With their current squad, Everton will not be able to copy the innovative set-piece strategies that proved so popular in Russia. Change is needed in defence, to improve the Blues’ aerial prowess.
Roberto Martinez’s transformation as a football coach is jaw-dropping. As Everton manager from 2014 to 2016, the Spaniard wholeheartedly endorsed a brand of tiki-taka that prioritised passing, and rejected set-piece play.
According to Patrick Boyland, writing for These Football Times:
"He [Martinez] will rarely focus on corners or set pieces in training, believing those elements to be unworthy of his brand of technical, passing football"
At the 2018 World Cup however, Martinez’s Belgium benefited from corners and free-kicks as much as any. The Red Devils notched twice from corners in Russia, including a crucial Jan Vertonghen header to begin an unlikely comeback against Japan.
This was part of a wider tournament trend. Set-piece play defined the Russia World Cup. Yet, if this focus on dead ball situations becomes fashionable in domestic competitions too, Everton do not stand to benefit. New manager, Marco Silva, must act quickly to deal with the Blues’ incompetent set-piece taking. To turn the tide, changes in defence will be critical.
Everton’s trouble with corners
The fact is, Everton are pretty good at defending set-pieces.
The Blues were par for the course under Ronald Koeman, and conceded the joint-sixth least goals from set-pieces in the 2017-18 Premier League season. Much of this is due to goalkeeping. Jordan Pickford was imperious in the box, maintaining a 95% claim rate in the league last year, according to Squawka.
Their offensive play however was woeful. Everton managed just ten goals from set pieces, five of which were penalties. Their two goals from corners were good for third worst in the league. For context, the Blues took 150 corners in 2017-18 – converting a paltry 1.3333%.
Defending is not enough
This torrid production rate is largely due to Everton’s misfiring defenders.
Ronald Koeman’s opening day squad for the 2017-18 season was, according to TalkSport, middling for average player height in the Premier League. The tallest attacker was the inexperienced Dominic Calvert-Lewin, standing at an unremarkable 187cm.
The onus then was on the centre-back corps to step up at set pieces. However they failed miserably. Throughout the season, just one Everton defender, Ashley Williams, managed to score from a set-piece.
This was not for a want of trying. A statistical break-down of Everton’s performance from understat shows Michael Keane to be a player who frequently fluffed his lines. Keane had nine opportunities from set-pieces in 2017-18, failing to hit the target with any. For context, Oumar Niasse and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were found just three times each.
All in all, Everton’s defence managed a whopping 29 shots from dead-ball situations but put just four on target according to understat. Considering this, it’s hard to argue that the current group should be involved at set-pieces at all.
Wasteful in attack, players such as Keane and Ashley Williams are incredibly slow too. By deploying them, the Blues leave themselves extremely exposed on the counter. There is little reward to offset this significant risk.
Time for change?
Everton’s 2017-18 season was one to forget for a host of reasons. Considering this, inefficiency at set-pieces seems a petty complaint.
Yet, the World Cup showed how corners and free-kicks can be pivotal. In many cases, clever routines proved integral to breaking disciplined and dogged defences down.
If the Blues hope to pick up points against bottom feeders next year, they would do well to take note of England’s ‘Love Train’ and other such innovative strategies.
Changes must be made at centre-back. The Everton defence had a great number of chances to notch from set pieces last season, but failed to take advantage. Marco Silva’s alleged pursuit of Colombia’s Yerry Mina is a step in the right direction to adding more firepower at the back.
Next: Everton knocked back in alleged Shaw pursuit
Ineptitude at corners is just another reason why Everton need to restock in central defence. The summer window will be critical to diversifying and honing the Blues’ offensive capabilities across the pitch.