Wayne Rooney heading back to Everton makes a great story but let’s face it, Ronald Koeman was only answering a question. Probably as keen as anyone else to change the subject after five winless games, the Everton manager was not about to turn down the invitation to wax lyrical about a Goodison old boy, though he has enough problems at the front of his own team without importing an extra enigma from Manchester United.
Another Everton old boy is on Merseyside on Sunday, and Slaven Bilic returns in charge of a side unbeaten in October, with two wins and a draw in the Premier League and a place in the last eight of the League Cup at Chelsea’s expense.
West Ham appear to be over their shocking start to the season, in fact it comes as a slight surprise to discover they are still hovering just above the relegation positions, though their supporters will have no difficulty remembering four heavy defeats in a row at the start of the season as the reason why. Everton, still flattering themselves they are hanging on to a European position, are almost mirror opposites. They started the season most impressively, briefly hanging on to Manchester City’s coattails, but a run of five without victory has brought back a familiar sense of perspective.
It seems a long time now since Koeman was showing his managerial firmness by withdrawing Ross Barkley at Sunderland to inspire victory through three second-half goals in 11 minutes. It seems equally hard to believe that Idrissa Gueye began the season by earning favourable comparisons with N’Golo Kanté. The blue revolution appears to have stalled.
The most consistent Everton performer has been Gareth Barry, 35 years old and 600 Premier League appearances behind him. Barry was unquestionably a good acquisition by the otherwise under-appreciated Roberto Martínez and is still worth his place in the side, though his continued prominence points to the fact that so far Koeman has not achieved much of a shake-up.
Ashley Williams was a shrewd signing, especially given that Everton had to come up with something at short notice when John Stones needed replacing. He is hardly one for the future at 32, and his partnership with the even older Phil Jagielka is not going to last for ever but only Spurs have conceded fewer league goals so the Everton back line, with Gueye and Barry patrolling the area just in front of it, must be doing something right.
Further forward Everton supporters are still waiting for Yannick Bolasie to find the sort of form that made him such a regular threat in his best seasons at Crystal Palace. Everyone knows he can be unstoppable, even unplayable at times, but Koeman was not exactly trampled in the rush to pay Palace £25m for his services and, though he has had his moments, Bolasie has had his quiet spells as well. He remains essentially unpredictable, which is a luxury Koeman can afford, though what Everton really need before it is too late is someone to bring the best out of Romelu Lukaku.
It might be imagined that ought not to be too difficult, what with the Belgian’s natural strength and talent and Everton’s impressive collection of wingers, though despite sending out Gerard Deulofeu to join Kevin Mirallas and Bolasie at Burnley last Saturday the wide men toiled in vain. Burnley were quite generous in conceding space on their flanks and Deulofeu in particular can whip over a mean cross, yet Everton were unable to make the breakthrough they needed after Bolasie’s first goal for his new club and ended up losing.
It turned out to be another disappointing afternoon for Barkley, who might have been expected to provide something different through the middle but could not manage it. Koeman has tried just about everything this season with a player formerly billed as England’s future and must have found the process exasperating. The tactical withdrawal at Sunderland was an early shot across Barkley’s bows and, when Everton went on to a handsome victory without him, Koeman appeared to have exercised perfect judgment. A duly chastened Barkley played his part in a fifth successive victory in the following game, against Middlesbrough, little knowing that five matches without a win were about to follow. Barkley was dropped for the visit to Manchester City this month and Everton did not appear to miss him in gaining a 1-1 draw, although on that occasion resolute defending was the order of the day. Then he was reinstated against Burnley, where Everton were short of creativity despite a wealth of possession.
Koeman sent on Enner Valencia in the last minute at Turf Moor, after Burnley had scored what proved to be the winner, which tells you all you need to know about the former West Ham striker’s impact at his new club. Deployed to no noticeable effect in the home League Cup defeat to Norwich, not considered important at the time but with hindsight the start of Everton’s slump, Valencia has hardly been seen since and does not appear to have his manager’s full confidence.
The only good news for Everton, Rooney’s alleged availability aside, is that Lukaku always scores against West Ham. There have been eight meetings since the striker first moved to Merseyside and he has scored in every one, including on his Everton debut and on his final visit to Upton Park.
“I’ve had tough times in football before but we have enough personalities in our team to turn this situation around,” Koeman said of the recent disappointments. Lukaku is among them, and he remains not only a hammer of West Ham but the Premier League’s second top scorer. If his support cast can just raise their game to a similar level, Everton might find themselves back in business.
