How might Everton line up under Santo

While we are still waiting for that confirmation of who will be the new Everton manager let’s think about how the team could line up on opening day if Nuno Espirito Santo does eventually get the job.

Santo still seems the most likely, although reports now suggest that Everton are still talking with several others including Antonio Conte.

But if Santo is the man what sort of team and tactics might he deploy? Let’s do a bit of speculation and see what side could line up at the beginning of the 2021-22 Premier League season.

I’m obviously making a few assumptions about who might have been recruited and I’m assuming Santo will basically stick to his favoured 3-4-3 formation.

First of all the goalkeeper and I’m guessing that Santo won’t be looking to bring anyone in to replace Jordan Pickford although you never know, might another of his former Wolves players Rau Patricio come in as competition and another option? He will also already have a young Portuguese keeper who did well when called upon last season; Joao Virginia.

But I think that such has been the improvement in Pickford’s concentration and consistency over the final third of last season that he deserves to continue as the Blues number one. This really is a turn up for the books given how much pressure Pickford was under coming into last season after so many erratic campaigns recently.

But the combination of Robin Olsen’s signing and the competition that brought, together with apparently some work with a psychologist has seen a very significant improvement in his form. Now he needs to continue it next season.

In front of him comes that back three, or five. There have been rumours that Santo would look to bring Connor Coady to Goodison Park and if that happens might he then line up alongside Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey in defence? Other centre-backs have been mentioned with Everton strongly linked with Merih Demiral in particular.

That three gives the manager some flexibility as Godfrey has plenty of past experience in a back three and could play left, where he seems most comfortable, or right or perhaps even as a sweeper. He would also have Micheal Keane (although he has usually struggled in a three) and perhaps Jarrad Branthwaite available and Lucas Digne can fill in as well.

Now we come to midfield and I’m going to suggest this four-man middle. On the right I’m going to imagine either Denzel Dumfries or perhaps Matheus Nunes coming in to play there.

Dumfries was impressive for Holland earlier this week and that will have raised his price tag but the Toffees still appear to be in the mix to sign him as Marcel Brands knows the player well. He would be an ideal player for the right-side of this four with his attacking instincts. Of course alternatively it might be another of the right-backs Everton have been linked with.

As for Nunes, apparently close to joining, while it might not be his ideal position (he would probably prefer to play more centrally) I think he could offer a good outlet there as he seems to have plenty of willingness to track back, win the ball and carry it forward providing another creative outlet too.

Inside would be Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan to provide the energy and defensive cover centrally while over on the left Digne, who can hopefully re-discover his best attacking form. All four of these players can provide good defensive support in front of that back three.

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In another version might Ruben Neves or possibly even Adrien Rabiot join this mix too allowing him to play a three with Nunes or James Rodriguez operating further forward?

Then up front I’m imagining Pedro Neto coming to Goodison Park and lining up alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.

I’m assuming again that Richarlison stays, but that’s far from certain at this point in time. If he wants to go and Everton can get a good fee for him then so be it. But if he decides to stay and commit to the team, then perhaps Santo can get the best out of him with his no-nonsense approach and the possibly too the fact he speaks the same language.

Getting the Brazilian back to his most productive – as Carlo Ancelotti didn’t seem able to – would be almost like having a new player as it seems so long since he’s been a real menace to defences with his pace and power, the way he can be.

Neto would provide that natural right-sided attacker the Blues have so long lacked, able to cut inside as Richarlison would from the left and hopefully he would help provide many more chances for Calvert-Lewin too.

Well that would look to be a decent side, at least on paper. We’ll obviously see if it’s anything like the starting eleven that lines up on the season opener…