Charlie Adam urges Marco Silva to ‘free’ Everton defender Kurt Zouma

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Everton defender Kurt Zouma has been a regular member of Marco Silva’s backline this season.

Charlie Adam has urged Everton manager Marco Silva to ‘free’ defender Kurt Zouma and allow him to ‘attack’ the ball in order to defend his own penalty area.

The former Premier League midfielder believes allowing the 24-year-old that freedom would help ease the club’s defensive problems, particulry from set-piece situations – Silva has deployed a zonal marking system.

During their 2-0 defeat against Manchester City on Wednesday night, Silva’s players once again conceded from a dead ball situation – Aymeric Laporte’s header from the free-kick was almost identical to the one Everton conceded against Wolves last Saturday.

Stoke City player Adam, who played alongside Zouma last season, gave his verdict on Silva’s defensive problem as he believes Zouma could be the player to solve their issues.

“I think in a group discussion if you know that you keep conceding goals from [set-piece situations], the manager will probably ask you your opinion, ” Adam told BBC Radio Five Live on 06/02/2019. “You would say, ‘I don’t feel comfortable’.

“The stats are there. Something has got to give. Why not try it [man-marking] in training and work on it in training to see if the lads feel more comfortable that way. And allowing somebody free in the middle of the box to go and attack the ball.

“You have someone like Kurt Zouma there. Big 6ft plus. Wants to go and attack it. Good in the air. I’d let him be free just go and attack it and let everyone else do there own jobs.”

Following that defeat to leaders City on Wednesday night, it meant that the Toffees have now conceded more goals (19) from set-piece situations than any other Premier League team in all competitions [BBC Sport].

Nonetheless, over the course of this campaign Chelsea loanee Zouma [Everton’s official website] has played 22 league matches for his side, according to transfermarkt.

For the majority, he has played alongside Michael Keane at the heart of the club’s defence as they try to solve their defensive issues going forward.

Despite producing poor results in recent weeks, Silva and his side are still sitting in the top 10 and they will be looking to get back to winning ways at Watford at the weekend.