Everton’s squad has been forged around hard work and an undying spirit.
Especially under Sean Dyche‘s leadership.
The 53-year-old has always put fitness first, and thus that is the bare minimum that Evertonians have come to expect from their team.
Even before his appointment, the £15m signing of Dwight McNeil alongside the return of Idrissa Gana Gueye foreshadowed such an ethos, with quality perhaps put on the backburner whilst they sought to escape constantly Premier League relegation battles.
So, to see them collapse so spectacularly yesterday, due to fitness issues of all things, was really alarming.
Danny Murphy fumes at Dwight McNeil
Analysing the game on BBC’s Match of the Day that very night, the question on Gary Lineker’s lips was whether this should be viewed as a mesmeric comeback or an almighty collapse.
Danny Murphy, combing over the three goals Everton shipped, seemed to settle on the latter brought about by fatigue.
Focusing on the second goal they conceded in particular, he called out a couple of players, namely Dwight McNeil.
The pundit claimed: ‘Left-back high and wide. Why? Not enough men behind the ball, too many ahead of it, they give it away. Poor pass.
Now reaction. Idrissa Gueye, on the left, could fill in and go with Tavernier. He doesn’t, switches off. McNeil… that’s a job back. I want to see a sprint. You’ve got to sprint.
‘Now there’s a three-v-three and there is danger. You have got to get back as quick as you can. Iroegbunam, again, young lad, he actually played well, he gave well. I think he is just completely knackered and he switches off. Not good enough, I am afraid.’
It’s ironic that Murphy noticed the players’ mistakes for the second, whilst Stephen Warnock pointed out Goodison Park’s reaction to Everton’s collapse even before the third had gone in.
Dwight McNeil actually had his best game for Everton
Aside from that late lack of effort, which can definitely be attributed to his dwindling fitness, McNeil actually had one of if not his best games for Everton creatively.
It’s hardly his fault that Dyche didn’t bring off the right players.
Being deployed in the number ten role, allowing Iliman Ndiaye to drift out wide, the former Burnley maestro was freed up for several reasons.
Firstly, his unrelenting work rate was allowed to flourish more openly, not constricting him to just one flank.
He could press the front line whenever he wanted rather than just one full-back, and that could explain his tiredness in the end.
And also, it allowed him to pop up wherever he pleased offensively, helping him forge countless chances for his teammates.
He finished the match boasting the highest rating of anyone on the pitch, having made six key passes and created three big chances, assisting Dominic Calvert-Lewin for their second too, via Sofascore.
It’s such a shame that Dyche could not make the right changes to hold onto what would’ve been a really big win for Everton.
