Big Sam manages to revive a rabble
IT’S all been in the mind and Sam Allardyce has quickly worked out that liberation, not preservation, is what Everton require.
The two previous club positions Allardyce took required him to work and chivvy and organise limited squads, enabling Sunderland and Crystal Palace to stay in the Premier League against the odds.
This latest job, though, is different. Everton’s expensively acquired group might not be perfect but the reason they floundered during a ruinous start to the campaign was down to their mental fallibilities. Six times in the past two months they caved in to lose by three or more goals, whittling away at confidence until it reached chronic levels. This, then, is where Allardyce steps in with restorative measures.
His priority is to employ a sports psychologist for what he describes as being ‘a very important role’ at Goodison Park.
‘If the brain is clear and positive before the lads go out, they produce a positive performance,’ said Allardyce, after this comfortable win. ‘If the brain is clouded and doubtful, you don’t see the player produce the abilities he has got.
‘That has obviously been seen on a couple of occasions here, with the lack of confidence from the lack of results. You have to turn that round as quick as you can, build confidence and let it grow. But there is nothing better than two wins on the trot.
‘After all the work that I might do, or a sports psychologist, what really brings the confidence back is being given the opportunity to go out and play to their strengths and give their all. Play to their best ability and you have got back-to-back wins.’
It is remarkable how Everton’s picture has changed in a week. They were a rabble seven days before, but six points from two fixtures against West Ham and Huddersfield — who are toothless and suddenly give the impression they could sink very quickly — has propelled Everton into the top 10.
Every word of criticism that came their way was deserved but, equally, the position they occupied was false. All they needed was strong leadership and Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s major shareholder, must take the blame for allowing the situation to spiral and not appointing a manager sooner.
Now you can see them making significant ground very quickly and, perhaps, we will see £45million club-record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson start to motor after his first goal at Goodison in a blue shirt removed the tension and set Everton on their way.
Star of the show, however, was Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who provided the assist for Sigurdsson and then finished the job himself when racing on to a glorious pass from Wayne Rooney. If he maintains this form, Calvert-Lewin will find himself in Gareth Southgate’s plans for the World Cup.
‘The more games I play the more I feel it adds to my armoury,’ said CalvertLewin. ‘Every time I play I feel a little bit more settled at this level. I am really starting to feel at home as a player in the Premier League now. It’s a good time for the manager to come in. He’s given us some confidence.’
There is a long way to go but Everton have taken the first steps. Finally the fog is lifting.