Everton: Gary Lineker and Martin Keown blast Sean Dyche ‘horror show’ as footage shown on Match of the Day
Gary Lineker and Martin Keown blasted the decision by Everton manager Sean Dyche to play a back three against Wolves on Saturday (30 December).
Speaking on Match of the Day on Saturday (1:16:27), host Lineker said Wolves boss Gary O’Neil made the most of the Toffees’ change in formation as his side secured a 3-0 victory at Molineux.
After adding that Keown thought the back three ended up in a “horror show” for the Blues, the pundit admitted that it “didn’t work” for Dyche’s side on the back of a “very tough” Christmas for the Merseysiders.
“Gary O’Neil has really made the most of Everton’s switch to a back three, which you thought ended up in a bit of a horror show for them,” said Lineker.
“Well, they did get a very good result recently,” said Keown. “It’s been a very tough Christmas for Everton as we know. They got a good result at Burnley when they went to a back three, but it didn’t really work today.
“When it’s just the two of us, I think you can deal with it. But suddenly when there’s a third player, balls come into the box and they’re not the right side.”
Didn’t pay off
It’s hard to be too critical of Dyche following the formation change after it did previously work when Everton saw off Burnley 2-0 on 16 December.
But Wolves are quite clearly a better side than the Clarets and pose more of a threat going forward, which proved far too much for the Toffees’ backline on the day.
Having previously looked solid at the back, they haven’t looked quite as convincing over the past few games, even though two of those matches were against Tottenham and Manchester City.
Dyche would have fancied his side to go to Molineux and potentially pick up a positive result, but it was perhaps just the wrong time to play the Midlands club, who have now won three matches in a row.
The Blues boss will probably put his focus on ensuring his team is much more defensively sound over the next few weeks as that is going to play a key role as they look to move away from the relegation zone again.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are eyeing a Premier League midfielder as their transfer window is rated.