BBC pundit slams dangerous Goodison Park trend that put Everton win over Leeds United at risk
Everton displaying the results of other matches during play at Goodison Park is a “dangerous trend” that has to stop, according to Michael Ball.
Captain Seamus Coleman admitted his nerves suffered towards the end of the 1-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday (18 February), where his surprise goal from out wide was enough for the points, after seeing other scores displayed before the final whistle.
And BBC pundit Ball has branded the decision “wrong” on the basis that it could cause panic among the players and is baffled as to why the club have been doing it.
In his latest Liverpool Echo column Ball wrote: “Seamus Coleman’s admission that seeing the other Premier League scorelines with a couple of minutes to go “wasn’t great for our nerves” proved that sticking them up during the game is wrong.
“I have no problem with putting the other scores up at half-time, that’s normal and has happened for decades at most grounds but sticking them up during the game is baffling, especially if all those other scores are going against us. As a player, you’re trying to concentrate on your job but you do get a feeling from the fans and if they get nervy then you can get nervy.
“It could cause a reaction in a negative way. It might drive certain players on to do something more, we could and should have beaten Leeds by more than a single goal, but it could also cause them to panic somewhat and make rash decisions in defence…
“If Liverpool are getting beat five nil then sure, give us something to cheer about but read the room, Everton, and it’s the kind of strange decision they need to cut out…
“These scoreboards now aren’t small and while players like to look up at them when it comes to incidents in their own game, having scores from elsewhere flashed up is a dangerous trend I don’t want to see continuing.”
Needless
It would be so on brand for Everton in recent years to find a way to undercut their own players out of a crucial result through something like this.
Fans have plenty of ways to find out scores from elsewhere if they really want to, so risking it having an effect on the players is unnecessary.
Thankfully, the two rousing victories at home under Sean Dyche suggest that the Goodison effect might be returning for a second season running.
But earlier in this campaign under Frank Lampard it looked like anything could put the frighteners on this squad, and when Premier League survival is at stake this would be a staggering way to lose vital points.
It is a small thing in theory, but if it was the difference between a win or a draw because it had got into the head of a player at a crucial moment it could prove to be catastrophic in the long run.
Thankfully in this case the three points were secured against fellow relegation struggles so it is at least one potential banana skin that Everton have actually managed to avoid, and having been highlighted by the captain the change will surely be made.