

I however do not agree that without going into specifics, which Benitez hasn't, that Digne has been called out for having a lack of integrity to suit the wider agenda.

Digne and supposed behaviours and comments - if Digne has questioned the methods of Benitez, this may be in fact reflective of Digne actually caring about the effect Benitez is having on the football club and his own career.

Digne has played for champions league winning managers besides Benitez as well as a World Cup winning manager. Digne above anybody at Everton football club has recent experience of being part of groups of the most successful players and coaches in the modern game. Is he wrong to question the methods of a failing manager if that is what he is doing?

Benitez has already successfully restructured the hierarchy of the club in a way that enables less people to question his failings and equip him with more control.

Getting senior and influential players the bullet is another way of achieving this furthermore.

Benitez is old news. Besides an outstanding champions league victory in 2005, what has this man achieved in the last 16 years. He capitalised on an ultra defensive, counter attacking style of play that was innovative between 2003-2009 - hence Greece winning Euro 2004, Porto and Liverpool the Champions League, Benitez and Mourinho being more successful using this system then, than they have been since.

The game has moved on and evolved massively since then and this spoof is doing everything he can to convince the world that he's still a top football manager. Which he most certainly isn't.

"He knows there's a section of supporters who hates his guts".

Out of interest what do you mean by section of supporters? Do you mean a small section like the away end, or maybe a bit larger like the main stand or, in reality, like 3 quarters of the fan base.

The depths of shite that our manager sinks too show no limits, so belittling one of his players to suit his own agenda is really just par for the course.

For me, I wish he would just fuck right off.

This club was desperate for some performances and Digne did not provide anything to convince that his heart is in it. If you're an international and the instructions of the match are defend first that shouldn't be a challenge. If he thought he had the ability to influence the style of play then that was a miscalculation in hindsight.

Glad to have you on record for that.

From what I can see (although I haven't done a head count of the 40,000), there's plenty on here who have a different view than you.

What if he gets us relegated? Happy to sit and wait to see what he does in the next few windows still?!?

There can be no other explanation for just what this fat gobshite is doing to us.

That said, to speak about the player like that on a public forum was deplorable management. Differences should be aired between the two behind closed doors.

The truth is nobody knows the full story and we have only heard one side. Just count all the “ifs” and “maybes” in the above posts to get an idea of fans' uncertainty.

One thing I am certain of, however, is that Mina and Richarlison will be gone in the summer and possibly Calvert-Lewin and Pickford.

I believe we are a club that needs to sell our best players at a premium and then invest the money in young, enthusiastic players with pace in order for the club to progress.

Therein lies the challenge!

We were denied the opportunity to see James play because he was one of our highest earners and had no desire to stay here once Ancelotti left. He had already made it clear he would not have signed for us if it weren't for Carlo.

The shocking performances in transfer windows by our previous managers left Benitez not only without a bean to spend, but also trying to offload from the wage bill to appease FFP. We could not risk our financial situation with all the work that's already gone into the ground. No way.

It's so easy to blame Rafa for anything that goes wrong because of his history and the type of man he is. But not since Moyes have we had an actual club manager, someone who has fully taken control of the business this football club does.

It's certainly ballsy, because by eliminating people like Brands, overhauling the board and the backroom staff, he gives himself nobody else to blame but himself. He's setting the club up based on how he thinks a football club should be ran, and let's be honest we've been run amateurishly for years.

Change is hard and you can suffer in the short term, but we could all be lauding the guy in a few years if this pays off. As much as it's dire to watch now, I'm willing to give the bloke a chance given the work he appears to be putting in to setting the club up better.

I suspect Benitez sees FF as well full of dead-wood staff he had nothing to do with appointing either. Maybe he's in effect turning the heat up on the boardroom too. He must have personal clout with Moshiri after all and having watched others mis-spend his "hundreds of millions", mostly all sanctioned by that same boardroom, I suspect that Benitez sees a clear-out of the boardroom as very beneficial to him and our club too.

I think he's right on that.

To me when we signed Digne it surprised me to see that in eight years as an adult pro he'd only played around 150 first team games for four top-flight clubs yet had never suffered lengthy injuries. Hmm. He's hardly ever been first-choice for France and hardly ever plays in their significant games. Hmm again. Add that to his increased vulnerability as a defender and diminished productiveness with the ball and it seems to me to be good if by moving him on we can recover the cost, as I understand we have to because of FFP, of the two bigger, faster youngsters we've just signed.

We'll soon see.

Or maybe I'm wrong and it's Benitez who has done all the damage to Everton FC, my oh my oh my.

The structure of Owners - Brands - Ancelotti, although doomed, was lightyears ahead of anything we have had at this football club.

Put that structure in at Newcastle tomorrow and it would bring success.

However, it was a disaster for us, because for Everton Football Club it was unsustainable.

We did not need that structure as we cannot sustain it. But we do require a modern structure, albeit one that works for us.

The Benitez one man autocratic show is a sharp step back to the 1990s.

Benitez has been a disaster yet had Dominic been fit all season we would most likely have been in a similar position where the revered one had us before his hiatus to the Spanish sunset. Because this guy is clueless doesn't excuse the previous incumbent.

Some humourus definitions of Statistics : many may be recognisable traits on TW. :-)

99% of Statistics only tell 49% of the Story.

I only believe in Statistics that I have doctored myself !

Statistics is The Art of Lying by Means of Figures !

43.7% of Statistics are made up on the spot !

Facts are Stubborn, but Statistics are more pliable !

Statistics are Human Beings with the tears Wiped Away !

How many ‘modern' setups can you name that have actually worked? The only thing that makes most teams successful these days is obscene amounts of money.

The structure you say that was lightyears ahead of anything we've had finished 10th and almost 30 points off top, having been 4th and 6 points behind at Christmas. Our inflated position at Christmas could've been down to the pandemic, likewise our decline in the new year could've been too. But there was a noticeable drop in our performances, probably once Ancelotti realised he wouldn't be here beyond the end of the season. So why so much slander towards Benitez because one player has come to the same conclusion?

HE didn't force James out, the financial situation meant he had no option. Likewise, he's solving one problem and preventing another occurring by buying the two full backs before Digne departs.

Brands made just as many shocking signings as he did good ones, and Ancelotti was obviously ready to jump ship as soon as the right opportunity arose. A structure is only working if they show a clear forward direction and forward-thinking. Last year's structure did not do the second one.

The signings were all over the place and showed no cohesion or obvious plan. We spent most of our money on players approaching 30, paid them big wages (mainly James) and put ourselves in the position where last summer's transfer window was essentially a write-off. It was all about the here and now, with no consideration for the situation we'd be in beyond that.

Benitez made some excellent signings with what he had to work with - it's so much easier to avoid poor signings when you have money to spend. Money gets the best players at the end of the day. But for years we have still managed to spend hundreds of millions on deadwood. That's not a business plan I'd want to get behind and Benitez is making moves to change that. He needs a bit of credit for that.

Getting rid of Rodriguez and Digne, and adding all the new players, possibly hasn't even increased Everton's wage bill, and that's exactly what the owner has needed whilst FFP allegedly hangs over our club?

Matthew @147- apparently it was Brands who had wanted and scouted Grey long before Benitez came to the club. Townsend was good for the first two months and has been useless since while Rondon do you need me to finish? Personally I feel had Gordon been in from the start instead of Townsend we would be in a much healthier position. Glorifying Benitez' acquisitions is another red herring.

Firstly - I find it funny that there are some familiar names I agree with, and a whole load of "you's" that I categorically, holistically, psychologically and ideologically completely disagree with from belly laughing out load hysteria at the nonsense spouted - to meditate out the rage at the clinically preposterous bias on display...

So, in true TW form...

We are crap.
We have been crap for a long, long time (gosh do you remember when we used to finish 5th all the time... oh... sigh... how our aspirations have been flushed away).

We are so crap, that we can't even spend £500m or whatever it actually is...

We have crap sponsors.
Crap kit manufacturers.
Crap managers (including Ancelotti who was brand-sexy but total crap at home - bet his home record was worse than Walkers...)

Crap.
Crap.
Crapola with extra Crap.

Our midfielders were rolled over at home - by Brighton.
Brighton. Hove. Albion...

We have crap central defenders, and crap left and right backs.
We have one decent striker.

Our managers over the last 5YRS have been beyond crap.
Like some form of Kryptonite crap that is a form of power-crap.

Our tactics are crap.
Our statistics are crap.
Our approach to game management is crap
The online merch store is crap
The close season streaming ticket thing is crap.

Our owner is spending money on crap and surrounded himself with crap advisors and a crap mentality.

I was talking to the agent of Yannick Bolasie (ultimately a disappointingly crap signing) and they were telling me how totally crap Marcel Brands was...

Remember how crap we were with Allardyce?
Sam Crap Allardyce

And don't get me started about Sammy Bloody Crap Lee (come on people... SAMMY LEE????)

Right... got that off my chest.

Digne?
£100K a week
Really crap against Liverpool at home...
Crap defender recently
Crap going forward recently

Sell him.
Sell most of them.
Gbamin... so sorry you got injured, but I was watching in the stands - you were absolutely crap against Wolves, out of position for both goals - off the pace... can't judge the 1min v Spurs and the 20 invisible min v Chelsea...
£25m folks...
£25 crap million pounds...
Clear out the less than mediocre dead wood...

I'm not unhappy with Benitez.
Some, most of you are... breath it out folks.
Moshiri isn't listening.
He does not give a crap about what any of you think, including me... he hired Allardyce... who hired SAMMY LEE

Moshiri does what Moshiri wants.
Wax on... Wax off...

One thing to hold onto though.
There are 3 clubs more crap than us I think...
It will be next season we need to be worried about.
Let Benitez clear out the crap...
And lets see how crap we are next season...

I mean, we can't get any more crap can we?

Brands' remit which many people seem to misunderstand, is once talent is identified, is to get the deal completed.

Completing on a transfer is the most difficult part of any transfer.

Brands was reliant upon a vast scouting network and the preferences of the managers he worked for to identify talent.

No matter whether they turned out to be a success or not; To complete deals for Ancelotti, James Rodriguez, Doucoure (at a competitive price), Moise Kean, Digne, Mina, Gomes and Allan (to an extent) shows that he was very effective at his job.

I would say having someone able to attract players with big reputations and from bigger clubs than ours is lightyears ahead of anything we've had for a long time.

When Moyes had the opportunity to spend bigger than usual, he didn't always invest well. When he got a blank chequebook at Utd, he couldn't get anybody through the door and ended up signing Fellaini.

What we don't know is the influence that others such as Kenwright have over the ability of Brands to do his job.

People like Ebbrell, Unsworth, Ferguson, Jeffers etc. Staff with virtually no credentials outside of Everton football club, on the staff. Doesn't seem to me like a Brands endorsement.

Also digne is worth a considerable sum. The club needs to balance the books. Rafa is building for the future by his signings and he's setting standards. Time will tell but it's a start. Sadly we will have to go backwards to go forward. Rafa sees change is needed and we all do really. Foundations are being built but we don't have hundreds of millions to do it overnight.

Please remember this club has won nothing for decades. Something is wrong and rafa sees that.

The problem is that intial transfer rumours regarding Inter Milan and Chelsea were never going to fly. He is hitting reality with rumours of Newcastle. Even that will hit the buffers.

So we are into the second half of the transfer window and he is forcing a move. To where? He now has competition increasing for his place. Is he going to end up as deadwood, for a second go in the Summer of someone wanting him.

When are Everton going to get players who are prepared to knuckle down and fight for their place?

I would like to see him bringing about wins on it.

Hit the nail on the head Peter. Well done.

He can do whatever he wishes as long as he's winning games. But he's not. He's won 6 in 20.

I've seen absolutely nothing from him since he became our manager that illustrates any indication that he will be a success here. Nothing whatsoever

Benitez out.

However, Rafa is the boss and you have to follow his rules and strategy.
You keep your mouth shut or move out.

We all probably agree that Rafa has done nothing to solidify Everton's defending even after the Watford debacle. Things are no better to be honest despite the games at Chelski and Manure.

If a poor team like Hull get goals tomorrow then I will be calling for Rafa's head on a platter.

Barry #128.
It went over their heads. They're in denial or
deandies.

The problem we have with our defence...is our defence! especially when Mina is missing. Keane and Holgate together are a disaster. and Digne played his part in a poor defence. Whether Godfrey and young Branthwaite would get a go in there, well I'd like to see it.

I also hope that Doucouré doesn't try and control the ball like it's a greasy balloon!

Rafa shouldn't have said anything about Digne. I wonder
if he's now sorry he opened his mouth about it ?

It's an internal matter. It brings discredit to EFC and
makes him look like Capt. Queeg.
A still tongue makes a wise head.

I think a lot of us would be far more insulting, brash and foul mouthed were we in the same situation. If I were a top class footballer I would say what the fuck I liked and have a great time doing it. In fact I have to admit doing just that in all my professional iterations, but never had the great audience I deserved.

Lately I'm becoming a bit detached from the footie to protect myself from emotional harm and waiting to see what pans out.

I do want to say that I am tired of people using the the "FSW" abbreviation or words. It's just wrong.

Most modern managers have to box clever with big name players as values can rise and fall on the strength of a couple of mistimed comments at a press conference!

Benitez has twisted things to make it look like Digne doesn't want to play for the blues but most probably he doesn't want to play for Benitez. Digne only signed a contract extension last year.

Regardless, his days are numbered with us. His value has plummeted due to the obvious public spat, Ffp and we have already spunked out £20m on a replacement.

I am all for shaking things up at the club from top to bottom but not with this guy. Give me a choice between the frying pan (bk) and the fire (RF) give me the frying pan every day.

I still can't get my head around what could easily be – as Newcastle will strengthen and already teams around us are bringing in players – if we don't get this transfer period right: Everton relegated with former Liverpool manager in charge.

What you say, will bring on the pains for quite a few TW's, but in reality we have won nothing since the FA Cup in 1995, which says it all.

Moving on to Rafa, I am going against the grain with many on here. I'm glad to see him hard nosing the players, who think they are bigger than the club. Many of us have been saying for years that there is something wrong at the root of the club psychee. Well, here is a manager with the balls to root this out so that a real Everton team can be built for the future. No more mamsee pamsee bullshit. Does this need a manager with an EGO? Probably.

After being an Evertonian since 1953, I have been as peed off as most on here with the performances during the past 2 decades. If it has to happen to fix this that we go down to championship and then fight and come up then so be it. I hope we can avert the drop, of course.

Only the best will do! We need a side that is prepared to fight for the cause! I welcome the two new signings and hope a couple more will arrive during this window.

Support also means giving the manage a chance to manage!

Speculate all you want, but at the end of the day, Lucas is out the door, and we lose an international left back…the “ how “ is meaningless.

Will the same thing happen with other players? I doubt it.

Suck it up and move on.

But it could well depend on what teams are interested in him, the terms offered, and whether he has a chance of getting into the World Cup squad while playing for said team.

Benitez wants to get the fans onside by saying "It's not my fault he's going." Hence the over-the-top rhetoric.

Really, the situation needs to be managed better and less overtly, so we get the best price for him, improve the squad with he money, and move on.

From now on, Benitez's and the team's focus would be better served by just saying "No comment; we'll let you know if anything happens."

If Digne wants to speak, he can. If Benitez is using a player who doesn't want to be here to try and exert his influence or control over the team, fans, board, club etc, then why not? It's about time someone did. That he is a disruptor to this regime and not a Yes-man is a good thing.

He will be judged in the end on results irrespective of the politics and they patently haven't been good enough.

Ray @152, the biggest pile of crap at this club is Benitez.

Tosun must be one of the worst cases ever but Delph, Gomes, Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Besic, Gbamin, Bolasie, Mina, Allan etc are all examples of people who walked away as mega millionaires, for free, or who will see out their contracts contributing nothing, or who we'll get low fees for because of stupid wages.

Just shockingly bad recruitment, accounting and management.

Now the narrative has changed to ‘he's crap and wants to leave'; sounds reminiscent of Lukaku, Stones etc. Benitez in particular is a master of media spin and manipulating such situations. Hope Mykolenko is good as we are going from having one of the best left backs in the league (who had our most assists last season) to a lad yet to play outside of Ukraine or Godfrey out of position.

No manager is bigger than Everton. Benitez' behaviour is that of a toxic manager, damaging to Everton. He is unprofessional.

It is clear who needs the push, and it is not Digne.

I look at Coleman, he's knows he's past his best, but he must look around the changing room, thinking, “I remember when we used to have players that really cared” but as Marcel Brands famously said, “money makes you lazy” and the players that you mention Mike, are all earning fortunes, with their only real desire being, that they aren't moving, until their massive contract at Everton, finally ends.

You clearly believe that Benitez will 'sort out' Everton's midtable mediocrity, but there's no evidence for it whatsoever. We need Everton to be more professional, but we won't get that by having a divisive manager mishandling a player who's shown consummate professionalism.

On the basis of evidence, your belief is simply a turning of reality on its head.

Lucas Digne has been part of the collective failure of EFC over the last 3 or so years. He is talented, but have many have mentioned, been poor since he came back from his ankle injury (which seemed remarkably quick at the time).

I believe LD realised he went too far with Benitez when he came out in the media playing things down.

I think Benitez told it how it was. Whether calling in Peter Reid is a good thing is debatable.

I am sorry that LD is leaving, but it is probably for the best.

I never saw reports that said Ancelotti's daughter was held at Knife point. All the reports I read said the scumbags left like bats out of hell when she disturbed them. Its a disgusting and damaging crime, but if she just saw men in black balaclavas's fleeing the scene of the crime...Its nowhere near as traumatic as being held at knifepoint.

Unpalatable as it may be, There have been many, many reported cases of this nature for professional sportsmen. If the free fall we suffered under Carlo was a direct result of the trauma he suffered. then it would have been a incredibly delayed reaction. You boast we moved into fifth in March...The burglary happened in February.

We all suffer trauma, tragedy and even bereavement. Rafa too, but These things are rarely taken into consideration when the barometers to measure success come out.

If you are going to compare the two managers You have to accept that Carlo had a massive advantage over Rafa. Really massive.
We spent 70m bringing in players like Godfrey, Doucoure, Allan on his watch, that figure would easily double if you take their wages + James Rodrguez's into consideration. Rafa, thus far has only be able to field 1.7m worth of transfers and the wage bill has actually been reduced.

If we managed to finish 10/11th this season. All logic would suggest that evil Rafa would have done miles a better job than Carlofantastico...Some thought.

Anyway; I'm not sure it matters. The decision to employ these either of these two men would have been disastrous. The decision to employ both is unforgiveable

On another note. I lost a mate last year who would insist we would be winning the FA cup on third round day every season. I cant help smiling when I see Danny showing the same unshakable belief that this is our year.
Terry's not here any more. It would be joyous to see Danny land the gamble on his behalf

Manufacture drama and publically castigate those players who he develops a beef with. Only one of the two people involved in this has remain dignified, the other has repeatedly personalised this in the media.

What a shit manager.

Pathetic.

I personally got his drift, and think if he was genuinely trying to be divisive, he could have used another player from Huyton, who he has managed, but that's just me showing my dark sense of humour, honest!

Theory One is that he was the wrong appointment and has lost the dressing room and the plot.

Theory Two is that he has inherited a squad and with FFP has no budget. So, he is trying to offload expensive players to bring in young hard-working alternatives.

Personally, I think we have to give him till the end of the season at least.

"Don't believe everything you read, only one thing matters, the club. What a fight, what a win against Arsenal guys! I was sad not to play, I was looking forward to be playing for Everton as always. The manager chose not to select me, that's football."

Does that sound like a man who doesn't want to play for the club anymore?

For those asking why if it's not true, hasn't Digne come out publicly and said so? I would imagine his agent has advised him to say nothing as, if he did, it would only result in a massive fine from the club.

Also, do you really believe that only Digne in the first team squad was the only one to protest to Benitez that his tactics weren't working?

Also, when Benitez said he was sick and couldn't play against Chelsea, Digne posted a picture of him and his son at the Albert Dock, just to prove he wasn't sick, and he turned up for training the following day.

Never an issue with him prior to Benitez, always the model professional. Whereas, this isn't the first time Mr Benitez has behaved in such a way.

Darren, sorry to hear about your mate, so I hope my bet comes in and we're celebrating come May. The one I placed last month by the way.

I lost my best mate back in 2002 under tragic circumstances. He used to be the more sensible counter to my Romanist ramblings about Everton. Now I have to rely on my son and youngest brother. It's sometimes difficult to figure out who is the supposed older and wiser versus the 20 somethings. Apart from appearance obviously!!

It might not be because of a lack of competition, it might be because of the manager's tactics, or from him sensing that this manager doesn't seem to rate him so highly, because there was never any rumours about him complaining under Ancelotti, whose teams actually did a lot better, playing with a very rigid back four.

I'd guess that Benitez has thought Digne was one of his few sellable assets, (out of this squad of players) and the player has probably known this, and decided to confront the manager, because he's known the writing was on the wall, and things have escalated from there?

I keep going on about the wage bill for a reason though, because it's absolutely crippling us, and it's going to be impossible for the club to move forward until we begin to live “within our means”.

Not an obvious partnership as the left-sided Baines - Pienaar one a few years back, but both their games seemed to benefit when they were on the same pitch and in form.

You're not in the current French squad and a routine starter having played for PSG and Barcelona because you're rubbish. It's a form thing. It's a reflection of Everton's form and performances over the past 18 months.

In fact, given that Mr Benitez has followed Ancelotti to several clubs that comparison can be taken further...and it doesn't look good for Mr Benitez because at most of those clubs he had a worse win percentage than Ancelotti. He doesn't seem to be bucking that trend with us does he.

But I totally agree; this hardly matters. Neither should have been at our club (especially Mr Benitez).

Think I'll watch the Derby County game today if I can. Get some insight into Rooney's progress as a manager.

Benitez is doing the right thing by the club and us the fans on this issue; we've been screaming for so long for a manager to put a rocket up the team's collective arses and this could be it.

I'm struggling with the keep Digne it's all Benitez's fault that he doesn't want to play opinions on here. I really didn't want Benitez when he came, but his behaviour on this issue is one of the reasons why I would want to keep him.

One lad earlier in this thread said he's not watching Everton again until Benitez leaves, and another replied that there's no need to make a song and dance about it, if you choose not to watch then simply don't watch. I agree with this reply, and would never myself actively walk away from Everton. That said, the kind of behaviour shown by Benitez has, I've found, made me less interested in football and lately in Everton, in a passive way. Not even thinking to watch the Brighton game, for example. A good manager inspires interest even when our results are poor, but this guy, for me and based purely on his management of Everton so far, is such that I seem to be becoming disinterested. That's never really happened before, and is not good.

Just pick a date and any club he's been at.

Moshiri, your turn is coming. Read his playbook. If you'd done your due diligence this would've been apparent.

I'm happy enough. Any excuse to not answer the phone to red noses.

But I think you may be wasting time watching Rooney or anyone else for that matter. I think Moshiri has gone all in With Rafa. If he goes over the cliff, he takes the club the History and every Evertonian with him. How the fuck did we get here ?

Danny his death was a mercy. It was one of them where relief was felt all round. He would have joined you in this bet for sure.

Another mate of mine (also gone) would have made you and Terry look like Raging pessimist. I think I have told the story on here before, I've told it somewhere... He saw hope in everything and I do mean everything. He didnt believe in a lost cause. He was often ridiculed, but he was like a tree standing by the waterside.
The night when a Dennis Bergkamp inspired Arsenal shredded a hungover Everton team - A few days after we had qualified for the CL play off. He turned around after the 5th or 6th went in and spotted me a couple of rows back. To everyone's amusement (because they thought he was joking) He said to me "Tell you what mate, if we don't get one back in the next few minutes, we may as well right this one off"

Now we have our Iberian version, who can essentially be described mostly as above, safe for the benefit previously of a couple of better squads than we have. He's even selected a player for the same public games as were given Barkley. I wonder will DCL or Richy receive the Lukaku personal development-type support to move away.

His signings so far seem to display a little more thinking in the main (ahem... Rondon) but the "Sell better players to invest" route is oxymoronic except for in particularly dire, short term circumstances.

I wonder who will be next in our series of cosmopolitan clowns of incompetence. If anyone can remind/inform me of a similar rocket-up-the-arse style manager from recent decades that sold the quality players and genuinely improved a club, I'd be interested to consider that.

Then it was Koeman, who made me realise that I could no longer justify travelling all over the country to watch nothing football, when I had two young twins on the floor.

I just wish the same anger that has been shown towards Benitez, could have been shown towards Bill Kenwright, and I'm quite often astounded that this has never been the case,

I was already back on the ale somewhere outside Highbury by that time, but I can still remember Moyes sitting there in a cardigan drinking champagne, declaring we were the best team on Merseyside, after Arsenal had just beat Liverpool on the previous sunday, and we all know what happened next.

That was nearly 17 years ago, and I was saying Everton needed more professionalism way back then Stan.

But I still think he wears his a Red bills, when it suits, and in his press conference yesterday, I think he was trying to be pro Everton, but he could have been more genuine. Reidy would be pissing himself laughing yesterday.

If any player wants out then, yes get rid, but for me the last Derby match result and performance, and possibly other games, this season such as Villa away, may have been part of the rational, along with players claim, to want out,

In view of creating a new era for Everton, unless the board changes their culture then, for any manager it will be tough at Everton, but tough love and cruel to be kind, is part of life.

Let Rafa do what he must, but I reckon he will be given, to at least the end of this season.

Mandated as priority to cut the playing staff, reduce wages, and cut overall first team opex, and buy players at break even, and saving on capex.

Success on the pitch would be a bonus, as is the prevailing FFP and business performance of a EFC.

Nothing is simple at Everton, and knowing what the board is thinking, is more often than not spouted out, by Mr White. Why?

So let's see in a couple of months time how the course the club is running.

Looking forward to the game, let's see wants it most, and what set up and players are starting.

Hers to a good night, for Evertonians.

You are right. The last few mundane seasons sort of run into each other and great memories are a little harder to come by.

Please let tonight be the start of something very special

I'll always be on the side of the manager in cases like this as ultimately it's the manager that should decide on the system and the players that play in it. If we're being honest Digne hasn't been great for a while so this is actually a positive for the club and is forces us to get rid whilst his value is still relatively high. Hopefully we can milk the barcodes for a really high fee given their desperation.

I'm just pleased we've signed two young hungry fullbacks and looking forward to seeing them pull on the shirt. RB should have been a priority 3 years ago but better late than never I guess.

Au revoir Lucas and thanks for the first year or two of service. Last 18 months not so much…

You are so right about Everton's defence.

I was talking to a few Villa fans not so long ago and the way they were talking, it sounded like they had very, very rich owners, so maybe they can grab hold of the coat-tails of the so called elite?

Benitez out!!

It will probably take Benitez net spend to around £5/6 million, and with Mina still absent, and rumours that he could be going to Milan, then maybe we could get a midfield player in return?

I think Longstaffe will most probably come, so if Mina does go, hopefully we get in another central defender. I'm only speculating but if this happens that'll be three big earners off the books, and six new players, which might even give us a minus net spend, and also reduce the wage Bill?

It's a long time since we've had good partnerships in these positions (and indeed anywhere around the pitch).

I'm not really sure I like any of our central midfield players.

I'd even argue that if we could get everyone fit, get a commanding central defender and change our formation to accommodate another midfielder, then we could become a good team, but that's only when I'm in a positive mood!

I know I keep sayong it, but we just should have given Lookman a proper chance.

253.

I disagree. And we've ended up with Demarai Gray. Who is a far superior player, is only a year or so older and has played a lot more football than Lookman.

@252

El-Ghazi is a very good player and a midfielder with an eye for a goal too. If we get him and a decent amount of cash I'd be reasonably happy with that.

Now that rinforcements are here, would like to see this saga come to a mutually satisfactory conclusion. Obviously not mug ourself just to get him out the door - we need the readies! - but when a suitable offer arrives Bill should throw him in the back of the Escort and drive him there himself.

It now looks like it's genuinely just a failing out between player and manager.

You can criticise Digne's form but he remains one of the better players at the club.

Benitez' job is to get the best out of players - instead it seems he gets the worst out of them and also manages to piss them off to the point that they want out.

Digne moving to the Wife's preferred club and them having their now manager.

Good player and good move by Villa if true, although I also rate their current left back, Target. Building depth or he's on his way? I'd say the latter as I can't see either wanting to be squad players.

The player is now unhappy, the manager has a problem, he has to drop him otherwise its a smack to his control / authority. So he paints it thus, he doesn't want to play for the team, he is only interested in himself.

Its not Digne manipulating a move, its Benitez getting rid and ensuring any fallout does not land at his door. Digne expressed his opinion. Benitez saw it as an opportunity.

Digne is a good player, but as we know, players and managers don't always suit each other.

Barry, I'm still negotiating a family day out at Goodison for that one. A treat as I like to call it.

Digne is right Benetiz is shite.

The best we can currently muster is Allan (hunts the ball well) Doucoure (has a good engine) and Gomes (graceful).

Unfortunately that trio doesn't dominate possession, doesn't score / assist much and doesn't even protect the defence well.

I'd have one of Allan and Doucoure in a starting line up but we need someone with more goal contributions and a proper holding midfielder.

I've liked the look of Van de Beek and Berge for those roles previously. They'd offer a nice blend alongside Doucoure's energy. Lots of other options.

If we get the midfield right it will take the pressure of the centre-backs too.

Ideally and with the players we have now, it would be Allan and Doucoure with a sweeper type player sat in behind them.

And that central defender I've been banging on about for ages.

I'm not Darren H, as I don't think he's "shite". But that lack of athleticism and creation and he'll always just be a sound player on a midtable team at best.

Hopefully Benitez has his eyes on a more dynamic and younger replacement in the summer.

Priority now is to get the new full backs settled in, give Branthwaite more games and get Dobbin tied down to a new contract. Wouldn't say no to one more arrival in Jan though.

It looks like it could be a good move for Digne, and I can just imagine his first proper conversation with Gerard. I'm sure they will both be agreeing that Benitez is fuckn hard work, and Gerard will be delighted knowing Benitez, didn't fancy his new left back, because I think good footballers always do better, when they've got a real point to prove, and is why this could really backfire on Benitez.

Everton's new left back has got to bed in quickly for his manager now, because it looks like Luca Digne, isn't going far!

Since the removal of Martinez and the managerial revolving door that has been seen at Goodison since then, it would be very strange if there hasn't been a number of cliques and counter cliques formed in that period. I note that once Digne secured his contract extenstion last February, it wasn't long before the poor run of form began as the players seemed to lose interest - not for the first time - purely a coincedence, probably, but as we can see from Old Trafford, it takes some doing to begin repairing team bonds, particularly with ordinary players having world-class egos.

I think that so long as Benitez ekes out enough points in the coming weeks, he will be here at the start of next season, and who knows he may even be Everton's manager in our final season at Goodison? That's a strange thing to type, but it's very likely to happen.

I don't like being horrible, but if this is going to be the case, then the little fat, belligerent, divisive, horrible little Spanish basket, better try and help sort out this basket-case of a football club, although after securing the investment, I reckon Bill Kenwright will probably be expecting this honour.

And we haven't maximised Digne's fee through this. It's a fire sale.

None of this is good for the club.

Digne, sitting on a long fat contract, could quite easily now dig in his heels and say “I'm going *only* to a club that I want to” and then his agent can encourage those clubs to lowball us…..he can easily sit tight until summer (and beyond), have a few months chilling, and all it'll do is lower the price even further.

Like it, or loath it, the players have ALL the power today…..and the way Benitez has handled this is just like his football; it's from 2005 or before.

Whilst many of his fans will happy clap this ‘stern' show, there is only one loser here and it's going to be us. Best case is a pretty much break even price against Mykolenko and strengthening our rivals (are Villa a rival still now, or is it more Newcastle, Norwich and Watford we should worry about?). Worst case is he sits in and pulls our pants down. Who could blame him after the public shaming FSW just gave him?

This won't be the last. Benitez spats go all the way back through nearly every role he's had. Anyone who thinks it's good for moral or will force the other millionaires in line is mistaking a premier football club for an army camp. Good heart, positively deluded.

Interesting that given Gerrard already has what some would call a more traditional defensive left back, he is seemingly opting for what some Evertonians bemoan in Digne. One that is good going forward.

Attack is the best form of defence as they say.

I remember a slight sense of frustration at how little he said.

So not flack, but disagreement on this one.

Now the master of manipulation, Ming the Merciless, has dictated that Digne doesn't want to play for the club. A player who has never bad mouthed or critisized the club, manager or other players. Ever. Ming has said he puts himself before the team. I know who I believe and the reputation for removing those he sees as too big for their boots or with an ego? Goes on. Who is next Richarlison or DCL? What excuse will that be? Will we see them portrayed as lazy, huge ego.. whatever?

He's an Autocrat 90's leader in a millennials led dressing room and game. Dinosaur, or even ‘Ming' doesn't quite go far enough.

With Digne and Mr. Benitez nobody knows what went on between them or what was said except Digne and Benitez, Benitez has said that Digne didn't want to play for us and now says he wants to join another club, Digne stays quiet about this, some say he is being dignified with his silence, maybe.

After the Crystal Pal. game a few on here had a go at Benitez for substituting Richarlison during the second half of that game, Charlie took the hump at being taken off going into one of his seven year aged tantrums coming off the field and carried on his childish brattish behaviour for the rest of the game in the dug out.

On the Monday after the game we became aware that Benitez wanted Charlie not to play in in the second half of that game and Richarlison confirmed this bu saying that Benitez had helped him by brining him off and possibly saved him from aggravating the injury.

Some of the time Benitez can't do something right without being accused of doing wrong, some time he can be accused of making mistakes because he definitely has made a few but the main reason he is disliked, hated even, by a lot of fans is because he once managed the team most of us can't stand and he made a statement at that time having a go Everton and their manager for the way we played.

I'd be wasting my time by asking some fans to give this man a break.

The fact that Rafa is easy to dislike because of the man he is and the way he operates is also indisputable, would you agree that he started off well, and I know we had some easy fixtures, but then injuries and suspensions disrupted the way we were playing, he had inherited a poor central midfield combination, with only two, Allan and Doucoure he could rely on to stay fit even and they have had their injury problems, add to this Tom Davies and Davies hasn't proved he can do a consistent job, centre halves? Not one of them a dominant character who can organise the defence, two main strikers who have hardly played together, all these problems and a threadbare squad Mr. Benitez had inherited to begin with, Christine I doubt if anyone manager could change all this in six months but I'll admit we should have had more than nineteen points in the bag and that is down to him AND the many silly stupid mistakes by the players, more by the players in my opinion.

Anyway Christine all I'm asking, of you, is that little bit of that Christian charity you were brought up with in Scotty Road, was it St. Anthony's or St. Sylvestors or maybe even St. Theresa's in Norris Green, towards Rafa or has you would refer to as HIM with a Scotty sneer!!

How can anyone reconstruct and rebuild? Short, sharp and painful.

First of all, how can you get rid of players who will not move because of the ludicrous wages they are on? They will stay to the bitter end of their contracts – bitter for Everton FC, not the players – and Benitez didn't hand out those contracts.

Yes, he is making mistakes while fighting a power struggle within the club. I realise as much as yourself the situation we are in, a relegation battle without a doubt. Christine, the ship was already full of water and sinking before he got here. He's trying to keep it steady and afloat but not to many fans' liking, I'm waiting to see how the rest of the transfer window finishes before I give up on Mr. Benitez.

Forget the sneering look, I know you wouldn't do that. I was going to mention All Souls, the school that had a street for a playground, is that right? Also, the school that my Nan, her sister and brothers went to, going back a century or two.

It seems very clear that Moshiri is backing him and I don't think that will end until we are a point or two away from the relegation zone (which for the first time in a long time to my mind feel plausible).

I've never known such discord in the fanbase in my (relatively short) time as a Toffee and it certainly has an impact on the players. Of course people are entitled to their feelings, whatever they might be, but it seems apparent now that the board and chairman are not going to take fan unrest greatly into consideration. In which case, it feels like it may be doing more damage than good currently?

I expect this season we will limp along to 10th-16th. If it is nearer 10th and we have begun to look like a team then perhaps there will be arguments to be made by those who want Benitez to stay. Otherwise, this summer will be the time to make a change and Benitez will have had a chance to show his capability and perhaps root out some of the less committed members of the squad.

Surely he must know and see that yes most are individual mistakes but this has to be sorted out via tactics and practice on the training ground.

The evidence we have isn't at all overwhelming or conclusive, that he is indeed putting things right by forcing his personality upon the squad and that they are responding positvely or otherwise to his methods, although I appreciate that 6 months is not a very long time to alter some players' mindsets.

On the other hand, those who want rid of the Spaniard ASAP have valid reasons for their views: poor football, strange formations, terrible defensive and midfield shape that looks porous no matter who Everton are playing or what league they come from.

Benitez can't help his personality, but he does seem to enjoy rubbing up everybody the wrong way in order to get his own way, which some would argue is not the ideal quality for someone trying to build a team that will put itself on the line for the manager.

If things for whatever reason continue on the same trajectory as the last few months, how long should the manager get to put things right? I think it's a huge gamble to leave it too long but also understand those who want to give him the remainder of the season. I believe it would probably be better to stick with Benitez in the short-term, but only if the points total climbs significantly in the next half-dozen matches.

Yes, this is a stand-out point and, even though Brighton and Hull scored from poorly defended free-kicks, they still prepared to defend them the same way, with the back post left wide open in both games. Hull nearly scored near the end of the game with the Hull player left completely unmarked and only a terrific save by our ‘keeper kept us in the lead.

At the start of the season, when he had all the players to choose from, we started fairly well until the injuries to certain players started to derail the team. This was the point where good managers are able to adapt with the use of other players in the club. This is when Benitez failed, in his recruitment, and using players out of position who were not able to adapt.

All managers would like to have a team of players that they brought in, good managers are able to get the best out of the players they have, using them tactically and in formations they can adapt too. Benitez is using formations that are unsuitable for the players he has and seems to be causing unrest.

As supporters, we can only hope that with player movement in the transfer window, plus the return of the more influential players off the injured list back to full fitness, that things will improve. Then we can see if Benitez can become a decent manager.

Increasingly, Benitez's tactics and game management have cost us dearly. Players don't know if they are coming or going. Egos are not allowed unless you are the manager! I couldn't give a stuff that his glory days are painted in red; right now this team needs inspiration and confidence.

They cannot defend so we sell the best defender, they cannot create so they sell the most creative midfielder we have had in years. I know we are a basket case of a club due to the disgraceful management by the board, the managers and the remains of 5 managers squads.

All of us agree that the squad needs a clear out and in the meantime they have to play to their strengths, the team has to be set up to compensate for deficiences. But focus on what individuals are good at.

I don't see any of that in set up, in team selection or choice of certain players over others.ersonally, one new centre-back alongside young Branthwaite, a No 10, and a strategy of several game plans other than trying to hit on the break.

I don't see any of that.

Rodriguez has been discussed since he came here and since he has gone some adored him some good take him or leave him, those debates were going on well before Rafa got here when it seemed obvious to some fans, me included, that the Colombian chased the money as well as the good life, only Everton wanted him, through Ancelott, when he came, no other club wanted him when he left to go to Dubai, where the only news of him playing there was for being sent off for fighting with one of his own players.

Benitez has got things wrong, can't be denied, inherited a weak squad, poor central midfield, and centre backs who he can't rely on, injuries to key players, let's see what we are like when the transfer window shuts, if it's no better than now I'll have to review my opinions, until then I'm sticking with the man who has few friends in the stands and none in the boardroom.