GARETH BARRY has warned Everton they must change their mentality and improve their game management or watch their season disintegrate.
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| Gareth Barry wants a shift in mentality after back to back home defeats to Leicester and Stoke |
Everton surrendered another lead when conceding two late goals as Stoke claimed a thrilling 4-3 win at Goodison Park on Monday.
Manager Roberto Martinez - who is monitoring Leeds' Sam Byram ahead of a summer move - has also seen his players let advantages slip against the likes of Bournemouth and Norwich in recent weeks.
The situation brought a terse assessment from stand-in captain Barry, who said: "We have just got ourselves to blame. We've been in this situation many times before and clearly we have not learned our lesson.
"You get that sort of game and then find yourself ahead and with 12/15 minutes to go, but we've not got ourselves in a position, or in formation on the pitch, to close the game out.
"We need to change our mentality and, as a team, be able to realise the situation of the game. We have got attacking players that do want to score goals but once you get ahead in an end-to-end game like that we need to close the game out.
"We have to change our mentality. We don't need to score again but need to keep a clean sheet to win the game.
"We have had meetings about it. We have spoken about it so everyone knows their jobs. Unfortunately we let ourselves down.
"We need to tighten up in certain areas and stop showing that naive side in the team. If we do that we are capable of going on a run."
Byram, meanwhile, will not sign a new contract at Leeds and his current deal expires in the summer. Everton are interested in the 22-year-old right-sided starlet and would have to pay compensation given his age.
Everton have appointed American Dr Peter Vint as the new head of their academy. He arrives having been head of performance planning for the United States Olympic Committee.
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