Losing a home game in isolation is not too unfamiliar. Against Premier League opposition is somewhat forgivable. But this shambolic penalty kick shootout against Sunderland is very symbolic of contemporary Everton FC. What has changed?
After a crippling festive period littered with disappointment, the season now looks all but over. Out of both domestic cups and seemingly too far adrift from European qualification through league placing, only the slim chance of a relegation battle looks relevant.
The 0-2 Nottingham Forest away victory was the last piece of genuine success and happiness. The dwindling squad size and some reprehensible coaching decisions have left too many Premier League points behind. This time, an FA Cup third-round failure.
Points dropped to relegation candidates Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers were shameful. But when you consider the playing staff available for selection for those league games and available for this FC Cup exit, it’s probably not too unexpected.
The mismanagement of the club has torpedoed any aspiration, compounded by self-imposed sabotage. The consequence ends a promising season at halftime.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Moyes
David Moyes has done so many good things for the club, first time in charge, and this time. I do still maintain that any coherent football coach could have navigated Everton to higher ground better than the catastrophic leadership of the previous incumbent, Sean Dyche. However, Moyes has resolved things astutely in the second half of last season and starting this season.
But frustratingly, Moyes has some massive blind spots. He does many good things and too many bad things.
Team selection is rarely perfectly correct. The League Cup defeat to Wolves was a mess with no consistency of first-teamers, resulting in a random collection of bench players misfiring. His continued fascination with Michael Keane is baffling, with Keane often being rushed back into the starting XI, occasionally rushed back too fast.
The James Tarkowski & Keane axis has never truly worked; their similar skillsets don’t complement each other at all well. On limited evidence, Jake O’Brien looks like the best available central defender in Jarrad Branthwaite’s absence. When O’Brien is partnered with Tarkowski, we have a serviceable if unspectacular defensive unit. Yet this team selection seems almost forbidden.
The resistance to empower, coach-up, or purchase a right fullback exaggerates the flawed Keane inclusion.
David Moyes also has little heritage of developing players, in particular, progressing the path of young attacking players. With mid-season AFCON departures scheduled, combined with predictable injuries and suspensions, it was known that Tyler Dibling, Tim Iroegbunam, Charly Alcaraz, Merlin Rohl, Nathan Patterson, Adam Aznou, and Thierno Barry would all be required to participate at some stage.
Playing time and development minutes needed to have been granted, so that when the necessary inclusions in the gameday team were no longer requests but rather now required, these players were ready. Dropped points and cup exits were the offerings of underprepared players.
The Transfer Committee
The summer transfer carousel was a circus. With multiple first-teamers and a level of dependability leaving the club, the replacement project was vast and complicated. The squad size was small anyway, and then most of them left. The quantity of replenishment was dramatically under. The quality of new players is also questionable.
It seemed the focus was on developmental project players or ‘market-opportunity’ players. I’ve not got too much of an issue with that recruitment. The problem is when you forget, miss out on, or neglect to recruit the starting striker, the starting right winger, and the starting fullback. Recalling an 18-year-old from a Championship loan to start games in January demonstrates a massive oversight from the recruitment team.
Not enough players. Not good enough players.
January 1st signaled the opening of the winter transfer window. Everton fans were expecting transfer activity. The planning and preparation problems were evidenced on the field, with the bench in recent games occupied by more reserve goalkeepers than first-team minutes.
Reinforcements were not forthcoming. The January 1 reveal was not revealed. Nothing new as yet.
January will pass with limited news. Maybe a late loan or a last-minute veteran. Way too little and 31 days too late. 21 games, 2 cup competitions, and 31 days too late.
The learnings of Everton are annoying. Thierno Barry, the big summer money striker, was on holiday when Everton were playing preseason games. The urgency of his arrival was not accelerated to ensure maximum integration. $10 million per goal scored this season is the cost of Everton's procrastination.
The new Everton FC looks sadly very much like the old Everton FC.