‘Disgusting and not real football’ – Everton warned over incidents against Manchester United
Ex-Manchester United defender Paul Parker has described Everton’s controversial set-piece tactics as ‘ugly and disgusting’.
The Toffees slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to United on Monday night with Benjamin Sesko firing the winner in the 71st minute.
Before and after Sesko’s strike, Everton deployed some heavy-handed tactics during set-piece situations in the hope of unsettling United goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
David Moyes’ side crowded the penalty box, leaving Lammens with little room to move.
Despite facing the unenviable task of thwarting Everton’s dark arts, Lammens reigned supreme.
Not only did the Belgian keep Everton at bay, he also scooped the Player of the Match award for his efforts.
Over the top
Following the match, Lammens was critical of Moyes’ side claiming their approach was excessive.
“Everton are a physical team, their defenders are really big,” Lammens told Sky Sports. “We knew the corners and set pieces would be difficult.
“It’s a strength of mine (dealing with crosses), but today it was a bit over the top! I had to be behind the line in order to come out. It was too much, but it can be difficult for the referee to see it.”
His Manchester United teammate Kobbie Mainoo was also perplexed by Everton’s strong approach, even likening it to the WWE’s Royal Rumble.
And former United title winner Parker, concurred with the midfielder and provided his own damning assessment of the tactics, even throwing in his own wrestling reference for good measure.
“It was a typical David Moyes gritty performance where they make things difficult for opponents but when you look at them as a unit going forward they weren’t a great threat,” Parker told talkSPORT.
“The only threat they had was the line-out from the corners really. I thought I was watching a rugby game at the end with what was happening in that box.”
‘Anti football’
Asked whether he liked the method used by Moyes, he added: “I think it’s absolutely ugly, it’s disgusting. It’s not football it’s everything against what we want from football.
“The thing about it is we see what happens in those boxes, then you step outside the box and you blow on a player, he falls over and the ref will blow for a foul.
“What’s going on in there? I’m expecting (former British wrestlers) Mick McManus and Big Daddy to come out soon!
“It’s just not football,” he continued. “There’s nothing about that that relates to football and that’s what I’m not understanding, how the referees are dealing with the situation.
“Something’s got to be done about it and the contact going on in there. You see players on the floor, you see players running around. Everyone’s fighting just to knock the goalkeeper off.
“It’s like a game within a game.”
Monday’s win on Merseyside made it five wins and a draw from Michael Carrick’s six games in charge of the Red Devils.
The 1-0 win saw Manchester United leapfrog Chelsea back into fourth place and firmly in the mix for Champions League qualification.
It was also a third clean sheet for Carrick since his arrival and a sixth goal of the season for Sesko, who appears to have recaptured his form at the perfect time.
The Slovenian frontman endured a slow start to life at Old Trafford and while he is still not a regular starter under Carrick, his impact from the bench in recent weeks has been crucial for the Red Devils.
“It was another match-winning goal by him. He was ten yards outside his own box and to run that far is a feat but to run that fast and to leave someone in your wake was brilliant,” Parker said.
“At this moment in time, Sesko comes off the bench but he makes an impact. But the way he’s conducting himself, he’s accepting it and it’s benefiting the team so well.
“They had to dig deep like they did against West Ham but Everton never really pushed them.
“Everton helped them in the way they played because offensively they were very poor.”
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