1. City superb, but Everton shot themselves in the foot
Anyone in attendance at Goodison today will have been in no doubt as to City’s title credentials. The away side buzzed from the outset, with David Silva in particular dropping into pockets of space, finding runners and targeting Everton youngster Brendan Galloway at every opportunity, yet the feeling remains that the Blues were also architects of their own downfall.
Make no bones about it, this was the performance of the champions-elect (if they continue to play in the same vein), and yes Toure’s ball for the all-important second goal was a moment of sheer quality, but for all their toil basic errors were once again the root of the problem.
For City’s first, Tim Howard– who, it must be said, made several fine saves in the first period- left a gaping space at his near post for Kolarov to slot home.
The second was equally frustrating, as substitute Samir Nasri evaded the attentions of the tired James McCarthy and promptly lobbed the ball over Howard, who was once again in no man’s land, unable to decide whether to fully commit to blocking the ball or staying on his line.
Poor goals to concede, whichever way you look at them, and ultimately avoidable from an Everton perspective.
2. Square pegs in round holes
After a fairly even first half, Everton were forced to chase the game in the final quarter. With space in the centre of the pitch limited, and Barkley’s influence dwindling as a result, the home side were crying out for a bit of width to stretch City and open up space elsewhere.
That the Everton comeback failed to materialise is as much down to Roberto Martinez’s unwillingness to take a risk offensively as it was City’s superior game management. The Blues did have options on the bench that would have suited the style in which they were attempting to play, yet the likes of Kevin Mirallas and Gerard Deulofeu were, somewhat criminally, afforded only a paltry ten minutes between them.
How many times did we see Ross Barkley or Gareth Barry look to release someone down the line, only for the player in possession to release that it was right-footed Tyias Browning bombing it down the left-wing, and not Leighton Baines? Where was Bryan Oviedo on the substitutes bench, as additional specialist cover at left-back? And why did we finish the game with at least 3 players out of position; namely, Browning, Cleverley and Naismith?
City goalscorer Aleksandar Kolarov is many things, but a defensively sound full-back he is not, and this is why it was all the more galling that Martinez failed to take advantage of the opportunity to give the Serbian more to think about.
3. Naismith sub baffling
With this in mind, the spotlight must now turn to the illogical decision to replace Arouna Koné– playing wide left- with Steven Naismith, and not one of exciting wing duo Kevin Mirallas or Gerard Deulofeu.
Indeed, Naismith, for all his effort with and without the ball, is fairly limited as a player and will never possess the technique required to unlock stubborn defences from wide positions. Mirallas and Deulofeu may not have the former in abundance, but they do more than meet the criteria required to do the latter successfully, and would have added a different dimension to Everton’s attacking play.
Unfortunately, I fear Naismith’s introduction was more a failed ploy to contain City’s lively right-hand side than something designed to help the Blues attack with any real width or purpose. Play him centrally off Lukaku or not at all, Roberto.
4. Blues still lack player to open up defences
Frustratingly, it seems as though Everton’s move for Ukrainian star Andriy Yarmolenko has reached a bit of an impasse, with the notoriously difficult Dinamo Kyiv board perhaps putting the transfer out of our reach once and for all.
The news, which broke not long before kick-off, could not have been delivered at a worse time, as the Blues’ unimaginative attacking play during the ensuing ninety minutes served to evidence just why Roberto Martinez had pinpointed a player of Yarmolenko’s ilk as a necessary addition.
Whether it’s Yarmolenko or not remains to be seen, but after today’s result, a quality creative player is an absolute must for Martinez before the window closes.
5. Cleverley again impressive, Barry improved
The positives for Everton, then?
This, for long periods, was the Gareth Barry of old- the one that reads the game excellently, distributes well and brings a calming influence to the rest of the team. Long may it continue.
Tom Cleverley, meanwhile, played with his usual blend of energy and composure, in spite of his unorthodox right-sided role. Out of position, the former Manchester United man again impressed. A veritable snip on a Bosman, he’s already turning into a key part of Martinez’s system.
