Barkley gives Garde a reality check as Everton show class
SO that’s the honeymoon over. Whatever positivity followed Remi Garde’s debut as Aston Villa manager evaporated on Merseyside. Now he knows the full extent of the task he faces.
On the evidence, there is no hope of him keeping Villa in the Premier League. Bereft of quality, they were taken apart by an Everton team that glided through the gears and even the travelling fans began singing, “Villa going down” midway through the second period.
By the time that chant started, Garde was stood in his technical area, arms folded, trying to work out his next move, not for this contest but the ones in the future.
‘I knew the situation before I came,’ said Garde afterwards. ‘The mission has not changed. I knew it was going to be difficult to come here and try to get a point. What we have to do now is all stand together. We can’t let this club down.’
A few feet away, Roberto Martinez held a similar pose. His thoughts for the future, though, centred on ambition and expectation. For all that Villa were desperate, Everton were wonderful.
The four goals were shared between Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku but there were other notable contributions to a victory that shows why they must be considered credible challengers for a European place, not least from Gerard Deulofeu.
Martinez knows this is a pivotal campaign for Everton. They have the nucleus of a squad that could stay together for a number of years and potentially achieve significant targets but, should they falter, plenty of clubs will be looking to cherry-pick their talent.
‘It’s not a problem,’ he said wryly. ‘The only problem is when you have players nobody wants.’
Keep performing like this and Martinez’s dreams of turning Everton into a leading force will gather substance. Villa, currently, are the worst team in the division but they still needed to be taken apart.
Everton took a little while to warm up but, once they did, the outcome was never in question and the rout began in the 17th minute.
John Stones started the move, carrying the ball forward, passing to Barkley, whose back-heel found Lukaku; he, in turn, fed James McCarthy who moved the ball on to Deulofeu. Brad Guzan saved his shot but Barkley was on hand to snaffle the rebound.
Villa visibly wilted and Everton extended their lead in the 28th minute when Seamus Coleman crossed for Lukaku to guide the ball into the far corner of the goal.
That entitled him to a little bit of history, becoming the fifth player to record 50 Premier League goals before the age of 23. He is turning into a monster of striker and the decision by Chelsea to offload him looks increasingly risible.
‘I am biased but I would say he is the best in the league,’ Martinez said. ‘We keep getting reminders of what a special talent he is. It was clear with the investment [£28million] what we think of him.’
With a two-goal advantage against a team that had failed to produce a shot, it was safe to assume Everton had the points in safekeeping and the only issue then regarded how many more the home team would score by full-time.
Number three arrived in the 42nd minute. Barkley was once again on hand to mop up after Villa’s defence made a hash of trying to thwart Arouna Kone. It was so simple for Everton but so utterly wretched for Villa.
‘They wanted it more than us,’ Micah Richards, Villa’s captain, observed.
Inevitably, Everton — who were keeping a first home clean sheet of the campaign — coasted through the second period but there was time for gloss to be added when another move involving Stones, Deulofeu and Barkley ended with Lukaku lifting a shot over Guzan.
No player has got to double figures quicker for Everton in a season since Gary Lineker in 1985-86. If Lukaku continues in such devastating form, it would not be advisable to put a cap on what Everton might achieve. What Garde would do for a player like him.