Some Everton fans have been slamming Marco Silva on social media for his ‘poor decision making’ after replacing Alex Iwobi with Morgan Schneiderlin against Leicester City on Sunday.
Schneiderlin had fallen to the bench from the side that lost at home to Norwich City, as the boss opted to kick things off at the King Power Stadium with a 3-4-3 formation where Tom Davies was partnered by Gylfi Sigurdsson in the engine room.
Iwobi, meanwhile, began the league affair on the right-wing with Djibril Sidibe acting as the overlapping wide right option, but the Nigerian would see his afternoon end in the 78th-minute.
The £34million summer signing from Arsenal had registered one key pass, three crosses, 14 final third passes and two successful dribbles before leaving the field for Schneiderlin, per WhoScored figures.
Some fans have suggested that Sigurdsson or Davies ought to have been the man brought off when Silva made the switch while the scoreline was level at 1-1, as the Iceland midfielder had only registered one key pass, one shot, two successful tackles, three interceptions and turned over possession once before Schneiderlin entered the action.
Davies, on the other hand, had not turned over possession by that stage of proceedings, but had not attempted any shots on goal or registered any dribbles, while taking possession with one of his three tackles, making one clearance and intercepting the ball thrice.
Once on the field, Schneiderlin only played four passes – each in the middle third of the pitch and only two aimed forwards – along with recording no tackles, clearances or blocks to one his interception as Leicester secured the win in stoppage-time.
Was Silva right to take Iwobi off for Schneiderlin?
Yes, he had to make a change in midfield
It should have been for Sigurdsson
It should have been for Davies
No, why did he bring Morgan on?
Here are some of the messages shared as fans lambasted Silva for his decision to swap Iwobi for Schneiderlin at Leicester on Sunday…
Can’t believe he took Iwobi off for Schneiderlin! We have nothing up front, nothing in midfield and the three at the back are a joke, we battled today for a majority of the game but we are still not good enough. Things have got to change. #EFC #LEIEVE
— Mark Watkinson † (@woktheblue) December 1, 2019
One thing I do not get, is why he took Iwobi off over Sigurdsson. I get he was going to a midfield 3 but Iwobi could of easily been a part of that.
— Jack◢ ◤ (@JackEFC95) December 1, 2019
Left Davies on over Iwobi, when Davies was having a bad game and looked like he was running through treacle. Poor decision making cost him there.
— Safe For Pandas (@SafeForPandas) December 1, 2019
Iwobi going off instead of Tom Davies.
Nailed his own coffin there Marco.#EFC
— Local Stuntman (@SCOA22) December 1, 2019
Why was Iwobi brought off and not Davies by the way?
— The Gwladys Street (@TheGwladysSt) December 1, 2019
Why take Iwobi off 🤦🏼♂️😩#efc
— JAMES DONEGAN (@TOFF79) December 1, 2019
Iwobi off… sigurdsson and Davies both staying on pic.twitter.com/1eRTMGFx0A
— Marcel Brands Swagger (@cj87EFC) December 1, 2019
Will Iwobi & Kean *ever* get on the pitch together under Silva?? #efc
— Alex Bell (@alexbe11) December 1, 2019
Iwobi off?
— Jacob (@LawrensonEFC) December 1, 2019
In other Everton news, fans have been lauding an 18-cap Toffees man for his ‘amazing’ efforts against Leicester City on Sunday.