Another season, and another late winner courtesy of the head of Romelu Lukaku away at West Ham. It was an unexpected victory considering the pattern of the game, and the fact that we hadn’t come from behind to win a game for over a year, the last also being that game at Upton Park last season. But Everton’s big Belgian loves playing against West Ham, and stepped up once again, that’s 6 in 6 now in Everton games against the Hammers. He was actually having a pretty torrid game to be honest. He was very much a peripheral figure for much of the proceedings and when the ball did manage to reach him, it simply would not stick. Yet, he left the pitch having provided an assist and scored the winner, giving Everton a sixth win in nine games.
There was a worry after the previous two defeats that, now comfortably in mid-table, the blues had taken their foot off the gas. The reaction after going 1-0 down though shows this wasn’t the case, so credit to the players for that.
To the relief of many, this underwhelming season comes to close this Sunday, at home to Tottenham. Spurs, a team we thought we would be competing directly with, sit 14 points above us in the table. Like us, they’ve also had to grapple with a sapping Europa League campaign alongside domestic matters, but recent experience and a larger squad has meant they have managed to cope better than we have.
Mauricio Pochettino arrived last summer to replace Tim Sherwood but it’s difficult to see any distinct signs of improvement from Spurs. Indeed, they have relied on a lot of late goals and narrow, 2-1 victories. It’s not a bad quality to have, the ability to find late goals, but I’m sure the Spurs faithful would have preferred some games to have been put to bed earlier.
2-1, incidentally, was the score line from the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane earlier this season. After Kevin Mirallas had given us the lead via a superb curling effort, goals from Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado turned it around in the hosts favour. Just one of many leads we’ve surrendered this season. That winner from Soldado also remains his only league goal of the campaign. Standard Everton.
The emergence of Harry Kane has probably been the biggest plus point for Spurs this season. 20 league goals, and 30 in all competitions, is not to be sniffed at. It remains to be seen though, whether he can continue scoring at such an impressive rate in the coming seasons.
As well as the obvious threat of Kane and Eriksen, another player to keep an eye on is Nacer Chadli. He’s gone somewhat under the radar but has chipped in with an impressive 11 league goals from wide positions and has generally had an impressive campaign. He’ll be a threat on Sunday.
As for us, Roberto has some decisions to make. We all assumed that the inclusion of Brendan Galloway at left-back last week signalled the end for Luke Garbutt, but the manager has insisted that isn’t the case. Should we believe him? I think if Garbutt is once again left out against Spurs, then that truly is the end. If he isn’t going to play him in the absence of Baines and Oviedo, he never will.
There is also the question of giving Sylvain Distin one last Goodison appearance, as it appears his time is all but over in a blue shirt. I don’t think sentiment should play a part in a mangers team selection, and with his lack of games in recent times, it would be unwise to put the Frenchman in from the start. But I think he should be on the bench, and if circumstances permit, put him on near the end perhaps. For this to happen though, Martinez and Distin will have to probably start speaking to each other again.
In midfield, Aaron Lennon is obviously ineligible to face his parent club, so you would assume Kevin Mirallas would be restored to the starting XI. But has Aiden Mcgeady’s impressive cameo last weekend, were he set up the winner for Lukaku, given the manager food for thought? It remains to be seen.
So we come to the end of a season that many will be happy to see the back of, and head into a crucial summer of some much needed squad regeneration. So let’s hope the blues can give the fans, who have had to endure so much misery and disappointment, one last positive send off and provide some much needed optimism, however misplaced it may be, going into next season. It’s the hope that kills you.
Up the Toffees.
