Ronald Koeman’s decision not to sign a proper left-back for Everton is costing Sam Allardyce.
One step forward and two steps back has been a regular theme in Everton’s up-and-down season so far.
The Toffees lost 1-0 at Watford on Saturday to take the gloss off their 3-1 win over Crystal Palace in their previous Premier League matchday.
It has been one false dawn after another for Everton, and the same can be said for their makeshift left-back.
Cuco Martina posted a surprisingly decent performance against the Eagles on February 10 to prompt the belief that maybe, just maybe, he isn’t as dreadful as Everton fans believed him to be, having endured regular shockers leading up to that win over Palace.
But the Dutchman – normally a right-back – regressed in a big way at Vicarage Road and posted a performance which typified Everton this season.
The former Southampton man struggled in a big way against Gerard Deulofeu and could be considered partially to blame for Troy Deeney’s 79th-minute winner.
If it wasn’t obvious before, Martina is no left-back and Ronald Koeman’s failure to sign a real one last summer is costing new manager Sam Allardyce.
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