Your Everton morning headlines on Thursday, October 13.
Frank Lampard sent blunt Dwight McNeil message as major Everton problem identified
Ben Crawford - Back down to earth with a bang
I suppose the good run had to end somewhere, right? We weren’t at the races on Sunday and we were punished by a team containing some game-changing individuals.
The decision to drop Dwight McNeil and bring in Anthony Gordon to the starting XI backfired with him giving what many would agree was his poorest showing for some time. More concerning now, though, is what comes next.
Manchester United can beat anyone on their day and after Everton’s recent good run it was always going to end somewhere and I feel no shame that it came against them. What is more concerning is the next two games.
Trips to Spurs and Newcastle would be a tall order for any squad but the worry for me is that in the blink of an eye if it all goes wrong and we pick up no points from our next two games then we are staring down the barrel of three consecutive defeats.
Experts will always say you are only ever three games away from a crisis, so let’s hope Everton avoid just that. Lampard has the tools to get it right this season and Evertonian’s must have complete faith that he will.
Connor O'Neill has more, here.
Udinese defender 'stalling' on new contract as Everton linked with transfer
Udinese defender Rodrigo Becao is reportedly stalling on signing a new contract, fuelling talks he could seal a transfer switch away from the Serie A side.
Everton are among the teams to have been linked with the 26-year-old, who has played his part in Udinese's strong start to the season which sees them sitting three points off the top of the table.
Becao has two years remaining on his current deal at the club and has not given the 'green light to a renewal', according to Italian outlet Messaggero.
The report adds that Udinese will hope to secure at least €20m (£17.6m) for the Brazilian should both parties come to a mutual agreement of parting ways, either in January or next summer. It is added that Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur were two of the other teams who registered their interest in Becao this summer, despite failing to reach any agreement.
To read more, click here.
READ NEXT:
- Former Everton player dubbed 'enormous young talent' retires because his body 'no longer co-operated'
- Frank Lampard takes strong approach to Everton mistakes as common theme emerges from Manchester United defeat
- James Garner has just given Everton fans a glimpse of what Frank Lampard already knew
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin can unleash three Everton players as Frank Lampard faces predictable issue
- Cristiano Ronaldo accepts FA charge over incident with Everton fan as Erik ten Hag comments clarified
