Everton 2-3 Millwall: Disgrace

I’d really prefer not to say another word about this match, but I am duty bound to at least put some words down. Everton stumbled into The Den in South London today and fell flat on their face against a Millwall side that was up for the Cup.

The weather was some of the worst you’ll ever see in a football game, and the quality of play was just as bad. Twice Everton went ahead - once via Richarlison and once via substitute Cenk Tosun - and twice they immediately conceded an equalizer via a set piece. The Millwall winner, you ask? Also a set piece!

Everton’s set piece defending is a full-on crisis, and the managerial ability of Marco Silva is fully in question. The Blues fielded a full strength lineup against the 19th placed team in the second division and couldn’t draw or win. The club is backsliding, and Silva doesn’t know how to stop it.

Of the 14 players used today, really only Ademola Lookman and the aforementioned Tosun can depart with any credit. Andre Gomes and Gylfi Sigurdsson continue to struggle as Richarlison floats in and out of the game at random. Yerry Mina was up and down before being removed with a knock.

Marco Silva might be a fraud. You at least have to ask the question.

But nobody’s getting relegated, and so nobody will be getting the sack, either. But the malaise and unrest are growing, and anything but a win against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday will see the (justifiably) angry mobs grow ever louder.

For now though, another season is pretty much over in January with this FA Cup exit.