It’s a strange feeling watching Premier League football without fans in the stadium.
Not many viewers will ever fully get used to it, but it can provide some insights which aren’t available in front of a full house.
At the moment, observers can see and hear who shouts the most on the pitch.
Nigel Martyn was working for Everton club media at the game against Leeds – another of his former sides – at Goodison Park last week.
In an exclusive interview, we asked him who the biggest talkers in the Everton lineup were – and it seems much of the noise came from the sidelines.
“You could hear Carlo Ancelotti talking more than the players,” Martyn said. “There was some talking but not as much as I would have expected from both teams.
“(Mason) Holgate, who was captain for the day, was quite vocal. He was shouting at people, trying to get people going. But the loudest guy I heard was Seamus Coleman, who was sitting about 15 rows to my right.
“He was shouting his head off, trying to get Everton going – shouting to the players on the pitch. He was screaming, ‘Mason, get them going!’
“I think he felt a bit embarrassed doing it to start with but as the game went on he felt he had to. I’d have been the same if I was sat on the bench or in the stands as a player.
“He needed to say something, because there was a spark missing. Everton didn’t get near Leeds when they were passing the ball around.
“It needs something at times, you’ve got to put your stamp on the game. It was a bit too nice at times, I think. That’s what Coleman was eluding to – get a bit of a spark into the game.
“That’s what 40,000 Everton fans would have been demanding. That’s what’s missing. Players find the energy from somewhere with fans in the ground.”
It’s really interesting to get a sense of what’s being said on the pitch at a time when the lucky few in attendance can actually hear it.
Carlo Ancelotti is missing the injured Coleman’s defensive capabilities on the pitch, but also his leadership too.
That was evident against Leeds as Everton were second best by a long way and it’s rare to get the insight into who are the biggest talkers in any team during any given match.
READ ALSO: Nigel Martyn says Everton have a real talent coming through the ranks
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