An hour after the final whistle had blown and Aston Villa had inflicted Everton’s 10th defeat in 13 games, hundreds had been reduced to dozens, but they were still protesting. A week of one sacking concluded with supporters asking for more. “We want our club back,” read one flag. “Sack the board,” came a chorus heard time and again. Before kick-off, a plane flew over Goodison Park with a banner declaring “22 years of failure, Bill”.
The supporters who threw the bottles that hit Lucas Digne and Matty Cash were revolting. Far more were in revolt. Yet whereas the calls for Rafa Benitez’s departure were eventually heeded, this was the kind of protest that registers dissatisfaction but may not address the issue. Sack the board? Everton sacked a member of it, director of football Marcel Brands, seven weeks ago and could now do with a powerbroker with his footballing knowledge and contacts to identify and hire a manager. But while the majority shareholder delivered the board a vote of confidence last week, he can also ignore them.
