Silva sees the
nostalgia trail
as way ahead
M
arco Silva’s
Everton reign may
become an
exercise in
dashing down
Goodison Park’s
nostalgia trail. There is desperation
for the club to show they are racing
into the 21st century rather than
being a remnant of a bygone age.
Their archaic stadium, charmingly
situated amid Liverpool’s terraced
streets, is often perceived as a
symbol of what Everton must leave
behind when they relocate to the
city’s docks in 2023.
Not strictly true. The key to an
Everton revival is harnessing the
best of both worlds. The long
goodbye is under way for a venue
described by chairman Bill
Kenwright as “the Grand Old
Lady” and it is boom time for the
club’s reminiscence industry, but
supporters are paradoxically
looking to a future by the Mersey,
with breathtaking new arena
designs now in place.
Complex planning, logistical and- lest we forget – financial issues
may prompt more cynical
supporters to pause before
engaging in a lengthy, emotional
farewell. But for the majority at the
season’s first home game – a 1-0
win over Watford – the end is nigh,
and they are determined to cherish
what time is left. Goodison love
vows are being renewed. In the
process, the essence of what
distinguishes Everton from the rest
has been recaptured.
Flags were handed to every fan
ahead of kick-off. An air-raid siren - first used in the venue to
proclaim the arrival of boxer Tony
“Bomber” Bellew – has been
adopted as the most intimidating
welcome in the Premier League,
the cacophony a contrast to the
quaint theme from Z Cars that has
accompanied players on to the
pitch since the early Sixties.
The timing of the romantic quest
to inspire a glorious exit should
work in Silva’s favour. Unlike his
immediate predecessors, he is
benefiting from the most effective
weapon at Everton’s disposal.
There is nothing in English football
quite like an ebullient Goodison.
At its best it is the most
captivating of venues – but only
when supporters and players are in
tandem. That has not been often
enough of late, disillusionment and
mistrust regularly making for a
suffocating, intolerant
environment. Plenty of talented
footballers wither here. Sadly,
some of them have worn blue
shirts. What is reassuring for Silva
is since the final months of last
season, it is those in the opposition
who are hurting most.
Everton are unbeaten at home
since Manchester City’s visit on
Feb 9. They have not conceded at
Goodison since Gabriel Jesus
struck that night. The run has
taken in wins over Chelsea, Arsenal
and Manchester United, as well as
the goalless draw that damaged
Liverpool’s title push.
They were not at their best on
Saturday, but there was no overly
judgmental and self-harming howl
of derision accompanyingon then. Show us what you can do,”
seemed to be the default position.
Despite encouraging debut
seasons, Roberto Martinez and
Ronald Koeman could never shift
that mentality. Where at most
grounds the noise volume peaks at
kick-off, until recently at Goodison
it was generally the opposite.
“Get it forward and win a corner
early,” Moyes would tell players,
recognising the importance of
bringing fans into the equation.
There is more of that hope again,
whether in the form of young
signings of promise, a more
dynamic, forward-thinking
manager and, most pertinent of all,
those exceptional stadium plans.
There is an attractive irony that
in the midst of the extraordinary
blueprint for a new home,
Goodison Park has begun its
twilight years amid a sense of
regeneration.Trossard keen to be latest famous Belgian import
By Tom Prentki
at the Amex StadiumHave Brighton and Hove Albion un-
earthed the next in a long line of
Belgian footballers lighting up the
Premier League? If Leandro Tros-
sard’s debut is anything to go by, his
stay at the Amex looks certain to be
eventful, at the very least.
The £15 million winger signed
from Genk this summer was given a
start by manager Graham Potter
and scored twice – though his
excellent first-half volley waschalked off by the video assistant
referee in the 1-1 draw with West
Ham United.
“That is about the worst that can
happen for a player with the VAR.
Scoring a goal is the best feeling in
the world as a footballer, even more
if it was a nice one – so that moment
when it gets disallowed is terrible,”
said Trossard, who played on the
left of a front three ahead of Solly
March at wing-back.
“A lot happened for me during
the match. It was special and a great
feeling to score on debut, at home,
and to help the team get a point.”It might well have been more
special had Brighton converted
their dominance into more goals,
and Trossard himself missed a good
chance in the second half before
sweeping in the equaliser four min-
utes after West Ham took the lead
through Javier Hernandez.“I know about all the Belgian
players who have come to England
and done really well in the Premier
League. I am also part of the na-
tional team, so I see them playing
there and I know all about how
many have done well here.
“I just want to show more what
I did in this match, and we’ll see
how I can do. Maybe even Eden
Hazard would have been proud of
my goal! I hope so, although I doubt
he has watched it,” he smiled.
Trossard is one of several sum-
mer signings made by Potter in a
move to transform Brighton fromperennial relegation fodder into a
stylish, upwardly mobile Premier
League team who can compete for
the title of hipster’s favourites.
“He [Trossard] had a really good
season, champions over there,” Pot-
ter said. “He’s a hungry guy. Moving
from the Belgian league is of course
a step, but he has the quality.”
Potter paid tribute to his prede-
cessor Chris Hughton, who was re-
lieved of his post at the end of last
season. “There’s a really strong
foundation, on the back of Chris’s
work, so for me the pressure is to
improve on that.”Marco Silva
believes
Everton and
England will
benefit from a
more mature
Jordan
Pickford, after
his good start
to the season.
The No 1
has kept
consecutiveclean sheets
and made
key saves in
victory over
Watford.
After his
World Cup
heroics,
Pickford often
appeared as if
his mind was
scrambled last
season. But hehas a calmer
on-field
demeanour
now.
“Jordan is
showing more
maturity, he
has the quality
and he’s
showing that
more in the
right
moments,”Silva said. “It is
something I
am demanding
from him – to
be the guy in
some moments
who is calm.”
It is a
similarly
encouraging
story for
centre-half
Michael Keane,who was
outstanding as
Everton
secured a 10th
clean sheet in
13 games.
“I knew how
difficult it was
for him at
Everton in his
first season. He
has really tried
to do every-thing I have
asked of him,”
Silva said.
“Not just at
Goodison but
every day at
the training
ground.
“Of course,
he has to keep
improving in
some details
on the ball.”Keep calm and carry on Pickford earns praise for his new maturity
misplaced passes. New recruit
Jean-Philippe Gbamin was granted
enthusiastic applause for finding a
team-mate six yards away. Watford
knew they were trying to overcome
the venue as much as a defence
well organised by Michael Keane
and Jordan Pickford. David Moyesonce made a pertinent observation
about Goodison working its way
into a game as much as the team, as
if years of underachievement
prompted fans to take their seat
arms folded and sporting wary
frowns – a legacy of witnessing too
much mediocrity in the 1990s. “GoArchaic charm:
Fans off to
Goodison, the
Gwladys Street
end (left) and
(right) the Dixie
Dean statue
outside the
groundEbullient Goodison still
a trump card for Everton
until move to glossier
HQ, says Chris Bascombe
Total FootballTotal Football
Debut to savour:
Leandro Trossard
hopes ‘even Hazard
would have been
proud of my goal’12 *** Monday 19 August 2019 The Daily Telegraph
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