It’s been a regular complaint throughout the season.
Everton, especially during the final miserable few weeks of Rafa Benitez’s reign, almost always appeared undermanned in central midfield. Frequently overworked, perenially overran.
Against Brighton in early January, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure appeared, at times, like a pair of hulking buffalo attempting to outmanoeuvre a pack of hungry lions.
It was a similar story in the 2-1 defeat to Norwich City – arguably the nadir of the Benitez era. This time, though, Andre Gomes was taking on the role of a wounded, wheezing wildebeest. And it’s no coincidence that some of Everton’s more functional performances have come since the appointment of Frank Lampard and the subsequent signing of Donny Van de Beek.
Lampard immediately identified the need for more legs in the centre of the park. Van de Beek’s industry, energy and probing passing range has certainly helped solve the problem to some extent – his impact was clear to see in the 3-0 trouncing of Leeds United, Everton’s best performance in months – but the Dutchman is merely a short-term quick fix.
Van de Beek is expected to return to Manchester United in the summer. By then, there should be a new manager in place at Old Trafford. One who may take more of a liking to the former Ajax playmaker than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did.
Who must Everton sign this summer?
It seems that Vitor Pereira, the fleeting frontrunner for the Everton job before a furious reaction from the Toffees fanbase and a very ill-advised Sky Sports interview, came to the same conclusion as Lampard did when running the rule over an imbalanced squad.
That more energy and drive in the middle of the park was a must.
Especially at a time when so many clubs tend to favour a central trio. Even Allan and Doucoure, two players renowned for their ability to cover large swaves of ground, could not cope.
That may be why Pereira, according to Sporx, informed his would-be Everton bosses of his desire to reunite with Fenerbahce enforcer Miguel Crespo at Goodison.
Everton even scouted the 25-year-old Frenchman at Pereira’s request.
And Crespo’s performance in Fenerbahce’s 1-1 draw with league leaders Trabzonspor on Sunday night explains why Pereira was so keen to bring him in.
Crespo covered 13 kilometres (eight miles) over 90 minutes, won more duels than anyone else on the pitch (nine) and also snatched back possession on three separate occasions (Fotomac).
That Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid want Crespo too should tell you all you need to know about the way he approaches the game. Hell, Manchester United could do with a player like him, let alone Everton.
According to Optus Sport, Brentford’s Christian Norgaard covers the most distance in the Premier League. But his average of 11.5 kilometres per match is still far less than the distance Crespo covered on Sunday.
Pereira made some very strange decisions while in negotiations with Everton. Telling the club to sign Crespo, however, was one of the better ones.
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