Everton fans losing patience with Rafa Benitez
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Everton’s hierarchy appointing former Liverpool head coach Rafa Benitez last summer is right up there with the most controversial managerial appointments of the Premier League era.
Fair to say the majority of Evertonian’s were not happy with Benitez’s appointment. Whether it was because of the link to the team across Stanley Park or because the Spaniard was perceived as an old school coach who may be slightly out of touch with the modern game.
Either way, most Everton fans have attempted to back their team’s boss since the appointment.
However, Benitez is certainly making it harder to back him by the week. A 3-2 home defeat against Brighton on Sunday afternoon means that the Toffees are 15th place in the top-flight table after just one win in 12 league outings.
The frustration from the Evertonian’s before, during and after the defeat was understandable.
Benitez decided to select two right-backs in the shape of Seamus Coleman and Jon Joe Kenny in a back five was ridiculous. Coleman played left-wing back, despite the availability of French international left-back Lucas Digne.
The former Barcelona star was on the substitutes bench and even started warming up at one point.
The reason for Digne’s exclusion is a reported row between the pair, in which the full-back questioned Benitez’s tactician ability and his role in the team. He hasn’t played since and didn’t get on against Brighton.
He may never again play for the Toffees after the signing of highly-rated young Ukrainian international Vitaly Mykolenko.
However, the 22-year-old wasn’t registered to play in this game, so Benitez persisted with players out of position for much of the game, instead of swallowing his pride and doing what was best for the team, Benitez decided to do what was best for his ego.
It was a move that both confused and angered Evertonian’s. Even if Digne is not part of the club’s future, he would have come on and done a job for the fans, as his reported quarrel is with Benitez and not the fans.
The incident showed Rafa Benitez at his worst, while his tactical acumen has been non-existent in recent months. Everton fans are losing patience with their experienced boss and when you lose the fans there is only one way it ends.
Unfortunately, for Evertonian’s though, Benitez looks to be here for a good while yet. They will have to put up with their team producing woeful displays until the club’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri also finally loses patience with the man he chose to lead the club.
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