Royle: Game is dishonest
EVERTON legend Joe Royle says he is “saddened” by the dishonesty which has swept through football.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche accused Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge (right) of cheating in a theatrical dive at Turf Moor to win a free-kick during the Claret’s 3-1 defeat last week.
And Royle, a new director at Wigan Athletic, is angry at the level of play-acting in the modern game.
He said: “There’s a lot of dishonesty in the game now. It’s not Everton were boring last season. By the end of Sam Allardyce’s reign, fans were caught between apathy and anger. Allardyce seemed to expect acclaim, but fans were not entertained. His team had only three shots on target in four home games against the top six, while Everton averaged the second fewest shots in the Premier League.Even a West Brom side enduring an ignominious relegation had more attempts on goal. Now they have had an attacking makeover. After 15 games, they were averaging 13.5 shots per game this season, more than either Arsenal or Spurs and a rise of almost 50 per cent. The fact they have made the fifth most dribbles in the Premier League shows they are crowd pleasers. The reality that they’ve been fouled the most indicates opponents are finding it hard to stop them. Richarlison is the third most-fouled player per game, but he is no one-man band.
The new left-back Lucas Digne is so attacking he averages most crosses per match. The side Silva picked at Arsenal was the youngest in this season’s Premier League, with an average age of 24.7, the 20-year-old Tom the physical game that it used to be. I see some of the tackles that are booked these days and I think Tommy Smith and Ron Yeats would never have finished the half.
“And wearing pink boots as well. The sad thing is that one nudge and you fall over came in definitely with the arrival of foreign footballers.
“But it’s been equally taken on by a lot of the English boys.” Davies, three 21-year-olds, only three over 25 and no one in their thirties. Silva has made Everton almost five years younger than they were last year.
At times, Allardyce picked a team with only three players under 28, no one less than 24 and an average age of over 29. Silva has brought in a new generation, with Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines ending a decade as first choices in defence.
Wayne Rooney was Everton’s top scorer last season. While they are younger and quicker now, it is unfair to say their problems were solved by letting him leave but, while Silva called the former England captain a “legend”, they made no attempt to keep him. Everton created confusion in 2017 by signing three No10s.
Now they only have one and Gylfi Sigurdsson, exiled to the left wing for much of last season, is allowed to play in his best position.
The Icelander has already scored more goals than he did in the whole of his first year at Goodison Park. He ranks in the Premier League’s top five for both key passes and crosses. He is being allowed to show why he was a £45million player.
While Allardyce changed the system to try to halt opponents last season, Silva has brought clarity and adventure.
The Portuguese always plays 4-2-3-1, but with attacking personnel who make Everton more fluid.
Ronald Koeman and Allardyce preferred to pick two defensive midfielders but now Idrissa Gueye is paired with the classy, creative Andre Gomes, who is showing why Barcelona paid £29m to sign him. Allardyce liked a target man but now Cenk Tosun is normally benched so winger Richarlison can start in attack. He has done so well he has been picked by Brazil. DANNY WELBECK will be offered the chance to rebuild his career with a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray when he leaves – Arsenal next summer. Welbeck who is recovering from an ankle injury suffered against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League – won’t be offered a new deal by the Gunners when his current of agreement runs out at the end the season. Welbeck was wanted
– by Galatasaray earlier this year this time they will insist he proves his fitness from the latest injury that threatens to derail his career.