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With Beto signing close Everton might need new tactics to get best from him

By Matt Townsend

UDINE, ITALY - JUNE 04: Beto of Udinese and Federico Gatti of Juventus during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Juventus at Dacia Arena on June 04, 2023 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
UDINE, ITALY - JUNE 04: Beto of Udinese and Federico Gatti of Juventus during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Juventus at Dacia Arena on June 04, 2023 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) /
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Without wishing to jinx anything it does look increasingly likely that Everton will soon sign Portuguese striker Beto from Udinese.

His arrival will be very welcome to a Toffees team that has been so chronically inept in front of goal that the side are without a point or a goal in their first three matches of the new season.

It is a dreadful and surely inexcusable situation for Everton to be in.

But, we can’t expect Beto to necessarily be a saviour straight away and he may take a few games to make an impact. Of course, this is something that the Blues cannot really afford.

Hopefully, he can hit the ground running and at least the 25-year-old will have an international break coming up soon to help him settle into his new surroundings.

To get the best from his new signing though, Sean Dyche may also have to consider revising his tactics as well.

Generally, Dyche has stuck with a 4-5-1 formation or something very similar ever since he became Everton manager in late January.

These tactics are designed to provide maximum protection with a five-man midfield for the defence and leave a lone centre-forward to lead the line.

However, Beto has usually played in a 3-5-2 type of system in Italy, where he has another forward alongside him.

There are actually several reasons why shifting to a formation like this could be of value to the Toffees team.

First of all, it would allow Dyche to play Beto alongside another forward such as fellow summer signing Arnaut Danjuma or Dominic Calvert-Lewin, when he has returned from his latest injury.

Although he is 6′ 4 inches tall and can hold the ball up, Beto is not naturally a back-to-goal centre-forward.

His strengths are coming from deep – especially on the counter-attack – where he can use his pace and tremendous power to run with the ball and strike or play another team-mate in.

In addition to enabling the manager to get the most from the Udinese striker, switching to a back three could also help improve the defence.

I have speculated before that given the paucity of his defensive options Dyche may have to consider a different lineup.

The Everton boss has a natually left-footed centre-back in Jarrad Branthwaite and another centre-half, Ben Godfrey, who has often in the past operated in a three-man defence too.

This might also resolve the problems the Blues side is having at full-back.

Both Ashley Young and Nathan Patterson especially, have had a tough time defending since the beginning of the campaign.

With Seamus Coleman still unavailable and Vitalii Mykolenko only just back and with continuing questions about his capability, this could be a solution to consider.

Everton have wing-back type players in Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi or possibly Jack Harrison who could provide the width and creativity needed as well as additional defensive cover.

Ideally, a back four is usually better, but after such a poor start, Dyche does have to be prepared to think a little differently and find a way to get the most from his limited set of players.