Man City (h) Wages earned this week2 home defeats in a row, but they couldn’t have been any different.Last week there was no passion, pride, energy, thought and seemingly no interest from the players. They would have still had their ears ringing from the comments the manager made in his post match comments. He asked for players not to hide, he asked for the opposite of what he saw last week vs Sheff Utd, and that’s what he got on Tuesday and today.
Although the result is ultimately a negative, the performance was positive, in some respects was this more important than the final score, I don’t know? You never want to see your team lose, it’s professional competitive sport after all and the stakes are very high, but sometimes the level of the opposition can be a precursor of what to expect.
The problem the Premier league now has is that it is quickly becoming very much like the Scottish Premier League, where two teams are head and shoulders better than the rest. Occasionally they’ll have a wobble, but for the remainder of the time the variation in levels are clear to see, especially with the affordability of Aguero, David Silva and Bernardo Silva to come off the bench.
The majestic De Bruyne’s cross for Jesus (who else) was as pinpoint as it was brilliant. It landed directly in the middle of the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ and was put swiftly passed Pickford. You can criticise Keane for not reacting to Jesus’s movement, but equally you have to appreciate just how good a goal it was.
Keane and Mina had decent games for me, Digne was as poor as I’ve seen him in a blue shirt today. He was overloaded with Mahrez and De Bruyne at times, but the ease in which Mahrez skinned him for the goal was an indication of him being the only outfield player this season to have played every game. The high intensity and work rate of his normal game probably needed him to have had a game or two out already, but we haven’t had that luxury so far, and it told today.
The equaliser was down to hard work in chasing and pressure. Iwobi squeezed in Coleman, who turned and lifted the ball over Ederson, it was going in and thankfully Calvert-Lewin was onside and poached it over the line. Risky!! I couldn’t celebrate, the spectre of VAR wouldn’t let me until I knew the goal would stand. It’s a bit of an uneasy feeling. Almost like celebrating a goal whilst watching the hilights. I suppose I’ll have to get used to it. Four in Three for DCL though, it’ll do his confidence no harm even in defeat.
City’s second goal, initially I thought it was a cheap award from the referee, but the replay showed it was a foul, Pickford was poor, very poor. The ball passes him less than 2 feet from his starting position. A keeper of his level should do better. He only need look down the other end of the field to see a keeper with absolute concentration, and the refusal to allow bodies and chaos in his area to stop him keeping the opposition out. He made three saves today that kept City level, or better. Two of those saves were 6 yards or nearer from his goal line.
City’s third was as both careless and fortuitous. Pickford again largely at fault, parry’s the ball directly in Sterling’s path and it creeps over the line via the crossbar. The save he made early in the first half where he palmed the ball away to the touch line was superb, and must be his go to shot stop rather this action, remember he did it for Newcastle’s winner last season when he crumbled and singlehandedly cost us the game.
From the first to last whistle Everton competed, often second best, but they remained committed, organised and had a plan. Often these traits have been missing in the previous six games. Has Silva finally got through to the players now?
Not since Cardiff away last season have I triple checked the starting line up when it came through on my phone, just to make sure I read it correctly. Then it was because Jags, Schneiderlin and a hugely out of form Coleman started in 5 changes to the side that lost to Watford before mythical 17 days that changed our season. I did the same today when I saw Walcott was playing. How and where did this come from? Excluded from the squad a few weeks ago, no start at Sheffield Wednesday day in the week... Silva said he was in to exploit the space behind City’s full backs, but injury put paid to that and Iwobi replaced him, to good and productive effect.
For Coleman and Schneiderlin, of whom me personally have been very critical of this season, I will say that they both played well today. Clearly instructed to do specific jobs which they did to benefit both themselves and their teammates. My personal feeling is that both players know that last orders have been called in last chance saloon for them both, now they either sink or swim. Sidibe is knocking on the door and hopefully Gomes will be back next week for the trip to Burnley.
One thing that Schneiderlin did today above all which pleased me was the foul on De Bruyne which earned him a booking. It was the type of ‘tactical’ foul that has been made against our players for years. Anyone remember Herrera on Barkley in the cup semi final? It’s the type of thing that can change games. Not in this case obviously, but in games to come, it’s the kind of nous that’s been employed by so many teams to change momentum. Why not us?
It would be unfair not to also mention Delph and Richarlison, both admirable in their efforts today. Delph patrolling the centre, linking up play and making the team go through the centre, whilst Richarlison ran the channels and came inside to try and make opportunities for himself and his colleagues.
I wont say it was a ‘free hit’ for the manager today, but it gave a glimpse of what this team can do, even without it’s first choice midfield and not in it’s best formation. Seven points from seven games isn’t great, it’s not what was expected. But did Man Utd, Wolves, Watford, Chelsea and Spurs expect to have better starts than they’ve had up until today? I’m sure they did.
Silva needs the opportunity to have his first team players fit and available, only then can we really have an idea of what this season can offer.
On to next week, where the same effort and application will no doubt lead to a better result.
By Matthew Barry
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