Time to Sound the Alarm Bells on Everton

Time to Sound the Alarm Bells on Everton

James Caughlin

Things can change in the blink of an eye in football, originally this post was meant to be a rant about how crazy it was to have an international break three weeks into the Premier League season.

In the space of about nine minutes at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon (local time) it all got flipped on its head as Everton managed to complete the mother of all collapses.

Leading 2-0 over Bournemouth after 86 minutes, the Toffees looked like they were on their way to their first win of the season and a much needed three points.

After all, they had been summarily battered by Brighton (3-0) and then Tottenham (4-0) so they needed something positive heading into the international break.

Antoine Semenyo pulled one back for the Cherries in the 87th minute, no big deal, it might just mean a slightly more nervy ending for Everton.

Lewis Cook levelled proceedings in the second minute of stoppage time which would have been a massive gut punch to throw away two points in such a short time, but at least they would still come away with something from the match.

Until Luis Sinisterra popped up four minutes later…

Cue the pure joy from Bournemouth fans and just utter misery from Everton’s supporters.

Really, who can blame them, it takes something special to blow a match in that manner and come away with nothing.

The reaction of Sean Dyche in his press conference was telling.

Externally, once Bournemouth received their boilerplate plaudits for keeping on trying despite being outplayed, the real meat of the story came out, which was Everton’s collapse.

It’s not just that Everton lost again, but there are massive red flags around this club which has been very fortunate to still be in the Premier League over the last few seasons.

They have been flirting with relegation for a while and based on the first three matches of the season, it’s tough to see where they are going to find the 35-odd points to survive.

Especially when you consider the one strength of their game since Sean Dyche took over has now abandoned them to start this season.

If nothing else, you could count on the former Burnley boss rolling out a resolute, combative and competitive defence.

Last season Everton conceded just 51 goals, which was less than half of what placed Sheffield United allowed, 27 fewer than Burnley who had the best defence of the relegated trio and 10 less than anyone else in the bottom half of the table.

As it so happens, Everton’s goals allowed tally was the fourth best number in the Premier League last season.

Even if they struggled to score a whole lot (like their horrific 40 goals last season), that defence was keeping them in matches and helping them jag points here and there.

But that is now ten goals conceded in three matches this season and even with Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the line, they just don’t seem to be set up to score the necessary amount of goals to win matches when playing this way.

Right now, Dyche has a fortnight to sort out his porous defence otherwise there are going to be a long way adrift come the October international break.

However you can also reasonably wonder if Dyche’s brand of football has worn out its welcome at Everton and perhaps he has done all he can with this squad.

Realisitically this team could have easily been relegated in each of the last two seasons but his style of not overly pretty but hard nosed football helped keep them in the top flight.

But that has not shone through this time around and there are some fair questions to be asked about whether or not he can get them over the line again.

Even with 35 games remaining, you can’t help but wonder if another sequel to the Great Escape is not going past pre-production at Goodison Park.