Phil Neville says team deserve criticism after 6-1 defeat to Arsenal: Everton FC latest

17 August 2009 07:00
PHIL NEVILLE today admitted that every ounce of criticism Everton receive is fully deserved after their worst performance in four years. The Blues opened up the new Premier League campaign with a shambolic 6-1 defeat against Arsenal on Saturday - their heaviest reverse at Goodison Park since 1958. It prompted words such as 'diabolical', 'humiliating' and 'unacceptable' to be used in the aftermath and a shell-shocked Neville found no reason to disagree. Having been encouraged by the way pre-season had gone, the captain was bewildered why Everton produced something so poor but he refused to use the saga with Joleon Lescott and Manchester City as a reason. 'In terms of our defending, it's the worst we have played since Dinamo Bucharest in September 2005,' said Neville. 'It was too easy for Arsenal to get in and score. 'That's not the Everton that has shown such consistency over the last five years. We've been built on solid foundation and pride ourselves in being difficult to beat. 'That's been our strength. Even if the quality of our play hasn't been good at times in the past, people know that we are hard to beat. 'Forget the speculation and all the rubbish that everyone has been talking about. 'That's had absolutely nothing to do with what happened out there. 'It's simple. If you don't stay with men at set pieces and you don't stay with runners, you get punished. It's a kick up the backside, without a doubt.' An inquest to the performance was held at Finch Farm yesterday and the video of the game made for especially uncomfortable viewing. For while Arsenal played some typically slick football, they were gifted five goals by calamitous defending and Neville knows there cannot be any sign of a repeat when SK Sigma Olomouc arrive at Goodison on Thursday evening.

Source: Liverpool_Echo