The Fantasy Exposed
For a little while now, Sean Dyche has talked up the team’s improved defensive qualities, which has acted as a springboard for an alleged good run of form. In contrast to Everton’s woeful start to the campaign, which saw them beaten in their opening four Premier League fixtures – conceding 13 goals en route – then I suppose losing just once in the next eight could be considered a triumph. Unspoken (at least by the manager) was the fact that the Blues had actually only secured two wins during that spell, and scored six times — highlighting a worryingly ineffective attack.
Whilst the boss talked about four clean sheets from six outings and only two goals shipped, offering a platform for stability, the team’s inability to find the back of the net obviously undermines their efforts at getting wins. Dyche stated that earlier in the season, Everton were creating chances, but were defensively too open, so he needed to take a step back, and add some caution. Maybe I’m hallucinating, because I wasn’t seeing this free-flowing football he’s referring to in those initial matches.
In the first match in what will be Goodison Park’s final campaign, the team did cause Brighton problems, in what was rookie boss Fabian Hürzeler’s competitive debut with the Seagull’s — but it was through aggressive pressing, and high turnovers, which were not exploited. In familiar fashion the club was made to pay for not taking advantage. Everton’s xG (Expected Goals) statistic was a mere 0.5, so it’s not like they were bombarding Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele, exactly. Next was a meek, passive non-effort at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the Blues barely got out of the defensive third of the pitch, being hammered 4-0.
Back on home turf, Everton played really well for 70 minutes against Bournemouth, leading 2-0 until fatigue and inertia from the bench, in terms of taking action to address what was obvious to any viewer, led to an embarrassing late collapse. Briefly, the team had played with tempo, aggression and appeared to know what they were doing in the final third. Two weeks later, the Merseysiders were cautious, yet somehow found themselves in a handy two goal lead at Villa Park, before the home side woke up and established their superiority. I keep hearing this game referenced as one in which Everton attacked; no, they were timid and fortunate to have been ahead.
Mykolenko fouls the rampant Diallo
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Over those initial four matches, Everton’s accumulated xG was just 4.2 — and 1.8 of that, from the Bournemouth game, so how this has been presented as more open football which had to reined in, in order to shore up at the other end, I have no idea. Hunkering down into an ever more defensive shell will not get the club out of the trouble it’s played itself into. Dyche is provably capable of sending out a side to play negatively and to hope for the best, but that does not offer the prospect of the wins the team badly needs to start picking up.
A Shake-up Is Needed
On the evidence of the campaign so far and in particular the events witnessed at Old Trafford, the manager needs to shake up the first eleven. Vitalii Mykolenko was exposed by the impressive Amad Diallo all game and at this point the left back is hurting the team — offering next to nothing going forward and looking uncharacteristically unreliable in defence. His error for Manchester United’s third goal, seconds after the halftime interval, beggared belief — to leave Amad with acres of space to run into, while he puzzlingly followed Marcus Rashford to the centre circle.
James Tarkowski has been erratic, in sharp contrast to what we’re used to seeing. He’s thrown in some crazy challenges this season, but this time was hesitant, allowing Diallo to take the ball off him for a humiliating fourth goal. It’s time to bench him and the Ukrainian. Either Michael Keane, or – here’s a wild idea – Jake O’Brien, who Everton splashed actual money (€19.5m) on during the summer and who was offered nine minutes here — his first action in two-and-a-half months should be given a chance. Switching Ashley Young over to the left would offer Nathan Patterson an opportunity on the right.
The Scot, whose last appearance for the senior team was back in April, showed more attacking intent than any Everton fullback has for an age — even in a 17-minute cameo, with the game already long ago lost. I called for the signing of a progressive right back upgrade during the summer, feeling that this would enhance the entire flank, but the powers-that-be at the club decided to stick with the existing options. Predictably, the Blues have offered little down the right side all season. If Patterson can stay fit, and the manager is prepared to give him a fair shake, then he has every chance to contribute.
It’s time to drop Doucoure
Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images
I have no clue why Dyche has decided to drop Orel Mangala in favour of Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Malian, who turns 32 on New Year’s Day, appeared to be losing his physical edge a year ago and he’s a player who relies heavily on those attributes. Paired with Idrissa Gueye, the older man was left to do the job of two, as Doucoure lacks the positional sense, reading of the game and instincts to compensate for a loss of running power. Everyone knows that Everton’s record is better with Doucoure in the lineup, but at this stage he’s offering nothing and is just a comfort blanket for the manager.
Walking the Plank
There was no lack of application on show at Old Trafford in the opening 30 minutes of the game. Everton’s intent was clear: to pressure a Red Devils side which is still in the foothills insofar as acclimatizing to the methods of new manager Ruben Anorim, and his 3-4-3 formation. The visitors pressed high and with intent, bullying the Red Devils players on occasion, winning 50-50s and being first to the second ball. The Blues showed energy and played with a high tempo.
Sadly, this was as good as it would get. While United were undoubtedly discomfited by the visitors, struggling to move the ball through the congested central third of the pitch and too often dispossessed in – theoretically, at least – dangerous areas, the Blues were hapless in converting good opportunities into attempts on goal. Poor decisions, a lack of movement, or a errant final ball plagued all of Everton’s attacking players — in addition to central midfielder Doucoure, who was poor throughout the match. If the team appeared in the ascendancy, it was a mirage: full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Having already referred to the club’s apparent defensive solidity being shredded on Sunday, we are still left with the ongoing conundrum that is Everton’s attack. All we have going forward is the odd dribble from Iliman Ndiaye – still inexplicably marooned out wide – and the possibility of a long-range potshot from Dwight McNeil — assuming the opposition is charitable enough to allow him the time to move the ball onto his left foot. We’ve seen the scenario which unfolded at the weekend play out numerous times already under Dyche: an up and at ‘em start, which relies solely on effort and is completely lacking guile, or any genuine structure to the attack.
Everton folded like a cheap suit as soon as they went behind
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Once that blows out, and such ideas as there are dissipate, the Toffees either settle in and look to shut the game down, get picked off by the opposition, or – as seen at Old Trafford, commit errors which the team cannot recover from. This is the reality of the situation which Everton finds itself in and I don’t see anything changing under the current incumbent. He’s played all his cards — and his hand was never a deep one. There is no chance Dyche gets the attack functioning properly; the team’s goals already lags its puny 13.7 xG (17th ranked in the division) by 3.8.
Rumours are that the Friedkins will be confirmed as the club’s new owners within the next couple of weeks. The transfer window will open up shortly thereafter. Everton has few “easy” outings until the end of January, at which point they’ll have just 15 matches left to salvage the campaign. TFG cannot wait for a soft point in the schedule — we’ve already had that, but must act as soon as possible. If the incoming new owners have solid alternatives lined up, then they must be ready to authorize a change with immediate effect. The fans realize how hard the upcoming schedule will be and will give the new man their full backing. Otherwise, the club will sleepwalk into disaster.
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