Every week, the ECHO gets the views of an Everton FC fan to gauge the feeling among supporters of the week that’s been and the week ahead.
This week we chat to Ken Sweeney of the West Cheshire supporters’ club for his views on international breaks, injuries and Romelu Lukaku.
Everton haven’t had the best of starts this season – so is the international break a help or a hindrance?
It means McCarthy and Coleman get a rest and we get some players that we need back in the side. Since the World Cup, they have come back in drips and drabs and that’s led to mistakes at the back.
There’s key injuries but that’s part of being in the Europa League, although Alex Ferguson wouldn’t have stood for his side playing at midday after playing on the Thursday night!
All the top sides, with the exception of Chelsea, have been affected by the World Cup. If you look at the Euro 2016 qualifiers, top teams are struggling, players need a rest. These are top athletes and we’re running them into the ground, playing 50 games a season.
What needs to change the most from before the international break?
We have made 10 mistakes at the back and they have been punished. You can’t account for individual errors. Roberto Martinez is trying to get the best out of the squad, but there is pace missing.
The next four or five games will determine where we are in the season.
What does Romelu Lukaku need to recapture his form?
With Mirallas and Barkley out injured, we’re lacking pace. When they’re in the side, they get the ball to Lukaku quicker and we attack with a lot of pace going forward – something Lukaku thrives off. Barkley in the middle creates space with his runs.
How would you set up against Aston Villa on Saturday?
4-4-2. Always set up in a 4-4-2 formation.
Any other business?
There’s still a lot of positives. Saturday is a sell-out. We just need players back. Any teams with injuries will struggle and the manager has been unlucky.
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