HODGSON’S COOL PLEA TO EAGLES
Morgan bears brunt of Goodison unrest as the mood turned ugly.. even after clincher from Davies
IF ever there was a contrast to highlight the conflicted mindset of Everton fans, in came in the space of five late, emotional minutes.
Tom Davies found a surging run and a calm finish after Oumar Niasse’s shot had been saved, to seal victory and inspire an outpouring of joy from the Goodison support.
Yet that support for the youngster turned to a stunning, baying anger at a logical substitution, when Morgan Schneiderlin replaced the injured Idrissa Gueye (above, right).
Given the impressive victory, and their rise to within two points of seventh place, the boos perplexed boss Sam Allardyce.
It highlighted the distrust the fans still have for their team and manager in a schizophrenic season.
Allardyce knows the booing wasn’t just for Schneiderlin, more for the perception some players really haven’t given everything for the badge and also a dissatisfaction at the club’s transfer policies.
With most of the mistakes ROY HODGSON believes Crystal Palace could be dragged deep into the relegation mire but pleaded with fans not to panic. Despite a run of just two defeats in 15 before their visit to Everton, defeat at Goodison leaves Palace just a point above the relegation zone – with games against Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool over the next banished, the France international has been left to bear the brunt of terrace anger, and Allardyce said: “What it says is that they think he should be doing better.
“I think we all strive to do better whenever we can and we go through a bad period which has happened for players this season. We are overcoming it, especially at home.
“It is very important players in the squad are supported. Confidence is everything especially when you are playing at home, so I was surprised.”
Yet that negative emotion was contrasted by the faith and support shown to Davies.
A year ago, he was Everton’s golden boy, who was the first name on the teamsheet after Romelu Lukaku. Under Ronald Koeman and David Unsworth though, he month. Hodgson (left) said: “We are fully aware we are one of the teams who are going to have to fight relegation issues.
“It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that we will get dragged into the bottom three again.
“The panic was after seven games. We moved away from that and have shown we have the ability and fighting spirit so there’s no reason for me to panic now.” struggled, making just four Premier League appearances this season until Allardyce arrived.
Yet the fans have stuck by him with the same vigour they rejected Schneiderlin. For Allardyce, it is the youngster’s desire which has made the difference, adding: “He asked the coaching staff what he needed to do to get back into the team and worked much harder in training and lifted his capabilities of getting around the pitch.”
If that was a coded message from the manager, it summed up the message from the terraces. In difficult times, the fans want to see their players busting a gut, and Schneiderlin doesn’t always appear to do that, even if he is.
Niasse definitely does, even if his technique so often lets him down. And the fans love him especially after an important second goal, where he headed towards one corner, and the ball went in the other!
If he is all endeavour and no subtlety, match-winner Gylfi Sigurdsson is the opposite, he changed the game with his goal just after the break when a fine shot.
And if the gifted midfielder can be the talented, subtle pivot Everton flow around, maybe Allardyce can survive beyond the end of the season now he has all but kept the Blues up.