Royal Blue Mersey - Everton at Tottenham: Premier League Matchday 27It's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2017-03-07T19:00:01+00:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/145776532017-03-07T19:00:01+00:002017-03-07T19:00:01+00:00Everton at Tottenham: Tactical Analysis
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<figcaption>Ronald Koeman had a plan to handle Mauricio Pochettino’s top playmakers, but his team’s execution was poor. | Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Everton lined up in an unconventional 4-2-2-2 against Spurs, leading to both expected and unexpected outcomes.</p> <p id="3dfnkw">Despite <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s excellent start to 2017, the club’s predominately cushy schedule through January and February left some doubt as to what this team’s ceiling is for the rest of the season. Sunday’s match against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> represented a true litmus test for the Toffees — can they legitimately make a top-six or top-four push this season, or are they simply stuck as “the best of the rest” for this season?</p>
<p id="WVB7ln">After a match filled with tactical tweaks, excessive errors in execution, and a constant sense of being second-best, the latter has been made unfortunately clear. </p>
<p id="zkDKTf">Things should be far from doom and gloom though, as the Toffees still nearly nicked a result from an incredibly difficult match! However, a closer look at the intricacies of the match do reveal that both <span>Ronald Koeman</span> and Everton have a little further to go before they can reach their goals. </p>
<p id="GygRw6">Let’s start by looking first at Tottenham’s setup, as it dictated Koeman’s lineup choices to a significant degree.</p>
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<p id="DFI4se">As has frequently been the case in recent weeks, Spurs lined up in 5-2-2-1 or a 3-4-2-1, depending on how you want to look at full-backs <span>Ben Davies</span> and Kyle Walker. This is an attractive setup to <span>Mauricio Pochettino</span> for a number of reasons that may be familar to Everton supporters.</p>
<p id="5Vhwmw">Spurs have very dangerous attacking full-backs in Walker and <span>Danny Rose</span>, but lack particularly effective attacking wing players — so utilizing the full-backs as the team’s true wide players makes a lot of sense. Rose is out injured currently, so Davies fills in on the left. Their three center-backs all move well, a must-have for any team playing with a three-man backline, not to mention Vertonghen’s experience playing as an out-and-out left-back for both club and country.</p>
<p id="vjN2V4">The biggest advantage to this setup is up front though, where the ever-dangerous Dele Alli and <span>Christian Eriksen</span> can make plays behind Harry Kane. Eriksen has spent some time in a wide position this year, but is definitely at his best in a more central role. In the 3-4-2-1, he and Alli are both afforded this privilege, while Moussa Dembele and <span>Victor Wanyama</span> marshall the rest of the midfield.</p>
<p id="B6QBG5">With the dangerous duo of Dele and Eriksen lurking, Koeman changed his side pretty substantially on Sunday.</p>
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<p id="Zif1fZ">Koeman elected to go with a very clear 4-2-2-2, a significant deviation from what we’ve seen in recent weeks from the Dutchman. The only personnel change from last week’s win against <a href="https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/">Sunderland</a> was the introduction of <span>Gareth Barry</span> in the place of Ademola Lookman, but as you’d expect given the differences between those two players, this was accompanied by a significant switch in system.</p>
<p id="gekEoE">The choice to play in this system came with a very clear goal in mind — stop Alli and Eriksen from having a substantial impact in the middle of the Spurs attacking third. Barry and Schneiderlin were tasked with marshalling the area just in front of the back four, where those two dangerous players look to operate.</p>
<p id="wNOigm">Koeman, Barry, and Schneiderlin essentially met this goal.</p>
<p id="zSGc2W">Take a look at the passmaps of both Alli and Eriksen, courtesy of <a href="http://FourFourTwo.com">FourFourTwo.com</a>.</p>
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<p id="fZL4XT">Don’t let Alli’s assist (the yellow pass on his map) fool you — that came on Kane’s second goal, shortly after <span>Joel Robles</span>’ bewildering pass out of the back. There’s no fault to be placed on the central midfielders for failing to track him on that play, given that the keeper essentially passed him directly through Everton’s backline.</p>
<p id="ibPG0P">Outside of that, the pair had only one key pass between them, which was actually the only pass either even completed inside Everton’s defensive box.</p>
<p id="rPMrNx">The result was that the Toffees, despite pretty evidently being outplayed, didn’t give up a ton of quality chances, and those that they did were largely caused by errors related to execution, rather than tactics.</p>
<ul>
<li id="MN8uiE">Barry and Gueye probably should have closed Kane down on Spurs’ first goal more quickly, but the shot should have been stopped by Joel.</li>
<li id="O4a449">Joel passed his team into trouble ahead of the second goal, which he may as well have simply punted into his own net.</li>
<li id="mGee33">Half of Everton’s players completely fell asleep on Tottenham’s third goal, what should have been a harmless late set piece.</li>
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<p id="Zzs2iF">It’s tempting to see the Toffees uncharacteristically give up three goals, recognize the change in system, and blame Koeman for those shortcomings. But a closer look at the way his players limited the impact of Spurs’ key players, and the ridiculous nature of Tottenham’s goals, largely vindicates the Dutch manager.</p>
<p id="HFjiP8">However, these moves also completely stifled Everton’s attack for 60+ minutes, making it incredibly difficult to bounce back from the early error that put Spurs in front. </p>
<p id="2gz3QV">With Davies and Gueye playing as Everton’s “wide” midfielders, obviously <span>Seamus Coleman</span> and <span>Leighton Baines</span> were going to be the only players who could give the Toffees any attacking width. </p>
<p id="ke8drq">However, a team has got to be able to move the ball into the attacking third to effectively get full-backs into the attack — and Everton simply couldn’t beat the Spurs press to do so.</p>
<p id="iQAecM">The Toffees spent far too much of this match trying to pass through Tottenham’s high pressure, something that they couldn’t manage to do for most of the game. This led them to passes in the middle third that looked like this.</p>
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<p id="3IKewr">There’s a ton of successful backwards and sideways passes here, but not much success moving the ball forward — though it certainly wasn’t for a misguided lack of trying. Eventually, Everton moved to a more long ball-focused approach to bypass the midfield logjam.</p>
<p id="iGejuf">In a vacuum, this was the right move. As part of the high-pressing plan, Spurs often adopted a very high backline, something that <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> has the speed and strength to beat if approached correctly. However, his partner up top, <span>Ross Barkley</span>, was the wrong candidate to assist in that effort. </p>
<p id="5OOPY2">Lukaku’s strike partner needed either to be a strong, target forward who could win the aerial battles and work the ball to the Belgian, or a speedster who Lukaku could try to play through after winning the ball himself. Instead, he had Barkley, a player who has a fair amount of both skills, but not an overwhelming amount of either.</p>
<p id="GIDmSD">The result was a lot of unsuccessful long balls...</p>
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<p id="dFbAo3">...and a failure to regularly complete passes in the final third.</p>
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<p id="7kzbU0">The Toffees caught a bit of luck when one of the few passes to Lukaku in a decent area let to a slip from Vertonghen and set the Belgian striker through on goal. From that point forward, the match was a mad scramble, rather than a continued tactical battle.</p>
<p id="BXykUK">The short assessment of Koeman’s afternoon then, is this: </p>
<ul>
<li id="xPprHJ">His plan to adopt a defensive-minded structure actually worked pretty well. Had Joel had a better day, we easily could have found ourselves complementing Koeman for utilizing a system that got his team a 0-0 or 1-1 draw.</li>
<li id="wyqVRV">His players tried too hard to pass through Spurs’ high press, something that was never going to work out. Whether or not this was his direction, or just the natural course the match and the players took, especially in the first half, is unclear. So, we’ll give him a pass on this one.</li>
<li id="6sx2De">His choice of a partner for Lukaku, however, does fall solely on the Dutchman’s shoulders. Barkley does not have the speed or strength to play in a long-ball first gameplan, and with Ademola Lookman and <span>Kevin Mirallas</span> both on the bench, there are questions to be asked about that decision.</li>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/3/7/14827510/everton-tottenham-hotspur-spurs-tactical-analysis-barry-koeman-defense-joel-lukakuAdam.Braun2017-03-07T09:00:02+00:002017-03-07T09:00:02+00:00Tottenham Hotspur defeat just a reality check for Everton
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<figcaption>Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Everton were beaten 3-2 at White Hart Lane on Sunday</p> <p id="1yLMrF">After going the entirety of 2017 unbeaten, <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>ians headed into the game against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> with renewed optimism. </p>
<p id="sW93tG">While the table has contrived against the Blues and they’ve been unable to move up or down for several weeks, the general consensus has been that this team are moving in the right direction regardless. </p>
<p id="mrxsNA">That came to a shuddering halt at White Hart Lane as a combination of poor tactics; sloppy defending and poor decision-making saw the unbeaten run ended.</p>
<p id="1n6PyW">It left many of us scratching our heads, where had the Everton that sat atop of the Premier League form table disappeared to?</p>
<p id="cnRjRD">Well, the answer is a simple one; they hadn’t disappeared anywhere. This was just a reality check and a clear indication of where this current side is. </p>
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<cite>Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="1CUZU0">Everton are, at this moment in time, the best of the rest. The team is exactly where it should be in the table. Only those who are overly optimistic would suggest otherwise. </p>
<p id="0aTH31">Each of the teams above have better squads, better budgets and are performing to a higher level than Everton are. </p>
<p id="6sTDuY">That situation may change in future, preferably next season, but for now, <span>Ronald Koeman</span> and his men must focus on securing seventh and hopefully Europa League football. </p>
<p id="mgzpwa">That would be a good first season under the Dutchman given the mess he inherited, on and off the pitch, when he arrived at Goodison Park. </p>
<p id="ZcmIso">The future is bright for the Toffees and while the loss in London was disheartening, it was not the major defeat that some would have you believe. </p>
<p id="knKd9J">It was simply a confirmation of the fact Everton are currently the best of the rest outside the top six, which is not an entirely terrible thing to be.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/3/7/14827824/tottenham-hotspur-defeat-just-a-reality-check-for-everton-premier-leagueSean_Lunt2017-03-06T14:58:41+00:002017-03-06T14:58:41+00:00Everton at Tottenham: Extended Highlights
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<figcaption>Valencia scoring Everton’s second yesterday | Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>All the goals, saves, chances and more from yesterday</p> <p id="QdkZ3x"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> lost 3-2 at <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> yesterday in a game that had plenty of action. The Blues can consider themselves lucky to not have had a worse hiding as the home side dominated the game and the final score flattered the visitors. </p>
<div id="VOkbsT"><script src="//cdn.playwire.com/bolt/js/zeus/embed.js" data-config="//config.playwire.com/21772/videos/v2/5358343/zeus.json" data-width="100%" data-height="100%" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<p id="J5uMCX"><em>Highlights courtesy of </em><a href="http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2017/03/05/tottenham-hotspur-vs-everton-highlights/"><em>Full Matches and Shows</em></a></p>
<p id="Q5cZ1v"><span>Harry Kane</span> capitalized on poor marking from Everton in the first half to create some space and fire in a shot from distance. Spurs had a couple more chances to extend their lead before the break, with <span>Joel Robles</span> having to make a one-on-one save and then the post coming to the Blues’ rescue.</p>
<p id="i1ZmO8"><span>Ronald Koeman</span> refrained from making any changes at the break despite his side being heavily overrun and it came as no surprise when the home side’s high press released Kane who slotted home ten minutes after the half.</p>
<p id="ABmuop">Tottenham took the foot off the pedal after doubling their lead and let the Toffees come back into the game a little especially after <span>Kevin Mirallas</span> came on for Tom Davies and <span>James McCarthy</span> replaced <span>Gareth Barry</span>.</p>
<p id="yYBbpW">Out of nowhere though, <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> finally scored his first goal against Tottenham to become Everton’s record Premier League goalscorer with his 61st. The goal woke up the Blues as they finally put some pressure on the hosts, but the equalizer was not to be and Everton dropped a point further behind <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> who drew yesterday.</p>
<p id="wHgpAH">Dele Alli then put Tottenham up by two again in time added on but an even later goal from <span>Enner Valencia</span> was not enough to tie it as Everton slipped to their first defeat in ten games.</p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/3/6/14827858/everton-at-tottenham-extended-highlights-motd-match-of-the-day-kane-dele-lukaku-valencia-joelCalvin2017-03-06T11:36:04+00:002017-03-06T11:36:04+00:00Tottenham 3 Everton 2: Everton outclassed in defeat to Spurs
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<figcaption>Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Three thoughts from Everton’s tough loss to Tottenham</p> <h1 id="TlOh0U">Goalkeeping errors doom Toffees</h1>
<p id="Tfbiey">In recent weeks <span>Joel Robles</span> has been at his best in net for <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>. Having contributed to the Blues recent run of clean sheets, Robles looked primed to take the helm as the goalkeeper of the future. However, his performance against <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> may leave some pining for a more steady hand in goal for Everton.</p>
<p id="XCalkt"><span>Harry Kane</span> has been unstoppable since returning from injury, so it’s no surprise that he found his way on to the score sheet in this match. But it’s the way that he scored both of his goals that will leave a bad taste in Everton supporters’ mouths. His first goal, a brilliant strike from outside of the box, seemed entirely stoppable. There was no one screening Robles and from the multiple replays the ball didn’t seem to have a tremendous amount of movement. </p>
<p id="u27qZe">Generally the keeper will get the benefit of the doubt when a well struck shot finds the back of the net, but I can’t help feeling like Robles could have done better.</p>
<p id="l8Bl7D">Kane’s second goal was infinitely more shambolic and showed just how frazzled Everton were by Tottenham’s high press. Instead of kicking the ball to relative safety down the field, Robles opted to roll the ball to the feet of Morgan Schneiderlin. The midfielder was quickly dispossessed, the defense was wrong-footed and suddenly the match was 2-0 in favor of the home side. </p>
<p id="WwkXxB">Robles has been largely solid since taking over for <span>Maarten Stekelenburg</span>, but he will have to do better if he wants to stay in net for Everton.</p>
<h1 id="TCTQvI">Defense reverts to bad habits</h1>
<p id="kKUd5J">Robles may have been shaky, but the defense get’s their fair share of the blame for this loss. In particular, the center back pairing of <span>Ashley Williams</span> and Ramiro Funes Mori looked confused and flat footed on more than one occasion. </p>
<p id="kfe9O4">Tottenham’s lightning quick style can certainly be tough to deal with. There is a reason they have been one of the best teams in the Premier League this season. But even with three defensive midfielders in front of them, the center backs often found opposing players making dangerous runs behind them. </p>
<p id="7xA2en">These errors in particular did not result in goals for Tottenham, but with the amount of mistakes being made by the defense, the score could have easily been higher than it was. </p>
<h1 id="8lKJ6Z">No answer for the high press</h1>
<p id="sqzA0c">When Everton drew with Tottenham in the season opener, it was clear that neither side was at full fitness. Spurs signature high press was not on full display and Everton were able to come away with a point. In the reverse fixture, Tottenham looked to be a finely tuned machine and Everton struggled throughout the whole match to move the ball into dangerous areas. </p>
<p id="LTVhFa">Ronald Koeman’s strategy was clear when the line up was released. With three defensive midfielders, the goal was to absorb pressure and beat Tottenham’s high back line on the counter attack. But the rare moments where Everton saw the ball they could do nothing with it. </p>
<p id="FVWOD5">The short passing game was snuffed out time and time again, forcing the midfield to play the ball backwards. On the few occasions Everton were able to spring a pass into the attacking third, Tottenham’s center backs shut down the play. </p>
<p id="WfWoda">Eventually resorting to hoofing long balls up the field, Everton still had no answer to Tottenham’s suffocating press. Everton did finally get on the score sheet, but the final score was deceiving, making the game look much closer than it truly was. </p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/3/6/14821786/tottenham-3-everton-2-everton-outclassed-in-defeat-to-spurs-kane-lukaku-dele-barkleymralbaugh2017-03-05T18:40:38+00:002017-03-05T18:40:38+00:00Koeman calls for calm despite loss
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<figcaption>The two ex-Saints bosses - Koeman and Pochettino | Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Manager’s post-match quotes after tough loss at White Hart Lane</p> <p id="CCSJgv"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> lost away at <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> 3-2, but the score could have been much worse and yet the Blues could have even tied it, undeservedly so according to the manager <span>Ronald Koeman</span>. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | Here's <a href="https://twitter.com/RonaldKoeman">@RonaldKoeman</a>'s view on today's game - and last night's <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyBellew">@TonyBellew</a> win. <a href="https://t.co/JRCLcFIKJR">pic.twitter.com/JRCLcFIKJR</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/838434788184899585">March 5, 2017</a>
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<blockquote>
<p id="ihjlZI">“We brought everything to try and get a good result. </p>
<p id="frwaS1">“At 2-1 I was really optimistic about getting one. But the players were a little bit afraid and did not have that ball possession that they have had before. </p>
<p id="9zOAKN">“At 3-1, we brought it back again but there was no time to make a draw. </p>
<p id="lUQT4W">“Tottenham are a strong team. Now is the time to keep calm and prepare for the next two home games. That will shape our direction for the end of the season.”</p>
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<p id="8uwQAj">Koeman was unhappy with the multiple mistakes the team made on the day.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="lHvVH4">“It was emotional until the last second. The game was really difficult. We started well and made it hard for Spurs to create open chances, but they have scored from a shot from distance. After that it was more difficult. </p>
<p id="ovn6l1">“They had further chances to score before half time, and what really disappointed me was how they got their second goal, from a mistake by us. </p>
<p id="DVICv6">“At least we showed great character until the end of the game, and tried to get it back at 2-1. We were hoping for a point but their third killed the final result. It was too easy from the free-kick and if you make that kind of mistakes at this level against a team like Spurs then they will punish you.”</p>
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<p id="0YbBxF">The difference between the two sides was pretty clear. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="BC0Bct">“If you compare the two teams today it's the third season of Pochettino at Tottenham and you could see a lot of the daily training work in the team. </p>
<p id="BPnPx6">“If we get that time at Everton we can make the next step.”</p>
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<p id="QGQUrK"><span>Ross Barkley</span> was Everton’s best player on the day, and Koeman acknowledged it. </p>
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<p id="vPvoDr">“I think in the second half he was really important. He was strong on the ball and he had some good passes.</p>
<p id="WZfDYo">“I think in the first half he needed to support Romelu more but we made some mistakes with our final balls and their high defensive line left space but we needed good balls.</p>
<p id="utdGis">“But overall I think he played on a really high level today and he showed again today that he is on a good direction as a football player for us.”</p>
</blockquote>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/3/5/14821022/tottenham-3-everton-2-koeman-calls-for-calm-despite-loss-managers-post-match-commentsCalvin2017-03-05T16:02:01+00:002017-03-05T16:02:01+00:00Spurs 3-2 Everton: Instant Reaction
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<img alt="Tottenham Hotspur v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ou_nGqBW-AydIPgCOXGWWvcoA7k=/51x0:2820x1846/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53543463/648225810.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>What a disappointment</p> <p id="RzxSQd">Tottenham are a better team, up and down the squad, than Everton. But on Sunday at White Hart Lane, the difference between the two teams wasn’t talent, but rather a collection of stupid mistakes and some timid management. The match ended up 3-2 in favor of Spurs after a late barrage of goals.</p>
<p id="pf3aSY">In order for the Blues to get anything out of this game, they knew they had to play solid, perhaps outstanding, defense. They didn’t even come close to approaching that. Ramiro Funes Mori had a gaffe or two. Ashley Williams couldn’t get out of his own way. And Joel Robles had, mentally, his worst performance of the season.</p>
<p id="muxiDa">Physically, Robles made a number of good saves and kept Everton in the match in many ways. But at the same time, he was slightly at fault for Spurs first two goals. The first, he was on an odd angle from the goalscorer, Harry Kane, and he was also in the middle of a hop when Kane shot the ball, not allowing him to react properly. On the second goal, he inexplicable rolled a pass out to Morgan Schneiderlin, putting him under immediate pressure. Schneiderlin was unable to handle it and gave the ball away before Kane buried his second of the day.</p>
<p id="oD4Ag1">It was a disappointment because, for most of the season, Robles has been rock solid between the sticks. But goalkeeping is a position where you need to be pretty much perfect to keep your spot. One or two errors can make the number one shirt up for grabs. Everton will be on the hunt for a goalkeeper in the summer, regardless, but Robles needs to bounce back from this if he is to be the assumed starter heading into next season.</p>
<p id="9N2oCo">The third Spurs score came off of a set piece where the entire Everton team fell asleep and allowed Deli Alli go on an easy run, pick up the pass off the free kick and flick it into the goal. It was just too simple and really inexcusable.</p>
<p id="Zg7aW5">However, Robles and the defense were far from being Everton’s only problem. Going forward, the team looked awful. Romelu Lukaku could barely even sniff the ball because, as we have seen time and time again, there was a serious lack of service play. These are the days where Gerard Deulofeu and his affinity for lovely crosses is deeply missed. </p>
<p id="ESE7ii">Gareth Barry wasn’t doing much of anything in the midfield. Tom Davies never had that one perfect long ball or marauding run he is becoming known for. And both Idrissa Gueye and Ross Barkley showed a great work rate, but couldn’t quite create anything of substance. It just was not good overall.</p>
<p id="D9I8RS">Everton did manage two late goals. The first was from Lukaku. He had a little help when the Spurs defender fell down and all he had to do was slot it home. But the goal ignited the Everton attack. All of the sudden, they had life and looked exciting on the ball. That is the problem, though. Lukaku shouldn’t have to score in order for the boys to believe they can get some points out of game. He can’t do everything by himself.</p>
<p id="Xho6QA">Despite conceding that Alli goal late, the Blues stayed on the front foot and Enner Valencia ended up getting them a second. Everton have the option of buying him at season’s end. He certainly wouldn’t be a starter, but has proven to be useful and energetic off the bench. </p>
<p id="9Tt9r9">This was the first game where I, personally, have questioned Ronald Koeman’s decision’s in a close match. Everton were clearly struggling in the first half. They couldn’t create many chances and weren’t exactly stout on defense. Why stick with the say side for 15 more minutes in the second half? Change it up in the dressing room and get some attacking threats on there. Instead, he went conservative and dug the team a bigger hole that they couldn’t climb out of.</p>
<p id="K8G177">As many have noted, this was a “barometer game”. Spurs are really good and will be playing in Europe (again) next season. They are a side built at their base with good, young English talent and accented by quality players from around the globe. This is where Everton want to be, but they aren’t there yet. If they are going to get there, they need to become more clinical, get a deeper squad and hold onto the good things they have now.</p>
<p id="UgFuK2">Next up for Everton, two home games against West Bromwich Albion and then Hull City on the next two Saturdays. </p>
<p id="Dp5MJp"><a href="http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/3/5/14819776/man-of-the-match-and-player-grades-poll-for-everton-at-tottenham-barkley-lukaku-valencia">There were some good things about today. Tell us about them in our weekly Man of the Match and player grading poll.</a></p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/3/5/14819772/spurs-everton-instant-reaction-lukaku-kane-alli-2017_TyYoung2017-03-05T15:29:32+00:002017-03-05T15:29:32+00:00Man of the Match and Player Grades Poll for Everton at Tottenham
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<figcaption>Lukaku scores for Everton | Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Vote on how you think the players did today</p> <p id="tdigam"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> lost 3-2 at <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> to remain in seventh-place after uninspired play and poor passing proved to be their undoing. Spurs set a Premier League record with nine consecutive home wins, while <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> is now Everton’s top scorer in Premier League history. </p>
<p id="Q5cZ1v"><span>Harry Kane</span> capitalized on poor marking from Everton in the first half to create some space and fire in a shot from distance. Spurs had a couple more chances to extend their lead before the break, with Joel having to make a one-on-one save and then the post coming to the Blues’ rescue. </p>
<p id="i1ZmO8">Koeman refrained from making any changes at the break despite his side being heavily overrun and it came as no surprise when the home side’s high press released Kane who slotted home ten minutes after the half. </p>
<p id="ABmuop">Tottenham took the foot off the pedal after doubling their lead and let the Toffees come back into the game a little especially after Mirallas came on for Davies and McCarthy replaced Barry. </p>
<p id="yYBbpW">Out of nowhere though, Lukaku finally scored his first goal against Tottenham to become Everton’s record Premier League goalscorer with his 61st. The goal woke up the Blues as they finally put some pressure on the hosts, but the equalizer was not to be and Everton dropped a point further behind <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> who drew yesterday. </p>
<p id="NIYm4G">Dele Alli then put Tottenham up by two again in time added on but an even later goal from <span>Enner Valencia</span> was not enough to tie the game as Everton slipped to their first defeat in ten games. </p>
<p id="HBo89P"><strong>Starting XI </strong>- Robles, Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines, Gueye, Schneiderlin, Barry, Davies, Barkley, Lukaku</p>
<p id="slBU8w"><strong>Bench </strong>- Stekelenburg, Jagielka, Mirallas, McCarthy, Valencia, Holgate, Lookman</p>
<p id="oZKscu">Grade the players in the poll below on how you think they did. </p>
<p id="PgDgpV"><em>If this poll is not showing up on your screen, please </em><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/L216tWAnV1D8gTHJ3"><em>click here</em></a><em> to go and grade the players - we apologize for the inconvenience.</em></p>
<div id="KIflrU"><iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEZoIJaXpmlJfOAfzT25E_5kq7yMrCb9Q3NLAWqNI1Szhn6w/viewform?embedded=true" width="100%" height="700" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe></div>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/3/5/14819776/man-of-the-match-and-player-grades-poll-for-everton-at-tottenham-barkley-lukaku-valenciaCalvin2017-03-05T07:00:02+00:002017-03-05T07:00:02+00:00Michael Oliver in charge of Everton at Spurs
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<img alt="Everton v Stoke City - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FcPKnTSiv_Z4yeTtmA6WpeGyIL8=/0x0:3272x2181/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53538079/596417292.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michael Oliver at Goodison Park | Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Match officials announced for Sunday clash</p> <p id="WrK9XB">Referee Michael Oliver has been appointed to take charge of <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s game on Sunday at <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>. </p>
<p id="2swj22">The Northumberland-born referee loves doing Merseyside games, after having been the referee for 28 <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> games and 26 Everton games before today. He’s also been responsible for 21 Spurs games too. </p>
<p id="wBKyO4">This will be Oliver’s fourth Toffees game of the season, after a home win over <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> and two 1-1 draws against the Mancunian clubs - away at <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> and home to <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a>.</p>
<p id="zru0TG">Everton have three wins, five draws and two losses in the ten away Premier Leagues he has controlled. The Blues have picked up 33 bookings and no dismissals in 23 Premier League games that Oliver has officiated. </p>
<p id="jkPXML">Oliver has been the referee for two previous Everton - Spurs clashes - a 2-1 win for Tottenham at home in November 2014, and a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park in January 2016.</p>
<h4 id="1XSahC">Match Officials details -</h4>
<p id="focOHc">Referee: Michael Oliver </p>
<p id="Zce0MJ">Assistants: S Burt, C Hatzidakis</p>
<p id="CzJq90">Fourth official: N Swarbrick</p>
<p id="4vCQMK"><strong>Michael Oliver’s Everton record -</strong></p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6uoUX0xlf6kZ5AJ_yNHzHJOJOMY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8094793/Oliver_Everton_4.JPG">
<cite><a href="http://www.worldfootball.net/referee_summary/michael-oliver_2/everton-fc/4/">World Football</a></cite>
<figcaption>Michael Oliver Everton record</figcaption>
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<p id="HQG2RJ"><a href="http://www.worldfootball.net/referee_summary/michael-oliver_2/">Referee data courtesy of World Football</a></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/3/5/14817098/michael-oliver-referee-everton-tottenham-match-officials-announcedCalvin