Everton super fan David France is looking forward to a new era at the club by welcoming former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez but claiming the exit of previous boss Carlo Ancelotti “left a trail of betrayal and bitterness.”
Known as ‘Dr Everton’, the 73-year-old retired oil and gas industry executive sold his 10,000-item collection of Everton memorabilia to the club at a heavily discounted price so it could be kept for posterity, also founded the Everton Former Players’ Foundation to raise money for the physical and pastoral care of ex-professionals who have represented the club.
While Widnes-born Dr France, who now lives in Arizona, was, like most Evertonians, stung by Ancelotti’s shock exit, he believes that the three-time Champions League-winning coach still flattered to deceive during his time at Goodison Park.
He told the ECHO: “I don’t have too much to say about Carlo Ancelotti because people hold him in such high esteem.
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“I was disappointed by his tactics. I thought the football that we served up under him was boring.
“I can’t understand how we can be second in the league on Boxing Day and finish 10 th at the end of the season. There’s something fundamentally wrong there.
“You can cite all these mitigating circumstances including all that’s been going on in the world over the past 18 months with Covid but I think the responsibility lies with the manager.”
Dr France added: “People have criticised our squad but they’re all good players. Some have not performed well but they were good players when we bought them and the job of a manager is to make the most of the resources available to them.
“They might not have been at the level that Ancelotti was used to in some of his previous jobs but they were still decent players.
“If you can get a team to second place by halfway then you expect them to be there or thereabouts come the end. It was an end of season collapse.
“I would have thought someone of his experience would have steadied the ship.”
Everton’s inability to close the gap on the Premier League’s established elite under Ancelotti’s stewardship also frustrates Dr France who believed the club only had a finite period to catch up.
He said: “The Italian left a trail of betrayal and bitterness.
“The ambitious and expensive initiative of hiring him ended in no little embarrassment.
“But more importantly, he wasted another 18 months of our window of opportunity to catch our traditional rivals.
“Today, we are no closer now than we were in February 2016 (when Farhad Moshiri took his controlling stake in the club).
“Like an inebriated lottery winner, we have squandered our windfall on a long list of managers and players. We had a five-year window of opportunity which is nearly shut.”
In contrast to his thoughts on Ancelotti, Dr France is actually enthused by the controversial hiring of ex-Reds boss Benitez as his replacement, despite the Spaniard’s infamous ‘small club’ jibe made about Everton in 2007.
He said: “I don’t think Rafa did himself any favours with what he said as Liverpool manager all those years ago after that Derby match but I think you’ve got to be realistic and get the best man for the job.
“We all say things, depending on where we are at that time in our life, but I think we’ve got to move on from it.
“I think he’s a fine manager and better than the candidates we’ve interviewed recently.”
Dr France added: “I welcome the Spaniard and his trusted assistants but recognise that they face significant challenges in order to re-enthuse our long-suffering supporters.
“In my mind, he appears more grounded than recent occupants of the Goodison hot-seat.
“In fact, I wish that Rafa had been selected after Ronald Koeman’s unproductive term.
“Also, I find it more than a little ironic that the current managers at Real Madrid and Barcelona failed to improve the standing of Everton or the quality of our football – which at present is incompatible with our rich tradition of being fast flowing and entertaining.”
Looking forward to the new season, Dr France is encouraged by the bargain buys the Blues have made despite being hampered by having to adhere to Financial Fair Play constraints.
He said: “The impact of FFP restrictions was predictable and has hung over our heads for a few years. Past decisions have caught up with us.
“However, restricting our spending should provide a brief period of reflection to help refine of strategy. The recent free additions brought in by the new manager didn’t let him down in Florida.
“Also, Demarai Gray appeared inventive – capable of changing a match with one inspired piece of skill.
“As for future signings, we must be prepared to accept that we will have to sell to buy like most leading clubs. Sadly, not just the under-performers.
“It may be in our long-term best interests to sacrifice one or more of our current crown jewels. Of course, before then they may take the initiative to seek richer pastures for themselves.
“An equally pressing issue is the so-called well-paid ‘deadwood’ – all leading clubs have it.
“Irrespective of the nature of the business – in my experience it has always been paramount to cut the operating fat to the bone and swiftly dispose of under-performing assets.
“Personally, I hope that Rafa – unlike his predecessors – embraces youth.”
Dr France is also encouraged to see Everton have, in recent days, finally started construction work on their new stadium project.
He said: “Like most Blues, I am impressed by the diligent and conscientious work and leadership at the club which has enabled us to kick off the construction phase.
“It is a complex and expensive undertaking – not just the engineering and technical challenges but those associated with keeping the project within the budget.
“The club has come a long way under its current leadership. Just think, a dozen years ago it was keen to move to a flat-pack stadium off the East Lancs Road.
“Perhaps, somewhere in the new development there should be an acknowledgement of the Blues at KEIOC, who battled to keep the club in the city of its birth.
“As we know, the new waterfront stadium is just one part of the equally courageous Liverpool Waters development, so hopefully someone will start work on the regeneration of the surrounding area in the not-too-distant future.
“Walking the royal blue mile from the city centre to the new stadium must be a pleasant, gratifying and inspiring experience.”
Despite all the upheaval, both on and off the pitch, the eternally optimistic Dr France is still looking forward to brighter times ahead for his beloved Blues.
He said: “Waking the sleeping giant will take time. As for the immediate future, FFP restrictions and stadium costs expenditures will have to be managed.
“Operating costs must be trimmed. Under achievers must be jettisoned. People must be made accountable. And, most important, fans must be entertained.
“It is an important season for the club. I believe we have a decent squad and honourable manager and am confident that Rafa Benitez will find the right blend and balance over time.
“Of course, it’s going to take him more than one season of commitment and toil to awaken the sleeping giant.
“But in the next two months I’m optimistic that the team will start well and pick up the vast majority of the points in the first six fixtures.
“Our realistic goal for the 2021/22 campaign? It should be the same as that for the last one – Europa League qualification, a win at Anfield and another piece of silverware to augment the Florida Cup.
“Win, lose or draw, I encourage my fellow Blues to keep the faith. Everton is a special club – with uncommon values, unparalleled heritage and great people.”
