Ellis Nordhoff – One to forget, but not one to dwell on
While Everton’s 4-0 defeat against Aston Villa was a significant disappointment, there is hope that a performance like that can be an anomaly this season.
Before this game, Everton had only lost one out of our previous seven away games under Sean Dyche, showing signs of improvement on the road. It was always going to be a difficult task against a strong Aston Villa side, but losing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Alex Iwobi to injury made it even more of an uphill battle. One to forget, but not one to dwell on.
With time still left to strengthen in the transfer window and many players still awaiting their return to fitness, I have faith that Sunday’s performance will not be the norm this season.
It is expected that a new centre-forward, wide player and centre-back will be brought in before the deadline, which, coupled with the return of key players, should put us in a strong enough position to comfortably stave off relegation.
Hopefully Che Adams can come in and provide a somewhat similar profile to Calvert-Lewin, which will allow us to play the same way when the forward is out of the side.
It looks like our pursuit of Wilfried Gnonto is going to end this week. The 49ers look to be playing hardball after taking over Leeds United in a bid to guide them back to the top-flight at the first time of asking. I imagine Everton will move on to other targets, such as Kamaldeen Sulemana or Johan Bakayoko, to guarantee that we have a winger in before the window shuts.
As passionate Evertonians as we all are, it’s easy to get carried away after a big defeat. After the international break, when the window is closed and players have returned from injury, I think the picture will look a lot brighter for the Toffees.
Alex McMonnies – Appears it’s going to be another difficult season
Towards the end of Sky Sports’ coverage, commentator Bill Leslie described how Aston Villa had eased to an emphatic 4-0 win over a ‘compliant’ Everton. And that basically summed it up.
While I was undoubtedly not alone in expecting very little from the Blues away to a Villa side on the up, the manner in which Sean Dyche’s side rolled over was still definitely a cause for concern. By the time Douglas Luiz had dispatched his spot-kick after 24 minutes, the match was over as a contest. Indeed, that moment might have come six minutes earlier, when John McGinn had put the hosts ahead, as the Toffees never really looked like scoring at any point during the match.
That wasn’t helped by the fact that the increasingly unfortunate Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffered a fractured cheekbone after a collision with the Villa keeper, Emiliano Martinez. As immensely frustrating as it is, the reaction, both from inside the ground and online, was completely unjustified, as was the racist abuse Amadou Onana received via a direct message on Instagram.
It certainly appears it’s going to be another difficult season to be an Everton supporter, and the news of MSP pulling out of their proposed investment into the club earlier this week is just the latest piece of bad news. Goodison Park is unlikely to be particularly serene on Saturday afternoon.
This is unfortunate, as our upcoming fixture is already immensely important despite coming at such an early stage in the season. Wolves have started just as poorly as us and look similarly shy in front of goal amid their own disconnect between the club hierarchy and fanbase. Therefore, it’s a gigantic opportunity for either team to register their first victory of the campaign and hopefully kick-start their season.
If that is to be the Blues, Dyche would do well to replace the error-prone Michael Keane with Jarrad Branthwaite, as well as start Arnaut Danjuma, who is evidently hungry for goals, up front. Everton may not have a better opportunity to win a match all season.
Paul McParlan – Another abysmal away day
It took only two games for any lingering feeling of optimism to disappear at Villa Park. It was a singularly spineless performance from an Everton team that seems to take a perverse delight in tormenting their fanbase.
Those supporters who travel in their thousands across the country to watch a side that has won four of their last 39 away fixtures deserve answers. The sight of so many streaming towards the exits after the third goal sent a clear message.
Watching the match was a thoroughly depressing experience. While most Blues were not expecting a win, they were hoping to see a battling performance with the opposition being forced to fight for every ball. Instead, they witnessed a woefully timid capitulation.
Everton gave their opponents far too much time and space, which led to a crushing 4-0 defeat. Sean Dyche said that he ‘could have subbed the entire team at half time’, but his decision not to remove the hapless Michael Keane in defence arguably cost another two goals.
Surely it is time for Ben Godfrey or Jarrad Branthwaite to be given a chance? The only positive from Sunday was the display of Arnaut Danjuma, who must already be regretting listening to Richarlison’s advice to join Everton.
Everton’s plight has worsened over the subsequent days. With only seven days left of the transfer window, it seems that Che Adams, the experienced striker that the club urgently needs, is still no closer to signing.
The squad desperately lacks strength in depth, but time is running out to bring in some new faces. Another window without a proven striker arriving? Seriously?
Yerry Mina and Conor Coady have departed. Demarai Gray is off to Saudi Arabia. A team that narrowly avoided the drop last season looks even weaker now.
The news that MSP has withdrawn its offer of financial support is another nail in the coffin of our once great club. Who in their right mind would consider investing in such a dysfunctional outfit that has no permanent board, no coherent strategy, and no effective leadership?
When Unai Emery was appointed manager last season, Aston Villa were 16th in the table with 12 points. They ended up qualifying for Europe. It shows that with the right owners, an effective recruitment policy, and an experienced manager, fortunes can change very quickly.
Surely there is a lesson to be learned here, Mr Moshiri? Only three points on Saturday can lift the cloud of despondency that is descending on Goodison Park.
