Everton fans were left hugely deflated again on Sunday afternoon after they missed out on an opportunity to secure a trip to Wembley following a 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Crystal Palace.
The Blues started the game brightly, but it didn’t take long for the hosts to grow into the match, and once they did, the contest became very much a one-sided affair. Patrick Vieira's men looked more dangerous in attack, more robust in defence, and dominated in the middle too.
In the midfield, Everton lined up with a central duo of Andre Gomes and Abdoulaye Doucoure. The former was making just his third start under Lampard, benefiting from Allan’s suspension and Donny Van de Beek being cup-tied. But it was again a forgettable display from the former Portuguese international who looked too easy to overcome off the ball and largely ineffective with it.
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Although disappointing, put bluntly it’s the sort of performance that we’ve come to expect from Gomes which is why he ranks so low in Everton’s midfield pecking order. However, a bigger concern was the display of his midfield partner Doucoure which wasn’t much better.
Unlike Gomes, Doucoure is considered one of Everton’s better midfielders. Yet his form this season has rarely reflected that. The 29-year-old’s lengthy foot and hamstring injuries have most likely played a part in this, yet his lack of form is a big concern, especially given the tests that still lie ahead for Everton.
Sunday was a prime example of Doucoure’s struggles this year. Against Palace, the Frenchman finished the game with a pass success rate of just 77 per cent and lost possession of the ball on 16 separate occasions. Even though he’s never truly been lauded for his passing capabilities, it was a notably poor passing display from the Everton man.
What Doucoure has instead thrived in doing is driving and carrying the ball up the pitch. It’s what made him so popular during his first campaign at Goodison Park last season. Yet at Selhurst Park, he looked largely risk-averse and fearful of driving into the Palace half. It therefore shouldn’t be a huge shock that he finished the game having attempted just one dribble.
Right now, the Malian looks a shell of the player he was. And given Everton’s lack of options in the middle of the pitch, his form is having a hugely detrimental impact on the team’s performances. It’s clearly not their only issue, but it’s an ever-growing one.
Everton fans will hope Doucoure is just suffering from a dip of form and that he can still come good between now and the end of the season because if not, he’ll be an example of another key player whose performances are letting them down at a crucial stage of what’s turning out to be a nightmare campaign.
