Marco Silva’s Everton have lost four of their last five Premier League games, going down 1-0 at Goodison Park against Leicester City on New Year’s Day.
There has been a lot of talk about the fact that Everton are far more easy on the eye than they were last season.
A pragmatic side under the hugely unpopular Sam Allardyce, the Toffees are now one of the Premier League’s more watchable sides since Marco Silva took over at Goodison Park with the likes of Bernard, Andre Gomes and Richarlison helping to introduce a forward-thinking and possession-based style.
But, for all their free-flowing interplay, the results continue to leave plenty to be desired. A 1-0 home defeat to Leicester City on New Year’s Day means Everton have won just one of their last seven Premier League games, leaving them tenth in the table.
Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sport’s Breakfast on talkSPORT (2 January, 6:00am), Allardyce has now issued a warning to his Everton successor, pointing out that the style of football means little when the results are not forthcoming.
“We can talk about playing it out from the back, playing attractive football but you’ll never survive. Ronald (Koeman) and Roberto (Martinez), they played more attractive football than me but they didn’t survive,” said Allardyce, who guided Everton clear of relegation last season but failed to win over supporters.
“It’s all about winning football matches, keeping clean sheets and going from there.”
Silva is a principled man but he could do worse than to perhaps take a leaf out of Allardyce’s book.
A lack of pragmatism has cost Everton dear at times, particularly as they were left exposed in the 3-1 defeat at Manchester City and the 6-2 home thrashing against Tottenham Hotspur.
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