The One That Got Away? Why Marco Silva Can Break Everton’s League Cup Hoodoo

After Marco Silva’s promising start to his Everton career, the Portuguese schemer faces his first League Cup match. The streetend.com takes a look at the reasons why Silva’s side is perfectly set up for a run at the competition.

In a League of their Own

The League/Milk/Littlewoods/Carabao/Carling/RonsMobyFromBrookside Cup is the only major domestic trophy that has eluded Everton. Finalists in 1978 and 1984, the Toffees came close to the final as recently as 2 years ago. Unfortunately, Roberto Martinez side fell victim to a goal that should never have stood as Raheem Sterling pulled the ball back from Old Trafford for City’s equaliser. Since then, Everton have had 3 managers and been in turmoil. The appointments of Marcel Brands and Marco Silva have arrested that slide and put Everton in position for a cup run. The quick transformation has given Everton all the tools they need to make a run at the league cup.

 

Attention to Detail

Marco Silva has been working on Everton’s defensive structure since the first week of training. Indeed, a number of players such as Michael Keane, Theo Walcott and Seamus Coleman have talked about the effect Silva has had on Everton.

“He’s very dedicated to his job and you could see that after two or three days because of the work rate he puts in to every little detail.” Coleman told Everton’s website. “

Silva himself has given insight into his attention to detail and the work that he is doing on defensive structure. In his comments to evertonfc.com after the Southampton game he said:

“Every week we work on our defensive and offensive set-pieces and routines. It is something we are working since the first day. This week, we have worked in the same way, because in football the details can make the difference. We try to let the details make the difference for us.”

Silva has been unlucky to see his team go down to ten men in 2 of his first three matches as manager of Everton. He will be concerned at the 5 goals that his team has conceded this season and the uncertainty at defensive set pieces. Everton have played 99 of the 270 minutes in the premier league with 10 men. The Toffees have conceded only 1 goal in the time that they have had a full complement on the pitch. Silva’s team have been drilled about their discipline before Wednesday night’s league cup tie.

Opportunity

Richarlison’s soft sending off against Bournemouth as given an opportunity to others to take his place. Whoever does take his place will give us a clue about Ademola Lookman’s future at the club. It is possible that Silva will rest one or both of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Theo Walcott with an eye on Saturday’s Premier League match against Huddersfield. This would give Ademola Lookman, Bernard and Kieron Dowell a chance to play for a place in the starting 11 on Saturday. It would be brave of the manager to rest both players against Rotherham.

Doubts remain over both Bernard’s fitness and Lookman’s commitment to Everton. The European transfer window closes at 11pm on Friday night. Stories persist that the talented England under 20 international wants to leave Everton. He was an unused substitute against Southampton. His recent Instagram post showed that his heart is very much in Germany. It remains to be seen as to whether Lookman is professional enough to give 100% for the club that he signed a contract with.

Bernard’s Chance?

In contrast to Lookman, Bernard is motivated but has played 5 minutes of football since March. Marco Silva may see this as an opportunity to introduce Bernard to the physicality of English football. His 5 minutes on the right hand side against Bournemouth will have given him a taste but he will need time to adjust. The Ukrainian league is very different to the Premier league.

With Kieran Dowell also a challenger for some game time, Marco Silva has the competition that he desires for places. He will be stating to the three candidates that they have an opportunity for some Premier league game time. Lucas Digne will likely stake a claim for the left back position. Kurt Zouma will get first crack at a centre half spot as Yerry Mina works through an injury. Jonjoe Kenny may give Seamus Coleman a break. There are opportunities all over the park for a player to impress. Silva has a squad which could go far in the competition.

Quality over Quantity

In contrast to last season, both the quality and quantity of the current Everton squad is the best that it has been in years. In Richarlison, they have a current Brazilian international for the first time in Everton’s history. Bernard will be looking to play for Brazil for the first time since 2014. Lucas Digne was unlucky to miss out on the French World Cup winning squad. Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes and Kurt Zouma have come from Barcelona and Chelsea with points to prove and big game experience. All of these players have stated that they are here to win things. They all have motivation to play at their best.

Those additions to players like Seamus Coleman, Jordan Pickford and Idrissa Gana Gueye give Everton a strong base to go far in this competition. Leighton Baines has played in an FA Cup final for the club but has not yet won a medal. He deserves one. The league cup is one of the last chances that he has to win one in his career. He is still a top quality full back despite his mistake on Saturday. The squad has the quality, experience and determination to have a long cup run. It is also streamlined.

The players who will take the field on Wednesday night will all be playing for a place in the side. They all know that there is another hungry option ready to impress a new manager and take their place. They also know that they have an opportunity to make history.

Too Long a Time

It’s been a long time since Alan Hansen’s hand cost Everton the 1984 Milk Cup final. Evertonians have been dreaming of winning the league cup for years. Other less illustrious clubs have done it. Swansea City, Leicester City, Oxford United and Luton Town have all won it since 1984. Marco Silva and his new Everton squad have the opportunity to make history for Everton. It takes 2 things to win a cup competition. Talent and luck.

Is Marco Silva a lucky manager or will the Carabao cup continue to be the one that got away?

Do you think Everton have what it takes to win the league cup? Will Everton keep Ademola Lookman? Who would you start in place of Richarlison? Let us know in the comments section below.