“We need to go home, look ourselves in the mirror and ask if we’re good enough to play for this football club.”
Seamus Coleman is sick and tired.
The Everton captain sees his team drifting towards a bottom half of the table finish while others around them are finding form at the right time. When the Premier League season resumed, The Toffees had an outside chance of securing European football for 2020/21.
Everton started off with a draw against Liverpool then defeated Norwich and Leicester City. They were on 44 points and had a good shout of making the Europa League.
Given the fact that Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea are in the FA Cup semi-finals and City are facing a European football ban – with their appeal decision due on Monday – 8th place in the league could secure European football. After 32 games, Carlo Ancelotti’s men were just three points off 7th placed Wolves.
Since then, Everton have lost twice and drawn once. Nine points up for grabs and only one picked up. Their latest failing was against Wolves, who beat them 3-0 at Molineux. Look at the league table now and the Merseysiders are five points off 8th place Arsenal.
Coleman was on the bench for the Wolves game but he came on after only 31 minutes when Yerry Mina limped off. Just before half-time, Lucas Digne’s clumsy foul on Daniel Podence gave Raul Jimenez a penalty chance he confidently slotted home and Wolves never looked back.
Coleman fronted up in his post-match chat with Sky Sports and few from his team. escaped an admonishing comment. “Shocking,” he began. “Really really, bad. No hiding places.
“They were better all over the pitch and we need to ask some serious questions of ourselves. We can all play bad, we can all misplace passes or crosses, but when the attitude and desire is not there…. and we weren’t there today. We got beat by the better team. Maybe we’re not where we think we are. We’re 12th in the table for a reason. As individuals, in the dressing room, and as a club, we need to be expecting better.
“Lads really need to dig in, myself included. Get our heads down or that won’t be enough for this manager. It’s certainly not enough for this football club.”
Coleman believes there is high quality across the senior squad but he wants to see commitment levels high on a daily basis, and he expects it immediately or else Ancelotti may be forced into drastic action.
“That won’t be good enough for this manager. Whoever he doesn’t see fit for his plans, and if we’re not giving our all on a match-day and in a training session, that will be it. See ya later. He’s not going to put up with performances like this.”
Coleman was also asked for his take on former Ireland boss Jack Charlton, who passed away at the age of 85 this weekend. He spoke eloquently on ‘Big Jack’.
"For my generation, growing up, he gave us some amazing memories"
Seamus Coleman pays a lovely tribute to Jack Charlton pic.twitter.com/puuSEO0gfq
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 12, 2020
