Everton have endured a really tough start to the Premier League season, losing their opening three matches and shipping ten goals.
Having forged plenty of chances throughout those matches, their lack of proficiency is not a new trend at Goodison Park.
However, this new lack of solidity at the back is.
Having never really been the most free-flowing attacking outfit, the fact that they could always rely on their rock-solid backline was one of few comforts the Toffees had.
If that is gone, they really could be in trouble this year…
TalkSPORT pundit fears for Everton
Speaking to talkSPORT earlier this morning (08/09, 9:09 am), pundit Tony Cascarino sought to review Everton’s start to the season.
Unsurprisingly, it did not make for good listening.
All the positivity that was forged over a summer of revolution in the transfer market has been swiftly wiped away by three Premier League losses, the latest of which has had a particularly crushing effect on the fanbase after throwing away a 2-0 lead with just nine minutes to go.
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However, it was not the lack of desire late in the game that left Cascarino fearful, but something else entirely, as he claimed: ‘My biggest concern with what I have witnessed with Everton, they have conceded 10 goals in three games. And they haven’t played, in my mind, very elite teams.
‘Obviously, Brighton are a very good side but conceded three. Spurs, they conceded four and Bournemouth they conceded three. So they have conceded ten goals, and that is… We always sort of pride ourselves on thinking that Everton are going to survive because defensively you think they are quite stubborn.
‘Going through three games with ten goals conceded, that would be very concerning.’
Who was to blame for Everton’s collapse against AFC Bournemouth?
There are two schools of thought from within the fanbase at the moment when seeking to understand what on earth happened last weekend.
On one side, Sean Dyche‘s lack of substitutes, or his poor use of the two he made, left the players completely hamstrung. They were dead on their feet and woefully exposed, and a fresh Cherries side, revitalised by five substitutes, found it all too easy.
However, on the other side, these are professional footballers and athletes, who should have been able to see out the result with or without a manager and substitutes.
Before the 87th minute, many within Goodison Park lauded the display as one of the best they had seen in some time, especially under Dyche’s leadership.
They forged chance after chance, carving through the visitors with ease and scoring two of the many opportunities that arose.
So, it really was impossible to explain how they fell apart so easily and so quickly, and questions about Dyche’s Everton future seem somewhat harsh when putting the performance into context.
Realistically, both are fair arguments and have their justifications. At the end of the day, the Toffees just need to bounce back now, with Aston Villa away next up on their fixture list.