A CUT ABOVE Rafa’s just too good to let go
Says kevin ratcliffe
EXCLUSIVE by
EVERTON legend Kevin Ratcliffe says Rafa Benitez is strong enough to weather the Goodison Park storms which erupt with every loss.
The former Liverpool boss has taken a battering on the social media platforms in the aftermath of two successive home defeats, which included a 5-2 humbling against Watford.
But the last thing Everton’s most successful captain wants is for Benitez to be driven away by criticism into the arms of another club.
“Rafa has to have broad shoulders to take the flak and carry on,” said Ratcliffe. “I think he is capable of doing that otherwise he wouldn’t have taken the job.
“He knew the circumstances he was coming into, having to win the fans over. I think he says the right things – he has been in the game a long time. He’s a top manager, you only have to check his record to see that.
“Look at what he did at Newcastle, who were probably in a worse state than Everton find themselves in.
“My only worry – and it proved true with Carlo Ancelotti – is if a big job becomes available he could go.
“We know that Newcastle would have him back given half a chance. He never does a bad job wherever he goes.
“Okay he wasn’t my ideal choice because of his Liverpool history but now he is here
I’m backing him. Maybe my initial concerns came as a fan and not as a professional in the game. Whoever gets the job you have to get behind them.”
As Everton prepare to face Wolves at Molineux tomorrow, Ratcliffe believes the finger of criticism should be pointed at the club’s recruitment of players.
He said: “You’ve got to say over the past years it’s been shocking. Under David Moyes you often felt Everton were getting value for money, the likes of Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Tim Cahill.
“But since then it’s gone from bad to worse. Is it because these days managers don’t go out and scout their own players? Probably. They don’t have the time.
“It’s not any longer a couple of hours training in the morning and that’s it. Now it’s often other people going to watch players and coming back with all the stats for a decision to be made or it’s down to the director of football to sort it.
“Whatever the policy at Everton the recruitment has plainly not been good enough. In fact you could say the same for many other clubs in the Premier League.”
Ratcliffe says two of the players Benitez was able to bring in, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend, have been a couple of shining lights in a gloomy landscape.
“In my opinion he is still doing a remarkable job with the tools he has been given,” Ratcliffe added.
“You’ve got to say two players he has brought in, Gray and Townsend, have been our best players.
“Looking at the bench if there are significant absentees from the first 11 then you haven’t got much to switch things around. There are no real game-changers.
“Added to that we’ve got Salomon Rondon up front who is trying to get match fit by playing matches. That can sometimes do more harm than good. It can give a bad impression to the fans.
“And if you’re not picking anyone from the Under-23s to sit on the bench that doesn’t augur well either. There’s often two keepers on the bench.
“He has to be given time to show what he can do but the pressure is on all the time.
“It’s always going to be the case for Rafa – lose a game or two and he’s suddenly under fire. I don’t think it will be any different for however long he is at the club.”