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Many Everton fans have been questioning what Director of Football Marcel Brands has been thinking of what has been going on this season, especially with Marco Silva unable to coax any sort of consistency out of the side, and his own tactics and squad selection coming under the microscope.
Even after the disappointing loss last weekend against bottom club Norwich City as rumours swirled of Board meetings taking place at Goodison and then at Finch Farm midweek, there was still nary a peep from Brands while the tabloids ran with headlines claiming they knew what majority shareowner Farhad Moshiri was thinking and who club chairman Bill Kenwright wanted to replace Silva with.
Brands has now addressed all that speculation with a statement published on the Everton website, admitting that the performances and results have not been good enough but that the Board continue to back the staff and players.
”As a Board, we have got to support that. Of course, we know in sport, as always, you have to perform - that’s me, the manager, the players, for everyone.
”It’s also important, especially in this Club, after a couple of years of instability, to stick together in this situation.
”I think it is important that everyone has the feeling that we can turn this around to better results.
”Most people know that I always go to the dressing room after the game, to see how the atmosphere is.
”Of course, everyone was disappointed last Saturday but you saw also really in the eyes of the players the fire that they want to resolve this, to turn this around – together with the whole staff.
”That’s important coming up towards the next couple of games. They will be tough games but games where we can improve.”
So, sounds like run of the mill ‘vote of confidence’ talk, which should worry any manager in Silva’s position as much as utter silence from the top would.
| Marcel Brands says everybody at Everton is united and working together to turn the Club's results around and stressed the Club's commitment to its long-term plan for the future, revealing a new deal has been agreed to extend the contract of Brazil international Richarlison.
— Everton (@Everton) November 29, 2019
Brands also added some surprise news that Richarlison has been handed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2024, likely with a bump in wages.
“We have to look positive ahead, and I try to do that always.
“One of the positive things during a week like this which happened is we are now busy with the last details of extending the contract with one of our key players Richarlison until 2024.
“That is something positive, especially for the long-term of course.”
Watch Marcel Brands’ by clicking here (access to full club members only). Users of the official Everton app should navigate to the ‘Video’ section.