Draw shows Everton side needs major change

As Everton laboured to a disappointing draw at Aston Villa last night, Carlo Ancelotti still seems to think he has the players he needs to get something from this season. Is he right?

The Everton manager has been speaking after the goalless game yesterday and continues to hint that he believes this set of players has the talent and perhaps even more importantly, the mental strength to succeed.

I have to say I’m not sure I agree. There have been too many matches like last night’s to indicate that there is a need for much more significant change in personel and attitude before results are likely to improve.

Frankly from that team that played last night the only ones who performed reasonably well were Ben Godfrey, Micheal Keane, Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Lucas Digne was solid enough as usual and Seamus Coleman had his moments too while Pickford had nothing really to do.

That leaves Mason Hogate, Andre Gomes, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Alex Iwobi and for me too Richarlison, who didn’t perform well.

So, based on that, there are only a few players – Pickford, Godfrey, Digne, Allan, Doucoure, Calvert-Lewin – who in my view should be regarded as a likely starter next season.

And then there’s the perenial problem of the lack of leadership and the mental or psychological issues this set of footballers (and so many recent Everton teams) seems to have when it comes to winning these sorts of big games.

This is a slightly more difficult issue to resolve as there appears to be a general lack of natural leaders in modern football.

I’m thinking of individuals like a Tony Adams or Roy Keane type of player who could drive their team forward and were always able to come up with strong performances and lead by example.

Again last night was an example of where leadership was needed. The only player who looks a bit like this is Allan who reminds me of my favourite ever player Peter Reid but he’s not a very vocal individual, at least not yet.

Perhaps someone like Godfrey, who has been outstanding this season, will indeed become that sort of player. He certainly possesses the ability and seems to have the determined mindset to fight and compete as well as lead by example.

As I’ve mentioned earlier I’m becoming concerned that Ancelotti isn’t seeing any of this. He continues to insist that his players have what it takes to secure European football, but what evidence is there to support that view?

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In fact most of the evidence is to the contrary as each time the Toffees have faced a must win match they almost invariably fail to turn up.

Yes they have won recently in London at Arsenal and West Ham that’s true. But the Arsenal win was from a lucky fluke and while they deserved to beat the Hammers, there’s not much point if you can’t find the consistency to follow it up in your next match.

Again last night, apart from the period at the start of the second half, the team lacked urgency and played far too much slow lethargic football while also lacking pace overall, as always.

Now as the manager says the Blues simply have to claim maximum points in both their next two home games to have any further hope of European football, even the dubious honour of the Europa League Conference.

However, Everton haven’t won at Goodison Park since defeating Southampton way back at the beginning of March and that’s their only home Premier League win in this calendar year.

Whatever happens at the end of this season I think there is yet another big summer ahead and for me that means five or six new arrivals.

These are a right-back, possibly a centre-half, another energetic midfielder, a wide attacking player (maybe two if Richarlison leaves) and a new striker. Does Ancelotti agree and if not what does that mean for next season?

Draw shows Everton side needs major change – again

By Matt Townsend | May 14, 2021

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