Rio Ferdinand has stated that ‘a bit of realism’ is now setting in at Everton and Aston Villa, as he told his official YouTube channel.
The former centre-back feels back-to-back defeats for both sides has brought them ‘back down to earth’ but this is where they will know what they are made of.
Everton and Villa started the season in a seriously strong fashion, the former didn’t lose a game in all competitions until their trip to Southampton a fortnight ago, whilst Dean Smith’s side opened their accounts with four wins from four, including putting seven past Liverpool.
Ferdinand issued a pretty honest and blunt verdict on the two teams and what has happened since they started the 2020/21 in such an exciting fashion.
“James is injured for Everton and they go under,” said Ferdinand. “I think Everton’s squad is lacking a bit of depth. They have quality in their first XI, no doubt.
“But when one or two are going to be out injured in that team then I think it really does affect them. That’s the way the cookie crumbles. But they probably need more bodies of a higher standard as well.
“I think a bit of realism has come into both of them camps in Everton and Aston Villa, which is probably good for them because they will find out a little bit about each other and their players.
“Bringing them back down to earth, but they have had a fantastic run so far. They will be trying to bounce back and that’s the aim.”
If both Everton and Villa are able to react well to these recent set of results then it will bode well for the season and show that there is steel underneath.
Everton would have had ambitions of pushing into Europe this season, whilst those in the Midlands would have been pushing to improve on their last day survival last time out.
And whilst Everton’s ambitions will still be the same, things may have changed slightly in the Villa camp.
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