What would be the state of those harsh critics of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer right now? Perhaps in the 19th-minute, when Bernard scored that opener, the “Ole Out” campaign gathered enough momentum, and Mauricio Pochettino was all set to join Manchester United. In the end “Ole at the wheel” and “Ole is good” opinion stayed.
People forget, either in football or cricket, one or two bad games cannot be the yardstick to sack someone or when a team is going through a transition period, you need to have patience.
The same can be said about Carlo Ancelotti, who, not so long ago, received plenty of accolades for shaping up Everton, but all of a sudden, he is experiencing a hiccup and this happens in football, and for which, it would be a too early call for his head.
The Toffees were good enough on the ball and had a direct approach to their game. Their chances were orchestrated from the left flank, with Lucas Digne and Bernard combining effectively. Bernard opened the scoring and well, Ole could feel the heat.
But, Manchester United could come back in the game because the passes of the Toffees were not neat - they afforded a lot of space to Manchester United attackers and their defending was sloppy.
The visitors scored two goals against Everton in the span of 7 minutes in the first half and they were aided by some below-par defending from the center-half duo of Mason Holgate and Michael Keane. Bruno Fernandes breezed between the two defenders to head in the equalizer after the defenders failed to read the danger and mark him.
Right-back Seamus Coleman cannot defend his mistake for the goal as he did not close down on Luke Shaw in time and allowed the defender to take a couple of extra touches, get in position and deliver the perfect cross to Fernandes.
Though Rashford didn't get a touch on Bruno's chipped effort in the 32nd-minute, it was a similar situation in which the striker easily moved in between the two defenders virtually unmarked and unopposed.
Manchester United took the lead and maintained it throughout the normal time until Edilson Cavani netted the third in another open play and made the victory look a comfortable one.
It was not the kind of display one expected from Everton.
James Rodriguez failed to impress because he was limited by the brilliant Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. Meanwhile, he also had Fred and Scott McTominay stranglehold him – all of them cut his passing lanes and the connection with Doucure and that is where the importance of Richarlison comes in –he always uses his physical prowess and pace to get behind the striker and overcome the markers to help in scoring from the left.
Yes, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was not found anywhere as well.
Meanwhile, Jordan Pickford was average and he exhibited another reckless challenge, which should have earned United a penalty. Nevertheless, his goalkeeping contributed the go-ahead goal where he not only failed to come and collect a cross that was within his range, but he also didn’t react at all when Fernandes’ cross sailed into the far-post. Then his sloppiness allowed nervy moments too.
The Manchester United defenders did not suffer a brain-fade like the other day against Istanbul Basaksehir, still, the shakiness persists – sadly, the Toffees lacked the cutting edge.
Whatever it is, Ole would breathe a sigh of relief, but still, a lot improve regarding the backline.
Ancelotti would need to ponder about this lackluster display so that the Toffees come back and gift us the joy which they exhibited at the start of this season.
Note: This article has been published at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 07/11/2020 Now, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be good again and Ancelotti bad?
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment