The peaks and troughs as an Everton devotee under the second stewardship of David Moyes are frustrating, baffling, and thrilling in equal measure. I’ve had many happy days this season and at the back end of last season, the Everton smile coinciding with Moyes’ rejuvenation and the accompanying whispers of European qualification.
All this activity is a huge difference from the dark days of Everton's past. And for every moment of optimism, for every bounced step, there is an Everton gut punch soon to follow. The grief is more hurtful when self-induced and of your own preventable doing.
The 10-Bullet Point Wish List to Repair David Moyes
#1 | Starting XI Team Selection
Let’s play the best players in their best position. Nathan Patterson or James Garner at right back. Jake O’Brien at center half. Jarrad Branthwaite not at left back. Harrison Armstrong off the wing and into midfield. No more Michael Keene as auxiliary striker. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the #8. Aznou! Alcaraz! Röhl!
#2 | Fullbacks Stop the Cross
It’s a horribly amateurish trait for football players to misunderstand the importance of preventing the wide delivery into dangerous areas and stopping the cross at the source. Halfhearted blocks and passive imitations of defending plague Everton and contribute massively to current failings. The fix is so simple.
#3 | Play with Intensity
Start with intensity, continue playing with intensity, and finish still playing with intensity. Moments of Everton domination are punctuated by massive moments of apathy far too often.
Everton are frequently better than many bang-average Premier League opponents, but rarely play better. Wins against Forest and Villa were brilliant examples. There are many more examples of what not to do.
#4 | Set Piece Corner Kicks
While the world of football currently thinks that Arsenal invented scoring from corner kicks this season, that isn’t actually correct. Corner kicks, free kicks, and throw-ins have always been legitimate avenues for scoring goals. Starting XI shadow play and set-piece walk-throughs have been a staple of game day one. Seemingly, Friday is an Everton coach’s day off.
#5 | Substitution Patterns
Nine players are dressed on the bench. Five players are allowed to enter the game. Three substitution windows are permitted to make changes, p[lus, halftime offers an extra fourth opportunity to influence the direction of travel.
In-game coaching is the million-dollar art, the ability to recognize the nuances of the unfolding game. The good are separated from the great by their proactive decision-making to predict and prevent ahead of time. Those who wait and behave reactively are often second best.
#6 | Game Model
Risk Adverse vs attacking Intent.
At various times, Everton have occupied higher and lower rankings in the live Premier League table. Expectations to beat the established elite just don’t exist with the everyday Everton support; reality-checking is a fair & frequent trait of the fan base.
However, expectations to win at basement dwellers and inferior clubs, such as West Ham, Leeds, Burnley, Brentford, Bournemouth, etc., are also reasonable. Too many points left behind, too many points dropped, too much opportunity missed. Playing not-to-lose isn't the same as playing to win.
#7 | Inadequate Recruitment
The Everton ‘Transfer Committee’ has been renamed as just ‘The Committee’. No recruitment to see here. The summer transfer activity was weak, inadequate and mostly a failing. Two goalkeepers named as subs and some youth team bench-fillers that you’ve never really heard of completing the last lines of December team-sheets.
Million-dollar assets given no chance, given no opportunity. Not ready, not good enough, not ready enough. Either can’t help or won’t be given the opportunity to help. Signings for tomorrow that equally have no future.
The Winter transfer window opens and then closes. Did the HR Department sanction the wrong month of vacation? This should have been your busiest time; this was your brief moment to shine. None of the missing positions were addressed, and none of the problems were resolved.
Two transfer windows. Two failures. Too much‘Committee’. Not enough‘Transfer’.
#8 | Purchase, Empower, or Coach-Up a Genuine #6
Almost every successful team in contemporary football strategy has a genuine #6. A player who can screen the vital central area in front of the defensive group, and a player who can build the attacking phases of play with possession passes and penetrating passes. That player may already be inside the club.
That player is definitely not on the field in that role.
#9 | Contemporary Fullbacks
The days of central defenders at full back are gone for Everton. But hang on, though, both Premier League table toppers, Arsenal and Manchester City, frequently deploy four central defenders in their defensive line.
They do. And those central defenders who played in wide areas are often excellent ball players. Calafiori, Ben White, and Joško Gvardiol are excellent players, beyond the cost and ability of Jake and Mykolenko. Everton also don’t have the attacking structure or proficiency ahead of the ball to accommodate stay-at-home fullbacks.
Everton need, want, and deserve progressive fullbacks. Creative width to elevate the attacking threat. I’m done with getting burned out wide and then offering little offensively.
#10 | Playmaker
Each line of the Everton team needs a playmaker. A defender who can pass or carry forward, penetrate, and commit opposition players to the ball and then play around them. A central midfielder who can unlock opportunities and progress the ball. A striker who can self-create for himself and then finish what’s created for him.
No more circulating passes back to the keeper for random diagonals with 50/50 outcomes. The goalkeeper’s distribution is a gift; it shouldn’t be the chosen attacking option.