Aston Villa failed to turn an impressive performance into points as they fell to their third consecutive defeat. Next up is an Everton side that looks refreshed under the guidance of Sean Dyche. Will Dyche be the man to secure Evertonβs first three points against the Villa since 2016?
I spoke to Talking Toffeeβs Peter Daly to find out more about Evertonβs league campaign so far.
UTV PODCAST X TALKING TOFFEES
On paper, when you look at this Everton side, itβs hard to see why theyβve so badly underperformed. Coleman, Coady and Tarkowski bring experience, Gueye has played at the top level and Pickford is Englandβs number one. So what do you think has caused Everton to perform so badly this season?
“I think the reason Everton have performed so badly this season is that there has been a gradual decline in the quality of the squad. Everton have stripped themselves of all creativity in the past few years, players such as Digne, James RodrΓguez, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Richarlison & most recently Gordon have not been replaced. The chronic lack of creativity & lack of forward options with Calvert-Lewinβs injury record has been recipe for disaster. They simply have been unable to create enough chances and score enough goals”.
We have already seen an upturn in results since Everton appointed Sean Dyche. Two wins against Arsenal and Leeds has seen Everton put some distance between themselves and the bottom three. What has Dyche changed?
“Itβs early days but it seems Dyche has simplified Evertonβs way of playing. Lampard preferred 433 or 532 without necessarily having the players to do so, with huge gaps left in the midfield. Dyche has logically reverted to 5 in midfield, with an emphasis on denying space for the opposition. There seems to be more purpose to our play with Dyche, with less slow sidewards passing and more quicker & direct balls. That said, the major issue Dyche is having to navigate is playing that way without a target man when Calvert-Lewin is injured, Simms & Maupay canβt lead the line in the way Calvert-Lewin can”.
Despite it being a disastrous first half of the season for the Toffees, Everton have still managed 5 wins. Who in this team has performed particularly well but maybe doesnβt get the recognition for it?
“Strangely enough, Demarai Gray was coming into form and playing well, but since the change of manager, Dyche seems to have frozen him out of the first team. Thereβs not many who have had an impressive campaign, but Onana looks a real talent, although he is understandably raw as heβs only 21, he has huge potential and is already a key player for the team”.Β
Finally, whatβs your score prediction?
“Have to try & remain positive, weβve won our last 2 home games and surely we are overdue a result against Villaβ¦Iβll say Everton to win 2-1”.
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OPPOSITION FOCUS | SEAN DYCHE
The first half of Evertonβs season has been nothing short of shambolic. Lampardβs failure to get the Toffees to play as a cohesive unit left them looming dangerously around the relegation zone. In recent weeks, Evertonβs fortunes have begun to upturn as they have picked up six important points out of a possible nine.
What is the difference between this Everton side and the sorry side that was threatened with relegation? A man who has been accused of eating worms, loves playing lookalikes, and once had a coat-based argument with John McGinn none other than Sean Dyche.
Dyche is a man who succeeded with a Burnley side that he had no right to succeed with. This is shown by the fact that Dyche never really lost the support of Burnley fans. He is still loved and adored by the club that he spent 10 years at.
One of the reasons that Dyche has succeeded as a manager is that he doesnβt overcomplicate football. Dyche has explained his football philosophy as “putting the ball in one goal and stopping it from going in the other.” Whilst itβs not quite that simple, Dyche takes football back to its basics and produces brilliance. This is my look at Sean Dycheβs 4-4-2.
The brilliance of Dycheβs tactics is best shown out of possession. This is particularly handy given the fact Everton play in a league obsessed with possession based football. Dyche asks his players to move with the ball in order to close off opposition. To close off the opposition, Dycheβs team make the pitch as compact as possible to limit the opposition play.
While Dyche knows the importance of pressing as one unit, he also knows the importance of an out ball. He defends the goal by crowding out play and by reducing the threat in the area of maximum opportunity. As I said before, Dyche simplifies football in a very effective way. Put the effort in and you will succeed to a certain extent.
However, Dyche is not perfect. No one is. Just ask McGinn what he thinks about his dress sense!
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MY PREDICTION
Despite the fact that Villa have lost three on the bounce, the performances havenβt been that bad. Having said that, we need to make positive performances result in three points at some point. Sean Dyche will have Goodison Park rocking, but it doesnβt take a lot to turn that crowd against the team. If we create the chances we created against Arsenal, we should be fine with Watkins’ form. I think we will continue our undefeated streak against Everton with a comfortable 2-0 win.
AUTHOR | ELLIS BURNETT
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