Glenn Hoddle has claimed that Leeds United’s dramatic win over Norwich on Sunday was a ‘poor result for Everton’, as he told Premier League Productions.
Whilst Leeds were celebrating a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Elland Road, over on Merseyside, Everton were suffering another defeat under Frank Lampard.
Both teams are locked near the bottom of the Premier League table and a few nervy months await both Lampard and new Leeds boss, Jesse Marsch.
Whilst the American lost his opening two matches, he now has his first three points under his bag.
Albeit there is still a small sample size to judge from, Hoddle shared that Leeds have ‘got away’ from the man-marking system they deployed under Marcelo Bielsa, but they are still ‘energetic’ with the ball under Marsch.
“That’s really a poor result for Everton, a draw would have suited them,” said Hoddle.
“Leeds looked different. They got away from their man-to-man marking system. But, with the ball, they still looked energetic, ‘let’s make runs anywhere’. Whoever has the ball in the final third, they back them up and throw bodies forward.
“It’s going to take some time for the whole team to settle down and get to know his tactics. And how he wants the game played.”
It was Wolves who put Everton to the sword over the weekend and now it’s Leeds’ turn to try and secure points against them on Friday night.
But, before then, Everton are going to be straight back on the Goodison Park pitch on Thursday, this time facing off against Newcastle United.
Only a few months ago, many would have backed the Magpies to go down before both Leeds and Everton.
Yet Eddie Howe has transformed the club and they are now looking ahead rather than over their shoulder.
The Newcastle boss was provided with a January transfer window to turn things around, but there are players at the club, who were previously, struggling, that have now completely changed their game.
The big difference between Howe and those in Leeds and Everton’s dugout is that he has had far more time to work things out on the training pitch.
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