What a disaster. It looked like the varsity team at your high school in a scrimmage with the JV. Except, you know where that one guy on the JV really impresses against the more talented side? Yeah, that didn’t even happen. Everton were terrible and they deserved to lose, like they did, 5-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
This was, by far, Everton’s biggest challenge of the season so far. Chelsea now find themselves at the top of the Premier League table. Coming into today, they were a ridiculously in-form team that was both defending with tenacity and scoring goals for fun. Welp, they did all of that and more against the Toffees today.
In the midfield, the likes of N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic dominated Gareth Barry and Tom Cleverley. It was clear that Everton were certainly missing Idrissa Gueye, but it is unlikely that even he would have made much of a difference.
Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku did play. I swear! I saw them touch the ball. I think Ross even took a free kick. There is evidence, but they didn’t do too much. Lukaku was stranded as the lone striker, receiving basically no service. Barkley was in the middle of the park, but Chelsea were on the attack so often that he barely had any influence.
It was on defense were Everton were straight up dominated by their hosts. Ronald Koeman sent out a back line with three center backs and two wing backs. With that, it tended to leave Ashley Williams responsible for Eden Hazard down the left wing. That went poorly. And then Phil Jagielka was at the center of the defense. It is clear that Jags is past his prime. He always looks a step slow and may even be injured.
Maarten Stekelenburg returned to the side despite Joel Robles’ impressive performance a week ago. Steks deserved it. He has been great this season, but he had a bad day. There were a couple of decent saves, but the keeper was partly at fault for Chelsea’s first two goals. Does this open the door for Robles? It at least has to be a discussion.
Ugh, I’m getting sick just typing all of this. I now present the goals, in video form, without comment:
.@ChelseaFC score twice in just over a minute! #PLonNBC https://t.co/abqoIXd6Jb
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 5, 2016
Diego Costa. 3-0. #PLonNBC https://t.co/XQEMbxv2Z7
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 5, 2016
#Hazard goal
— 90thMin ⚽️ (@90thMin) November 5, 2016
Chelsea 4-0 Everton pic.twitter.com/p9ieof3PAT
Pedro goal for Chelsea 5:0 Everton pic.twitter.com/4pgWUE7tLX
— wisdom afonofe (@WisdGh) November 5, 2016
Want one positive? Tom Davies got a little bit of time on the pitch and he continues to be an impressive youngster that, I feel, should get more of a chance in the side. Barry grabbed another yellow card and will be suspended for Everton’s next match. So, could we see Davies instead of Tom freakin’ Cleverley alongside Gueye?
This was a bad day. It’s over. The Blues will now all go their separate ways for the international break, hopefully allowing some of the injured Toffees (Leighton Baines) to get healthy and help this team that feels a tad thin. Next up: a match against Swansea City at Goodison Park on November 19.
I know, no one deserves it, but who was the “Man of the Match” for Everton? Vote!