|
Post by empresstouch on Apr 16, 2021 17:06:10 GMT
It wasn't exactly as dominating a performance or result as the 0-5 slaughtering our Women's team handed Brighton last March.
If it's not the preservation of injury-prone players (with otherwise unnecessary substitutions), it's too many chiefs and not enough leaders of example and purpose.
Last Monday's 0-0 stale-mate on the south coast a warning of just how recent a defeat to a 3rd-string team with three teenagers making their debuts.
Steering clear of the 'Who's gotta go' topic of conversation 'til June, this game against Spurs tonight would be an ideal time to embarrass all the FPL players triple-captaining Mr Kane, as well as making at least 7th a realistic target to secure - should Man City win the losers' cup a week Sunday, Leicester beat Southampton in the F.A. Cup semi-final this Sunday before both Leicester finish themselves within the top seven positions in this year's Premier League table and at least three of Tottenham, (possibly) Arsenal and (hopefully) West Ham & Aston Villa NOT finishing above 7th.
The question many want answers to is:
"Where the [hmm] is our next win coming from - let alone a run of form to get these priceless points..?"
There's never been a more active time with fans looking at our social media update pages for good news with injured players we so badly are missing - especially in midfield, where tolerance towards opposing teams possessing the football, let alone monopolising it, is regretfully more than zero.
It doesn't exactly Einstein to have noticed the difference between the 1-0 defeat in north London last July and the 0-1 win at the very same venue that acted as a catalyst for taking advantage of an-otherwise very reasonable starting fixture list.
Nor is it rocket science to look back at the two previous season's Opening five League fixtures and ask ourselves "why didn't we make far more use of this generosity - and carry on as we start?".
The midfield needs Allan and Doucoure back, and we know at least one of them won't be for tonight and the very near future. Though Allan may play a part, it's unlikely he'll last the 90 minutes flat out at the level we'd expect from him. It means a certain player has to claim his place, something he sure did the last time these two teams met at Goodison.
I am, of course, referring to Tom Davies; the player who's taken more stick than any from us Evertonians since the late-season slump last Summer, after the 40pts were on the board.
It's one thing to talk a good game, whether that be to local journalists or further afield. Tom has been brought into a very unfavourable situation; a squad with many players constantly asking themselves:
"Do I really want to be here?"
Whilst others not backing the wages they're earning in comparison to their true market value with performances that frankly would leave school teachers considering sanctions upon non-participation of activities.
That backheel improvisation late on in the 4-0 win over Man City in early 2017 a distant memory for many - at least, until the '3-3 at Old Trafford & 5-4 Spurs win'-week sent a euphoric feeling of adrenaline running through Davies and everyone that Wednesday night last February.
It's what we need from him - and how we need it tonight, from all on the pitch. It would be a huge gamble, as well as a statement, to give Tom Davies the captain's armband. It might just be the right one.
Watching the Brighton 0-0 may have been as frustrating for us as it may have been forgettable to the neutral, but believe me, there were occasional signs of improvement from Tom as there was honour in Seamus Coleman's efforts to push his team-mates forwards and Ben Godfrey's maturity as a one-on-one defender (against a very willing Danny Welbeck).
Many questions to answer - yes.
Harry Kane leaving Spurs may be a lose-lose to everyone involved at Tottenham Hotspur.
Expect him and all his team-mates to give us their very best tonight. We're entitled to a much improved performance as well. We're ALL therefore entitled to witness a brilliant game of football in less than two hours from now.
Enjoy tonight, tonight, tonight - these are new times.
|
|
|
Post by jimmy on Apr 17, 2021 13:03:35 GMT
I was expecting music.
|
|