A few Everton fans have been sharing their irritation to a midfield pairing of Tom Davies and Mason Holgate, after we lost to Leicester City on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final.
Interim head coach Duncan Ferguson had been forced to draft Holgate into midfield at Manchester United on Sunday after losing Gylfi Sigurdsson to illness, while also being without Fabian Delph (muscle), Andre Gomes (ankle), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (quadriceps) and Morgan Schneiderlin (calf).
While Delph may be nearing a return and the club only expect to be without Schneiderlin for another week, Gbamin is not due to make his comeback until after the New Year and Gomes may be out for the rest of the season.
Having to continue with a midfield pair of Holgate and Davies could cause further frustrations to build around Goodison Park, as some supporters have suggested they were ineffective against Leicester on Wednesday night by offering no offensive support.
One fan has even shared that potential new manager Carlo Ancelotti will need to build an entirely new core to his side should he take charge of the club, as the Italian will soon realise that he must instil change if his time on Merseyside can be a success.
Holgate recorded 60 touches on Wednesday night, but could only use his time in possession to take one off-target shot, play one key ball and connect with teammates with four of nine long-range passes, per Sofa Score statistics.
He also lost five of his nine ground duels, lost possession 16 times, committed two fouls, made one clearance, one interception, two successful tackles and was dribbled past twice.
Should Davies or Holgate feature in midfield vs Arsenal?
Holgate, Davies
Only Davies
Only Holgate
Neither
As for Davies, he made 63 touches against the Foxes, and used his share of the ball to complete 73% of his 33 passes – one accurate long ball, zero accurate crosses – while scoring from his sole shot on goal.
The 21-year-old also recorded two interceptions, two tackles and won two of his three aerial duels, but was dribbled past once, lost possession 20 times and failed to register a key pass.
Here are some of the messages shared from fans left concerned as we lost in the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final…
Eh I hope Ancelotti gets millions to buy a midfield. We don’t have one #EFC
— Jonny Horne (@JonnyHorne) December 18, 2019
That Everton lineup just doesn’t have enough attacking threat from midfield. No surprise we haven’t created anything. No chance were scoring 2 goals. May as well take a gamble and throw a few more attackers on
— Morgan (@MorganEFC) December 18, 2019
The midfield looks done already. No urgency! #EFC #EVELEI
— The-Toffees.com (@thetoffees_com) December 18, 2019
I hate the central midfield pairing of Holgate and Davies a lot. Please let’s never do this again. #EFC
— brownrecluseesq (@brownrecluseesq) December 18, 2019
This reeks of Martinez’s last season
— Ynyr Williams 🏴 (@YnyrGWilliams) December 18, 2019
Need Gomes and Gbamin back
— Josh (@Josh_EFC1878) December 18, 2019
What midfield?
— EvertonTweeter (@efcefcefc3) December 18, 2019
In other Everton news, an €18m outcast has been put forward as a potential player of interest for Ancelotti in the January window.