We are not winning when we are compact and tight, but we are also not winning when we are more expansive. Sean Dyche must be scratching his head every night because it all comes down to what we do in the final third of the pitch at crucial times.
We have been following Everton for years, and even though there have been occasions when we may have only had two or three opportunities in a game, we have scored one because we possess the killer instinct to step up in the right spot at crucial times and steal victories from opponents like Tim Cahill. We are not as good as we could be, but Dyche has kept us in games.
At Everton, there has been discussion about hiring a striker coach, but I believe that we simply need more focused training. When I was at PSV, I recall hearing stories about Romario, and we all recall what a prolific finisher he was.
He occasionally refused to train with the other members of his team. His role was not to build up; instead, he would work alone for an hour in the 18-yard box with his own coach, then participate in the games, score a few goals, and leave.
You just hope we could start games at Goodison like we did against Manchester United, as we put on a lot of pressure in the first few minutes. The home crowd at Old Trafford was tense and silent, but on both ends of the field, we are our own worst enemies.
On United’s first attack, we gave up an unnecessary penalty. James Tarkowski does not have to accept the challenge, but in my opinion as a defender, you have to consider where the play could have ended.
Alejandro Garnacho, who was taken down for both penalties, was a player for Manchester United who was willing to injure himself, ask tough questions, and make things difficult for the opponent, in my opinion after hearing Dyche is post-match remarks. He initiated the first half of both goals, and no one trailed him.
Tarkowski was moved out of position by Garnacho in order to make that challenge. That does not happen with a little bit more protection and communication.
We were using a high press, and it was helping us get the ball back. Sadly, though, our final ball and our final third of play are just panic attacks. Although the build-up play was excellent, we lacked so much poise in the closing seconds.
There is no suspense when crosses appear when we are moving forward. A nice counterattack move saw Abdoulaye Doucoure go outside and put in a fantastic pass, but no one was breaking their necks to get past the goalkeeper or the front post.
I know Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn’t started the last couple of games but I challenged him to be a bit nastier and Dyche has now called all the players out over this because there’s no point in having four or five players in the box if you’re standing still and expecting the ball to be handed to you on a plate. You need to ask questions of the defence by getting across them.
If I was a striker I’d be thinking that something isn’t working in these moments because I’m not scoring. I need to do something differently.
When Everton had James Rodriguez, his strength was to get the ball into the box as soon as possible. But when Jack Harrison or Dwight McNeil get the ball, we don’t know what they’re going to do.
Are they going to keep dribbling with the ball or put it in first time? There’s no rhythm.
We’ve lost so many playmakers over the last few years, we don’t have the ability to hand you the ball on a plate, as a finisher, you’ve got to do a bit more.
The left-back who Harrison was up against at Old Trafford was Victor Lindelof – a centre-half – but he didn’t get past him once. Why not run at him and ask the question of him?
If I’m a left-back playing against Harrison I’m going to have the easiest game of my life because he’s not going to take me on. He needs to be more confident in his ability, don’t be scared if he tackles you, go at him again.
Manchester United was content to defend their goal after they took a 2-0 lead because they knew we would not be able to stop them easily because we are not the best team when it comes to possession. Although we could have been behind 4-0, I thought we performed incredibly well in the first half.
We gave away a silly foul in a critical location, forcing Jordan Pickford to make a superb save from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick. Jarrad Branthwaite then had to make a vital challenge.
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