Everton: 5 things Rafa Benitez must do to get Everton fans on his side

Rafa has to switch out of 5-3-2 stubbornness

Formation

Rafa Benitez has switched formations between a 4-3-3 and a 5-2-3 a number of times this season.

The first occasion was against Burnley in a Monday night game which Everton eventually went on to win 3-1. However he did switch back to a 4-3-3 system halfway through the second half with the score at 1-1. Then we did not see the 5-2-3 system again until Chelsea away which had mitigating circumstances with many first team players missing due to Covid or injury.

I don’t think any Evertonian minded too much the formation changes for these games, the turnaround of the result against Burnley certainly made everyone think the exercise with that formation was probably finished. Then with the circumstances, plus Chelsea play with a wing back system, the choice to play that formation was justified just before the unscheduled Christmas break of games. The unexpected point was probably Benitez’s best 90 minute tactical display since taking over.

However, the decision to use the 5-2-3 formation subsequently against Brighton and Hull City has raised questions about Benitez’s stubbornness again. Both games for slightly different reasons were bemusing formations to use.

Brighton like to play with a high press and control passing through the lines quickly and efficiently. Another reason was Everton haven’t played for 17 days at Chelsea, Brighton had also last played at Chelsea but only 5 days earlier meaning they were match ready far more than Everton. Cue a fast Brighton start, a goal after 3 minutes and Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure getting ran over in midfield as Everton sat deep with 5 at the back. The fact that Benitez did not even change this system for over 70 minutes was even more flabbergasting. Even Anthony Gordon’s heroics couldn’t save Everton and many were pointing at Benitez’s negative set up as the main reason for defeat.

At Hull in the FA Cup once again Benitez started with the 5-2-3 formation against a side hardly known for scoring goals. Cue another early goal against, this time only 45 seconds! In the first 20 minutes Everton were again out numbered in midfield and Hull managed to play through the lines too easily. Fortunately due to the lack of quality of the opposition Everton managed to get to grips for the majority of the rest of the game, although still requiring extra-time, to get through.

This tweet below highlights the lack of defensive organisation in a back five at Hull on Saturday:

Compare that to this tweet that shows an organised back four and midfield three from earlier on in the season against Manchester United:

With the game against Leicester, today now postponed again, the next formation Benitez decides to use will be critical against relegation favourites Norwich City.

Surely the more pragmatic 5-2-3 has to be put to one side and the more positive 4-3-3 utilised against a goal shy Norwich attack. The fact that Brighton hadn’t scored more than 2 goals all season in the Premier League highlights that a back five does not make us any tighter at the back and clearly limits attacking intentions too.

Ideally you would see a back four, with Allan, Doucoure and probably Andre Gomes operate in a midfield three, with Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon supporting the striker. When Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are back I’m sure this will also be the formation of choice.

Can Rafa Benitez for once lose his stubbornness and realise that the 5-3-2 formation will only work against teams who use that formation themselves?