Royal Blue Mersey - Everton at Arsenal: Premier League Matchday 26It's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2018-02-06T18:00:02+00:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/167287652018-02-06T18:00:02+00:002018-02-06T18:00:02+00:00DCL: “We are a team, we win together and lose together”
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<img alt="2018 EPL Premier League Football Arsenal v Everton Feb 3rd" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r-Ltm0rImhzGcJIdAQYQosaKwqk=/0x0:3595x2397/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58592503/913802908.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>DCL rises highest to score on Saturday | Photo by Shaun Brooks/Action Plus via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Youngster is ready to go again</p> <p id="OnBJBR">The only two <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> players to leave the Emirates on Saturday with any sort of positive performances were also two of the youngest in the squad. Tom Davies sparked the Blues midfield with his energy after coming on in the second half, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s introduction paid immediate dividends as he scored the Toffees’ consolation goal in the 5-1 hiding by <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>. </p>
<p id="daqQ81">Still only 20 years old, Calvert-Lewin has featured in 25 of the team’s 26 Premier League fixtures this season; the only game he missed was against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/west-bromwich-albion">West Bromwich Albion</a>, with <span>Sam Allardyce</span> claiming the youngster needed to “rest and recharge his batteries”.</p>
<p id="GVzhY6">After the game, Calvert-Lewin spoke to <a href="http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2018/02/04/refreshed-calvert-lewin">evertontv</a> about his motivation levels. </p>
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<p id="TWbuh3">“I do [feel refreshed], I am young and hungry and want to play every game.</p>
<p id="iPtHya">“I am waiting for my chance – like today (against Arsenal). I am working hard in training and feel fresh and ready to go.</p>
<p id="EgTKcb">“The manager told me to run hard: to get forward and back and try to affect the game. I got the goal but, arguably, it was a mistake from myself for Arsenal’s fifth goal, so it was a disappointing afternoon.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="GlZwKS">The forward now has scored four Premier League goals this season - Everton have scored 46 goals in all competitions this season, with Calvert-Lewin involved in 14 of them, the same as <span>Wayne Rooney</span> and one ahead of Oumar Niasse. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="eUGSNX">“It is nice to score goals but on a day like today it does not have the same effect.</p>
<p id="8DrHV7">”We are a team, we win together and lose together, for me – and the rest of the lads – we are disappointed with the performance. All we can do is work on it and put it right next week.</p>
<p id="bwfEEJ">“Every game is a big game and we have to get our confidence back this week and put it right.”</p>
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<aside id="mcVo4U"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Sam Allardyce embarrassed himself, Everton, in blowout loss to Arsenal","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/4/16970028/sam-allardyce-everton-tactical-analysis-arsenal-mangala-williams-wenger-rooney-tosun-sigurdsson"},{"title":"\"I’ll show everyone in England who is Cenk Tosun\"","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/6/16971536/cenk-tosun-everton-striker-interview-difficulties-settling-in-allardyce-besiktas-turkey-fans"}]}'></div></aside><p id="s1YdAe">Everton had looked like they were finally coming to life with Niasse hitting the post just minutes before Calvert-Lewin scored, but the youngster, playing on the left wing, was responsible for an error that allowed Arsenal to score the fifth and kill any semblances of a recovery. He was not afraid to take the responsibility for his actions, something the manager seems incapable of doing. </p>
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<p id="qymGyw">“Because of the scoreline I tried to keep the ball in play and keep the tempo going, as opposed to letting them get the throw-in.</p>
<p id="RIkexz">“It was, perhaps, naïve from me, when there were two players behind me, but I will have to learn from that.</p>
<p id="NfoMhY">“I wanted to come on and take my chance but it was a frustrating day for all the lads. We wanted to come here and get after Arsenal. </p>
<p id="r3TRc4">“We knew that if we let them dominate the ball they would punish us, and they did early on. The important thing then was to not concede another, but they got the second goal and it was a tough task from then on.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="8ScZFK">With Cenk Tosun’s struggles since joining the club and Niasse’s drab showing the last two starts, it appears Calvert-Lewin may be the best bet the Blues have to start the game, with Niasse and even Tosun coming on as impact subs in the second half. </p>
<p id="dk6ZbP">Expecting Allardyce to have two strikers on the pitch in forward roles even when chasing a game though? You might as well wait for hell to freeze over. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/6/16978434/everton-arsenal-analysis-dominic-calvert-lewin-takes-responsibility-goal-sam-allardyce-niasse-tosunCalvin2018-02-04T14:53:45+00:002018-02-04T14:53:45+00:00Everton at Arsenal: Tactical Analysis
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<img alt="Arsenal v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MIdxA75sBg_oHK2dP5y2x6h6G3Q=/0x0:2316x1544/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58566493/913750870.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>One of the most clueless tactical displays I’ve ever seen from an Everton manager</p> <p id="bEoI82">I don’t have a cute introduction for you in this week’s post. To be honest, I’m so angry about <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s 5-1 loss against <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> on Saturday that you should be happy I’m maintaining anything resembling journalistic standards at all, rather than just compiling 150 four-letter words on how <span>Sam Allardyce</span> makes me feel, and then hitting publish.</p>
<p id="cnKEFA">Big Sam set his team up in a way that was so obviously flawed that an utter beatdown was inevitable, and that’s exactly what the Toffees got. </p>
<p id="C6zjDA">So, with no further ado, let’s dive into exactly what the hell happened.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | Team news is in for this evening's clash with <a href="https://twitter.com/Arsenal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Arsenal</a>! <br><br>5️⃣ changes<br>✅ <a href="https://twitter.com/Elia22Mangala?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Elia22Mangala</a> debut<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFCawayday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EFCawayday</a> <a href="https://t.co/OXJzAdhQFw">pic.twitter.com/OXJzAdhQFw</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/959826322989158400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2018</a>
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<p id="mMRFX1">The issues with this lineup start at the back and work their way forward, so let’s start there.</p>
<p id="KqQoj9">First, in goal — congrats Sam, you managed to actually write the name of your best goalkeeper on the teamsheet! You’re sure to make it through the summer into next season with that kind of tactical nous!</p>
<p id="QzACKp">In defense, things fall apart pretty quickly. Let’s start with the issues that have absolutely nothing to do with Arsenal, and instead are just, very plainly, bad ideas regardless of the competition.</p>
<p id="qimAV1">Cuco Martina is not a wing-back. He’s not been good when asked to get forward, as is needed from a wide defender in a five-man backline. <span>Luke Garbutt</span> once again didn’t even make the matchday 18, though this role was much better suited for him.</p>
<p id="pVVbev">Elaquim Mangala appears to be...not very good. He’s an absolute physical beast, but his decision making looks to be just awful, not to mention he appears to fancy himself a winger, carrying the ball forward on his own as far as he can, as often as he can.</p>
<p id="gKLCaG">The new defender was part of a back five, a system Everton hasn’t utilized particularly frequently this season. He was paired with Michael Keane and <span>Ashley Williams</span>, who haven’t played together a ton this season (Keane usually playing with <span>Phil Jagielka</span>, Williams usually with Mason Holgate). </p>
<p id="w8nbxU">So, Everton had three players with little to no experience together, in an unfamiliar system, protected on the outside by a second-choice right-back and a third-choice right-back turned second-choice left-back.</p>
<p id="8O9E7D">What could possibly go wrong!</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/aaronramsey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aaronramsey</a> was on today, scoring his first career hat-trick! <a href="https://t.co/qcnUQR57ll">pic.twitter.com/qcnUQR57ll</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/959871168365891589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2018</a>
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<p id="Fv4auS">Oh. That.</p>
<p id="TMUajd">The midfield two was composed of <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> and Idrissa Gana Gueye — two players who should be in Everton’s midfield in most situations. However, those two should rarely compose the entire midfield on their own. They need a third, creative influence to sit ahead of them — the type of player Everton has in Gylfi Sigurdsson and <span>Wayne Rooney</span>.</p>
<p id="ia35BV">Oh — what’s that you say? Both of those players started on the bench and didn’t play a minute Saturday? Well then — that’s a problem.</p>
<p id="iEtH5b">Check out Everton’s total passmap from the match, courtesy of <a href="http://EvertonFC.com">EvertonFC.com</a>.</p>
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<p id="D1PwBW">Look at the central area in the attacking third — it isn’t that there was just very little success in that area, <strong>it’s that there was hardly anyone there at all.</strong></p>
<p id="6tJqjr">Morgan Schneiderlin, at his best, can be an elite deep-lying midfielder, breaking up plays and starting his team’s moves into attack. </p>
<p id="BNrrg3">Idrissa Gana Gueye, at his best, can be an elite box-to-box midfielder, winning tackle after tackling and making life miserable for the opponent’s midfielders.</p>
<p id="Ohb3iy">But neither is a creative player — and that really only scratches the surface of the issues in midfield and attack from this match. What this passmap shows you is that when Everton got forward, it failed to get the ball into dangerous areas. The bigger issue, however, was that <strong>the Toffees usually didn’t even have the opportunity to get forward</strong>.</p>
<p id="RMuMZJ">Let me explain, as we start to look at the issues with the front three selected for this match.</p>
<p id="X4cIVT">Let me be clear from the start though — I like the combination of Yannick Bolasie and <span>Theo Walcott</span> on the wings. I think Sam should be utilizing that pair frequently for the remainder of the season, as they give the Toffees an attacking edge they’ve often lacked this season.</p>
<p id="oyY6bR">What I don’t like, however, is forcing Yala and Theo to play essentially as glorified wing-backs because the back five is sitting so deep, that they’ve got to drop alongside to have any defensive contribution and to have a chance to get on the ball.</p>
<p id="SA4GtI">Well, that happened on one wing, at least. Take a look at the Everton average position map.</p>
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<p id="5DGxTq">Theo Walcott dropped very deep to try to get more involved in the play — so much so that his attacking influence was entirely negated. Yannick Bolasie...well...I’m honestly not really sure what’s going on there. But surely as the man furthest up the field, on a wing ahead of Cuco Martina, he didn’t get on the ball much either.</p>
<p id="WZDQPZ">So, let’s recap. Sam utilized a back five sitting incredibly deep, with two full-backs who aren’t the most comfortable getting forward. In front of them, he utilized a deep-lying and box-to-box midfielder, neither of whom had the creative ability to drive things forward. Out wide, his wingers couldn’t find ways to consistently get on the ball.</p>
<p id="uAXo56">That leaves the striker — so, Big Sam must have used the size and strength of Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Cenk Tosun to win long balls out of the back and hold up the ball, allowing the wingers and full-backs to get into the play, right?</p>
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<img alt="Everton Training and Press Conference" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/j_Sd2yXhWYJbt0wJe0VJGoKYLW4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10152773/913409752.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="uRXpUL"><strong>OH COME ON.</strong></p>
<p id="LBBze5">Let me be perfectly clear — I like Oumar Niasse. He’s the Platonic ideal of a substitute striker. He’s great at finding space in the box, particularly as late-game mental errors start to plague defenses, he’s got enough speed to trouble the tired legs of opposing defenders, and he’s got a knack for the big late goal. Everton should keep him around and consistently utilize him in that role.</p>
<p id="nTPPDt">But, he’s not a starter — and he’s certainly not a starter when you know you’re going to have very little of the ball. He’s not big and strong enough to win aerial duels on long balls out of the back, and he’s not pacey enough to consistently outrun center-backs on balls over the top from the start of a match. </p>
<p id="SX4QsY">If you ask him to be that guy, you’re going to wind up with a heatmap like this one.</p>
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<p id="6r0NOH">He popped up in places all over the pitch, but failed to make a substantial impact anywhere — because his game is in the box, not outside of it.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="kYhxAR">
<p id="Fo0yKT">We are now 1,100 words into this analysis, and <strong>I’ve yet to say a word about Arsenal’s role in all this</strong>. Big Sam’s decisions were so poor — against any opponent — that it hasn’t been my top priority to discuss how they matched up against the Gunners. But, those considerations comprise an important layer to this fiasco, so let’s quickly consider this.</p>
<p id="gL1A6s">Allardyce clearly played a lineup that gave a lot of respect to Arsenal, setting things up as though he was facing an elite side — but that’s not really true of this year’s Arsenal. Consider the following.</p>
<ul>
<li id="h26toQ">In January, Arsenal lost to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/swansea-city">Swansea City</a> by a combined score of 9-4.</li>
<li id="32va83">Before Saturday’s match, Arsenal’s goal differential was +12 — 15 goals inferior to fifth-placed <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>.</li>
<li id="L7AzUw">The Gunners have conceded 35 goals this season — the same number as <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a>, Brighton and Hove Albion, and <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a> United.</li>
<li id="F0EFLJ">Arsenal’s starting defensive midfielders in Saturday’s match were <span>Aaron Ramsey</span> and <span>Granit Xhaka</span> — not exactly a bastion of defensive protection.</li>
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<p id="HoEwQK">The point is this — this year’s Gunners are not a side so far-and-away better than mid-table teams that the only way to defeat them is the bunker and pray technique. Everton now has the attackers to create real problems for a team whose defense has struggled at times, but Allardyce elected not to use it.</p>
<p id="LkXVj3">Of course, looking at the match through that lens ignores the fact that even if bunkering was the best course of action, Big Sam didn’t even get that right.</p>
<p id="hSRTSh">For example, I’d say playing Ashley Williams, the slowest center-back on the team, in the middle of the defense against Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, one of the fastest strikers in the world, seems like a bad idea — but what do I know.</p>
<p id="pZ4sXG">Sam Allardyce’s mismanagement of this match was so grand, so unmatched in scope, that it’s hard for me to take seriously anything he does for the rest of this season. If he genuinely thought his tactics gave the Toffees any chance at all to get a result at the Emirates, he might, somehow, actually be dumber than he looks.</p>
<p id="cJOkbJ"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/4/16970028/sam-allardyce-everton-tactical-analysis-arsenal-mangala-williams-wenger-rooney-tosun-sigurdssonAdam.Braun2018-02-04T09:00:01+00:002018-02-04T09:00:01+00:00Arsenal 5 Everton 1: Big Sam’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
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<img alt="Arsenal v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DJYpuT7E8ORj2hI8zDPBgnAdnos=/0x0:2053x1369/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58564717/913771456.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Three Thoughts from Everton’s Emirates embarrassment</p> <h1 id="um5Sht">Horrible team selection </h1>
<p id="8j2czB">I guess the idea of putting five at the back against an offensively-talented team makes some sense, at least in a vacuum. The reality is though, <span>Sam Allardyce</span> decided to play an overly defensive line-up against a team that one of the best in the Premier League with the ball. It didn’t help that Michael Keane and <span>Eliaquim Mangala</span> were simply dreadful, but that’s just part of the story. </p>
<p id="nmZf1M">The midfield selection was poor to say the least. Idrissa Gueye and <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> are fine as defensive midfielders, but they are not fine as the sole players in central midfield. Neither are particularly poised on the ball and neither can be relied on the play any sort of dangerous forward pass. </p>
<p id="TdlpL0">Finally we reach Oumar Niasse. I’m honestly starting to understand why <span>Ronald Koeman</span> froze him out of the first squad. I really believe that Niasse is not cut out to be relied upon to play the starting striker position on this team. Fortunately, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was able to come in and salvage something for <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>, but the striker position continues to look dire for the Toffees. </p>
<p id="901zJF">I can’t really fault Yannick Bolasie and <span>Theo Walcott</span>, they ran their butts off and Walcott had a half way decent match. Honestly, Allardyce probably should have used all three of his subs within the first half hour, that’s how bad this line-up was. </p>
<h1 id="5GdKSc">Big Sam is a terrible manager</h1>
<p id="uRLQzJ">Everton went big with their past two managers and tried to find forward-thinking, continental gaffers to shake them out of their mediocrity. When those two options were unable to sustain their success, they made a panicked move for an old-guard English manager who has absolutely no tactical nuance. </p>
<p id="k7KhkQ">I won’t sit here and act like I saw this coming, but I think many of us had a feeling that this is exactly how a Sam Allardyce managerial run would go. There’s just no record of sustained success in his last few positions. </p>
<p id="CLjRtG">There may be some reluctance to go back to the likes of Ronald Koeman and <span>Roberto Martinez</span>, but if Big Sam is the alternative, I’ll take my chances with the former two managers. At least they got us to the Europa League, and within striking distance of Champions League spots. </p>
<p id="9e6UGj">Firing Allardyce at this point in the season won’t solve anything, maybe at the end of the season, but we have to hope Farhad Moshiri does not let his contract run the duration because we cannot take another season of this. </p>
<h1 id="dtVaSc">
<a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> put on an absolute clinic</h1>
<p id="FIoK4K">Arsenal have absolutely had Everton’s number this season, whether it was under Koeman or Allardyce. It would be impressive to watch them surgically dismantle Everton if it wasn’t so depressing at the same time. </p>
<p id="pPoPbu">They pass and move how Everton wish they could, quickly and incisively. While the Gunners are racking up the goals, Everton supporters are being treated to backwards pass after backwards pass and long balls to nowhere. </p>
<p id="Crk15c">Everton have tried to play a style like this under Koeman and Martinez, but never quite had the personnel to execute it correctly. Honestly, after half a season of long balls and counter-attacks I’ll welcome letting through two or three goals as long as it means Everton are scoring three or four of their own. </p>
<h1 id="efVVXP"></h1>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/4/16968218/arsenal-everton-5-1-allardyce-recap-terrible-tactics-ramsey-mangala-formation-inconsistencymralbaugh2018-02-03T20:54:05+00:002018-02-03T20:54:05+00:00Allardyce bemoans Everton inconsistency in shameless display of irony
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<img alt="Arsenal v Everton - Premier League - Emirates Stadium" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ViEbs8PMi-hhGwaSv04jV-rgLU4=/0x0:1399x933/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58561613/913764170.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Manager’s post-match comments are just utter tripe</p> <p id="r7km3z"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> fans have started catching on to <span>Sam Allardyce</span>’s habit of always blaming someone else whenever things don’t go right. He’s certainly quick to take credit when there’s even a glimmer of something positive, but when mistakes happen or the results go south, there he is throwing someone else under the bus. </p>
<p id="TGTWn7">The Blues were doomed an hour before the game at <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> kicked off with the seven-man-defence that Allardyce selected, and a Gunners side that was easily dismantled at Swansea midweek came out looking like worldbeaters, buoyed on by all the possession and space Everton afforded them in the middle. </p>
<aside id="D4AuXz"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Man of the Match and Player Grades Poll for Everton at Arsenal","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/3/16968334/man-of-the-match-player-grades-poll-everton-arsenal-ratings-no-one-really-they-were-all-terrible"},{"title":"Allardyce ensures Everton’s Emirates embarrassment","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/3/16968204/arsenal-everton-recap-reaction-goals-highlights-wenger-allardyce-mkhitaryan-aubameyang-walcott"}]}'></div></aside><p id="byRoKd">After the game, Allardyce immediately pointed the finger at his players, who to be fair, looked hopelessly lost and disorganized too - a trait that really only reflects on the manager. </p>
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<p id="RScsMd">“It was a disaster. I think I have a lot of trouble with the players taking onto the pitch what we asked them to do. Consistency has been a worry since that burst when I came in, the fact we can perform at that level against Leicester then dip so low in the first 45 minutes against Arsenal.</p>
<p id="VlZHNz">”The longer and longer I go on, the players are showing so much inconsistency that I face an uphill battle trying to get them to play at their best week in, week out. It was a pathetic first-half performance.”</p>
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<p id="NcBXLc">What is indeed ironic though is Allardyce bemoaning inconsistency, when he cannot line up the same team more than once.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Allardyce wants consistency from players but offers no platform for it. In the last 9 games, he's made 40 changes to the starting XI and rotated the centre-backs 8 times. Some players don't play for weeks, play once and then disappear again. Just pick a team and stick with it.</p>— Luke O'Farrell (@lukeofarrell) <a href="https://twitter.com/lukeofarrell/status/959875840275353601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2018</a>
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<p id="Fey8on">Now we have to agree that pushing <span>Seamus Coleman</span> to play again today would have made no sense after over ten months out, but not only did Allardyce replace the Irishman, he made five other changes as well as rolled out a new formation with seven defensive-minded players including one making his Everton debut. </p>
<p id="quAnOe">He talks a good game, but as we’re learning, that’s all it is.. talk. His execution, like his man-management, is absolutely terrible. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="m1LoEk">“You set out to block the areas Arsenal like to play in, we had the same gameplan that Swansea had on Tuesday. We studied how Swansea played, how defensively sound they were and how they limited Arsenal to very few chances.</p>
<p id="1idO9X">”Swansea only had 30% possession but created chances, but I may as well have been talking in a foreign language. We didn’t implement my plans either defensively or offensively and the game was dead and buried.</p>
<p id="th5tey">”It doesn’t matter what system I pick, it’s about players playing to their best. You can show them but it’s up to the players.</p>
<p id="03VGJ7">”I’m not frustated, I’m angry, very angry at the players performing to that level. It’s unacceptable.”</p>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | "Bitterly disappointed and angry" - the manager's verdict on a difficult evening at Emirates Stadium. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFCawayday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EFCawayday</a> <a href="https://t.co/xrRdR4q18j">pic.twitter.com/xrRdR4q18j</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/959891228803428352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2018</a>
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<p id="mJibpD">Allardyce commended Tom Davies who made an immediate difference after the break, but said nothing about why he didn’t start, especially after how well he played against <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a> on Wednesday. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="9OVyGB">“There was one player that showed anything like what we needed and that was young Tom when he came on. He made us play, he got amongst the Arsenal midfield, he got us going forward. We got a goal and could have got another one, and then the fifth goal...where was our defence?</p>
<p id="j9fZeE">”I’m baffled, and I need to say to the players ‘have a look at yourselves, look at your mistakes and how you can improve’. There’s no hiding place.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="xatpfh">Indeed Big Sam, there’s no hiding place, especially now that you’ve made Everton a worldwide laughing stock. It’s time for you to stand up and take responsibility, or step aside and leave our club. </p>
<p id="kz6lRS"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/3/16968598/arsenal-everton-5-1-match-recap-sam-allardyce-comments-inconsistency-players-reactionCalvin2018-02-03T19:30:02+00:002018-02-03T19:30:02+00:00Allardyce ensures Everton’s Emirates embarrassment
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<img alt="Arsenal v Everton - Premier League - Emirates Stadium" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VbLRPg6DymIoPelKAu7yHG5EXZk=/0x0:3356x2237/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58560459/913752296.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Humiliation.</p> <p id="83EkeA">I wrote this at halftime, scheduled it for the end of the match, and turned off my television. You didn’t need to see the entire match to make a judgment on today’s <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> performance, and smart self-care dictated that I simply walk away. </p>
<p id="62Cf6J">Sam Allardyce’s team selection today was nonsensical, and the Blues were behind the eight ball from the kickoff. A formation change, a debut, and six changes meant that Everton went on the road to a top six side with no cohesion and no clue. </p>
<p id="MSfzKG">The defending was shambolic, the attack nonexistent, and all the while Allardyce screamed at his players from the touchline, despite being the one person who could have prevented this embarrassment. </p>
<p id="GRSstX">This is a club going nowhere fast under their current manager. The fact that today’s “performance” came on the heels of perhaps their best match of the season only serves to infuriate fans further. </p>
<p id="i3SSNP">There are, somewhere, some good players here. Unfortunately, the management team at Everton Football Club would prefer to misuse, not use, and otherwise awkwardly stumble through a Premier League season rather than coming to their senses. </p>
<p id="S35mqu">A full reset is required. Show some damn pride. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/3/16968204/arsenal-everton-recap-reaction-goals-highlights-wenger-allardyce-mkhitaryan-aubameyang-walcottevertonchris2018-02-03T19:21:32+00:002018-02-03T19:21:32+00:00Man of the Match and Player Grades Poll for Everton at Arsenal
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<img alt="2018 EPL Premier League Football Arsenal v Everton Feb 3rd" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N1Z4b7MM_xLQDz8zA0YPdwebU6Y=/0x0:3601x2401/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58560815/913767624.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Shaun Brooks/Action Plus via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Grade the Everton players and manager on their performance today</p> <h1 id="k6zWnV">Lineups</h1>
<h3 id="Zz6RPN"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a></h3>
<p id="YuqXMK"><strong>Starting XI:</strong> Pickford, Kenny, Keane, Williams, Mangala, Martina; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Walcott, Niasse, Bolasie </p>
<p id="iPppTD"><strong>Subs:</strong> Robles, Holgate, Davies, Rooney, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin, Tosun</p>
<h3 id="hYm7g5"><a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a></h3>
<p id="0kJu8K"><strong>Starting XI:</strong> Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Ramsey, Iwobi; Ozil, Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan </p>
<p id="w7d2CG"><strong>Subs:</strong> Ospina, Chambers, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Wilshere, Lacazette</p>
<h2 id="2787Tz">Final Verdict</h2>
<p id="74tJOj">Very little to say here really. <span>Sam Allardyce</span> doomed the side with his starting lineup selection, and the players started the game equally poorly. The home side raced into a lead, and it was 3-0 with less than 20 minutes played, and from that point on there was only one way this was going to end. </p>
<p id="7FFHiV">Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on and scored one, with Oumar Niasse hitting the post, but a comeback was never really on the cards. </p>
<aside id="0wSF58"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton at Arsenal: Premier League Matchday 26","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/2/16964724/everton-arsenal-premier-league-feb-2018-walcott-starting-lineups-how-to-watch-tv-streaming-info"}]}'></div></aside><hr class="p-entry-hr" id="BALGSw">
<p id="FCS5f7">Who was your Man of the Match? Vote on the player grades here on how they did. </p>
<p id="Qm0i1Q"><em>If this poll is not showing up on your screen, please </em><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/aXxeYG6EAb8hLt4q2"><em>click here</em></a><em> to go and grade the players - we apologize for the inconvenience.</em></p>
<div id="q8My2e"><iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZhBlNEqxd9LlHltFyy9fj8hpjgKzRhTUIfEbOfjazDvSGUQ/viewform?embedded=true" width="100%" height="800" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe></div>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/3/16968334/man-of-the-match-player-grades-poll-everton-arsenal-ratings-no-one-really-they-were-all-terribleCalvin2018-02-03T07:00:02+00:002018-02-03T07:00:02+00:00Everton at Arsenal: Injury Report
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<img alt="Everton v Leicester City - Premier League - Goodison Park" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Wkxnbzm9UT0uQqP4VBh2PhUyzgs=/0x0:2340x1560/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58557225/912777848.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Seamus Coleman acknowledges the fans on his return | Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Who’s in and who’s out as Blues play at the Gunners</p> <p id="cBlpR4"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> go to the Emirates in Saturday’s late game, hoping to finally end the long-running winless streak away at <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>. During the pre-match press conference yesterday manager Sam Allardyve provided an update on the injury status of a number of players. </p>
<p id="UN2Rek"><span>Seamus Coleman</span> put in a Man-of-the-Match worthy performance on Wednesday, lasting the full ninety minutes in his first game back with the senior squad since his horrific injury over ten months ago. </p>
<p id="CSVJmq">The Irishman could be rested as Allardyce seeks to save him from burning himself out after such a serious injury. New loan signing Eliquim Mangala is at full fitness though and could find himself pressed into duty. </p>
<aside id="vryvxt"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Allardyce praise for \"superhuman\" Seamus","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/2/16963766/seamus-coleman-injury-latest-sam-allardyce-everton-arsenal-team-news"},{"title":"Everton at Arsenal: Premier League Matchday 26","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/2/16964724/everton-arsenal-premier-league-feb-2018-walcott-starting-lineups-how-to-watch-tv-streaming-info"}]}'></div></aside><p id="uZo2hU">It’ll be interesting to see if Big Sam sticks with Cuco Martina whose performance midweek he praised highly, or use <span>Luke Garbutt</span> who has been added to the 22-man squad submitted to the Premier League. </p>
<p id="SEUKg5">Ramiro Funes Mori is ramping up his rehabilitation schedule and taking part in practices, while <span>Leighton Baines</span> is at least a month away from resuming training. <span>James McCarthy</span> is recuperating at home after surgery to correct his own terrible leg-break injury last month. </p>
<aside id="fZPPKM"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Can Everton end their top-six hoodoo at the Emirates?","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/2/16963862/arsenal-everton-premier-league-match-preview-emirates-stadium-theo-walcott-coleman-aubameyang-debut"},{"title":"Everton vs Arsenal: Projected XI","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/2/16964278/everton-lineup-arsenal-starting-xi-projected-injury-updates-news-latest-allardyce-walcott"}]}'></div></aside><p id="CVvLKu">For Arsenal, record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is unwell and might not make his home debut after Arsene Wenger he was still showing signs of a fever and other illness yesterday. </p>
<p id="xankMD">Jakc Wilshere, who has been in sparkling form lately, is also out with a similar illness while <span>Danny Welbeck</span> and <span>Santi Cazorla</span> are also out for the short-term with injuries. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/3/16966878/everton-arsenal-injury-report-coleman-baines-update-aubameyang-debut-illness-wilshere-news-latestCalvin2018-02-03T06:00:02+00:002018-02-03T06:00:02+00:00Allardyce: Theo Walcott can be a key player for Everton
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<img alt="Everton Unveil New Signing Theo Walcott" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vYo6EZHsE93d_BkKM-WuXUcbvwU=/0x0:5568x3712/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58557347/906067914.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Manager thrilled by forward’s fast start, calls on him to maintain it</p> <p id="KJdYTx"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> go to the Emirates on Saturday looking for their first ever win at <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>’s home, and will have a new weapon in their armoury - <span>Theo Walcott</span> joined the Blues during the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">January transfer window</a> after finding himself increasingly sidelined this season by Arsene Wenger. </p>
<p id="jNJKqF">Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Toffees manager <span>Sam Allardyce</span> commended Walcott for his professionalism, claiming that the Blues were able to secure him as cheaply as they did because of his good behaviour despite not starting single Premier League game this season. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="wjPxg0">“I think a lot of negotiation was done by Theo. Because of his service to the club and the fact he would accept what Arsene was doing, he is not a troublesome player who would throw the toys out of the pram.</p>
<p id="n6lZeS">“That respect between him and the club resulted in the move. There are no easy negotiations with Arsenal, believe you me, but eventually the negotiations got to where we did and the insistence for the first time ever from Theo that he wanted to leave, plus the respect they have for each other and the service he gave, probably was a factor.</p>
<p id="Ag3Rzu">“A lot of things have been said about Theo – he hasn’t reached his full potential and all that – but I don’t know how you could say that after last season’s performance with 30-plus games and 19 goals. I think if he’d have been playing a lot this year he would have been happy to finish his career at Arsenal. </p>
<p id="scPYNy">“This time around, because he wasn’t getting his game time, he looked at his career and decided he had to leave. He chose us and hopefully he can be a key player for us.” </p>
</blockquote>
<div id="guEEQy">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | What did <a href="https://twitter.com/theowalcott?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theowalcott</a> do immediately after his match-winning brace on Wednesday?<br> <a href="https://t.co/KK4KqoVvLu">https://t.co/KK4KqoVvLu</a><br> Watch our clash with Arsenal on <a href="https://twitter.com/btsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@btsport</a> 1 from 5pm. <a href="https://t.co/NheXhOfZB2">pic.twitter.com/NheXhOfZB2</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/959732637337341952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2018</a>
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<aside id="hOHX4e"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Allardyce refuses to name a No. 1 striker at Everton","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/2/16964884/sam-allardyce-number-1-everton-striker-cenk-tosun-oumar-niasse-dominic-calvert-lewin-comments"},{"title":"Everton vs Arsenal: Projected XI","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/2/16964278/everton-lineup-arsenal-starting-xi-projected-injury-updates-news-latest-allardyce-walcott"}]}'></div></aside><p id="vgKKID">Walcott has already scored twice and picked up one assist in the two games he’s played so far, and Allardyce challenged him to continue that streak.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="WtGiX5">“The more he plays like he did against Leicester the more the fans will appreciate him. And when you’re appreciated and supported and praised as a footballer it makes you feel good and more confident. You can’t wait to get out there and upset other teams.</p>
<p id="yNkA7h">“He’s started well and we hope he continues that until the end of the season and for the next three or four seasons that he’s here.</p>
<p id="08P6uq">“But the challenge for Theo in going to a new club, is showing everybody who you are and what you are as a footballer, and proving you live up to and better the reputation you have.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="415Q58">The forward was always commended on his class by the Gunners fans, and so far the Blues have not seen anything to make them think otherwise, and indeed can’t wait to see the relationship down the right with <span>Seamus Coleman</span> continue to develop. </p>
<div id="lga7tt">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alright <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@everton</a> fans, last call for mailbag questions! Theo and Seamus look like two peas in a pod and we now have a left sided centerback. What questions do you NEED answered?? Everything goes! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Everton?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Everton</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/evertonFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#evertonFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RBMersey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RBMersey</a> <a href="https://t.co/AEsgG3zsD8">pic.twitter.com/AEsgG3zsD8</a></p>— Brian Foley (@foleysthoughts) <a href="https://twitter.com/foleysthoughts/status/959056809804881920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/2/3/16966254/theo-walcott-arsenal-return-sam-allardyce-comments-everton-transfer-cheap-professionalismCalvin