I’m not sure what he ate before the game: Garth Crooks criticizes the Everton star.

James Tarkowski received criticism from BBC analyst Garth Crooks while acknowledging the center back’s contribution to Everton’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa. After selecting Tarkowski as the sole Toffees player on his Premier League Team of the Week, Crooks gave some thought to his contribution in the match.

Due to the winter break, Crooks’ Team of the Week only covered the previous two weeks. Among the first ten teams to play prior to a week break was the Blues. Sean Dyche’s team ended a three-game losing streak as a result of their draw. Still, Everton is ranked 17th in the standings.

Despite playing one extra game, Everton is only one point above Luton Town in the relegation zone. Tarkowski has led Dyche’s team in the majority of games and has started all 21 of the Blues’ games. However, the 31-year-old’s difficulties frequently make Crooks doubt them.

James Tarkowski led all of Everton in excitement for the team’s victory over Aston Villa last weekend, according to Crooks, who spoke to BBC Sport.

“I’m not sure what he ate before the game, but it had to have been rather spicy. The center back must use caution, even if he is a dedicated and tough defender. I’ve witnessed him flying into tackles much too often when his opponent is half-turning; Tarkowski takes advantage of this by making his challenge quite heavy.

This happened with Moussa Diaby, who flattened defender Alex Moreno moments after leaving the Villa striker in a heap on the ground. He was, very appropriately, reserved for the task. It’s evident that Tarkowski enjoys mixing things up, and as long as he’s not attempting to harm others, that’s fine.

At Everton, Frank Lampard believed that Farhad Moshiri “didn’t have a strategy.”

When Moshiri signed former Everton manager Lampard in January 2022, Lampard realized right away that “there was not a strategy” at Goodison Park. Rafa Benitez was replaced as manager by the 45-year-old, who led the Blues to Premier League safety. But his time on Merseyside would only last a year.

The Chelsea great became Moshiri’s sixth permanent hire since taking over the team in February 2016. In May 2016, he fired Roberto Martinez and brought in Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva, Carlo Ancelotti, and Benitez. Dyche was then hired.

However, Lampard was left scratching his head as soon as Moshiri took over the transfer market. The 45-year-old did not see a discernible plan in the way the Blues assembled the team he chose. Lampard took over with Everton at 16th in the standings with 19 points.

Lampard admitted to being unsure about that on the Stick to Football podcast. “I’m not saying that too lightly because he had probably been there for four or five years prior to my arrival.

However, as you can see, there had been four managers: Big Sam, Benitez, Roberto Martinez, Carlo Ancelotti, and Marco Silva. Thus, as you progress, you’ll encounter really senior managers, Champions League champions, etc.

And as I entered, the squad was acting without a plan, as you could see. I had no idea what that was.