Marcel Brands failed to deliver two key transfers and it is costing Everton this season

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Plenty of finger-pointing went on after Everton’s defeat to Sheffield United at the weekend. The players were booed off whilst Everton fans are also getting tired of Marco Silva and his perceived inability to get the best out of this team. 

However, the finger of blame is now finally starting to point toward Everton’s director of football Marcel Brands. 

Everton appointed the Dutchman last summer to help revamp the team after the departures of Sam Allardyce and Steve Walsh. 

Brands had developed a reputation as a shrewd negotiator and spotter of talent during his time at PSV Eindhoven and Everton were hopeful he could have a similar impact. 

He has since received plenty of praise for his work at the club. Everton have signed the likes of Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes and Moise Kean under his guidance, players of genuine quality. 

However, Everton fans are right to be disappointed with some of his work in the summer transfer window. 

As reported by The Telegraph toward the end of the transfer window, Marco Silva wanted a centre-back and left-footed attacker to finish off their transfer dealings for the summer. 

The heart of defence was a clear priority. Everton had lost loanee Kurt Zouma and veteran Phil Jagielka in the summer. Yerry Mina struggled to settle in his first season at the club whilst Michael Keane remains inconsistent. 

Everton were linked with a host of names but no new centre-back came in. Mason Holgate is now third-choice with midfielder by trade Jean-Philippe Gbamin also providing cover. After that, Everton are looking at young talents Morgan Feeney, Lewis Gibson and Ryan Astley. 

After a positive start to the season, Mina and Keane are now out of form. Everton have nobody to push them for a starting place.

Then there was the left-footed attacker conundrum. Everton’s current wide options lacked balance in the summer. Bernard, Richarlison, Theo Walcott and the eventually sold Ademola Lookman are all right-footed. 

Everton were linked with left-footed options such as David Neres and Nicolas Pepe. In the end, they went for Wilfried Zaha, failed, and got Alex Iwobi – both right-footed. 

It is clear that in two clear areas where Everton are lacking, Brands failed to deliver Silva with the players he needed at Everton. 

So a portion of the blame has to be laid at the door of the charismatic Dutchman.