Jordan Pickford’s description of Everton’s 0-0 draw with West Ham as a “proper Everton” performance will do little to ease fans’ concerns about their prospects this season.
Speaking after the match on 9 November at the London Stadium, Pickford hailed the team’s resilience after a late flurry of saves denied Danny Ings and secured a point.
Yet, in a game where the England goalkeeper had little to do for most of the contest, his comments seemed more a reflection of Everton’s struggle to assert themselves offensively.
Pickford said: “We’d have liked more opportunities to score goals, but we kept a clean sheet and we’re going home with a point. We wanted three, but we haven’t lost the game.
“Our defensive shape, I thought was brilliant from front to back, and that’s a proper Everton side when we’re digging deep and helping each other out.”
But if such a performance embodies the “proper” Everton, fans have every reason to be concerned.
This was a match of meagre quality, and West Ham were ripe for the taking, especially in a first half where Sean Dyche’s men enjoyed the upper hand. Abdoulaye Doucoure came closest, only to be denied by a heroic block from Crysencio Summerville.
The lack of cutting edge in attack is a recurring issue for Everton this season. While the clean sheet was a positive, Pickford’s focus on defensive solidity felt misplaced, given that a win was well within their grasp.
The goalkeeper, who has been pivotal during a transitional season for Everton, will surely recognise that merely settling for a draw won’t be enough. With new ownership and the move to a new stadium on the horizon, expectations at Goodison Park will inevitably rise.
Pickford and his teammates must start demanding more than hard-fought stalemates if they are to truly move forward.