Sky Sports pundit tips Everton to solve issues with Nottingham Forest win, dismisses fan unrest
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…
Everton can solve their issues in one go if they get a win on the board against Nottingham Forest after two straight defeats says Kevin Campbell.
Despite having no league points so far this season, the team struggling up front without a proper goalscoring striker available, as well as the growing threat of Anthony Gordon leaving to Chelsea, it isn’t all doom and gloom around Goodison Park.
There have been intermittent fan protests against owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright over the past year, but Sky Sports pundit Campbell believes there have been enough positive signs from manager Frank Lampard and his players for the supporters to stay fully supportive, as they proved to be so crucially during the relegation battle last season.
“I think after last season the fanbase have showed that they are more than willing to back the team,” he said, speaking exclusively to Goodison News.
“Obviously nobody likes to lose at a club like Everton, a very proud club. But I think they believe in the manager and his staff.
“They believe in what’s happening at the football club. It’s not as if Everton haven’t been in games, they have been in games. [It’s been] maybe the odd goal here or that.
“The key is getting your first win. In football winning cures everything. The moment you win people start to relax a little bit and you can breathe.
“I think that’s what Everton need to do. They’ve obviously got [Nottingham] Forest this weekend, another one of my old clubs, and it’s going to be a great battle.
“They got their first win at home against West Ham, which is great for them. Everton need to do the same. Everton need to get a win under their belt and then they’ll be alright.
“So I’m not sure what’s going to happen, whether they’re going to get a striker in yet or not. Obviously [Salomon] Rondon should be okay.
“But I think Everton at home is going to be a very difficult game for Forest.
Citing previous opponents Aston Villa’s outlook after the clash last weekend, having come in off the back of a disappointing loss of their own, he added: “Winning does cure so much with fans, because you’re not allowed to have a bad game on the first day of the season, especially away from home at Bournemouth.
“They did that, they had a bad day at the office. But they did perform last week, they played pretty well and probably deserved to win the game. Everton made a real fight of it at the death but just came up short.
“Now you’re back home against a newly promoted side. Nottingham Forest have made some really good signings but Everton are going to fancy their chances of course.”
The first two matches easily could have been two draws, and with a fit and firing Dominic Calvert-Lewin perhaps even more, which would give the current situation a much rosier shine.
Gordon potentially leaving is without doubt a concern, but whoever is on the pitch it is points that make the difference, so a victory over Forest on Saturday (20 August) would be a very welcome boost.
If the focus can remain on Lampard and the team the atmosphere should remain hopeful, so it is important that the club hierarchy avoid becoming the centre of attention by making the wrong moves in the transfer market, whether that involves a new striker or the Toffees’ homegrown star winger.