Everton have been the undoubted surprise package of the Premier League season. They defeated Manchester United in their opening game and have maintained that good start as they sit second. How have they managed to keep the momentum?
Ask any football fan and Everton are probably not the side they would have picked to be the closest challengers to Chelsea at the top of the league six games into the season. Everton have won four out of their six league games so far with one draw and one defeat. If they can keep this momentum then a Champions League place at the end of the season is a very realistic possibility.
One of the main reasons for consistency has been the fact that manager David Moyes has been able to keep a similar team on a week by week basis. Everton have not been plagued by injuries which has stopped them from having a good start in the past. The effect this has that any slight area in play that needs to improve, Everton have been able to focus on in the knowledge that the same team is going to go into the next game.
Everton do not have the biggest squad by any means but they have been able to name key players in key positions. They have been able to play a solid 4-4-2 at home with Marouane Fellaini linking the midfield and attack away from home. The roles of Leighton Baines and Phil Neville in the full back positions has been important. Both have been able to get forward and provide the width which has been lacking from the midfield.
The effect this has is that it makes Everton an unpredictable side to play against and very entertaining to watch. The side can switch from playing narrow against better teams that keep possession well to playing wider to exploit space and slow players in the opposition defence. Fellaini has been very effective in holding the ball up which has allowed players in narrow positions to switch wide and create that width.
“If I had paid to watch that then I would have been pleased. But we’ve just got to watch that we don’t get too dizzy. I don’t think Everton managers can say ‘Let’s avoid relegation’, but I think that is always the first route for every club and it still is for Everton. The next part is then ‘can we make a European spot and if you are very good can you make the dream spots, the big ones?” said Moyes as on the BBC website.
It is this realism and calmness which is also helping the team to stay in their current position. The work rate and energy in the Everton side is second to no other club in the league. So many times in the past Moyes has said he would be satisfied every week if his players just show him that they are committed and ready to give everything they have for the club.
Moyes deserves a lot of credit for picking up two very effective strikers in Nikica Jelavic and Kevin Mirallas. Both players have arrived at Everton and have gone straight into the side. This may not seem like a big point but it’s massive in terms of their confidence and getting them to have an instant effect. They may not have been so effective had Moyes brought them in and stuck them on the bench for a few weeks.
The real defining factor for Everton is how they are going to cope when they do pick up a couple of big injuries and when teams play them with a different tactical plan or a plan that pulls apart the discipline and organisation they have already shown.
image: © wonker
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
