Fittingly, Barry scored a goal and put in a “Man of the Match” performance (sentimentality may have played a part there) in his 600th game as Everton sounded beat Middlesbrough by three goals to one. It’ll be down to Williams and Phil Jagielka to keep Negredo and those crosses at bay.
Advertisement
“There was a reason to take Ross Barkley off at halftime”.
“Maybe in 90 minutes he lost less balls than in the first 10 minutes against Sunderland”. “We’re just looking at the next game and want go into the global break with two more wins”. We had a new owner, a new manager over the summer, and it’s been a bright start for everyone. New signing Alvaro Negredo impressed in his opening two games, but struggled in the last two against West Brom and Crystal Palace. The signings of Ashley Williams and Idrissa Gana Gueye have been hugely instrumental to that improvement but we’ll cover them in further detail later.
Again, that nagging doubt in the Evertonian mind might not have been completely banished yet but there’s mounting confidence that the team can win matches from any position now and that this could turn out to be a very special season indeed. “Players of that quality can’t lose those kind of balls”, Koeman, whose side are third in the Premier League after four games, said.
League debutant Ilkay Gundogan also found the net for Pep Guardiola’s City, who have made their best ever start to a season with eight consecutive wins in all competitions. “We like to play a high line defensively and press the ball”.
His assist for Lukaku’s opener, a pin-point cross that swirled in from the right, suggests he can play a bit in attack too.
The Dutchman took Barkley off at half-time in their last fixture against Sunderland and warned the midfielder that he must raise his game “in all aspects”. This season he’s shown five yellows in two games at an average of 2.5 yellows a game and no reds.
With full-backs Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman back to full fitness and providing an extra threat on the wing and players of the calibre of Deulofeu, Aaron Lennon and Arouna Kone only making the bench, Koeman has plenty of options at his disposal. “I had to do something”.
With his place in the first team questioned throughout last season, Barry has been a revelation this year. I’m more comfortable working in this way.
Advertisement
Koeman held face-to-face talks with Barkley earlier this week to explain his decision and has urged the 22-year-old to bounce back from the setback.
