Everton’s woeful form continues with FA Cup exit, but Adam Aznou seized his opportunity to impress.
The Toffees were outplayed and out-fought by a Sunderland side who looked hungrier yesterday afternoon.
Everton inexplicably wore a newly-released fourth kit in a move seen as little more than a soulless cash grab.
It was symbolic of a marketing team out of touch with its audience, and worn by players performing way below standard.
With so many regular starters missing, our fringe players had a chance to impress. Few seized the opportunity, and fewer still actually looked interested in doing so.
Both McNeil and Dibling cheaply conceded possession time and time again, with little effort to win it back.
It’s worth remembering Dibling’s age. However, other than a decent performance at Turf Moor, we’re yet to see what the hype is about.
Indeed, Adam Aznou did more in 34 more minutes than Dibling has in his 11 Everton appearances.
The one difference between the two at the minute is effort. Aznou came on with a point to prove and a willingness to work and take risks.
His desire and drive won Everton’s 89th minute penalty to restore parity and take the game to extra time.
David Moyes put the young Moroccan on the left-wing for the final few minutes. Sunderland legs may have been tiring, but the 19-year-old looked a threat.
However, the Scot insists he still needs time to ‘develop’ before we see him in his role as a left-back.
AZNOU IMPRESSES DURING CAMEO, BUT UNLIKELY TO FEATURE AT LEFT-BACK ANY TIME SOON
He said: “We played him (Aznou) in a different role when he came on today, we played him higher, more or less as a winger, and we have got him as a left back.
“The competition to play those roles is very very high. That makes it less likely in some ways but I was really pleased with Adam.
“He is a great boy, he’s got bits about him that are ready. It is just that physically to be a left back in the Premier League, that is where we are needing him to develop.”
In three home games in the past week, Everton have conceded six goals to Brentford, Wolves and Sunderland. We’ve taken one point out of six, missed three penalties and crashed out of the FA Cup.
Key players missing or not, each performance has been worse than the previous one.
Aznou was a bright spark in an otherwise feeble and frighteningly familiar week for the Toffees.
