Everton’s struggles are all of their own making
Everton’s aim was simply not to
lose against Liverpool; or at least
to ensure that if they did it would
not be too humiliating, would not
do too much damage to either their
self-esteem or their goal difference,
both of which could be vital in the
battle against relegation. It was grim
to watch: one team playing football,
one team doing nothing but trying to
stop them, slowing the game down,
breaking up play, wasting time.
Everton managed17 per cent
possession – which, depending which
source you prefer, is either the lowest
or the second-lowest ever recorded
in a Premier League game – and, to
an extent, achieved their objective:
they held Liverpool for an hour and
got away with merely a 2-0 defeat.
Had they been awarded a penalty
when Anthony Gordon went down
after a nudge fromJoel Matip,
perhaps they could have nicked
apointormore.
Certainly no team should ever
be criticised for playing defensively
against a side of far greater ability.
Defending is as much a part of
the game as attacking – even if
there were occasions when an
understandable caution dipped
into something less palatable.And, given where Everton were in the
table heading in to the Merseyside
derby, their approach was easy to
understand.
But what is less straightforward is
how Everton find themselves in such
a mess in the first place. This is not a
case, as so often in modern football,
of one club simply not being able
to match the financial power of the
other. Everton have their own wealthy
owner in Farhad Moshiri, although
the sanctions imposed on Alisher
Usmanov, forcing the club to cut
ties with its sponsor, may force
cutbacks. Since he arrived,their net spend is £60 million more
than that of their Merseyside rivals.
Yet while Liverpool emerged from the
derby with the quadruple still to play
for, Everton found themselves in the
bottom three, facing the prospect
of a first relegation in 71 years.This has been mismanagement
on a staggering scale.
It’s easy to say that football is
dominated by money these days
and that all that really matters is
how much you can spend. And to
a large extent that is true. Spain and
England have between them provided
50 of the last 80 Champions League
semi-finalists. Money matters, and
it can mitigate a host of failures of
management. The likes of Chelsea
or Real Madrid can make a big
signing who doesn’t work out and
there is no real consequence. If a
Borussia Dortmund or an AtalantaTHEWORLD THIS MONTH
make a similar error, even on a
smaller scale, it can affect their
spending plans for years.
But just spending money isn’t
enough. It has to be spent well.
Everton have spent money, but
have done so appallingly. They have
developed a habit of signing players
who have been found wanting
elsewhere, often at bigger clubs –
the likes ofJames Rodriguez, Alex
Iwobi, Theo Walcott and Dele Alli.
Yes, sometimes a little experience,
a little glamour, can be beneficial,Miles apart...
Liverpool
and EvertonJust spending money isn’t enough...Everton have
spent money, but have done so appallingly
Dejected...
Richarlison reacts
to Everton’s
defeat to BurnleyTECHNICALLY SPEAKING
Jonathan
WILSON