Joe Cole blasts Everton defenders for what they did during first-half v Manchester City
Joe Cole has blasted the Everton defence for what they did in the first half as they allowed Erling Haaland to score in the first half of their clash with Manchester City.
The Toffees started with a back-five to try and nullify the threat of the Norwegian striker who had already hit 20 goals in the Premier League before the game.
However after notching after just 24 minutes, Cole reacted to the defending while appearing on BT Sport Score (31 December, 15:29) and noticed the players weren’t following the instructions of James Tarkowski.
“Did you see Tarkowski?” he asked. “When he [Haaland] made the first run and Tarkowski gets attracted to him, then Tarkowski has to go and double up on Mahrez, and he actually points for someone to pick him up.
“None of the other Everton players pick him up and he just ghosts into the position. He’s just got that instinct.”
Awful
Haaland is no doubt the most in-form goalscorer in the world right now and Everton have let him have acres of space inside the penalty area.
It’s simply poor defending, and it’s just laziness that costs the team because it’s evident that Tarkowski is communicating with his teammates to come across and help, so he can help out out wide.
It’s a team game and everyone needs to be on the same page, but once again as has been the case far too often this season, the team just aren’t pulling their weight and they’re being punished.
Getting a result against City at the Etihad was a tough ask anyway, but falling behind in the game makes it a nigh on impossible task now, especially as we will have to push forward more and that means leaving more gaps at the back.
The second half must improve and we must become more of a threat going forward too, but ensure we’re strong enough defensively to not let them run riot and take us apart.