This must be a very difficult watch if you are an Everton fan.
Sean Dyche’s side have taken a two-goal lead in their last two Premier League game, yet somehow, they have come away empty-handed.
Everton’s defeat to Aston Villa is probably one that is understandable and hurts less because of the calibre of side they are facing, and the fact that they were 2-0 up after half an hour.
But that capitulation against Bournemouth in front of their own fans is one that will still be haunting them.
After four Premier League games, Everton are on zero points, struggling to kill off chances and their defence all over the place.
Michael Keane and James Tarkowski have played at the heart of the defence, with sought-after transfer target Jarrad Branthwaite in the treatment room.
Ian Wright touched upon how Everton need Branthwaite back on the pitch because of his pace and ability to progress the ball.
The good news for the disgruntled Toffees supporters is that their star centre-back is back in training, so it won’t be too long before they see him in action.
In the meantime, Keane is getting verbally battered for his recent showing and how he allowed Ollie Watkins to let Villa back into the game at the weekend.
But whilst he gets a lot of stick, Wright feels that Ashley Young is the one who is a ‘liability’ for the team, as he told Premier League Productions (16/09/24 at 1:40 pm).
Young might have been flying in pre-season, but the 39-year-old is having a difficult time at full-back.
Ashley Young a ‘liability’
“His pace and he is a very good player,” said Wright about Branthwaite. “He might activate other players in the way he can maybe progress the ball as well. The way he can defend in his own box. The pace he can use to make recovering challenges.
“We are talking about somebody who is going to come back in now and hit the ground running, but he is coming back from injury – they (the Everton players) with that defender playing, they feel better. I don’t know. I am just putting it out there.
“When you are talking about Michael Keane, even that first goal, for a central defender to hardly get off the ground when the ball is in the six-yard box to head it away, it says everything. Ashley Young, you are seeing now, he is getting to a stage of his career where he is a liability for them, in the way that he is playing.”
Jarrad Branthwaite return
Manchester United were keen to sign Branthwaite in the summer, but to the delight of the Everton supporters, he stayed put.
Everton also have no interest in selling Jordan Pickford, as fans have seen over the years, he becomes very important during the latter months of the season.
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But, for now, Dyche just needs a win on the board, no matter how it comes about, as they are in League Cup action on Tuesday night.
It’s a home tie against Southampton, with the newly-promoted side as bad as their opponents because they have also lost all their matches.
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