Everton look dazed and confused
It may be time to put Ronald Koeman on the hot seat. Everton came into the season looking to challenge for a Champions League spot and made the investments to support and justify these lofty aspirations. After their last two outings, it may be time to ask fundamental questions regarding the direction of the club.
A loss to Chelsea on the road following a midweek European game can be chalked up to early season jitters. But follow that up with a 0-3 home drubbing to Tottenham and you are flirting with a full blown crisis. The scoreline tells most of the story but the manner in which Everton played worsens the narrative for Koeman. The Toffees were mismatched all over the field, lacked width and seemed to lack any sense of urgency or motivation. The lack of confidence on display was astounding considering that most of the players donning the Everton blue are proven talents in the midst of successful careers or with a proven track record behind them.
Perhaps this is the issue with this Everton team. No one has anything to prove anymore. The likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Sandro and Wayne Rooney are all accomplished players whose credentials have already been solidified. Forging an identity for this team by way of getting these veterans to lead and play with a chip on the shoulder is starting to look like a tremendous challenge. Whether Koeman is the right man for this task is entirely another story.