Awful Everton lose yet again
It’s taken me until now to even muster the will to write anything about yesterday’s Premier League game as Everton went down to an ignominious 0-2 defeat at home to Sheffield United.
Incredibly frustrating and insipid are the words I would use to describe that effort from an Everton team that failed spectacularly to respond to last weekend’s 3-1 lose at Bournemouth.
Not even the usually comforting surroundings of the grand old lady could produce a winning performance from the home team.
The Blues fell to a first defeat at Goodison Park since Manchester City won 2-0 back in February. And although the home team had plenty of the ball and certainly dominated long periods of the game, this defeat will leave many serious questions.
Unlike City, Sheffield United, with all due respect, hardly rate as a major force in the league and to go down to such a meek loss at home is pretty worrying.
Yet again for the umpteenth time the Toffees conceded from a set-piece, this time a wretched own-goal from Yerry Mina. At that point in the game the Blues were at least pressing and creating a few chances.
When are Everton going to get this problem sorted out!!? Week after week the Blues give away soft goals from set plays and it’s getting ridiculous how porous the defence is in this respect.
Marco Silva or his coaches have to get to grips with this issue and very soon. if he can’t I don’t see how he can continue as manager.
That goal for the away side was just what they needed and suited their game plan to perfection. Now they could defend deep and soak up the pressure, which they did very well.
Everton huffed and puffed but they couldn’t find a way through the Blades resolute defence, with Bernard’s penalty claim their strongest chance. And predictably late on Sheffield United broke and scored a superbly taken second goal to seal the win.
The Blues don’t seem to have a plan B of any kind when they are dealing with a team that is defending in numbers and the side just keep on playing the same way; a deliberate and methodical approach that is becoming far too predictable.
I’ve argued repeatedly that we need to re-shape the side and the formation and commit to a 4-3-3 system as soon as possible. Everton’s team has to be more flexible and dynamic.
Opponents know that the Toffees will set out to play in the same way all the time and sides like Sheffield United who are well-organised and determined can frustrate Everton easily.
More from Prince Rupert's Tower
- Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
- Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
- Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
- More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
- Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions
The absence of any alternative approach is worrying and combined with the lack of urgency and energy from the team creates a really dangerous mix.
In a situation like this, against a very defensive side, you might hope that the opposition keeper would be man of the match if the home team had created enough really good chances. But that wasn’t the case at all and in truth Everton didn’t ever really look like finding a way back.
I don’t know if the Toffees can turn things around this season, especially if they keep on conceding goals like the ones they have been.
Once more this season is in danger of spiralling out of control and I honestly can’t see how they will have any chance of finishing higher than mid-table at best. That’s not good enough.