EVERTON’S EUROPA DOPES
Never mind Big Sam.. what brittle, broken Blues need is Red Adair
EVERTON crashed out of the Europa League with only four games played after conceding three goals in 20 minutes.
Caretaker-boss David Unsworth had called on his team to play like it was a cup final and for an hour they frustrated Lyon.
But two quick goals then a third from former Manchester United man Memphis Depay left them with one point from 12.
NEVER mind Sam Allardyce, Everton may have to call for Red Adair to put out this particular fire.
Abject surrender here in Lyon and a shame-faced exit from the Europa League with two group matches still remaining raises questions not just about form and confidence, but about spirit and heart.
It is as if someone took a match and lit a bonfire under the team ready to gatecrash the top-six party. David Unsworth cannot carry the can for that.
The caretaker manager set up his side with tight organisation, a solid game-plan and a sense of purpose in Lyon.
It worked so well for 70 minutes the home support began to think the match had swung in Everton’s favour, the hosts running out of ideas.
The Blues had overcame the loss of defender Cuco Martina just before the break. He needed lengthy treatment on the pitch and was taken to hospital in a neck brace amid fears of a spinal injury after landing badly.
Unsworth dismissed local reports Martina could not feel his legs, but said the full-back was staying in hospital overnight and had concussion.
Muhamed Besic replaced Martina and Everton seemed untroubled by the break in play.
Then one moment of illfortune, when from Morgan Schneiderlin’s tackle the ball fell to Bertrand Traore for a simple finish, heralded a waving of a white flag.
With Watford at Goodison on Sunday, an angry Unsworth ( below) said: “I told the players in no uncertain terms that Sunday is now a huge game for the club, for me and for them as well. “I told them what I think is required to move forward. I think that’s best left in the dressing room.” As he pointed out, any side can concede an unlucky goal. But it was the reaction to going behind that suggests any new boss will find it as difficult as he and the axed Ronald Koeman have to get the team to fight.
Losing Romelu Lukaku’s goals does not explain what happened for Lyon’s second, when a simple long ball caught out Everton and although the impressive Jordan Pickford saved Mariano Diaz, Houssem Aouar had too much time to convert the rebound.
Schneiderlin capped another undistinguished evening with a stupid second yellow and was sent off, Memphis Depay sealing Lyon’s win for with a fine header.
By then, Everton were an empty shell of a side. If Allardyce or Sean Dyche were watching at home, they may just have had second thoughts about reviving this side.