Everton: latest loss underlines extent of crisis
Everton stumbled to yet another defeat this weekend as they were beaten at Burnley to drop to eleventh in the Premier League.
This latest loss just underlined all the reasons why Everton are struggling so badly. It almost seems like a set of problems that are too big for anyone to deal with at the moment.
Given Burnley’s poor recent form this was a winnable match for the Blues, especially as they went in front as well.
Burnley had started the better of the sides and created several good chances as they exploited Everton’s weak defending. Ashley Williams and Michael Keane again struggled in this game as Keane returned to the club he left for Everton in the summer.
Time and again simple balls down the channels and crosses from out wide exposed the Blues at the back and Burnley should have been ahead before Everton surprisingly took the lead.
However in the opening minutes there had been a few moments of real quality from Gylfi Sigurdsson linking up with Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun when Everton managed to counter attack.
And after Sigurdsson had intercepted a 50-50 ball, from a cross Seamus Coleman flicked it on for Tosun to head home. It was a well-worked goal and you might have hoped would inspire Everton to build on it.
However it was Burnley who responded best and minutes after forced a superb save from Jordan Pickford as they pressed for an equalizer.
The pattern of the game continued after half-time as Burnley proved the brighter more creative side. Everton seemed totally unable to get a grip in the match and eventually Burnley equalized.
Despite bringing on Wayne Rooney Everton didn’t improve and another basic defensive error from Williams at a corner, resulted in Burnley’s winner late on.
Then to cap it all off Williams got himself sent off moments later. He has been very poor too often this season and I cannot understand why he is preferred to Mason Holgate.
Holgate is a talented young defender who looked very good when he played in central defence earlier this season.
He is quick, strong, comfortable on the ball and has the ability to play full-back as well, although centre half is his best position.
It’s only to be hoped that he does get another chance now that Williams is suspended.
But beyond individuals and their positions in the team, there is a wider, deeper malaise in the side I feel at the moment.
In the second half Everton struggled to find any rhythm and there seemed to be a kind of torpor that descended on the team. It was almost as if they simply couldn’t muster the mental energy to respond.
I don’t know that there are any easy fixes for something like this. A manager can change players and formation all day long but if there is such a fundamental lack of drive, imagination and determination in the team how is anyone going to turn it around quickly.
One of the criticisms of Arsenal is the alleged lack of leaders in their team. I think Everton have a similar problem. There doesn’t seem to be anyone who can take charge on the pitch when things are going wrong (as they usually are) and drag his teammates forward.
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Unfortunately manager Sam Allardyce struggles to inspire the team as well and so Everton appear listless and too often almost resigned to defeat.
Allardyce is an acerbic individual who can seem a downbeat and difficult character at times. Although he was able to lift other sides in the past it doesn’t seem to be working with this group of players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxJk0SIez3A
Will another change of manager secure much-needed improvement or is drastic surgery of the squad and other backroom staff also required?