Everton 0-2 Nottingham Forest: Three Takeaways | Limited and Limiting — Decision Time for the Friedkins

12/31/2024 07:00 AM

The Blues have now won just once in ten outings, against three defeats

Tactically Outthought

Everton's game against high-flying Nottingham Forest was always going to come down to who would deviate from their preferred style of play: visiting manager Nuno Espírito Santo, or the boss of the home side, Sean Dyche. Forest have set up all season with a counterattacking intent, the efficient execution of which had ensured they arrived at Goodison Park having won five of their nine away trips, with just two defeats. The Blues, however are famously possession-shy under Dyche, who refined his backs-to-the-wall approach through years of experience at Burnley.

Unfortunately, the Portuguese got his way on Sunday. Both teams sparred for position in a cagey opening to the match, enlivened for the hosts only by Iliman Ndiaye's solo run five minutes in, followed by a wild shot. The visitors started gaining traction, courtesy of Everton's sluggish, ponderous play, which included some sloppy passing and it wasn't exactly against the run of events when they took the lead after a quarter of an hour. From that point on, the East Mindlanders had the Toffees where they wanted them: playing catch-up, having to try to force the game.

So, an Everton side manoeuvred into having a lot of the ball, chasing a one-goal deficit — how would this go? The Blues huffed and puffed, offering zero imagination and adding a mighty 0.04 xG (Expected goals) from open play until the interval, looking for all the world like a team which doesn't use any footballs in training at Finch Farm. Dyche post-match expressed frustration with his players' first half performance, insisting that they'd be sent out to play direct and with tempo, which they did not do. I found these comments odd and quite revealing. If he's unable to impose his wishes on the team, what is his purpose?

Playing more quickly, I can understand, but 14.8% of the team's passing was long: how more direct could the manager want them to be? Moreover, considering Forest were not pushing their defensive line up, why did Dyche think going direct would work anyway? Armando Broja, deputizing for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, was similarly isolated and cut the same frustrated figure as his fellow striker has all season long. The on-loan Chelsea man is tall, but he's not a target man and, having been educated in the London club's Cobham academy, must have been wondering what division he was playing in, so basic was Everton's offensive strategy.

The hosts did come out with some urgency after the break and got more bodies forward, but it was guileless fare, with no obvious plan as to how they intended to actually score a goal. With a 70% share of possession, the hosts went more direct (15.4%) and fired in lots of crosses (23), but as ever the balls were put in from deep positions, making them easy to defend. Dyche can set up effectively against teams who are expected to beat his side, frustrating them and grinding out results. But when the gulf in relative ability is not so wide, then he's devoid of ideas, an alternate way to play. Everton need a manager with more than just the one game plan — and that's not him.

They've now won once in ten outings, against three defeats, and have just three victories this campaign — from eighteen league games. But for Everton's impressive five-week run in April and May, in which they picked up five wins, it's been bleak for more than a year. Unlike last season, when the club put in good, consistent form between September and mid-December, we're not seeing anything materialise this term. I have no confidence that the team will win any of their next four league matches, either. Any competent managerial appointment will maintain defensive stability, but with the potential upside of igniting the attack, varying the way we play. What are we risking, exactly?

Farcical Defending

The team's defence, which has held up well recently, looked worryingly flaky again at the weekend. Everton were easy to play through in transition and were beaten for the opening goal by a simple ball over the top, with a leaden-footed James Tarkowski left standing by the pacy... Chris Wood? Why the Blues captain allowed the veteran striker, who is a decent player but far from quick, to run off him into empty space is anyone's guess. The 32-year-old was also booked early on and could easily have walked in the first period, after lunging in following a heavy touch.

For Forest's second, it was farcical all-around. Another long ball, played from deep in the visitors' half by left back Neco Williams, was won aerially by Jarrad Branthwaite and Abdoulaye Doucouré was first to the knockdown. The midfielder poked the ball towards Vitaliy Mykolenko, who backed up to receive the pass. Unfortunately, Doucouré's pass was underhit; the Ukrainian caught on his heels and slow to react. Tarkowski was also in the vicinity but, instead of going for the ball, he peeled away towards the penalty area, abdicating responsibility. Forest recovered possession and within seconds the ball was in the back of the net and the game as good as over.

On paper, Tarkowski's statistics looked impressive, with the defender making 13 ball recoveries, winning seven of nine aerial duels and adding a combined four tackles and interceptions. However, this was anything but a composed performance, one of many this term and I feel the ex-Burnley man's days as an automatic starter at Everton should now be questioned. Rash challenges, being caught out of position and a worrying slowness are now regular features of his play, rather than occasional aberrations.

Likewise, Mykolenko's place as the club's nailed-on left back incumbent has to be examined, with the January Transfer Window almost upon us. I don't think he was as bad on Sunday as many painted him and in this case, the data bears this impression out. The Ukrainian pushed forward more often than is typical, completed three of ten crossing attempts and contributed a combined five tackles and interceptions. His attacking quality is lacking, however and he's been inconsistent this season, so Everton would be remiss in not exploring available alternatives next month.

Ashley Young has been a solid performer over recent appearances, but he didn't have his best outing against Forest. His missed his only tackle attempt and his defensive contributions were just a pair of clearances and one ball recovery. He was badly beaten on the inside by left winger Ramón Sosa, who should have at least forced a save at the end of the opening period. The 39-year-old offered next to nothing in attack, not completing any of his three crossing attempts and received just one progressive pass in 67 minutes on the pitch; by comparison, the much-maligned Mykolenko received nine.

Random Observations

Just as the myth surrounding absent players, or untried youth system products - who would no doubt be an improvement over underperforming regulars - abounds, the opposite can sometimes be the case. Nathan Patterson, a forgotten man at Everton — and much derided by sections of the fan base, was unexpectedly given meaningful game time on Sunday. In 23 minutes, the Scot offered advanced support, including 17 touches in the final third, was composed in possession (88.5% passing accuracy), picked out Orel Mangala for a genuine scoring chance and showed no signs of being a terrible defensive player. The 23-year-old offers something different and deserves to be given a fair shot.

With debate over who should play the so-called number ten position raging all season, Dyche's recent solution has been to instead play a holder and two conventional midfielders. Whilst this packs the middle of the park, a lack of creativity and supporting runners from central positions further hampers the team's attack. This 4-1-4-1 formation may be good for limiting the opposition, essentially killing games as spectacles, but Everton will need to score goals in order to win matches and this stodgy system is not going to do that. A shift to a 3-4-2-1 would suit current personnel and require only limited surgery next month — but this would necessitate a change of management.

Crystal Palace have overtaken the Toffees and Wolverhampton Wanderers - in three games under new boss and thrice-rejected candidate for the post at Goodison, Vítor Pereira - have picked up two wins and a creditable away draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium; they now trail the Blues by one point. Both clubs should move clear of the drop zone. Southampton are finished, but Leicester City only need to upgrade their central defensive pairing to become competitive and Ipswich Town's win over Chelsea on Monday makes Everton's heroic goalless home stalemate with the Londoners look slightly less impressive.

I felt Jack Harrison underperformed last season and may do better with a full preseason under his belt, but he was awful on Sunday. The winger is devoid of confidence and was totally ineffective, being hauled off after 45 minutes. He completed a miserable 42.9% of his 21 passes, failed with all four crosses and received just one progressive pass. Harrison was a black hole for Everton's play and though busy, had little impact off the ball too. It's apparent he's continuing to be selected because he sticks to the manager's instructions, but the system is doing him no favours and unless there's a change of playing style I'm uncertain what he offers.

Statistics courtesy of fbref.com and fotmob.com