Everton
The Toffees are currently away in Portugal, using the extended break in Premier League games for some much-needed work and reflection on a season again in crisis.
Away in Portugal, it is reported that Everton midfielder, Dele Alli, who is still out through injury, got involved in a heated argument with a teammate. The altercation was so serious that it drew the attention of other nearby teammates, who also called the attention of manager Sean Dyche. These reportedly led to the training being cut short, and both players were asked to leave immediately.
Following yet another loss, their sixth in eleven games, Everton took off for the Iberian training camp, their first in the Premier League since mid-December.
Even with the recent lift of four points after their appeal against November’s deduction, the Blues are still dangerously near to the drop zone due to their troubling relegation-type form.
Over the next few weeks and months, Sean Dyche will likely have the hardest assignment of his coaching career as he attempts to turn around what looks to be a sinking ship.
The reason I believe it’s the hardest is that, although he acquired the position in January 2023 and entered an all too familiar crisis situation on the field, he wasn’t dealing with the same kind of instability and uncertainty off the field.
Naturally, he is concerned that the Toffees may eventually face additional penalties for financial violations, which could result in another possible point loss (though we don’t know how many).
The allegations must be made public by the beginning of April at the latest, but it will certainly leave his team with very little time to process and bounce back before the crucial final stretch of the season.
Furthermore, there is the question of whether 777 Partners, Everton’s potential new owners, will receive approval to take over the team.
Although the players aren’t directly concerned about the issue, the club would be in financial jeopardy and might even go into administration if 777 is denied the opportunity to finish their takeover, particularly if the Blues were demoted.
There is perhaps no more demanding and stressful environment for a manager and his players to be in.
Perhaps unavoidably, these circumstances have had an impact on those players, and their play has declined significantly since Everton’s initial reaction to the shocking verdict in November sparked a run of four victories that immediately helped the team get back out of difficulty.
The Toffees have been competitive ever since, but the wins have completely dried up. The last of those four victories against Chelsea on December 16th seems like a very long time ago.
It’s obvious that Dyche needs to figure out how to change this. What then is he capable of doing?
Initially, he needs to devise a method to inspire greater goals from a team that has only managed twenty-nine in the Premier League. Sheffield United and Burnley, who will undoubtedly be relegated, are the only teams with fewer goals.
His first-choice center forwards, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto, have both had terrible shooting struggles.
Despite this, Beto scored his second goal of the year on his first start against West Ham at home recently. But Calvert-Lewin hasn’t scored since the end of October.
Despite this, neither have had sufficient help and frequently have to make a lonely and difficult swath up front.
Furthermore, since returning from injury, Abdoulaye Doucoure, a crucial component of Dyche’s strategy and a consistent scorer in the first half of the season, has been a shell of his previous self.
I have already proposed a few possible tactical tweaks and formation alterations to try and find more attacking danger, but Dyche appears very hesitant to experiment and abandon his 4-4-2 base.
In times of need, drastic measures must be taken, therefore, if Dyche is unwilling to attempt a completely different formation, he should start Beto and Calvert-Lewin together up front so that he can continue using a 4-4-2 and his standard configuration.
He should, in my opinion, also offer Youssef Chermiti other chances. Once more, considering the lack of goals his senior strikers have scored, what has he got to lose?
Nathan Patterson is another player who, in my opinion, is being unfairly overlooked. He is questionable defensively, but I would start him at right wing in favor of a misfiring Jack Harrison.
Patterson is a quick player who can make terrific passes from a distance. He is an attacking player by nature. More pace, width, and excellent service to the player up front are desperately needed by Everton.
Thus, a 4-4-2 lineup with Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Patterson, Doucoure, Onana, McNeil, Beto, and Calvert-Lewin might be used. Chermiti may then enter the game for about 30 minutes.
During this hiatus, there has been a lot of talk about introspection and analysis, which is all well and good, and maybe it will lead to an improvement, just like it did the previous season.
However, Dyche determines that the current strategy isn’t working and that he needs to return with a well-defined plan to turn things around. Now, just ten games remain to determine Everton’s destiny once more.
