Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
Some Everton fans react to Ancelotti’s record since Doucoure injury
Some Everton fans have taken to social media after The Athletic’s raised the point that Carlo Ancelotti has only overseen one win in eight games without Abdoulaye Doucoure this season.
The £20m () summer signing has been absent for the Toffees since fracturing his foot at the start of March, and only returned to training at Finch Farm toward the end of April ().
It remains to be seen if Doucoure will feature again this season, with the issue previously feared to have brought a halt to his campaign (). The 28-year-old was a fixture of Ancelotti’s plans with Premier League games.
Everton have only beaten Arsenal since losing Doucoure during March’s victory at West Bromwich Albion, while drawing with Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham. They also drew with Leicester City in January while the Frenchman served a one-match suspension.
The run of results is bookended by defeats to Chelsea, Burnley and Saturday’s 2-1 loss at home to Aston Villa, after which Ancelotti criticised the attitude of his players.
“Completely different from the last game,” Ancelotti claimed, via quotes by . “I think [the team’s] attitude was wrong from the beginning.”
Allan and Andre Gomes had anchored the Toffees’ engine room from the start against Aston Villa, before the latter was replaced by Fabian Delph for the final 20 minutes to join Tom Davies among the substitutes.
Here is how some Everton fans reacted on Twitter after being made aware of their side’s run of results without Doucoure in the squad:
I think that’s half the problem the midfield expect doucoure to do there running for them
— David (@David42797784)
Dacoure whilst important in this squad probably wouldn’t get into any of the teams above us. Lots of energy & great recovery but is as wasteful with the ball as any midfielder we have regularly gives the ball away & creates v little. The midfield problems are bigger than Dacoure
— Beans (@Ecclesbean)
Problems lie with whole midfield slow, ponderous on the ball no creativity outside of James or Gylfi but physically is gone. Look at teams above us. They’ve mobile, TECHNICAL minded midfielders who can move and look after the ball under pressure. Midfield needs a total rebuild
— Beans (@Ecclesbean)
It’s not the first time he questioned the players attitude this season either. Although Doucoure is a big miss still think the midfield and right hand side are major problems for us and need addressing in the summer
— David Forster (@davidforster88)
I said it at the time him missing was a bigher blow than any other player missing, his energy cannot be replaced, we cannot play with gomes, james, sigurdsson and davies any of these 2 in the same team is criminal, more legs needed in the summer.
— Paul Bruns (@BrunsypPB)
💯 Mate.. The Midfield needs major surgery, along with the right side and possibly another CB/striker.
— Matthew Williams (@verseferg9)
8 games without Doucoure and poor results are no coincidence.
He’s been vital this season.
Without him we look very much like the side from last season. Absent.
— FollowEverton – News & Fan TV (@followeverton)