More reflection on Everton 2-0 West Ham
Everton claimed a well-deserved and vital three points yesterday with an eventually comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham United at Goodison Park.
Obviously the immediate reaction was relief that Everton have arrested a poor run of form having lost the previous four Premier League games.
It was also good to see that Marco Silva apparently responded to calls for him to make the most obvious and positive changes to the team. Although its taken a crisis in form and discussion about his job for him to do so!
In particular, he dropped Gylfi Sigurdsson, while Morgan Schniederlin wasn’t even in the match day squad. Both of them have been in poor form and their performances have been amongst the many reasons why the Blues have struggled to control and win so many games.
Silva also restored Bernard to the team, something Evertonians have been urging him to do for several weeks. In addition Djibril Sidibe got his first Premier League start at right-back, although obviously Seamus Coleman’s suspension made that pretty much a given!
The other interesting selection was to give Tom Davies his first start in a long time in midfield. He played, possibly only because of Fabian Delph’s injury, and produced a fine performance alongside the accomplished and cultured Andre Gomes.
So it was pretty much all positive yesterday afternoon. For a perfect weekend we only need Manchester United to beat that lot from Anfield today!
However, I think it’s important to dig a little deeper into Saturday’s win. While we can breathe a sign of relief that the Toffees have climbed out of the bottom three, for now, there are still several issues to deal with.
First of all I get the impression that just like the later part of last season, Silva has almost stumbled upon a winning and effective side by default.
I suspect that injuries and suspensions have been just as important as any sudden and previously well-hidden tactical insight.
For example if Coleman had been available would Silva have selected Sidibe? And I still remain unconvinced that Sigurdsson’s absence wasn’t essentially a panic reaction, a case of change for the sake of it.
Even moving Richarlison back into a central attacking role is simply going back to what he did earlier last season. Again is that desperation or strategy?
Also while he did pick Davies, a much more positive move than Schniederlin, the key will be who plays next Saturday away to Brighton.
Too many times in the past, the Toffees have won comfortably at home playing with energy and positivity but then the team go away the next weekend, perform in a lacklustre almost careless way, and lose.
It is so frustrating when you look at a team like Leicester City sitting third in the table, while Everton who have just as talented a squad in my view, started yesterday in the bottom three!`
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The Premier League has not been this open for many years, given how many of the established top clubs are struggling. It gives clubs like Everton a real chance of breaking into that glass ceiling.
So the number of points the Blues have lost, particularly away, is frankly criminal and has probably sabotaged hopes of finishing in the top six or even higher this season already.
It will be important to see whether Silva sticks with this team and gives them the confidence and self-belief to go and get an away win at last. But regardless I remain far from convinced that Silva can or should keep his job.