The England global has made over 340 appearances and netted 33 goals during his nine-year relationship with the club, and now, a new deal displays Ronald Koeman’s faith in the talented left-back, who returned to pre-season early to boost his fitness, and is all ready to help improve Everton’s chances this season.
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Speaking before his teams clash against Everton on Saturday, the Argentine expressed his desire to “compete better and achieve another level” than last season and that the teams mentality, preperation and new additions will be key to this.
“I am very happy with how we handled the game and how we finished it, but I am very disappointed with how we started”, Pochettino said.
In swapping the laid-back approach of Stones for the no-nonsense Williams, Koeman seems to have found the type of player this defence has craved for a few years: an experienced leader who prioritises the basics above all else.
“We came very close to winning the game in the end because in the last 15 or 20 minutes we had control”.
‘Always you need time to assimilate but they are OK and are ready to compete.
Tottenham have done some good business in the summer, with Victor Wanyama adding some steel to the midfield and Vincent Janssen providing much needed cover for Harry Kane.
The goal brought the game to life and Everton might have doubled their lead when makeshift centre forward Gerard Deulofeu skipped past two challenges but saw his shot from the edge of the Spurs box held low down by Lloris.
At Goodison Park, just like Euro 2016 with England, chances fell to anyone but him, while the stampede of summer signings to the Premier League has, for once, largely by-passed Tottenham.
Everton drew 1-1 with Tottenham at Goodison Park, with Ross Barkley’s free kick and Erik Lamela’s header enough to share the spoils in Ronald Koeman’s first match in charge of The Toffees.
“I have spoken that we may get one or two”.
“We conceded the goal very early in the game and it was a big thing for us to manage that and hard to recover the game”.
The Spaniard didn’t score but should have late in the first half when his one-on-one effort was repelled by Spurs’ substitute goalkeeper Michel Vorm. Football is tactical, physical, technical, but it is also mental.
“But at least we showed what we like to see, and you could see the reaction of the fans, really supporting the team, and that is good to show today”.
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Injuries are likely to play a role in deciding which transfer targets Koeman is likely to pursue, and the Dutchman confirmed that new signing Williams is not match fit to face Tottenham, with injury doubts over Romelu Lukaku and Seamus Coleman. There were 1-1 draws too for Southampton against Watford, and Stoke at newly-promoted Middlesbrough, along with 1-0 wins for Swansea against Burnley and West Bromwich Albion at Crystal Palace.
