Delph: We need to look in the mirror

Monday, 23 September, 2019 48comments  |  Jump to most recent

Fabian Delph says that Everton's players need to shoulder their share of the blame for Saturday's dire reverse against Sheffield United.

Despite controlling 70% of the ball and allowing just one shot on goal all game, the Blues lost 2-0 the newly-promoted Blades with Chris Wilder's side going ahead through Yerry Mina's first-half own goal and them completing the job through Lys Mousset with 11 minutes to go.

Silva had thrown on three attacking substitutions and sacrificed one holding midfielder in the form of Morgan Schneiderlin and his captain and right-back Seamus Coleman by this time but Everton meandered their way through the closing stages in front of a half-empty stadium after disgruntled supporters filed their way out of Goodison Park.

That has led to heightened scrutiny of the manager who has now presided over three defeats in four games in the Premier League and who desperately needs a win in the Carabao Cup at Hillsborough on Tuesday to ease the pressure mounting on his shoulders.

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“The manager always ends up coming under a lot of pressure, but us players need to have a good look in the mirror and look at each other,” admitted Delph whom MailSport say was the last player to leave the dressing room after the defeat.

“I hate losing. I have three little girls and cannot let them win anything. I'm a nightmare.

“But you get your frustration out, you speak about the game individually to people and collectively. Now we focus on Sheffield Wednesday.

“We weren't good enough. We planned well all week and it didn't click. It is a big club with a lot of history and we expect more from ourselves.

“The fans always turn up and they have made their feelings clear.”

 

Reader Comments (48)

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John Keating
1 Posted 23/09/2019 at 07:10:16
Another one rolled out for the typical rallying cry

Just read Silvas message for the Sheff Wed game. I think it confirms the poor man needs treatment

Wouldn’t it be great rather than talk all this shit they just went out onto the pitch and gave us 100% a performance and a result

John Otway
2 Posted 23/09/2019 at 07:14:41
So sick of the Monday morning platitudes. Nothing to add Fabian.
Mads Kamp
3 Posted 23/09/2019 at 07:29:55
I believe there is a fundamental issue. We need a plan, a direction. We try to copy everyone else but we cannot attract the same global talent. Our club should recruit more local talent. Get some hard workers and a few star players as in the good old days in Italy when only three foreigners were allowed. Remember the Inter side with Matthäus, Klinsmann and Brehme? Or the Milan side with Van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard? More emphasis on local talent might have brought Maddison, Redmond to our ranks and we might have been able to hold on to Lookman, a star in the making. And we might have gone for Eddie Howe as manager, a young, local, and talented manager of the kind that our club used to have faith in.

We need an identity.

Tony Hill
4 Posted 23/09/2019 at 07:55:13
I think he means it. Whether others in the team feel the same is more doubtful.
Lyndon Lloyd
5 Posted 23/09/2019 at 08:04:15
I agree with Tony. I think this is more than mere platitudes from Delph but the issue isn’t just the players themselves but the system they’re deployed in. Commitment and desire from individuals will go a long way to getting us through tomorrow but as far as the Premier League is concerned, the solutions required are are a lot more holistic. Need to start somewhere, though.
Martin Berry
6 Posted 23/09/2019 at 08:46:58
Marco prefers 4-3-3 if you believe the media, but does not think he has the personnel presently to achieve with injuries, but where does that leave Tom Davies ? I say this because the balance seemed wrong on Saturday also an energetic Tom may have helped our sluggish midfield.
However my biggest concern was when you know you are playing against three big centre halves why play Kean on his own, he should have had DCL in there with him to add an aerial threat when we were continually pumping in those crosses.
Marco's tactics should shoulder most of the blame and he needs to learn fast.
Sam Hoare
7 Posted 23/09/2019 at 09:10:41
"It didn't click."

For me that sums up this season. I believe that Marco is a decent manager who works extremely hard and prepares his players well for the most part. But something is not clicking. Is it that the squad is still a bit unbalanced? Is it confidence and belief? Is stubborness on the manager's part to try new systems/approaches? Is it that the players have been over-coached and need more freedom? Is it just luck?

Something has not clicked all season and it is the job of Marco and his team to work out what that is and fix it.

Dave Abrahams
8 Posted 23/09/2019 at 09:14:39
I go along with Tony and Lyndon, Delph shows his commitment on the field, verbally and physically, he makes mistakes but gets on with it, urging his team mates on.

One fan on here said he would have given Delph a smack in the mouth for telling his fellow players they were playing like shit. I’d have had a good look at myself and played even harder thanI had been doing, just in case it was me.

Delph was urging them on as well as telling them they could do better, he is telling them the same thing now, they shouldn’t need telling, some of them need the kick up the arse not Delph, definitely not Delph.

It wasn’t much of an honour, the way the team played on Saturday, but Delph was my MOTM against Sheffield Unt.

Tony Abrahams
10 Posted 23/09/2019 at 09:42:48
You speak about the game individually to people and collectively, is definitely the way to sort things out, as long as you talk to the individual first, before you then talk as a the group.

It doesn’t look like he’s looking for excuses, especially because there are none, and hopefully he’s the only player who talks about Saturday, with the rest already concentrating on a very important cup-tie tomorrow night.

Tony Abrahams
11 Posted 23/09/2019 at 09:52:38
Lyndon@5, makes a very telling point, when he talks about the system the players are currently getting used in.

I think the most important thing is playing to the strengths of the squad, but if Silva, doesn’t trust Holgate, to partner Mina or Keane, then it’s patently obvious he’s got to play the three of them, because we just don’t look good enough defensively.

Two holding midfielders, means we are not getting enough players into advanced positions, and although we will all have our own opinions, I’m sure we will all agree with Lyndon, when he wrote about the system, because it’s just killing both the players and the team?

Dave Williams
12 Posted 23/09/2019 at 09:53:15
Dave- I think Delph is genuine in what he says. He had a few stray passes on Saturday but was the only one who kept grafting and was easily our best player. I suspect he is shocked at what he has seen and he will need some of his colleagues to jump on board if he is to influence things on the pitch. Tom has to play as he brings energy and commitment plus no little ability too, and he would help Delph enormously. I’d drop Siggy and Schneiderlin and play Iwobi as the third midfielder as he hasn’t been here long enough to be infected by the apathy shown by others. Holgate is another who shows a desire to win and I’d play him with Mina who is the one along with Delph who was looking angry at what was happening on Saturday. The French lad at RB for me with Richi, DCL and Bernard. I am very tempted to drop Pickford if Lössl is fit too.

Lössl
Sidibe Holgate Mina Digne
Davies Iwobi Delph
Richarlison DCL Bernard

This lot are our best bet for a bit of passion and energy and has far more pace to it than saturdays team. They couldn’t do much worse -could they??

Liam Reilly
13 Posted 23/09/2019 at 09:59:52
The squad is unbalanced and we're relying on a young kid (Kean) to score goals to fire us into the top 6 (which is looking laughable).

Tim Cahill was on MOTD on Sat pointing out glaringly obvious inadequacies in our attacking approach where SU kept showing Everton out wide and our 3 forward players kept aligning themselves across the same 10 yards of the SU box, making it easy for SU to deal with the crosses. None of our players created any movement or looked to run into space, to stretch the SU defense. This is Attack 101!

I like Silva, but how could he not see that.

They need to spend big in Jan to by a proven goal scorer; until then play Richarlison down the middle, who is the only one with a goal in him.

Derek Knox
14 Posted 23/09/2019 at 10:06:22
Good on you Fabian, at least you have the guts to come out and admit the performance has been a shambles, but also alluding to it being the system, and what is being expected of them from a man who doesn't know what he's doing.

Considering Seamus is Captain, he has been very quiet in commenting/apologising for what the fans have been subjected to, which in all fairness he has done in the past.

I think he has made a few comments on Twitter which I don't subscribe to, but have picked up on from other news sources. Mind you some of those sources have pointed the finger at Seamus for lacking leadership on the pitch, and being complicit in the debacle.

Tony Abrahams
15 Posted 23/09/2019 at 10:10:16
All’s Cahill pointed out, was how such little thought went into making the subs, imo Liam.

I used to manage a Sunday league team, and after Walcott came on for Coleman, I shouted to a lad I knew that I couldn’t have made those subs, even if I was still managing on a Sunday morning.

Too clever for his own good, because it wasn’t a fucking coaching session, it was a EPL game, and if you don’t know your own players, you are finished at trying to be a successful manager, at any level?

Tony J Williams
17 Posted 23/09/2019 at 13:06:07
To be fair, he is the only one I would listen to when rolling out the usual players with all the "We'll bounce back" shite.

He's not saying that, he's saying that they played shite and need to get a grip of their own performances.

There's a clip of Roy Keane talking on Sky which sums it all up for me, he said that he didn't need the manager to tell him he was playing shite and to pull his socks up, he would know and try harder.

The players get away with this too easily, the manager has a finite number of players he trust to play and if they are playing shite, what's he to do?

Take them off and use an inferior player? That would weaken the side, the player himself should get a fucking grip and play the way he's should be able to.

Managers fault for the team selection and tactics, players fault for being a shithouse in the tackle, not passing the ball to their own men and scuffing shots into row z.

50/50 between manager and players, but Silva is the scapegoat here when the multi-millionaires on the pitch playing like fucking toddlers are smiling and laughing when coming off the pitch and getting into their Bentleys to go home to the model missus.

I was made up when I saw Delph shouting, "You're all fucking shite", someone needs to tell them.

John Kavanagh
18 Posted 23/09/2019 at 13:06:47
As soon as he gets his badges I'd have Cahill on the coaching staff. He wouldn't put up with the pea-hearted shambles we've been presented with this season. DCL, Richarlison and Kean could all learn a lot from Cahill in the positioning/finishing department.

I agree with post #12 Dave's selection for tomorrow, except maybe for dropping Pickford (Based on Saturday's form it may well go to penalties if we are lucky). I'd also have a couple of our youngsters on the bench along with Kean and Sigurdsson. Schneiderlin and Walcott can stay at home and watch it on the telly.

David Connor
19 Posted 23/09/2019 at 13:23:42
Just words. We've been there several times before with the same bullshit spouted by various players, and I'm sick to death of hearing it. Talk is cheap they say. It certainly is when it comes to Everton players. Just get on with it for God's sake before it's too late. I for one am sick and tired of this weak, shambolic team and its management.
Don Alexander
20 Posted 23/09/2019 at 13:52:14
Tony Williams (#17), you said it all sir!

On the other current thread there's a quote from Silva telling the players "to be Everton". That reminds me of an episode when Martinez was "found out" by the players and went public saying they, not him, had decided to revert to "the old Everton way" and duly went on a winning streak.

I just wonder whether Silva might adjust his tactics rather than spawn a mutiny among the "precious" non-achievers happy to populate our squad?

Kieran Kinsella
21 Posted 23/09/2019 at 13:56:06
This sounds a lot like Kevin Keegan management: if you pull on the shirt you should play well. End of.

At the other end of the spectrum you have the reaction of “so and so will never play for me again”. But surely the middle ground is identifying the worst problem areas, change a few faces and tweak the tactics?

Kieran Kinsella
22 Posted 23/09/2019 at 13:58:55
Sorry my post was directed at Silva's comment not Delph’s.
Paul Armstrong
23 Posted 23/09/2019 at 14:02:53
The most alarming comment from Delph was that had been planning all week. If the approach on the pitch on Saturday was the result of a week of planning then things are worse than we feared.
John Graham
24 Posted 23/09/2019 at 15:29:13
I think the same as you Sam (7).
We are almost there but things are just not clicking.
The problem is they need to click soon or we will be back to square one and looking for a new manager.
Moise Kean is trying too hard and you can see the confidence draining from him. He needs a goal desperately.
Delph needs to be made captain as Coleman isn’t up to it.
We need more talking on the pitch and a few boots up the backsides.
Attack as a team, defend as a team.
I do believe we will get there, we have to.
Lets hope the cup game will give us a kick start.
Forever Everton
COYB
Steve Ferns
25 Posted 23/09/2019 at 15:37:42
Agree with you John. Also agree that Coleman is not a good captain. We need a captain right now. He's from the Jagielka school and steely determination and inner passion is not enough. We need someone making sure those heads don't drop and looking to take things on themselves.

One of the things I noticed is that when Coleman went off, it was difficult for him to get the armband to Gylfi. I think everyone but Gylfi knew Coleman was going to give him the armband. Gylfi had his back to Coleman. He should have come to him to take it, he should have wanted it, and he should have been acting like the captain before he got the armband. He is one of the leaders of this side. Another quiet individual who prefers to let his feet do the talking. They weren't talking on Saturday, and we needed more vocal leadership.

Annika Herbert
26 Posted 23/09/2019 at 16:51:55
Dave@12, I do like the look of that side!! It would be nice to see that line-up be the one selected for Tuesday
Jay Harris
27 Posted 23/09/2019 at 17:09:52
I said on another thread our problem is a lack of natural goalscorers.

We really only have Siggy and Richy who could realistically get to double figure for the season and they have both started poorly.

Our possession and passing is good but our finishing and defending is woeful.

Last seasons success came from solid defending and hitting teams on the break but it looks like this season Silva got too confident and thought we could become City before we could walk.

Confidence has now been sapped and yet again we find Silva leaves us wanting in his ability to motivate the players.

Alan J Thompson
28 Posted 23/09/2019 at 17:21:24
"We planned well all week but it just didn't click".

That could be read in an awful lot of ways.

Pat Kelly
29 Posted 23/09/2019 at 17:49:20
I don't know about the rest of you but I feel absolutely optimistic now having read Delph and Silva's comments.
Kieran Kinsella
30 Posted 23/09/2019 at 17:51:31
Dave 12

Broadly agree with your team except in defence. Yes, there is a case to be made for dropping the guys you left out. But, I think part of the issue we have is the understanding between the two CBs and the goalie. My worry is if we change too many people it leaves us with a group of players who aren't familiar with one another and may exacerbate things. I'd keep Pickford, and either add Holgate as a third CB or replace one of the regulars with him. Sidibe at RB shouldn't disrupt things as much coming in for Coleman so I agree on him. Further up field, totally agree except I may play Rich out left as it's his best role. That creates a problem for me on the right as it would compel me to play Walcott, but hopefully Rich out left, and Iwobi in the center can make up for his lack of involvement.

Christy Ring
31 Posted 23/09/2019 at 18:04:03
Steve@25, Don't understand why Siggy got the armband, he should have been substituted, in the last couple of games.
Dave Williams
32 Posted 23/09/2019 at 19:18:46
Kieran, point taken re defence but Theo in from the start? When I first saw him for us he was good with pace like I'd never seen before and if he could get back to that he would be my first choice there. I can't remember the last time he played well with a positive impact but who knows – maybe he would react well to the selection?
Eddie Dunn
33 Posted 23/09/2019 at 19:18:49
Although Delph has done okay and it is all rather cynical for the club to wheel out one of the few decent performers to deliver the usual platitudes. He was having a go at his colleagues last week at Bournemouth so perhaps he knows a little more than us that some players are simply not doing what they've been asked to.

However, I suspect that this coach has now lost the confidence of his charges.

Players soon suss out a manager that confounds the majority of onlookers with his stubborn tactics and substitutions. They all know what is wrong.

Kieran Kinsella
34 Posted 23/09/2019 at 19:28:37
Dave 32,

I am not keen on Walcott but I would really like to see Richarlison out left and I am not sure who would be better on the right.

Derek Knox
35 Posted 23/09/2019 at 19:41:40
Pat K @29, that's good to know mate, but avoid any sharp objects, or implements till after the result tomorrow. :-)
Neil Wood
36 Posted 23/09/2019 at 19:47:57
Kieran @ 34...I do Lookman. Oh...Wait !
Darren Hind
37 Posted 23/09/2019 at 19:48:32
Don't tell me how much you care. Show me!
Sean Kelly
38 Posted 23/09/2019 at 22:00:40
A question for Fabian. Did you pull the short straw lad? That script is well worn out. YAWN!!!
Jerome Shields
39 Posted 23/09/2019 at 22:46:17
Unfortunately I have to agree with John, another one rolled out on Evertonfc. com.
Michael Lynch
40 Posted 23/09/2019 at 22:59:25
Delph is one of the few who can at least hold his head up after Saturday's abject showing. We seem to have some talented players who cost a lot of money, but they are incapable of playing as a cohesive unit.

The worst thing about the Sheff Utd game was our lack of intensity. We only showed it for about three minutes after their first goal, and then three more minutes after the double substitution in the second half. We'll win nothing playing like that.

If Silva can't get the team to play, week-in & week-out, like we did in the derby last season at Goodison, then he should be relieved of his duties. If the players are incapable of playing like that, then they should be sold.

I thought the atmosphere was decent on Saturday, but it will go rapidly downhill if something doesn't change soon. I can't see Silva surviving into November if we carry on like this.

Chris Hockenhull
41 Posted 23/09/2019 at 23:07:36
Oh no no no... not the Eddie Howe thread again now he's “local“????
Derek Thomas
42 Posted 24/09/2019 at 00:04:36
Your turn for the scripted platitudes this week eh Fab?

Deeds mate, deeds, not talkshite... I can get that on any Sky/media outlet.

Matt Woods
43 Posted 23/09/2019 at 00:06:42
It's about fucking bottle. Everton have had next to none of it for decades. The last show of bottle was from a technically poor side that was the 'Dogs of War' and we won the FA Cup.
Neville Southall and Dave Watson real leaders. Barry Horne and Joe Parkinson along with David Unsworth were seriously limited footballers but they were fighters. Destroyed Spurs to prevent the 'Dream final' against Man Utd.

By comparison, we have some very technically blessed players in the current squad but so many mentally weak-minded guys who melt under pressure.

Is it a generational thing?? Delph seems a man among boys at present. These quilts need to wake the fuck up and start fighting for the shirt the magnificent supporters and earn their ludicrous wages.

I'm not holding my breath...

Len Hawkins
44 Posted 24/09/2019 at 10:04:31
Spending ever increasing transfer fees and wages year on year on so called better players but nothing improves. Manager after manager unable to improve the stench in the play produced by EFC thirty bloody years of absolute sewage. The only common denominator in this period of time is I'm afraid the man at the helm our glorious teary eyed chairman, does he go into the dressing room after every abject display and tearfully hug the £multimillionaires and tell them how wonderful they are playing for his wonderful Everton. Does he promise them a ride on his uncles bike from time to time. Either Kenwright is the kiss of death or some redneck gypsy has cursed EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB Ltd.


Why is Kenwright the mouthpiece of EFC not losing his rag after yet another shite performance WHY is he not threatening the lot with being cleared out because he BLOODY WELL SHOULD BE.

Jack Convery
45 Posted 24/09/2019 at 11:44:36
I wonder how popular Delph is in the dressing room - his standards appear to be a hell of a lot higher than the rest of them and TFFT.
Tony J Williams
46 Posted 24/09/2019 at 12:28:07
"These quilts need to wake the fuck up and start fighting for the shirt the magnificent supporters and earn their ludicrous wages"

A Fucken Men brother!!

Winston Williamson
47 Posted 24/09/2019 at 13:33:39
Well, I’ve put us to lose 2v1 on Super 6, as each time I put us to win, we lose, and each time I put us to lose, we win...all bases covered today 😁
Winston Williamson
48 Posted 24/09/2019 at 13:36:26
Len: Kenwright only ventures out when we’re in good form. He does his Lord Lucan impression when we are shite...

Jamie Evans
49 Posted 24/09/2019 at 14:14:27
Yes Fabian yes well said. Where would be without you ? What a magnificent addition you’ve been thus far. I especially have enjoyed your own goal and your bookings not to mention the bravery shown when telling your teammates that they are in fact, shit.

Bravo bravo Fabian, a Captain in the making I can feel it. Please continue with your stocky walk and constructive feedback.

Empty vessels make the most noise so perhaps let your feet do the talking from now on - blag hard-man.

Evertonians have seen enough kidders over the years to spot one a mile off.

Cristobal Aguirre
50 Posted 26/09/2019 at 10:02:14
More of the same. I would like you to play like Carsley, That would be enough. As a fact, he earned 10 times less than you but he run 10 times more. Finally I would love you to stop giving bad passes just 10 meters away. It is disgusting.

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