Ball slams Everton for lacking ‘fight and hunger’ against Palace
Former Everton defender Michael Ball has criticised the Toffees after they slumped to a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Monday.
The Blues had taken the lead through James Rodriguez but slack defending in the final ten minutes saw Michy Batshuayi score an equaliser.
Everton were left with around eight minutes of time remaining to respond, however Carlo Ancelotti’s side were left to settle for one point instead of three.
Writing in his column for the Liverpool Echo, former Everton left-back Ball was quick to point to Everton’s lack of ‘hunger and fight’ as crippling factors behind their failure to capitalise following disappointing results for both Chelsea and Tottenham.
Referencing a moment in the first-half where Richarlison, Lucas Digne and James Rodriguez were at odds over who should take a free-kick, Ball said: “I saw more fight and argument over a free-kick against Crystal Palace than I did over game-management and general decision-making during the match.
“It’s not being nasty or being angry, it’s being demanding and wanting more from your team-mates. Look at James, he gets the ball and does something with it.
“Are other players at the same level as him? Probably not. But do the basics. Don’t let Wilfried Zaha have time and space, don’t let Michy Batshuayi stand in acres of space in the box.
“Where’s that fight? I’m sick of hearing the soundbites after the draws and the defeats. You want to see that fight and hunger on the pitch.
“But I don’t see it with this group of players and it’s not the first time. Where is that desire and frustration to go and push for a winner when Palace equalised? They were still passing it backwards and sideways.
“Where was someone in midfield getting the ball, taking the game by the scruff of the neck? Instead Michael Keane was playing passes on the halfway line.
“The players just don’t seem to be hurt if they don’t win a football game. It is so frustrating.”
Heard this before
Ball has his finger firmly on the pulse when it comes to Everton so it isn’t a surprise to see him accurately picking apart where Everton are going wrong once again.
Time and time again Everton have allowed themselves to slip when they should show strength, and that ability to dig deep and find a way back into a game is the quality that separates great sides from the rest.
Perhaps the personnel on the day weren’t good enough to get their noses back in front after being pegged back so late on, but ultimately the players never even tried to fight for their deserved winner, and that attitude or lack thereof really can sting.
Every player who pulls on an Everton shirt should be willing to fight and claw their way to the final whistle, but the Toffees’ current squad contains far too many who are willing to coast and let the games pass them by.
Whether Everton truly deserve Champions League football or not, the club’s management want to be there, the board want to be there and the fans certainty want it too. Now we need the players to step up and prove that they want it just as much, else we need to find other players that do.
In other Everton news, Carlo Ancelotti has shared an injury update on key Everton duo following the draw with Palace.
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