Midfield must be Everton summer transfer priority
Everton finally won on the road last weekend to end a long run of failure away from the Grand Old Lady and all but secure safety from any lingering threat of relegation.
So it seems at least for the moment that the team is at last making tangible progress. And with Premier League survival virtually certain, where should Everton focus on in terms of player recruitment this summer?
It will be an important summer transfer window regardless of who is Everton manager. And it’s critical that the Blues build on any late season improvement to avoid a repeat of this dreadful campaign.
Although a successor to Leighton Baines at left back is necessary and there are thoughts of signing yet another striker, I think the priority has got to be midfield.
Although Everton did finally find a way through against ten-man Stoke City last Saturday, it was still a laboured and unconvincing display in the first half especially.
Critically once more Everton struggled to keep hold of the ball and dominate possession, even when Charlie Adam was sent off and Stoke went down to ten.
With all the other problems Everton have had this season, keeping possession of the ball has been sometimes overlooked. But in the Premier League these days it is becoming an increasingly important part of the game.
The modern game has become so fast and demanding in terms of fitness and endurance that being able to hold onto the ball is now increasingly vital to consistent success.
With the Premier League now dominated by counter-attacking football and with most teams able to break so quickly when possession is turned over, constantly giving the ball away puts you under greater pressure defensively.
When that’s combined with an unsettled back line and defenders making a secession of individual errors, you will concede a lot of goals. And of course that’s what Everton have done all season long.
Everton only manage a possession rate of 47.2%, which is way below the leading teams in the league. And the Blues passing accuracy is again weak at just 74.5%.
Compare that with the leading sides in the league. Manchester City’s Tottenham’s Liverpool’s (unfortunately must be included) , Chelsea’s and Manchester United’s are all above 50%.
Although not everything, high rates of possession is a pretty good indicator of football success. Average rates of possession are almost exactly reflected in league position with only Manchester United really bucking the trend.
So the combination of poor levels of possession and weak passing accuracy is fundamental to Everton’s problems.
All this blizzard of statistics points to the fact that the Blues must strengthen in midfield.
The majority of Everton’s current midfielders are essentially similar, hard-working, defensive types such as Tom Davies, Idrissa Gueye and James McCarthy. Their strengths are not maintaining possession or creating goals.
The Toffees inability to dominate the ball and lack of real creativity in the middle of the park is something we’ve spoken about before.
In addition Everton offer little consistent goal threat from midfield, which is putting extra pressure on their forwards.
As previously mentioned playing Wayne Rooney in a deep-lying midfield role is only a temporary solution. Although he has been quite effective at times this season, the club need to find better, long-term answers.
There has been recent transfer speculation about the Blues trying to sign Jack Wilshere, while manager Sam Allardyce has long coveted the Sevilla midfielder Steven N’zonzi.
Both these players, although not risk-free signings, would improve Everton’s options in terms of possession and creativity as well as providing more goal threat from midfield.
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So are there any other players worth considering?
One player a little from left field perhaps, but the type I think Everton need to look at is someone like the Brighton central midfielder Dale Stephens.
Stephens has an excellent pass completion percentage of 84.6% and is solid defensively as well so would provide additional cover in that respect too.
He has also made three assists and has been part of an effective central midfield for Brighton this season. All of this in a struggling team fighting relegation virtually all season.
That midfield controlled the game against Arsenal at the Amex recently very well and contributed a great deal to Brighton’s excellent win over the Gunners.
Next: What we learned from Stoke win
Although certainly not a glamorous signing (frankly Everton have not excelled recently in making those a success!), he represents the kind of footballer the Blues need to consider bringing in.