Sky Sports pundit fears new Everton relegation battle with key men struggling for Bournemouth
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 could “struggle to battle” the relegation zone unless their attacking players find some form again, according to Kevin Campbell.
The Toffees have been inconsistent going forward in recent weeks, with an excellent display leading to a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on 22 October, but too often they have been completely toothless, leading to drawing blanks in the two games before and the two games since that win.
That run has put a concerning spin on the season which had been feeling relatively positive not too long ago, and Sky Sports pundit Campbell accepts that without more consistent attacking play it is going to be difficult to avoid another relegation battle.
He exclusively told Goodison News on the potential for another scrap against the drop: “You can say that because they don’t score enough goals.
“Going to Bournemouth is going to be a tough game, make no mistake about that.
“We’ve said this time after time, it depends which Everton is going to turn up. They could turn up and blow Bournemouth away, but if they turn up and they’ve got no offence then you’re relying a lot on your defence.
“Bournemouth have been pretty good of late so they’re going to make a real good game of it. It might actually suit Everton.
“Depending on what Everton turn up it could be a struggle to battle those relegation spots until they get their forwards going.”
It is by no means the desperate situation that last season turned into yet, as the Premier League is so congested heading into the World Cup break that a couple of wins changes the picture hugely for most teams.
But it can’t be ignored that the form lately has been poor, Everton sit two points above the drop zone after 14 games, and Frank Lampard publicly criticised the players who lost on the Carabao Cup visit to the Vitality Stadium in midweek.
Another defeat for the league trip will increase criticism again, which will no doubt drag on throughout the World Cup break, but the manager will have a number of weeks to work with this squad, and regardless of the result on Saturday (12 November) he needs to make the most of it.