Silva demands more attacking sharpness – how will Everton react?
Marco Silva has demanded Everton be sharper in their attacking movements ahead of their latest Premier League fixture against Watford.
The Portuguese coach praised the club’s resolute defending against Crystal Palace in his pre-match press conference, after Yerry Mina was named the club’s Man of the Match against the Eagles, however Silva wants to see more from his attackers going forward.
Talking ahead of playing at Goodison Park, Silva said:
If you keep a clean sheet you’re closer to winning… now, we have to be more clinical in the other box to convert chances we keep creating.
To have nine clean sheets in 12 games is fantastic in a tough competition like the Premier League… that means we as a team — not just the backline and the goalkeeper — are working really well and hard… we improve clearly in this situation.
I like that the team is solid like we are — we’re not a defensive team at all. We play using a full pitch, and we like to press high.
We have to put quality in our work… the players have to understand the idea and philosophy, and we have to make them believe this is the way we can be stronger as a team.
After the goalless draw from the season opener at Selhurst Park, Silva will be desperate for his side to kick on and win against the Hornets on home soil.
Read Everton Verdict
Silva is both right to get credit to the club’s defence where it is due, and plead with the attacking options to get more inventive. Yerry Mina was a huge question mark ahead of the Palace game, and fans came out more than content, while Michael Keane has been solid for some time now.
Offensively though, there is a lack of innovation. Bereft of pace and creativity, Everton really flounder and we need the player’s to find that second wind and alternative route in breaking down the opposition. Silva’s squad has all the tools, they just need to put them into action.