Despite playing on home soil, Everton looked like the away side against Sunderland, and that was not just through the poor performance.
For the first time this season, Everton wore their fourth kit, which was announced just hours before kick off.
It was a truly bizarre moment to see the Blues take to the pitch at the Hill Dickinson Stadium wearing a navy kit.
Of course, this is not a case of the 1996 Manchester United side who blamed their kit for their poor performance against Southampton.
However, it is a decision which will have left a lot of fans perplexed as they expected to see their side play in their usual blue home kit.
David Moyes was far from pleased with Everton’s performance and Michael Ball has even taken aim at one decision green lit by The Friedkin Group ahead of the game.
The Friedkin Group decision slammed at Everton
It has been a poor start to the New Year for Everton, with Moyes still waiting on his first Everton signing of the January transfer window.
Everton’s lack of depth was evident on Saturday as the 62-year-old struggled to make many changes during the game.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Ball has shared his thoughts on the bizarre decision to play in an alternative kit on home soil, which the Friedkins signed off on.
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“We were wearing that new fourth kit and we played like the away team,” he said.
The Friedkin Group were directly involved in Everton’s kits this season as they even made some design changes with Castore.
“I know Tottenham Hotspur did a similar thing by bringing a special shirt out to commemorate their first FA Cup in 1901, but I thought that was a very strange decision from Everton and I’m not really a fan of that kit with it being used at home but not royal blue.”
There is very little reason for the Blues to even have a fourth kit this season, but Everton will gain financially from selling another kit.
Although fans may be able to understand that decision from the owners, the decision to wear it for a home game will leave many baffled.
The Friedkins need to back Everton in January window
There may well even be frustrations growing on Merseyside amid the slow start to the January transfer window.
It has been suggested that Everton are open to offloading Nathan Patterson this month, despite the lack of depth at right-back.
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The Friedkins are not shying away from putting their money into Roma, with Dan Friedkin jetting into Rome to support Roma’s transfer plans.
Meanwhile, Moyes is dealing with an injury crisis and a number of other absences at Everton and still waiting for movement in the market.
There are apparent concerns on Merseyside as Moyes has admitted Everton may not sign a player this month following their slow start.
Although Everton’s dealings are being overseen by a committee within the club, an intervention from Dan Friedkin would not go amiss to help get some new faces through the door.
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