Everton’s attacking play is impressive but without Romelu Lukaku they … “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ View gallery Roberto Martinez has instilled a new mood of optimism at Everton. He has shattered glass ceilings Everton could only previously peer through in frustration. He has brought an attacking verve to Everton’s play which makes them one of the most entertaining sides in the Premier League. But yesterday at Tottenham it was a case of the same old story as their lack of striking firepower was exposed. The Blues lacked a cutting edge at White Hart Lane without the injured Romelu Lukaku as they failed to take their chances. Steven Naismith, Leon Osman, Kevin Mirallas, Aiden McGeady, Gerard Deulofeu and Ross Barkley are all attacking players who can score a goal, but they are not prolific. Martinez knows this and brought in Lacina Traore on loan from Monaco last month to take some of the burden off Lukaku’s shoulders. But the Ivory Coast striker arrived with a hamstring injury and has yet to kick a ball for Everton, although he did make the bench yesterday. It is a big ask to expect Traore to start scoring straight away and he hasn’t played since he was at Anzhi last year. The Gentle Giant will need time to adapt to English football and build up his match fitness. Time Everton don’t have. It was tough on Everton that their striking deficiencies should afflict them in such a decisive moment in the battle for the Champions League places. It all looked so different on Saturday morning when Evertonians were hoping league leaders Arsenal could do them a favour by taking at least a point at Anfield. Instead, Liverpool walloped them 5-1 to strengthen their grip on fourth place. Then yesterday, Everton lose to their other main top-four rival Tottenham, which allows Spurs to move above them into fifth. Martinez’s men are now five points behind Liverpool – six effectively because of the Reds’ vastly-superior goal difference – and it’s hard to see them making up that gap over the run-in. This is no criticism of Everton and it is just the natural order of the richest clubs with the biggest squads occupying the top positions. Compare Everton’s spending in the last two windows with that of Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United and really they should not even be able to compete with them. That is not patronising and Everton Read more here The post Everton’s attacking play is impressive but without Romelu Lukaku they … appeared first on Nigeria Newsline.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 23:13:33 +0000
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