Everyone knows that Everton are in trouble.
Sat in 16th place in the Premier League table off the back of Sunday’s humiliating defeat at Southampton, the Toffees will require some serious motivation if they are to avoid the drop this season.
Caretaker boss David Unsworth oversaw the Saints’ 4-1 rout over Everton this weekend and his side’s next game, a crucial clash with fellow strugglers West Ham on Wednesday, might be his last before a permanent manager is appointed.
And while there’s no denying the fact that the next game is a must-win, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown perhaps got a little bit carried away with his assessment of the match’s importance while providing analysis for Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night.
“They next play West Ham at home,” Keown said. “Is there a bigger game in Everton’s history? It’s massive. They’ve got to pool together now as a group and the senior players need to come to the fore.”
Maybe Keown needs to be reminded of the fact that Everton have won the league title on nine occasions and have five FA Cups to their name.
Wednesday, West Ham – the biggest match in Everton's history? Martin Keown says it's absolutely massive #EFC #MOTD2 pic.twitter.com/Gt2AFn6REh
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 26, 2017
The Toffees have also avoided the drop in previous dramatic relegation battles so, yeah, there’s definitely been a few games that will go down as significantly bigger in Everton’s history than a league game in November but we appreciate his energy.
The same can’t be said, however, for viewers of the BBC programme.
Martin Keown on MOTD2: "West Ham at home, is there a bigger game in Everton's history?" They've been champions nine times
— Ron Lewis (@RonLewis_) November 26, 2017
Just 15 months after Keown himself left #efc in 1993, they survived relegation on the final day of the season by winning 3-2 after having been 2-0 down after 20 minutes. So no, the answer is no. Not at all. https://t.co/HBw891pfml
— Tom Nightingale (@tdnightingale) November 26, 2017
Martin Keown doing his best to prove that former players don't necessarily make the best pundits. https://t.co/9NuvmLc512
— Pete Smith (@PeteSmith1983) November 26, 2017
"Is there a bigger game in Everton's history?" asks Martin Keown about Wednesday's home game with West Brom. Even for a man who speaks nonsense with such intensity, that's special
— Aidan O'Hara (@oharaa) November 26, 2017
Martin Keown “Everton v West Ham is now Everton’s biggest game in their history”
I don’t think so Martin you absolute loon. #MOTD2
— James Dunkley (@james_dunkley) November 26, 2017
They’ve won League Championship nine times, the FA Cup five times and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup. So no, a game a ⅓ of the way into the season isn’t the most important in their history FFS.
— Alex Kittridge (@AlexQuatch) November 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/666bungle/status/934921900270194688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.givemesport.com%2F1204444-martin-keown-was-ripped-apart-by-twitter-for-what-he-said-about-everton-on-motd2
https://twitter.com/DanH1892/status/934921632531079168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.givemesport.com%2F1204444-martin-keown-was-ripped-apart-by-twitter-for-what-he-said-about-everton-on-motd2
Martin Keown on Everton's upcoming game against West Ham: "Is there a bigger game in Everton's history?"
Sweet fucking Jesus
— lukeyre (@lukeyre) November 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/tomward77/status/934921447398666240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.givemesport.com%2F1204444-martin-keown-was-ripped-apart-by-twitter-for-what-he-said-about-everton-on-motd2
