Is Benitez actually the best Everton could get

Villa were also founder members of the League but haven’t won a championship since 1981, the same decade as Everton’s last two titles, or a major trophy after claiming the European Cup the following year.

Newcastle were last champions of England even further back in 1927 and their only major honour since the fifties is the old European Fairs Cup in 1969.

Both clubs have failed to punch their weight (especially in Villa’s case) for decades, just as Everton have. And the Toffees are more and more beginning to resemble the Magpies in terms of the soap opera feel to the club these days.

There was a period recently when both Everton and Villa were attempting to return to past glories about fifteen years ago, although in different ways.

The two clubs were battling for European places and trying to consistently break into the top four but without ultimate success, even if the Blues surprisingly once got fourth in 2004-05.

It’s speculation, but it is interesting to imagine what might have happened if Everton had secured someone with Moshiri’s money then instead of a decade later. Maybe the Toffees would be in a similar position to Chelsea or City now.

Anyway, what does all this have to do with Benitez? Well given that the Blues are now in reality a mid-table team struggling to bridge the gap between the top four and the rest of the Premier League, who could the club have realistically got to replace Carlo Ancelotti.

Getting the Italian in the first place was a major coup and seemed to offer a potentially faster route back to the top table than a less proven manager by combining the Ancelotti’s huge experience, pulling power and managerial nous with the financial resources of Farhad Moshiri.

But it didn’t happen and Ancelotti has gone.