Ronald Koeman has warned Ross Barkley that he must improve “in all aspects” following his half-time hooking in Everton’s win over Sunderland.
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Koeman made a decision to take Barkley off at half-time during Monday’s Premier League contest at the Stadium of Light, which was goalless at the break before the Toffees ran out 3-0 winners.
“There was a reason to change Ross at half-time because he did not play well, he lost many balls and players of that quality can’t lose those kinds of balls”, the Dutchman said.
“[The game] can be unsafe if the player is not prepared or is sloppy at the start of the game but we know we need to play at our level to win the game”.
The good thing is there’ll likely be a few of us watching at half midnight tomorrow – I’m always amazed how far flung Evertonians get, and talking to a few of the locals, and a few expats here, even a few of the neutrals would like to see us do well.
The substitution represents another concern for Barkley who, despite a decent start to the season otherwise, was omitted from Sam Allardyce’s first squad as England manager and did not play a minute at the European Championships under Roy Hodgson.
“That is the past, in my opinion, what counts is what happens now”.
“That was one game, what happened on Monday”.
Barkley, Everton’s manager reported, has responded positively in training but Koeman felt the need to show the 22-year-old the clips of where he had gone askew at Sunderland and hopes it will jolt him back to the levels he had previously shown. “In all aspects he needs to improve but he is still a young player, no question”.
Gareth Barry is in line to make his 600th Premier League appearance against Middlesbrough.
Koeman confirmed: “He will be selected”.
“We have the experience from last season when we played them in the cup”.
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Mindful that he and his players still have plenty to prove, Koeman stood behind his assertion that the Europa League is Everton’s most realistic target. “That is fantastic”, Koeman said of the former Aston Villa and Manchester City player. Middlesbrough has also started the season positively and it’s a well-organised team with some good individual players.
