HUMILIATION!
Fans desert managerless crisis club as they slump to a record Euro loss
THE scoreline was unforgivable, the manner of the collapse an affront to all those who have served the club with honour and distinction.
It was shameful, embarrassing, shambolic. Keep plucking out the negative adjectives and they will all fit the heaviest defeat Everton have suffered at home in European competition, the narrative of a spineless night wholly in keeping for the way they have played in the Europa League this season.
Yet, bizarrely, Everton 1 Atalanta 5 was not the worst thing about this wretched game. What mattered most was the bewildering situation. the inertia that has left Everton lurching like a ship without a rudder.
Everton sacked Ronald Koeman 32 days ago. The failure to appoint a permanent successor is having potentially ruinous ramifications.
Farhad Moshiri, the club’s major shareholder, is the man on whom the spotlight is shining.
‘That is down to the board, that is their decision,’ said Wayne Rooney. ‘Since David Unsworth has come in, there has been a great atmosphere among the players, some positive results, the players are enjoying it. But the board have got a decision to make. I’m sure they’re working on it.’
They better had be. There is nothing shocking about stating that Everton have lost because they have been beaten with ease most weeks. This was the 11th defeat in their last 17 matches, the 12th consecutive fixture in which they have failed to keep a clean sheet. This was part defeat, part submission. No blame can be handed to caretaker manager Unsworth for a mess left behind by significant others but he is not being helped by Moshiri’s indecision.
If ever a scene reflected the current mood of a club this was it. Goodison was empty.
‘I know there wasn’t anything riding on the game but we had paying Evertonians here and I stressed we had to compete,’ said Unsworth, his teeth grinding as he faced a post-match inquisition. ‘The manner in which we capitulated just isn’t acceptable and the players know that.’
That Atalanta were the opposition was, in some ways, fitting. It was in September when the Italians stripped Everton bare in a 3-0 defeat in the opening Group E game that rang alarm bells about the situation that was threatening to unfold.
Everton have not recovered. Europe was supposed to provide proof of progress but, instead, it has become an inconvenience. Unsworth may have urged the squad to restore some pride. And it was also a chance for those struggling for confidence to lift themselves from the doldrums.
But what did he get? Nothing. No matter how many times Unsworth throws the squad names up in the air, no matter how many ways he tinkers, the lack of pace and belief continues to betray them.
Within 12 minutes, the were behind. It was well executed, Timothy Castagne scuttling down the right and jinking away from Cuco Martina before crossing into the centre. Ashley Williams tried to clear but he only found Bryan Cristante, who thumped his finish beyond Joel Robles.
A closer examination of the move, however, magnified many faults. What has happened to Michael Keane? He was hoodwinked far too easily. Where was the desire to throw a body in the way? The midfield simply let Castagne drift into a position to inflict damage.
‘The teams we are playing against aren’t having to work very hard, they’re not scoring wonder goals,’ said Unsworth. ‘They are really poor defensive goals. I asked the players to make it difficult for me to leave them out at the weekend. They have actually made it easy.’
There was no booing at half-time. Just acceptance.
After the break, Everton ended up on the end of the pummelling that always seemed likely. Alejandro Gomez saw a penalty saved by Robles after Cristante had been chopped down by Williams.
Cristante deservedly doubled Atalanta’s advantage in the 63rd minute, sneaking in between Williams and Davies to glance a header into the Park End net, before Sandro drilled in his first goal since his £5million arrival from Malaga. Scant consolation.
Everton did what Everton do and collapsed in the dying moments, allowing substitutes Robin Gosens and Andreas Cornelius, once of Cardiff City, to score in the 86th, 88th and 90th minutes. It was an embarrassment to club that prides itself on fighting.
Yet the fight is no longer there and the onus, ultimately, falls on Moshiri. He must find a manager, he must provide direction. If he doesn’t, he will come understand what a tempest really is. EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Robles 5.5; Kenny 6 (Feeney 69min, 6), Williams 5, Keane 5, Martina 4.5; Baningime 5.5, Davies 6; Mirallas 5.5 (Calvert-Lewin 79), Rooney 5.5, Klaassen 4.5 (Vlasic 62, 6); Sandro 5. Subs not used: Pickford, Besic, Gueye, Lookman. Booked: Williams, Martina, Davies. Manager: David Unsworth 5.5. ATALANTA (3-5-2): Berisha 7; Topoi 7, Palomino 7, Masiello 6 (Caldara 61, 6); Hateboer 7 (Gosens 70, 6), CRISTANTE 8.5 (Cornelius 82), Freuler 6, De Roon, Castagne 7; Petagna 7, Gomez 6. Subs not used: Gollini, Ilicic, Kurtic, Mancini. Booked: None. Manager: Gianpiero Gasperini 7. Referee: Jakob Kehlet (Den) 7. Attendance: 17,431.