Everton ‘looked like Real Madrid’ despite ‘alarmingly passive’ Bournemouth – journalist
Everton “looked like Real Madrid” against Bournemouth due to the visitor’s passivity in the game, according to Joe Bernstein.
The Daily Mail journalist wrote (7 October) that the Toffees’ Goodison Park display was admirable regardless of the opposition, but that the Cherries’ edgeless performance made Sean Dyche’s look exceptional.
Everton romped to a 3-0 victory to earn their first home win of the season and three points adrift of the relegation zone.
Bernstein wrote: “Everton were more than decent regardless of the opposition. Thanks to an alarmingly passive Bournemouth, they looked like Real Madrid.
After a year in which they hadn’t scored more than once at Goodison, Sean Dyche’s men hit three and could have added another six.”
Compliment?
Everton’s display against the Cherries was perhaps their strongest performance of the season so far. It was without a doubt their best home performance of the new campaign as Dyche finally earned his first three points in front of the home crowd.
Per Sky Sports, the Toffees outshot Bournemouth with 25 shots to their 11 despite the visitors edging Everton on possession. But Everton used their possession much more effectively, while most of the Cherries’ backline looked like they were on a three-second delay.
Dyche’s side pressed Bournemouth hard during periods of the game, and it paid off after James Garner’s tackle in the attacking third led to him having a free shot on goal to put his side ahead.
Jack Harrison’s exceptional effort from outside the box would not have looked out of place at the Santiago Bernabeu, while Abdoulaye Doucoure’s finisher proved a stunning team goal, with plenty of options sprinting into the box despite having control over the game.
Dyche was certainly helped by a lacklustre Bournemouth performance, and his side is well and truly a long way from Real Madrid, but this display gave fans another reason to feel more optimistic about the future.
In other Everton news, a senior player was absolutely awful against Bournemouth and Dyche needs to axe him to avoid the sack.