Ian Holloway has blasted Richarlison for his lack of concentration for Wolves’ first second goal on Saturday, and has suggested that Marco Silva needs to reevaluate his side’s defensive work from set-pieces.
Raul Jimenez stole a march on the Brazilian from a Joao Moutinho free kick to reinstate Wanderers’ lead at Goodison Park and make it 33 goals conceded from dead balls in 67 Premier League matches for Silva’s teams.
Speaking on Goals on Sunday (Sky Sports Premier League, Sunday February 3, 11.30am) Holloway argued that something had to be done about the shocking statistic.
He said: “The whole point is you set it out, your defensive starting position so you expect your players to read where the ball’s going and move and be alive.
“Richarlison if you watch him, I don’t know what he’s thinking. On the Friday, he couldn’t have been listening. Sometimes as a manager you have to suss out, ‘we’re letting goal after goal after goal in from set plays, I’m getting this wrong. You stay up front.’ He was gone, he didn’t do anything.
“He watched the fella move past him, you’ve got to be alive. It’s like Strictly Come Dancing, you practice, we’re going to start like this, then when the music starts no-one moves.”
OPINION
33 goals conceded from set-plays in 67 Premier League matches as a manger is just not good enough from Marco Silva. Lapses in concentration happen, inch perfect deliveries happen, but for that amount of goals to be shipped in that manner suggests a fundamental flaw in the way that he is preparing his sides for those situations. Yes, Richarlison was at fault yesterday, and there is very little a manager can do to legislate for individual errors, but to continuously let in goals from dead balls is quite frankly unacceptable. More than anything, from a psychological perspective, it immediately puts you at a disadvantage, because teams begin t view it as a weakness, and will make a concerted effort to target that particular aspect of your game. Everton have left a lot to be desired this season, but they will never realise their European ambitions while they continue to defend so sloppily.