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*Shakes head* Everton again.

Fugitive

By Fugitive,
in FF - Football Forum

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Captain Turdseye Grand Master

Captain Turdseye

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There’s just time to reflect on a midweek article from the Athletic’s resident bluenose writers after Everton’s magnificent victory over West Ham United last weekend. 

 



It started with a couple of frank meetings between Marco Silva and his players and finished with victory in what the Everton manager admitted was a “must-win” game against West Ham United.

With his expensively-assembled team languishing in the relegation zone during this month’s international break, the under-pressure Silva knew he simply had to do something to provoke a response at Goodison on Saturday.

Crucially, a response was exactly what he got.

After four defeats on the bounce, Silva had accepted this was not about subtle tweaks but rather a root-and-branch look at how best to maximise the resources in Everton’s squad. Something — or rather some things — had to change.

And so, afforded the best part of a fortnight to hatch a plan to get his underperforming side back on track, the Portuguese and his backroom team set about meticulously plotting the downfall of West Ham.

The two-week break featured several clear-the-air talks with his squad, many hours analysing West Ham’s strengths and weaknesses, and regular sessions on the training ground honing a new system for defending set-pieces.

As with most Premier League sides during the break, Everton were without a host of their international stars. Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane were both part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, while the likes of Lucas Digne, Seamus Coleman, Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alex Iwobi were also away with their countries.

Almost without fail, Everton ask their returning international stars to report for duty at either 3pm or 5pm the day after they get back, but this month the later time was simply not an option. Knowing he needed as much time on the training ground as possible to drill his players, Silva told his returning internationals to report to Finch Farm at the earlier time of 3pm.

There, squad meetings were held to determine what was going wrong and how it could be put right. Players were asked for input and, once the home truths had been aired, a steely determination emerged to put things right. The conversations were tough but just about everyone associated with the disappointing start to the season knew they needed to improve.

In the build-up to the weekend’s game, Silva and his backroom team analysed video footage of Everton and West Ham’s recent fixtures in the hope of finding answers to some of their ills. They came up with two solutions.

The first, in light of their woes at set pieces, was a switch from the much-criticised zonal marking at defensive corners to man-marking. It was the first time Silva had deviated from zonal marking, which has been his preferred method of defending during his time in England. Sources close to Everton confirmed the change in approach to The Athletic, with a group of between five to six defenders asked to go man-for-man at set-pieces while a smaller number defended in zones.

This was acceptance from Silva that his side’s defending from crosses has not been good enough so far this season — and a bold step forward for a manager who critics have labelled as intransigent.

Silva’s courage was repaid in full. Everton surrendered just one meaningful chance to West Ham from dead-ball situations — Angelo Ogbonna stinging the palms of Pickford in the second half from a corner that should probably have never been given — but, on the whole, Yerry Mina and Keane, in particular, were back to being their dominant selves.

Silva also saw West Ham midfielder Declan Rice as another potential weakness. Sources confirmed to The Athletic that the Everton manager had identified space either side of Rice that Everton could exploit. The idea was to effectively play with two No 10s in Iwobi and Bernard, who came in regularly from his position on the left, to create a numerical advantage that Rice would not have the pace to cover.

“The manager told me to try to get the team going forward as quickly as possible but also keep the ball and create chances and I felt I would be able to do that,” Iwobi told EvertonTV after the game.

With Tom Davies and Andre Gomes reinstated at the expense of the injured Fabian Delph and Morgan Schneiderlin, and Iwobi and Bernard thriving in the hole, West Ham were unable to cope with the fluidity in Everton’s game. The approach focused on rapid transitions and quick switches, and yielded an xG of 2.23 according to Understat.

Silva’s team selection had initially raised eyebrows. Among five changes, Theo Walcott was recalled to the right wing as Richarlison moved to a makeshift role up front. Whereas against Burnley, Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin exchanged just one pass between them all game, here Iwobi and Richarlison managed six. According to Opta, Iwobi also made 18 passes into the final third and six into the West Ham area. Sigurdsson’s totals against Burnley read six and three respectively.

Everton were more dangerous for the ingenuity of dual playmakers Iwobi and Bernard and the pace and movement of Walcott and Richarlison, but they were also helped by a much more efficient midfield behind them.

On his first start of the season, Davies made 20 forward passes — the most by an Everton player — and managed a pass completion of 85 per cent. Alongside him, the elegant Andre Gomes also excelled and was awarded broadcaster BT Sport’s man of the match prize.

Homegrown talent Davies may have been fortunate to feature in the absence of Delph and Schneiderlin but he grabbed his chance with both hands and was described as a “special” talent by Silva after the game. Sources have told The Athletic that Everton view the young midfielder as their present and future, but have told him to improve his consistency. The feeling in some quarters is that negative comments from the crowd have had an adverse impact on a player who is at his best when looking to be bold on the ball.

Even during a spell in which they were both out of the team, Davies — “a training ground animal” according to one source — and Schneiderlin were taken aside by Silva and singled out for their work ethic at Finch Farm. The understanding was that opportunities would present themselves if the pair continued to put in the hard yards. Walcott is another to have benefited from Silva’s desire to reward performances in training. Two of the three were key here.

Given his dearth of game-time, it would have been no surprise if Davies had been rusty. Yet two full 90 minutes for England Under-21s during the break helped his match fitness and he returned to Everton with a point to prove. For all the outside focus on his appearance and interests off the field, sources say Davies wants nothing more than to succeed at his boyhood club. There is a burning desire to improve Everton’s fortunes that was fully evident on the pitch on Saturday — particularly in the aftermath of Sigurdsson’s match-clinching goal.

Aside from his role tactically, Davies is also one of the louder figures in the dressing room. The midfielder has captained England age-group sides all the way through to under-21 level and was also handed the armband by Silva at times last season. His leadership was evident both in rousing his team-mates in the dressing room before the game and in the tunnel just before kick-off.

What followed was an all-action display from the midfielder, who regained the ball 13 times, distributed smartly through the opposition lines and, in tandem with Gomes, dominated the midfield. Davies has also been told to avoid early bookings that hamper his ability to make challenges. A yellow card duly came in first-half injury time, but by then he had helped Everton to get a grip of a game they never looked likely to relinquish.

Davies has had to watch on as Rice, among others, have leapfrogged him in the England pecking order. It has left the Everton youngster with a point to prove for both club and country, but there was only one winner in their personal duel on Saturday.

But then, all over the pitch, Everton players won their battles. Victory was a cathartic moment after what had gone before. As Sigurdsson’s shot hit the back of the net, Davies sank to his knees then hugged Keane. It was relief that the plan had come off.

Silva and his players deserve credit for turning the ship around in the face of adversity. The next challenge is to sustain it, starting with Brighton away on Saturday.

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Mudface Grand Master

Mudface

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Captain Turdseye said:

There’s just time to reflect on a midweek article from the Athletic’s resident bluenose writers after Everton’s magnificent victory over West Ham United last weekend. 

 

So basically the Athletic's journalism is just as reactionary as everywhere else, they're just a lot more long-winded.

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Captain Turdseye Grand Master

Captain Turdseye

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Posted
Just now, Mudface said:

So basically the Athletic's journalism is just as reactionary as everywhere else, they're just a lot more long-winded.

 

Their Everton stuff certainly is. It’s basically just that O’Keefe bloke who used to work for the Echo. They had a piece on Theo Walcott the other day as well. He’s turned a corner, working harder than ever and his Everton career is only just beginning. The future’s bright. 

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AngryOfTuebrook Grand Master

AngryOfTuebrook

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Anubis said:

They are making themselves ill over this. Naturally we feature heavily in the conspiracy. Despite the events of the United game contradicting everything they’re saying about us. 
 

Oh, and Ron Burgandy is deffo one of us...

 

https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/everton-and-var.108425/

 

 

Thomasc

Formerly known as By God I'm Blue
Relax, I’m sure it will work out just peachy for the neighbors for the whole season.
 
 
Darth Toffeeman

Darth Toffeeman

Player Valuation: £50m
Another tool for the rotten and corrupt syndicates in charge of this circus farce.
 
 

EFCINLONDON

Player Valuation: £500k
It's just cheating. No other words for it.
EFCPaul

EFCPaul

Player Valuation: £35m
And so VAR officially robs us of 3 points and possibly a season changing victory. Fed up of this sport to be honest.
 

bilyaletdinov_

Player Valuation: £10m
VAR is corrupt, simple as that. 
Liverpool will win the league off the back of it and we will get punished by despicable decisions every week
davek

davek

Player Valuation: £70m
 
Penalty chaged EVERYTHING in that match.

VAR is rotten to the core.

 
tsubaki

tsubaki

Player Valuation: £70m
if that had happened in a derby, that game would have gone seriously wrong
EFCPaul

EFCPaul

Player Valuation: £35m
It will be binned in the summer, no way clubs will agree to keep it now. Just why does it have to be us who get utterly screwed over before any action gets taken.
 
 

bilyaletdinov_

Player Valuation: £10m
Give your head a wobble lad. Should we just not talk about things that might make some of the fanbase wet the bed then?
Talk about it all you want just
It will be binned in the summer, no way clubs will agree to keep it now. Just why does it have to be us who get utterly screwed over before any action gets taken.
Totally agree, will be a force used for the RS to pick up their league title and then dumped forever
The Blue Watch

The Blue Watch

Player Valuation: £10m
Imagine that being given a pen against the RS. Hahahaha
The binman chronicles

The binman chronicles

Player Valuation: £70m
VAR is just another form of media and you know who controls the media? Big stand FC.
dannyboy

dannyboy

Player Valuation: £70m
if that had happened in a derby, that game would have gone seriously wrong
Is that being given for us in front of the Kop on 93 minutes? We all know the answer to that.
Albertini78

Albertini78

Player Valuation: £10m
Its ok to give that against Keane if its VVD or Stones etc ... Hmmmmm 

Referees in this country have been bad enough for years which idiots are supporting them with VAR
Saint Domingo

Saint Domingo

Player Valuation: £70m
It’s manned by kopites for a game run by kopites for millions of fans giving money to it most of whom are Kopites. Everton are the easiest target in the world for them to boost their social media clicks and interactions from their rabid kopite following.
onlyme

onlyme

Player Valuation: £10m
Imagine if that decision had gone against the RS, sky would have had a 90 minute debate explaining what was wrong with VAR
Abraders

Abraders

Player Valuation: £70m
Imagine if that decision had gone against the RS, sky would have had a 90 minute debate explaining what was wrong with VAR
Wouldn't even be checked. Absolutely never giving that at Anfield lol
Ron Burgundy

Ron Burgundy

Player Valuation: £10m
It’s manned by kopites for a game run by kopites for millions of fans giving money to it most of whom are Kopites. Everton are the easiest target in the world for them to boost their social media clicks and interactions from their rabid kopite following.
Exaclty this. There are RS on the VAR panel. It's no secret.
chrismpw

chrismpw

Player Valuation: £70m
Nope, I was horribly wrong about it.

It has potential to be brilliant but all it does is give corruption another tool to make games go the way they want them to.

A disaster. Not just because a decision has just gone against Everton; it's been a disaster regardless.
This 

It suits the team the league wants it to suit.


 

 


And then one of their long-standing posters bucks the trend....
 
 
killenefc

killenefc

Player Valuation: £70m
Let’s not find another excuse shall we? Wasn’t a penalty at all for me but I can also see why it was given because that’s the way football and officiating has gone. The only other way VAR has affected us this season is maybe with a couple of penalties that we haven’t been given but tbh if we’re relying on penalties to win games or even really compete in our case then we may as well give up.

We weren’t good enough today, our team which cost more than Bayern Munich’s once again didn’t win an away game, a game at Brighton and after going down...absolutely nothing new there and to blame VAR is to ignore pretty much the last few seasons.
 

Magnificent!

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3 Stacks Grand Master

3 Stacks

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Posted

"Sources confirmed to The Athletic that the Everton manager had identified space either side of Rice that Everton could exploit."

 

This is a hilarious line. From the "Sources confirmed to The Athletic" for such a banal piece of information, to the fact that someone could think that there being space around Declan Rice is some kind of unbelievable discovery. 

 

Unfortunately, seems like Marco couldn't identify the spaces to be exploited around Dale Stephens today. 

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Trumo Grand Master

Trumo

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Posted

If they jib off Silva and bring back Moyes, I reckon they'll be re-signing Fellaini in the January window. To get Richarlison playing they way he wants, he will be made to watch endless videos of Big Vic rolling a defender before shanking the ball into the upper tier of the Gwladys.

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