Kevin Campbell claims Everton squad must take blame for recent results
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell believes that while Carlo Ancelotti will take the blame should Everton fail to qualify for Europe this season, the players will be more at fault.
The Toffees are yet to be mathematically ruled out of the race for Europe this season, however they will need to get a result against Manchester City and hope those above them fail in order to qualify.
The Blues have certainly made it hard on themselves by throwing away points against beatable opposition this month, losing to relegated Sheffield United and taking one point from a possible six against inconsistent Aston Villa.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News prior to Everton’s clash with Wolves, Campbell explained that the manager must be held to account for his side’s failings this season, though the players must also take a look at themselves too.
Campbell said: “At the end of the day, I’ve said it regarding Arteta and I’ll say it regarding Ancelotti, the buck stops with the manager. Always it stops with the manager, because he’s the man calling the shots.
“But you cannot tell me that the team that goes away to West Ham, who performed so well and defended so well, who probably should have won the game by more, can perform like that against Sheffield United, come on now.
“The players have to take responsibility as well because that isn’t good enough. The manager will carry the can, but the players have to take responsibility once they cross that white line. They’ve got to go out there and get their victory, there’s no two ways about it.
“Anytime the pressure is on it seems like Everton have faulted, and that’s the issue, that’s the problem, the manager can only do so much. He can prepare them and get their minds right but once they cross that line they’ve proven that they’re not good enough, and Ancelotti realises that now.”
There won’t be any arguments from us that the Everton squad have largely let themselves down over the past few weeks, with the club having every opportunity to avoid a final day of the season scramble.
However Ancelotti is far from blameless, with his substitutions and tactical approach occasionally failing to inspire the utmost confidence in the Italian.
Either way Everton will need to strengthen considerably this summer, and hopefully Ancelotti has begun to identified which players he wants so that transfer movements can begin to take shape.
In other Everton news, the Blues are in advanced talks over a mega-money sale of this player.
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