COMMENT: Upbeat. Positive. And offering some insider news. Rafa Benitez's presentation as Everton manager ticked all the right boxes - and also gave fans more than a hint of what to expect before this summer's transfer deadline falls...

As an introduction. For first impressions. Benitez didn't let himself down. He was bright. Engaging. And generous with his answers. The Spaniard even affording a quip about Duncan Ferguson, stating he could still do a job for the club as a centre-forward.

Of course, he was pushed about his Liverpool ties. Once, twice, again and again... About the banners. About the backlash. And in the end, Benitez started referring back to his previous response. But when it came to the football and his plans for the team, the manager was a bit more imaginative than his questioners.

He was pressed about James Rodriguez and the Colombia midfielder's future. He was also asked about Dominic Calvert-Lewin and his impressions of the England centre-forward. And while Benitez didn't want to talk specifics, he did offer fans more than a hint of what Everton are planning to do before this window shuts.

Referring to Calvert-Lewin, Benitez declared: "It is very easy to see that we have a great centre-forward. He's very good in the air, he can score goals. But we have to provide him with good crosses, good passes.

"We can improve in these areas and, from the wide areas, the crosses will come. When we can do that, the team will be a little bit better."

So wide players will be needed. Perhaps Allan Saint-Maximin, of Newcastle United, will be needed. But to make room, Benitez admits some of his current squad will "have to leave".

He stated, "Depending a lot on the financial situation because Financial Fair Play is there. You have to follow these rules but we have to bring what we need.

"We have to be ambitious but at the same time, we have to manage the situation. We maybe have some players that have to leave.

"If they leave, it will give us more chances to approach other players and improve the squad."

Thierry Small in his record-breaking appearance against Sheffield Wednesday last season

So there'll be movement both ways at Finch Farm over the coming six to seven weeks. Benitez offering fans in this first media conference a bit of insight into what he and Marcel Brands, the sporting director, are discussing in regards to team strengthening.

Significantly, Benitez was pressed about Brands and how much say-so he'll have on transfer policy. Talk of the Dutchman being sidelined appeared to have little substance given Benitez's considered response. He'll have a say. He'll have his input. But transfer decisions won't be made unilaterally. It does appear both men are willing to work together.

He's also spoken to the senior players. Benitez confirming what this column was told a fortnight ago. There is an acknowledgment from the leadership group that they've underperformed. That "something has been missing", as Benitez put it yesterday. Indeed, the manager's words did sound like both he and his newly-inherited players have agreed that this squad should be doing much, much better.

The name of Moise Kean unfortunately wasn't mentioned during the presser. Nor the AWOL Thierry Small. The former is now at Finch Farm training under the eye of his new manager. The latter? Well, if outside sources are correct, he and the gaffer are yet to meet.

If correct. If it's right that Small hasn't reported for preseason. That's a massive own goal from him and his minders. First impressions last. To deliberately snub the arrival of a new manager is bad enough. To do so just as Benitez needs everyone inside the club to be united behind him is even worse.

To be fair, the media offered Benitez a breather on this one. There were no awkward questions about Small's claimed AWOL antics. He wasn't forced into a discussion about a player he'd yet to shake hands with. A player whom - at 16 - is already a first teamer. But again, first impressions last, and if Small does eventually sign those pro forms in front of him next month, he's done himself no favours with his behaviour this past week.

In the meantime, Benitez was able to offer an insight into Everton's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, revealing they've been in conversation daily. Indeed, perhaps in a dig at his old employer Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, Benitez says there's no concern from his end about ambitions being supported.

"I will say this another way around," he declared. "I have to match the ambitions of the owners. They are very ambitious. They want to do well.

"Every conversation I have had with anyone of the board, they want to be successful and they want to improve.

"The new stadium is coming. There are so many things that means the club wants to be and has to be successful. I will try to do that.

"When you talk with them, it is something that everyone has to agree – we need to improve the squad, improve the team."

Upbeat. Positive. And with an assurance to the support that this squad will be improved. Could Rafa Benitez and Everton actually work...?