Koeman’s side need to show some Kendall fight
REID WANTS TO SEE ’EM SCRAP
PETER REID can remember Howard Kendall flinging open the dressing room window at Stoke’s old Victoria Ground to let his Everton players hear the travelling support.
“Don’t let those fans down,” the late Kendall warned his struggling Toffees with one of the great team talks.
They went on to win the FA Cup tie 2-0 on their way to lifting the trophy in 1984 as they put poor league form behind them to spark a golden age for the club.
But Reid doubts this current Everton side have the character to fight their way out of a hole like the team led by Kendall, who died nearly two years ago.
Ronald Koeman’s men have had a terrible start to the season and are closer to the bottom of the table than the top, after two wins from their seven Premier League games.
Changed
“I played in an Everton side which, although the game has changed, was lacking in confidence,” said the former Toffees and England midfielder.
“We changed things around through hard work and then the confidence came. That is how we changed it.
“I think this Everton team is in a scrap. The team I was in could scrap. I am not sure this team can.
“I think that manifests itself on the pitch. I am not seeing it. Evertonians and the school of science go together, but first of all they like their team to go out there and have a go.
“There is a lack of confidence and it is showing on the park. If we are not careful, I think we are in a dogfight and I am not sure they are ready for that. That shows on the park.
“Goodison can be a very intimidating place when there is a full house there, but try playing when there is 10,000 and it is even more intimidating.
“But we got through that. Has this team got the character? Has this team got enough to scrap? Forget about all the nice stuff at the moment, it is a scrap for them. Go out there, win your battles all over the park and you have a chance of winning football matches. There is no magic wand, no rocket science.”
Everton spent almost £150m in the summer and there was still optimism about the season, even though Romelu Lukaku joined Manchester United.
“There was optimism and now we have seven points,” added Reid.
“When you spend £140m and you lose your top goalscorer – who to be fair I never saw in big games – but you lose him and his 20 goals, then you have to get one in. The expectations and optimism were high but reality has kicked in now.
“It is all right playing football in papers and in books – it is on the park where it counts and they haven’t done it on the park.” Cheer Up Peter Reid, Trinity Mirror, RRP £18.99. ebook also available.