Former Everton captain Kevin Ratcliffe has launched a scathing attack on his old club and taken aim at their 'abysmal' recruitment.
Ratcliffe, who by the age of 24 had already become Everton's most successful skipper, has spoken about the position the Goodison Park club currently find themselves in. As well as a number of off the field issues, the Blues are once again mired in another relegation battle.
Over £500m has been spent on players since Farhad Moshiri’s reign started in 2016, but the British-Iranian businessman is yet to see any reward for the money he has put in. If anything, despite his continued investment, the Blues have gone backwards since his arrival.
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The threat of relegation at the end of this season is very real for the Blues, and Ratcliffe believes not only have the alarm bells been ringing for some time, but poor recruitment is one of the main reasons why his former club, who he captained to domestic and European glory, finds itself in the position it does.
“The tell-tale signs that Everton could get relegated have been there for a few years now. It’s not as if it’s just begun banging on the door,” he told the Sunday Mirror.
“We’ve not really done anything about it. The problems surrounding the club have not been addressed.
“What has happened under Farhad Moshiri’s ownership has been disheartening, to say the least. The alarm bells have been ringing, but the fire has been allowed to spread.”
Ratcliffe then continued, saying: “In some respects, it doesn't matter who came in as there are as many problems off the pitch as on it.
“I must admit, as a former captain, what is going on at the club is hurtful. The recruitment of players in recent times has been abysmal.
“We’ve been buying Championship players, so where does that take you? Into the Championship. Then, if we are relegated, will the players who remain be motivated to play in the Championship and win promotion?
“I would bet that none of them have clauses in their contracts which would reduce their wages after relegation, giving Everton more financial problems.
“That can cripple a club if you don’t get back up at the first attempt. I’ve heard some people say it would be the best thing to be relegated, so you can regroup, start again and win matches. I don’t agree.
“With Everton in the Championship it would be everyone else’s cup final when they play us. That puts enormous pressure on you.”
And Ratcliffe, who played a key role in Howard Kendall’s side that won the double back in 1985, believes Moshiri needs to look at himself when it comes to how he has gone about hiring and firing managers since he arrived at Goodison.
“Look at the ones who have come and gone since Moshiri took control. I think it is seven - which is scary,” the former Wales international remarked.
“We’ve had every sort of manager. It has been a who’s who of managers in many respects. Ronald Koeman, Carlo Ancelotti, Marco Silva - but look where it has taken Everton.
“Is that down to every manager? And look at the millions the club have spent paying them all off. The first danger signs of the direction the club was heading in was when Sam Allardyce came in as a firefighter. It hasn’t got any better.
“At too many clubs, Everton included, owners employ people but don’t allow them to do the job. You have that right as the person putting the cash in, but do you have a better knowledge of a player than the manager?”
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