Everton’s exit from the League Cup last night was an enormous opportunity missed for the Blues.
David Moyes’ side crashed out of the competition following a 2-0 defeat to a struggling Wolves side.
The Midlands club are still without a Premier League win and are rooted to the foot of the table.
It was an opportune time to visit Molyneux, especially after our recent 3-2 victory over Vitor Pereira’s side.
Indeed, senior Everton figures like James Tarkowski and Idrissa Gueye had recently talked up the club’s cup ambitions, prompting misplaced optimism among the fans.
However, seven changes to the usual starting XI indicates that the League Cup was not seen as a priority.
Fringe players like Dwight McNeil and Tim Iroegbunam failed to seize their chance to play their way into the first team.
If anything, the game did little more than to highlight our lack of squad depth, and the limitations of some individuals.
It is a lesson the Toffees have failed to learn from season after season for a number of years now.
TOFFEES NEED TO START TAKING LEAGUE CUP SERIOUSLY
Since 2013, Everton have made seven or more changes to the starting XI in seven League Cup games against Premier League opposition.
In all but one of those fixtures, we were knocked out of the competition. For a club in the midst of a thirty year trophy drought, we have a habit of disregarding the League Cup.
This is a competition we should and could be striving to win. Instead, we neglect it, which will in all likelihood prolong our trophiless run.
I’m not suggesting fringe players shouldn’t be given an opportunity, or key players don’t deserve a rest.
However, the likes of Iliman Ndiaye, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish all had to come on to salvage the game.
With travel and staying warm while on the bench, how much will they feel the benefit of this ‘rest’?
We don’t play again until next Monday, so there was plenty of recovery time.
Moreover, With Man City one of the three games scheduled for October, Jack Grealish will only play two matches next month.
Surely, we could’ve started with our strongest XI and introduce fringe players throughout the game, ideally from a comfortable position.
Instead, we’ve done little more than kill the momentum generated in recent weeks.
Perhaps last night was a reality check. Progress has been made, but we’ve still got a long way to go.
