Royal Blue: Gray skies over Goodison lift as Rafa Benitez's hand strengthened following Marcel Brands departure

There was loads to pack into this latest edition of the Royal Blue podcast. A first win in nine matches, the dropping of the team's star left-back and, not to mention, the exit of Everton's director of football, among many other things. It has been an eventful few days in the recent history of the Blues and trying to make sense of it all were Gav Buckland, Chris Beesley and Dave Prentice. Host Phil Kirkbride kick-starts the pod by asking the panel for their reflections on a dramatic night at Goodison where Rafa Benitez's side came from behind to defeat Arsenal and claim a vital victory to stop the rot. The performances of Demarai Gray, Richarlison and Michael Keane are discussed before the conversation moves onto the major news of the week - Brands' departure. The lads talk about Brands' legacy, the conditions in which he worked for the past three-and-a-half-years and what this now means for the director of football model at Goodison. Talk then turns to one of Brands' best signings: Lucas Digne. Digne was bombed from Benitez's squad on Monday night and the lads wonder if a January transfer could be on the cards? Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices