Robbie Fowler: Everton crowd have made Godfrey and Keane nervous
Everton have struggled for form of recent, losing three of their last four Premier League games after an impressive start to the season.
Injuries to key players have seen Rafa Benitez struggle to keep up the momentum, and Robbie Fowler believes the fans are not helping either.
A lot of Everton fans were against the appointment of the Spaniard due to his Liverpool past, and they have not hesitated to make their feelings known in the stands following the recent results.
Fowler reckons that has affected the performance of some of the players, blaming the Goodison Park supporters for the dip in form Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane have suffered.
The former Liverpool star wrote in his Sunday Mirror column: “They are beginning a very tough set of fixtures Spurs, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester. Even Brentford and Palace away are tough games, and that’s their run until Christmas Day.
“You can feel the negativity swirling around the team too. In the last few games, the fans have been a bit anxious and frustrated, and that has been transmitted to the pitch.
“Players who were outstanding last season, like Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane, hear the groans and seem to be nervous in return. I’m not having a go at those players, not at all.
“It’s what happens in football – the nerves from the terraces can’t – help but spread throughout the team. These are players who were top class, but now suffering a bit of a loss of confidence, that’s all.”
Spot on
Godfrey was at fault for Wolves’ second goal last weekend, while Keane was all over the place during the 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Watford.
Players can make mistakes, but given that both players are England internationals, chances are they would not have committed those schoolboy errors if they were not under any form of pressure.
They are out of favour at the moment as far as selection for the Three Lions is concerned, and they need to improve significantly to have any chance of making the 2022 World Cup squad.
Everton fans are demanding like most fans of other clubs, and the Toffees defenders should be used to the pressure that comes with playing for such a club by now.
It is the difference between world-class players and ordinary players.
Keane and Godfrey are quality defenders, and they simply need to play without letting anything faze them.
In other Everton news, an injured Toffees ace is expected to return after int’l break amid fresh update.
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