Well I planned to be writing this follow-up post in preview of this season long before now, but virtually hours after summing-up a week of memorable highlights from 2020-21, something changed.
It’s a tough one to take, whatever the reason(s) that may or may not ever be fully-disclosed by those who know. But we all still have to move on.
And however uncomfortable a position it was, replacing a Champions’ League winner for as near a like-for-like as we were realistically going to find at short notice had to happen – and there were good reasons not to dither. Remember our best centre-back in 2016 (John Stones) walking out of the club late into the Summer transfer window after a nine-man-candidate merry-go-round was finalised with Koeman’s appointment left little time for Stones to be replaced [blah-blah-blah]...
It’s still unclear whether Richarlison, Moise Kean or even Dominic Calvert-Lewin will definitely be here in September, and that’s before other very, very concerning matters are (hopefully) brought to a categorically-crystal clear close.
This meant an opportunity for our new manager to experiment with new options – against strong opposition.
But oh dear, the several obvious factors in what did/didn’t happen at Old Trafford yesterday could be underpinned with one simple explanation: United took this preseason fixture far more seriously than we did.
I don’t know if the great Matthew Barry is inclined to review this specific game, but much of what I’ve been inclined to say over the past two months stems from what was witnessed in the rain of Manchester last Saturday lunchtime.
I noticed on a certain social media platform a 90-second clip of the 3rd and final goal in a 2018 victory for Man City at The Emirates; a goal with over 20 passes, most of which were not only inside City’s own defending half of the pitch, but were nearly all one-touch caresses and all under intense Arsenal pressure, yet despite hard pressing by those Gooners the movement, pace and precision of City’s passing carved them open as if City were playing Panama.
Whilst City were already 0-2 up and oozing with confidence, the method of play still could be drawn into comparison with the strengths of Man Utd’s play over the past two-to-three seasons. The monopolising of possession, teamed with superb dribbling, enticing lots of mis-timed challenges in defending team’s penalty area; equating to Bruno Fernandes soon standing next to the ball on the spot.
However, whilst Arsenal are a completely different animal in terms of fitness to us, both Manchester teams – in this respect – had achieved something that effectively robbed us all of a contest yesterday: the superiority complex.
The outcome of the game mattered little more than restored or wounded pride.
But the sheer fact that the game was never a contest is something far more disturbing, when all factors surrounding the fixture are carefully considered.
We could go on about fitness, strength, speed of body AND mind.
We could discuss one team playing in Europe in all bar two seasons since 1991 and the other failing to qualify for ANY European football in 24 out of 31 attempts (and how this has played a detrimental part of the FFP ransom).
But what concerns me the most is an observation made in a newspaper report in the year 2000, that despite not directly hinting at football, casts a very dark shadow over two key matches Everton have played – and lost, in 2021.
The article begun in suggestion that rain (and some other forms of precipitation) is the biggest leveller in sport, where human-to-human competition becomes a bigger factor for playing athletes than in more celebrated playing conditions/weather. Michael Schumacher dominating in the rain, whether that be in a faster car or not; a classic example of talent, focus, experience and courage to perform more accurately than any of his driving rivals who could no longer rely on a faster car alone, making Schumacher (the best in the rain) = the best.
There were other examples, but the point is when we had our easiest match of the season (at home to the bottom club, Sheffield United, last May) when a 6-goal hiding was required to apply maximum goal-differential pressure on what was then our most realistic target to overtake in West Ham United, we couldn’t adjust to the Sunday evening rain – even if that meant a 6-goal hiding had to be compromised to a 1-goal winning margin.
Other than unfortunate weather, how does this relate to yesterday’s Old Trafford embarrassment?
Well no matter what participation level of football, or any direct contact sport, is played, being 100% ready to perform at an individual and a collective 100% best, right from kick-off ‘til the final whistle, has to be the norm – 100% of the time.
Upon the consequence of last February’s 3-3 Old Trafford draw, one team AND their manager clearly had more of a point to make than the other.
Trailing 3-0 before the half-hour mark may itself tell a tale.
And yes, whilst a returning goalkeeper with very little preparation, being asked to play in those conditions may not have been the biggest surprise in the world, the facts of opposition honour, determination of the club to progress at a much faster pace on the pitch and off AND the success his past form and reputation, as well as present keeping his national team job title of Best England Goalkeeper – this was frustrating to say the least.
Still, 1-0 down after seven minutes requires a reaction – even though it may throw all planning and training purposes out the window, more-or-less in an instant. Leadership: something we’ve lacked for so long.
And whilst it’s so frustrating too that what prompted our biggest rival to spend £75m on a Southampton defender in January 2018 to address such issues is something we can’t, the second biggest test of Rafa’s career here at Everton has already surfaced (along with keeping our best players here).
How do we tell our players: “
If the opposition are performing better as a team – then WE have to raise our own game to levels we’ve never done before, until the next time we face even tougher opposition...”?
Being first to spot danger, before the opposition sense the kill.
Being willing to make a dummy run, knowing the chances a team-mate in possession may not spot your run, knowing fulwell it will draw a defending player away from your team-mate.
And then being willing to work harder in the gym so you can control the ball more quickly and accurately, using less force, winning yourself more time and space through opposing player respect and honesty to your game.
It will take time to really bed in, but whilst quality costs money, inspiring players to enjoy all aspects of the job enough to appreciate minor details moving forwards is another challenge Benitez really needs to succeed. Succeeding in inspiring and fostering the forward-thinking throughout the squad.
ALL THIS SAID – are there any long-term positives that weren’t necessarily apparent in June? Yes.
In the hope that our first-choice penalty-taker is completely cleared of all charges and can resume a fully-dignified life, his absence provided an opportunity for someone else to show a willingness to burden responsibility for an important aspect of the game: scoring form 12 yards.
Demarai Gray did just that in the US, and despite what didn’t begin to happen yesterday before the game was long lost, I sincerely hope that Rafa will trust the attacking winger to deliver as many attacking returns as he can – to the team’s benefit, without leaving gaps from all defensive duties.
Plus for as long as we have an Olympic gold medallist in our squad, creating one chance for Richarlison per-game may still get us by winning games we’d otherwise probably draw 0-0 – however frustrating viewing such conservative game plans may be to watch.
And, of course, the most kind set of opening Premier League fixtures yet for our club to get points on the board early, leaving European participants to fight over one-another, before putting right what went badly wrong at the Theatre Of Dreams on October 2nd.
Those who still strongly feel against BMD construction,for reasons completely unrelated to the World Herit[you-know-what] in that a Kirkby 65k stadium, able to stage occasional NFL preseason games and the odd Summer Rugby League fixture; with a Women’s 30k stadium built with dual purpose for staging Summer gigs will see this all as a missed opportunity Liverpool FC will regret passing up on as much as we will - UNLESS politicians put party ideologies aside and literally bang heads together ‘til sense is found.
It doesn’t mean cautious optimism for 2021-22 is completely burst, by a long way. I’m still looking forward to it. I hope you’re all on board too...
empresstouch
