Ronald Koeman showed negative intent by starting two defensive-minded midfielders along with two players coming off long injury layoffs against Swansea.
Did Koeman get it wrong?
In short, yes.
Leighton Baines and James McCarthy were deemed fit for Saturday’s match, but Ronald Koeman should have refrained from starting both of them.
Starting a fit Leighton Baines is an open-and-shut case. He’s an integral part of Everton’s first team on both sides of the ball and has the ability to win a game with a single strike.
Koeman’s team selection
McCarthy, however, is a different story entirely.
Playing for 90
Firstly, McCarthy, before starting against Swansea, hadn’t played in the Premier League since August. That’s more than three months without top-flight football. The speed in training pales in comparison to the lightning-fast pace of top-flight matches. McCarthy, to no fault of his own, was visibly a step behind.
The question of McCarthy’s fitness aside, starting the Irish international was also the wrong tactical decision. I can understand the need for starting two defensive midfielders away from home against Chelsea or Manchester City, but not at home against a team fighting for their Premier League survival.
Idrissa Gana Gueye returned to the starting 11 after serving a one-match ban against Chelsea. The Senegalese international was one of Everton’s best players against Swansea. He patrolled the midfield to great effect, breaking up tackles, covering back and spearheading the attack with pinpoint passing.
Having McCarthy on the pitch was redundant and highlighted Koeman’s negative intent, especially under the circumstances of hosting a team that hasn’t won since opening day, over three months ago.
Romelu Lukaku, an isolated figure
There’s no doubt that Everton need to sign another forward or two in the transfer window to lessen Romelu Lukaku’s burden. But Koeman, by his conservative team selection, didn’t do Lukaku any favors. Completely isolated, the Belgian striker was left in the lurch.
While Koeman doesn’t have a bundle of attacking options at his disposal, both Kevin Mirallas and Gerard Deulofeu are viable attacking alternatives. Deulofeu, however, didn’t make a great case for himself after a disappointing substitute performance.
Koeman failed to show positive intent
In these must-win games, you want your manager to show positive intent. Koeman failed to do that today. He started with a conservative lineup, one that lacked ideas and creativity.
In a stagnant display, Everton were, for the most part, unable to break down one of the league’s worst defenses at home.
Seamus Coleman’s 89th minute equalizer spared Koeman a calamitous result but it will still surely feel like defeat for most Toffees.
Next: Everton vs Swansea: 5 takeaways from Goodison
It’s definitely two points dropped. Koeman needs to show his team that he believes in their ability to put inferior teams on the back foot. How can the players and supporters believe if the manager doesn’t?
It’s clear, if his team selection is anything to go by, that he doesn’t believe. He put his team in a position to fail even before a ball had been kicked.