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Three takeaways from West Ham 0 Everton 1

By Matt Townsend

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United battles for possession with Seamus Coleman of Everton during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton at London Stadium on May 09, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Andy Couldridge - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United battles for possession with Seamus Coleman of Everton during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton at London Stadium on May 09, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Andy Couldridge - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Everton
West Ham United’s English midfielder Jesse Lingard (R) vies with Everton’s Brazilian midfielder Allan (L) during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Everton at The London Stadium, in east London on May 9, 2021. – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Allan must have a more advanced role

Following on from that is the question of what is Brazilian midfielder Allan’s best role in this Everton team?

Generally this season the ex-Napoli star has been playing as a screening ball-winner sitting deeper in front of the defence. With his combatitive nature and ball-winning ability he can do this job very well of course, but is it taking away from what else he can offer?

We have seen glimpses of Allan’s ability on the ball and his passing range on a few occasions such as the match against Leeds back in November and we saw it again yesterday against West Ham occasionally too.

I think this is where he can offer the most to the team if he is able to play in a more advanced midfield position and get on the ball more often. This will help overcome one of the problems this Blues side has – a lack of creativity from midfield and not enough support for the often isolated forwards.

Having Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure pushing forward more often and winning the ball higher up would help and give the team additional impetus and goals from midfield, something the side certainly needs.

This would enable the Toffees to adopt a more dynamic, pressing midfield and help the team play more on the front foot, which is something they need to do particularly at home.

But for this to happen Everton need a defensive player with the energy and athleticism to cover for them. That might still be Jean-Philippe Gbamin but given his renewed injury problems can Tom Davies or perhaps another summer signing fill that role?