BRANDS IN FOR LONG HAUL
Marcel’s planning for success
MARCEL BRANDS told Farhad Moshiri he was not the right man for the job if Everton’s billionaire backer just wanted a quick fix.
The Toffees new director of football insists he is in it for the long haul at Goodison Park and warns money alone will not guarantee success.
Brands helped new manager Marco Silva land six new signings this summer with the arrivalsof Richarlison,YerryMina,Bernard, Andre Gomes, Kurt Zouma and Lucas Digne for a total close to £90m.
But the Dutchman, who replaced Steve Walsh this summer, does not believe spending big will necessarily bring glory at a club that has had five different managers in five years.
Brands said: “When I spoke with him (Moshiri) before I came in, I told him that if you want success next year don’t look at me because I cannot bring that.
“You saw in the past in the Premier League that if you only spend money it is not the guarantee of success. You see clubs with the long-term strategy, they are in a stable situation. Look at Tottenham, look at Man City.
“I think that it is important for Everton to get to a stable situation. With all the changes, it is always difficult for everyone.”
Youth
Brands’ focus since he arrived at the start of June was getting transfer business done.
Wayne Rooney, Joel Robles, Ramiro Funes Mori and Davy Klaassen have all moved on while Ashley Williams and Luke Garbutt have been sent out on loan.
Nikola Vlasic has joined CSKA Moscow on loan while Muhamed Besic and Cuco Martina are also expected to leave before the end of the month.
But Brands, who left PSV Eindhoven for Everton, is now starting to focus on the Toffees’ young guns to help bring through new talent as well as scouring the market.
He said: “First my focus was only on the transfer window, to make a good squad for the new season but from September 1, I will be focusing on the youth.
“I saw the last two games of the Under-23s at Chelsea and in Manchester. That is also an important thing. I will go down to the young ages, the Under-16s and Under-15s also. We’ve a lot of work to do at this fantastic club.”
Silva and Brands may be looking long-term but there will still be pressure to deliver improvement on last season’s eighth-place Premier League finish under Sam Allardyce.
Brands said: “I think we have improved the squad. That was the goal. We have balanced it more. We have got it at a better average age.
“The negative thing is it happened quite late. Normally in pre-season you have to prepare your squad. That starts now. So I hope we will not lose too many points in this period.
“Marco is very happy with the squad. We have changed the way of playing and that also takes some time. Not the best players will win the league but the best team.
“I’m not saying we can win the league but if we can make a good team from this squad, we can have a very good season.”