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'You can't buy character in John Lewis': Rafa Benitez blames Everton players' mentality for Premier League slump and calls on Fabian Delph and Allan as stars who can 'react'

The season is not quite a quarter old, but Rafa Benitez has quickly learned what must be stamped out if he is to succeed at Everton.

And the Spaniard is determined to eradicate the soft centre and mental weaknesses, which mean the Toffees have floundered in mid-table in the last few years under a succession of different managers.

That manifested itself as Everton conceded three in nine minutes at Aston Villa in September and even more spectacularly when they let in four in the space of 13 minutes at home to Watford last month.